God Who Protects His Church (Acts 4:32-5:11)

“A ship in a safe harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is built for.” (William Shedd) A ship was made to sail the sea, and it’s inevitable for the ship face trials and risks. It is same with the church community, the ark of faith in the world. The church will not face any trials if it doesn’t do anything and remain in a safety zone. However, if the church tries to obey God’s mission command, not to conform to the world, and to move forward for the gospel, it always meets tests and trials. And they come not only from outside but also from inside the community.

We can see a clear example from today’s passage. When the Holy Spirit came down to the disciples on Pentecost, they became the witnesses of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, those who hated the gospel ministry of the disciples such as rulers, elders, priests, and scribes, rebuked and threatened them. The Bible says, “They called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:17) It was the first risk which the community of believers faced, but Peter and John were so dignified and said, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (vv.19-20) We can see the power of the gospel and how the Holy Spirit transformed people into totally different ones.

After overcoming the outer risk, they were united and lifted their voices together to God (vv.23-24). They were filled with the Holy Spirit again, and they preached the gospel even more boldly. (v.31) And in today’s passage, we see that they became a beautiful community in which they became of one heart and soul and shared everything with one another. “After a storm comes a calm.” The community of believers becomes more mature, and more united after facing the trial.

And in verses 36-37, the writer Luke introduces us about a good example of the early church community. It was Barnabas (which means son of encouragement). He was a Levite, born of Cyprus. Originally, a Levite couldn’t possess a property. We don’t know how he could possess a field because the text doesn’t reveal it. The thing is, that he sold it and brought the money to meet the needs of the community. Regardless of the price, it was priceless and worthy behavior that he did not insist and give up his own and that he put the believing community first in his heart. Even though this is just one example, but it reflects the atmosphere of the early Jerusalem community of believers.

God who searches the heart

However, the early church community couldn’t stay long in a peaceful state. If we are a true and living community of God’s people, we face the test and trial all the time. We face it because our enemy never rests. If the first trial came from outside, this second one comes from inside the community. In a continuing chapter 5, Luke introduces us another example of Ananias and Sapphira as a counter example to Barnabas. Unlike the believers of the early church community who had everything in common out of one heart and one soul, this couple (out of one heart and one soul) commits a sin against the Holy Spirit. They sold a piece of property (which was good), but they kept back for themselves some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it to the community as if they have brought everything they sold. Maybe, they wanted to receive praise and recognition from people. They wanted to be like Barnabas.

But why is this so serious? God’s judgment on the couple was so severe. They had to pay a huge price for their sin, the death. Don't you think this is too harsh? Isn’t it that they kept back for themselves just some portion of their property not all? Didn’t they still offer the rest at the feet of the apostles for the community? Don't you think God’s judgment was too strict? Not at all. They paid the right price. God’s judgment was fair and just because they intended to lie to God and deceive Him. That’s how Peter perceived. He said, “You have not lied to man but to God.” (v.4) Yes. They lied to God and sinned against Him because their hearts were corrupted. See how Peter focuses on their hearts. “Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart?” (v.4) It was a heart problem. They had a selfish motivation and evil (Satanic) intention in their hearts. They sinned against God who searched their heart.

As I meditate on today’s passage, I could hear the warning message of the Holy Spirit to our church community. Though our works and deeds can be seen helpful and beneficial to the community, they could be evil if the intention and motivation of our hearts are evil. Our ministry and service at the church could be even Satanic if our hearts are filled with Satanic (and selfish) thoughts. Hear the warning of Peter, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit.” (v.3) With our lips, we say that we do everything for the benefit of the community and for the glory of God, but it is the honor and acknowledgement from people that we often seek in our hearts. I’m saying that it is very possible that we can serve the church and participate in the ministry with a selfish motivation. How often can we see such things in our hearts? I know it very well. I don’t need to check your hearts to prove it because I have so many proofs in my heart. What about you? What is your primary motivation?

