- Chapters: [[Acts 4]]:32-[[Acts 5]]:11 # 1. [[Acts 4]]:32-37 Everyone working together - (I missed the first part of the sermon) - They are mainly setting the scene for the picture that follows # 2. [[Acts 5]]:1-11 Two Faced Members - Some of the disciples thought they could give the appearance of giving and working together while actually keeping stuff to themselves -- [[Ananias]] and his wife [[Sapphira]] kept some of the proceeds from their property sale - [[Peter]] can tell and confronts him: "How is it that [[Satan]] has so filled your heart that you have lied to the [[Holy Spirit]]...? ...You have not lied just to human beings but to [[God]]" - Issue isn't that they didn't give all the money from the sale to the [[Church]] -- their money is their own and they were under no obligation to do anything - But the issue is that they were **pretending** they were giving everything but actually held stuff back - Key point: Lying specifically to the [[Holy Spirit]], rather than [[Jesus]] or [[God]] - It's the [[Holy Spirit]] working through the risen [[Lord]] [[Jesus]] that is driving things here -- [[Mission Unstoppable]] is driven primarily by the [[Holy Spirit]] - Recall [[Exodus]] where it's the [[Holy Spirit]] leading the [[Israel]]ites through the desert - [[Psalm 78]] recalls how often they tested the [[Holy Spirit]] - Consider a [[Football]] player who takes an ambitious shot rather than making a good pass. As a spectator it can be embarrassing to watch! - [[Ananias]] instantly dies from this, and so does [[Sapphira]] when she doesn't tell the truth either # Implication 1: The [[Church]] is not immune to lies - "[[Satan]] has filled your heart" -- while [[Satan]] was defeated, he is still around - [[Ananias]] and [[Sapphira]] do still have good intentions -- willing to sell their property for their [[Gospel]], and give much of the proceeds - The problem is that [[Satan]] has snuck in the back door and their hearts have been filled with that instead of the [[Holy Spirit]] # Implication 2: We need to fear the [[Lord]] - "Fear of the [[Lord]] is the beginning of wisdom" ([[Proverbs]]) - Do note the instant judgement of [[Ananias]] and [[Sapphira]] isn't the norm - But in certain key moments he could choose to act dramatically when the [[Holy Spirit]] is opposed so his people can learn - Some say there's a difference between [[Old Testament]] and [[New Testament]] [[God]], where one is judgemental and wrathful and the other is loving and just, but that's not true -- they are one and the same - A lot of the most beautiful statements of love are in the [[Old Testament]] - And a lot of the most sobering judgement cases are in the [[New Testament]] - [[Mike Caine]] from [[Cornerstone 2025]] makes a comparison with the sea - He loves watersports and hanging out in the sea - But still fears the sea - It's better to face embarrassment now than to face much greater shame later on -- try now to make things right. Talk to your life group members or other members of the church about your issues - Perhaps we have started to become blasé about the [[Lord]]. It would probably do us all good if we were to have seen first hand what happened to [[Ananias]] and [[Sapphira]] - Unfortunately the [[Lord]] is merciful and gives us plenty of time to reconsider for the most part # Implication 3: Mission unstoppable won't be derailed - [[God]] still cares about the church, and this episode acts as another sign pointing in that direction - We mustn't be discouraged when we feel that [[God]] is too slow to act -- his normal way is to give people time to repent and work slowly - But episodes like this remind us that [[God]] is not impotent and uncaring -- he's deeply committed to seeing all his plans succeed - His [[Holy Spirit]] won't be tested forever, and it won't be stopped