Of course there's a lot of great application that can be made throughout this entire chapter
We'll try to get to the whole thing tonight
But just starting out here with the story about Ananias and Sapphira so beginning of verse 1 a certain man named Ananias
and Sapphira's wife
sold the possession and kept back part of the price his wife also being privy to it and
And brought a certain part and laid it at the Apostles feet so if you remember
They're all selling whatsoever they had and they're bringing it
They're laying at the Apostles feet and everybody is making distribution every man according to his need. There's this kind of communal
I don't want to say living together
But it seems like they're pooling their resources at the very least and it's kind of taking care of everybody's needs
We talked about that in previous sermons how that was just kind of something that was unique to that time
That's certainly not the Bible is just describing to us. What's happened there. It's not prescribing us to do the same
But we see so that's kind of context of why they're even beginning to do this
Okay
So this was kind of a common practice that they were doing and Ananias and Sapphira aren't doing anything out of the ordinary
When they're selling their home, they're selling their land rather and they're
They're selling it and then they're bringing it laying at the Apostles feet. This was something that a lot of people were doing
Obviously the problem here is the motive and while it doesn't necessarily just kind of come out and say what the motive is
You can kind of see that it's there
They have this motive that they kind of want to be, you know a big shot
They kind of want people to know, you know who they are
And they kind of get called out and a great lesson is the fact that you know, God knows our hearts
God knows our motives even if on the surface everything we're doing, you know
Man looks at would look at another one of us and on the outside to all appearances
It would seem like everything's on the up and up. We're doing that was right
We might even be doing something that everybody else is doing right? They weren't doing anything. That was necessarily
Unique everybody was kind of doing this but God understands the motives in our actions
You know
We don't want to do things just to be seen of men when we do things for God and for the Lord
We want to make sure we're doing these things from the heart, you know, because ultimately
You know it is God that's going to reward our efforts
It is God that's going to bless our efforts and if we're just doing things to be seen of men
Well, then verily, you know, we have our reward now if you back up there in Acts chapter
Just go back to that very end of Acts chapter 4 just a few verses up there
You'll see kind of where this motive comes into place
Go to verse 34 neither
Was there any among them that lacked for it as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought?
the prices of these things that were sold just as I said
this was something that everybody was kind of doing and they laid them down the Apostles feet and
Distribution was made according to every man according to his as he had need and Joseph's who by the Apostles was surnamed Barnabas
Which is being interpreted interpreted the son of consolation a Levite and of the country of Cyprus
Having land sold it and brought the money and laid it at the Apostles feet and of course if you know
Barnabas, you know the book of Acts he becomes a very key player, especially very early on
Here we'll see
You know in this chapter and other chapters coming up that Barnabas is kind of a central figure
and he's actually
You know kind of a big name in this church as it's starting out
He's somebody who's a pillar in the church, you know, as Peter would put it, you know, he's a real central figure
Okay, he was probably somebody's very highly esteemed. He was somebody who's probably looked up to and
Somebody obviously, you know, he's being sent later on these
Apostolic missions with Paul. He's the one that brings salt the Apostles. So he's a he's a he's a key player
I don't want to say he's a big shot because that kind of gives you the connotation that he's in it for the wrong reasons
Right, but you know just starting out too. You got to understand that in church, you know
Some people are going to have be held in more reputation than others
Simply just because of what they're able to accomplish, you know, God exalts one and God, you know exalts another
Obviously we all have a part to play, you know
And just because somebody else is more well known or maybe it's given more unique responsibilities
That doesn't necessarily mean that they're better than anybody else in any in any way
Okay, it's just maybe they just kind of fit the bill, you know
They might have certain skills or abilities that just kind of suit the needs of the church, right?
So that's kind of who Barnabas is, you know, he kind of fits in there
I really would like to preach a whole sermon on you know series of sermons really on the life of Barnabas
I'll probably get onto that, you know sometime after we've kind of got some distance from acts
But you know, that's kind of a think something you understand years that Barnabas is kind of you know
Somebody who's known and if you notice there at the end
He has land and sold it brought the money laid at the apostles feet, right?
So obviously this might have some kind of a tie-in with you know
He's being recognized now. It's the narrator of Scripture that's telling us that he did that, right?
This isn't Barnabas going and Barnabas Barnabas isn't making himself known. He's kind of being pointed out, you know
And why is that?
Why is the narrator of Scripture pointing out that hey Barnabas did this at the end of Acts 4?
Because it kind of rolls into Acts 5
when we look at Acts 4 and we understand who Barnabas is you can kind of start to
Discern the motive of Ananias and Sapphira, right?
They're kind of doing the same thing that Barnabas did
They want to kind of fit in and go along and kind of look like hey
We're pitching in to to kind of get that you know that cred or whatever, you know
Because you know, obviously it's only those that have lands, right? That's what it's saying in Acts 4
Everybody that had that were possessive of lands or houses, right? So this isn't everybody
You know, it was a would have been a certain group of people that were doing obviously
Some people didn't have those assets to be able to make those sales, right?
Maybe they just weren't able to do that Barnabas did
Ananias and Sapphira did so their motive really is not just to be you know
Pick doing their part or pitching in they're not just down for the cause
But it seems like that they really just want to be known as somebody that's done this
They just want to kind of have a name
They kind of want to throw their hat in the ring with well, you know me and Barnabas, you know
We kind of both have done this righty. They want to be on that same level. They want to be regarded as somebody
You know who's done the you know gone above and beyond right? They want to be more highly esteemed than they ought to be. Okay?
And again, there would have been nothing wrong if they just sold their possessions
So what they had and just given it all right, but the Bible points out the fact that they held back part of it
So it's not like they wanted to be you know
They were just concerned about making sure everybody's needs are covered
What they're doing is they're just want to be you know in that group
They want to be in that that group of people that are doing this so they can kind of be
Distinguished maybe or set apart just so that they can kind of stand out right kind of like a Barnabas
What as I said just a moment ago, God knows the truth
God knows our motives and we can't lie unto God or lie under the Holy Ghost
And so we should always be examining our motives examining why we're doing what we're doing
Okay
Because look what happens here now
I'm not saying if you do something in the wrong mode of the exact same thing is gonna happen
But you know, it just goes to show you that God is not beyond judging us even to the point of death, right?
