Acts 5 – “It’s Not About Looks: Cultivating God-consciousness”
Q1: Describe the mentality of Ananias and Sapphira. Why they did what they did? What were they hoping to gain? What is their practical theology?
Q2: How are you like Ananias and Sapphira?
Q3: Why doesn’t God strike people dead in modern times like he did to A/S?
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Part 1 of 2
Intro:
Welcome back. Hope everyone had a good break. We are resuming our study from the book of Acts.
Summarize Acts 1-4.
Today, we are picking up at a very critical juncture in the history of the early church in Acts 5. Amidst the persecution that the early Christians endured from the Roman Empire and the religious leaders, as miraculous healings were occuring and thousands of people were being saved, at the height of the Holy Spirit being poured out in power upon these first century Christians, there is this chilling account of two church members, who happened to be a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, caught telling a lie and God strikes them dead on the spot.
First lesson – watch out who you marry. Brothers, don’t be an Ananias to your future wife and sisters, don’t be a Sapphira to your future husband. This is very good passage to meditate upon before you think about whom you will marry, but I digress. That’s not what I want to talk about.
Q1: Why did A/S commit this sin?
To answer that, we need to first set the scene.
The early church was a happening place. After the crucifixion, all the disciples had scattered. Their leader, their rabbi, their friend Jesus had been nailed to a cross. It seemed like a tragic end to a promising movement.
Then 3 days later, everything changed. Jesus had resurrected from the dead to validate the claims that he was the Son of God. Anyone can claim that they are divine, or they are God or the Messiah, but this is the first and only time recorded in history that someone was dead and raised to life 3 days later. The Christians who witnessed this miracle were unstoppable — they kept proclaiming that what Jesus said during his 3 year ministry was true. He was and is the Son of God. He is the way, the truth, the life. And by his blood, sinners like us can be forgiven and reconciled to God.
The Romans denied the resurrection. They tried to cover it up. They tried to forcibly quiet these Christians by throwing their leaders into prison and torturing them. But they could not be silenced. That is how confident these early Christians were about what they had witnessed. They were willing to die for their new found faith in the risen Jesus.
This band of recent converts had gained quite a reputation. It says in Acts ??? that people dared not join their ranks and yet God added to their number daily those who were saved. To an outsider, there must have been something strikingly different yet attractive about this group. They welcomed people of all ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. While the sick, the lepers were discarded outside the city gates by their own countrymen and families, Christians would historically risk dying of disease to take them in. These kinds of acts of radical generosity and total self-disregard are recorded by secular historians like Josephus.
These Christians were not mere talkers. They walked the walk. When a Christian brother or sister didn’t have enough money for food, another church member would provide for their lack. This early faith community, as we studied Acts 2 shared everything and thus no one was in desperate financial need.
People were truly freed of materialism and physical possessions because through Jesus’ resurrection, God had opened their eyes to see a greater reality, a spiritual reality. At the end of Acts 4, this remarkable generosity was on display as Barnabas sold a field and donated the money to the community so that those who needed financial assistance could benefit. It truly is a beautiful foretaste of what life in the kingdom of God is like.
It was a faith community that had made quite a reputation for itself in their society. Acts 5:13-16.
13No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15As 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. 16Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by evil[a] spirits, and all of them were healed.
No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Sounds like the Christian special forces. And yet the Lord added to their number continuously.
And into this kind of scene, we have Acts 5. It really is a jarring juxtaposition — on the one hand, you have the amazing work of God and incredible acts of selflessness and generosity and on the other hand, you have the tragic sin of Ananias and Sapphira who were part of that same community and experienced the same God and amazing work.
So this begs the question, why did they commit this sin? The answer is pretty obvious I think. They wanted to look good. Good old Barnabas had sold his field and donated the proceeds to the church and I assume Peter or James must have made a big deal about it because it is a big deal. How many of us can sell our car and donated $15-20,000 to met the meets of others? Barnabas’s act of generosity is of that magnitude.
I can imagine the church members talking, can you believe what Barnabas did? I know, wow, that’s amazing, God is real. Apostle Peter can finally buy a new fishing pole. No. One person’s sacrifice I am sure supplied the needs of many in that community.
So of course Ananias and Sapphira got wind of what Barnabas had done. There goes that Son of Encouragement. No wonder people gave him that nickname. Looking at this kind of reaction from the people, Ananias and Sapphira must have thought, what about us? How come no one is talking about us? How come Peter and James and Barnabas get all the attention?
Then probably over a harmless dinner of manna and lentil stew, they hatch their deception and decide to sell a piece of property just like Barnabas and give the proceeds just like Barnabas. But there is one key difference – they held back some of the money but they told everyone that they had given the full amount.
