Lesson 7: God's Holiness Creates a Removal of People, part 4
The fourth way the Bible describes God's zero tolerance for sin is in the removal of Ananias & Saphira.
Acts 5:1-10 - "But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 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. 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? 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.’ When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.’ And she said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ 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.’ 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."
Here we read the account of the removal of Ananias and Saphira from the early church. They seemed to be obedient Christians supporting the work of the Lord. One day they decided to stretch the truth a little. The orders from God were very clear. The ninth commandment says ‘you shall not bear false witness’, including lie to God. God's response was to take their lives. Do we ever think that stretching the truth only a little is nothing for God to be truly concerned about? After all, everybody does it; besides, He loves me and will forgive me.
According to the Word of God, the Holiness of God shows us that God absolutely does not tolerate even the slightest bit of sin, not even a tiny little lie.
Are you thinking, “Come on Pastor, I know that is what the text says, but there must be another way to look at this. This just seems too harsh!" But stop and think about it. It only seems harsh if you are ignorant of the Holiness of God. Who are we to question the Holiness of God? Are we God?
* What happens to us when we as believers lose our fear of God?
Lesson 7: God's Holiness Creates a Removal of People, part 4 Print
Modified on: Fri, 11 Dec, 2020 at 12:08 PM
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