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God is Holy
Acts 5: 1 - 16
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The Story:
§ Acts 4: 32 – 37
§ Were one in heart
§ Shared all their possessions
§ God’s grace powerfully at work in them all
§ No needy among them
§ From time to time sold what they owned and placed it
at the feet of the apostles for distribution
§ Barnabas (son of encouragement) – a Levite from
Cyprus – recognized for his significant gift
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Acts 5: 1 – 16
• Ananias and Sapphira sold some property and kept
some of the profit for themselves
• Put part of the money at the apostles’ feet
• (Peter) “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that
you have lied to the Holy Spirit…?” v3
• “Didn’t the land belong to you? Didn’t the money from
the selling of the land belong to you to do whatever you
want?
• Why have you lied…?” Ananias heard this and died…
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3 hours later…
§ Sapphira comes in, Peter asks her if this is the full
amount and she says, “yes”
§ Peter, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the
Lord? …those who buried your husband are at the door
…will carry you out too…” (v9)
§ At that moment, Sapphira fell at Peter’s feet dead and
the young men who buried Ananias – buried Sapphira
next to him.
§ Fear seized the whole church and all who heard…
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What happened here?!?
§ Ananias = “The Lord is gracious” or “God’s grace”
§ Sapphira = cobalt blue precious stone – “Beautiful”
§ V2 “wife’s full knowledge, he kept part of the money” –
their right – this action was not wrong
§ “but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet” –
PROBLEM! This was a cultural act of surrendering all
that he has as an act of worship to the Lord… not just
dropping off some money… not just an offering…
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§ Peter asks: “How has Satan filled your heart?”
• “Didn’t the land belong to you?
• Didn’t the money from the selling of the land belong to
you to do whatever you want?
• Why have you lied…?” Ananias fell dead
• Sapphira comes in, is asked about the amount, she lies
too… She was given a chance to tell the truth! Dies…
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Does this mean “Tithe or DIE!”
Absolutely NO!
§ The “issues” were:
1. This was an act of worship (tithing is an act of
obedience and judged differently). This is
WORSHIP – recognizing His value and
holiness. Because of Who You are, I give
everything I have and everything I am to You –
the Sovereign and Holy Lord God.
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#2
§ Their acts of evil and sin were
covetousness (remember
Barnabas in Acts 4?)
§ Hypocrisy – “two face” Pluralistic
lifestyle… believe one thing but
behave opposite…
§ Picture = Spiritual Trajectory
Target
Goals = Bible
says…
Reality =
how we live
How we live and
what Bible says
must be closer as
we grow in holiness
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Ananias’ and Sapphira’s Sin was NOT
keeping part of the money…
§ Not recognizing the Holiness of God
§ Making the sacred (acts of worship)
become profane (nothing and without
value)
§ Living pluralistic lives…