Acts 5:5 And great fear came on all them who heard these things.
When Ananias was faced with the truth spoken by Peter, he failed to repent. Consequently, he was struck dead by the Holy Spirit. As we discussed yesterday, this was due to his scheming with his wife, Sapphria. Together with Satan, they concocted a story and they allowed it to play out. In the end, it cost both of them their lives. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. (Acts 5:5) Then immediately she (Sapphria) fell down at his feet and breathed her last. (Acts 5:10)
Their sin was not being stingy and holding back some of the money from the Church. Their sin was founded in pride and God has never allowed pride to stand in His Kingdom. Remember, it was pride that got Lucifer banished from Heaven, to begin with. The Word of God tells us that he wasn’t just kicked out of Heaven. God did not politely ask him to leave. He fell like lightning! Jesus watched it happen and He related it to His Disciples. I saw Satan fall like lightning from Heaven. (Luke 10:18)
Pride declares one to be better than another. Ananias and Sapphria wanted to gain a high position in the Church. They wanted to be better than the others. This is pride. So, they devised a plan. They had some land that they could sell. They would then keep part of the money for themselves and give part to the Church to buy the high position they were seeking making them more important than the others in the Church. This is pride.
No one can buy anything from God. He owns everything already! The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (Psalms 24:1) He may ask us to surrender something to benefit His Kingdom but it is never to be done to gain something in return. Doing so is the result of the demonic spirit of pride at work.
Satan tells us we can be better than our neighbor. Jesus said, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 19:19) Satan tells us we come first and the others have to get behind us. Jesus said, If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all. (Mark 9:35)
After Ananias and Sapphria both dropped dead the young men of the Church carried them out and buried them. (Acts 5:6; 5:10) The Apostles had the young men of the Church pick up the dead bodies, carry them outside and bury them. This was a lesson for the young men. They witnessed the whole thing. They knew what happened and they saw God’s Judgment take place. And great fear came on all them who heard these things. (Acts 5:5)
God’s Word is true. He does not lie. When He says Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18), He means it. This is a Spiritual Law. God made this Law and He will see to it that it is kept. .....great fear came on all them who heard these things. (Acts 5:5)
The Word of God will……..….turn the tide……..in your life.
His servant, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