It says there they kept back the part of the price verse 2 and his wife also being privy to it
Meaning she knew what was going on
She was in on this and brought a certain part and laid at the apostles feet
But and it but Peter said and an is why it's Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost
Right, so this you say man, he's selling his lands
He's selling his possession and he's giving it to the church to distribute. How is that satanic? What women? Come on, Peter
It's got a strong language, right? Why are you calling saying Satan has filled your heart?
Well, you know why Satan filled thine heart to lie the Holy Ghost
Well, it's a very demonic thing to be lifted up with pride right you can kind of what was the devil's
Problem, right? He was lifted up with pride, you know, he wanted to be like the Most High
You want to be more highly steamed than the ultimate man. That's kind of what I see going on here at the story
Ananias through his pride just wants to be known as somebody who's given right somebody who's donated, you know
They want the plaque on the wall. They want that pew named after them or something, you know
They want to have you know their name inscribed on a bronze piece of plastic or a piece of wood somewhere
You know for all you know
Eternity right, which isn't gonna happen anyway, but he's just lifted up a pride. That's what's going on here
That's why I believe Peter is saying why it's Satan filled thine heart. I don't believe he was
Taken over by the devil that this was some kind of demonic action, right? This is a saved man that we're talking about here
Because it talks about describes how they you know, they they they they passed away. They gave up the Holy Ghost
They made it wasn't like they were killed and went straight to hell
Obviously, it's just you know, his motives of wrong the motive of his heart is pride, okay
He said why is Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost and keep back the part of the price of the land
And it's great that Peter just knew this, you know, it's like
What are you talking about, right?
Whilst it remained was it not thine own and after it was sold was it not in thine power?
Why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God
So again, it's he conceived this in his heart
But the expression why is Satan filled your heart is just showing that it's what he's doing is filled with pride
And he's saying, you know, you haven't lied unto us. You've lied unto God
now kind of imagine being ananias and hearing you know, the deeds of your heart just
You know called out right there, right and I don't know if this is taking place
Necessarily in a church service or something like that
But when the preacher gets up starts saying why is Satan filled your heart, you know
I mean I can imagine you just sank it. What I want to point out here is that
Ananias doesn't really get a second chance. He's just immediately called out. He doesn't get a chance to repent. It just happens, right?
And it shows us that you know
Sometimes when we've gone too far we can cross a line with God where it's the consequences are coming and there's nothing we can do
About it, you know once we go to a certain point
Obviously, there's always gonna be consequences for our sin in some way shape or form, you know sin when it's finished bringeth forth death
Can't avoid that
But you know as far as God's judgment goes, you know
God can sometimes pull back and say I'm gonna show mercy and grace, right?
You're still gonna have to suffer the consequences of your actions to some degree or another
But you know the the the hand of God isn't gonna get involved all the time, right?
Not the case for an Ananias, you know, he has done something that is being called out publicly
I mean here we are even reading about it today
You know, I believe an Ananias is a saved man
He's gonna be in heaven and he maybe he's gonna go buy a different name
I don't know. Maybe he's gonna he's waiting for that white stone and he can't wait to get that new name in heaven
Maybe that's why God's giving us all those. Well only only that man knew it. So unfortunately, you know, he's stuck with an Ananias, but
You know, he's gonna be there, you know, but he's kind of you're gonna be like, oh, yeah, right acts fine. Yeah
you know so
We can cross the line, you know, we can go too far where God
you know just
Begins to deal with us and ways, you know that we'd rather not, you know in ways that didn't have to happen
This didn't have to happen. He could have given all of it and just you know had done things at the right heart
She said hey you lied on the not on the men, but you've lied unto God. Okay, and
I'm an Ananias hearing these words spelled out and gave up the ghost, right?
It doesn't say, you know, that's why I believe it's a safe man. That's an expression, you know, they slept
He went to sleep with his father's or he's you know, he's gathered into his people
These are often phrases that you'll see in Scripture when some passes away, you know, giving up the ghost giving up the spirit
You know, it's how it describes Christ's death on the cross, you know, he gave up the ghost
Okay, so that's why I believe he's saved. Okay, but again, it shows us that you know, it's it's you know, nothing
I haven't preached before that God chases his children, you know Hebrews chapter 12. He chases every Sunday. We receive it
And an ananias he so he falls down dead and the young man rose wound up wound him up and carried him out and buried him
Okay, and it's about the space of three hours. This is before, you know text messaging and all that
So she has no idea when his wife not knowing what was done came in, right?
She didn't log on to Instagram or Facebook and say oh husband's dead, right? It took time for her to find out
But notice how Peter handles her. He doesn't just immediately call her out, right?
He says in verse 8 and Peter answered unto her tell me whether you sold the land for so much
She said yay for so much. So she's going along with the story
Right and you can kind of wonder, you know
Why did she say that she's is she just kind of going along because it was really her husband's idea and she's just trying to
Make sure she's trying to cover for him, you know
But
She's given a chance really she could have said well, you know, actually, you know, we held that part of price thereof
You know, she might have gotten you know
Men, you know her judgment might have been just a you know have been widowed, you know, but actually obviously
She didn't fess up and as a result she joins her husband, right Peter says in verse 9 then Peter said unto her
How is it that you agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord?
Behold the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door and shall carry thee out
No one ever thinks about the guys that are doing all the burying this day, right and dig all these holes
They just got back from burying Ananias. It's like oh, yeah, like it was just three hours burying the last dude
I'm gonna drag her out wrap her up throw on the ground those poor guys
Verse 10 then she fell down straight way at his feet and yielded up the ghost and the young man came in and found her
Dead and carrying her forth buried her by her husband
Now notice verse 11 and great fear came upon all the church and upon as many as heard these things
You know when God begins to move, you know, that's when people start to have respect for you know
That church and these apostles
But again, what's the what's the kind of the big lesson we can take from the story, right?
