Transcript

We are going through the book of Acts following “The Continuing Works of Jesus.” We’ve been seeing how God is using the church to turn the world, and its systems, upside down

In Today’s lesson, we’ll be looking at Acts 5-6. In this passage, we see a people/culture travailing in the birth pangs of giving life to a new living culture. The world of cultural and religious leaders is being demolished.

Two themes jumped out at me as I read through the passage: Integrity & Loyalty

• Integrity Matters – however, a lack of integrity simply illustrates a misplaced loyalty.
• Loyalty Matters More –  the question we must ask ourselves is this: To whom or what am I loyal?

Quick Overview of Acts 5-6

The entire background scripture of the lesson today is so full of fascinating stories and precedents set by the early church.

Acts 5.

v.1-11 Ananias and Saphira 

v. 12-16 includes stories of miracles and increasing believers

• I am convinced that all the while they were passionately sharing.
• These guys were on fire.

v. 17 – 26 The story of the Apostles imprisoned, an angel opens the doors, sends them back to the temple to continue preaching the good news

v27 – 47 The believers are on trial and they rejoiced in suffering: “We ought to obey God rather than man.”

Gamaliel was a courageous voice that brought some reason but didn’t really challenge the broken cultural underpinnings.

Acts 6

v. 1 – 7 Church administration, taking care of widows, choosing deacons, and the church growing.

v 8-15 Stephen’s wisdom and spirit overpowers the religious leaders

• These are some radical shifts: a cultural earthquake.
• It sounds like our day.

Let’s read Acts 5:1-11

¹ But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 

² And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 

³ But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 

⁴ While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

⁵ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. 

⁶ And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

⁷ Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 

⁸ And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

⁹ Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 

¹⁰ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 

¹¹ So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

We have the story of the apostles preaching in the temple, getting thrown into prison, and the

angel setting them free and sending them back to the temple.

Acts 5:25-29

²⁵ So one came and told them, saying, “Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!”

²⁶ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 

²⁷ And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 

²⁸ saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”

²⁹ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 

We are getting an inside look at two very different versions of “God’s People”

1. The religious leaders of Israel 
2. The leaders of the early church

Both, God’s people

• The One knew about God; The Other experienced God
• The one looked right; the other lived right
• The one was concerned about holding onto their own power and reputation; the other was concerned about living into God’s power and reputation.
• The one was loyal to the system; the loyal to God

Let’s look first at the early church.

Here is what we can see from the text: they were on the offensive because they had a message to share.

Powerfully Pure

Purity is godly unity built on  integrity, loyalty to God before the group – it weeds out the false followers and growth is the result.

The Story of Ananias & Saphira

• They were people of wealth so they were selling and giving as needed,
• It is noteworthy, and it was not required, as Peter indicated,
• Paul confirmed that as well by his direction for wealthy believers in I Tim 6:17.
• This was voluntary giving out of obedience and loyalty to God
• The problem here was that their loyalty to themselves trumped their loyalty to God, and as a result, they lied and died.
• How many of you would like to be a part of that church
  • You hide, you’re hit
  • You lie, you die
• Fear of God came on all–it  had a purifying effect on the culture.
• Loyal obedience to God was the basis for unity and integrity.

Passionately Preaching

They had nothing to loose, nothing to protect.

• These guys were on fire .
• Miracles and Preaching – that was their mission.
• Their vision – that the world would know Jesus, the risen Christ that they had experienced.
• It wasn’t just intellectual head knowledge, it was real.
• They were radically transformed and passionately in love with Christ
  • Matt 7: In the end of time, Christ responds to those who are saying you should accept us, we’ve done all these good things in your name
  • He said “I never knew you.”
  • The Greek word here is the same one used in a sexual context in other passages.
  • Christ is coming back for believers who have known him in the depths of an experience, not just intellectually or a bunch of facts about some historical figure.

Purposefully, Practicing

They were organized and strategic. They worked through the widows care issue and came up with a plan to stay on mission and they were focused.

They went back to the temple when released from prison and continued on with the mission

• They were on a mission; they had a plan.
• It’s further demonstrated in chapter 6 when, as needs of the church increased, they appointed deacons to care for the widows, so that they could go back to preaching and spreading the Word.
• Nothing was going to stop them.
• They obeyed faithfully.
• They worked through differences lovingly.
• They organized wisely to carry out the mission efficiently and effectively
• There are so many lessons here for our churches today.