Ananias and Sapphira

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God." When Ananis heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events Acts 5:1-11 NIV. Lying to a spiritual authority is dangerous. God will always deal with sin, especially those who name the name of Christ. It is to preserve the integrity of the church and what it stands for and the truthfulness of the message of the Bible. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold real estate, brought and placed money at the apostles' feet. Ananias kept back part of the money for himself. Literally, he embezzled from the sale price. Peter exposes the fraud. He knows the truth, by the Holy Spirit. He asked Ananias why Satan (the father of lies) has filled his heart to lie to the Holy Spirit. Ananias shows not only a lack of honesty in bringing only a part of the sale price but also a lack of integrity, pretending to bring the whole amount. For christians today this type of sin is still a temptation. We do not take seriously the consequences of our deliberate sinning. But God will not be mocked. Three hours later Sapphira, the wife too experienced divine judgment by immediate death. Great fear came on the whole church. Luke lets us know that the dread extended to christians and non-christians as well.This was proper to employ discipline to guard the church's integrity, unity and purity. For the non-christians, this account is a warning: Think twice before joining this holy fellowship. Count the cost. We are not to deliberately sin and remain unrepentant. Are you willing to pay the price, fully renouncing wicked ways and full-heartedly embracing Christ and other believers in his body, the church?

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  • Christians must realize the the selfless, transparent fellowship of the church must never be violated by selfish hypocrisy.

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