You know, why is God including this in the scripture? Obviously a lot of things are taking place back then
Maybe even more scandalous things than this or not. I don't know but
He's putting this in here for a reason. Okay, and it's really it's so we got to understand
You know the dangers of having the wrong motives for why we do things
And make sure we're not doing things just to be seen event go to 2nd Corinthians chapter number 10 2nd Corinthians chapter number 10
So what was their motive? Why did they do this?
Well, I believe it's because they're just desirous of vain glory, right?
They just again want to be known as those people that were like Barnabas and others that had sold Lance
Right. They just want to be known as very generous and giving
But are they really that generous not giving if they're you know, holding back apart the price thereof and saying
You know what they that they gave everything
You know what? They're it's not you know, the actions might be generous
But what's really going on if they're lift up a pride and they just want to be known as somebody
Who's generous they're not actually they don't actually care about having charity and love in their heart
They just want to be seen in that light. Okay?
They're desirous, you know of a form of vainglory look at verse 12 second
it's 10 says in verse 12 where we do not we dare not make ourselves of the number or
Compare ourselves with some that commend themselves
You know, there's people out there that will commend themselves
They'll tell you what a great job
They did at X Y & Z they'll tell you how they're the greatest this and the best that they will commend themselves
Right, and we don't want to compare ourselves with those that commend themselves
You don't want to let people, you know get into our heads and you know
Lift themselves up and cause us to look at them as though there's some great giant of the faith
Right and look I've seen this type of thing take place
Where you know people maybe they're
You know, they do a lot more soul-winning or they are just you know more into the service of God
They'll start to actually look down on other other other people, right?
They'll actually start to kind of have this condescending attitude towards other people that may be in a different situation in life
Different station in life that maybe can't do everything that some you know, 20 year old single guy can do right
Obviously the busy housewife of you know, several children
Doesn't have all the time in the world to just go out every day and win, you know scores of people to Christ
You know, that's not any knock on her
obviously she'll still has a very important job to do of
Raising the next generation of preachers and soul winners and godly wives and mothers and godly husbands and and fathers
That's a very important job. Okay, it's got it's actually God's will for them, right?
But some people I've seen they commend themselves
You know where they think oh, I'm just so far above these married couples in the church
I'm just so far above all these other people and they begin to commend themselves
But what's really frustrating is when people start to compare themselves with those people
You're always gonna have people like that to some degree. Okay, there's always gonna be people that come and go that are like that
But what's frustrating is when you see other good people look at people like that and then begin to compare themselves to those people
So, you know, I just man. I wish I was more like so-and-so and
I've heard think people say things I think really you wish you were more like an arrogant popped up jerk
You know, I didn't say that, you know
But I'm just kind of like well, you know is what it is. Can't all be the greatest, right?
Notice it goes on but they measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise
It's not wise to sit here and measure yourself against somebody else
Right. It's not it's not wise to compare yourself to somebody else
You know, the only person we need to be comparing ourselves with is Christ and once we do that
We all realize we all come incredibly short
Right. I don't care how great somebody is. I don't care how what works they've accomplished it come it comes, you know
Incredibly short of the work of Christ. They don't even come close to the goodness of God
So that's the only person we should ever be comparing ourselves with
You know how much more Christ-like are you become today or you know, if you have to have some kind of earthly standard
For your measure of success you really you know, this is a good philosophy
I I subscribe to is just compare yourself to the person you were yesterday
You know if there's someone on this earth that you have to compare yourself to it should be you
The old you are you better today than you were yesterday or you worse today than you were yesterday?
Right, are we making steadily making improvements from day in and day out?
You know, that's the only earthly comparison. We need to make we don't need to be comparing ourselves to other people
you know comparing ourselves to
You know somebody else in the church who maybe is in a completely different situation in life, right?
That's a problem with comparing yourselves and look this isn't this is something that goes to be outside the walls of the church
Today people compare themselves to others on social media, don't they?
Right because on social media you're always being presented with the best side of people
Right. It's always some you know, some person is just incredibly good shape just incredibly finished just doing these amazing feats of strength
It's like I should be more like that
Yeah
you should live in a gym for like six years and
Watch every single thing that you eat and just like make your whole life about fitness and then one day you too can put up
a 60-second video of you doing
22 muscle-ups or whatever it is, right? Whatever the great amazing feat of strength that they're doing, you know
We look at that for half a second. They're like, oh man, I just you know, I'm worthless
It's like but really if you know a lot of times I'm not gonna try to get down on people that you know
we're doing that but
You know a lot of times those people if you saw their lives how what they're just they're just eat breathe and sleep that stuff
You wouldn't even want it. You'd say it's not worth it
But all we see is the tail end all we see is what they want to show us
You know the guy who's doing a you know, 600 pound deadlift or whatever. Oh, man. I should be able to death like that
Well that guy's on gear
You know, you didn't see that guy. We can't even hardly reach around to inject himself anymore
You know with steroids because you got to get his buddy to do it, right?
That's not the side. They're gonna show you
Okay
So it's not wise to sit there and scroll through social media compare yourselves to everything you see
It's not wise to look around the church and look at some other Christian who's been faithfully serving God for decades
And say why are I more like them? Why don't I have this sermon they do why don't you know?
It's because that all that stuff comes with time. Okay. Why don't I have the Bible knowledge it so-and-so has well
They've spent years reading it. They've spent hours memorizing it. They've spent hours studying it
You know, you can't compare yourselves to people that have just been in it longer
It's the same same thing in the spiritual world as it is out and you know when it comes to carnal things. It's not wise
You know an anis and anis and sapphires have understood this that they weren't just chasing very vainglory saying
Oh, let's be more like Barnabas. Let's kind of be in that group of people that did that
You know if their motives had been right
You know one they would have just given all of it or they wouldn't get anything at all
Or they at least would have been honest and just said hey we sold land
Here's part of it right instead of trying to make out like oh no
We gave everything that we had right and that was the big lie that was taking place there
You
Say well, you know what?
Well, let me just move along here and just make this this point here, you know Barnabas
What's great about him is, you know, he's not somebody that commended himself as I just pointed out
You know in acts 4 at the end
it's the narrator of scripture that's telling us that just so we can kind of get the context of what's taking place and
Kind of discern the motives behind an anis and sapphires his actions Barnabas is mentioned by name
But you know Barnabas is not, you know, it's not like he you know went to Luke is like
Hey put that part in there actually that's end of the chapter
Well how I you know, it didn't go to Luke to tell him to do that, right?
He didn't pull the Holy Spirit here and like hey, can I get a mention?
You know what? I mean? God did that God put that in there for a very explicit reason, you know Barnabas
You know is somebody that did not commend himself and was used mightily by God
Go to Galatians chapter number five Galatians chapter number five, you know
I'll just read you from an axe 11 where we learn a little bit about more about Barnabas
It says that Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and a faith. I
Mean and and really that's really the best compliment, you know, you can really pay anybody in this world. Really?
He's a good man
Right that kind of if you can if that can be said of you, you know
You've you've arrived, you know, or you've kind of achieved something, right?
That's you have you're on the right path is what I'm trying to say
You know, that's that's all we can ever really strive for. It's just to be considered a good person
How do you have how do you have that happen?
He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and a faith
Right if we want to have that reputation of being a good man of being a good person
Then we have to be full of the Holy Ghost and we have to have faith
And you know what and then it's something that just comes to you
It's not something you're seeking after if you're full of the Holy Ghost, you know, you're not gonna go chasing after vainglory
You're not gonna go chasing out there try to form repute some reputation for yourself
That was said of Barnabas by Acts chapter 11
And we see a lot of the things that he did between you know, acts 4 and acts 11
He does a lot of great things but not it's all for the right motive
It's just because he cares about the things of God. He just wants to serve the Lord
He wants to help other people right and he's a good man for it
But why was he that way because he was full of the Holy Ghost and a faith, right?
He wasn't chasing after it. He was just living for the Lord and
The same will be said of any one of us if we just say, you know what?
I'm not trying to be a big shot. I'm not trying to have some big name
I'm trying to make sure everyone knows who I am or be held in some high esteem
I just want to serve God and be full of the Holy Ghost and be full of faith
If you'll just do that, then it will be said of you. He was a good man
Some of the ladies are like, I don't know if I want that be a good person, right?
You know, that's you understand I'm saying right you're gonna have that reputation of somebody who's a good godly Christian who loves the Lord
And what else could you want in this life? What other reputation matters? I
Mean, what if you achieve some great level success and all these things are being said of you, but then it was like yeah
But they're really poor Christian
But they're not a very good representation of Christ. They're not a very good example of godly living, you know, everything else just kind of
Fall is is for not right
My mom says in Proverbs 27, we all know is the verse to let another man praise thee and not thine own mouth a
stranger and not thine own lips
You know and it's embarrassing to hear people praise themselves, isn't it?
It's and people do this and people just do this without even thinking
They just do it when they just start talking about how great they are or how they did this and they achieve that and they just
There's so many just proud boasters
And again, I know I'm kind of ragging on social media tonight
But it's it's that's just this huge Avenue that's been opened up for people to do that
For people who just go online and just brag and post and boast about you know, how great they are just show off, right?
But the Bible says let another man praise thee, you know and praise God when it's you know, another man
But how about when it's the narrator of Scripture the Holy Ghost that says Barnabas was a good man and full of Holy Ghost, right?
Even
If nobody has anything good to say about us in this world
If we're right with God and full of the Holy Ghost and God considers us a good person. That's all that matters
Look at Galatians chapter 5 verse 26. Let us not be desirous of vain glory
Vain glory don't chase after some stupid reputation
Or just say no everyone look at me. Look what I did. Look how great I am. Look what I'm achieving, right?
I'm not saying don't be ambitious. I'm not saying don't have goals. I'm not saying don't strive to do better
But make sure your motives, right?
Make sure you're doing it for the right reasons and not to be seen of men
And there's kind of a warning here in this verse 26. It says let us not be divided desires of vainglory
provoking one another
Because that's kind of what comes with that territory, you know people who just want to have vainglory they start to provoke other people
Well, you know that's great that you did that but I ever tell you the time that I
You know, that's all you've ever done, you know
They start to they start to talk down to you about what you you know
You might have done something and then they just kind of step in and be like well
Let me tell you about me and they just kind of want to cast a shadow on anything that you might actually accomplish
Right, they provoke and they envy right then the other person begins to envy other people because they're comparing themselves with somebody
That's commending themselves. Okay, and
Okay
So if you look at verse 22, of course very famous verse, you know, this is kind of the antidote to vainglory, right?
Barnabas was a good man because he was full of the Holy Ghost
And we need to walk in the spirit right so that we can have the fruit of the spirit because what are the fruits of?
The spirit it's love joy. Peace long-suffering
Gentleness goodness faith neatness
neatness
Right humility not thinking more highly of ourselves
Okay being meek that is something that the fruit that the spirit will bear in your life
You won't even have to try it will just be there because these are the fruits up
This is the fruit of the spirit, right? The spirit will bear this in your life
It's not like every morning you have to wake up and okay
Let me get through my checklist to make sure I'm this this and this and this and this
You just have to be full of the Holy Ghost get the sin out of your life as best you can you'll keep sin
Keep the slate clean with God confess it forsake it
You know keep that that sin account short with the Lord
Wasn't talking to you, right
You know be reading your Bible praying be faithful of things of God go to church
Love your family, you know all the things that we're supposed to be doing just be faithful to the Lord and keep his commandments
And you'll be full of the Holy Ghost God will bless you and then these things will just happen
And you know what one of those things that'll happen you'll be a meek person and then he won't turn into some arrogant
Puffed up jerk who just wants to compare himself to everybody else and
You know provoke other people and get them to envy him and you know
Ultimately in some way shape or form be judged by God. Okay, like Ananias and Sapphira
And again in the story and I got to move along but it's interesting that Ananias, you know, he's given a chance to confess
Or excuse me. He's not given a chance to confess. He's just immediately called out and
essentially executed
You know, there's that's called so that's the real slaying in the spirit right there brother
That's the slaying of the spirit right, you know so much for slaying in it
Whereas Sapphira, you know, she's kind of asked, you know
Did you sell it for so much and she chooses not to confess she confuses not to tell the truth
You know and this is kind of the unintended consequences of sin
And what I mean what I mean by that is that you know, I'm just kind of thinking about how maybe the story played out
You know, I don't know if they were, you know, obviously Sapphira is privy to this but you know
Somebody had to come up with this idea
It sound like they both were like thinking the same thing and then we're like, hey, you know what?
