Lying to God (Part A)

This great guy you know on Sunday and Monday comes in the genuine way and then you now all of a sudden wrong mask that but I mean deep inside and I base this on the Bible's teaching about God's judgment. God's judgment is not as we covered in the profit mail. It's it's not random is not capricious is on a whim of God is careful loaded with opportunity to escape the judgment. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of acts. Today's message is a partial recording but please stay with us afterwards to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now let's join Pastor Rick in the book of acts chapter 5 as he begins his message lying to God. If your God cannot tell when lies are told you have the wrong God. You do not have the true God. Such low opinions of God turn an archangel into Satan himself high opinions of God exalting the Lord. These are the things that are true and right helpful, but homegrown ideas about deity, about God are always unacceptable to him because they are insulting to make up things about God is an insult to God and so before us the story of this married couple who thought they could live to God and survive.

Satan was behind the whole thing because Satan hates the local assembly of believers known as the church.

Satan is against us and God protects us. It is a high-value target for Satan to get to the church to destroy it, and he succeeds many times Christ bought the church with his blood Bible says, Satan tries to cheapen the purchase and he does it through people who attend the church here begins Satan's first attack on the local church. The local assembly. This is first attack from with in the church using hypocrisy. The lie of hypocrisy as his tool coming from our Lord himself about Jesus.

We have this information that could only be gained by someone as Jesus, God the son, John chapter 8, Jesus speaking to the religious hypocrites of his day that confronted him he said your of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.

He was a murderer from the beginning does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.

When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources or he is a liar and the father of it.

Man is pretty intense. I mean, if Elijah had said this, it would've been Scripture would've been powerful but is something a little bit more of my the only one that one is right out of the mouth of Christ is just a little different. All of it is God all of it is out of the mouth of God. But to hear Jesus say it to me.

It registers in a slightly different way. Well, in this section are we looking at Satan's attack on the churches I've been emphasizing so far is proof is proof that the entire church was in jeopardy, and that God found this at this early stage, intolerable and was determined to make a statement that would last down through the ages to this very day. Initially the world was oblivious to what took place this day before Peter concerning Safar and Ananias afterwards when the world learns of such things do they understand they get well. It is up to us to help them understand these things. These are distractions of hell to get people to be confused to get people to look away from what God is saying listen to me this is what hell does this is why the sanctuary was such an emphasis on removing distractions so the focus can be on what God is saying, through his system that he is established the church and the preachers that he appoints to preach the word to the believers that are then entrusted to go out and preach the word, as God opens opportunities so all of that to say is very serious look at verse one, but a certain man named Ananias, with the fire, his wife sold a possession. Remember, no chapter divisions existed in the original writing of the New Testament that came centuries later, and so rightfully the way this reads is look at if you have your Bible, still open to acts chapter 5 you look up to verses two acts chapter 4 and verse 36 and Josie's who was also named Barnabas by the apostles which is translated son of encouragement, a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet, but certain man named Ananias, with the fire, his wife sold a possession and kept back parts of there's a direct connection between the two events.

This wasn't a random thing. Everything here is coordinated both from heaven's perspective and also from the enemy. Ananias and his wife and one of the attention that Barnabas God. They wanted the fame in their thinking that he received. I'm in the apostles when out of the way to name him the son of encouragement that that they had graced Barnabas.

Not only did he donate the land of the proceeds from the land, but he had this character.

Hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men as surely as it you they have their reward is going to be a pattern to all three of these rebukes Jesus lays against hypocrisy and in the church and for them of the synagogue, which is a parallel, the Jewish parallel to the Christian church knows that it is a Gentile church is no such thing as a Christian church. It is comprised of Jews or Gentiles or anybody else merely a lot of hype about UFOs unidentified fried objects use series use finds losses only what I'm not going to get into that, but justices say you walking in the somebody gets out of a flying saucer you make him an offer. How much for the flying saucer preach Christ when you stand with the Lord. All right, that's just a little fantasy break in the middle of all this was we get back to this now so that was the first rebuke on giving and then when praying and remember Jesus is citing these that are claiming to be devout churchgoers. When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Surely as a view, they have their reward going to repeat that again they had the glory of men they have their reward glory of men they have their fame, which is what I Ananias itself to fire was after.

And I think again that link between verse one of chapter 5 verses one and two of chapter 5 in the last two verses of chapter 4. Put it all together for us, removes a lot of the guesswork. Jesus said when fasting when when drawing close to God. Don't use it as a springboard to boast about how spiritual you are and everybody else is not Matthew chapter 6 verse 60.

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces, they may appear to man to be fasting. Surely, I say to you, they have their reward is no nonsense about hypocrisy about acting faithful. It was in the vicinity of those three verses on hypocrisy. It was that sermon on the Mount as Jesus closes up his sermon on the Mount in the vicinity of those rebukes.

He says this many will say to me in that they Lord, Lord, that we not professed your name cast out demons in your name and then many wonders in your name that I will declare to them, I never knew you depart for me. You practice lawlessness, lawlessness, antinomianism that means you know I can have my salvation not obey. He did all the dying out of any of the obeying that is rebuked. It is disingenuous of these two to act like they gave into walking applause as an actor.

They didn't get was one of the story. This is not the end of it.

You would think that the Holy Spirit would've said let's just say they lied to me and I salute them and then we go to chapter 6 that's not how it goes.

He lays out these things all of the Scripture is laid out for us because our responses them. What Lord.

Verse four while remaining was not your own and after it was sold, was it not in your own control. Why have you conceived this thing in your heart you have not lied to men but to God. While it remained was it not your own. Yes, God never told you had to give any of this. It was once you made that pledge and after it was sold, was it not in your own control. Yes, you have no one else to blame Ananias you not lied to men but to God in there again. The Holy Spirit is called God.

When you link the three verses and compare them and examine them. It doesn't take much, verse three verse four in verse nine, the Holy Spirit is God the Holy Spirit third person of the Godhead. So when you know some of the word Trinity statin them I would know what the word Godhead is and it is the exact same meeting is just a we know that there's only three that have been given the status. You shall baptize them in the name of the father the son and the Holy Spirit that is determined is more teaching.

Of course, on the Trinity, but that's just a quick overview for in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead.

That's what was said of Jesus, and that's what you can say of the father and the Holy Spirit.

Likewise, these are the last words that Ananias heard in this life you have not lied to men but to God lying to God.

That's the last thing he heard verse five. Then Ananias hearing these words fell down and breathed his last great fear came upon all those who heard these things, let me tell you there are a lot of Christians that don't have the fear of the church and they are all they think it's just a place for them to go to be accommodated that they have entitlements they don't see it as the house of God. Years ago when I was a new Christian, I attended a and Assemblies of God church and I believe that they most of those people there.

They love the Lord. I didn't agree with a lot of the theology that I still don't. But I knew I had nowhere else to go and I would fellowship with them and the pastor there pastor bear he would get up into the pulpit every Sunday morning and he would say good morning. Welcome to the house of the Lord and I loved and set some point my ministry I reflected on that incident, I would be cheating the people not to say this is God's house and people are welcome to hear, but they're not welcomed to try to take over the place and this is again who would try that while many visitors coming and they tried to impress upon us what they think we should do and change because it available lacking that fear of the house of God, which is the church, the ecclesia curiosity church that Jesus bought with his blood and it is the role not only of the pastor to shake up that teaching from time to time, but it is your role to invite somebody come to church with me but let me tell you something will be coming up and he can follow me there. We want to be loving see Satan other than the soprano voice tone here and they won't think you're being so aggressive anyway. I name you know that we live in a time where any form of acceptable aggression is not acceptable as Weathers is war on masculinity on men so you know what you too much of a threat to the wrong things we want to do. Let's get rid of the box and we can take over everything and they been succeeding at that right turning men into something else, not even then not turning them into women are turning in the monstrosity room won't consult women like that nor will we insult them any other way. Femininity is a good thing but it is dying. Verse five.

Then Ananias hearing is what I read that so let me just finish comics and a lot of juicy stuff on this.

So he fell down and breathed his last. He died so great fear came in all those who heard these things.

This gives the biblical meaning of being slain in the spirit. This is slain in the spirit so I was slightly experimental, so was an bayfront says the only slaying in the spirit that can be substantiated from Scripture was the death of Ananias and Sapphire if you don't know Dave Hunt is missing out. We can say the names of changed but the facts remain where the Dave hunts today.

What a great man of God. He was, and I miss him very much.

I believe that the two victims in this chapter were always up to no good. You know no one suddenly becomes base. No one suddenly becomes evil. You break this great guy you know on on Sunday and that Monday comes in the genuine way and then your now all of a sudden wrong unless you can certainly mask that but I mean deep inside and I base this on the Bible's teaching about God's judgment.

God's judgment is not as we covered in the prophet Nahum it's it's not random is not capricious, just on a whim of God.

It is careful loaded with an opportunity to escape the judgment, just like Peter here asked Ananias he Ananias and said okay you got me. I repent his wife will get the same interview. Neither one of them will repent.

Nahum chapter 1 Yahweh is slow to anger, great in power and will not at all acquit the wicked and in that versus God's desire to save not to harm but when he asked to harm. It has been well thought out on his part as a righteous God.

No one becomes base overnight, not even Judas Iscariot. Judas Iscariot was chosen to be on the staff of Jesus Christ.

Because Christ saw in him the potential to be like the other apostles. It was Judah's choice to become the trader before Satan fill the heart of Judas. Judas was already embezzling from the moneybox so it wasn't that night that he betrayed loaded. Suddenly this happened, he was already up to no good. And there are other cases in Scripture and that we needed from Scripture. I don't want to give you my opinion, unless the Scripture can back it up or Scripture is always in the lead make it sound like it's secondary to my opinion. My opinion secondary to Scripture and so is yours.

So this this judgment of Peter this not man's jurisprudence is not man's court of law for the best litigator wins regardless of the facts. This is the king's court and he doesn't have to say. We know you did this and here's why the case as a whole is saying you did it when not asking you if you did it. Psalm 98 verse nine for he is coming to judge the earth with righteousness he shall judge the world and the peoples with equity. Unlike the court of men coming. There are some good judges but there are great many foul people who should be nowhere near the courthouse that should be in jail and they are loose and they are out there, continues here in verse five is a great fear came upon all those who heard these things well again, no surprise at this point, only a handful heard these things and within three hours. This would have been suppressed or twisted by the evening news.

If the evening news got hold is what the church is able to do this to people really telling anybody that or those butcher Christians took out machetes and they were twisted or suppressible they would not uphold it. Word spread around Jerusalem with sobering results. Imagine you go house church today will he do like you do every Sunday sermon was the best I've ever heard. And then if you come to this church. Other churches you know the service was the second best ever heard.

You should hear Several cancer okay if you give your visiting. You have to know I'm serious. Okay, just kidding, but so you go house a sermon. It was good. All right you're hopeless or have an interest today to people instructed by the pastor wall so that sobriety just like with Aiken and Judas Iscariot, they did not live to to profit from them again. Aiken did not get to spend any of the spoils he'd had taken Judas did not get to spend 30 pieces of silver Sapphire Ananias the wages of sin is death is very serious and again I have to preface that because we all struggle and that's not what is meant by that is the one that is boldfaced when Ezekiel and chapter 18 talks about the one that sins will die.

He's talking about idolaters that are amongst the Jews talk about every little thing is if you're into idolatry you done and if you come out of your good person and you go into idolatry you going to be judged for that sin of the first commandment. Peter did not throw a stone at him did not smoke him with his hand. He exercise the gift of discernment in the office and power of a prophet twice within three hours with the same result God Slough religious deceivers today that be nothing. It would be what is called there would be no what is called the prosperity movement, as though where the ones God wants us to prosper. I want everybody to prosper in this service to him in men and women have gone to their graves doing that.

Not trying to amass material wealth in this world. Verse six and the young man arose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him head is kinda cute. Almost how that said like they were sitting outside just waiting in the arose and went and got him and buried him in the.

Of course, this is Lou reducing story down is getting to the point we have no record of Jesus Christ laying anyone at his first coming, but at his second coming, he will slay entire armies the world needs to be told these things, they shall go ahead and mark now. I wouldn't if I were in your place.

Make no mistake, he is the lion and the lamb.

Which one do you want him to be towards you totally your choice to the righteous. Of course he is the Lamb who was slain, and who lives forever and to the world. He will come as a line verse seven.

Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in not knowing what it happen that are not trying to be funny when I said she's probably out shopping because they get this money I mean they got all this money will see that the burning a hole in her pocket and she maybe by looking for new house.

Who knows what it did. I that's my first thought, I can what I can back it up anyway wherever she was. She now is comes comes to the church and when she's invited to go see Peter. She's probably thinking I'm going to his office to receive accolades is going to tell me to give us a nickname like Barnabas go tell everybody how wonderful that's what she's probably going to the office thinking how many people leave this world thinking well you know I wasn't so bad of a guy that you rejected Christ Have figured out is already figured it out. You're the one. Again, the severity of our message across is this good emblem of death or life. Your choice. But verse eight goes on to tell us what Peter answered his response to her tell me whether you sold the land for so much and she said yes with so much so Peter gives her a chance to confess, he doesn't even bring up all by the way your husband's dead, which to me is this is how the Holy Spirit wants us to examine this verse based. You can read into it. She's in his office or before him because they did first urgent half of church building and it gives her this chance by omitting the fact that he's dead. The Holy Spirit is saying lying to the Holy Spirit comes before condolences got his first and it is sobering to read the story with thinking it through. Like this verse nine.

At least to me. Then Peter said, how is it that you have agreed together to test the spirit of the Lord looked at the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door. They will carry you out.

Well the collusion that is brought this conclusion for Jesus gave his pastor's authority to make field decisions. I'm not saying he's given that you know this is how fast is this is not what anybody would want Peter certainly wouldn't want this but John's gospel chapter 20 is Jesus speaking to the apostles after he is risen.

This is the chapter wasted Dino tend my sheep feed my lambs and this is where Jesus was ordaining Peter and the apostles to care for the flock we call them the apostles, but they were pastors they were the ones that shepherded the flock and James and Hebrews gets into this is a serious calling. So John 20 Jesus and if you forgive sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retain by that's pretty big move you've been listening to cross reference radio daily radio ministry pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia.

As we mentioned at the beginning of today's broadcast. Today's teaching is available free of charge at our website.

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