Phish Bowl Ministries
December 2011
Matthew 4:19
“Chummin’ for Saints…until the nets are full”

Is it “NOT”…of this world how our Lord works with His church? How in hind sight we see so clearly, but in the ‘now’ we find it hard to focus on God’s truths in our life. So we find that we try to do for ourselves instead of trusting in our Lord to be our Father. How many times in my life I have found myself playing the role of the fourth part of the Trinity! I don’t do this like our Lord who is all-in-all, but I do it with ‘self’ as the goal. I find my objective reality to be clouded. Even in my best efforts I find it truly hard to consider others before my own needs. This is because sin is alive in me. The only way to free myself of this bondage of self is to surrender to my Lord’s will in my ‘nows’; to see things as they are, not in how I wish they should be. Someone told me to stop “shoulding” all over myself…it’s messy! We stink when we live this way. I find for myself that I don’t really like to be around the saint who doesn’t see our walk as one of a positive journey, but instead is stuck in dying gloom. When we try things in our own will and it doesn’t work out as we planned, and consequences happen, why do we blame God? Maybe because we are not God and our ways are not His ways…This is a good time to get back to Acts.

(Acts 5:1-11) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” While it remained, was it 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." Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. (NKJV)

“God cannot stand unfaithfulness and pretending to be holy is contemptible mockery.”~John Calvin

Here in Acts we will see internal and external problems facing the early Church, but through it all the leaders kept their focus on what was most important---spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church has always attracted people with impure motives such as cons who want to profit financially from religion, power freaks seeking control, the self-centered who want to be pampered and cared for and let’s not overlook the “Glory Hounds” who want to be noticed for their Holy Acts.
Annanias and Sapphira fell into this last group. They came up with a plan to give just enough but wanted to get credit for giving their all. Now don’t get lost in the ‘how much’ as this is not the point. Their scheme was dishonest. As you ponder their story, ask yourself the question, “What are my motives for serving and giving?”

(Acts 5:1-2) But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet. (NKJV)
The word “also” takes us back to Acts 4:36-37 where Barnabas sold a field and brought the money to the apostles (church) for those in need. It seems as though some in the early Church sold their possessions to help others because they were moving forward in Christ and found that they had little to no need to hold onto things that weren’t being used. Not everyone did this nor were they pressured to do so. Remember that Mary, John’s mother, still owned her home~12:12.
Ananias and Sapphira could have given all or they could have chosen to give half. The problem was that they were representing what they gave to the Church as “all”. How often do we live our lives in this way; being one person at church and another at home and still one more at work? Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look instead of to be what one is not ~~G. MacDonald

(Acts 5:3-4) But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?”While it remained, was it 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." (NKJV)

Somehow Peter saw through this act either by inside info or by the Holy Spirit. When Peter confronted Ananias with the words “kept some of the money for yourself”, the word recorded for “kept” is the same one used in the Septuagint of Achan who “kept” some of the spoils of Jericho, which ultimately caused a great defeat of Israel (Joshua 7:1-26)
The sin was not holding back some of the money. The sin was lying to God and God’s people and trying to look like they were something more than they were. All lying is bad; however, when people lie to try to deceive God and the Church about their true relationship with Him, they will destroy their testimony. When we see a Christian life lived correctly we are not to become envious but instead we should become motivated to grow into a Christ like walk. In this great passage on the deity of Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is equated with God. Also see Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 13:13.

(Acts 5:5-6) Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. (NKJV)

~~”he fell down and died.” The Greek word ekpsucho literally means “to breathe one’s last, to die.” It is very important to note that Peter did not kill Ananias, nor did he ask the Holy Spirit to kill him. Peter condemned the lying and the Spirit of God executed judgment.

(Acts 5:7-8) Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much." (NKJV)

Peter gave Sapphira the chance to come clean, to tell the truth. She chose to live out a lie. No man can wear one mask to himself and another to the multitudes for any considerable time without finally getting confused as to which one is the true one.