I was thinking I was thinking the same thing, you know, I doubt that's what took place
You know if I had to guess this is probably an Ananias's decision, right? Just because of the fact that
Typically throughout history men have been the property owners, right? He's the one that's selling his these are his goods
I mean who knows maybe it was a unique situation, but I'm just saying generally speaking, right?
this is probably how it played out and
Sapphira, you know, maybe she thought it was like me
She maybe thought she was a good idea or not. I know but she's probably just kind of went along with this
which is why it kind of seems to me like
That's maybe why Peter gave her that chance
Like did you do this was it for so much like that was kind of her chance to not have to you know
To die right? She could have come clean
But she went along with it, right, but I don't think it was really her idea
I think this is probably an Ananias's idea
And what I'm trying to the application to make here is that we have to be careful as leader leaders
You know the decisions that we make have unintended consequences sometimes a lot of times people think oh, I'm gonna do this thing
And you know, it's only gonna hurt me, you know, I'm gonna get into this thing or I'm gonna you know cut corners here
They're gonna you know, they're gonna just try to do something underhanded or sneaky or whatever and they think oh, it's just me
You know, I mean if I get caught I'm the only one that has a problem or you know
If God judges me, it's just gonna be just be me. But what what happened in the story is that?
Sapphira went along with it, you know Ananias wasn't counting on the fact that Peter was just gonna you know have this
miraculous ability to just call them out for lying to God that the Holy Spirit was just gonna
Speak through Peter and deal with them right there on the spot and give him no chance to you know
Recant and go back and apologize repent. He didn't see that coming
right and
Maybe if he had, you know, he wouldn't have done it and especially if he'd understood
Hey that his wife was gonna join him in the grave
For the sin, he might have thought twice a lot of times people don't think twice about their actions, right?
they don't think about where it could lead them and
With Ananias and Sapphira specifically. It's a great example of a man
Leading his family astray, right and then suffering severe consequences
You know, we as men those of us that lead have to be very careful about the decisions that we make
And not think about you know, well, you know, I know I can kind of get away with this
It's only gonna affect me it could affect our family far more gravely than sometimes we anticipate
Right, and I don't know that any of us is, you know, trying to commit fraud or anything, you know or trying to
You know do something as egregious as what Ananias was doing
but sometimes we can think about all if I you know if I
You know skip church or you know
If I'm just gonna, you know, let my wife be the spiritual one in the family that you know
It's not really gonna affect anybody, you know, that will have a severe effect on your family men. It will
How can it right because children they they follow what they see, right?
You know and if they see hypocrisy that's just gonna make them more bitter, you know
That's gonna turn them probably away from the things of God
If they see inconsistency and let me just go ahead and break it to all your kick all the kids in the room
Your parents are gonna have flaws. You probably noticed that by now
There's probably gonna be some degree of inconsistency or some degree of hypocrisy because we're all human
Okay, and you're no different young person child, you know, you're gonna have your own shortcomings as well
So, you know, maybe you should cut your parents a little bit of slack give them a little grace
Okay, so because you might need it. In fact, you will need it someday just as much as they will right maybe even more
So, I don't know but the point is this is that you know, we want to obviously minimize that as leaders
We don't want to just not consider the consequences of our actions because it's not just going to affect us
the decisions that we make will affect our families and
You say how?
Well, you don't know you have no idea how severe could get I mean you think Ananias went well
You know if I get busted we're both gonna die worth it
You know, it's probably not went through his head. Oh if we get caught it'll be it'll be kind of embarrassing, you know
We'll cut you know
But whatever we'll get over it people forget and then he's being buried. Okay, I
Got to move along though
Let's go
I'm moving along here the story verse 12 and by the hands of the Apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among them now
I'll just take a quick second again in your mind and point this out that it was by the hands of the Apostles, right?
Not every Christian not every believer not every
Convert was doing all the the wonders that were wrought among the people right? It was the Apostles
Okay, and it goes back to you know previous sermons where we were talking about how you know, those signs were given
To the Apostles for confirmation of you know, the church and those things have passed away
It's a lot of these signs a lot of these signs and wonders are no longer
okay, but they were doing you know, the taking up serpents and drinking poisonous things and you know speaking in other tongues actual
Earthly languages, right we went over all that but there it is again
There's just that the Bible just make sure to point out it was by the hands of the Apostles
Where many signs and wonders wrought among the people and they were all of one accord in Solomon's porch
Part of the temple there and at the rest there's no man joined himself to them, but the people magnified them
You know, so the Apostles are kind of being set apart and kind of magnified right but is that something that because they were you know
Lifting themselves up. No, it's because God was using them. Okay
God exalted them in due time. Okay
Anyways, let's move along in the believers one of the more added to the Lord multitudes both of men and of women
Inso much they brought forth the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches that at the least of the shadow of
Peter passing by might overshadow them
some of them and there came also out of the cities round about them unto Jerusalem bringing sick folks and
Then which were vexed and unclean spirit with unclean spirits
Excuse me
And
They were healed
Everyone when the high priest rose up then the high priest rose up and all they that were with him
Which is the sect of the Sadducees and were filled with indignation
So these the high priests rises up right and they're filled with indignation what are they mad about
Sorry, I'm still getting over that cold
Obviously, you know what they were upset about
Is what the Bible just subscribe to us now when you read verses 12 through
16 was there anything I just infuriated you
You're like all the healing all the church is being met
You know the people they're being magnified and then people are getting saved. Can you believe these guys?