This may be an obvious statement, but I want to clarify that the amount of the sacrifice is not the problem. God wants a cheerful giver and we all give according to our faith and our financial means. For some, giving a tenth of their income is tough. If you are rich, maybe you are able to give 50% of your income and still live comfortably. If you are poor widow in Mark 12, we read —
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins,[j]worth only a fraction of a penny.[k]
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
So it depends on our measure of faith and our financial capacity. What this couple did was above and beyond the norm of even the most committed members. No one asked them to sell their property. And if they sold their property and gave only 10%, that still would be a lot of money. What’s equivalent to a field in modern times? 1 acre in LA could go for $100,000 to several hundred thousand depending on the location. So 10% is $10k — not a small chunk of change.
The Bible doesn’t record the amount that was held back because the amount is not the important detail here. It is the fact that they lied and held back some portion but told everyone that they had given the entire amount.
We can only surmise but I think it is safe to assume that by appearing extremely generous, on par with Barnabas, they would be on the fast track to spiritual prominence. Maybe given a leadership position and instant respect from others in the community. They were people more of external appearances than true inner integrity and substance. I call them practical atheists because in this type of human calculation, God was not in the picture at all. They worshped God. They prayed to God, but when it came down to real life, they choose themselves and people over God. They were the center of attention and their chief audience was people. God was not a major player here at all.
This provides a nice lead in to our second question.
Q2: How are you like Ananias and Sapphira?
This world is all about looks.
That’s how the world works, but the tragedy begins when that same world mentality enters the sanctity of the church.
I tell that to Jackie everyday. You don’t need to step on the scale. I love you the way you are.
Same goes in reverse. I was trim and healthy when I was single. Now, I am married so I am home free. Love me or leave me. I’m set. That’s why I put on a few pounds.
Our church – not a meat market. Discourage flirting.
Physical looks. Hollywood – movies – no celebrity looks nasty, unless you are a comedian or you are wearing a zombie mask.
Climbing up the corporate ladder. Work – all about looks – I have some news for all your engineer/science and math types.
the ones who rise to the top know how to look good, you have to schmooze, how to present yourself and sell your ideas, fake your feelings, bad temper toward expendable people, super nice to valuable people, it’s all people management skills
Because this is the kind of world we live in, it is no wonder that this “it’s all about looks” mentality creeps into our spiritual lives and our church.
Subtle shift – all about God in the beginning moves to become more about people.
Symptoms that we are people-conscious:
– Church back at home in Philly – leaders at the church were leaders in the world.
– when I am alone, I am not motivated to seek God. take this past winter break – how did you do when you were alone? when you didn’t have small groups to encourage you, or other xian bros and sis in the dorm to keep you in check. myers/briggs – extrovert vs. introvert – where people derive energy. Christians need to have a certain streak of introvertedness.
– my best spiritual days are always on sundays because that’s when I need to put my best foot forward.
– we pray for something and then after the event passes, we don’t thank God
– Ministry results
– People’s reactions dictate how you feel about your spiritual life
– You do something – no one says anything, no thank you, how do you respond?
– Leader vs. member – deflated when you are not leading or you are not the center of attention.
Q3: Why doesn’t God strike people dead in modern times like he did to A/S?
Special time in history of the church – God had to maintain the purity of this community so that it started the right way.
Same thing visibly does not happen but spiritually the same principle applies. All about looks leads to certain spiritual death.
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Part 2 of 2
Q4: Contrast A/S w/ Peter. What is Peter’s practical theology? Recall Peter’s journey to get here.
Q5: How can we cultivate God-consciousness?
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Recap of last week:
Last week, Ananias & Saphira taught us that it’s not about looks. They were people-conscious. But we need to strive to be God-conscious – driven by what God thinks of us.
As Peter says in chapter 5:29 We MUST obey God rather than men.
Q4: Contrast A/S w/ Peter. What is Peter’s practical theology? Recall Peter’s journey to get here.
We talked last week about A/S’s practical theology and how they are essentially godless. They pray to God, they attend meetings, they participate in community life and service, but God judges them because their motivation for all of this is to look good before people. Their god is people because that’s their audience. God is really not in the picture.
I made the point last week that it’s difficult to tell if we are people-conscious or God-conscious.
my college campus ministry experience – God-consciousness in me was too weak. who sleeps less? now no one to impress.
student leader – you all want to serve and I thank God for that, but you have to be cautious.
Form of people-consciousness. the other side of the spectrum, people who feed off of praise and acknowledgment of others, needs leadership, lime-light roles, need to somehow broadcast the good deeds that they have done..
Think about Peter. During the 3 years when he was being discipled by Jesus, Peter was a conflicted individual. Did he do things out of a love for Jesus or did he do things because he wanted to outdo all the other disciples. It’s tough to tell. Peter is a mixed bag. One moment he was super confident and brash and saying he would die for Jesus and other moments he expressed such a tenderness toward Jesus. I’d say, it’s a bit of both.
Peter was certainly a changed man by the time we see him in Acts when he could confidently say before his persecutors — we must obey God rather than men.
But pre-Acts Peter is very different.
Famously denied Jesus. Matthew’s account of his denial of Jesus: to a servant girl, the lowest of low in society at that time. his fears were legitimate – he was afraid of dying? of humiliation? not sure, because just minutes ago, he was ready to die for the Lord, even whipped his sword out and cut off one of the general’s ear off! what happened to the bold Peter? suddenly it mattered very much what people around him thought.
UNTIL he looked at Jesus right in the eye. Luke’s account of his betrayal shows that right after denying Jesus, Peter and Jesus’ eyes meet, and that’s it. That destroys Peter – why? because he has let down the One and Only person that really matters – his Lord, Jesus.
The next time we see Peter is in Acts and he is utterly transformed.
What was the key turning point in Peter’s life? It was when God exposed Peter for who he was. Not the super leader who was more impressive than the next guy. But Peter, a betrayer, a coward, a sinner.
This is very significant. Peter could have maintained the illusion of his self-proclaimed greatness and people-consciousness for many years, perhaps for his whole life. But God out of his love, exposed him in a most shameful way, before a servant girl and right in front of Jesus.
Jesus throughout his ministry constantly rebukes and challenges the religious leaders of his time. He said, why do you pray flowery prayers in public before men and why do you fast and let everyone know you are fasting? He gave them countless opportunities to deal with their people-consciousness and see their sin.
The same thing is happening in Acts 5.
The religious leaders who were persecuting Peter in Acts 5 were given the same opportunity to repent of their sins and people-consciousness.
Acts 5:17 reads 17Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy.
Why were they jealous? Because in the preceding verses the apostles were healing many people and crowds were gathering around them. You see, they were getting popular and that is exactly what the religious leaders wanted. They were not being religious for God. They wanted the recognition and respect from people more than praise from God.
And Peter gives these religious leaders an opportunity to repent. Lets read Acts 5:29-32 – 29Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men! 30The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
This statement is exactly what Peter experienced when he denied Jesus. Basically, you’re all show. When push comes to shove, it’s all about people and not God. And Peter translates this same message to the religious leaders, Peter says, all the stuff you do is all for show, it’s all motivated by looking good before people, God is not in the picture — but of course he is much harsher in his word choice, he said you religious leaders killed Jesus.
It’s always God’s mercy that he exposes us for who we are, but it is up to us to respond properly.
Haiti – earthquake. God sends earthquakes in our lives to test our foundation. To see what we are made of. and what motivates us. That is his mercy.
Q5: How can we cultivate God-consciousness?
Some verses to think about:
John 5:44
How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1″Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
2″So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6
Prayer
5″And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6
Fasting
16″When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
TEST YOURSELF – bring it down to the practical stuff
who are the people you are living before?
parents – for some of us, we have to be willing to disappoint them
How do you react when your friend receives high praise for something they’ve done or said?
How do you feel when your friend gets the limelight, and you fall into the backdrop?
How do you feel when you don’t receive praise or acknowledgment you feel you deserve?
How do you feel when you try to love someone but they don’t receive it as love and they are not grateful to you?
Do you feel self-conscous and think about what you said and did, and later wonder what people are thinking about you?
How much do you include God in your little and big choices in the day?
How often do you think about God in the day?
When you do something good or loving, do you have to make sure that somehow your friends know about it?
Do you seek attention from others and feel diminished if you are being ignored?
Does your mood fluctuate based on how others are treating you?
Do you read into people’s words and facial expressions and second guess them?
Are you afraid to speak up about your opinions, afraid of what people will think of you?
How do we cultivate God-consciousness?
Secret Acts of Love & Goodness
what are some secret things you do?
dates with jesus – secret thing, then started telling people – strange things happen
Tips – remember that Christianity is about a relationship
– unhurried time with jesus
– need to learn how to be in God’s presence – try it – thoughts keep crowding in
– centering prayer
– praise and thanksgiving – who he is and what he has done
– lectio divina
self-discovery – need to find what works for you. for me, songs work.