MPC
25th February 2018.February 25 - Acts 4:32-6:7 - "Authentic Church"
MPC
25th February 2018.
Phil Campbell
I was reading the other day about James Suter, who was modifying his IK*A table; sawing through it to make it shorter to fit in the room. When he found... that his $59 genuine woodgrain Binksy tabletop; on the inside, was actually made of corrugated cardboard. With a thin layer of plastic veneer.
Don't you hate that? When you go below the surface and you find something is less than you expected it to be?
We've seen it play out in public life the last few weeks. The difference between what they're calling public morality and your own private morality as a politician. Barnaby Joyce promoting the importance of traditional marriage in the marriage debate. When in private his own marriage vows are in ruins.
In so many ways, we live in a world that's all about keeping up appearances.
Which you'll notice this morning is almost immediately a problem in the growing church.
We've tracked over the last few weeks the astonishing way the church is growing. From 120 in a room. To literally thousands meeting along Solomon's verandah on the side of the temple. Forming a whole new kind of community.
Last week we left them praying. Filled with the spirit. Speaking the word of God boldly.
And at the end of Acts 4 it's a wonderful picture of gospel shaped community. All the believers are one in heart and mind. They're sharing everything. The apostles are testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus with much grace and power; and as a side effect, verse 34, there's not a needy person among them. Because every now and then, people who own houses or land sell them, and bring the money from the sales, verse 35, and lay it at the apostles' feet. Who then divide it up and distribute to anyone in need.
Now I don't know what land prices were like in first century Jerusalem. But in 21st century Mitchelton No 4 Parkview Road just behind our place sold a few months ago for $570 thousand dollars. Land value only.
That's a big lump of money. And every now and then people are selling their spare blocks, selling their holiday houses; and bringing the money to the Apostles so they can share it round.
What could possibly go wrong?
Well, just to remind you that the book of Acts is set in the real world, the answer is, two things. Which you see across chapters 5 and 6. Two things. Relating to the very practical areas of community life in a mega church. Which is what they were.
First the IK*A problem. Of Christians who just want to keep up appearances. Who on the inside don't match what they say on the outside.
And second the favouritism problem. When it comes to equally distributing the food. That they've bought with the donated funds.
As we track through the passage I want to make four obvious observations. That may or may not be helpful to us as a church here today. Although I'm pretty sure they will be!
And the first one is this. That when you see genuine generosity, it's hugely encouraging.
Just have a look at the guy at the end of chapter 4. Verse 36. His real name's Joseph, from Cyprus; but he's got a nickname. The Apostles call him Barnabas, which means son of encouragement. Because he's one of the guys, verse 37, who sells a field, and brings the money, and puts it at the disciples feet.
Other people are doing it. But here's our concrete example. And how encouraging is it to see that kind of generosity. For a guy to be both well resourced and well motivated. To the point where he's so ready to share.
Son of encouragement. Barnabas. What a great nickname.
I heard about a guy; he was a huge contributor to a church where a friend of mine's the pastor. My friend said to the guy, I just want to thank you for your huge generosity. To which the guy said, "I'm actually not actually hugely generous. At the moment I've just got a huge amount of money." And for him it was just natural and obvious. If you've got it... you share it.
And look the reality is, it does take a generous spirit to see things like that. And when it's from the heart, when it's authentic, when you do it, you're a son or daughter of encouragement. It might be just a little bit. The thing that's encouraging is when it comes naturally from the heart.
Observation number 2. Cardboard Christianity... the IK*A kind... where what it looks like on the surface isn't what's on the inside... observation number 2, cardboard Christianity won't cut it.
Now here's the thing. You might think you can fake it and get away with it with your husband or wife. You might think you can fake it 'til you make it at work. You might think you can pretend to be something you're not at school. And you might be right.
But if you think you can fake it with God, you've got it badly wrong.
Look again at what happens. At the start of Acts chapter 5.
Now keep in mind. There's Joseph. Son of encouragement. Everyone looks up to him.