Man someone has to do something about these guys. I need to get to verse 17. You're like, yeah
It's about time somebody took care of these guys
Right. No, that's what they're but that's what they're and they're indignant. Excuse me about
That they're healing people that were vexed with unclean spirits
That sick folk are getting healed. They're just jealous about what the Apostles are doing. Mm-hmm
Why?
Because the Sadducees are those that compare themselves among themselves
Right. Sure. Thank you. They're they're just
you know, they're they're unwise people who just want to you know,
Thank you, brother
who just um
You know are upset that anybody else is doing greater works than them
That's what's taking place here that's what they're all upset about
And
It's not they're just mad they do something about it verse 18 and they laid their hands on the Apostles and
Put them in the common prison, but the angel Lord by night opened the prisons doors and brought them forth, right?
I love all the prison breaks in the book of Acts. There's just people are constantly getting blessed out of prison, right?
and said go and stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life and
When they heard that they entered in the temple
so they go right back where they were in the morning and taught but the high priest came and they that were with them and
Called the council together and all the Senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought
So they're like, alright, let's you know, let's get these proceedings underway
But when the officers came they found them on the prison
They returned and told saying the prison truly found shut with all safety and the keepers standing without before the doors
But when we had opened we found no man within
Now you would have think that this would kind of be a clue to these guys
And we'll see here in a minute that Gamaliel is kind of getting it, you know with what's taking place like, okay
so let me get this straight they were all shut up and the keepers were there and
They say that they were there all night, you know, there was no way for them to escape and yet they did
And you know, it's just like and and then everything and then remember why were they cast in there to begin with because they're healing
people and doing miracles
right
You can start to see you know
How God truly had hardened some of these people's heart how you know, and this is the reprobate mind
Right the reprobate mind can just see the hand of God working
You know and just be
Filled with indignation over it
The point where they're gonna be found to fight against God right Gamaliel reigns them in
At the end and says let's not be found to fight against God, you know, we can't overthrow God
You know, but this is typical, you know these, you know
That's why you know and the Bible does say that a lot of these Pharisees and Sadducees
They could not believe because God had hardened their heart and blinded their eyes. They were reprobate make no mistake about it
Not all of them. Obviously many Jews believed there are a lot of Pharisees that converted, you know
Even Barnabas a Levite, you know sold his possession, right?
But there were a lot of you know
Obviously that a lot of that religious sect that were just had crucified Christ and were just hell-bent on destroying
The true work of God on earth, right because they're reprobate
So when they see the working of God, they just they're just filled with indignation, right?
Because they're not you know reprobate isn't just somebody who just doesn't believe in God. They literally hate God. They are haters of God
They hate God and they hate those that are godly in Christ Jesus. They hate him
Because you I mean how else do you explain this?
How else do you explain any rational human being seeing what's taking place?
You know all these healings these miracles and then this this miraculous jailbreak, you know, which was something, you know
What did they think was it was this Houdini they're dealing with or something? What did they think was going on?
Was all some big trick
It's just that they it was you know, obviously the hand of God and yet they're still upset
They're just mad because they hate God
And
The same thing is true today
You know when they see God's hand working when they see the Word of God going forth and being true preached in truth and sincerity
You know and people hearing that message when people are
Spiritually being healed when people are having you know, the Word of God preached unto them, you know
The same thing happens today the haters of God they can't stand it and they're filled with indignation
They have to lash out
They have to write the church they have to leave the voicemail
You know normal people even people who maybe don't believe in God don't believe in the God of the Bible
Maybe scoff at the things of God. There's your typical unsaved person that's out there
Maybe you know, maybe subscribe to evolution or you know
They just kind of have been just brainwashed and just taught to believe whatever, you know, but they're still just they're not reprobate
You know normal people
Would just kind of they would hear it maybe like the preaching that comes across this pulpit from time to time and
Here's some hard message
Maybe that some preacher gets up and says just preaching the Word of God and they might rub them the wrong way
And they might not like it but you know what they just kind of move on with their life, don't they?
They don't just make it their their mission in life to try to destroy that individual
You know the worst it's the worst type of people that take the time out of their busy schedule
You know, I say that with a great deal sarcasm
To actually reach out to a church and say some of the things that I've heard them say
You know and I'm talking terrible things
You know say things like oh he deserves to have his head bashed in in front of his family
You know one guy
Left the message for yours truly, you know
Saying I hope your children are mauled by pit bulls in the middle of the street and they bleed out in your arms
And then you hang yourself and no one finds you and you rot in a closet
That was you know, hey check the messages
But you know, yeah, I can see your God, okay
Why would you say that but I already know why they say that because that person is probably just a reprobate who can't stand God
And can't stand anyone that's actually preaching God's Word
It's not a normal person to be filled with that much indignation. I
Mean I'm not so, you know
Ignorant to not understand that, you know, there's people that are gonna hear some of the things I preach you just kind of
Alright guy ever have Bible thumper and then go on with their life
That's a normal person. Okay, that's just a normal unsafe person
It's the reprobate that behaves like this where it's just they have to just destroy it
They just have to lash out in some way. They have to lay their hands on them or talk about how they'd like to
Anyway, I gotta move on they find them not in the prison. They say the doors are shut
Verse 24 now when the high priest the captain the temple the chief priests heard these things they doubted of them weren't to this would
Grow so they're worried about how much this is gonna spread
Then came one and told them saying behold the men whom you put in the prisoner standing the temple and teaching the people
and when the captain and the officers
And
Then with the captain in the office and brought them without
Violence for they fear the people this they should have been stoned
When they brought them they set them before the council and the high priest asked them saying did we say do we not straightly command?
He should not teach in this name and behold. He have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and tend to bring this man's blood upon us
Okay
This man's blood being Christ, right?
Because that's what they're preaching you have killed the prince of life you with wicked hands have slain him, right?
