Hello and welcome to Lechem Panim.Tricky Animals— You know, growing up, I was always a nature kid. I loved to be outside and I loved animals. And to this day every animal I discover speaks to me of the awesome creativity of God. And recently I had fun looking at a number of creatures with a very unique ability; the ability to disguise themselves as other animals that their would-be predators are afraid of; a butterfly that disguises itself to look like an owl, a caterpillar that disguises itself to...
Hello and welcome to Lechem Panim.
Tricky Animals— You know, growing up, I was always a nature kid. I loved to be outside and I loved animals. And to this day every animal I discover speaks to me of the awesome creativity of God. And recently I had fun looking at a number of creatures with a very unique ability; the ability to disguise themselves as other animals that their would-be predators are afraid of; a butterfly that disguises itself to look like an owl, a caterpillar that disguises itself to look like a snake; it’s interesting, the hognose snake that can either mimic a cobra or simply play dead (even giving off an odor that smells like a dead animal). But perhaps the most interesting (at least to me) is an octopus called the mimic octopus. [This eight-armed sea creature is a master of disguise. It can make itself look like some of the other creatures that live in its watery home, including sea snakes, jellyfish, starfish, you name it. It changes the color and texture of its skin to match these creatures. And then it takes its trickery a step further. The mimic octopus even changes the way it moves its arms. For instance, when it’s imitating a sea snake, the octopus slips into its burrow and pulls in all but two of its arms. It leaves two arms resting on the ocean bottom, so they look like a venomous sea snake. {Now as I said before,} As for why it acts like other creatures, it all comes down to survival. By imitating other animals, like the deadly sea snake, the mimic octopus keeps its predators away and keeps itself out of danger.] It’s amazing how in nature one animal can mimic another. Now in nature that is pretty cool. However, a very similar phenomenon was taking place right at the outset of the early Church. And this was unfortunately NOT beneficial for the Body of Christ. You will remember that all the Church is unified at this point and out of that unity and mutual love for one another, people are selling their possessions and distributing to any who have need. And at the outset of our passage today we are given the name of one of these self-giving Christians. It says in…
Acts 4:36-37 (ESV)— 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Joseph Surrendered— Now pay attention to this guy Joseph. Because the reason I believe he is mentioned here is because he is the undisguised “real deal”. He is the guy who embodies what it means to really live a life sold out to Jesus Christ. And because of that God uses him in some amazing ways. In fact, later in the book of Acts we see that he is the one who introduces the newly converted Paul to the apostles when everyone else is skeptical about him (9:27). He is the one who brings Paul to Antioch to participate in the outreach to the Gentiles (11:25-26). And he’s also the one who sticks up for John Mark after John Mark’s failing and Paul does not want to take him with them (15:36-39). And of course John Mark goes on to become of major importance, most notably in his eventually recording for us Peter’s account of the words and deeds of Jesus Christ in his Gospel; the gospel of Mark.
A New Name: Barnabas— But notice that Joseph is given a new name by the apostles. They call him Barnabas, a name meaning “son of encouragement”. Now in Jewish culture names were very very significant.
Hebrew Names— In our culture names don’t have a lot of meaning. We name our children based on what names sound good; or the names of famous people or sometimes family members. But in Jewish and much of ancient culture names were much more significant. Names were not only a way of identifying you, but also a way of defining you; and I would even go so far as to say to even determine ahead of time who you are going to be.
Biblical Names— Just think of some of the big names found in the Old Testament:
Adam— Adam is not just a name; it is the Hebrew word for “human”— Adam was the first Adam (the first human). His name also means “red”, which may even refer to the color of the earthy ground He was created from.
Abram— Think of Abram. God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, which means “father of a great multitude”. So in naming Abraham, God was determining to bring about His promise.
Jacob— Jacob, whose name means “supplanter” supplanted his brother Esau. But God changed His name to “Israel”, meaning “who prevails with God”.
Jonah— In the Bible, the dove was a symbol of God’s grace and provision. It was a dove that brought an olive branch to Noah, heralding God’s deliverance. At Jesus’ baptism, the Holy Spirit came down upon Jesus as a dove, heralding Jesus as God’s means of deliverance. And the Hebrew word for dove is in fact Jonah. Jonah’s name means dove. Now Jonah (remember) didn’t want to live up to his name, but God made him. God had determined in his very name that he would bring hope to Nineveh. But Jonah tried to deny his own name; God’s plan and purpose to use him in that way.
