Trouble in Paradise

Acts 4:32-5:11

Introduction

1.  The picture of life in the Early Church up to this point has been fairly idealistic (cf. Acts 2:42-27)

2.  The first Satanic attack on the Church came from the outside in the form of persecution.  The second attack comes from within!

3.  This passage presents a vivid contrast between the influence of the Spirit (4:32-37) and the influence of Satan (5:1-11).

I. The Spirit’s Influence on the Community of Faith

1.  The Church enjoyed tremendous unity (v. 32)

2.  The Apostles preached with tremendous power (v. 33)

3.  The believers exercised sacrificial generosity (vv. 34-35)

4.  Joseph “Barnabus”  typifies the Spirit-Filled life:

• His name means ‘son of encouragement’ (cf. 11:24)
• He embodies a commitment to radical generosity and honesty before God and man

II. Satan’s Influence on the Community of Faith

1.  Ananias and Sapphira provide a vivid contrast with Barnabus in Luke’s narrative

2.  Their sin was two-fold

• Lying to the Holy Spirit
• Hypocrisy within the body of Christ

3.  Their motivation was two-fold:

• A sinful desire for financial gain
• A sinful desire for spiritual prestige

III. God’s Hand of Discipline

1.  God’s response in killing these two individuals may seem shocking to us or even scandalous!

• Our natural reaction to this story ought to reveal that we don’t fully appreciate the gravity of human sin against a perfectly holy God
• God used Ananias and Sapphira near the beginning of the Church’s history to make a statement about sin just as He made a public example out of Achan near the beginning of Israel’s history (Joshua 7:1)

2.  This story reminds us that God is just as holy and righteous in the New Testament as He was in the Old Testament – His character has not changed!

3.  This story reminds us that God disciplines believers when we sin – sometimes very severely!

4.  This story reminds us of the need to repent immediately when we are given the opportunity to do so

5.  This story reminds us that God demands honesty in our relationship with Him and with one another.