IT IS NOT GOOD TO LIE TO GOD

PROCLAMATION

“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. … But Peter said, ‘Ananias … thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.’  And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost. … 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 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 she fell down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost; and the young men … carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”  Acts 5:1-11 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the acts of the apostles of Jesus, The Christ, as written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  All of the believers at that time were on one accord. (Acts 4:32)  So that there would be no needy among them, from time to time those who owned property would sell some of their property and bring the full price which they had received and place it at the feet of the apostles. (Acts 4:34-37)  When Ananias and Sapphira sold their property, they kept part of the profits for themselves and brought the rest to the church and lied claiming that they had brought the church the full price.  They came to the church separately but they both lied about the price which they had received for their property.  They both were struck down and died where they stood for lying to God. (Acts 5:1-11)  The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people and multitudes of believers, both men and women, were added to the church. (Acts 5:12-14)  The people brought multitudes of sick folks to them and they healed all of them.  This upset the Sadducees and they had the apostles arrested. (Acts 5:15-18)  The angel of The Lord freed them and they went back to preaching and teaching in the temple and they were arrested a second time. (Acts 5:19-42)

 

APPLICATION

We are to give to The Lord God as He has prospered us (1 Corinthians 16:2) and as we determine in our hearts the amount which we can give cheerfully, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7)  The problem here is that Ananias and Sapphira lied about their giving. (Acts 5:1-11)  The sin is in lying about the amount that we give.  God will not be mocked. (Galatians 6:7)