What MUST we do?
Notes
Transcript
Introduction and Loose Ends!
Introduction and Loose Ends!
Since our beginning here in the the Book of Acts, The mighty Spirit of God has come over all believers
The disciples have set out with a new set of marching orders…
Those orders… By the power of The Holy Spirit bring many to a saving knowledge of God and as Eph 3.19 says that they may experience the love of Christ, then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
The disciples have been persecuted! Thrown in jail, flogged, ordered not to preach the word of God, not to heal in the name of Jesus, to be be under house arrest. From the Sanhedrin
The Sanhedrin, or the Supreme Jerusalem Council, had much power and influence.
Think about this way. This area that we are talking about was ruled by Rome at this time, since 70AD and probably longer.
Rome pacified the Jews by allowing them to rule the Jews. Peter and John and the rest of the disciples eventually, were causing problems for the Jews. They were eroding their power. Moving the people from allegiance to Jewish tradition and history to allegiance to Christ.
This battle will continue...
So the deck is stacked against the Sanhedrin. It is the Sanhedrin vs.
God and power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus and His instructions to the disciples
The disciples and their individual testimony of God’s power and Saving Grace
They knew this… at some level they felt like this movement, these people, these followers of Jesus would sweep them out of control.... And they did! But that’s looking forward, way far forward.
These followers of Jesus, his disciples were healing, doing signs and miracles, they were living, eating and even going to Temple with their friends.
So that amongst all of those experiences they might have opportunity to share about Jesus with those they were spending time with. Those they were spending time with
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
There is a 4 step formula there
Teaching + Fellowship + Breaking of Bread + Prayer = Outreach, Evangelism, Salvation and duplication.
There is nothing magic about this, it takes a bit of effort, it takes a willingness to learn yourself, not at the seminary level but at the level that you are comfortable.
AND… it takes a continuing relationship with God through Christ, His Church, and His People.
What are we offering… SALVATION and ETERNITY WITH GOD
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
The Spirit is the Spirit of God and the “bride” is us… the church, the ekklesia, literally the ones called away from the masses.
You have been called out, from all the rest in the world who have ever been or will be born to be a part of His Church.
You have been:
born again, you will be welcomed into Heaven when you die
You have been given gifts from the Holy Spirit, to reach out to others
commanded to reach out, with words if necessary,
to be discipled and to disciple others. Whether you know it or not you are discipling the world by your actions… We will get to more of that in a minute or two
And to live a worthy of your calling to “be” a follower
vs. “doing” religion and “doing” to be “worthy.”
Your call, your command to disciple is being played out right now, today, tomorrow and for your life.
Let’s get to the passage for today
Acts 5 - The Story of Ananias and Sapphira
This passage of scripture dumbfounded the first witnesses. It frightened, scared to death the community.
That fear resonates through the church today… and through the world.
How many times have you said or heard said
“He’s probably going to strike me dead but...” And then going to relay a gossip or rumor or a faithlessness in thought or action.
What we are talking about here is, a promise made and not kept would lead to immediate DEATH!
Here is the first part of Acts Chp. 5 in context we have to look at the last verses of Chapter 4
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement),
37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
The people shared everything in common. Where there was a need it was met by the other members of the community. Even it ment selling all they had.
Are you sold out to God in every area in your life that you are willing to give for His church and his work? It’s a legitimate question. How much are you going to trust the larger church with and how much are you going to hold back?
This is NOT a command to GIVE AWAY everything and to live in poverty. It is a command to answer the bell when needed and BE WILLING to give everything if needed.
The English Standard version gives a key translation to
[[Acts 5.1]]
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
The ESV uses the “but” its a little word… but here carries a lot of weight
Luke is drawing a comparison… Barnabas vs. Ananias and Sapphira.
Barnabas had, sold and gave what he committed to. Ananias and Sapphira did NOT!
[[Acts 5.2]]
2 With 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.
3 Then 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?
4 Didn’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 to men but to God.”
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
Ananias had, sold and DID NOT give what he committed to.
Personal Disclosure
I have made a promise to God and kept my part of the deal.
I have pledged an amount, any amount to God and His Church and not fulfilled my obligation… Yet I am walking upright.
Why?
