Introduction:
... Peter and John were at the temple and Peter was about to heal a lame man ... begging for money at the gate.
... Before healing this man ... Peter assured him that he was going to give him something more valuable than money ... more precious than even "gold or silver"
... establishing the fact ... in the context of this entire account in the Book of Acts
... that spiritual life ... and being healed by the Word and power of Christ
... is of eternally greater value than any amount of money.
... So we might conclude that the following account regarding Ananias and Sapphira ... found also in this context ... may likely follow the pattern established
... possibly addressing something even more significant than just a greedy desire for money.
... The preaching of Peter and John "grieved" [G1278] = offended .. upset ... the religious leaders ... so they put them both in prison.
... But as a result of this persecution ... the Word was received and approximately 5,000 were saved ... because
"... all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom.8:28)
... However ... after Peter and John were threatened by their religious accusers .. incarcerators
... they were ultimately compelled to release them ... because of lack of evidence
... finally admitting that these two men had really ... done nothing wrong.
... So the Brethren rejoiced ... offering unified praises to God for delivering Peter and John from their enemies
... and petitioning God to continue granting them the freedom to speak His Word.
"And when
they had prayed,
the place was shaken
where they were assembled together;
and
they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost,
and
they spake
the word of God
with boldness.
And
the multitude
of them that believed
were of one heart
and
of one soul:
neither said any of them that ought
of the things
which he possessed
was his own;
but they had
all things common."
-Acts 41:32
God responds to their prayer by pouring out His Spirit upon them.
As a result of this outpouring of the Spirit ... the hearts of the Brethren are greatly affected
... creating a unique type of unity ... further demonstrating that their love for Christ ... and one another
... was again ... of greater value to them than money ... or anything else they possessed.
However... while there is godly unity
... evil unity also exists
... proving that unity
... is not always a good thing:
"But a certain man
named Ananias,
with Sapphira his wife,
sold a possession,
And kept back
part of the price,
his wife also
being privy to it,
and brought
a certain part,
and laid it
at the apostles' feet."
-Acts 5:1-2
However ... we are told that while believers were assembled ... they were in one accord and "they had all things common"
... BUT ... after Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and the money was actually in their hands
... something changed.
At that point ... their hearts ... were no longer in harmony with the Spirit of Christ ... and Spirit-filled brethren
... the two of them now created their own unity ... outside of the will of the Spirit of God
... and this newly created self-centered unity ... birthed in their hearts a mutual desire ... to fulfill God's will their own way
... which was ultimately going to cost them their physical ... as well as ... eternal ... lives.
Each first re-established self as the god of their life ... then united
... mutually agreeing to give one another permission to rebel against their initial agreement with the Spirit of God.
... Peter and John were at the temple and Peter was about to heal a lame man ... begging for money at the gate.
... Before healing this man ... Peter assured him that he was going to give him something more valuable than money ... more precious than even "gold or silver"
... establishing the fact ... in the context of this entire account in the Book of Acts
... that spiritual life ... and being healed by the Word and power of Christ
... is of eternally greater value than any amount of money.
... So we might conclude that the following account regarding Ananias and Sapphira ... found also in this context ... may likely follow the pattern established
... possibly addressing something even more significant than just a greedy desire for money.
... The preaching of Peter and John "grieved" [G1278] = offended .. upset ... the religious leaders ... so they put them both in prison.
... But as a result of this persecution ... the Word was received and approximately 5,000 were saved ... because
"... all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Rom.8:28)
... However ... after Peter and John were threatened by their religious accusers .. incarcerators
... they were ultimately compelled to release them ... because of lack of evidence
... finally admitting that these two men had really ... done nothing wrong.
... So the Brethren rejoiced ... offering unified praises to God for delivering Peter and John from their enemies
... and petitioning God to continue granting them the freedom to speak His Word.
"And when
they had prayed,
the place was shaken
where they were assembled together;
and
they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost,
and
they spake
the word of God
with boldness.
And
the multitude
of them that believed
were of one heart
and
of one soul:
neither said any of them that ought
of the things
which he possessed
was his own;
but they had
all things common."
-Acts 41:32
God responds to their prayer by pouring out His Spirit upon them.
As a result of this outpouring of the Spirit ... the hearts of the Brethren are greatly affected
... creating a unique type of unity ... further demonstrating that their love for Christ ... and one another
... was again ... of greater value to them than money ... or anything else they possessed.
However... while there is godly unity
... evil unity also exists
... proving that unity
... is not always a good thing:
"But a certain man
named Ananias,
with Sapphira his wife,
sold a possession,
And kept back
part of the price,
his wife also
being privy to it,
and brought
a certain part,
and laid it
at the apostles' feet."
-Acts 5:1-2
However ... we are told that while believers were assembled ... they were in one accord and "they had all things common"
... BUT ... after Ananias and Sapphira sold their property and the money was actually in their hands
... something changed.
At that point ... their hearts ... were no longer in harmony with the Spirit of Christ ... and Spirit-filled brethren
... the two of them now created their own unity ... outside of the will of the Spirit of God
... and this newly created self-centered unity ... birthed in their hearts a mutual desire ... to fulfill God's will their own way
... which was ultimately going to cost them their physical ... as well as ... eternal ... lives.
