INSINCERITY – THE ENEMY OF TRUE FELLOWSHIP Acts 5:1-11

>In Acts 4:32-37 we see true Christian fellowship and oneness AND here we see the danger of insincerity in true Christian fellowship. 

 

INSINCERITY IN FELLOWSHIP - They sold a possession, and brought the money (as Barnabas did) to the apostles' feet, that they might not seem to be behind the very chief of believers, but might be applauded. They cherish human adulation more than God’s praise. There is a mixture of bad with good in the best societies on this side heaven; hypocrites and tares will grow among the wheat until the harvest. Matt. 13:25 

 

THE SIN OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA - It is good to see husband and wife joining together in that which is good like Aquila and Priscilla, but to be confederate in evil is to be like Adam and Eve, when they agreed to eat the forbidden fruit, and were one in their disobedience. Prov.1:10-13 

They might have heard good intention but, when the money was received, their heart failed them, and they kept back part of the price and lay up for a rainy day. Hos 10:1-2 

Satan filled his heart; having provoked the Spirit to withdraw from him, when the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, an evil spirit from God troubled him. Satan is a lying spirit; he was so in the mouth of Ahab's prophets 1Kings 22: 1-end 

BE SINCERE -  

Giving is not of necessity, because God loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor 9:7; Philem 14.  

not wearying men only, but wearying my God also! Isa 7:13. Ex 16:8.  

You may never have the opportunity to repent - Ananias, hearing these words; fell down gave up the ghost.  

So was the offering of strange fire by Nadab and Abihu, and the mutiny of Korah and his company, when the fire from heaven fell and consumed them. Lev. 10:1 

Don’t be a talkative - she came in about three hours after, expecting to share in the thanks of the house for her coming in, and consenting to the sale of the land, nobody gossip about the death of her husband, she dead also. 

Great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 1 Sam 6:20.