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Sermon #2038

Why Has Satan Filled Your Heart?

A Sermon on Acts 5:1-11

Originally preached Jan. 16, 1966

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Scripture

Acts 5:1-11 ESV KJV
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 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. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled …

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Sermon Description

Why is there so much evil in the world? Why is it that none of humanity’s efforts to end war, death, and poverty succeed? Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says the problem is found in the fact that the world is overrun by the devil, and he has blinded people so that they cannot see the light of God’s grace and love. It is seen in Acts 5 when Peter asks, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart…?” This evil is not simply the absence of good character and good deeds, but it is militant opposition to God and His rule. This is why all attempts to make the world a better place by education, human works, and moralism are ultimately futile and ineffective. Until sin and the devil are recognized as the root and source of suffering and evil, all will continue in godless ways, seeking to bring peace to the world by their own wisdom and power. In order for true transformation to take place in the world and in the hearts and minds of sinners, there must be the acknowledgement of God and his Son, Jesus Christ. For without Christ there is no hope in this life or in the next. For all stand condemned before God, and it is only by believing in the death and resurrection of Christ that sinners can be saved and brought into the kingdom of God.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The sermon begins by establishing that the world is in a state of trouble and confusion. There is only one message that can provide hope - the message of the Christian Church.
  2. However, the world does not believe the message of the Gospel because it does not see the need for it. The world fails to recognize the true nature of the human condition and the forces set against humanity.
  3. The world has a superficial view of the human condition. It only focuses on human conduct and behavior. It believes human problems are solely due to a lack of knowledge and understanding.
  4. In contrast, the Bible teaches that the heart is the source of human problems. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked.
  5. King David and the Pharisees are examples of how the problem lies in the human heart, not just the mind. The human heart loves darkness rather than light.
  6. The story of Ananias and Sapphira shows how the heart is deceitful and wicked. They lied to the Holy Spirit and thought they could deceive God. This illustrates the foolishness and deceitfulness of the human heart.
  7. The human heart deceives itself, thinks it is clever, and believes it can deceive others and even God. But God cannot be deceived.
  8. The world also has a wrong view of the forces set against humanity. It does not recognize the existence and power of Satan and evil. It believes human problems are due to a lack of knowledge, not the work of Satan.
  9. In contrast, the Bible teaches that Satan and evil are real forces that enslave humanity. Sin reigns over people and makes them slaves. This is the only adequate explanation for the human condition.
  10. The Gospel is the only hope for humanity. It addresses the real problems of the deceitful human heart and the power of Satan. Only Jesus Christ can deliver people from sin, death, and condemnation.
  11. The story of Ananias and Sapphira illustrates why people do evil things and do not worship God. The answer is that Satan fills their hearts. Only faith in Christ can save people from perishing.
  12. Dr. Lloyd-Jones concludes by calling people to realize the state of their hearts, turn from darkness to light, and find new life in Jesus Christ.

The Book of Acts

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.