A Spouse who will not agree with our hypocrisy: Jesus

“How is it that you have agreed together

to test the Spirit of the Lord?”

(Acts 5:7-11, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 29, 2011)

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.”

Ananias made a very poor choice. He did not do it alone. He had a partner with him, his helpmate, his wife, Saphira.

Marriage is such a good gift from God. But like all of the Lord's gifts, we can use it in a way that would be against the Lord's purposes. The helper who should be with us in holiness can easily work with us in an evil scheme.

Ananias had lied to God the Holy Spirit. He did this by giving the church the impression that he had given all of the proceeds of a sale of land to the work of the kingdom of God. He had not given everything. He gave only a portion of the proceeds, and not all of the funds from the sale. That was his right to do. The land was his before the sale, and the proceeds from the sale were his after the sale. But no one has a right to lie to God.

When Peter was talking to Saphira, he already knew that her husband Ananias had lied to the church. He also knew that Ananias had been confronted and that he was dead. Saphira did not know what had happened to her husband, but she did know the truth about the land sale. The apostle asked her about the price of the land. This would have been the opportunity for Saphira to tell the truth. To do that would have exposed the lie that they had decided upon. She did not choose that path. She attempted to continue in the way of deception.

Everyone with Peter already knew the truth. But Saphira did not know that they knew. She stayed with the original plan, but the man she had as a partner in deception was already dead, and everyone with Peter knew. How often do people think that they are maintaining a successful impression of godliness or of achievement in holiness, and all the people that they think that they have convinced are not believing a word of it? How often do liars fall for their own stories when everyone else has seen the truth?

9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

Peter confronted her in her lie. They had not sold the property for the amount that they had claimed. This deception was not the individual work of one man. It was something the couple did together. They had “agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?”

Think of the Lord of the church in His perfect integrity. He was never promoting Himself. Those who saw Him on the cross taunted Him with barbs, urging Him to save Himself. He stayed His ground with a singleness of heart. This is integrity. The hypocrite is dedicated to a double mind. He knows the truth, but he suppresses it in unrighteousness. This double-mindedness, this lack of a simple integrity was not just one man's choice. Man and wife agreed on this together. Who started this bad plan? We don't know. Was it like the first marriage in the garden, where Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and then Adam, who had not protected her from evil, partook of something that God had not allowed? We only know that at some point it became the action of not just one person, but the united evil deed of a marriage.

10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

The immediate judgment of God that had come upon Ananias now came to his partner. She fell down at the feet of Peter and died. The young men that had just buried her husband only hours before, now carried her out and buried her beside him.

Ananias and Saphira – together in life and in death... Their earthly days were over. They were in God's hands. Scripture does not tell us that they went to hell, so we should not say that they did. We do know that they both died right there, and that should be enough to take our breath away.

11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

These two deaths had an impact on the church and upon others who heard about the events that had transpired. Great fear came upon everyone. What kind of fear? It was the fear of God. It was a reminder that the Lord was not interested in a life of pretense.

Men and women live their lives of hypocrisy. God knows the truth.

Marriage is a very powerful fact of human existence. Sometimes husbands and wives can help each other on the pathway of integrity. Even just a small look of love can check the conscience of one party in the direction of truth and save a couple from a big mistake.

But marriage does not always work that way. Sometimes people find encouragement in the way of evil from the person who could have helped the most, a trusted and loving husband or wife.

With Ananias and Saphira, the encouragement that led to their deaths was an agreement to be religious hypocrites together. If one person started with the idea that they could secretly hold on to a portion of the proceeds and just make it seem like they had given everything to the church, the other person went along with it. They ended up lying together.

Jesus, when He gave His all for us as a Husband, had a spouse that would have dissuaded Him from true righteousness. Even Peter, who confronted Ananias and Saphira here, had to be confronted by the Lord. He saw the cross as an act of service that was too generous, unnecessary or beneath Jesus. There is a difference between righteousness and showy self-righteousness. The church needs to agree with Jesus on the path of quiet goodness. He was no hypocrite.

When you feel that impulse to pump yourself up in the eyes of others, or when you see it in your spouse, remember what happened to this couple. Turn your gaze away from self, and focus on the Husband of the church. He finds showy self-righteousness very offensive among those who bear the name Christian. But He looks on Peter, and you, with love. He saves us.

1. What role did Sapphira, the wife of Ananias play in this great trouble?

2. What does it mean to test the Spirit of the Lord?

3. How is it that both Ananias and Sapphira died?

4. Was it good or bad that great fear came upon the church and others heard what happened to Ananias and Sapphira?

OT Passage: Genesis 3

Crazy generous love vs. showy religion

“Why Has Satan Filled Your Heart?”

(Acts 5:1-6, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 22, 2011)

5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

At the end of Acts 4, a gift of the complete proceeds of a property sale was given to the church. This was just one example of the Holy Spirit working in the church in Jerusalem. Barnabas was not exalted in the story. The truth was plainly told without giving glory to anyone but God. A man sold a piece of land and put the money from the sale at the feet of the apostles. This was how God was moving in the hearts of this new community of faith. People were not clinging to their property as their own. We should expect this kind of unselfish behavior from followers of the Savior who said that He “came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” It should never have been an opportunity for boasting in anyone but Christ. This is what Jesus had instructed His disciples: “When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.' ” Make sense?

Well... A man named Ananias also sold a piece of property. He did this with his wife Sapphira. We will consider her role and the dynamics of showy religion in a marriage relationship next week in verses 7-11. For now we want to focus on our own sin and God's grace from verses 1-6.

2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Ananias held back a portion of the proceeds. He did this “for himself.” We do many things for ourselves, and we don't face this kind of serious rebuke from God. It is normal to care for yourself. Doesn't every normal person have some concern for his own comfort and security? What was it that went wrong here? Ananias did not want anyone to know that he kept back some of the proceeds for himself. He wanted to make it look like he had given the whole amount to the church.

This was an example of showy religion. It was a great temptation. It was sin. It was pride. It was unbelief, since it required the self-deception that God did not know or did not care. In the days when Israel was first coming into the Promised Land, there was a man named Achan who was overcome by covetousness. This strange greed can blind a man into thinking that he can get away with evil and that he can somehow hide it all from God. But the Lord revealed to Moses that the nation was facing an unexpected military defeat because of a secret sin. God found him out. The pattern of holiness had to be established at the outset of the new life for Israel. How much more for the church now that the Redeemer had risen from the dead. God knew about the deception, and He was determined to bring this matter to light.

3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Back to Ananias and this religious showiness: Peter found out the truth. Ananias had kept back a part of the proceeds of the land sale for himself. The apostle's words to Ananias were very instructive. “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?” Ananias was responsible for his sin, but he was not the only one involved in this deception. Satan had filled his heart. That was one aspect of the ugliness of this sin. It put Ananias in league with some very bad company. On the flip side of this consideration was another ugly fact. This sin put Ananias in a position of fighting against the God who had never done anything against him. Ananias was lying to God the Holy Spirit.

Peter was not saying here that Ananias did not have the right to give less than 100% of this gift to the Lord's church. Ananias did not have to give any of the proceeds to the church. Peter said, “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal?” The kind of crazy generous giving that people like Barnabas were doing in the early church was not a matter of law. It was a response to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It came freely from people that were moved by the death and resurrection of Jesus for them. It was the gift of hearts that proclaimed a good word without hypocrisy: “Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!” See 2 Corinthians 9.

This scheming to look holy in the eyes of the church or the world was not a good impulse. It was not like Jesus, but like the Pharisees. It might have fooled some people, but it would not help the cause of Christ. Peter said to Ananias, “Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.

How should Ananias have responded to this? The secret of his heart was laid bare. “He fell down and breathed his last.” Remember Achan. No second chance. If you are here now, you can change. Jesus took the cross for you. He did not come today with stones. He wants you to live.

There is a way to be cut the heart and still live. That ought to be happening in Christian worship. Paul said that in 1 Corinthians 14, that if the Word comes to a person, especially from multiple testimonies, where the church is able to say something that only God could have known, it could have a big impact on someone that God is calling home. Paul said, “He is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” Ananias fell down. We need to fall down too, not in death, but in worship, and then we need to stand up and live.

And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

The church learned something that day, that we need to learn again in every generation. God is not pleased with praise-seeking hypocrisy that condemns the weak, the trapped, the lost, and justifies the showy. “Great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.”

Let the Christ who died that we might live work that good fear in us, so that we would hate the remaining religious hypocrisy in us. Flee from all showy giving. There is one gift that counts: His. Our giving is just the obvious response, and it is not worth talking about too much. We are just unworthy servants who have been given the privilege of falling down in worship and rising up again to serve. When we do that, we are just doing what we ought to do.

1. How does this story relate to the account at the end of Acts 4?

2. What was the problem with what Ananias did?

3. What is Peter's message to Ananias?

4. What is God's message to the church through this sad episode?

OT Passage: Joshua 7

One man's gift...

“They Had Everything in Common”

(Acts 4:32-37, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 8, 2011)

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul,

What a wonderful moment this was in the history of God's saving purposes. Christ had come. He lived and died for His people. He rose from the dead. The Spirit of God was poured out on this new community of faith in Jerusalem. Miracles were happening in the Name of Jesus. The Lord was granting boldness to the apostles in the face of dangerous threats.

