Un-Transformed Lives - Ananias & Sapphira
Un-Transformed Lives – Ananias & Sapphira
If you are like me, you will be thankful to God for his mercies and grace after reading today’s account in Acts. Like you, I have lied before but God spared me and did not allow me to die immediately for lying. What is it about God’s word that transforms us and why is it that some people are not transformed even after hearing God’s word? The Scripture says that the things that are written are for our “examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6). The case of Ananias and Sapphira is a case for us to learn that there is no room for hypocrisy and deceit in the life of a believer and the Church.
Acts 5: 1-11
1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With 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.
3Then 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? 4Didn'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."
5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9Peter 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."
10At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have.
1. When transformation and revival is taking place among a people or community, it is dangerous to assume that everyone is experiencing the transformation. There are tendencies for people copying what others are doing without having their heart in it. Dr. Luke did not only want to paint a rosy picture of the early Church without exposing us to the problems at hand. It is reported that, “Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet” (Acts 4:36). Is it possible that Ananias and Sapphira were copying Barnabas for the wrong motive? We must give to God with the right motive and not give to impress any pastor or anyone.
2. What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira? Apparently, Ananias must have told the apostles braggingly that just like Barnabas, they have sold their property and brought all the proceeds to the Church. Unknown to them and the mistake we often make is that they forgot that the Holy Spirit was present and saw everything as it transpired. The Holy Spirit, revealed to Peter what had happened. Can you imagine what our lives would be if we lived in the present consciousness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in all our dealings with people? Peter said, “You have not lied to men but to God”.
3. When we lie to one another, we are actually lying to the Holy Spirit and of course lying to God who is the Holy Spirit. The sin of Ananias and Sapphire is the sin of lying, hypocrisy and deceit. Is it possible that this is their first lie? I don’t think so. Is it possible that they have been living a life style of lies? Though the text does not say so, but I would say yes. When we consistently engage in any behavior, it becomes a habit and a life style. Habits are very hard to break with the power and help of God. If you have a habit of telling lies, ask God to help you change and fill you with His Holy Spirit.
4. The King James Version translated v4. as follows; “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?” There was a moment of conception for the lie. Ananias and Sapphira had a chance to abort the “baby lie” (the only legal abortion the bible sanctions) but they both carried it to terms and gave birth to a big lie which in turn gave birth to their physical death. This is the cycle of lies. We are all tempted to lie but we do not have to. In fact, in the case of this couple there was no need to lie. They could have kept all the money and not even give anything to the upkeep of the saints.
5. Why then Mr. & Mrs. Ananias did you lie? We get some clue from vs9. “Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” In other words, why have you not believed God to take care of you even when you give all? The other time people were described as testing God was for unbelief among the Israelites in the desert. The words they heard did not produce faith in God who is able to provide and care for us? A lot of our lying today is for the same reason. We are afraid that God will not take care of us if we told the truth and did the right thing. There are sometimes consequences for telling the truth and doing the right thing but God will always help us.
6. So why was Ananias and Sapphira zapped for lying? I do not know. But I know that God is just and has every right to exercise his justice. He also has every right to show mercy and grace to whom He chooses (Romans 9). It is the mercy of God that we ourselves are not zapped already. They were zapped for our example so that we do not practice lying.
7. The Lord commands us to trust Him and not to lie to one another or anyone. Lying as a life style is sin period. A lying life (especially when one lies and not even grieved) is an indication of a life that is not transformed and that lacks the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When we have the Holy Spirit, we have the spirit of “Truth” and Jesus is the truth. The burning fire of hell has been reserved for “all liars” (as a lifestyle) Rev. 21:8.
8. The effect of Ananias and Sapphira’s death is that “11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”…We must not forget this aspect of God who rightly punishes for sin though showing mercy at the same time. We must have reverent fear of God and be awed that He has chosen to pay for our sins. We should not take for granted the mercy of God. “Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?” Apostle Paul says God forbid. Lord, help us to fear you and live in the truth. May your word transform us. Next time we are tempted to lie, let’s remember Mr. &. Mrs. Ananias & Sapphira and do the right thing. Amen.
