WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.820 Well, good morning, everyone. 00:00:02.180 --> 00:00:04.240 If we have any children that are going to Children's Church, 00:00:04.299 --> 00:00:05.440 they're being dismissed right now. 00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:07.520 Children's Church goes up through the third grade. 00:00:07.660 --> 00:00:10.240 So we're thankful our children have that opportunity. 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:13.140 Speaking of children, my two-year-old, 00:00:13.140 --> 00:00:15.960 just about every time that I've been in the car with him recently 00:00:15.960 --> 00:00:17.399 or gone anywhere with him, 00:00:17.460 --> 00:00:21.000 whether it be the backseat of my truck or the aisles of Walmart, 00:00:21.399 --> 00:00:24.079 that he has been adamant on singing his favorite song 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:25.640 at the top of his lungs. 00:00:26.039 --> 00:00:29.380 He has no sense of volume, especially in public places, 00:00:29.500 --> 00:00:32.200 and that always terrifies me to go out with him. 00:00:32.200 --> 00:00:36.000 But his favorite song recently has been Say Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yes 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:41.500 to VVVBS, which, as you likely could guess or might be aware, 00:00:41.820 --> 00:00:43.420 that's a song from Vacation Bible School 00:00:43.420 --> 00:00:46.440 that we sang three months ago. 00:00:46.940 --> 00:00:49.240 That he's still singing at the top of his lungs 00:00:49.240 --> 00:00:51.380 everywhere we go, every time we get in my truck, 00:00:51.440 --> 00:00:52.280 he's like, VBS! 00:00:52.540 --> 00:00:53.600 And I'm like, not again. 00:00:54.500 --> 00:00:56.359 It's a great song, don't get me wrong, 00:00:56.460 --> 00:00:57.440 but you know, you just kind of think 00:00:57.440 --> 00:00:58.460 these things are going to be phases. 00:00:59.060 --> 00:01:00.840 My favorite song will come and go, 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.260 like Vacation Bible School music, 00:01:02.360 --> 00:01:03.780 as great as it is during their week. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:06.079 It's a little old after a few months after that. 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:08.120 So you just think these things are like phases. 00:01:08.240 --> 00:01:10.980 As parents, you really hope these things are phases, 00:01:11.320 --> 00:01:13.640 whether it be the terrible twos, 00:01:13.740 --> 00:01:15.600 the three-nager phase, the four-nado. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.640 You just expect these things are going to be phases 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:19.980 that they go through and you get out of and survive. 00:01:20.460 --> 00:01:22.600 If you're married, you likely understand 00:01:22.600 --> 00:01:24.900 that the newlywed or honeymoon phase, 00:01:24.900 --> 00:01:28.859 that little time where you're madly in love, 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:32.380 newly married, nothing wrong with your marriage whatsoever. 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:34.540 But if you're like my wife, 00:01:34.620 --> 00:01:37.820 she quickly realized that being around me 24-7 00:01:37.820 --> 00:01:40.260 is much more different than just dating. 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:43.120 My coworkers like to make fun of me 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:44.880 because I'm constantly singing, humming, 00:01:45.060 --> 00:01:48.320 making sounds of all sorts throughout the day. 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:50.219 And I'm sure that's very annoying 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:52.760 from the top stairs of my office down below me. 00:01:52.760 --> 00:01:54.540 I'm sure it's annoying hearing me in the hallways. 00:01:54.980 --> 00:01:56.660 But you know who's stuck with me? 00:01:57.359 --> 00:01:58.180 My wife. 00:01:59.380 --> 00:02:00.400 Honeymoon phases end. 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:02.760 There just comes a point where these phases, 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:04.160 they come and go. 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:06.960 And so as we as a church are working through the book of Acts, 00:02:07.260 --> 00:02:09.939 the first couple of chapters are incredible, right? 00:02:10.460 --> 00:02:12.420 The first couple of chapters, Jesus commissions, 00:02:12.620 --> 00:02:15.000 the disciples, the Holy Spirit descends, 00:02:15.159 --> 00:02:17.319 Peter preaches, and thousands are saved. 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:19.040 They're going amongst the streets. 00:02:19.120 --> 00:02:20.120 They're preaching the gospel. 00:02:20.300 --> 00:02:22.080 People are being miraculously healed. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:23.840 There's persecution for sure, 00:02:23.920 --> 00:02:25.660 but they're fighting against it being bold. 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:28.520 The first few chapters are incredible to read. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:30.480 But if you're like me, 00:02:30.620 --> 00:02:33.760 you're almost reading with a bit of realistic skepticism. 00:02:34.840 --> 00:02:36.240 Is this too good to be true? 00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:38.320 Will it last? 00:02:38.460 --> 00:02:40.400 Is the other shoe about to drop? 00:02:41.420 --> 00:02:44.000 Because as great as the story starts in Acts, 00:02:44.260 --> 00:02:48.100 most Christians I know have a different experience with church 00:02:48.100 --> 00:02:50.960 than what we read in the first few chapters of Acts. 00:02:50.960 --> 00:02:55.159 You know, we read of the clear presence of God, 00:02:55.300 --> 00:02:59.240 miraculous healings, absolute unity amongst all the people. 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:01.900 Yet most Christians that I've ever met, 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:04.719 their experience with other Christians in the church 00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:08.640 has sometimes been of disagreements and fallouts and drama and burnout 00:03:08.640 --> 00:03:12.780 to where if you're coming into this with your own perspective of church, 00:03:12.780 --> 00:03:13.760 you can kind of read, 00:03:13.759 --> 00:03:15.780 it's great to read what's happening, 00:03:16.699 --> 00:03:17.939 but is it going to last? 00:03:18.579 --> 00:03:20.259 Is it merely just a phase? 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.280 Will the church survive? 00:03:23.819 --> 00:03:27.319 And so we kind of come to the end of chapter four 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.299 and getting into the chapter of five, 00:03:29.439 --> 00:03:31.439 we finally get to see a little bit of a glimpse 00:03:31.439 --> 00:03:34.079 into the real tension the church is facing on the inside. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:37.040 But before we navigate that tension, 00:03:37.180 --> 00:03:38.960 I just want to say as clear as I can from the beginning, 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.400 that if you're wondering if the church will survive, 00:03:41.480 --> 00:03:43.180 if the church will persevere, 00:03:43.260 --> 00:03:44.380 if the church will live, 00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:45.740 know this, 00:03:45.820 --> 00:03:47.800 the movement of the church that we've been reading about, 00:03:48.380 --> 00:03:49.700 it's not merely a phase, 00:03:50.340 --> 00:03:51.500 it is an act of God. 00:03:52.380 --> 00:03:53.700 Because God is in control 00:03:53.700 --> 00:03:55.280 and his mission cannot be derailed, 00:03:55.280 --> 00:03:56.580 it will continue, 00:03:57.060 --> 00:03:59.740 despite forces outside of the church like persecution, 00:03:59.740 --> 00:04:02.620 and even sources inside of it, 00:04:02.920 --> 00:04:04.600 like hypocrisy and drama. 00:04:05.760 --> 00:04:07.500 So let's jump back into the story this morning 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:08.879 and continue our study, 00:04:09.200 --> 00:04:10.600 starting in chapter four, 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:11.480 verse 32. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:12.740 We'll read the whole passage 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:15.680 and then navigate through this text today 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:17.699 with two primary gospel principles 00:04:17.699 --> 00:04:19.840 that I think kind of put things in perspective for us. 00:04:19.840 --> 00:04:21.300 So Acts chapter four, 00:04:21.400 --> 00:04:23.120 let's begin reading in verse 32. 00:04:23.819 --> 00:04:26.340 Now the full number of those who believed 00:04:26.340 --> 00:04:27.240 were of one heart, 00:04:27.500 --> 00:04:28.360 one soul, 00:04:28.360 --> 00:04:31.100 and no one said that any of the things 00:04:31.100 --> 00:04:32.480 that belonged to him was his own, 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:34.420 but they had everything in common. 00:04:35.020 --> 00:04:36.139 And with great power, 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:38.080 the apostles were giving their testimony 00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:40.220 to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus 00:04:40.220 --> 00:04:42.920 and great grace was upon them all. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:45.900 There was not a needy person among them, 00:04:46.360 --> 00:04:49.160 for as many as were owners of land or houses, 00:04:49.160 --> 00:04:51.040 they sold them and brought the proceeds 00:04:51.040 --> 00:04:51.800 of what was sold. 00:04:52.460 --> 00:04:53.980 And they laid it at the apostles' feet 00:04:53.980 --> 00:04:56.160 and it was distributed to each as any had need. 00:04:56.160 --> 00:04:57.740 Thus Joseph, 00:04:57.900 --> 00:05:00.020 who was also called by the apostles Barnabas, 00:05:00.320 --> 00:05:01.640 which means son of encouragement, 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:02.780 a Levite, 00:05:02.840 --> 00:05:03.840 a native of Cyprus, 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:05.960 he sold a field that belonged to him, 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:07.460 brought the money 00:05:07.460 --> 00:05:09.380 and laid it at the apostles' feet. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.140 And here's where the story gets interesting. 00:05:12.200 --> 00:05:13.440 Chapter five, verse one. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:18.079 But a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:19.219 sold a piece of property. 00:05:20.060 --> 00:05:21.620 And with his wife's knowledge, 00:05:21.719 --> 00:05:24.139 he kept back for himself some of the proceeds 00:05:24.139 --> 00:05:26.079 and brought only a part of it 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:27.480 and laid it at the apostles' feet. 