The Church of the Resurrection of Peace

12/02/08

The Acts of the Apostles-Week 5

Chapter 5

Verses 1-11

1.      verses 1-11…Ananias and Sapphira

·         vv 1-2…the deed is done…property is sold and part is held back. Ananias held the part back and Sapphira went along with the plan. A portion, that is told to be 100%,  is brought to the Apostles.

·         vv 3-6…Peter deals with Ananias. v 3…”Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit” NOTE: How do you lie to the Holy Spirit? v 4…As long as it was owned or the money held, Ananias had full control and no sin has been done. He tried to say what he gave was 100% when, in all reality, he really had to give nothing at all.  It would have been better to have given nothing than to…”lie to God” vv 5-6…Ananias, having been confronted with his lie, falls dead and is buried quickly. Those watching were very afraid. NOTE: Would you have been afraid and afraid of what, Peter, God…?

·         vv 7-10…Sapphira returns. She is questioned by Peter (v 8) if the amount given was the entire amount. Her reply was “Yes” and was a lie as was Ananias’ statement. She is confronted with her agreement of the plan by Ananias and her testing of God (v 9) See Deuteronomy 6:16 and Matthew 4:7. She is told of her husband’s death and her coming death. v 10…Sapphira falls dead and is buried by the same young men next to her husband.

·         v 11…”Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard…”    

   This was the first sin within the church and was handled in a very dramatic way. How is sin within the church handled today? The fate of Ananias and Sapphira showed there was no profit in holding back from God/church if you are so led by the Holy Spirit to give.

   How are we at following the lead of the Holy Spirit and the giving as we are lead? In a past Living Lesson, it was brought forth that giving as led is not just money as in the case of Ananias and Sapphira. Are the “consequences” as severe to us as the hold back was to this husband and wife?