But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property.
Acts 5:1 ESV
36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 4:36-27 NIV
Ananias means “God is
.”
Sapphira means “
.”
And with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Acts 5:2 ESV
GOD SEES BEYOND THE SURFACE.
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
Acts 5:3 ESV
YOU CAN’T LIE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AND STILL LIVE IN TRUTH.
“Filled” is the Greek word plēroō: To be completely filled, dominated, or controlled by something.
And do not give the devil a foothold.
Ephesians 4:27 NIV
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
*Proverbs 4:23 NIV *
Whatever fills your heart - rules your life.
While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.
Acts 5:4-5 NIV
THE FEAR OF THE LORD WAS RESTORED.
So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against he body and blood of the Lord. 28 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 29 For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. 30 That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.
1 Corinthians 11:27-30 NLT
For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.
Hebrews 12:6 NLT
7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
Acts 5:7-10 ESV
Worship done in hypocrisy is dangerous.
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Matthew 15:8 NIV
And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.
Acts 5:11 ESV
By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 ESV
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Acts 5:12-16 ESV
Holy reverence always invites the Supernatural.
“Do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.”
Luke 12:4–5 ESV
“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
*Romans 6:1-2 NIV *