Even though God has a very poor view of hypocrisy, among his people. In today’s world God does not usually bring this kind of sudden judgement on people today.
It is a strong lesson for us today. You have been called out of the fray, to live above and beyond the world and its issues and to live an earthly life that is firmly anchored in Heaven.
What is the Apostles purpose?
Is it to strike people down or
build them up and encourage them?
The Apostle’s were out living in community, reaching hundreds or thousands for Christ. Demonstrating the power that God had given them, to do even more than Christ himself did.
As the old adage says...
it’s easier to lead a horse with a carrot than a stick… or maybe I just made that up!
The Encouragement came with a warning! Be truthful, be honest, meet your commitments to the best of your ability. Answer the call when a special need comes. Not to build yourself up to win others to Christ.
The Apostles are ultimately in the winning mode
12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.
The miraculous signs and wonders
14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Because of this testimony of performing more and more signs and miracles
15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil spirits, and all of them were healed.
They were all healed… sent back were they came from. Testifying about the goodness of the Lord all along the way.
We have missed that opportunity in our culture… we need to find ways that are contextually relevant to “heal in Jesus name.”
Of course so much power being shown was going to be met with objection and persecution. Such was the case with Peter and John and by extension the church in the world today.
What was the driving force behind this persecution?
17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
The strength human jealousy is a force of nature that unless strongly controlled will destroy everything that it is associated with. [period]
18 They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
After arresting them, throwing them into a jail cell, The Lord, freed them, right from under the noses of the Roman Guard.
The Apostle’s showed them up… Again and were found in the Temple yard, preaching the Word and leading still more to faith in Christ. They, the Sanhedrin, were saying, THIS MUST STOP!
The Apostles response...
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!
Are we, you and I being stopped from freely meeting our our churches…well we currently. Some may look at as government overstepping others look at as a a reasonable, prudent steps to take in light of what the State of Washington is suggesting.
Compare our experience with the rest of the world where Christ is being boldly proclaimed
Chinese churches being torn down, literally brick-by-brick; their Pastor’s thrown in jail for independence and freedom
In Pakistan, churches are being destroyed, believers scattered and pastors jailed
This is a taste of what’s up around the world… we could go on ALL DAY, ALL NIGHT over and over, and we still wouldn’t get to the end of persecution in he church.
Yet, in the US we remain basically FREE!
Peter and the other were brought before the Sanhedrin…again and not for the last time
34 But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.
Gamaliel, this may well be the same Gamaliel that was the Apostle Paul’s teacher in the way of the Pharisee’s. He was the greatest teacher of that time.
His order…
35 Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.
V. 38
38 Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.
Then he makes a STUNNING statement!
39 But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
But to let the Apostles go completely free...
They ordered them NOT to preach, NOT to preach
And then flogged them… they had them whipped. I’ve never been whipped it has to be excruciating!
Here is what the Apostles did with that experience
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.
REJOICING!!! Rejoicing for the disgrace and the suffering for Jesus.
There was nothing that would stop them...
42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
This was a whirlwind...
We have seen and read about Ananias and Sapphira and saw the contrast with Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus
We have seen and heard about the Apostle’s healing not just one but many, many people
We have read about their jailing, about the miraculous freedom from that jail.
We have seen and heard and maybe even felt the flogging that they experienced.
And rejoiced with them that they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the Gospel, the Good News that is Jesus Christ
What do we do now? What are our marching orders?
If your happy with your place in God’s Kingdom, Praise God! And keep working never stop proclaiming the Good News!
If your like me, I’ve got work to do. I have to draw myself up and out of the fray of this world and live like I am in Heaven with my feet firmly placed here on earth.
I need to live as Acts 2.42 calls us to
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Finally… The Elephant in the Room!
What do you and I do with this betrayal, this lie that we have lived. This lie, deceit, betrayal that cost Ananias and Sapphira their lives..
After we confess and repent from the sin. We live in Grace and Mercy of God.
That doesn’t absolve us of the commitment. Take your time, but keep your accounts short, pay or repay the Lord for your missed commitments and be ready because we don’t know the day or hour of His return or your going home.
Praise God that He does not treat you like Ananias and Sapphira but like someone that has potential and is a disciple awaiting the opportunity of a lifetime