The impact of this new age of resurrection was by no means limited to the apostles. There were very noticeable and real changes in the lives of all who believed. Certainly some of the changes were individual, as each person repented of sin and turned to God. But what happened at the end of Acts 4 was more than just a few cases of extraordinary individual generosity. The church was an assembly of heavenly life. They had the Holy Spirit in them together, the Spirit that filled Jesus Christ. He was their unity of faith, love, and courage. He was the power that was displayed in weakness. They were of one heart and soul.

and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

This oneness of heart and mind must have been expressed in sincere emotions, good words, and acts of kindness, but it is worth noticing here and in the next chapter that this oneness led to a great wave of Spirit-filled giving. Even though this did not end private ownership or individual control of property, no one was insisting on their property rights in the church. That was not where their hearts were. No one was getting passionate about holding on to what he owned. Something else was taking place that was much more remarkable. People were using their possessions based on the spiritual fact that they were one in Christ.

Many from Acts 2 onward were away from home much longer than they had anticipated. They had come from far-off places as Jews to attend the Old Testament festivals of Passover and Pentecost. Events had moved according to God's plans, and not according to their own expectations and preparations. In Jerusalem they had found the Messiah. He had revealed Himself in suffering. He had shown Himself in glory, and He had touched them in particular. They were a part of the church, and they were passionate enough about this new resurrection life, that many remained in Jerusalem long beyond what they could personally afford. Others who were of greater means or who lived locally were treating these travelers and the poor among them as their brothers and sisters in the family of God. They had everything in common, even if they did not throw away the documents that gave them title to all their homes. They made sure that everyone had a place to stay, and that no one was hungry.

33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Meanwhile, the Lord was blessing the apostles with a very powerful message. They had asked for courage, and they were taking courage, and were speaking out boldly concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. This one resurrection was central to both their doctrine and their life together. They believed, proclaimed, and lived out the one resurrection of Jesus as Lord.

This resurrection that they proclaimed was not an isolated fact. It was evidence of the reliability of the previous promises of God and a visible reminder of what would come at the return of Christ in the resurrection from the dead. But the resurrection of Jesus not only brought clarity to the past, and a confident hope in the future. The book of Acts tells us that it changed the present for all who believed. Great grace was upon them all.

34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

This grace of God in the resurrection of Jesus Christ had too many implications to list. It changed everything, ushering in a new era of life for mankind. But one impact is listed in this passage: As far as the new community of worshipers in Jerusalem, now numbering in the thousands, there was not a needy person among them. Why? Because people of means, people who were owners of lands or houses sold them, and they gave the proceeds to the church, putting them in the charge of the leaders of the church, the apostles. The apostles did not keep those proceeds for themselves. They distributed to each as any had need.

The essence of this action was in the desired result: that there would be no one among the thousands in the church who was left in a state of being truly needy of food and clothing. The aim was to love God by taking care of his family.

Was this way of life just an extraordinary manifestation of generosity for the first century church, or could such a thing be expected to happen throughout the New Testament era? As the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ takes root in people, we can expect two changes to take place that both work in the direction of meeting needs through giving. First, people begin to redefine what they need. What they thought were needs are exposed as desires, and the intensity of those desires decreases because of the pleasures of the kingdom, some of which are experienced now. Secondly, believers find a new delight in giving away things. As the grace of God grips their hearts, they find that what they need to receive from the goods of this world goes down (this is Christian contentment), and their desire to give in new ways goes up (this is Christian love.)

36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

The passage closes with the example of one man's gift. Barnabas (Wouldn't you like to have the nickname “Son of encouragement?”) found that he needed less than he thought. This Levite, a native of the island of Cyprus, owned a field. He did not need it anymore. This is contentment. He decided to sell that field and to lay the money at the feet of the apostles so that the church could use that money to provide for those in need in any way that they saw fit. This was love, love for the Lord's family, love that insists that everybody's needs are being taken care of.

This was just the beginning for Barnabas. He would do much more than this. He would give more than money. Why did he do it? It was by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you impressed by what Barnabas did? Be more impressed with the One who died for Barnabas. Be impressed with that one Man's gift.

1. What would it look like for those who believe to be of one heart and soul?

2. What was the testimony of this first community of faith?

3. What was the meaning of laying something at the feet of the apostles?

4. Who was Barnabas and what do we know of his life story?

OT Passage: Exodus 16:1-21

Ask courage, take courage...

“Sovereign Lord, Anointed Servant, Holy Spirit”

(Acts 4:23-31, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 1, 2011)

23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said,

“Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

25 who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,

“‘Why did the Gentiles rage,

and the peoples plot in vain?