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:29.839 But Peter said to Ananias, 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.199 why has Satan filled your heart 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:34.240 to lie to the Holy Spirit 00:05:34.240 --> 00:05:36.379 and to keep back for yourself 00:05:36.379 --> 00:05:37.920 part of the proceeds of the land? 00:05:38.579 --> 00:05:39.740 While it remained unsold, 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:40.819 did it not remain your own? 00:05:40.819 --> 00:05:42.379 And after it was sold, 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:43.500 was it not at your disposal? 00:05:44.120 --> 00:05:47.480 Why is it that you've contrived this deed in your heart? 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:50.159 You've not lied to man, but to God. 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:52.680 When Ananias heard these words, 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:55.319 he fell down and breathed his last. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:05:58.500 And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:01.259 Now the young man rose and wrapped him 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:02.819 and carried him out and buried him. 00:06:02.839 --> 00:06:04.639 And after an interval of about three hours, 00:06:05.039 --> 00:06:06.100 his wife came in, 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:07.159 not knowing what had happened. 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:08.980 And Peter said to her, 00:06:09.140 --> 00:06:11.960 tell me whether you sold the land for so much. 00:06:12.020 --> 00:06:13.540 And she said, yes, for so much. 00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:15.480 But Peter said to her, 00:06:16.380 --> 00:06:18.060 how is it that you've agreed together 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:19.980 to test the spirit of the Lord? 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:22.860 Behold, the feet of those who buried your husband 00:06:22.860 --> 00:06:25.000 are at the door and they will carry you out. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:28.060 Immediately she fell down at his feet 00:06:28.060 --> 00:06:29.540 and breathed her last. 00:06:29.620 --> 00:06:32.060 And when the young men came in and found her dead, 00:06:32.200 --> 00:06:34.820 they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:38.000 And great fear came upon the whole church 00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:40.399 and upon all who heard of these things. 00:06:41.019 --> 00:06:43.279 Now I bet so, right? 00:06:44.099 --> 00:06:45.120 You read through this passage 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:47.620 and the tone has shifted from the unity 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:49.959 and the healings and the great acts of God 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:50.620 that have been happening 00:06:50.620 --> 00:06:52.319 to where now we're seeing some judgment. 00:06:53.139 --> 00:06:57.079 We're seeing some clear punishment from God. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:07:01.439 And a fear was beginning to fill the church. 00:07:01.539 --> 00:07:03.319 And while we'll get to chapter five in just a moment, 00:07:03.319 --> 00:07:04.719 I want to spend the first little bit here 00:07:04.719 --> 00:07:06.959 focusing in on the example of the church 00:07:06.959 --> 00:07:07.779 at the end of Acts 4. 00:07:07.860 --> 00:07:09.659 Because I believe if we kind of understand 00:07:09.659 --> 00:07:11.079 what's going on in chapter four, 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:13.439 it gives us a platform to understand chapter five 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:14.060 all the more. 00:07:14.459 --> 00:07:15.300 So in chapter four, 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:17.100 we see some incredible things that are happening. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:20.439 Everyone who believed was of one heart and soul. 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:22.039 They had all things in common 00:07:22.039 --> 00:07:24.539 and many were selling their fields and homes 00:07:24.539 --> 00:07:26.659 to meet the present physical needs of their neighbors. 00:07:26.779 --> 00:07:28.579 And it's a great reality to read 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:29.600 of the church back then. 00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:32.200 But what does it mean of us today? 00:07:33.260 --> 00:07:35.220 Does this passage mean that I should sell 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:37.000 all of my possessions and give them away? 00:07:37.140 --> 00:07:40.080 Does this passage tell me that it's wrong 00:07:40.080 --> 00:07:41.280 to have good things? 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:44.040 Well, whose needs should we really be trying to meet? 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:45.460 What needs are actually genuine? 00:07:45.580 --> 00:07:46.939 How do we really navigate these things? 00:07:47.240 --> 00:07:49.420 What does this passage really mean for us today? 00:07:50.379 --> 00:07:51.600 And while all those questions 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:54.200 are really important questions to work through, 00:07:54.520 --> 00:07:55.520 practical applications, 00:07:55.519 --> 00:07:58.719 I wanna fight against something this morning 00:07:58.719 --> 00:07:59.759 inside my own heart. 00:08:00.419 --> 00:08:02.539 I wanna fight against the temptation of my own heart 00:08:02.539 --> 00:08:06.419 to jump straight to limiting the generosity for myself 00:08:06.419 --> 00:08:08.519 that I feel burdened to feel. 00:08:09.560 --> 00:08:12.159 You know, my flesh wants to approach this passage 00:08:12.159 --> 00:08:15.079 and it wants to immediately start to dissect things 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:15.659 of like, all right, 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:17.939 this passage is primarily descriptive 00:08:17.939 --> 00:08:19.599 rather than prescriptive, right? 00:08:19.979 --> 00:08:23.139 It's merely describing the actions of the church 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:25.539 and God's people during this time and in this situation 00:08:25.539 --> 00:08:28.899 rather than prescribing it for all of us today 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:30.000 and throughout all time. 00:08:30.740 --> 00:08:33.019 You know, my flesh wants to jump at this passage 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:34.519 and start to really look at, 00:08:34.620 --> 00:08:37.439 well, this was generosity amongst Christians, right? 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:39.759 Like, it's just brothers and sisters in Christ 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:42.100 meeting the needs of other brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:43.699 There really wasn't a compulsion 00:08:43.699 --> 00:08:45.240 to meet the needs of everyone in the world, 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:48.639 just the select few that already are a part of the church. 00:08:48.939 --> 00:08:50.939 My flesh wants to jump straight 00:08:50.940 --> 00:08:53.560 to the aspect of this passage that says 00:08:53.560 --> 00:08:54.600 that the giving was voluntary. 00:08:55.460 --> 00:08:57.500 This isn't something that was mandated by the apostles. 00:08:57.920 --> 00:09:00.420 This is not some sort of church-sanctioned socialism 00:09:00.420 --> 00:09:01.080 that's happening. 00:09:01.480 --> 00:09:03.200 Like, I want to look at this and say it's voluntary. 00:09:03.540 --> 00:09:05.720 It's not something that all Christians had to be a part of. 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:07.340 It was just something they got to choose. 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:10.240 And my flesh wants to just jump straight at those questions 00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:12.500 and try to limit the generosity 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:15.440 that I feel burdened to feel for myself. 00:09:16.640 --> 00:09:17.600 But recognize this, 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:20.519 if my heart is jumping straight to this list of caveats 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:22.220 and this list of excuses, 00:09:22.220 --> 00:09:23.259 trying to figure out 00:09:23.259 --> 00:09:25.360 who I actually have to show compassion to 00:09:25.360 --> 00:09:27.320 and who I have to be generous to or not, 00:09:28.120 --> 00:09:29.340 then I'm missing the point, right? 00:09:30.800 --> 00:09:31.920 Look, all of these are clear. 00:09:32.220 --> 00:09:33.779 Those are things I believe to be true. 00:09:34.019 --> 00:09:36.659 I believe this passage to be primarily descriptive 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:37.620 rather than prescriptive. 00:09:37.800 --> 00:09:40.279 It is generosity within the Christian community. 00:09:40.500 --> 00:09:42.100 It was completely voluntary. 00:09:42.480 --> 00:09:44.779 But if my heart is jumping to this spot 00:09:44.779 --> 00:09:45.980 where I'm trying to figure out, 00:09:46.259 --> 00:09:48.199 well, who do I actually have to be generous to? 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:50.319 My heart's not in the right place. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.679 And I would argue that if yours is there, 00:09:53.059 --> 00:09:54.419 then you're probably in a place with me. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:09:57.240 There's a clear gospel principle 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.379 that comes out from the last part of chapter four. 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:03.299 And that's that we must value people over possessions. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:07.579 We must value people over possessions. 00:10:07.740 --> 00:10:09.240 And if there's an inclination of my heart 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:10.519 to put possessions over people, 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:11.319 I've missed it, right? 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:15.920 There's a lot of things that really have to come into play here. 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:17.240 There are a lot of other biblical principles 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:19.000 that we have to take into account 00:10:19.000 --> 00:10:20.540 in order to form a, I guess, 00:10:20.580 --> 00:10:22.280 a comprehensive understanding of stewardship. 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:24.760 But if I miss this point 00:10:24.760 --> 00:10:26.660 that I need to value people over possessions, 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:30.300 my life will not resemble the church of Acts chapter four. 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:32.860 My life will not be in right standing with God. 00:10:34.060 --> 00:10:35.340 And so there's something we have to wrestle with 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:37.300 even from this description of the early church 00:10:37.299 --> 00:10:41.500 is do we value people over possessions? 