THE LORD GOD KNOWS WHO WE REALLY ARE

PROCLAMATION

“But The Lord had told Ahijah, ‘Jeroboam’s wife is coming to ask you about her son, for he is ill, and you are to give her such and such an answer.  When she arrives, she will pretend to be someone else.”  1 Kings 14:5 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Some time after King Jeroboam’s hand was shriveled up and restored to normal by the man of God, (1 Kings 13:4-6) the king’s son became ill.  He told his wife to disguise herself and seek out the prophet Ahijah in Shiloh who had told him that he would become king. (1 Kings 14:1-3)  The prophet Ahijah was blind but The Lord God told him that Jeroboam’s wife was coming to see him and told him what to tell her. (1 Kings 14:4-6)

APPLICATION

At times, for whatever reason, some people will pretend to be someone that they are not.  With their disguise or their lies they may fool some of the people some of the time, but no one can fool all of the people, all of the time.  God has blessed some people with the gift of discernment. (1 Corinthians 12:7-10)  However, there is no amount of pretending or disguise which can conceal the nature of the real person from The Lord God.  He not only sees our actions and hears our words, He knows our thoughts, our motives, and our heart. (1 John 3:20)  He knows us better than we know ourselves.  He knew all about us even before we were born. (Psalm 139:13-16)  When we lie to God, we are only deceiving ourselves. (Galatians 6:3, Titus 3:3, and 1 John 1:8)  It is in our best interest to confess all of our sins, including our sinful thoughts, and ask Him to forgive us and guide us.  For if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

IT IS NOT GOOD TO LIE TO GOD

Proclamation:

“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 … You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’  When Ananias heard this, he feel down and died. … 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 … Listen!  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 … buried her beside her husband.  Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”  Acts 5:1-11 (NIV)

Explanation:

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 that 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 and were struck down where they stood.

Application:

There is nothing in The Bible which says that we have to sell all that we have and give it to the church.  In fact, there are those Bible scholars, like J. Vernon McGee, who believe that the giving of tithes and sacrificial offerings were required under the Mosaic Law which does not apply to us today.  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.  The sin is in lying about the amount that we give, or claiming that we are giving a tithe, one tenth of our gross earnings or income, and not really doing so.  God cannot be mocked, we will pay for our sins (Galatians 6:7) even though the sins will not affect our salvation thanks to Christ.

Cursed Is He Who Vows One Thing But Does Another

"Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to The Lord. For I am a great king," says The Lord Almighty, "and My name is to be feared among the nations." Malachi 1:14 (NIV)

The prophet Malachi to the people that God will curse those who claim to give Him their best but knowingly offer Him less than their best.

We also should take heed of this and give God our best and our best effort. When we vow to do something for The Lord and then don't do it when we easily could have, we may also incur the wrath of God and be cursed instead of blessed.