Now, if you'll find in your Bible
again the book of Acts, chapter 5 of the book of Acts,
verse 1 down to verse 16, our message will be taken from these
verses. Verse 1, But a certain man named
Ananias, Ananias and Sapphira, sold a possession. Now, many
did this in that day, sold lands and houses. to support the gospel,
but they were giving up, more importantly, they were totally
selling out and giving up and following the Lord in a way of
total commitment to Him. But here's a man and a woman,
husband and wife, who kept back part. The problem is that they
said they gave all. They said they did what Barnabas
had done, kept back a part, part of the price. His wife also being
privy to it, and brought a certain part, not all, but a part, and
laid it at the apostles' feet. And I'm sure they patted themselves
on the back. I'm sure they thought that they
had fulfilled their plan, but God discovered their motive and
their hypocrisy, and God sent judgment upon them. Now, in the
last part of chapter 4, God gives us a glorious example, a glorious
example of grace manifested in the life of this man named Joseph,
verse 36. Joseph, that was his birth name. The apostles renamed him and
named him Barnabas, son of God, son of consolation. How he gave
to the Lord's cause, the cause of God and truth, out of love
and gratitude. How he gave not only his possessions,
but more importantly, he gave himself. He gave himself to the
Lord's cause. Totally sold out to the gospel. And we know from reading the
rest of the story that this man went everywhere preaching the
Lord Jesus Christ. And you can read the article
on the back of the bulletin some of the things that we talked
about last week. But today we see an example,
not of grace, but one of greed. Greed. Ananias and Sapphira had
a greedy, covetous heart, one of unbelief and hypocrisy. They
acted not out of love, but out of lust, out of a covetous spirit,
out of a covetous heart. We see that even among the early
church there were tares among the wheat, among the sheep, hypocrites
among true believers. Perhaps they gave out of recognition
to be noticed by others. Perhaps they gave out of the applause of men. But we see what they gave and
how they gave and why they gave. God said it was an abomination
unto me. You see, my friend, God looks
on the heart, not on the outward deed, not on the outward countenance. God looks on the heart, the motive,
why you do the things that you do. I know that. Our Lord said
that which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in
the sight of God. Now, verse 1 and 2, I have four
or five points in this message. The first point is this. Here's
what they did. Like many others, they sold out,
as it says back in verse 34 of chapter 4, for as many as were
possessors of lands and houses, they sold them, brought to price,
and laid it at the apostles' feet, trusting them to give to
others as God led them. But unlike these others, they
kept back a part, a certain part it says there. Maybe they thought
as coming up under the law, you know, during the law period,
10% was okay. 10% was what the law demanded. That was the commandment of the
law. And maybe thinking in their heart, we gave 50%. We went five
times over what the law required. Ananias, look what we've done. That's what they thought. But
here's the problem. They said they gave everything.
They said they deceived or tried to deceive the apostles. In outward appearance, everything
looked good, but Peter clearly says your heart is not right
with God. Now turn over here, hold your
place there, over to chapter 8. There is another similar story
of a man named Simon Magus who was baptized by the apostles
But when he saw the apostles and the power and the gifts that
God gave the apostles, he offered them money. Acts chapter 8 verse
18, when Simon saw through laying on of hands the apostles, the
Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also
this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands may receive the Holy
Spirit. Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because
you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with
money. Thou art neither part nor lot in the matter, for thy
heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this
thy wickedness, and pray, if perhaps the thought of thy heart
may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art
in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity." Now, these two here, like Simon
that we just read, Peter said, your heart's not right. They
had a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. Their
actions, their attitude revealed their heart. They kept back a
certain part, it says there in verse 2. They kept a certain part. They
brought what they had and they kept back a certain part. It doesn't say how much. But
their actions reveal their heart, their attitude. Salvation. that God works in us. God who
has begun a good work in us will perform it, will perfect it.
Salvation that God works in us, true conversion, real genuine
regeneration, being made a new creature in Christ is revealed
by our attitude, our thoughts, our actions, faith before God
and men. I'll tell you what it is. It's
giving up all and following the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a total
sellout to Christ. It's not keeping back apart.
It's not keeping something in reserve. I'm not talking about
money. I'm talking about you. Are you keeping back apart? Or have you totally given everything
to Christ? Lord, here I am. Use me for what
you will. You see, that salvation is total
sellout. to the Lord. It's giving up all
and following the Lord Jesus Christ. It's total commitment
and addiction to the Lord Jesus. Now remember, I want you to turn
and let's read this together. Philippians chapter 3. Here's
a good example of this in the life, Philippians chapter 3.
