ACTS | Life That Is Truly Life

Life That Is Truly Life | Acts 4:32-5:11

Acts 4:32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”

3 Qualities that Revealed why the Church had Healthy Success:

1. The Church was Unified.

Acts 4:32a “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

Acts 4:33a “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”

2. The Church was Unselfish.

Acts 4:32b “No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own” 

3. The Church exhibited Generosity

Acts 4:32c “…they shared everything they had.”

Acts 4:33b-35 “And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.”

Luke gives two examples of giving: One showing how generosity works and one showing how easily it can get hijacked.

Example #1 The Sacrificial Generosity of Barnabas.

Acts 4:36-37 “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.”

Luke 6:38 GW“Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you.” God has been incredibly faithful to NCC!
Jehovah-Jireh means “the Lord, your provider”

The benchmark of giving is the Tithe

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”

God will do more with 90% when you tithe than you will do with 100%.

Sacrificial Generosity

Acts 20:35b “…remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”Example #2 – The Tragedy of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)

George MacDonald “Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not.”

Hypocrisy means “wearing a mask, playing the actor.”

Warren Wiersbe “Hypocrisy is deliberate deception, trying to make people think we are more spiritual than we really are.”

Acts 5:1-5 “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.”

Acts 5:11 “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”

Let’s examine how Satan hijacked this offering from Ananias and Sapphira:
1. Satan worked to get them to sin.
Q. Is it possible that Satan is trying to use me?

 Oliver Wendell Holmes “Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle which fits them all.”

2. Pride motivated their sin. 

Proverbs 8:13 “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”

We are stewards, not owners.

3. Their sin was directed against God’s church.

Matthew 15:8 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”

Is my profession of faith backed up by the practice of my faith?

1 Timothy 6:18-19 “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”