Then 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.
(Acts 5:3-6)
Central Truth:
Give it away, give it away, give it away now.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE ?
I found these verses odd but humorous. I mean, it seems a little comical for someone to be standing one minute and then BAM!....slap dead the next. Call me weird, but that's just funny. However, as I read the commentary associated with this particular scripture, I found it even more intriguing. Here is why:
If you read Acts Chapter 4, you will see how the "New Church" was being developed and how the believers were selling their possessions and putting it all into one large pot....only to be distributed among other believers and the needy:
All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had..... There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 5:32-35).
What an awesome concept! BELIEVERS helping other BELIEVERS! WHOOOOOOAAAA! Shouldn't it be this way today? Shouldn't we be doing more of that? I mean....they were selling their homes, their land, their sources of income and livelihood all for the cause of Christ. But, many of us are like Ananias and his wife Sapphira. We are addicted to our STUFF and tend to hold back. Like Ananias we are all self-absorbed and egocentric! Like Ananias and Sapphira, we too struggle with this spiritual battle. And look were they ended up. DEAD!
Now, I'm not gonna say that God will strike you down if you don't give something up (though he could). But I am saying that God will deal with your sin like he dealt with Ananias and Sapphira. What are you holding back from God? What do you need to sell so that you can empower the church or perhaps another believer? What if we all did that?
Here's a novel idea.... What if we start off small and the entire church gave up cable/dish TV for one year and give that money instead to a particular ministry? Imagine what we could do together when we set ourselves aside and put Christ and others first! Ministry baby..........good ministry!
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