You Ain't Got To Lie To Kick It!

Acts 5:4 Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to Men but to God.

Being a part of a movement, something bigger than yoruself is something we all want to be a part of. Even going back to when we were young teens, we all would brag or lie about our accomplishments just to fit in. You remember the locker room stories from guys lying about how many girls they had been with just to impress the next guy who was just as lame as he was. That's okay when you are little boys to make up stories, but when you are grown still lying just to fit in there's a problem. You ain't got to lie to kick it.

Something my mother always told me when I was younger stuck with me. "Son I'd rather you slap me than lie to me." I loved my mother too much to ever strike her with my hand or hurt her heart with my lying mouth.

How many of us are still lying just to kick it? Saying things that are not true to deceive the people around us that we are really down but withholding something that is vital for the survival of others. You ain't got to lie to kick it!

The early church was a group of believers who were persecuted and economically challenged for the single fact that they loved Jesus. In the first century, being a Christian was dangerous. The Jews were already oppressed by the Roman government, overtaxed and underpaid, but to be a Christian made you a doulbe threat. Sounds a lot like America right now. This recession is putting the squeeze on us and being a Christian is not as popular as it once was. But the thing about these early Christ followers was that they took care of one another. Acts 4:34 says, Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostle's feet and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The church has always been a place where people come in time of crisis for help. At New D, we believe we are not just a Church but a movement. But each and every person who is a part of the movement must contribute so we can help those in need.

Ananias was a part of the movement of new Christians. He saw how everybody was pitching in to help through this recession. That wasn't the bad part. The sin was not how much he gave. The sin was that he lied about how much he gave. He and his wife agreed to lie about how much they were giving. They sold some land and pretended to give all the money but in their heart they knew they had more to give. They lied so they could look like they were a part, but really they were looking out for themselves. He was not operating out of faith, but fear, greed not generosity.

when Peter asked him was this everything? He lied, because he wanted to kick it. Because he lied, he died.

When you lie it does four things:

1. You corrupt your heart. It all starts with the heart. Peter said why have you conceived this in your heart? He impregnated his heart with deceit.

2. You deceive people, but you lose fellowship with God. Peter said, "you have not lied to men but to God.

3. You experience death.

4. You put your family in Peril. After Ananias died, his wife walked in not knowing that her husband was dead. She had a chance to tell the truth but she didn't know that her partner had already died, she lied and then suffered the same fate.

You ain't got to lie to kick it. What i liked about President Obama's movement is that he gave everyone an opportunity to get involved. Whether it was $25 or $2,500, we all helped him because we felt like it was something bigger than us.

There is still a movment that we can help with. It's the movement of relieving the poor, missions overseas, the fight for social justice, the preaching of the good news, community transformation, education of our children, ministry to teenagers, whatever it is, each of us should give what God tells you whether it's to a church or a charity, just don't lie about it.

Dear God search our hearts and see if we are real about what we can do to help others in this recession. Let God be true and every man a lie, we believe your word and we will give it to you and your movement. For it says in your word that if we give it will be given back to us, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over. It will be poured into our laps. For with the same measure we use, it will be measured back to us.

In Jesus Name,

Amen