The great reformer Martin Luther said this, “Good works does not make a good man, but good man makes good works.” No matter how many good works and services you do, they can’t make you a better person. This is not the gospel of Christianity. Unless we are born again from the center of our hearts, and unless our hearts are transformed, our good deeds and services cannot be acceptable to our God who sees our hearts. They might be all evil to God no matter how passionately you serve the church if your hearts are still evil. That’s why Martin Luther said, “Good works does not make a good man, but good man makes good works.” If our hearts are not right before God, our good works are not acceptable to Him. They don’t make you good person, if your hearts have not been transformed fundamentally. On the contrary, if your hearts are transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and if your whole being is renewed (born again) fundamentally and totally, then you could bear good fruits. Out of who you are produces what you do. It is from the root that you bear fruit, not from the fruit you bear the root. This is the gospel of Christianity. This is the gospel we believe and preach. This is the gospel which makes Christianity different from other religions.

Psalm 33:15 says, “he[God] who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds.” (Ps. 33:15) God who formed our hearts knows them well. He sees our hearts’ intention and searches the motivation of our hearts. David confessed this in Psalm 139:1-2, “O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.” (Ps. 139:1-2) There’s nothing can be hidden from our God. We often focus on our visible actions. We see those people who serve at the front passionately as good and godly people no matter how wrong, how selfish our hearts are. However, our God who fashioned our hearts searches our motivation and intention of our hearts. I urge you to have right relationship with God and right heart before Him.

God who protects His church

Secondly, God reveals Himself through today’s passage that He is the One who protects His church. God not only searches our hearts but also protects us. Due to their evil hearts, they faced a miserable end. And Luke describes the atmosphere of the time in verse 11, “And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.” (v.11) We can see how their evil intention to deceive the Holy Spirit brought a great fear to the whole area.

However, we often interpret this passage wrong. We easily understand that God tells us this story through Luke to encourage us about the accurate tithes and offering life. Many pastors or Bible teachers teaches us through this passage that we should offer the full and exact amount of money for tithes and offering so that we won’t receive any punishment from God. And often times, it makes us feel guilty about ourselves who don’t offer the money properly and accurately, or it makes us feel fearful that God will punish us if we don’t offer money rightly. Is that so? It this passage written here for that purpose? Is it to reveal us our God who is so strict, intolerant, and narrow-minded? No, I don’t think so. I can’t agree to such interpretation of today’s passage. If God were such a God who punished our inaccurate and incomplete tithes and offerings, I would have already died so many times. I won’t exist here in front of you.

Then, who is our God according to today’s passage? What kind of God does He reveal Himself to us through the record of Luke? It is God who protects His people. God reveals Himself to us as the One who keeps and preserves His church from outer/inner trials. The reason why He had to punish Ananias and Sapphira so severely was not because they offered incomplete offering but because their hearts were evil, their intention and motivation was not right before Him. Also, God had to deal with their sins so harshly because their sins could affect the whole community of God’s people. It could be like a mold or a virus which spreads within the community. It could have destroyed and divided the early church community. God had to deal with it so strictly in order to protect His church.

Beloved brothers and sisters, who protects God’s church? It is our God who protects. So many people today worry about the fate and future of the church. They say the church is being destroyed and divided. They talk about the risk of the church. So many people are leaving the church. There’s nothing wrong with their concerns and worries.

Nevertheless, there is one thing we need to hold fast, one thing you should always remember. It is the truth that our God keeps and protects His church, the community of God’s people. God does not let His church, His bride leave alone. “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock[b] I will build my church, and the gates of hell[c] shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) When the church stands firm on the foundation of Jesus’ word, when we are established on the foundation of right confession of faith in Jesus Christ, when we are sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, and when we are dependent wholly on the help of the Holy Spirit, our church cannot be shaken nor destroyed. Even when we are shaken, our God holds us firmly. Therefore, we need to hold fast on to this faith and proceed for the gospel movement in our city, in our time.

I want to encourage each and every one of you today to be the church. Church is not a building or structure. You are the church, the body of Christ. Even though a strong earthquake comes upon our church building and shakes it, your life as the body of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit cannot be destroyed. Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell[c] shall not prevail against it.” (Matt. 16:18) You won’t be overcome by the power of the evil one because our God protects His church. Let us believe this firmly and live as the witnesses of the gospel in every place and area where God have sent you, in your family, company, and your school.