In the life of the Apostle Paul, old Saul of Tarsus. Saul of Tarsus. Philippians chapter 3. Here's
what I'm driving at today. It's counting everything loss
but Christ. All my religious past, all my
emotions, all my feelings, all my experience, all ceremonies,
counting everything but loss, not keeping back a part, not
resting in a part. I did my part. God did His part.
It's not keeping a part. It's committing everything to
Christ. Look what it says here. Now,
Philippians 3. Paul, after citing all his religious past, verse
7 says, What things were gained to me, those I count lost for
Christ. One time, all of his religious
doing and deeds, he said, they were gained. I put them over
here on the gain column. But now, he says, I put them
all on the loss column. They mean nothing to me. They're
just loss. Gave it up. Gave everything. gave it all
away. Yea, doubtless I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dumb garbage, that I may win Christ and be
found in him, not having my own righteousness which is of the
law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness
which is of God by His faithfulness, not mine. Counting everything
lost but Christ. Not keeping back a certain part,
giving everything, committing everything to Christ. Salvation
is a total sell-out. It's a sell-out of all religious
works, all self-righteousness, and trusting Christ alone. Blessed
is the man to whom God would impute righteousness without
works. Salvation is a total sell-out of all false hopes, all false
refuge. We have a good hope through the
grace of God in Christ Jesus. It's a total sell-out to and
commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ. There's no middle ground.
It's not a part sell-out. That's what they thought they
were keeping back apart. It's total surrender. Total submission
to Christ. Let me show you another scripture
on that. 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy 1. Turn over there. Total sellout. Total surrender.
2 Timothy chapter 1. Look at this
here. 2 Timothy 1 verse 8. 2 Timothy 1, 8, Be not thou therefore
ashamed at the testimony of our Lord, nor me his prisoner, but be a partaker of the afflictions
of the gospel according to the power of God, who saved us and
called us. with a holy calling, not according
to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which
was given us in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the
world, but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior
Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life
and immortality to light through the gospel. Whereunto I am appointed
a preacher, an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles, for the which
cause I suffer these things. Nevertheless I am not ashamed,
for I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he's
able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that
day." You see, Paul, to him it was a total surrender, a total
sellout. Now, isn't this exactly what
the Lord Jesus Christ taught when he walked among men? Turn
over to the book of Mark. Let me show you two places here
in the book of Mark, chapter 8. Mark, chapter 8. Total surrender
and total sellout. Not keeping back a part. totally
letting everything go and looking to Christ. Mark chapter 8, verse
34. Now here our Lord illustrates
this same truth. Mark 8, 34. When He had called
the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto
them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, take
up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life
will lose it. But whosoever shall lose his
life for my sake and the gospel, the same shall save it. For what
shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world? Lose his
soul. But what shall a man give in
exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be
ashamed of me, and of my words, and this adulterous, sinful generation,
of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh
in the glory of his father with his holy angel." Now, the Lord
in Mark chapter 10, turn over there, illustrates this by this
young man who came to him. Mark chapter 10, this man like
Ananias and Sapphira was seeking salvation upon a wrong principle,
a wrong foundation. Mark chapter 10, verse 17. Mark
10, 17. When he was gone forth into the
way, in the way, there came one running, kneeled to him, and
asked, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal
life? Now you see, zealous, he came
running, he kneeled, and he said, Good Master. And the Lord said,
Why callest thou me good? There is none good but God. There
is none good but one, that is God. You know the commandments,
do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do
not bear false witness, defraud not, that's what Ananias and
Sapphira did, they were defrauding, honor thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto them, Master, all these have
I observed. In another place it says, I've
kept. He's saying, I kept the law. Then Jesus, beholding him,
loved him, loved him. I don't know if that's that eternal
everlasting love. I know the Lord had pity on his
stupidity, his ignorance, and he said unto him, One thing you
lack, you go your way. Now the Lord's going to deal
with him right where he has a problem. This man has a problem with what
he has. It's not that he had so much,
it's what he had had him. One thing you lack, go your way
and sell whatsoever you have and give to the poor and you'll
have treasure in heaven. And come, take up your cross
and follow me." Don't keep back apart. Surrender. Surrender. Give everything. I'm not talking
about money. You. Paul said, I seek not yours
but you. You. And he was sad at that saying
and went away grieved for he had Great riches. His riches had his heart. Jesus,
verse 23, looked round about and said unto the disciples,
How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom
of God. Now, thought that this man had riches. Read on. Look
what it says here. And the disciples were astonished at his words.
