Ananias and Sapphira

IN ACTS 5 WE READ ABOUT AN INTERESTING COUPLE. THIS COUPLE WAS MARRIED AND THEY WORKED TOGETHER VERY, VERY WELL.

1. Sometimes couples to go marriage counselors and say, “We can’t get along.”

2. Those who married sometimes say that they cannot agree on things.

3. Ananias and Sapphira were two people who agreed on some things.

4. Acts 5:1 says “with his wife.”

5. This story describes a husband and wife who communicated with each other.

6. This couple worked out a plan that they both agreed on.

7. This husband and wife also participated in the execution of their plan.

8. The end of the first verse says that they “sold a possession.”

9. This possession was a piece of land (verse 3).

10. Ananias was not the one who sold the land.

11. This property was sold “with Sapphira his wife” (verse 1).

A. Sometimes husbands or wives may do things that the other one doesn’t know about.

B. Several years ago I was talking with a good friend.

C. This lady (who has been married for over 50 years) said, “I’ll tell you a secret.”

D. She said that she had not been spending all of the grocery money that she had.

E. She was holding a little money back.

12. The business transaction in Acts 5 was fully understood by both Ananias and Sapphira.

13. Verse 2 says that Sapphira was privy to it.

14. She knew what the plan was and she participated in it.

A. After the land was sold part of the money from the sale was brought to the apostles.

B. At this time in the church’s history there were some poor people who needed to be cared for.

C. Christians sold personal possessions to help those who were needy.

D. Ananias and Sapphira sold some land.

E. The Bible says that after this land was sold the money belonged to them.

F. Verse 4 – READ.

G. Ananias and Sapphira had complete control over their property and their giving.

H. No one told them what they had to do with their land or money.

I. Ananias and Sapphira were under no obligation to sell their land or given $ if it were sold.

J. They could have sold the land and kept all the profit.

K. They could have sold this land and given the money away or kept some and given some.

L. In the first century offerings were free will.

M. People decided on the amount that they wanted to give.

N. This is the way that things are to be done today.

O. We are to decide how much we want to give.

15. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to give some of the money from their land sale.

16. However, they also wanted to keep some of it.

17. It was not wrong for them to keep some of their money.

18. A large number of the people who are here this morning receive a paycheck.

19. Most give a portion of their income to the church.

20. It is also true that those who are here want to keep some of what they get paid.

21. There is no sin in keeping some of what we make.

22. There was, however, a sin in what this couple did.

23. Ananias and Sapphira wanted something that they were not entitled to.

24. They wanted to keep some of the money but make it appear that they had given it all.

25. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN THE BUSINESS WORLD WE WOULD CALL IT FRAUD. PETER SAID THIS COUPLE “LIED” ABOUT THE LAND.

A. To illustrate the point let’s say that Ananias and Sapphira sold the property for $5,000.

B. After they paid the real estate agent and the taxes let’s say that they had $4,500 left.

C. They brought $3,000 to the apostles and said, “Here is our contribution.

D. “We have sold some property and we are giving you the entire amount--$3,000.”

E. This would be a lie because they would still have $1,500.

F. Ananias and Sapphira may have concocted this scheme to impress others.

G. People would think that they gave every cent from the land sale when this wasn’t true.

26. Peter knew that Ananias did not tell him the truth about the money.

27. This sin was so serious that Ananias died (verse 5) – READ.

28. According to the 7^th verse about three hours passed.

29. Along came Sapphira. She was unaware of what had happened.

30. Peter asked her a question – 8a – READ.

31. What was Sapphira’s answer?

32. 8b – READ.

33. One of the most fascinating verses in this account is verse 9 – READ.

34. Scores of sermons have been preached on how husbands and wives should cooperate.

35. Marriage seminars have stressed how couples need to work together.

A. This story shows that there can be exceptions to what is often taught.

B. There are some circumstances where it is wrong to support a spouse.

C. Sapphira had no business cooperating with her husband in this sin.

D. If Ananias were committed to this course of action she should not have participated.

36. When spouses make choices that are sinful there is no obligation to follow them.

37. Paul made this clear when he wrote to the Corinthians.

38. In the first part of First Corinthians 7 Paul spoke about marriage.

A. In verse 15 he described a situation where a Christian is married to a non-Christian.

B. Paul pictured a situation where a Christian was deserted.

C. He spoke of a non-Christian mate “departing.”

D. Here is what the text says – READ.

39. This was an important truth for the early Christians.

40. Some who were married to non-Christians had to make a choice.

41. Unsaved spouses said, “You get rid of your God or I will leave you.”

42. “It is me or the church; you choose which one you want.”

43. Paul said in circumstances such as this, “let that mate depart.”

44. If forced to make a choice between Christ and a spouse, choose Christ.

45. At the end of the verse Paul spoke of “bondage.”

A. He said that Christians are not under “bondage.”

B. That is, God’s people are not bound to elevate a marriage above Jesus.

i). If a mate says choose me or the church the right choice is the church.

ii). We are not bound to give up Jesus for a mate or anything else.

46. This was the principle that the couple in Acts 5 should have used.

47. When one proposed an evil scheme the other should have said, “I will not participate.”

48. “You are my spouse but you are asking me to choose between your scheme & God.”

49. One of the spouses should have said, “That is wrong and I will not help you.”

50. Luke recorded that this is not what happened.

51. Both Ananias and Sapphira did participate and both died.

52. WE LIVE IN A TIME WHEN COUPLES ARE SOMETIMES PUT INTO A POSITION THAT IS SOMEWHAT SIMILAR TO ACTS 5.

A. One spouse wants to do something that is wrong; inconsistent with God’s will.

B. The second spouse must make a choice.

C. Should he or she support the sin or do the will of God?

D. The principle from 1 Cor. 7:15 tells us.

E. If there is a conflict God’s will must be followed.

53. There are many purposes for having a mate.

54. One purpose is to help keep each other on track.

A. Times can arise when a Christian partner becomes discouraged.

B. There may be little interest in spiritual things.

C. Bible reading is put on hold; attendance becomes slack; the spiritual life seems to die.

D. The other mate must make a choice.

E. Will the partner do what their mate is doing or stay faithful to God?

F. Most of us know of cases where people have followed the example in Acts 5.

G. One mate began to suffer spiritual decay.

H. The other spouse decided to go with their mate and leave the faith.

I. One spouse was drug down and the other said, “I love you and I will sink with you.”

J. This is commitment but it is commitment to the wrong person.

K. Commitment to Christ is first; the spouse must come second.

55. Many of us have known of couples who were both members of the church.

56. The husband and wife both knew the truth.

57. Yet, one decided that a church founded by men would be more to their liking.

58. The other spouse was forced to make a choice.

59. Would they go with their spouse and worship God in a way that is contrary to the New Testament?

60. Or would they stand up and say that they would stay with the truth?

61. I wish we lived in a perfect world and spouses never had to make these choices.

A. Our world is not perfect.

B. Some spouses are called upon to make a choice.

C. People must follow their spouse into sin or stand for what is right.

D. This is one of the things that we learn from Acts 5.

E. The right choice is often easy to determine but hard to implement.

62. In Heb. 13: 17 the Bible says that elders are to watch out for the flock.

63. Those who are married need to watch out for each other.

64. This is true whether those who are married are Christians or not.

65. When both mates are Christians this watching is even more effective.

66. A husband can say to his wife, “That action is wrong. It violates these passages.”

67. “I cannot support you in that and I will not participate.”

68. A wife may say the same thing to her husband.

69. The story in Acts 5 could have had a much different ending.

A. Suppose that Ananias had told Sapphira about his scheme.

B. Upon hearing his idea Sapphira said, “No, that is wrong.

C. “You are asking me to lie; this is covetousness and fraud.”

D. “If you do this I will not support you. I will tell the truth.”

E. “If we sell that land we will be honest in our dealings with the money.”

F. Had Sapphira made a different choice Ananias might have repented.

G. This husband and wife might have continued to live.

H. These Christians might have been very productive members of the church.

I. This story could have had a happy ending.

70. Acts 5 is one more example that tells us that Christianity offers the best kind of life for people.

71. This way of life is not always the easiest way but it offers the best solutions.

72. Are we willing to do things God’s way?

73. Are we willing to say, “not my way but thine?”

74. Are we willing to stand up for what is right no matter what the cost?