Each first re-established self as the god of their life ... then united
... mutually agreeing to give one another permission to rebel against their initial agreement with the Spirit of God.
"For it is impossible
for those who
were once enlightened,
and have tasted
of the heavenly gift,
and were made
partakers of
the Holy Ghost,
And
have tasted the good
word of God,
and
the powers
of the world
to come,
If they shall
fall away,
to renew them again
unto repentance;
seeing they crucify
to themselves
the Son of God afresh,
and put him
to an open shame."
-Heb.6:4-5
for those who
were once enlightened,
and have tasted
of the heavenly gift,
and were made
partakers of
the Holy Ghost,
And
have tasted the good
word of God,
and
the powers
of the world
to come,
If they shall
fall away,
to renew them again
unto repentance;
seeing they crucify
to themselves
the Son of God afresh,
and put him
to an open shame."
-Heb.6:4-5
In this way ... Ananias and Sapphira ... were not only:
(1) rebelling against the Holy Spirit themselves
... but ...
(2) were usurping the position of God over one another ... by helping one another to justify their presumptuously perceived "right to sin" in this way
... which was quickly evidenced by the continued mutual sin ... of lying to Peter when questioned ... regarding the amount of money ... they were actually contributing.
"But Peter said,
Ananias,
why hath Satan
filled thine heart
to lie
to the Holy Ghost,
and
to keep back part
of the price
of the land?
Whiles it remained,
was it not thine own?
and
after it was sold,
was it not
in thine own power?
why hast thou
conceived this thing
in thine heart?
thou hast not lied
unto men,
but unto God."
-Acts 5:3-4
Ananias and Sapphira had no reason to lie about the money.
They could have gone to Peter and the Church and requested to reserve a portion.
As Peter had said ... it was their money ... to do with as they pleased ... But then ... they would have had to admit ... that they really did not trust God to supply all of their needs
... so ... perhaps pride was the first thing that motivated them to change their course in life
... and leave the narrow road ... in favor of the broad road to destruction.
"And Ananias
hearing these words
fell down,
and gave up
the ghost:
and
great fear
came on all them
that heard
these things.
And
the young men arose,
wound him up,
and
carried him out,
and
buried him.
And it was about
the space of
three hours after,
when his wife,
not knowing
what was done,
came in.
And Peter answered
unto her,
Tell me whether
ye sold the land
for so much?
And she said,
Yea, for so much.
Then Peter
said unto her,
"And
great fear came upon
all the church,
and
upon as many
as heard these things."
-Acts 5:11
Like the early Church ... this account given by Luke should instill the fear of God
... reminding us to consider the consequences
... of the many ways professing christians today ... take the matter of obedience to the Word of God too lightly
... and then encourage others to unite with them so they can ... in a unified effort ... continue assuring one another not to worry about offending God by sinning
... saying that God does not expect obedience ... because we are under "grace"..."No one is perfect" ..."everyone sins everyday all of the time"
... taking giant steps backwards ... away from ... cultivating and nurturing a genuine relationship with Christ
... instead of yielding to the perfecting process of God ... by seeking power and wisdom from the Word of God
... to overcome ... grow ... and mature according to His well-documented intention found everywhere in His Word
Asking ...
"How did we end up here??"
Friends. . .
... Please do not be deceived.
... Do not find unity with those who do not have a high enough regard for Christ and His Word to make them obviously Preeminent in their lives.
... Many presuming they are going to be saved from the wrath and judgment to come, will actually be left behind.
... Your physical life, as well as your precious eternal life, is at stake.
... The hour is late.
... Now is the time to evaluate whether we actually have a genuine, saving, relationship with Jesus Christ
... according to all He has written in His Word ... to define what this really means.
... Be sure.
... Scroll to the top of this page and click on the gift wrapped in gold on the left.
♡
(1) rebelling against the Holy Spirit themselves
... but ...
(2) were usurping the position of God over one another ... by helping one another to justify their presumptuously perceived "right to sin" in this way
... which was quickly evidenced by the continued mutual sin ... of lying to Peter when questioned ... regarding the amount of money ... they were actually contributing.
"But Peter said,
Ananias,
why hath Satan
filled thine heart
to lie
to the Holy Ghost,
and
to keep back part
of the price
of the land?
Whiles it remained,
was it not thine own?
and
after it was sold,
was it not
in thine own power?
why hast thou
conceived this thing
in thine heart?
thou hast not lied
unto men,
but unto God."
-Acts 5:3-4
Ananias and Sapphira had no reason to lie about the money.
They could have gone to Peter and the Church and requested to reserve a portion.
As Peter had said ... it was their money ... to do with as they pleased ... But then ... they would have had to admit ... that they really did not trust God to supply all of their needs
... so ... perhaps pride was the first thing that motivated them to change their course in life
... and leave the narrow road ... in favor of the broad road to destruction.
"And Ananias
hearing these words
fell down,
and gave up
the ghost:
and
great fear
came on all them
that heard
these things.
