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Paradox: Acts 5:12-16

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought those who were ill into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing those who were ill and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

There are a number of paradoxes in Christian belief. What is a paradox?  ‘’At the most basic level, a paradox is a statement that is self contradictory because it often contains two statements that are both true, but in general, cannot both be true at the same time.’’ For our purposes, a paradox is an apparent contradiction. We find such a paradox at the heart of today’s passage (13, 14). People were staying away from this church where someone might die for living a lie (as we saw yesterday). At the same time, there was prolific growth. The church both repelled and magnetised at one and the same time. It was a paradoxical scenario.

There is something awesome about a revived church. The manifestation of God’s presence can be both fearful and glorious. Ronald Dunn wrote how when revival came to his home church, when he was a boy, he remembered standing on the steps, afraid to go in. There is such a thing as the ‘beauty of holiness’, but it can also be scary. It was said of C.T.Studd’s church in India, ‘That is not a church to go to unless a man means to be converted.’

I have heard it said that history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Pentecost may be unrepeatable, but my prayer is that it’s rhythmic patterns will enter our lives and churches. We so need the renewing power of God’s Spirit.

The actors: Acts 5:1-11:

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. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” 9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” 10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. (NIV)

It cannot be denied that this is a disturbing story, and there is an irony about the words of (11): ‘’Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.’’ You think, ‘Yes that would be pretty scary – to belong to a church like that, where your dark moral secrets could be exposed, and where it’s not unknown for people to be struck down dead for hypocrisy!’ You might think twice (or more) about joining (13).Someone described Annanias and Sapphira as ‘posers’. In a church where there was an outpouring of generosity; where there were people like Barnabas (4:36, 37) who gave sacrificially, these two posed as being in the same league. But it wasn’t true of them. They were hypocrites. The Greek word translated ‘hypocrite’ means an ‘actor’. For Ananias and Sapphira, this was a performance for the crowd. But it wasn’t who they really were. They were playing a part. They knew they were living a lie. More to the point, so did God.

Yesterday I saw a picture of Sherlock Holmes. I recognised him. Yet it wasn’t Sherlock. It was Benedict Cumberbatch who plays him so well in the BBC television series. It looked like Sherlock, but in fact it was Benedict! This is great acting.In the infant church there were these two people, a married couple, who looked like generous givers. But they weren’t anything like as good as the impression they gave. They were into ‘image management’ – but they got found out. If God put all hypocrites to death in the church, who of us would remain alive? Nevertheless, we should never rest easy with any form of hypocrisy. Sooner or later, truth will out. When we see you, do we see you? Or do we see an actor strutting for a brief hour on life’s stage?

Hold lightly: Acts 4:32-37: 

’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. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there was no needy person 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.  36 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.’NIV

 ‘’No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own…’’ Someone said we should hold lightly to everything we own, because it hurts to have God prize our fingers away.

I also read this: ‘There is no truer test of a man’s spirituality than his attitude to his possessions.’ Furthermore I heard these words in a sermon: ‘If there’s anything you own you can’t give away, you don’t own it, it owns you.’ These are heart-searching words and I believe they are true. We all have stuff. Some have more; some have less. But we all have it. However, we don’t own it. A true Biblical perspective says, ‘This belongs to God. He allows me the use of it for a time, but I need to keep consulting Him to know how to best use His goods.’

Think for example about your home. Maybe you’re in the blessed position of having paid off the mortgage and you consider it to be finally yours. But it isn’t. In no time at all you will have no choice but to leave it behind. Somebody else will inherit it, or buy it. Someone else will live in it. (But only for a limited time. And so the process goes on ad infinitum). Go to an auction house or charity shop and you will see that precious possessions inevitably get passed on to others. ‘You can’t take it with you.’

When I read these closing words of Acts 4, I say to myself, ‘No wonder the apostles could testify to the resurrection of Christ ‘’with great power’’ (33). The church herself was evidence that Jesus is alive. The god ‘mammon’ had been dethroned; materialism no longer held sway. Some real power had driven the selfishness out of these hearts. So decide today that you’re not going to consider any of your possessions as your own. It is all God’s property and you are just an under-manager. That’s how you will think about things from now on, and you will be willing to share what you have with those who are needy. When such a spirit permeates an entire congregation it is not surprising if the world feels the impact.

PRAYER: Lord, this world system is in love with ‘things’. People want more and more. For some its because of the perceived status attached to a particular possession; for others it’s the simple pursuit of pleasure and happiness. But nothing truly satisfies, so the thirst, and the acquisition, goes on. Help me Lord to think and feel differently, and to be part of a counter-cultural movement, handling money and material things at your direction and for your honour.

 A most unselfish prayer:Acts 4:23-31:        

 23 On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. ‘Sovereign Lord,’ they said, ‘you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

‘“Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
26 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
against the Lord
    and against his anointed one.”

27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’  31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Here was a prayer God was pleased to answer. They made a specific request (29) and received a specific answer (31b). When you pray, it is important to know Who you are speaking to: God is the controller of all things: ‘’Sovereign Lord’’ (24);

He is the creator of all things: ‘’…you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them’’ (24). Because He made them all, He can move them all according to His will;

He communicates (25, 26): What He communicated prophetically came to pass (27); what He spoke, He brought about (28). Here is solid evidence that He is control. Someone said, ‘He moves behind the scenes; and He is behind all the scenes that He moves.’ Naturally speaking, the crucifixion of Jesus was the worst atrocity in history; the most terrible travesty of justice ever perpetrated by mankind. Yet we see that God, in His sovereignty, was in total control: ‘They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.’ It couldn’t be clearer.

