Tabor Baptist Church

Bible Text: Acts 4:31-5:11, Psalm 112:1-10 | Preacher: Andrew Love | Series: Acts | 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