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.399 David Platt in his book, Counter Culture, 00:10:44.539 --> 00:10:46.019 reminds us that as Christians, 00:10:46.479 --> 00:10:50.179 our greatest wealth is found in the gospel itself. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.620 For God has saved us from our sins 00:10:52.620 --> 00:10:54.439 and has given us new life with him. 00:10:54.959 --> 00:10:57.199 More importantly, Jesus Christ himself said 00:10:57.199 --> 00:10:58.859 in his sermon on the mount, 00:10:59.219 --> 00:11:01.039 that where your treasure is, 00:11:01.219 --> 00:11:03.139 there your heart will be also. 00:11:03.139 --> 00:11:05.740 And so if I'm reading this text 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:07.939 and I'm really finding the murkiness 00:11:07.939 --> 00:11:09.059 of trying to figure out 00:11:09.059 --> 00:11:11.100 who do I have to show compassion to, 00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:12.600 who do I have to be generous with, 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:16.159 then perhaps my treasure is not in the right spot. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:19.419 Perhaps my greatest treasure isn't in the gospel, 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:21.919 maybe it's in what I own and what I have for myself. 00:11:23.340 --> 00:11:25.480 That's the crux of what we're struggling with here. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:28.220 We see a radical display of generosity 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:30.059 in the DNA of the early church. 00:11:30.059 --> 00:11:34.959 And this demonstrates that they clearly had a greater compassion 00:11:34.959 --> 00:11:38.199 and held a greater value on the lives and needs 00:11:38.199 --> 00:11:39.459 of the people around them 00:11:39.459 --> 00:11:42.839 than they did on their material possessions. 00:11:43.079 --> 00:11:45.359 And this concept really makes zero sense 00:11:45.359 --> 00:11:47.239 if the Holy Spirit's not in it. 00:11:47.299 --> 00:11:48.899 That's why it's a gospel principle, right? 00:11:49.119 --> 00:11:50.859 This isn't something that's easy for us. 00:11:50.919 --> 00:11:54.039 It's not the natural tendencies of our heart 00:11:54.039 --> 00:11:55.939 to value people over possessions. 00:11:56.699 --> 00:11:58.779 I would imagine that if someone were to have 00:11:58.779 --> 00:12:00.279 a near-death experience, 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.279 that what they place value on would change, right? 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:05.559 These people who have these stories 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:07.759 where they almost got killed in a car wreck 00:12:07.759 --> 00:12:09.179 or they almost went through this situation 00:12:09.179 --> 00:12:10.159 where they lost their life. 00:12:10.500 --> 00:12:11.259 There are these situations 00:12:11.259 --> 00:12:13.019 where people have these near-death experiences 00:12:13.019 --> 00:12:13.879 and all of a sudden, 00:12:14.120 --> 00:12:15.600 they start to value people more. 00:12:16.199 --> 00:12:17.679 They start to place a lot more value 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:19.039 in the relationships they have, 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:21.360 the family dynamic that they are a part of. 00:12:21.839 --> 00:12:24.360 They put a little lesser of a grip 00:12:24.360 --> 00:12:25.939 on their possessions and are more generous. 00:12:25.940 --> 00:12:28.320 People who have a near-death experience 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:31.180 often have a different outlook 00:12:31.180 --> 00:12:33.480 on people and possessions and relationships 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:35.660 than the normal person does. 00:12:36.540 --> 00:12:38.820 But can I remind us something as followers of Christ? 00:12:39.680 --> 00:12:41.980 That we haven't just had a near-death experience. 00:12:42.300 --> 00:12:44.500 We were dead and Christ made us alive. 00:12:45.640 --> 00:12:47.000 Christ didn't change our hearts. 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:48.340 He gave us a new one altogether. 00:12:49.020 --> 00:12:50.840 Like each of us have to reconcile 00:12:50.840 --> 00:12:52.340 that there was a point in my life 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:54.560 where I was destined for a place called hell 00:12:54.560 --> 00:12:56.340 because of my cosmic treason 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:58.040 and rebellion against a one true, 00:12:58.160 --> 00:12:59.980 holy, perfect, almighty God 00:12:59.980 --> 00:13:02.220 in heaven that's above earth where I'm at. 00:13:02.379 --> 00:13:03.960 And I was against him 00:13:03.960 --> 00:13:05.860 and I was deserving of a place called hell. 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:08.180 Yet Christ loved me in my sin enough 00:13:08.180 --> 00:13:09.660 to give his life for mine 00:13:09.660 --> 00:13:11.399 and give me life and forgiveness in his name. 00:13:12.139 --> 00:13:13.840 And not only has Christ done that 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:15.300 in giving us a new heart, 00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:17.139 that new heart has now been filled, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.780 thanks to Acts chapter one and two, 00:13:18.779 --> 00:13:21.459 with the Holy Spirit that starts to change 00:13:21.459 --> 00:13:24.159 our outlook on community and gospel living. 00:13:25.139 --> 00:13:26.600 The gospel changes us. 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:28.939 The gospel is good news for us 00:13:28.939 --> 00:13:32.959 because it changes our lives so much. 00:13:33.019 --> 00:13:35.399 And I recognize some other principles 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:37.279 that every good and perfect gift 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:38.379 comes from the Lord, right? 00:13:38.459 --> 00:13:39.159 James 1, 17. 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:42.240 I recognize that God often rewards 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:45.939 the hard labor, the toil that we put in. 00:13:45.940 --> 00:13:49.060 He often rewards our labor with fruit to be enjoyed. 00:13:49.700 --> 00:13:52.420 I recognize and understand 00:13:52.420 --> 00:13:54.880 that God's heartbeat for us 00:13:54.880 --> 00:13:55.800 is that we'll have life 00:13:55.800 --> 00:13:58.040 and have it abundantly from John 10, 10. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.780 But what good is it for us to have 00:13:59.780 --> 00:14:02.200 an abundance of scraps beneath our table 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:05.200 for our neighbor to be dying down the street? 00:14:06.260 --> 00:14:07.820 What good is it for us to have 00:14:07.820 --> 00:14:09.900 an abundance of scraps beneath our table 00:14:09.900 --> 00:14:11.580 while our neighbor dies of hunger? 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:15.180 That's the story of Lazarus and the rich man 00:14:15.180 --> 00:14:16.879 in Luke chapter 16, right? 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.960 Jesus tells this story of a rich man 00:14:19.960 --> 00:14:23.920 who dies and Lazarus, he dies as well. 00:14:24.340 --> 00:14:26.660 They both die and the rich man is in hellish torment 00:14:26.660 --> 00:14:29.080 while Lazarus is in everlasting peace. 00:14:29.780 --> 00:14:32.100 Turns out the rich man never placed his faith in God. 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:34.960 His riches, his status, his worldly goods 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:38.759 were insufficient to bring him eternal peace. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:41.220 And his cries from hell 00:14:41.220 --> 00:14:43.480 were for the salvation of his brothers, 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:45.200 yet his cries came too late. 00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:49.000 What's the primary description of this rich man 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:51.179 that leads us to the assumption 00:14:51.179 --> 00:14:53.120 that he has no relationship with God? 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:56.779 It's that the rich man feasted in abundance 00:14:56.779 --> 00:15:01.159 while Lazarus, his neighbor, famished and died. 00:15:01.159 --> 00:15:07.100 How we value others, whether or not we value others, 00:15:07.939 --> 00:15:09.879 these play a part of the picture 00:15:09.879 --> 00:15:11.620 of whether or not we're actually 00:15:11.620 --> 00:15:13.379 genuine followers of Christ or not. 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:17.139 Simply put, the works of our faith 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:18.779 demonstrate the validity of it. 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:20.980 So looking here, this passage, 00:15:21.179 --> 00:15:23.059 it may not be prompting each of us, 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:24.379 it may not be an explicit command 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:26.179 for each of us to sell our homes and land, 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:28.360 but it does show us something very clear 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:30.279 that when the Holy Spirit came into the lives 00:15:30.279 --> 00:15:31.200 of the early church, 00:15:31.480 --> 00:15:33.139 something was different about them. 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:38.019 They began to value people over possessions. 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:41.379 Which brings us to the question today is, 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:42.120 do we? 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:45.139 When it comes to the things that we have, 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:47.139 do we have things or do things have us? 00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:50.700 Do we look at the ones around us 00:15:50.700 --> 00:15:52.480 and place a value on their lives 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:55.680 to where we would be willing to meet their needs 00:15:55.679 --> 00:15:57.899 if possible or given the opportunity? 00:15:58.979 --> 00:16:02.559 Do we value people over possessions? 00:16:04.259 --> 00:16:06.719 Dustin Edmonds, the husband of the lady 00:16:06.719 --> 00:16:08.059 who did the prayer prompt earlier, 00:16:08.399 --> 00:16:09.859 Dustin Edmonds and I teach a group 00:16:09.859 --> 00:16:11.899 on Wednesday nights called Rediscover Church, 00:16:12.139 --> 00:16:14.419 and we're looking through some basic questions 00:16:14.419 --> 00:16:15.239 about the church. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:16.899 We're kind of working through those on Wednesday nights. 