Jesus answered again and said unto him, Children, how hard
is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom
of God? Do you trust the riches of your
righteousness, the riches of your preaching? Am I trusting
the riches of my preaching, my giving, my going, or is it total
surrender to Christ? It's easier for a camel to go
through the Alba needle than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of heaven. You can't be a follower of self
and of Christ. They were astonished at a measure
saying among themselves, well, who then can be saved? The Lord
said unto them, Jesus, looking upon them, said, With men it
is impossible, but not with God. With God all things are possible. Total surrender. Now there's
what they did. Now look back at the text again. Here's what Peter said. Here's
what Peter said, verse 3 and 4. Verse 3 and 4 of Acts chapter
5. Here's what Peter said. Peter
said, now you remember this is God's I'm not an apostle. I'm a nobody. I'm a nobody. I'm God's servant, but I'm not
an apostle. I'm a believer, but I'm not an
apostle. Now, I don't have this apostolic authority as Peter
did. And Peter said, Ananias, why
has Satan filled your heart to lie to God and you keep back
a part of the price of the land? While it remained, it was your
own. After it was sold, was it not thine own power? Why have
you conceived this thing in your heart? You've lied to God. You've lied to God the Holy Spirit.
Now, here's what Peter said. Two things. Ananias, he said,
your heart's not right with God. He manifested a heart of unbelief. He didn't trust Christ to provide
for him. Ananias, your heart's not right.
And then he says, Satan has filled your heart, your mind, your will,
your affection. Satan has filled you, inspired
you, motivated you to greed and lust. You've conceived... Now notice this, he doesn't blame
Satan. He said, you've conceived this
thing in your heart. Now, he was motivated. and egged
on by the one who was a roaring lion going about seeking whom
he may devour. But Peter said, you're responsible.
You're responsible. I don't like to hear people when
people get in trouble and they blame it on Satan. No, they're
the problem. Let's take responsibility. Ananias,
you're the problem. Satan motivated you But you're
the problem. Second thing he said, you've
lied to God. You've lied to God, the Holy
Spirit. Learn that the Holy Spirit is God. That's what he's saying
here. You've lied not to men, but to
God. Learn also that he denied the work of the Holy Spirit revealing
Christ in him. He revealed a heart of unbelief.
Certainly wrong to deceive men, but how foolish to try to deceive
God. God knows your heart. He knows
my heart, whether I'm trusting Him, loving Him, relying upon
Him, or a part. Am I keeping back a part? Am
I trusting a part of what I've done, what I've given, what I've
said? Or is it total surrender? The Lord knows. The Lord knows. And it's not my business to try
to figure you out. I can't figure myself out. That's
right. The heart is deceitful above
all things, and desperately wicked who can know it. God knows. God knows your heart. It doesn't
matter whether I know or not. God knows. He knows all things.
This is with whom we have to do. Now, verse 5 through 10,
here's what God did. Here's what they did, what Peter
said. Thirdly, here's what God did. Verse 5, Ananias, hearing these
words, fell down and died. And the young men buried him.
His wife came in. Peter confronted her. Why have
you sold the land? Have you sold the land for so
much? She said, yeah, that's true. Peter said, you've lied
too. How is it that you have agreed,
verse 9, together to tempt the Spirit of God, the Spirit of
the Lord? Behold the feet of them which have buried your husband.
And straightway she died. She died as well. Judgment fell
on her. Someone said in Scripture in Numbers 32, verse 23, Be sure
your sin will find you out. It will find you out. God knows
how to cultivate and weed His garden, to separate the sheep
from the goats as He will on that last day when all nations
are gathered before Him. And He'll separate the sheep
from the goats. God justly executed both of them
for their rebellion and sin against God. As we read Deuteronomy 32,
I the Lord kill, I make alive, I the Lord do all these things,
and he does these things in absolute justice. Just as he did, we've studied
in Leviticus chapter 10, you remember the story of Madab and
Abihu? God killed both those brothers.
They brought strange fire. They thought some way of improvement
upon approaching God and brought strange fire unto the altar.
God killed both of them. How about in the story in 1 Samuel
2, Eli the priest had two young rebel sons who were priests of
God and ministered in the temple, but they took advantage of the
people, Hophniah and Phinehas. God killed both of them. In Numbers,
chapter 13, where we'll be studying on Wednesday night, there were
twelve spies sending the spy out to land. When the spies came
back, two of them gave a good report, Joshua and Caleb. The
other ten said, oh, they gave a bad report. We can't enter
into Goliath in the land. We're but grasshoppers. We can't
do it. Unbelief. God killed those ten
men. You see, my friend, God knows
all things. Don't play games with God. Worship
and approaching God is a serious matter before God. That's why
we're interested in preaching the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ and pointing sinners to Christ and telling sinners to
count everything but loss and ruin and done but Christ. being found in Him. In Him dwells
all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Christ, the Lord
Jesus Christ, believer, stand complete." Don't keep back a
part. Don't trust a part of yourself
in a part to Christ. Does that make sense, what I'm
saying? Surrender everything to the Lord Jesus Christ. Here's my fourth point. Verse
11, down through verse 16. Look at verse 11. Great fear
came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. Now, you think that these folks
knew something about the seriousness of worship. and the seriousness
of approaching God and the seriousness of this thing of salvation. But
you know what? It didn't discourage the people.
