THEME: “Know Christ & Make Him Known”THEME: “Know Christ & Make Him Known”SERIES: A Contagious Family of FaithSERIES: A Contagious Family of Faith

“Time for a “Time for a Reality Check”Reality Check”

Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-11Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-11

Matthew 6:1-2 Matthew 6:1-2 “Be careful not to do “Be careful not to do

your 'ACTS of righteousness', your 'ACTS of righteousness', [your righteous PRETENDING], [your righteous PRETENDING], before men, to be seen by them. before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward If you do, you will have no reward

from your Father in heaven. from your Father in heaven. And when you give to the needy And when you give to the needy do not announce it with trumpets, do not announce it with trumpets,

as the HYPOCRITES do as the HYPOCRITES do in the synagogues and on the streets.” in the synagogues and on the streets.”

hypocrite = hypocrite = “actor” “actor”

Acts 4:32-37Acts 4:32-37 32 - All the believers were one in heart and mind. 32 - All the believers were one in heart and mind.

No one claimed that any of his possessions was his No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.own, but they shared everything they had.

33 - With great power the apostles continued to 33 - With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was upon them all.much grace was upon them all.

34 - There were no needy persons among them. For, 34 - There were no needy persons among them. For, from time to time those who owned lands or houses from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales,sold them, brought the money from the sales,

35 - and put it at the apostles' feet, and it 35 - and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.was distributed to anyone as he had need.

36 - Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom 36 - Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), Son of Encouragement),

37 - sold a field he owned and brought the 37 - sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.money and put it at the apostles' feet.

Acts 5:1-11Acts 5:1-11

1 - Now a man names Ananias, together with 1 - Now a man names Ananias, together with his wife, Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.his wife, Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.

2 - With his wife's full knowledge he kept back 2 - With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

3 - Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that 3 - Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?some of the money you received for the land?

4 - Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And 4 - Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5 - When Ananias heard this, he fell down and 5 - When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.had happened.

6 - Then the young men came forward, wrapped 6 - Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 - About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had 7 - About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.happened.

8 - Peter asked her, 'Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the 8 - Peter asked her, 'Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

9 - Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? 9 - Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."they will carry you out also."

10 - At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young 10 - At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. beside her husband.

11 - Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these 11 - Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.events.

verse 32verse 32“All the believers “All the believers

were ONE were ONE in heart and mind!”in heart and mind!”

verse 34 verse 34 “no needy persons “no needy persons

among them.” among them.”

The Ministry of Giving The Ministry of Giving in the Early Churchin the Early Church: :

1. Thousands of pilgrims came to 1. Thousands of pilgrims came to Jerusalem at Pentecost and became Jerusalem at Pentecost and became Christians Christians

2. Many believers have lost their jobs 2. Many believers have lost their jobs because of their faithbecause of their faith

The Believers were GladThe Believers were Glad::

1. They knew that Jesus died for their sin 1. They knew that Jesus died for their sin

2. They understood that their gift lasts 2. They understood that their gift lasts foreverforever

22ndnd Corinthians 9:7 Corinthians 9:7 “God loves a cheerful giver.”“God loves a cheerful giver.”

Barnabas = Barnabas = JohnJohn "son of encouragement" "son of encouragement"

Job 1:7 Job 1:7 “roams around the earth.”“roams around the earth.”

Ephesians 6 Ephesians 6 “put on the full armor of God”“put on the full armor of God”

Romans 16:17 Romans 16:17 “I urge you, brothers, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those to watch out for those who cause divisions...”who cause divisions...”

kept back = kept back = “embezzlement”“embezzlement”

11stst Samuel 6:7 Samuel 6:7“Man looks at the outward, “Man looks at the outward,

but the Lord looks at the heart.”but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Ecclesiastes 12:14 Ecclesiastes 12:14 “For God will bring “For God will bring

every deed into judgment, every deed into judgment, INCLUDING EVERY INCLUDING EVERY

HIDDEN THING.”HIDDEN THING.”

verse 3verse 3

“You have lied to the Holy Spirit “You have lied to the Holy Spirit of God and kept for yourself of God and kept for yourself

some of the money some of the money you received for the land.”you received for the land.”

Why Cover and Bury Why Cover and Bury the Dead Bodythe Dead Body::

1. hot climate made bodies begin to 1. hot climate made bodies begin to decompose quickly decompose quickly

2. Deuteronomy 21: God commands it when 2. Deuteronomy 21: God commands it when people died because of His judgmentpeople died because of His judgment

Verse 11 Verse 11 “great fear seized the whole church “great fear seized the whole church

and all who heard about these events.”and all who heard about these events.”

1.1. Being Real Builds Up Being Real Builds Up SelfSelf

Isaiah 14:14 Isaiah 14:14 “I will MAKE myself “I will MAKE myself

LIKE the Most High.” LIKE the Most High.”

“ “Mere Christianity”, C. S. Lewis: Mere Christianity”, C. S. Lewis: "Every time you make a choice "Every time you make a choice

you are turning the central part of you, you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, the part of you that chooses,

into something different from what it was before...into something different from what it was before...you are slowly turning this central thing you are slowly turning this central thing

either into a heavenly creature either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: or into a hellish creature:

either into a creature that is in harmony with God...either into a creature that is in harmony with God...or else into one that is in a state of war or else into one that is in a state of war

with and hatred of God...with and hatred of God...to be this kind of creature is heaven: to be this kind of creature is heaven:

that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and that is, it is joy and peace and knowledge and power. power.

To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, To be the other means madness, horror, idiocy, rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness.”rage, impotence, and eternal loneliness.”

2. Being Real Builds 2. Being Real Builds Up OthersUp Others

Dietrich Bonhoeffer:Dietrich Bonhoeffer:“If a Christian is in the fellowship “If a Christian is in the fellowship

of honest confession with a brother, of honest confession with a brother, he will never be alone again anywhere.”he will never be alone again anywhere.”

Brennan Manning: Brennan Manning: “The single most cause of atheism “The single most cause of atheism

in our world today is Christians in our world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips who acknowledge Jesus with their lips

but walk out of the church doors but walk out of the church doors and deny Him with their lifestyle. and deny Him with their lifestyle. This is what an unbelieving world This is what an unbelieving world

simply finds unbelievable.” simply finds unbelievable.”

3.3. Being Real Builds Up Being Real Builds Up God’s GloryGod’s Glory

John MacArthur:John MacArthur:

“None are so ugly in God's sight “None are so ugly in God's sight

than are those who flaunt than are those who flaunt a spiritual beauty a spiritual beauty

that they do not possess.”that they do not possess.”

““Two men went up to the temple to pray, Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men,

robbers, evildoers, adulterers, robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” or even like this tax collector.”

But the tax collector stood at a distance. But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even lookup to heaven, He would not even lookup to heaven,

but beat his breast and said, but beat his breast and said, ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ” ‘God have mercy on me, a sinner.’ ”

(Luke 18:10-13)(Luke 18:10-13)

LIFE-CHANGE QUESTIONS:LIFE-CHANGE QUESTIONS:

1.1. Who is asked to conduct a “reality check” Who is asked to conduct a “reality check” and why?and why?

2.2. How do you try to pretend to be How do you try to pretend to be someone you’re not?someone you’re not?

3.3. What does pretending do to you?What does pretending do to you?

4.4. What are steps you can take beginning What are steps you can take beginning today to know that you are being real? today to know that you are being real?