00:16:17.199 --> 00:16:18.439 And one of the questions that's come up 00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:20.000 the last few weeks is, 00:16:20.079 --> 00:16:22.299 is it really necessary for Christians 00:16:22.299 --> 00:16:23.699 to gather together? 00:16:23.700 --> 00:16:27.140 Is it really necessary for us to worship together, 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:27.900 to come to church? 00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:29.960 Beyond that, is it even necessary 00:16:29.960 --> 00:16:31.259 for us to join in membership? 00:16:31.820 --> 00:16:33.379 These are questions we've been working through, 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:35.120 and it sparked a real question for me, 00:16:35.360 --> 00:16:37.420 and that's how did these early Christians 00:16:37.420 --> 00:16:38.500 in Acts chapter four, 00:16:38.680 --> 00:16:40.340 how do they know about these needs 00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:41.220 around them anyway? 00:16:42.200 --> 00:16:43.300 Did they have some kind of like 00:16:43.300 --> 00:16:45.440 Facebook marketplace kind of thing 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.900 where they saw all needs 00:16:46.900 --> 00:16:47.720 and they met a need 00:16:47.720 --> 00:16:49.340 and hashtag blessed and all? 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:51.120 It wasn't like these things were happening 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.759 where they were posting it around. 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:55.200 How did they figure out the needs 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:55.960 of those around them? 00:16:56.060 --> 00:16:58.140 They knew the ones around them. 00:16:58.920 --> 00:17:00.160 They gathered together 00:17:00.160 --> 00:17:02.440 in close-knit Christian community, 00:17:02.860 --> 00:17:04.559 and they knew about the needs 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:05.720 because they knew one another. 00:17:07.080 --> 00:17:08.900 And going back to the question 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.500 that kind of sparked from that, 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:12.240 is it necessary for us to gather together? 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.100 I say absolutely. 00:17:13.640 --> 00:17:15.519 One of the unavoidable realities 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:18.480 is that in order to genuinely care about others 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.019 and care about people, 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:22.400 you have to be involved in each other's lives. 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:24.380 Casual church attendance 00:17:24.380 --> 00:17:26.599 and nominal affiliation with the church 00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:27.339 doesn't cut it. 00:17:27.819 --> 00:17:30.500 It doesn't give us the exposure to one another 00:17:30.500 --> 00:17:32.860 where we're able to actually meet the needs 00:17:32.860 --> 00:17:33.860 of those around us. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:35.640 Now, I would actually argue 00:17:35.640 --> 00:17:37.759 that most of the New Testament writings, 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:39.680 particularly in the epistles and the letters, 00:17:40.180 --> 00:17:42.980 most of that is we're not able to live it out 00:17:42.980 --> 00:17:45.000 apart from Christian community. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.559 To love one another, 00:17:47.400 --> 00:17:48.880 to mourn with each other, 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:49.980 to rejoice with each other, 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.079 to encourage one another. 00:17:51.579 --> 00:17:52.819 These can only be done 00:17:52.819 --> 00:17:54.319 when you're with one another. 00:17:55.460 --> 00:17:56.460 And so I would, 00:17:56.579 --> 00:17:58.420 as your associate pastor of discipleship, 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:59.819 a shameless plug here, 00:18:00.180 --> 00:18:01.279 if you're not involved 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:04.640 in some form of small group community at church, 00:18:05.140 --> 00:18:06.880 you miss out on so much. 00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:11.319 I believe as we look at this early church 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:12.039 in the book of Acts, 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:13.639 most of them met in homes 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:14.779 or smaller communities. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.159 So I believe the closest 00:18:16.159 --> 00:18:17.839 that we can sometimes get to the community 00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.279 that we read about in the book of Acts 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:21.059 is when we gather together 00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.299 in Sunday school classes 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:24.059 and midweek life groups 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:26.379 because that close-knit gospel community 00:18:26.379 --> 00:18:27.960 is the only context 00:18:27.960 --> 00:18:29.759 in which we get to know one another well 00:18:29.759 --> 00:18:31.960 and value people over possessions. 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.039 And so if you're not involved, 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:35.019 I really want to encourage you 00:18:35.019 --> 00:18:36.899 to seek that out and try that out 00:18:36.899 --> 00:18:39.159 because that is such an important part 00:18:39.159 --> 00:18:40.480 of being able to live out 00:18:40.480 --> 00:18:42.700 the example of the early church. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.000 The gospel was at work 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:45.339 in the hearts of this early church 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.799 and it prompted them 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.380 towards a close-knit gospel community 00:18:49.380 --> 00:18:52.039 where the needs of brothers and sisters in Christ 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:53.740 were recognized and met 00:18:53.740 --> 00:18:55.579 by other brothers and sisters in Christ. 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.319 And because at the end of the day, 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:00.099 they valued people over their own possessions, 00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:01.559 they met needs one another. 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.420 As we continue in this passage 00:19:04.420 --> 00:19:06.640 into the fun part of chapter five, 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:09.840 we start to see what happens in our hearts 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:15.140 when we actually pursue influence over integrity. 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:19.400 Luke intentionally writes this next bit 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:21.460 in a way that contrasts 00:19:21.460 --> 00:19:22.820 the generosity of Barnabas 00:19:22.820 --> 00:19:25.440 with the greed of Ananias and Sapphira. 00:19:25.540 --> 00:19:27.240 Look again at verse 36 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:28.940 and we'll read the first few verses of five. 00:19:29.600 --> 00:19:31.640 Thus Joseph, who was also called 00:19:31.640 --> 00:19:32.820 by the apostles Barnabas, 00:19:32.860 --> 00:19:34.480 so his nickname was son of encouragement. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:36.099 That's a really good nickname, all right? 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:38.079 The apostles called him Barnabas, 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.360 which means son of encouragement, 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:41.299 a Levite, a native of Cyprus. 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:43.500 Well, he sold a field that belonged to him 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.259 and brought the money 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:45.480 and laid it at the apostles' feet. 00:19:45.740 --> 00:19:47.799 There's the generosity of Barnabas. 00:19:48.620 --> 00:19:50.559 But if you're taking notes in the scripture journals 00:19:50.559 --> 00:19:51.720 or if you're just trying to figure out 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:52.440 how this connects, 00:19:52.759 --> 00:19:54.519 the first word of chapter five 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:56.680 is a very influential word, 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:59.420 but it's a hinge word, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.059 a conjunction, 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:02.200 a word that pivots the story here. 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:04.180 But a man named Ananias 00:20:04.180 --> 00:20:05.640 with his wife Sapphira 00:20:05.640 --> 00:20:07.940 sold a piece of property. 00:20:08.799 --> 00:20:10.519 And with his wife's knowledge, 00:20:10.680 --> 00:20:12.319 he kept back for himself 00:20:12.319 --> 00:20:13.240 some of the proceeds 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:14.840 and brought only a part of it 00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:16.400 and laid it at the apostles' feet. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:18.039 So we enter into chapter five 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:18.700 and like I said, 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:20.539 that word but's almost like a hinge 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:22.180 on which the door of the church 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:23.039 is opening up 00:20:23.039 --> 00:20:24.920 and we've seen the unity on the outside, 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:27.860 but the door is hinging open 00:20:27.860 --> 00:20:29.000 and we get to see a glimpse 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:29.740 of what's happening. 00:20:30.700 --> 00:20:32.660 And what exactly is going on 00:20:32.660 --> 00:20:34.259 in this church? 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.099 Well, there's this couple. 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:37.960 They conspired together 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:39.319 that they may deceive others 00:20:39.319 --> 00:20:40.539 and receive praise. 00:20:41.240 --> 00:20:43.000 They sought influence and praise 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.420 at the expense of their integrity. 00:20:46.279 --> 00:20:48.019 They likely saw Barnabas. 