Atmospheric Holiness – Part 6: Simplicity Acts 4:32 – 5:11

Atmospheric Holiness – Atmospheric Holiness – Part 6: SimplicityPart 6: Simplicity

Acts 4:32 – 5:11Acts 4:32 – 5:11

Simple is not easy.

• Easy is effortless.

• Simple is basic, uncomplicated, and fundamental.

Acts 4:32-35Acts 4:32-35

All the believers were one in heart and All the believers were one in heart and

mind. No one claimed that any of his mind. No one claimed that any of his

possessions was his own, but they possessions was his own, but they

shared everything they had. shared everything they had.

Acts 4:32-35Acts 4:32-35

With great power the apostles With great power the apostles

continued to testify to the resurrection continued to testify to the resurrection

of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was

upon them all.upon them all.

Acts 4:32-35Acts 4:32-35

There were no needy persons among There were no needy persons among

them. For from time to time those who them. For from time to time those who

owned lands or houses sold them, owned lands or houses sold them,

Acts 4:32-35Acts 4:32-35

brought the money from the sales and brought the money from the sales and

put it at the apostles' feet, and it was put it at the apostles' feet, and it was

distributed to anyone as he had need. distributed to anyone as he had need.

Five Marks of a Five Marks of a HealthyHealthy Church Church

• A church marked by A church marked by spiritualspiritual unityunity

All the believers were one in heart and All the believers were one in heart and

mind. – v.32amind. – v.32a


• A church marked by A church marked by simplicitysimplicity

No one claimed that any of his No one claimed that any of his

possessions was his own, but they possessions was his own, but they

shared everything they had. – v.32bshared everything they had. – v.32b


• A church marked by A church marked by powerfulpowerful

preachingpreaching

With great power the apostles With great power the apostles

continued to testify to the resurrection continued to testify to the resurrection

of the Lord Jesus – v.33a,bof the Lord Jesus – v.33a,b


• A church marked by A church marked by gracegrace – v.33c – v.33c

and much grace was upon them all. – and much grace was upon them all. –

v.33cv.33c


• A church marked by A church marked by metmet needsneeds

There were no needy persons among There were no needy persons among

them. – v.34-35them. – v.34-35

“ “there should be no poor among you”there should be no poor among you”

(Deut 15:4).(Deut 15:4).

Exceptional Efforts Exceptional Efforts for Special Needs for Special Needs

For from time to time those who owned For from time to time those who owned

lands or houses sold them, brought the lands or houses sold them, brought the

money from the sales 35and put it at money from the sales 35and put it at

the apostles' feet, and it was distributed the apostles' feet, and it was distributed

to anyone as he had need.to anyone as he had need. - vv.34b-35 - vv.34b-35

An Extraordinary ExampleAn Extraordinary Example

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom

the apostles called Barnabas (which the apostles called Barnabas (which

means Son of Encouragement), sold a means Son of Encouragement), sold a

field he owned and brought the money field he owned and brought the money

and put it at the apostles' feet.and put it at the apostles' feet. - vv.36- - vv.36-

3737


• This was extraordinary because Joseph This was extraordinary because Joseph

was a was a LeviteLevite..

• The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have The LORD said to Aaron, "You will have

no inheritance in their land, nor will you no inheritance in their land, nor will you

have any share among them; I am your have any share among them; I am your

share and your inheritance among the share and your inheritance among the

Israelites. - Numbers 18:20Israelites. - Numbers 18:20


• This was extraordinary because Joseph This was extraordinary because Joseph

was a was a LeviteLevite..

• That is why the Levites have no share That is why the Levites have no share

or inheritance among their brothers; or inheritance among their brothers;

the LORD is their inheritance, as the the LORD is their inheritance, as the

LORD your God told them.) - LORD your God told them.) -

Deuteronomy 10:9Deuteronomy 10:9


• This was extraordinary because of the This was extraordinary because of the

valuevalue ofof thethe landland..

• This was extraordinary because of the This was extraordinary because of the

reputationreputation of Joseph. of Joseph.


• An essential ingredient of a great An essential ingredient of a great

church is an “church is an “unlimitedunlimited commitmentcommitment to to

Christ and each other which is Christ and each other which is

expressed in expressed in unrestrainedunrestrained loyaltyloyalty”.”.

An Interruption of Simplicity - An Interruption of Simplicity - Acts 5: 1-11Acts 5: 1-11

Now a man named Ananias, together Now a man named Ananias, together

with his wife Sapphira, also sold a with his wife Sapphira, also sold a

piece of property. With his wife's full piece of property. With his wife's full

knowledge he kept back part of the knowledge he kept back part of the

money for himself, but brought the rest money for himself, but brought the rest

and put it at the apostles' feet. and put it at the apostles' feet.


Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it

that Satan has so filled your heart that that Satan has so filled your heart that

you have lied to the Holy Spirit and you have lied to the Holy Spirit and

have kept for yourself some of the have kept for yourself some of the

money you received for the land? money you received for the land?


Didn't it belong to you before it was Didn't it belong to you before it was

sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the

money at your disposal? What made money at your disposal? What made

you think of doing such a thing? You you think of doing such a thing? You

have not lied to men but to God." have not lied to men but to God."


When Ananias heard this, he fell down When Ananias heard this, he fell down

and died. And great fear seized all who and died. And great fear seized all who

heard what had happened. Then the heard what had happened. Then the

young men came forward, wrapped up young men came forward, wrapped up

his body, and carried him out and his body, and carried him out and

buried him. buried him.


About three hours later his wife came About three hours later his wife came

in, not knowing what had happened. in, not knowing what had happened.

Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the

price you and Ananias got for the price you and Ananias got for the

land?" land?"

"Yes," she said, "that is the price." "Yes," she said, "that is the price."


Peter said to her, "How could you agree Peter said to her, "How could you agree

to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The

feet of the men who buried your feet of the men who buried your

husband are at the door, and they will husband are at the door, and they will

carry you out also." carry you out also."


At that moment she fell down at his feet At that moment she fell down at his feet

and died. Then the young men came in and died. Then the young men came in

and, finding her dead, carried her out and, finding her dead, carried her out

and buried her beside her husband. and buried her beside her husband.

Great fear seized the whole church and Great fear seized the whole church and

all who heard about these events.all who heard about these events.

An Interruption of SimplicityAn Interruption of Simplicity

The threat has something to do with The threat has something to do with

possessionspossessions but the threat is not about but the threat is not about

moneymoney..

Acts 5:3-4Acts 5:3-4

Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it

that Satan has so filled your heart that that Satan has so filled your heart that

you have lied to the Holy Spirit and you have lied to the Holy Spirit and

have kept for yourself some of the have kept for yourself some of the

money you received for the land? money you received for the land?


Didn't it belong to you before it was Didn't it belong to you before it was

sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the

money at your disposal? What made money at your disposal? What made

you think of doing such a thing? You you think of doing such a thing? You

have not lied to men but to God." have not lied to men but to God."


About three hours later his wife came About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the price you and Ananias got for the land?" land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." "Yes," she said, "that is the price."

Peter said to her, "How could you agree Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?to test the Spirit of the Lord?


Whenever we pretend Whenever we pretend fullfull disclosuredisclosure in in

order to keep something for ourselves order to keep something for ourselves

we are attempting to we are attempting to deceivedeceive God and God and

we we destroydestroy community. community.

Luke 12:1-3Luke 12:1-3

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many Meanwhile, when a crowd of many

thousands had gathered, so that they thousands had gathered, so that they

were trampling on one another, Jesus were trampling on one another, Jesus

began to speak first to his disciples, began to speak first to his disciples,

saying: "Be on your guard against the saying: "Be on your guard against the

yeast of the Pharisees, which is yeast of the Pharisees, which is

hypocrisy.hypocrisy.

Luke 12:1-3Luke 12:1-3

There is nothing concealed that will not There is nothing concealed that will not

be disclosed, or hidden that will not be be disclosed, or hidden that will not be

made known. What you have said in the made known. What you have said in the

dark will be heard in the daylight, and dark will be heard in the daylight, and

what you have whispered in the ear in what you have whispered in the ear in

the inner rooms will be proclaimed the inner rooms will be proclaimed

from the roofs.from the roofs.


You can’t fake You can’t fake holinessholiness!!


• The name Ananias means God is The name Ananias means God is

graciousgracious..

• The name Sapphira means The name Sapphira means beautifulbeautiful..


To hold back To hold back ourselvesourselves and what the and what the

Lord is doing in us is the greatest act of Lord is doing in us is the greatest act of

deceitdeceit and and disloyaltydisloyalty to God and to to God and to

others.others.

Bottom Line:Bottom Line:

We must choose to live in simplicity – We must choose to live in simplicity –

no self preservation or hold outs – if we no self preservation or hold outs – if we

expect the Spirit of God to continually expect the Spirit of God to continually

breathe life into the church. breathe life into the church.

Bottom LineBottom Line

The potential of doing church The potential of doing church withoutwithout

or or contrarycontrary to God’s Spirit is real. to God’s Spirit is real.

We must admit two realities:We must admit two realities:

• We can We can grievegrieve the Spirit the Spirit

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of

God, with whom you were sealed for God, with whom you were sealed for

the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30the day of redemption. - Ephesians 4:30


• We can We can grievegrieve the Spirit the Spirit

We grieve the Spirit when we We grieve the Spirit when we affirmaffirm in in

character what the Spirit of God would character what the Spirit of God would

resistresist..


• We can We can quenchquench the Spirit’s fires the Spirit’s fires

Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 1 Thess. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 1 Thess.

5:195:19

• We quench the Spirit’s fires when we We quench the Spirit’s fires when we

resistresist the instruction that the Holy the instruction that the Holy

Spirit would Spirit would affirmaffirm..

Bottom LineBottom Line

Seeking the Spirit’s leading attunes our Seeking the Spirit’s leading attunes our

sensitivities to the actual and relational sensitivities to the actual and relational

presence of God’s goodness.presence of God’s goodness.

Documents

Atmospheric Holiness – Part 6: Simplicity Acts 4:32 – 5:11