Title: Overcoming Hypocrisy (Acts 5:1~11)
Contents The early church in Jerusalem was filled with God's grace and the Holy Spirit, and in the midst of persecution and trials from outside, they exchanged goods with each other and formed a beautiful community like a branch of heaven. In the midst of this, trials arose from within, but soon the Ananias Sapphira incident occurred. How did the early church overcome this ordeal, and what message does it give us today?
1. It is a revelatory event.
① This event is a revelatory event like the Achan event in the Old Testament. (See Joshua 7)
It was a time when the early church was just taking root and growing. At this time, if the poison of sin that Satan has sprayed spreads in the church, it will lose its function as a church. God has preserved the purity of the church from Satan's conspiracies. Joshua's army crossed the Jordan and crossed the city of Jericho, and at the beginning of the battle for conquest of Canaan, an incident occurred that blocked the advance of the army.
② The church and the kingdom of God are established by God.
If the Aninnia Sapphira incident continues today, wouldn't the church become a funeral home? This problem is the message that the first problem of believers' faith is to overcome hypocrisy, along with the message that holiness is life for the church, God's church is established by God, and God's war is God's warfare. The two pillars set up in front of the temple were Jachin (which he will build) and Boaz (who has power).
2. Hypocrisy is the most hated sin of the Lord (Matthew 23:1~36).
① The conduct of Ananias and Sapphira was a sin of hypocrisy.
The motive for selling the field and setting it at the apostles' feet was not only to establish the kingdom of God through his own devotion and to benefit the church, but also to receive praise and glory from others through good deeds shown to others. Instead of selling a field and not giving it all, it is not just giving a part, but deceiving some as all. Their deception is not a deception of man, but a sin of deceiving God.
② Why did you fall for the temptation of hypocrisy?
Their covetousness was taken advantage of by Satan. (3) Satan filled your heart. To be full means to be full of the Holy Spirit. When your heart is full of the world, you walk according to the desires of the flesh; when you are full of the Holy Spirit, you walk according to the desires of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:17) (4) In "You couldn't do it at your own discretion?", arbitrary refers to authority. It is the authority to dispose of the land at will, whether to sell or not, and the amount of the sale. However, if hypocrisy is captured, the power will be handed over to the devil. You must know that the fatality of hypocrisy is that you deceive yourself, and that it is a sin to deceive God and use God.
3. How to overcome hypocrisy
① All were greatly afraid (11)
The Ananias Sapphira incident was an experience of being in the presence of the living God. Fear in the Holy Spirit did not allow negative reactions or communion. The people praised the church, and there were more people who believed and came to the Lord, so there was a large crowd of men and women. (13~14) We need God-fearing faith. Maturity in faith is being true to yourself and your neighbors and being honest with God.
② It must be presented as an instrument of righteousness. (Romans 6:13)
The Lord has given us freedom from sin and the law (Galatians 5:1). Do not use the freedom you have given me as an opportunity for the flesh, but let us serve one another through love (Galatians 5:13). Don't give it to God, but give it to God as instruments of righteousness (Romans 6:13)