00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:49.859 You know, that guy that we grew up, 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:51.019 we graduated high school with him, 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:51.799 that guy named Joseph, 00:20:51.880 --> 00:20:52.920 they call him Barnabas now 00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:54.960 because he's just such an encouraging person. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:20:55.940 They changed his name. 00:20:55.940 --> 00:20:58.100 They look at Barnabas with some favor. 00:20:58.880 --> 00:21:00.240 Barnabas is a really cool guy. 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.140 He's like the backbone 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:02.059 of Christian community. 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.380 We see the praise 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:04.360 that Barnabas is getting. 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.779 We see the praise 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:06.840 that the unnamed people 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:07.700 of the church are getting 00:21:07.700 --> 00:21:09.440 for selling their fields and homes 00:21:09.440 --> 00:21:10.180 and laying it down 00:21:10.180 --> 00:21:11.019 at the apostles' feet. 00:21:11.360 --> 00:21:13.779 They're getting all of this accolades. 00:21:13.900 --> 00:21:15.140 They're getting all this praise 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:17.340 and we wish people saw us like that, right? 00:21:18.380 --> 00:21:19.059 So what do they do? 00:21:19.180 --> 00:21:20.620 They make a plan. 00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:23.240 They plan to sell their field, 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.320 their property, 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.059 and bring the proceeds of the church 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:27.559 to the church, 00:21:27.679 --> 00:21:28.740 lay at the apostles' feet, 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:30.619 as if they're giving it all, 00:21:31.419 --> 00:21:32.419 but it's not, is it? 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:34.099 It's just a portion. 00:21:35.240 --> 00:21:37.379 They sought influence and praise, 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.859 yet they went about attaining 00:21:38.859 --> 00:21:39.939 in a way that was sinful. 00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.980 And the reaction here 00:21:40.980 --> 00:21:42.099 seems pretty harsh, right? 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:45.299 This is not an easy passage to read. 00:21:45.419 --> 00:21:46.720 The reaction seems pretty harsh. 00:21:46.879 --> 00:21:47.960 Peter tells Ananias, 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:49.599 Satan has filled your heart. 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:51.159 Like you are a, 00:21:51.159 --> 00:21:54.039 you're a worker of the enemy right now. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.200 Satan has consumed 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:58.859 and filled your heart. 00:21:59.799 --> 00:22:00.819 And Ananias and his wife 00:22:00.819 --> 00:22:02.139 end up losing their lives. 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:03.259 So if we sit around 00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:05.059 and think that God doesn't care 00:22:05.059 --> 00:22:07.639 about how we reflect him 00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.700 and the church 00:22:08.700 --> 00:22:09.899 to the world around us, 00:22:10.420 --> 00:22:11.759 we are vastly mistaken. 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:15.119 Because God takes that very seriously. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:16.759 One commentator says it this way, 00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.980 the same spirit 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.019 that gave the community 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:19.920 its growth 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:22.640 also maintained its purity. 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.259 The same spirit 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:25.140 that gave the community 00:22:25.140 --> 00:22:25.720 its growth 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:27.700 also maintained its purity. 00:22:27.819 --> 00:22:28.359 Last week, 00:22:28.440 --> 00:22:29.079 Pastor Brett, 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:31.220 he shared the story 00:22:31.220 --> 00:22:32.079 of the disciples 00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:33.099 in the boat with Jesus 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.119 in Mark chapter four. 00:22:34.220 --> 00:22:35.180 We all know the story, right? 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:37.000 The disciples and Jesus 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.859 are in the boat. 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.240 The storms come 00:22:39.240 --> 00:22:39.740 and the disciples 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:40.740 are freaking out. 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:42.200 And the story ends 00:22:42.200 --> 00:22:43.039 with this display, 00:22:43.160 --> 00:22:43.720 this picture 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:45.400 that who is this one 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.019 that even the wind 00:22:46.019 --> 00:22:47.039 and waves obey him. 00:22:47.079 --> 00:22:49.740 They needed a fear of someone. 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.259 They needed someone 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:52.039 that was bigger 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.279 than the waves. 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.579 They needed someone 00:22:54.579 --> 00:22:55.339 that was bigger 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.180 than their fears. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.120 They needed someone 00:22:57.120 --> 00:22:57.660 that was bigger 00:22:57.660 --> 00:22:58.559 than their persecution 00:22:58.559 --> 00:23:00.380 because if they didn't fear God 00:23:00.380 --> 00:23:01.339 more than man, 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:02.539 they would not live bold. 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.360 They would not live for Christ. 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.220 And so that story 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:06.240 reminded us 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:08.039 that a fear of the Lord 00:23:08.039 --> 00:23:09.319 must be higher 00:23:09.319 --> 00:23:11.420 than our fear of man 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:12.579 because otherwise 00:23:12.579 --> 00:23:13.759 we won't live for God. 00:23:14.439 --> 00:23:15.379 That was last week. 00:23:16.059 --> 00:23:16.759 Well, this week 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:18.399 we see exactly 00:23:18.399 --> 00:23:19.399 what it looks like 00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.179 for someone 00:23:20.179 --> 00:23:21.379 who has no fear 00:23:21.379 --> 00:23:22.899 of the Lord whatsoever. 00:23:23.879 --> 00:23:24.819 Ananias and Sophia 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:25.659 represent a type 00:23:25.659 --> 00:23:26.339 of churchgoer 00:23:26.339 --> 00:23:27.759 that has no fear of God. 00:23:28.139 --> 00:23:29.240 The type of churchgoer 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.179 that comes to the altar 00:23:30.179 --> 00:23:30.879 and says, 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:32.379 Jesus Christ is Lord 00:23:32.379 --> 00:23:33.319 yet continues 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:34.259 to live for themselves. 00:23:35.079 --> 00:23:36.439 The type of churchgoer 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.419 that seeks to build 00:23:37.419 --> 00:23:38.519 their own empire 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:40.099 instead of the kingdom of God. 00:23:40.500 --> 00:23:41.460 The ones that pray, 00:23:41.460 --> 00:23:42.700 my kingdom come, 00:23:42.819 --> 00:23:43.819 my will be done 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:45.200 instead of thy kingdom come, 00:23:45.299 --> 00:23:46.180 thy will be done. 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:47.840 And what we see 00:23:47.840 --> 00:23:48.519 in this passage 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:49.420 is that when there is 00:23:49.420 --> 00:23:50.880 no fear of God, 00:23:51.019 --> 00:23:52.039 God will intervene. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.400 God does something 00:23:54.400 --> 00:23:55.640 terrifying 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:57.220 in this passage 00:23:57.220 --> 00:23:58.700 and that same hypocrisy 00:23:58.700 --> 00:23:59.740 we see from Ananias 00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:00.420 and Sapphira 00:24:00.420 --> 00:24:01.759 is the same type 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.380 of hypocrisy 00:24:02.380 --> 00:24:03.279 that affects the church 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:03.900 today, right? 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.680 This is not something 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:06.640 we're immune from. 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:08.039 This is not something 00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:09.539 that we are void of. 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.500 This is a struggle 00:24:10.500 --> 00:24:11.519 that we ourselves 00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:12.599 must wrestle with 00:24:12.599 --> 00:24:13.399 and making sure 00:24:13.399 --> 00:24:14.460 that that hypocrisy 00:24:14.460 --> 00:24:16.399 doesn't infect our lives 00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:16.920 as well. 00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.119 And so looking 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:18.680 at this passage, 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:20.480 we see that hypocrisy. 00:24:20.599 --> 00:24:21.879 Oh, God may not strike us 00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.899 dead for lying 00:24:22.899 --> 00:24:23.639 about our giving, 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.139 but there comes a point 00:24:25.139 --> 00:24:26.359 where God will prune 00:24:26.359 --> 00:24:26.940 the branch 00:24:26.940 --> 00:24:27.980 that bears bad fruit, 00:24:28.680 --> 00:24:29.659 where he will pluck 00:24:29.659 --> 00:24:30.339 the weeds, 00:24:30.639 --> 00:24:32.059 he'll remove the rocks, 00:24:32.159 --> 00:24:33.619 he'll remove any obstacle 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:35.779 to his gospel mission 00:24:35.779 --> 00:24:37.159 and work flourishing. 00:24:37.160 --> 00:24:39.100 There is a need 00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:40.060 for each of us 00:24:40.060 --> 00:24:41.980 to value integrity 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:44.340 over influence. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.900 There's a need 00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.400 for each of us 00:24:46.400 --> 00:24:47.480 to value integrity 00:24:47.480 --> 00:24:48.740 over influence, 00:24:48.820 --> 00:24:49.740 the type of integrity 00:24:49.740 --> 00:24:50.560 that makes it 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:51.279 to where we don't 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.960 bow down to Nebuchadnezzar 00:24:52.960 --> 00:24:53.880 even if it means 00:24:53.880 --> 00:24:54.620 a fiery furnace, 00:24:55.279 --> 00:24:56.540 the type of integrity 00:24:56.540 --> 00:24:57.200 that means 00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.500 that we keep on praying 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.259 even if it means 00:24:59.259 --> 00:25:00.060 a lion's den, 00:25:00.560 --> 00:25:01.680 the type of integrity 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:02.680 that keeps our eyes 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:03.800 fixed on the cross 00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:04.880 even if it means 00:25:04.880 --> 00:25:05.779 sure persecution, 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:07.960 the type of integrity 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.720 that means 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.619 we meet the needs 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:10.759 of those around us 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:11.759 without expecting 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:12.960 praise for ourselves. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.139 The need 00:25:15.139 --> 00:25:16.339 for integrity 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.500 remains. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.619 Imagine if I have 00:25:19.619 --> 00:25:20.000 a neighbor 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.720 who is going 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.240 through a really 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:21.899 tough time. 00:25:23.339 --> 00:25:24.220 I just think about 00:25:24.220 --> 00:25:25.160 the people around me 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.759 and if I were to imagine 00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.539 that a neighbor of mine 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:27.960 was going through 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.799 a really tough time, 00:25:28.859 --> 00:25:29.379 I just think of 00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:30.460 someone who might 00:25:30.460 --> 00:25:30.980 be working 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:31.960 through a nasty divorce, 00:25:32.759 --> 00:25:33.200 someone who's 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:33.799 on the verge 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:34.759 of losing their jobs, 00:25:34.940 --> 00:25:35.960 spiraling into depression, 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:36.980 just really struggling 00:25:36.980 --> 00:25:37.579 with life. 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.599 They're struggling 00:25:38.599 --> 00:25:39.460 to make ends meet. 00:25:39.879 --> 00:25:40.680 So my wife and I, 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.000 Kristen, 00:25:41.159 --> 00:25:42.559 we go to Quality Foods, 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:43.859 we load up a whole cart 00:25:43.859 --> 00:25:44.579 full of groceries 00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.399 and toiletries, 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:46.440 we know he's struggling 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.399 so we want to meet 00:25:47.399 --> 00:25:48.460 the need of our brother, 00:25:48.779 --> 00:25:49.399 we want to meet 00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:50.019 the need of our brother 00:25:50.019 --> 00:25:50.359 in Christ, 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:50.759 our neighbor. 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:53.599 So we pack all the things 00:25:53.599 --> 00:25:54.139 from the car, 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:55.180 get it in my truck, 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:55.919 we drive over 00:25:55.919 --> 00:25:56.599 to his house, 00:25:56.799 --> 00:25:58.279 we walk up to his door, 00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.639 we knock on the door 00:25:59.639 --> 00:26:00.940 and he opens the door 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:02.139 to me live streaming 00:26:02.139 --> 00:26:02.980 the whole thing. 00:26:02.980 --> 00:26:03.500 Hey guys, 00:26:03.559 --> 00:26:03.900 it's Evan, 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:05.019 Pastor Evan from the church, 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.980 I just really want 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:06.519 to meet a need 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:07.279 of a friend 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:08.019 who's been struggling 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:08.559 right now, 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:09.180 I just want you 00:26:09.180 --> 00:26:10.380 to see how awesome I am, 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.180 God's been really great 00:26:11.180 --> 00:26:11.519 to me, 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:12.480 I want to meet the need 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:12.940 of someone else 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:13.799 because I'm awesome, 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.640 God's blessed me 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:15.480 and I just really want 00:26:15.480 --> 00:26:16.140 you to see my friend 00:26:16.140 --> 00:26:16.620 he's struggling, 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:17.759 so if I were to all 00:26:17.759 --> 00:26:18.160 of a sudden 00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:19.000 take that moment, 00:26:19.079 --> 00:26:19.339 right, 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:21.220 where I'm doing 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:22.079 something good, 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:23.019 inherently good, 00:26:23.120 --> 00:26:23.720 but I'm doing it 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:25.059 so that I look better 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:25.680 to other people, 00:26:26.460 --> 00:26:26.960 and if you don't 00:26:26.960 --> 00:26:27.539 live stream, 00:26:27.640 --> 00:26:28.339 just imagine if you 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:29.000 did something really 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.960 generous and you 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:30.839 called into the 00:26:30.839 --> 00:26:31.440 Toccoa Record 00:26:31.440 --> 00:26:32.660 or WNEG just to get 00:26:32.660 --> 00:26:34.019 an article about yourself, 00:26:34.100 --> 00:26:34.320 right, 00:26:34.940 --> 00:26:35.380 well I just imagine, 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.080 we all know there's 00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:36.700 something inherently 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.559 wrong with that, 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:38.480 something that is 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:39.420 seemingly good, 00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:40.120 all of a sudden 00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:41.200 is pretty sketchy 00:26:41.200 --> 00:26:42.380 and selfish, 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.380 so the same type 00:26:44.380 --> 00:26:45.640 of integrity 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.460 is needed for us 00:26:46.460 --> 00:26:46.779 today, 00:26:46.860 --> 00:26:47.140 right, 00:26:48.100 --> 00:26:48.720 because oh, 00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.799 we may not, 00:26:49.840 --> 00:26:50.100 you know, 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:51.279 live stream an act 00:26:51.279 --> 00:26:51.980 of generosity, 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.500 but sometimes our 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:54.680 heart is not quite 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:55.320 as motivated 00:26:55.320 --> 00:26:56.180 by Christ-like 00:26:56.180 --> 00:26:57.100 compassion for my 00:26:57.100 --> 00:26:57.380 neighbor, 00:26:58.160 --> 00:26:59.000 sometimes my 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:59.759 generous giving 00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:00.500 is motivated 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.519 by the year-end 00:27:01.519 --> 00:27:02.500 tax credit I get 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.019 for my generous 00:27:03.019 --> 00:27:03.579 contributions, 00:27:04.660 --> 00:27:06.279 sometimes the 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.779 motivation for me 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:08.259 to do something 00:27:08.259 --> 00:27:09.539 generous is not 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:10.140 in Christ-like 00:27:10.140 --> 00:27:10.960 compassion for my 00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:11.220 neighbor, 00:27:12.180 --> 00:27:12.740 it's for the 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.940 profile picture I 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.640 get of us in our 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:15.319 matching t-shirts 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.180 serving the orphans 00:27:16.180 --> 00:27:16.640 in Africa, 00:27:16.920 --> 00:27:18.579 it's all of a sudden 00:27:18.579 --> 00:27:20.220 the thrust is on me 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:20.980 getting influence 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:21.980 rather than 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:23.079 maintaining a life 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:23.619 of integrity, 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.259 and that's a 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.599 problem, 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:24.940 right, 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.839 you see the same 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.619 God that brought 00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:28.359 growth in this 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:30.019 church was also 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:30.599 going to seek to 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.180 purify it, 00:27:31.960 --> 00:27:33.000 so we kind of 00:27:33.000 --> 00:27:33.639 come back to that 00:27:33.639 --> 00:27:34.879 initial question that 00:27:34.879 --> 00:27:35.879 I posed for each 00:27:35.879 --> 00:27:36.359 of us, 00:27:36.660 --> 00:27:37.720 when I started to 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.119 ask, 00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:40.420 will the church 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:40.859 last? 