Lying to the Spirit

Acts--The Gospel in the City PART VIII
27 January 2013
Rev. John Lin

Acts 4:36-37, 5:1-14
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), 36sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles's feet.

1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.  2With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. 

3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?  4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold?  And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?  What made you think of doing such a thing?  You have not lied just to human beings but to God."

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.  And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.  6Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  8Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."

9Peter said to her, "How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord?  Listen!  The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.  Then the young man came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

12The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people.  And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.  13No one else dared joined them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.  14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

Threats to Christianity

WHOLENESS OF COMMUNITY
--Everything was shared with the new church community.
--Nothing was individually owned that couldn't be given up.
--Giving was voluntary, not out of compulsion.
--People were free from being defined by money.

COST OF HYPOCRISY
--Death of Ananias and Sapphira was an expression of God's wrath and judgement.
--True love comes with a capacity for Anger.
--Hate, not anger, is the opposite of Love.
--A + S misrepresented their generosity--wanted credit and status of giving.
--A + S didn't give sacrificially, because it was more self serving.
--Missed the fact that salvation was by grace, not through achievements.

PRICE OF INTEGRITY
--CS Lewis-There is a growing hell in all of us that needs to be nipped in the bud.
--Sin of pride as we are too afraid to confront our own brokenness.
--True integrity requires sacrifice.
--Jesus disintegrations makes us whole.
--Accountable community challenges us and helps us root out our problems.
--Admitting our dependency on Christ is often repulsive to an indepent oriented society.
--Acknowledging that sin has broken us offers hope to us all.