The Book of Acts ~ Study Twenty-One

"Sold Out One Way or Another"

Acts 5:1-11 (NLT) But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest.
     Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”
     As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.
     About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”
     “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”
      And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” 
     Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.


This is a pretty frightening portion of scripture isn't it? When I read it I wondered how I was going to address this issue of lying to God's Holy Spirit.  Annanias and Sapphira made a decision to lie about the money they made from the sale of some land they had. The sin wasn't about the amount they gave or whether they gave at all. The sin was the lie and the lie was to God's Holy Spirit. 


Peter asked Ananias how Satan had filled his heart. The Greek word for "fill" is "pleroo" and it means "to fill, as a net with fish, or a room with an aroma." The Greek word for "heart" as we learned earlier is "kardia" and means "the seat of the desires, feelings, affections and passions."


Why do we need to break down the words like this? It helps to understand the context that Peter was speaking about. The questions Peter asked of Annanias was essentially asking whether Christ's Holy Spirit was filling his heart or whether Satan was. We get the answer when Annanias falls dead at Peter's feet. His heart wasn't committed to Jesus it was committed to Satan. If it had been committed to Jesus Annanias would have fallen at his feet repenting of this sin. The same held true for his wife Sapphira.


Just like Judas, Annanias and Sapphira were attracted to the teachings of Jesus and not to His Lordship. It begs to ask the question that we as Christians don't want to ask, "Is that person really a Christian?" There are folks who come to church, are very active and yet are not completely sold out for Jesus. Of course, this isn't our judgment to make. It is the Lord Jesus' place t judge. We can see from this passage of scripture that the people who pretend will one day be found out.


Romans 16:17-18 (NLT) And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.


We do, however, need to be diligent in knowing what the Bible really says and not listen to those who add to it or blur the edges of it. This discernment comes from the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Through regular prayer and study of the Bible we will know the difference between false teaching and God's teaching through godly people who truly serve Him. 


Here God revealed evil among this early church. Annanias and Sapphira were made examples of to show, this early church and those of us who followed later, what God thinks about the lies we make about committment to His Holy Spirit. What does God ask of those who say that are His holy people? Here are some things He tells us in His Word about committing ourselves to Him wholeheartedly.


Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (NLT) “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God."


1 Timothy 4:16 (NLT) Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.


Annanias and Sapphira didn't lie to themselves, they lied to God. Their actions were totally voluntary both in the amount they promised to God and in the amount they actually gave. Would they have died if they had said that they were only going to give a portion of the profits to God and keep some for themselves? Were they trying to impress man rather than God? Did they think God didn't notice?


Psalm 5:4-6 (MSG) You don't socialize with Wicked, or invite Evil over as your houseguest. Hot-Air-Boaster collapses in front of you; you shake your head over Mischief-Maker. God destroys Lie-Speaker; Blood-Thirsty and Truth-Bender disgust you. 


WOW!! I used this version from the Message Bible because it really puts it succinctly and bluntly. The death of the "Hot-Air-Boasters" took place at Peter's feet. God removed the evil influence of this man Annanias and his wife Sapphira from His Church. God knew their hearts and knew these two were not committed to Him but to Satan. He purged the evil from among the believers to protect them from their evil influence.


At anytime Annanias could have asked for forgiveness and been forgiven. Pride got in their way. They were convinced that they could lie to God and His people and never be found out. If they were true believers then there would have been no room for Satan to enter into their hearts because God's Holy Spirit would be there. By their death those in the church, who had not fully committed themselves to Jesus, could see the results of lying and living a life not fully sold out to the Lord.


I have never heard of another incident like this one. Have you? I believe that God used this incident as an example so we would remember that you can't fake your way into God's Kingdom. The wolf in sheep's clothing will be found out eventually. Know this for certain ~ God is NEVER deceived.


Galatians 6:7-8 (NLT) Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.


It's the choice God gives to every person ~ "to satisfy their own sinful nature" or "to please the Spirit". What will your choice be? Even though we all lie sometimes we know that God's grace allows us to admit our sins and turn away from them. God is forgiving. 


Psalm 86:4-5 (NLT) Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. 


Take Psalm 86:4-6 and make it your prayer now. Tell Him what is on your heart that you've been hiding from Him. He is loving and will restore you. Find a godly friend, mentor or pastor and tell them what is going on and the prayer you have prayed. Ask them to pray for you and hold you accountable. Dear one, God is willing, able and very ready for you to come to Him and be forgiven.


Micah 7:18-19 (NLT) Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!

Are you completely sold-out for Jesus? Are you a "hot-air-boaster"? We are all sold out one way or another. Which is it for you?