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:42.460 Is this merely 00:27:42.460 --> 00:27:43.200 just a phase? 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.720 Well, 00:27:44.799 --> 00:27:45.740 I think there's 00:27:45.740 --> 00:27:46.259 something to be 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.079 seen in this 00:27:47.079 --> 00:27:47.759 passage about an 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.400 answer to that, 00:27:49.400 --> 00:27:50.519 because even Peter 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:50.859 here, 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:51.579 he's demonstrating 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.039 integrity, 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:53.299 he confronted the 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:53.980 lies when he could 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.379 have slipped it 00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:54.980 under the rug, 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:56.160 he gave Sapphira a 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:57.019 chance to repent and 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:57.639 do the right thing 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.400 when he did not have 00:27:58.400 --> 00:27:59.540 to, and it's not 00:27:59.540 --> 00:28:00.620 uncommon to hear 00:28:00.620 --> 00:28:02.259 stories of weak 00:28:02.259 --> 00:28:03.120 church leaders in 00:28:03.120 --> 00:28:03.780 today's culture. 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:05.940 It's not uncommon to 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.840 hear stories about 00:28:06.840 --> 00:28:08.060 pastors who fall 00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:09.140 into moral failures, 00:28:09.259 --> 00:28:11.040 either of abuse or 00:28:11.040 --> 00:28:11.680 adultery. 00:28:12.180 --> 00:28:13.720 It's not uncommon for 00:28:13.720 --> 00:28:14.880 ministries and churches 00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.220 to be closing their 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:17.880 doors due to scandals 00:28:17.880 --> 00:28:19.340 and absolute hypocrisy 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:20.160 that comes out in the 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:20.420 open. 00:28:21.340 --> 00:28:22.700 There's a problem in 00:28:22.700 --> 00:28:23.980 the local church today 00:28:23.980 --> 00:28:25.360 that if we look at 00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.140 these situations, 00:28:26.340 --> 00:28:27.680 there's some discomfort 00:28:27.680 --> 00:28:28.700 as people leave the 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.660 church, people are 00:28:29.660 --> 00:28:30.960 hurt, and ministries 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.920 and churches seem to 00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:33.620 fail, but much like the 00:28:33.620 --> 00:28:34.539 story of Ananias and 00:28:34.539 --> 00:28:35.680 Sapphira here, we must 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:37.440 understand that God will 00:28:37.440 --> 00:28:38.640 vindicate the holiness 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:39.440 of his great name. 00:28:40.420 --> 00:28:41.600 He prophesied as much 00:28:41.600 --> 00:28:42.320 in the Old Testament. 00:28:42.700 --> 00:28:43.860 Ezekiel chapter 36, 00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:45.299 verse 23, God says, 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:47.100 and I will vindicate the 00:28:47.100 --> 00:28:48.620 holiness of my great 00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.380 name, which has been 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:50.360 profaned among the 00:28:50.360 --> 00:28:52.279 nations, and which you've 00:28:52.279 --> 00:28:53.880 profaned among them. 00:28:54.860 --> 00:28:55.640 And the nations will 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.660 know that I am the 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:57.580 Lord, declares the Lord 00:28:57.580 --> 00:29:00.700 God, when through you I 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.980 vindicate my holiness 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:03.820 before their eyes. 00:29:05.340 --> 00:29:06.580 So is this movement of 00:29:06.580 --> 00:29:07.300 the church merely a 00:29:07.300 --> 00:29:07.660 phase? 00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.700 Will it last? 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:12.160 Can it withstand the 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:13.240 opposition from the 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.560 outside and the 00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:15.700 hypocrisy that 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.700 contaminates it from the 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:17.000 inside? 00:29:18.019 --> 00:29:19.740 Will this continue or 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.820 will it fail? 00:29:21.180 --> 00:29:22.100 Our world is more 00:29:22.100 --> 00:29:23.000 broken than it's ever 00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:23.279 been. 00:29:23.360 --> 00:29:24.460 The church seems to be 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.279 full of hypocrites. 00:29:25.279 --> 00:29:26.160 If pastors fall into 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:27.799 moral failure, can the 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:29.019 church still be a place 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.279 of hope and gospel 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:30.759 community? 00:29:32.839 --> 00:29:34.940 God will ensure that it 00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:36.160 is and that it always 00:29:36.160 --> 00:29:36.639 will be. 00:29:37.940 --> 00:29:38.940 Want to know how I know? 00:29:40.599 --> 00:29:41.759 Because God works in 00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:42.759 passages like this. 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:44.299 The uncomfortable 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:46.119 passages, the ones that 00:29:46.119 --> 00:29:47.559 make us really not want 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:48.700 to preach this passage, 00:29:49.180 --> 00:29:50.720 the ones that calls us to 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.759 kind of stir in some 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:52.399 uncomfort. 00:29:52.400 --> 00:29:54.360 God makes sure that we 00:29:54.360 --> 00:29:56.080 do not get to a place 00:29:56.080 --> 00:29:57.740 where we fail to represent 00:29:57.740 --> 00:29:58.680 him to the world around 00:29:58.680 --> 00:29:58.980 us. 00:29:59.080 --> 00:30:00.140 And when that starts to be 00:30:00.140 --> 00:30:01.640 the case, God will 00:30:01.640 --> 00:30:02.820 vindicate the holiness of 00:30:02.820 --> 00:30:03.420 his great name. 00:30:04.100 --> 00:30:05.100 We can be sure of that. 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.519 So maybe you're sitting 00:30:07.519 --> 00:30:08.259 here today and you've 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.620 lost some trust. 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.880 Maybe you look at the 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.940 world around us, you read 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.960 the articles, you see the 00:30:13.960 --> 00:30:15.820 stories, and you grow 00:30:15.820 --> 00:30:18.280 uncomfortable because the 00:30:18.280 --> 00:30:19.140 church is full of broken 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.519 people. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:21.119 The church is full of 00:30:21.119 --> 00:30:21.859 hypocrites and sometimes 00:30:21.859 --> 00:30:22.799 led by those. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.099 Will the church prevail? 00:30:25.259 --> 00:30:25.779 Will it continue? 00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:28.859 Well, the answer's already 00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.259 been written. 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:32.779 This book doesn't just go 00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:33.720 through Acts, it actually 00:30:33.720 --> 00:30:34.539 goes to the end of the 00:30:34.539 --> 00:30:34.779 story. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:37.079 There's a passage in 00:30:37.079 --> 00:30:40.700 Revelation chapter 19 where 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.359 we see the end of the 00:30:41.359 --> 00:30:41.639 story. 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:43.339 And if we have a question 00:30:43.339 --> 00:30:44.420 on whether or not it will 00:30:44.420 --> 00:30:45.480 prevail, we can just look to 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.460 the end and see where it's 00:30:46.460 --> 00:30:47.960 already written and we can 00:30:47.960 --> 00:30:48.859 be comforted in that. 00:30:49.519 --> 00:30:51.519 Revelation chapter 19, I'll 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.479 read this very short passage 00:30:52.479 --> 00:30:53.279 then we're almost about to 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.579 close. 00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:55.079 Verse 6, 00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:56.599 Then I heard what seemed 00:30:56.599 --> 00:30:57.539 to be the voice of a 00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:59.240 great multitude, like the 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:00.740 roar of many waters and 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.859 like the sound of mighty 00:31:01.859 --> 00:31:03.539 peals of thunder, crying 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:05.119 out, Hallelujah, for the 00:31:05.119 --> 00:31:06.479 Lord our God, the Almighty 00:31:06.479 --> 00:31:07.139 reigns. 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:09.279 Let us rejoice and exult and 00:31:09.279 --> 00:31:10.139 give him the glory. 00:31:10.619 --> 00:31:11.979 For the marriage of the 00:31:11.979 --> 00:31:13.979 Lamb has come and his 00:31:13.979 --> 00:31:16.019 bride has made herself 00:31:16.019 --> 00:31:16.379 ready. 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:18.300 It was granted her to 00:31:18.300 --> 00:31:19.640 clothe herself in fine 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:21.080 linen, bright and pure. 00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:23.100 For the fine linen is the 00:31:23.100 --> 00:31:24.780 righteous deeds of the 00:31:24.780 --> 00:31:25.280 saints. 00:31:26.440 --> 00:31:27.760 The angel said to me, write 00:31:27.760 --> 00:31:29.900 this, blessed are those who 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:31.140 are invited to the marriage 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:31.940 supper of the Lamb. 00:31:32.740 --> 00:31:34.880 He said to me, these are the 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:37.780 true words of God. 00:31:38.880 --> 00:31:40.700 Then I fell down at his feet 00:31:40.700 --> 00:31:41.320 to worship him. 00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:42.419 But he said to me, you must 00:31:42.419 --> 00:31:43.079 not do that. 00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:44.679 I'm a fellow servant with 00:31:44.679 --> 00:31:44.980 you. 00:31:45.159 --> 00:31:46.659 And notice this, and your 00:31:46.659 --> 00:31:49.159 brothers who hold to the 00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:52.119 testimony of Jesus, worship 00:31:52.119 --> 00:31:52.779 God. 00:31:53.460 --> 00:31:55.960 For the testimony of Jesus is 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:57.740 the spirit of prophecy. 00:31:59.220 --> 00:31:59.859 And you see, we've been 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.759 talking the last few weeks 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.679 about how the church is a 00:32:01.679 --> 00:32:02.000 movement. 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:04.599 Yet a movement is only as 00:32:04.599 --> 00:32:05.359 important as its 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:05.740 destination. 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:08.140 For us, we can see that the 00:32:08.140 --> 00:32:10.440 destination is in eternal 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:12.200 communion with our creator 00:32:12.200 --> 00:32:12.660 God. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:15.339 And not opposition outside of 00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:16.519 the church like persecution, 00:32:17.960 --> 00:32:19.720 not even hypocrites like us 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:21.259 can cause that to fail. 00:32:22.599 --> 00:32:24.660 So will this movement 00:32:24.660 --> 00:32:25.319 continue? 00:32:26.400 --> 00:32:27.220 Will it last? 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.599 God will ensure that it 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:29.759 will. 00:32:30.779 --> 00:32:31.920 He will ensure that the 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:33.400 church remains a place of 00:32:33.400 --> 00:32:34.859 hope, a place of gospel 00:32:34.859 --> 00:32:36.279 community, because when it 00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.740 starts to stray, God is 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.959 faithful to prune the 00:32:38.959 --> 00:32:39.279 branches. 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:41.379 God is faithful to do what 00:32:41.379 --> 00:32:42.000 is necessary. 00:32:42.500 --> 00:32:43.339 The end of the story has 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:43.759 been written. 00:32:43.879 --> 00:32:44.919 We've been charged as the 00:32:44.919 --> 00:32:46.379 church to bear witness to 00:32:46.379 --> 00:32:47.479 the testimony of Jesus. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.000 The church's mission was 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:50.579 laid out in Acts 1-8 when 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.659 Jesus told his disciples, 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.699 but you will be witnesses 00:32:52.699 --> 00:32:53.919 when the Holy Spirit comes 00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:54.859 upon you, and you will be 00:32:54.859 --> 00:32:55.559 my witnesses in 00:32:55.559 --> 00:32:56.899 Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, 00:32:56.959 --> 00:32:57.519 and to the ends of the 00:32:57.519 --> 00:32:57.759 earth. 00:32:58.139 --> 00:32:59.139 We've been called and 00:32:59.139 --> 00:32:59.679 commissioned to be 00:32:59.679 --> 00:33:00.319 witnesses and bear 00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:01.099 witness to the testimony 00:33:01.099 --> 00:33:01.579 of Jesus. 00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:03.139 And we do that with our 00:33:03.139 --> 00:33:03.500 words. 00:33:03.500 --> 00:33:04.880 We faithfully proclaim 00:33:04.880 --> 00:33:05.940 the gospel to those who 00:33:05.940 --> 00:33:06.859 are broken around us, 00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:07.700 those who are entrenched 00:33:07.700 --> 00:33:09.259 in sin and have no hope 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:10.059 apart from the gospel. 00:33:10.420 --> 00:33:12.160 But we also do it through 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:14.519 our works, where we live 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.839 lives that are honorable 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:17.059 and pleasing to God. 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:20.099 We share the word through 00:33:20.099 --> 00:33:21.279 proclamation of the gospel, 00:33:21.660 --> 00:33:23.079 yet we show the word 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.900 through our lives. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.900 So do we value people 00:33:26.900 --> 00:33:28.380 over possessions? 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:31.240 Do we pursue gospel 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:33.680 integrity over influence? 00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:36.000 If not, there's some places 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:36.940 for us to work on today, 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.200 right? 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:39.299 There's some growth for us 00:33:39.299 --> 00:33:40.099 in this passage. 00:33:40.220 --> 00:33:41.519 A fear of the Lord will 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:42.539 embolden us to share the 00:33:42.539 --> 00:33:43.380 gospel with our neighbors, 00:33:43.559 --> 00:33:45.120 but it will also safeguard us 00:33:45.120 --> 00:33:46.160 from the pitfalls of sin. 00:33:46.779 --> 00:33:47.779 From this passage, we're 00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:49.000 reminded that if we want to 00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:50.059 live for Jesus, if we want 00:33:50.059 --> 00:33:51.539 this movement to continue, 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:53.940 we must value people over 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.819 possessions and pursue gospel 00:33:55.819 --> 00:33:57.140 integrity over influence. 00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.579 And I pray that may be the 00:33:58.579 --> 00:33:59.339 case for us today. 00:34:00.399 --> 00:34:00.919 Let's pray. 00:34:01.059 --> 00:34:01.699 Father, we love you. 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:04.639 Lord, this is a terrifying 00:34:04.639 --> 00:34:05.759 passage to work through. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.939 Lord, it's not been the most 00:34:07.939 --> 00:34:09.239 comfortable for me to read 00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:10.119 and study this week. 00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.480 Lord, it's not been the most 00:34:11.480 --> 00:34:12.380 comfortable for me to share. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.739 But Lord, you've done a work 00:34:14.739 --> 00:34:16.759 in my heart this week that I 00:34:16.759 --> 00:34:17.860 pray you may continue in the 00:34:17.860 --> 00:34:19.779 days ahead and in the lives 00:34:19.779 --> 00:34:20.900 of every person in this church. 00:34:22.079 --> 00:34:23.799 Lord, may you remind us that 00:34:23.799 --> 00:34:27.099 your plan is good, that you're 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:27.599 above all. 00:34:28.259 --> 00:34:30.639 Lord, when we get disgusted and 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:33.860 discouraged by failures of the 00:34:33.860 --> 00:34:34.920 church and our brothers and 00:34:34.920 --> 00:34:36.279 sisters and even ourselves 00:34:36.279 --> 00:34:38.960 sometimes, may you just remind 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:40.319 us that you're in control. 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.460 Will you help us to place our 00:34:42.460 --> 00:34:43.339 confidence in you? 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:47.019 Lord, if that means chastising 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:50.099 us and challenging us to value 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:52.339 people over possessions, by all 00:34:52.339 --> 00:34:53.739 the means, Lord, fix our hearts. 00:34:54.920 --> 00:34:56.259 But Lord, if we ever become a 00:34:56.260 --> 00:34:58.660 church that's more accustomed to 00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:01.420 being a church on a hill that 00:35:01.420 --> 00:35:03.140 isn't present in the community 00:35:03.140 --> 00:35:04.620 and we all, we want to influence, 00:35:06.180 --> 00:35:07.200 Lord, correct us. 00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:10.740 And help us to be open to that 00:35:10.740 --> 00:35:13.200 correction so that we become 00:35:13.200 --> 00:35:15.880 fruitful again rather than be 00:35:15.880 --> 00:35:17.680 ones that come to the end of 00:35:17.680 --> 00:35:18.120 your judgment. 00:35:19.480 --> 00:35:20.860 Lord, this is a serious passage 00:35:20.860 --> 00:35:22.060 and I pray you may do a serious 00:35:22.060 --> 00:35:23.120 work in each of our hearts. 00:35:24.120 --> 00:35:24.940 It's in your holy name we pray. 00:35:24.940 --> 00:35:25.639 Amen. 00:35:26.639 --> 00:35:27.880 Today we're going to end with a 00:35:27.880 --> 00:35:28.860 verse of invitation. 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.599 If you want to stand and turn your 00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:33.760 hymnals to hymn 413, turn your 00:35:33.760 --> 00:35:34.920 eyes upon Jesus. 00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:36.720 And I invite you to come if 00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:37.619 there's any reason you need to 00:35:37.619 --> 00:35:39.139 pray with me, join the church, 00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.260 give your life to Christ. 00:35:40.340 --> 00:35:40.840 I'd love to have that 00:35:40.840 --> 00:35:41.659 conversation with you. 00:35:41.940 --> 00:35:42.980 Otherwise, let's sing. 00:35:42.980 --> 00:35:44.469 And I'll talk to you throughiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseiseise