Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Looking at the early church
• The bible is not a political book - to defend ones own political views
  • Chapter 4 does not defend or promote Marxism or Communism
    • Ananias and Sapphira could have kept their private property
  • Marxism - is atheistic and coercive
    • There were no constraints placed upon the believers
    • Rather the fruits of the Holy Spirit were evident (including love)
  • Chapter 5 is a contrast
    • A bit like the Old Testament passage of Achan - explanation
    • Ananias and Sapphira are threating the unity of the gospel and threatening contamination
    • God acts very swiftly
  • Marxism and Communism is the opposite of fellowship
    • Example of Romanian Pastor
    • Fellowship is about giving, loving and caring
    • Ananias and Sapphira were threatening this
• Overview:
  • The Fruits of the Holy Spirit (4:32-37)
  • The Consequences of lying to the Holy Spirit

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit (4:32-37)

• Did you notice a parallel with Chapter 2?
• They were filled with love
  • 2:44-45
    • The same thing happens in Chapter 4
  • The Holy Spirit descends and people are filled with love
• They had a very high view of God's sovereignty
  • In Chapter 2 there was a very high view of God's sovereignty
    • The same in 4:28-29
  • The vertical leads to the horizontal - it leads to a deep love for one another
  • If we have a high view of God, are we loving each other deeply?
• The people were united (v32)
  • The had all possessions in common
  • Do you see your possessions as your own or for the blessing of others?
  • God's people have a light hold on material things and open hands to other believers
• They preached the gospel
  • Remember that Peter and John had just been threatened by the Council
  • They preached boldly
  • Powerful preaching has an effect - example of Moldova
• They had a generous spirit
  • They were concerned for the poor amongst them
    • Not many were noble
  • They sold land and houses
    • A great working of God
    • They brought the proceeds to the apostles feet
    • There was a complete trust in the leadership of the church (the apostles)
• Application:
  • Do we hold too tightly to material things?
• • Do we open our hands in generosity?
  • Deut 15:7
    • We need to fall in love with people and fall out of love with things
    • Our hearts need to be loosened to things and tightened to people
  • Natural families are often generous, is the church family generous?
    • Tabor is a giving church
  • There are often so many calls upon our money - but we are rich in comparison to the rest of the world
  • The Macedonians gave out of their poverty
  • Do not give out of compulsion - 2 Cor 9:7
  • God does not look at quantity but the heart
    • God desires sacrificial giving
    • Prov 3:27-28
• v36 - Joes/Joseph / Barnabas
  • He was to be a key figure in the early church
  • He came along side others - particularly the apostle Paul
    • We need others to come alongside us
  • He gave land and brought it to the apostles feet
    • Ps 112:9

The Consequences of lying to the Holy Spirit

• Satan is attacking the Church
  • Examples
• • This passage is given to provide confidence that God is judge of His Church
    • 1 Cor 11
• A misunderstanding of the text - that Ananias and Sapphira were disciplined for covetousness and greed
• They were disciplined for hypocrisy and deceit
  • They probably wanted the accolades of others
  • They wanted to give the impression they were giving the full value
• God hates hypocrisy
  • Example of the pharisees
• Satan filled Ananias' heart
  • He filled Judas' heart
  • This was a satanic attack on the church
  • Ananias had not lied to men but to the Holy Spirit (who is God)
• Sapphira was given an opportunity to repent
  • She does not
• God judges harshly
  • People might not understand this
  • We must understand the situation in context
    • This was a remarkable time of growth
    • This deceit could not be allowed to spread throughout the church
    • God is preserving the purity and holiness of His Church
  • A great fear came upon the people
    • v12 - Great wonders and signs were done among the people

Closing Remarks