Verse 29 then Peter the Apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men
You know, I thought about really parking on this point because obviously that's a real famous verse. There's a lot of application we can make there
Obviously we ought to be a God rather than men
but you know
Sometimes I just feel like Christians. They just take that to an extreme right where they forget the part about obeying God
They just make their life all about not obeying the ungodliness, right?
They want to just disobey anything that they just deem as
You know anti-christ. It's a satanic. It's unbiblical, you know, it's just their duty in life to disobey
They're just more focused about the disobeying ungodly, you know men, but they forget about the part about obeying God, right?
You know, they they'll just get all up in arms about something and they'll just be all irate about something someone
Righteousness, there's some iniquity and some wickedness that's in the land, but you know, they've kind of left off the obeying God part
You know, they'll I mean they can write you out
Just you know
Just this long text and make all these great points about how this sin is wicked or whatever and how they're just so
indignant about some
Unrighteous deed that's out there in the world, but then it's like but where are you going to church?
You know, they can tell you they can make some great long YouTube video. It's like but have you read your Bible?
Okay, I got to move along at that point but you know, let's not get off kilter there
Yeah
Let's not when when wicked men are trying to get us to do ungodly things when they're saying it's serve God or serve man
Obviously we go serving God
But we obey God, okay
First story the God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom he slew and hanged on a tree, right?
Him have got exalted and with his right hand to be a prince with his right hand to be a prince and a Savior
for to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins
And we are his witnesses of these things and so also is the Holy Ghost whom God have given to them that obey him
when they heard that they were cut to the heart and
Repented and said you know what? You're right
What we were so wrong
Peter John you guys you're right. No and took counsel to slay them
Right goes back the point. I was just making
That you know people just can't these reprobates just can't handle. They just want to destroy the truth
They don't want to retain God and their knowledge
Okay, they don't want someone sitting there telling them reminding them, but they're wicked and that
They've been given over
first 34 then set up one of the council a Pharisee named Gamaliel a doctor the law had in reputation among all the people and
Commanded to put the Apostles forth a little space. So he's kind of calling a recess, right?
It's like get him out here, you know, get him out of earshot. Let's have let's get together have a little powwow, right?
And he said to them he men of Israel take heed what to yourselves what you intend to do is touching these men
for before these days was a
Thudias boasting himself to be somebody to whom a number of men about 400 joined themselves
Who was slain and all as many as obeyed him were scattered and brought to naught
After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of taxi and drew a much people after him
He also perished and all and all even as many as obeyed him were dispersed right? So again, these are
Reminding these other guys that were all about not obey, you know disobeying wicked men
But you know, it seems to me like they might have forgot about the obedience to God anyway
So you say hey remember these other rebels that came up and these are probably just guys, you know, obviously that were
Rising up against the Roman government. They were against the you know, the days of the taxing, you know
They just wanted to make their life about fighting the IRS
It's like go fight the IRS and see how far that gets you
Right
We don't have to pay taxes
Okay
Quit paying them and I'll just tell me which federal prison you end up in and I'll send you a cake
But there won't be a file in it. All right
So cookies, you know see you when you get out, right?
They perish, you know again, we ought to obey God rather than men, but it's obeying God
That's the battle that we fight don't get caught like one of these guys who just takes on a stand on
An unbiblical issue right because it doesn't lead to anything it just gets
Squelched just gets stamped out they gets as it says they're dispersed at the end of verse 37
scattered brought to naught dispersed
So Gamaliel is like reminding in these other instances and now I say unto you refrain from these men and let them alone for if this
Council be or this work of be of men. It will come to naught and Gamaliel is right about this
If all that Peter and the Apostles were doing was just the work of men, you know, we wouldn't even be reading about it
right
But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it lest half will be found to fight against God
You know and Gamaliel is 100% correct about this, but what does that tell you about?
What Peter and the Apostles were preaching that it was of God?
That faith remains
Right, you know the faith that we have today is the faith that they were, you know
It's not you know espousing back in the book of Acts where we're reading. It's continued on ever since then
So what does that tell you if it didn't come to not that it's not the work of men
It is the work of God and look we already believe that but it's good to be reminded of this
That this is the true faith this is the way the truth in life that was who you know, that's what we preach Christ
Okay
Christ you know reassured let's go to just go to 1st Timothy chapter 6. I'll wrap this last point up very quickly
you know
Christ told Peter, you know that that the gates of hell would not prevail against the church
and we see that playing out in Acts and
Really if Gamaliel hadn't come along and piped up I
Mean who knows what would have happened obviously, you know, there's there is going to be more persecution
It comes, you know in in chapter 8 chapter 7. They're gonna be scattered, you know, Stephen's gonna be martyred
They're gonna be scattered, you know
Into you know, the regions beyond and that's actually gonna work for the cause of Christ, right?
It still would have gone on but you know if
Peter and John might have come to a you know, an early end here and the other Apostles if
Gamaliel hadn't stepped up and said something right
The gates of hell shall not prevail against it
against the church
And even a guy like Gamaliel can be used of God right to to make sure that doesn't happen
Ultimately in this story what we see is that God is in control of what took what's taking place and what isn't allowed to take
place, okay
That's important for us to be reminded of okay, because sometimes we might find ourselves embroiled in some conflict
Where we're facing a lot of resistance, you know, we down here haven't gone through that
You know, yeah somebody texts or you know leave some
You know stupid email or voicemail or whatever. It's just like
You read enough of those and it's just like water off a duck's back eventually, right? This is like, yep par for the course, okay
But we haven't really faced a lot of things here that you know other churches have faced
okay, and
You know, it's important to be reminded though that if that ever happened that whatever takes place is God is allowing it
Okay, God allows that to happen
ultimately
Man cannot overthrow the faith that we have he cannot they can't overthrow the faith
Of the Bible the true faith they can't they can't fight against it. They will be fighting against God, okay
This faith is the you know that that they're preaching here is the faith that remain that roommate had remained unto this day and
Will remain going forward. Okay
Look at 1st Timothy chapter 6 verse 11
He says in verse 11 though a man of God flee these things fall after righteousness godliness faith love patience meekness
Fight the good fight of faith
So what I'm the point I'm trying to make here at the end is
How did this faith come to us the faith that we have the faith that we share?
