October 16, 2021: SOAP #4335:  Malachi 3-4; Psalm 148; Acts 5

SCRIPTURE:  Acts (NIV) 5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 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. 3 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? 4 Didn’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.”… 9 Peter said to her [Sapphira], “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.”

OBSERVATION: Here is a good example of how God takes personally what we do to each other.  Ananias and Sapphira agreed to sell their property and give part of it to the church, but they told the church that they were giving it all.  Maybe it did not seem like much of a lie.  They were probably giving a large portion.  It would seem a reasonable amount to receive for their property.  No one would know.  

BUT they did not realize that when they spoke to the church, they were really speaking to the Holy Spirit! 

APPLICATION:  If they had known that the Holy Spirit was listening to their conversations about the sale of the property, would they still have gone through with their plan?  Maybe not. 

What about me?  When I make promises or do something less than I could have done…do I pretend that I have done all I could have done?  When I make an excuse for something I did not do, do I realize that the Holy Spirit is a part of that conversation.  He takes lies, even “white lies,” personally.  

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, forgive me for not considering that you are a part of my every conversation.  Help me remember that when I talk to others, you take my words personally.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!