God & Money Part One Acts 5:1-11

Are you the Lord of your life? Or Is Jesus the Lord of your life? Question Who’s LORD? Who’s LORD? Are you the Lord of your life? Or Is Jesus the Lord of your life?

Acts 5:1-2 “Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5:2-4 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?  Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Acts 5:5-6 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.  Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

Acts 5:7-9 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

Acts 5:10-11 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Why? Why would they hold back what they said they’d give? Review Why? Why would they hold back what they said they’d give? Why? Why was God so quick and definitive in His response? My Example: Money is/was not the problem. It is/was the revealer of the problem

Misconceptions Lord. Control, Ownership, Authority, Purpose Are you the Lord of your life? Or Is Jesus the Lord of your life? Lord. Control, Ownership, Authority, Purpose

Misconceptions I’ve got this. Just work harder. Our vocabulary Giving is the only expectation Worldly standards God needs me

From individual - into a corporate mindset A new perspective A new vocabulary From individual - into a corporate mindset Consequences

General Definition The administrator/manager of an owners possessions. epitropos - manager, foreman, steward oikonomos - steward, manager, administrator.

God is the creator and has absolute rights of ownership Psalm 24 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” God is the creator and has absolute rights of ownership Deuteronomy 8:17-18 “You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” 18 But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”

God is the creator and has absolute rights of ownership Psalm 24 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” God is the creator and has absolute rights of ownership 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Stewards have responsibilities Responsibility Owners have rights Stewards have responsibilities

Accountability We will all be called to give an account for how we’ve managed what the Master has given us. Parable of the Talents

Reward The consequences. The starting point of the reward=Gripped with fear? Instead - What about all those people with money? Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Reward Matthew 25:21 “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”

Implications Who is the Lord of your life? Money is a tool that God uses to allow us to learn about Him. Dependance Trust Obedience Loyalty Responsibility Accountability Who is the Lord of your life?