The appearance of Piety - Pr. Antonio Nasser, May 17th,09

Text: Acts 4:34-5:11
On 5:2 – He kept back (embezzle) … The same Greek word (nosphizō) is used by Paul in Titus 2:10
“9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things”.

In this world we find:
1.People who live by esthetic appearance: Their motivation is to follow world’s ideal of perfection 2.People who live by pious appearance: Their motivation is to follow the religious world’s idealof perfection.
Like in 2 Timothy 3:1-6 (NKJV)1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
“The appearance of piety is a fake spirituality that tries to please religious people - getting their approval”. "The only one approval, we really need, comes from GOD, not from men".

“Men love to gratify their own lusts, more than to please God and do their duty. When every man is eager for what he can get, and anxious to keep what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another. When men do not fear God, they will not regard man”. (Matthew Henry Concise Bible Commentary)

Ananias and Sapphira tried to:
- Imitate Barnabas’ acts of love, but had no love.
- Have Christian spirituality, but had no alive Spirit
- Be accepted by the apostles, but had no acceptance by GOD.

1.We cannot hide anything from the Holy Spirit
2.We cannot hide the results of our fake spirituality. Romans 6:23 (NKJV) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.We all need a truthfull life.

1.Do not think that you are accepted by God because you are imitating the life of spiritual and holy people. Keep going on a real and holy relationship with God, according to HIS will.Transparency!
2. Do not think that what you’ve got spiritually until now is enough for the rest of your Christian life. Keep going on a real and holy disciple life. Obedience!
3. Do not think that you can do everything in Christian ministry without being anointed by the Holy Spirit. Keep going on a real and holy prayer life while you share the Gospel. Power!