And
the young men arose,
wound him up,
and
carried him out,
and
buried him.
And it was about
the space of
three hours after,
when his wife,
not knowing
what was done,
came in.
And Peter answered
unto her,
Tell me whether
ye sold the land
for so much?
And she said,
Yea, for so much.
Then Peter
said unto her,
How is it
that ye have
agreed together
to tempt the Spirit
of the Lord?
behold,
the feet of them
which have
buried thy husband
are at the door,
and
shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet,
and
yielded up the ghost:
and
the young men
came in,
and
found her dead,
and,
carrying her forth,
buried her
by her husband."
-Acts 5:5-10
... Like the seed of the Word of God that fell on bad ground ... Ananias and Sapphira let thorns grow up to choke the gift God desired to give them
... an eternal gift ... way more valuable than gold or silver:
"And
that which fell
among thorns
are they, which, when
they have heard,
go forth,
and
are choked with cares and riches
and
pleasures of this life,
and
bring no fruit
to perfection."
-Luke 8:14
that ye have
agreed together
to tempt the Spirit
of the Lord?
behold,
the feet of them
which have
buried thy husband
are at the door,
and
shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet,
and
yielded up the ghost:
and
the young men
came in,
and
found her dead,
and,
carrying her forth,
buried her
by her husband."
-Acts 5:5-10
... Like the seed of the Word of God that fell on bad ground ... Ananias and Sapphira let thorns grow up to choke the gift God desired to give them
... an eternal gift ... way more valuable than gold or silver:
"And
that which fell
among thorns
are they, which, when
they have heard,
go forth,
and
are choked with cares and riches
and
pleasures of this life,
and
bring no fruit
to perfection."
-Luke 8:14
They die because they:
(1) lied to God/Holy Spirit.
(2) lacked trust in God's Word/promise to provide every need
... so they went back to making the things of the world their god
...trusting money/riches to supply their needs.
... so they went back to making the things of the world their god
...trusting money/riches to supply their needs.
(3) protected their self-sufficient ... mutual ... commitment to preserve appearances/pride.
"And
great fear came upon
all the church,
and
upon as many
as heard these things."
-Acts 5:11
Like the early Church ... this account given by Luke should instill the fear of God
... reminding us to consider the consequences
... of the many ways professing christians today ... take the matter of obedience to the Word of God too lightly
... and then encourage others to unite with them so they can ... in a unified effort ... continue assuring one another not to worry about offending God by sinning
... saying that God does not expect obedience ... because we are under "grace"..."No one is perfect" ..."everyone sins everyday all of the time"
... taking giant steps backwards ... away from ... cultivating and nurturing a genuine relationship with Christ
... instead of yielding to the perfecting process of God ... by seeking power and wisdom from the Word of God
... to overcome ... grow ... and mature according to His well-documented intention found everywhere in His Word
... thus taking us right back to the de-volving process ... which the devil introduced in the beginning in the Garden of Eden
... questioning whether complete respect for and obedience to God's Word ... as the Preeminent Priority in our life ... is really required:
"Now the serpent was more subtil than
any beast of the field
which the LORD God
had made.
And he said
unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat
of every tree
of the garden?"
And
when the woman
saw that the tree
was good for food,
and
that it was pleasant
to the eyes,
and
a tree to be desired
to make one wise,
she took
of the fruit thereof,
and did eat,
and gave also unto
her husband with her;
and he did eat."
"Now the serpent was more subtil than
any beast of the field
which the LORD God
had made.
And he said
unto the woman,
Yea, hath God said,
Ye shall not eat
of every tree
of the garden?"
And
when the woman
saw that the tree
was good for food,
and
that it was pleasant
to the eyes,
and
a tree to be desired
to make one wise,
she took
of the fruit thereof,
and did eat,
and gave also unto
her husband with her;
and he did eat."
-Gen.3:1+6
... And they spiritually died.
This passage
from
Genesis above
is the first picture
God provides
in His Word,
from
Genesis above
is the first picture
God provides
in His Word,
warning about the
"Evil Unity"
of
Adam and Eve
that led to their
"Mutually
Agreed
Destruction"
"Evil Unity"
of
Adam and Eve
that led to their
"Mutually
Agreed
Destruction"
...and...
Below we see
the last, End Time, picture showing
the results
of
"Evil Unity"
ultimately leading
all of mankind
...to...
Below we see
the last, End Time, picture showing
the results
of
"Evil Unity"
ultimately leading
all of mankind
...to...
Mutually Agreed Destruction
Asking ...
"How did we end up here??"
Friends. . .
... Please do not be deceived.
... Do not find unity with those who do not have a high enough regard for Christ and His Word to make them obviously Preeminent in their lives.
... Many presuming they are going to be saved from the wrath and judgment to come, will actually be left behind.
... Your physical life, as well as your precious eternal life, is at stake.
... The hour is late.
... Now is the time to evaluate whether we actually have a genuine, saving, relationship with Jesus Christ
... according to all He has written in His Word ... to define what this really means.
... Be sure.
... Scroll to the top of this page and click on the gift wrapped in gold on the left.
♡
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