If you are like me, you will be thankful to God for his mercies and grace after reading today’s account in Acts. Like you, I have lied before but God spared me and did not allow me to die immediately for lying. What is it about God’s word that transforms us and why is it that some people are not transformed even after hearing God’s word? The Scripture says that the things that are written are for our “examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did” (1 Cor. 10:6). The case of Ananias and Sapphira is a case for us to learn that there is no room for hypocrisy and deceit in the life of a believer and the Church.
Acts 5: 1-11
1Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2With 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.
3Then 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? 4Didn'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."
5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9Peter 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."
10At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have.
1. When transformation and revival is taking place among a people or community, it is dangerous to assume that everyone is experiencing the transformation. There are tendencies for people copying what others are doing without having their heart in it. Dr. Luke did not only want to paint a rosy picture of the early Church without exposing us to the problems at hand. It is reported that, “Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet” (Acts 4:36). Is it possible that Ananias and Sapphira were copying Barnabas for the wrong motive? We must give to God with the right motive and not give to impress any pastor or anyone.
2. What was the sin of Ananias and Sapphira? Apparently, Ananias must have told the apostles braggingly that just like Barnabas, they have sold their property and brought all the proceeds to the Church. Unknown to them and the mistake we often make is that they forgot that the Holy Spirit was present and saw everything as it transpired. The Holy Spirit, revealed to Peter what had happened. Can you imagine what our lives would be if we lived in the present consciousness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in all our dealings with people? Peter said, “You have not lied to men but to God”.
3. When we lie to one another, we are actually lying to the Holy Spirit and of course lying to God who is the Holy Spirit. The sin of Ananias and Sapphire is the sin of lying, hypocrisy and deceit. Is it possible that this is their first lie? I don’t think so. Is it possible that they have been living a life style of lies? Though the text does not say so, but I would say yes. When we consistently engage in any behavior, it becomes a habit and a life style. Habits are very hard to break with the power and help of God. If you have a habit of telling lies, ask God to help you change and fill you with His Holy Spirit.
4. The King James Version translated v4. as follows; “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?” There was a moment of conception for the lie. Ananias and Sapphira had a chance to abort the “baby lie” (the only legal abortion the bible sanctions) but they both carried it to terms and gave birth to a big lie which in turn gave birth to their physical death. This is the cycle of lies. We are all tempted to lie but we do not have to. In fact, in the case of this couple there was no need to lie. They could have kept all the money and not even give anything to the upkeep of the saints.
5. Why then Mr. & Mrs. Ananias did you lie? We get some clue from vs9. “Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” In other words, why have you not believed God to take care of you even when you give all? The other time people were described as testing God was for unbelief among the Israelites in the desert. The words they heard did not produce faith in God who is able to provide and care for us? A lot of our lying today is for the same reason. We are afraid that God will not take care of us if we told the truth and did the right thing. There are sometimes consequences for telling the truth and doing the right thing but God will always help us.
6. So why was Ananias and Sapphira zapped for lying? I do not know. But I know that God is just and has every right to exercise his justice. He also has every right to show mercy and grace to whom He chooses (Romans 9). It is the mercy of God that we ourselves are not zapped already. They were zapped for our example so that we do not practice lying.
7. The Lord commands us to trust Him and not to lie to one another or anyone. Lying as a life style is sin period. A lying life (especially when one lies and not even grieved) is an indication of a life that is not transformed and that lacks the fullness of the Holy Spirit. When we have the Holy Spirit, we have the spirit of “Truth” and Jesus is the truth. The burning fire of hell has been reserved for “all liars” (as a lifestyle) Rev. 21:8.
8. The effect of Ananias and Sapphira’s death is that “11Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”…We must not forget this aspect of God who rightly punishes for sin though showing mercy at the same time. We must have reverent fear of God and be awed that He has chosen to pay for our sins. We should not take for granted the mercy of God. “Shall we continue to sin that grace may abound?” Apostle Paul says God forbid. Lord, help us to fear you and live in the truth. May your word transform us. Next time we are tempted to lie, let’s remember Mr. &. Mrs. Ananias & Sapphira and do the right thing. Amen.
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