Acts 5:9) Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." (NKJV)
To test God is to see how much one can get away with before God will respond or act according to His word. I will testify to this. For many years I was in service to our Lord and the Church and at the same time, I lived a lie. Mocking God right to His face daily, until the wrath of God was upon me. Nothing in this world could stop God’s correction in my life. Just like Ananias, I am dead to my old life, dead to my family, dead to old friends. Because of His great love, I am now alive in Christ Jesus. Ananias and I have this in common: The entire direction of our lies was wrong thinking about God and His judgments; self-serving, church-destroying and to put it simply…SINFUL.
“The LORD doesn’t make decisions the way you and I do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions” 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT Jesus said in Luke 16:15, “You like to look good in public, but God knows your evil hearts. What this world honors is an abomination in the sight of God”. NLT
Ananias, Sapphira and I mocked God, lied to Him and thought we could get away with it, as if God would not know or that He really wouldn’t care about our sins.

(Acts 5:10) Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. (NKJV)

This serves as a warning to the Church that no one should mess with the Holy Spirit, that we should live a right life and not take lightly telling the truth.

Acts 5:11) So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. (NKJV)

This is the first time the word “Church”, ecclesia, meaning “assembly” is in the book of Acts. It will become the regular word for the universal church and local church in the remainder of the Book. (Acts 7:38, 8:1, 9:31, 11:22, 13:1, 14:23, 15:22, 15:41, 16:5, 20:28)

Saints, some read the account of Ananias and Sapphira being struck down and accuse God of being harsh. “I thought God was supposed to be loving and forgiving. I thought all that wrath stuff was for Old Testament times.” With an over emphasis on grace and mercy, it’s so easy to overlook the equally important truth of God’s holiness. We must remember that God has not changed! (Malachi 3:6) He still hates sin as much as He ever did. He is offended when His own people cut moral corners and try to hide behind the cloak of forgiveness. Thus, sinning Christians were removed from fellowship in order to preserve the purity of the Church. I believe that God knew that the Church could not survive unless its people had high standards for themselves. Believers should be honest in private as well as in public. Ephesians 4:25 says “so put away all falsehood and tell your neighbor the truth because we belong to each other”. We must be careful in an age of marketing the Church and trying to make the Gospel user friendly, that we do not skim over this truth: God is to be feared! It is true that He is a God rich in love and mercy; but it is also true that He hates and judges sin. The Good News of the Gospel is that because of what Christ has done on our behalf, we can come boldly into the very presence of God (Hebrews 4:16). Remember Church that God is Holy!


UPDATES:

Thank you for all of the prayers for jobs to come in. At this time, we have work for the next year. Things are good in the shop. My boss is a big support when it comes to my attendance at “group”. I am now part-time so I can focus every morning on going to class and doing the home work. He is willing to invest time so that we (inmates) have the best chance possible to get out.

Two months in on “group” and we have gotten past Core Curriculum. Now we move into the hard stuff: our crimes, what we did, why we did it and how not to offend again. So keep us in your prayers. It is not easy to dig into shameful and painful things we have done. At the same time, I can see our Lord working in me through this system, forming me into the man He wants me to become. PTL!

My son Bishop turned 18 last month. So please pray for reconciliation. If you are reading this Bishop, I love you and look forward to talking with you. Forgiveness is found in Jesus. I am sorry for what I did to you and the family~~Dad

Saints, I pray for you and love you. Remember; it is a life journey to understand that God will not disappoint. There is soul healing in God’s loving Word and in the Church of Messiah’s Misfits. Remember my chains as I remember yours. Watch. Hold fast in the faith. Be brave and be strong to the end. Let all that you do, be done in love!


Semper Fidelis!



Phish Bowl Coffee House, P.O. Box 153, Loveland, CO 80539.
http://inthephishbowl.blogspot.com
An outreach of Calvary Chapel Loveland



While for many, the holiday season is hard, please remember that we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who was sent as the Savior for the entire world. He wants that NO ONE should die, but that all would have life in Him. Shout to the LORD and let Him know how grateful you are for the chance to be alive in Jesus!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you! Each of you are important to Phish Bowl Ministries, but more importantly, to Him. Blessings!