HALLEUYAH! HALLELUYAH!! HALLELUYAH!!!
RELEASE DATE: June 27, 2022
WEEK 24: (June 27 – July 3, 2022)
WEEKLY BIBLE READINGS:
Act 5:3-5 & 9 – 10 (NKJV)
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
Humans by nature are prone to sin. Through one man (disobedience of Adam in the Garden of Eden), sin entered the world. And by one man (Jesus Christ), salvation came. However, sin existed in the early church even up till this time present time. One of the instances of sin is the deceptive act of Ananias and Sapphira.
The deaths of Ananias and Sapphira are nothing if not frightful and puzzling. The two, a married couple, sell a piece of property and publicly give the proceeds to the community. However, they secretly hold back a portion of the money for themselves. Peter detects the deception and confronts the two separately. Merely hearing Peter’s accusation causes each of them to fall dead on the spot. To some, their fate seems out of proportion to their infraction. Peter acknowledges that they were under no obligation to donate the money: “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal?” So why does lying about the money bring instant death?
The Spirit of God is the source of generous and liberal giving. Therefore, no one can deceive the Holy Spirit. The sin of Ananias was not in keeping back part of the purchase money, but in pretending to have brought all to the Apostle. That is deception. He wished to pose as a saint, and at the same time ‘dine with the devil’. Their motivation is to gain honour for themselves cheaply, to appear generous by giving for the sake of status and not love. Little wonder their lie about their stewardship of resources is interpreted by Peter as a lie to the Holy Spirit and to God.
One of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to form God’s people into a community that uses resources in accordance with a deep concern for others. It is not surprising, then, that Ananias and Sapphira’s faked act of generosity is depicted as falsifying the work of the Spirit. Their false generosity and their attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit are a threat to the identity of the Christian community. Therefore, under no circumstance should a man think he/she can deceive God in whatsoever way.
Beloved, this is a sober reminder not to allow one corner for Satan or selfishness to prevail. Ananias and Sapphira think they can lie to the Holy Spirit but met their judgment instantly. At what level is your own deceit? Work? Eye service? Home? Personal relationship? The time is now to repent and stop deceptive acts!
PRAYER
Jehovah, Jesus Christ, Holy Michael, thank you for your word. We pray that you have mercy on us. Purge our hearts of deceptive thoughts and restrain us from engaging in deceptive acts. Grant us the spirit to embrace truth at all times and give us the grace to pursue what is just and right. This and many more we ask for through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Thank you and God bless. Shalom.
Footnote: “A life without Christ is full of crisis but life in Christ is a great life full of peace. Let that be your Guide & Guard”
Isaiah 59:1 – Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear”