Unity Challenged

Tombs of Sapphira and Ananias (Courtesy: Christart.com).

Our preacher today shared from early church in Acts 4 and 5. Two sides: The first is the wonderful life of the early church and then the temptation of Ananias and Sapphira.

Wonderful life of the church
Believers were of one heart and mind, in unity. The unity was based on:

• Holiness: Nothing else like want for money, recognition, power, fame. But purely in a desire to be united in Christ. Only sin can destroy Christian unity. 
• Boldness and outspoken: There the apostles spoke the Word of God boldly - they were bold and outspoken. Not afraid. But then filled with the Holy Spirit.
• Generous: They were generous where believers sold their properties and shared with those in need. Then climax is the generosity of Barnabas. His contribution was highly appreciated.

The devil knew he cannot do anything in this context. So his strategy changed: destroy unity but using someone within the group.

Temptation of Ananias and Sapphira 
Perhaps they wanted to outshine Barnabas. Clearly, they want to appear as some big. They wanted to show they were very generous people, even if that means lying. For that they paid their own lives.

Peter confronted them immediately after sensing their hypocrisy.

Why was their sins serious? Because they premeditated/planned what they were going to do. Not listening to the voice that must have confronted them several times.

There was no fear of God in them. Just as it is today.