With the Apostles that we're reading about with the same group of people
You know God's people in the book of Acts that we're reading about we share that same faith that faith has
Passed down through the generations to us. That's the faith that we have today
We are built upon the foundation the Apostles and the prophets
You know, that's what we're built upon
their commandments their sayings
That's you know, it's come all the way down through the millennia to us. How did it get there because men fought
to keep it
Men took a stand they preached and they taught and this is a great example of what it takes to make sure the pick
the faith continues on obviously God ultimately is control and
Even if man fails God will keep the faith
here
Okay, but it's it's people like Peter like Paul
Who have fought to keep the faith down through the ages down through the centuries that that we have today
That's why Timothy is being reminded to fight the good fight of faith the layhold on eternal life, okay
We are to earnestly contend for the faith, which was once delivered to the Saints
You know the faith that we have is one that has been fought for
You say what do you mean fought for through Crusades? That's not what I'm talking about
Not talking about going out and fighting for some so-called universal church and all its heretical doctrines
We're not you know trying to you know, we're not Muslims or something
You know, we're not trying to conquer the world, you know and submit everyone to our faith
When I say fight what I mean that that we take a stand for it that we can tend for it
That we preach and teach it right with
Unrelentily we we obey God rather than men and we preach our faith no matter what the consequences are. That's how it came to us
So it's a real shame and with you know, we have this
This faith that has been passed down to us that has come at such a great price for so many
I mean just the people were reading about but just think about the untold millions that we don't even know anything about
All the great stands all the the suffering has taken place so that we can have the faith that we have to have the Bible
That we have to understand and have the doctrines to have the gospel preached like we have
It'd be real shame for us to now have that and then to do nothing with it
But to drop the ball and let all those people down right people who have fought the good fight of faith
You know Paul was telling Timothy to fight the good fight of faith
Because he was able to say in 2nd Timothy. I have fought a good fight of faith
He's saying you know, what manner of man I was, you know, you know
Who I am, you know my person, you know, what tribulations came to me, you know what persecutions
You know, you know the things that I've gone through I you know that I finished my course Timothy, you know
I fought the faith. It's your turn now to fight the good fight of faith
You know, that's a previous generation speaking to the next one. That's how we've gotten the faith that we have today
That's how we have the Bible that we have
That's how we have the doctrines that we believe is because people have fought that good fight
They've obeyed God rather than men men have fought
That's all this faith came to us
You know look at how look at how it ends here in verse 40 and to him they agreed
Gamaliel and when they had called the Apostles and beaten them they command and they should not speak in a Jesus name and they let
Them go and what did they go do? They wouldn't spoke in Jesus name, right?
And they departed from the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name
Now, oh man, we got to rethink our whole lives. I don't know if this whole
Christianity thing is for it for us. I mean, I don't know if we should be doing this anymore
No, they were like man. We are so fortunate to been able to suffer for the cause of Christ
When they were physically beaten
Physically beating, you know, I don't I've never been beaten up my whole life
And I've never beaten anybody up, you know
But I can't imagine that beating you taking a beating is something that is a very pleasant experience
It's something that I generally try to avoid at all costs
You know, let's see. I don't honk my horn drive around Tucson
You know, I don't go around mean mugging people because you don't know who you're gonna messing with, right? I
Try to stay in my lane be a nice guy
Because
I don't want to I don't want to catch a beating, you know
Because that's a painful thing who wants to go through that
Right, but you know, and here's the thing. How many people do you know that have been beaten for Christ? I
Don't know anybody I
Mean, I'm sure that we've all know somebody that's been pushed or maybe smacked
But I'm saying this wasn't this is not what they're talking about where it says they when they beaten them. I
Mean they're taking it there. It's probably got brewed. They're limping. They're bloody. Probably they're walking away. Just like
You know, oh man, I'm so glad we're worthy to have suffered for Christ. He slapped me right on the wrist
You know, oh they wrote a nasty text message. Oh, they they told me they said some mean things to me online
Oh, I'm so glad I saw you know, we haven't even begin to scratch the surface of what it means to suffer for Christ
but these people have and
That's how our faith came to us is because of people were willing to even put their lives
Physically on the line for the cause of Christ. This is how it all got started. Okay
They and they but notice how it ends and daily in the temple and in every house
They cease not to teach and preach Jesus Christ
Very famous verse right? It's the theme verse of our church people work
That's
What they did but that came after a beating
Right, they were willing to suffer that and they were willing to continue on and preaching and teaching
Every day every house in the temple. They did not cease
How did this faith come to us?
Through people who preached and taught unceasingly
Right, they ceased not and it's teaching and preaching
You know, it's the going out the preaching the gospel teaching the Word of God out there to loss
but also came to us through people being faithful to church faithful to preaching the Word of God and
Getting their families in church and having their children hear the preaching Word of God and being brought up in the faith
That's how our faith has survived all the way down through the ages
Because the people that were willing to do this
unceasingly teaching unceasingly preaching
Even in the face of great opposition, okay
So that's how our faith is going to continue
you know if we back off and
You know if our church decides to just not do the work anymore
You know then there's gonna be generations
They're gonna grow up without this faith in this town people that otherwise
could have had the been taught and preached to who could have been brought in the fold and
Changed and lives changed and and and the faith continued on through them
You know, that's gonna that's that work will go undone if we cease
You know, so that's why we have to contend for the faith. So we have to fight the good fight of faith
We we have to be like the Apostles here
You know everyone gets all excited about the miracles, right?
You know, everyone wants to be like Peter and just let people cast your shadow upon somebody and heal them
Right that you look that would be great. But those things have passed those things have ceased
Whether they be tongues they shall cease right? What has it ceased the teaching? What has it ceased the preaching?
That's the greatest gift. That's the greatest work that any of us could ever hope to do
Let's not stop doing it. Let's go ahead and close in order prayer