What if you think the way ahead is to fake it 'til you make it? I mean, be nice to have that kind of reputation, wouldn't it?
Watch carefully. Because on the outside, it looks almost exactly the same. Ananias and Sapphira have sold a piece of property too. Just like Barnabas.
One small difference. Chapter 5 Verse 2 says, with Sapphira's full knowledge, Ananias holds back some of the money for himself; and then brings the remainder. And puts it at the apostles' feet.
Now it's a neat little way that Luke tells the story, here's the third thing to be put at the apostles' feet. And it won't be the last. Keep an eye out.
Who knows what the property was worth. Who knows whether it's more than Barnabas put in or it's less. Who knows the size of the deal. I guess there's a real estate agent out there who's got a fair idea. Plus the guy who bought it. Nobody else.
But the point is, what you're seeing on the outside... doesn't match the reality on the inside. Because Ananias and Saphira aren't motivated so much by a heart of generosity; they're not about encouraging; they're about their reputation.
And it's interesting. Peter sees straight to the heart. Here's a church where back in chapter 4 verse 32 all the believers were in one heart and mind and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own; a church where they shared everything they had.
And now Ananias. With Sapphira's full knowledge has kept back part of the money for himself.
And Peter somehow knows the truth. And says to him the words in chapter 5 verse 3; Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you've lied to the Holy Spirit; and have kept for yourself some of the money you got for the land?
Here were are in the first weeks of the church, and there's already hypocrisy going on. Here we are in the first weeks of the church, and it's looking like it's all going to be built from cardboard with a very thin veneer. Here we are in the first few weeks of the church, and already... it's all about keeping up appearances.
Ananias and Sapphira, they're trying to buy admiration.
But Peter says to Ananias, it's the devil at work. The end of verse 4, he says to him; "What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
And verse 5, when Ananias hears his words, he literally drops dead. On the spot.
And a bunch of young guys come and wrap up his body and they carry him out and they bury him.
While as you'd expect, great fear seizes all who hear what's happened. Which doesn't, at this point, include his wife. Who's probably out shopping for an expensive new dress.
Verse 7, she comes in. She hasn't heard a thing. And Peter puts her on the spot as well. Testing. To see how deep the deceit's going to run. Giving her the chance to have a change of heart.
Verse 8, Peter asks her directly, "Sapphira, tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" And she says, "Yes, that's it. That's the price." Not true. But she's keeping up appearances.
And so Peter says almost the same words as before. How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? He says, look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door. And they'll carry you out too.
At which point, verse 10; she... falls at his feet. Dead.
I mentioned so far three other things have been put at the Apostles' feet. Other people who put everything at the Apostles' feet.
Now. The hard way. Sapphira has as well. Lying there dead on the floor. It's laced with irony, isn't it?
And the young guys come in, they feel for a pulse. And take her out. And bury her.
And we're told again in verse 11, great fear seizes the whole church; absolute awe; literally mega fear. Because clearly, God means business. This church thing, it's for real. The fact is, cardboard fakes with a thin veneer just aren't going to cut it.
And Ananias and Sapphira are the beacon and example of that from that moment forward.
Now lest you're thinking back to what you put in the plate this morning or what you've given by direct transfer through the week and you're feeling nervous, I want to put your mind at rest. Or maybe not. As we come to observation number 3.
Now I know that some of you are hugely generous in your giving to gospel ministry. And I love that. I don't know who you are. But I know for example that you can see on the back of the bulletin that so far this year, we're running above budget. And that only happens when there's generous giving. And on the other hand I know there are some who maybe can't give at all. But you're generous in other ways. And statistically I know there's a percentage of people who in the Church Life Survey a while back said they don't give at all. So here's observation number 3.
And that is, generosity is optional, but genuineness isn't.
Now you might be surprised I'm going to say this. I mean, later on this morning we're talking about a building project that's going to cost money. Surely I'm meant to say you've all gotta dig deep and be generous. And sell your blocks of land. And share your money.
But instead of saying that, Peter's saying you don't have to!