God's church continued to flourish and continued to grow. It didn't
diminish in any way. God executing these two rebels
didn't mitigate or change his purpose, did it? Not at all.
They feared and worshipped God, as it should be with all believers.
They worshipped Him, they feared Him, they reverenced Him. But
look what it says here. God blessed His church. He continued
to bless His church. He continued to bless His apostles.
He continued to bless those who were in need. Look at verse 11. They continued in worship. In verse 12, rather, they were
all with one accord in Solomon's porch. They continued in worship. They didn't quit. They continued
worshiping God who is God. The Lord continued to bless his
people. They continued in worship. They
continued in harmony. You know, that's the essence
of, or that's one of the evidences of saving faith. These all died
in faith, believing God. And then it says in verse 14,
and believers, it says in verse 13 as well, they magnified them. That is, They honored God's servants,
these apostles, and the God of these apostles, the God whom
they preached. They magnified. And it says there
that these rest, that some dared not join themselves. They didn't
give an invitation and folks come forward. Some folks were
afraid to come. because of the seriousness of
this. The rest does no man join himself
to them. No one said, well, I want to
join up with you guys. But here's what happened. The
Lord added. Look at verse 14. Believers were
more added. Believers were added. How do
we believe the gospel? We believe according to the work
of His mighty power. Faith is the sovereign gift of
God. I can't convince you to believe
God. I can't convince you in your
heart to believe God. That's the work of God the Holy
Spirit. And when we get in trouble is
when we try to do the work of the Holy Spirit. We can't do
it. I can't convince you you're a sinner. I can't convince you
to believe God. He can and He will. Believers were added more. to
the Lord." Now notice what that says, that believers were added
more to the Lord. Turn back to Acts chapter 2,
look at this verse here. You remember the promise here,
Acts chapter 2 verse 39? And the promise is unto you,
and to your children, and to all that are far off, as many
as the Lord our God shall call. He adds those whom he calls with
the gospel. He gives them faith to believe.
We believe according to the working of his mighty power. We believe
by the grace of God. Turn to Acts chapter 15, verse
11. Acts 15, verse 11. Peter, when he stood up in that
council that day, declaring salvation is all of grace. Acts 15 and
11, but we believe through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ
that we shall be saved. God's going to save the Jew the
same way He saved that old dog Gentile. By the grace of God,
we believe the gospel. Now look back at the text again.
Acts chapter 5 verse 14, And believers were added, more added
to the Lord. It doesn't say how many. It says
a multitude. On one occasion, 3,000. On another
occasion, 8,000. But here are multitudes. How
many? I don't know. But multitudes
were added. And look what it says, both men
and women. You know, both need salvation.
Not only that, but it says in verse 16, multitudes were healed. And there came multitudes out
of the city round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folk.
Some sick folk found out that healing was in the gospel, in
Christ Jesus. And them which were vexed with
unclean spirits, now watch this, and they were healed every one. I want you to turn to this scripture.
Turn to Luke chapter 9. I remember Years ago, my pastor
came up here, years and years ago. This has been probably 18,
17, 18 years ago. Luke chapter 9, and he preached
a message from this verse right here. Luke 9, verse 11. Luke 9, 11. It says back in our
text here that he They were healed every one. Multitudes were healed
every one. Now look what it says here in
Luke 9, 11. And the people, when they knew it, followed him, and
he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and
healed them that had need of healing. Those who are well don't need
a physician, but those who are sick, do you have a need? You
know, the scripture said he's able to meet our need. According
to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus, everyone that sought
the Lord Jesus Christ in mercy, He healed them. That ought to
encourage every one of us to seek mercy. Where mercy is found,
He healed a multitude of them. In closing, the eternal purpose
of God cannot be hindered, cannot be mitigated, cannot be diminished. The purpose of God He works all
things after the counsel of his own will. All believers will
persevere in faith, being kept by the power of God. God will
and must have all the honor and glory in salvation. So here's
the closing thought. Don't keep back apart. Surrender
everything to the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything. Give it all
up and look to Christ. Look to Christ. And sing with
David, Lord, not unto us, not unto us, but unto thy name. Give
glory for thy mercy and for thy truth's sake. In Christ.