If I were to mention the name of Barry Bremen to you most likely no one would know who he is. He’s an insurance salesman from Bloomfield, Michigan. But that’s not what he best known for. He’s known best for pretending to be a professional athlete. He’s shown up dressed like professional athletes at NFL, NBA, and pro baseball games. He played practice rounds at both the 1979 and 1980 U.S. Open. His wife told People Magazine in a 1980 interview…he just wants to be in the limelight.

The desire to be seen in the limelight goes beyond the world of professional sports. In our Scripture passage this morning—being seen as a ‘big financial giver’ apparently was synonymous with being in the limelight. As if there is a position of limelight in the church.

The only One truly standing in the limelight according to the Bible is Jesus. After all—God did say about Him, “This is My Son in whom I am well pleased” (Mat 3:17). It’s yet to be said what He’ll say about us. We’re not called to be in the light as if to draw attention to ourselves in some way…we’re called to be a light for the gospel. There’s a big difference.

Bremen didn’t have the ability to be a professional athlete so instead of accepting that he chose to pretend to be one. That’s hypocrisy. Representing yourself as someone you know you’re not. Hypocrisy is hard to hide. Here in Acts 5 we find Ananias and Sapphire trying to present themselves as people other than who they really were. They had a desire to be like others—but they were not willing to commit to what it took to achieve it. It’s always easier to just pretend.

Jesus didn’t just pretend to die on the cross. He committed Himself to completing the plan of redemption for you and for me in order that we might fully commit ourselves to Him and enjoy His fellowship for eternity. The Bible says He’s not the great pretender…”He’s the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own…eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:13-14). Notice if you will who’s the great pretender here in Acts 5:1-11. It’s Ananias and Sapphira. Luke tells us 3 things about their desire for the limelight.

1. They were united in their conspiracy.

Luke has been careful to point out that the early church was united. He said in 2:44, “All the believers were together and had everything in common.” In 4:32 Luke says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind.”

Ananias and Sapphira were a part this community of believers. They were united through Christ to everyone else who had expressed a like faith in Jesus. Not only were they united to the fellowship…they were united together. Following the command given in Genesis 2:24—Ananias left his father and mother and was united to his wife and they became one. One in life and one in purpose. And as we see here in this passage…one in mind as well.

Notice how Luke goes about describing the event that takes place here in our text this morning. Together with his wife they sold a piece of property in verse 1, And, in verse 2 he says, “With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself.” These two conspired together to deceive the church concerning their gift.

Let’s consider this question for a moment, “Who is their conspiracy directed at?” I can imagine perhaps they were thinking no one knows what we received for the property—so what we give will be enough. It will certainly be more than they had anyway. This is the idea of they won’t miss what they never knew they should have had. (Ever been there?)

The problem with sort of thinking is this—God knows and you know! Their conspiracy was ultimately directed at God (Ps 51:4). Luke doesn’t give us all the details—but apparently Ananias had at some point pledged to give the full amount of the sale price. Therefore, his pledge meant that the money belonged to the Lord. Ex: The same verb ‘kept back’ is used in Joshua 7. Ananias and Sapphira were united in keeping what belonged to the Lord and at the same time wanted to be in the proverbial limelight.

2. They were united in their charade.

When we think of a charade—we usually think of someone who’s saying or doing something so obviously false no one will believe it. ILL: Hitler and Chamberlin But—the word also carries the idea of pretend or masquerade.

Ananias and Sapphira were pretending or masquerading as someone they were not. Apparently they wanted to follow the example of Barnabas (4:37). Furthermore, they wanted the other believers to think they were willing to share everything they had…but it wasn’t true. The truth is—they were not compelled in any way to give all they received from the sale of the property to the apostles…they just pretended to give it all.

There’s really no way for the early church to know that Ananias and Sapphira were dishonest in the gift they brought to the apostles. Unless someone was privy to the sale price—no one could have known that they were perpetrating a charade. No ordinary person, that is. Notice what Peter says in verse 4—Ananias…you’ve not lied to men—but to God. The God—according to Psalm 139…who perceives our thoughts from afar. The One who—before a word is formed on our tongue knows it completely (vv2,4). In other words—trying to deceive the Holy Spirit is nothing more than a charade.

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere—keeping watch on both the wicked and the good (Prov 15:3). There is no sin—there’s not even a thought leading to sin that He is not aware of. Notice what Peter said to Ananias in verse 3, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?” Peter knows the eyes of the Lord are everywhere—and he also knows His eye is especially on His people. For us to believe that God is not aware of what we are thinking or what we are doing is foolish. Even when we think no one is listening or looking. ILL: The Lord exposed Achan in Joshua 7:11

3. They were united in the consequence.

Luke tells us that Ananias and Sapphira pretend to the end. When confronted about the sale price they both continued to lie instead of confessing what they had done. For many this is a difficult passage to accept. Some would like to think that a God of love would not bring this type of immediate judgment on sin. But—one would have to say that Scripture teaches from beginning to end that God is a God of judgment. He acted in judgment immediately after Adam sinned in the garden (Gen 3). He’s promised to purge His creation of sinful activity (Rev 21). Peter reminds us that judgment will begin in the family of God (1 Pet 4:17). There are consequences for the things we say and the things we do (1 Cor 11:30).

As we look into this passage—you can’t help but think the motivation for giving was to gain a more prominent social standing. To be seen! The idea of somehow being in the proverbial limelight. All the while the irony of this story being—instead of their gift laying at the feet of the apostles…they were.  

There are no secret sins. All sin is against God and He is all-knowing. There’s no chance of getting away with something. Neither will God condone sinful activity because you’re His child. He will judge everything (2 Cor 5:10, Rom 14:10-12). Praise God we have an advocate in Jesus.

We must avoid the lure of the limelight in this world. The temptation to live for the here and now is always present. As a matter of fact—it’s a tool that our adversary uses everyday to lure Christian’s way from their first love…Jesus. This is what we see with Jesus being tempted in the wilderness (Luke 4).

Let’s focus our heart and mind on Christ. Turn our eyes upon Jesus. Stay true to His call on our life to grow in grace and knowledge…walk in His steps. Not ever allow our adversary to lead us in the way of the great pretender.