Micah— In a similar way, the prophet Micah (whose name means “messenger”) was sent as a messenger to God’s people, actually foreshadowing (some think) John the Baptist’s ministry.
Simon— Simon, likely [a contraction of the Heb. Shimeon] whose name means “hear” (notice the root Shema); he was one who heard the call of Jesus and followed (which is what Shema is all about). But Jesus changes his name to Peter (Gk. petros, “a rock”). And Peter you would definitely say now embodies that name in some amazing ways.
Immanuel— Even the name given to us in Isaiah in prophecy of Jesus Himself (Immanuel) means “God with us”; not just a name for Jesus, but an actual definition of who He is. He IS God with us.
Jesus— Even the name Jesus; it is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua (Joshua) (meaning “Yahweh Saves”). And this fits because in Jesus Yahweh was saving His people. Just as Joshua led the people to the promised land, so also Jesus leads God’s people to the Kingdom of Heaven. He (Jesus) is the ultimate Savior and Deliverer; the second, greater Joshua.
Identity Change— Now we have to understand this unique way names are used because for somebody’s name to be changed was a huge deal in the Biblical world. It showed a complete change in identity. That is why many of the early Christians took new names. And it’s interesting to note that whenever someone is given a new name in the Bible, the one giving that name is almost always (with very few exceptions) God. It is God who changes a person’s name; their identity; who they are destined to be. Now I say all of this because I want you to recognize the depth of change that Joseph (now Barnabas) has allowed God to work in his life and also what an honor this must have been viewed as by the rest of the Church. And (as we all know) any time a good person is honored, there are often sinful people who get jealous. And here the story transitions to two such people; a couple by the name of Ananias and Sapphira. Now Ananias means "favoured of the LORD” and Sapphira (sapphire) is a precious gem. But they certainly don’t feel “favored of the LORD”; they don’t feel like precious gems. It says in…
Acts 5:1-2 (ESV)— 1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.
“kept back”— So we see that Ananias and Sapphira kept back some of their earnings. And that phrase kept back actually translates an uncommon word that, interestingly enough, is also used (in the Septuagint) of Achan who, in Joshua 7:1, was the one who held back some of the spoils of Jericho that were dedicated to God, burying them in his tent. And he was discovered and put to death for his crime. And so also were Ananias and Sapphira. Look at verse 3 and following…
Acts 5:3-6 (ESV)— 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? (Notice that word “καρδία” again; his “καρδία” was not in accord with the rest of the body of Christ. Peter says…)You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
“breathed his last”— Now notice that Luke doesn’t simply tell us that Ananias died. No, it says he breathed his last. Isn’t it interesting that his soul; his ψυχὴ; the breath that God breathed into him; the breath that united the Christian Church, was taken from him? He lies to the Holy Spirit, the Ruach; the breath of God; and therefore his breath is taken from him. And we see a similar thing happen with his wife. The text says…
Acts 5:7-11 (ESV)— 7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Lying About Their Surrender— Now, I’d love to know what the offering was the following Sunday. I bet it was an all new record. But this passage is more than just about tithing or trying to be honest about what you have or what you don’t have. No, it goes even further than that. Ananias and Sapphira’s sin was that they had attempted to give the appearance of being as surrendered to God as wholly and completely as Barnabas had been when really, they had not. They wanted to live an illusion of surrender, but not really surrender. They were just a couple of hognose snakes; a couple of mimic octopi. Their keeping the money wasn’t the issue (as Peter himself had said); the issue was their trying to give the appearance to those around them that they had held nothing back from Jesus when (in reality) they had. The life they were living before their brothers and sisters in Christ was a lie. And God would not tolerate that lie; and so He therefore pulls His sustaining breath from them and they die.
Are we real?— Now that ought to prompt us to ask ourselves “Are we the real deal?” Have we allowed God to touch us at the very heart; the very name; the very center of who we are? Or is it all a show? Now if your answer to that question is anything but “yes”, Christ is offering that transformation to you today. And He can do it. He can make you altogether new. But you have to want it. You have to ask for it in faith. You have to be willing to stop pretending and allow Him to make you the real deal; utterly and completely sold out to Him. Let’s give ourselves to him like that today. Let’s do so. Amen.