Knowing to Whom they were praying, the believers prayed a most unselfish prayer (29; see 18, 21). Essentially they said, ‘Give us the courage to play our part (29) and do what only you can do.’ They were under threat, but they wanted to be brave. They didn’t want to be intimidated into silence and secrecy. They also knew that God was there; that He was real. They wanted Him to show Himself for the glory of His Name; to confirm the gospel message they preached. Through the verses on this page of your Bible you see reflected the sunshine of Heaven’s smile on this prayer time.

Prayer: ‘To make our weak hearts strong and brave, send the fire…’

The weird world of unbelief. Acts 4:15-20:

15 So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16 ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. 17 But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.’18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ NIV

A story is told about a man who was totally convinced that he was dead. He was taken to see various health professionals, but no-one could persuade him otherwise; he was dead and he knew it. Eventually, someone managed to persuade him to admit that dead men don’t bleed. Immediately, they took a pin and pricked his finger. As soon as the blood began to seep out, this man looked horrified and exclaimed, ‘So dead men do bleed after all!!’  There is a strange logic to unbelief. When it cannot deny the evidence, it tries to bury it, one way or another; to prevent its spread; to ‘’suppress’’ it (Romans 1:18). This is not the Sherlock Holmes method! Holmes would meticulously follow the evidence to see where it leads – wherever that may be. I venture to suggest that we will not face any situation in life the Bible does not cover in some form. God’s Word would say to us that no matter how clearly, powerfully and bravely we speak about Jesus, there will be those who are so blind that they will not see. This should not surprise us.

By the way, you should live as a good citizen of the nation God has put you in, and obey the laws of the land. But if such obedience such ever entail disobeying God, then our duty is clear (20). We have to choose God over men every time.

One final thing, every Christian with a full to bursting heart will understand (20). Out of the overflow of the heart…

Acts 4:13, 14: Never been to be Bible College.(click for passage)

I like a comment C.H. Spurgeon made in one of his sermons that there is a ‘secret something’ about a believer- a sweet savour emitted from his life.

There was that certain something about Peter and John. There were things about them which just didn’t add up. They’d had no formal rabbinical training. This is what is meant by the expression: ‘’unschooled, ordinary men’’ (13).They had never been to Bible College. Nevertheless Peter spoke powerfully in public. The two men had obvious natural limitations, but there was a certain something about them. There was no getting away from this. ( It was a little bit like the burning bush Moses saw that captured his attention.) Furthermore, the only explanation the enemies of the church could find lay in their connection with Jesus, about Whom the apostles kept speaking.

Those who walk in the company of Jesus carry something of His fragrance. They ‘smell’ of Him. The religious leaders ‘’saw’’ something that impressed them. They didn’t like it, but it held their attention captive, and it made them think about Jesus.

May we live in such a way that our critics are silenced (14).

‘’Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us’’ (1 Peter 2:12).

‘’For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the foolish talk of ignorant men’’ (1 Peter 2:15).

Acts 4:9-12: No other name (please click for passage)

For multiplied years I have longed for a powerful ministry. I still do. But why? Why do I covet this? Why do you want the ‘anointing’ – if you do? You can want a good thing for a bad reason; want God’s blessing for the sake of your own name.

Although Peter and John lived powerful, power-filled lives, they did not take the glory to themselves. They pointed to Jesus; they preached Jesus, and that is what we must do also.. He must increase and we have to decrease. (Look at the repetition of the word ‘’name’’ in verses 7, 10 and 12; and see also 17, 18, 30/3:6 and 16. The theme of ‘’the name’’ runs like a thread through Acts chapters 3 and 4). I seem to remember John Stott saying something like this, that we who preach need to remember that the ministry is about the glory of the Name of Jesus, and not about our own small names.

As we saw in yesterday’s reading, the Holy Spirit gave them an answer; he gave them a kind and courteous tone. But He also gave them courage (13). Once again, as previously, Peter turned the screw (10; see 3:13-15; 2:23, 24). He did not fail to say that which needed to be said.

In an age of pluralism, the message of (12) is not popular, but it is necessary. Let there be no loss of nerve when it comes to saying that Jesus is the only way. The Holy Spirit will give us the necessary courage.

PRAYER: Lord, I know I can be so cowardly. Please forgive me, and make me bold. In your Name I ask it.

Acts 4:5-8: The scent of the supernatural.(please click for today’s passage)

It was recognised that ‘’power’’ was at work through the apostles (7; see also 14, 16 and 22).Lives which are ‘naturally supernatural and supernaturally natural’ are great adverts for the gospel; people who cannot be explained in purely natural terms capture attention. There is a scent of the supernatural about them. They provoke questions. There is something mysterious about the Spiritual person (John 3:8).

In (8) the power is identified – it is the power of ‘’the Holy Spirit’’. We need His power for every aspect of the Christian life, including answering questions.

Note, they answered the question asked and that is important. It shows respect for the questioner. You’re not just trying to push your own agenda. You have to scratch where people itch.

Also they answered ‘’with gentleness and respect’’ (1 Peter 3:15-17). When Peter later wrote these words in a letter, perhaps he was thinking back to this very moment. He was asking of the believers what he and John had done when similarly under pressure.In this sermon Peter again shows courage, but he never lacks courtesy. There is a perfect balance.

PRAYER: Lord, I want to be so full of your Holy Spirit that my life raises questions which you enable me to answer.