26 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers were gathered together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed’ —

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

When they were released... (23-24a)

The persecution of the church that is taking place in various countries around the world today is not a new thing. When the church has not been entirely co-opted by civil authorities for their own agenda, they have often faced trouble, sometimes more trouble, sometimes less trouble, at the hands of those who are threatened by the kingdom of God. When the church is existing in a corner, making little difference in the world, and little difference even in the lives of its own members, the Lord's family is easily ignored. But let them heal the lame, or experience unusual evidence of the presence of God with them in any way, the authorities may become concerned, hostile, or even murderous. The real question for us is not how others will react to the evidence of God being present with us. More important than this is whether we should live in fear because of what powerful people who hate the church might say or do to us.

The actions of the apostles and the church in those early years should be a pattern for us in every generation. Men who are filled with the Holy Spirit, men who know what it is to be rooted in Jesus Christ, do not need to panic about those who threaten them. Those who live out the resurrection life walk over rough waters on the stepping stones of the fruit of the Spirit as they travel toward heaven. They are able to have love even for their enemies. They experience joy unspeakable and full of glory. They receive peace from God that passes understanding. They are patient in every affliction. They show kindness to those who would only trouble them. They commit themselves to a life of goodness as a fruit of their union with Christ, and they exhibit a deep self-control that once seemed an impossible goal. People like this do not focus on their losses but on Christ's gains, and they show where their help comes from by the way they turn to God in prayer. This is what you need to be training for in every affliction you have, knowing that it is in Christ alone, and in His resurrection, that you will be able to have the fruit of the Spirit. Lift up your voices to God. Ask, and you shall receive. Ask for courage, and take courage.

Sovereign Lord... (24b)

The church knew about the sovereignty of God. They knew that God was above every earthly power. They did not need to walk in the fear of men. Did kings make the heavens, the earth, and the seas, or did God create those places and all things that populate them? The more that we look at the Lord of glory, the more we will see that He has a purpose that He is working out. If that purpose brought His Son through the cross, we can trust Him with the light and momentary affliction that we experience in our lives. We can look for glory even when days are darkest.

Who through the mouth of our Father David... (25-26)

The Lord spoke of His reign over earthly kings in Psalm 2. God by His Spirit, working through King David, brought a word to us that is very relevant in every era. Yes, the nations may rage against Israel and the church. Yes, they make plots even against God and His Son, the Messiah. Some people are so convinced of their own powers. They expect to snuff out the church. But Christ, who gave His blood for His bride, said to us so many centuries ago that the gates of hell would not prevail against His church. He has not been proven wrong yet. We're still here.

For truly in this city... (27-28)

Look at the example of what happened to Jesus. Herod, Pilate, the Sanhedrin, along with many other Jews and Gentiles wanted to stop Him. They thought that they had accomplished their goal when He died on a Roman cross. But today we glory in the cross. The cross is power to us because of the resurrection of Jesus. The cross is our penalty paid for, and our forgiveness and life secured. We boast in the cross. The cross worked toward the plan of our sovereign Lord, who sits on high and laughs at adversaries that are so impressed with their own strength or intellect. The cross was an utter failure from the standpoint of the men who wanted to see Jesus gone. They got their wish, but not for very long. They were publicly exposed as powerless to bring about the end of Jesus, and the Lord of glory who died in our place was vindicated to be the sovereign Lord of heaven and earth. Because of what He did, and the power of His cross at work in us, we can even live the heavenly life now. Who won that contest; the enemies of the gospel or the Lord of glory who had predestined what would take place long ago?

And now, Lord, look upon their threats... (29-30)

Why should this power of the cross stop now, when Jesus is exalted at the right hand of the Father? If He could be victorious in His moment of greatest weakness, who or what will stop Him now? With that confidence, we can bring our requests to God. We can say about those who pass laws against the worship of Christ in nations that they suppose to belong to some other god or some other philosophy, “Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

And when they had prayed... (31)

God gave various signs and wonders to authenticate His Word. Sometimes He gave signs and wonders to teach the people what heaven was like. Sometimes He did miracles out of pure compassion for those that needed help. But many times He came when the desperate needed to be rescued, when they were surrounded by enemies who were stronger than they were. There are times when the Lord intends that we learn some of His most kind and blessed lessons through tribulation. But the Lord will defend His church. Martyrs die, but Christ will always get the victory. And kings and rulers will wonder how it could be that those who have been soundly threatened with all the powers of earth, are able to cast off all fear, and filled with a Spirit of heaven, continue to speak the Word with such boldness. Ask for courage, take courage, and walk in love.

1. How did the friends of Peter and John respond to their release?

2. What does this passage teach us about God?

3. How does Psalm 2 present the interaction between rulers and God?

4. Consider the end of this passage from the perspective of the Sanhedrin.

OT Passage: Psalm 2