Peter's not saying dig deep and be generous. Peter's saying dig even deeper. And be genuine .
Take a look at his words in verse 4 of chapter 5. We skipped over them before. But have a look now. Because he's highlighting the problem. Here's Ananias, who's made a huge donation. But it's not what it seems. So look at Peter's words. He says, Ananias, you didn't have to do any of it.
Verse 4. He says to him, you didn't have to sell your land. It was yours in the first place. He says "Didn't it belong to you before it was sold?" You could do what you like with it. You didn't have to sell it. You didn't have to give it.
And Peter says, after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? You could do what you like with it. You could have said you'd give half That would have been generous. You could give a quarter. That would have been great. You didn't have to give any of it!
What you did have to do... was be genuine about it. And not use it as an excuse to big note yourself. And act as if you're something that you're not.
Reputation. It's a terrible master isn't it? But a good servant. If you're driven by it, if you're seeking it, if you're motivated by what people are going to think of you. You're heading for disaster.
But see, if you're genuinely motivated by the gospel that the one who died for sin is king; that you're serving a king who's already given everything for you; and so you're left brimming with a humble gratitude; and so out of that gratitude you're living sacrificially even when there's nothing in it for you or for your reputation... then you're really getting it. And so it's gospel generosity. And it's not the IK*A cardboard kind of fake Christianity at all.
Now we're going to see that quickly in observation 4 as well. That it all comes back in the end to the gospel offer of new life.
Now you might wonder what's going to happen to this new Christianity movement after two of it's key figures are struck down in their tracks by God. I mean, terrible PR, isn't it? Join the church and give your stuff and get dead.
And it's no surprise in verses 13 and 14; less people are just casually dropping by. No one else dares join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
But on the other hand, verse 14; nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Which means there's a real seriousness about it. No casual drop ins. People are weighing it up seriously. And believing anyway. And the reputation of Jesus just keeps growing and growing.
Which you'll see creates jealousy among the Jewish leaders in verse 17. And more persecution. Another night in jail. And in the night, in prison, an astonishing thing happens, an angel turns up. And reminds them once again of the main thing.
You can see it in verse 20. And this is observation number 4 that we can take away from the passage. That the gospel isn't about pretending. It's actually about new life. That's absolutely real.
The angel swings open the jail doors and brings them out. And the angel says, in spite of the opposition, get on with it. "Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people the full message of this new life."
Which is exactly what they do. Instead of hiding. Full public view.
From daybreak, verse 21, teaching the people. About the resurrected newly alive Jesus. Who gives new life to his people as well.
Look, cutting a long story short, they're brought to the Sanhedrin council again; like last week; they're warned again about teaching in the name of Jesus, Peter makes a great speech again about the resurrection of Jesus; Gamaliel, one of the good guys on the Sanhedrin makes a speech in their defence. It's worth reading.
They're whipped. And ordered never to speak in the name of Jesus again. But they just rejoice that they've been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for "the name." And they keep at it.
And Verse 43. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stop teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.
That he's the king. Which is, in the words of the angel before, the full message of new life.
Genuine life. Not fake life. Real. Not just veneer.
See, here's the point. When you really understand that the gospel's all about generosity... it's the start of a whole new life. And at that point, the Holy Spirit starts work. On the renovations. Why would you need to fake it at that point? Why decorate with IK*A? When you've got the solid stuff laid on?
And why would it matter to you what anyone else thinks... when you've got a king who was prepared to die for you just as you were?
I know they say fake it 'til you make it. But why try to fake it... when you didn't have to make it in the first place? The good news is that Jesus already made it for you.
When the spirit takes that message. And applies it to our hearts. There's an overflow of gratitude. And and overflow of generosity. That really is real. All the way through. And not a cardboard substitute at all.
So let me encourage you. To bring. To share. To let your imagination run wild with how to be sons and daughters of encouragement. How to be Barnabas. Not for the sake of appearances. But from the heart. As the gospel works its way to new life in the genuine you.