Opens in a new tab

Ananias and Sapphira

Ananias and Sapphira

Ananias and Sapphira

Three quotes from the teaching on februar 28, 2024

God reveals darkness when it enters the light—even the smallest lie can have great consequences.

Reverence for God is a gift that helps you choose the right thing, even when no one is watching.

Who are you to argue with God? Some things we don’t understand now, but trust in His perspective transforms everything.

Short description of the teaching

This teaching explores the story of Ananias and Sapphira, highlighting how God works within His church. It emphasizes that God is both merciful and just, and underscores the need for reverence and genuine repentance. It makes clear that hypocrisy and lies cannot be hidden from God, and that His demands for truth, heart posture, and community still stand. The story serves as a reminder that one cannot live partly in the old life and partly in the new, and as believers, we are called to be role models, truthful, and seek deeper fellowship with God and each other. The teaching encourages humility, truth, and taking responsibility for one’s life and choices in light of God’s grace.

Watch the teaching here...

Watch the teaching directly on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-vlAWD_MMM

We depend on you!!

You can support “Stenslyngen” (the stone sling) and LytTilJesus.dk through “Rescue Team”, which has a fundraising permit:

Click here and support our work

This teaching is categorized within the following topics:
– click on them to see more relevant teaching

Discipleship,General Teaching,God, Jesus & the Holy Spirit,Repentance and Baptism,Spiritual Life & Prayer,Udfrielser og åndelig krigsførelse

Did you know you can listen to the newest teaching as a podcast on e.g. Spotify and Apple Music?

Click here to listen: https://li.sten.to/lyttiljesus

  • Scriptures from the teaching on 'Ananias and Sapphira'

Acts 4:32-37
Acts 5:1-11
Acts 5:12-16
Exodus 20:16
Proverbs 19:9
Acts 19:13-20
Luke 12:4-9
John 13:34-35
Matthew 23:1-12
John 16:7-8
Romans 9:20-23
Romans 6:1-23

NB! The summary below is an automatically AI-generated text from the teaching itself. Errors may occur to a greater or lesser degree!!
Watch the whole teaching on YouTube instead!!

  • Summary of the teaching on 'Ananias and Sapphira'

Andreas Slot-Henriksen explains how to understand and learn from the story of Ananias and Sapphira, found in the Book of Acts. To grasp its significance, he draws connections from the day of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit came with power and 3,000 were baptized, to the growing church that had a strong community where everything was shared, and no one considered anything their own. This context highlights how radically the community functioned—people experienced miracles, everyone was one in heart and mind, and joy and love were abundant. When Ananias and Sapphira chose to lie about their gift to the community, their sin was not about the amount but the heart’s attitude—the choice to pretend truth without living it. God calls for authenticity, and it is emphasized that people were not forced to give anything; it was free will. The problem was not that they kept something, but that they sought human recognition on a false basis, placing their pride above the community’s truth.

It points out how believers can repeatedly be tempted to do something similar—not in the exact same actions, but in the hidden motivations of the heart, where sin grows from small thoughts to actions if not stopped. God works with grace, but He reveals darkness when brought into the light, and the story questions whether we truly want to live authentically and truthfully before God and others. Examples are given that reverence for God is not fear in a negative sense but an acknowledgment of His justice and love, where responsibility and genuine repentance are central. God knows the heart, and there is a warning against taking sin lightly with the thought that regret can always be hidden until tomorrow—true repentance requires one to regret and change course with the heart, not just the mouth, and forgiveness cannot be granted if one does not truly desire it.

The teaching also highlights the difference between inner and outer motives—how nothing can be hidden from God, and that community is built on truth and trust. Ananias and Sapphira become an example of how hypocrisy and self-deception end in separation from the community, and it is encouraged to be moved by God’s love instead of self-interest and pride. The teaching draws parallels to our own time, where Christians can fall into the same trap if they do not live with humility, truth, and responsibility for one another. The story of the seven Jewish exorcists is brought up as another biblical example of how authority and truth are connected—without a genuine heart relationship with God, it does not matter how much one tries.

It speaks to the need to know God as both comforter and judge—He desires genuine devotion and repentance, and the judgment on Ananias and Sapphira is not personally malicious but highlights God’s holiness and the seriousness of living halfway in and halfway out. God sees things from a different perspective than we do, and His plans and judgments are greater than our understanding. God has the right to act as He wills, and we are encouraged to humbly seek His wisdom rather than criticize or judge His actions. This perspective calls for trust and to seek what truth, holiness, and community mean for our own lives.

The teaching concludes with a reflection on the growth of the church and the importance of prayer, testimony, and community: The early church was characterized by unity, daily communion, miracles, practical love, and no one was alone with their burdens. It is set up as a model and an encouragement to return to unity and truth. It questions whether people around us can see that we belong to Jesus—whether love for other Christians is evident, and whether we dare to be true role models. Remember, it is not a threat but an invitation to more: More fellowship, more presence, more truth, more joy, and more wholeness by following God with all that you are. Ultimately, one is called to choose true life, to stand on the side of truth, and let God transform both the inner and outer self.

Quote from the teaching:
“Who are you to argue with God? He sees the heart and knows the truth—and He longs for a genuine relationship with you.”

ReadTranscription

Click here to read the full transcription of ‘Ananias and Sapphira’.

Read the full content of the teaching 'Ananias and Sapphira'

Please note that there may be deviations and errors, as the text below has been transcribed and adjusted automatically.

One of the stories in the Bible that I’ve been asked about so many times is the story of Ananias and Sapphira in, or, what is it called, the Acts of the Apostles. To dive into it—we’ll read it in a moment—but to understand the context of what’s happening, this is the very, very first church ever. The very first holy community in Jerusalem. There is only this one church community in Jerusalem.

It was Pentecost, and the Holy Spirit came down on the disciples with great power. We see Peter starting to speak on Pentecost. Three thousand people choose to be baptized to turn to belong to Jesus Christ. Wow. It’s buzzing and bubbling; you can’t keep your mouth shut, you’re talking about Jesus. Everything is just, uh, he was just there, they experience the wildest miracles when they go out. They go out and demonstrate God’s power; they don’t just talk about it, but they demonstrate God’s power.

Oh, just imagine walking the streets with Peter and Paul and Barnabas and all those guys. Uh, I would have loved to be there, seriously. People heard about it back then; there was no TV or newspapers or anything, so it was word of mouth, and people were curious back then, so people gathered. The community they had back then, it says they met around in homes, it says they ate together and had communion every day.

But we are all the way up in chapters four and five. I’ll just start by reading a bit from chapter four here. The whole crowd—and the crowd here is the community of believers who met to be together about Jesus—the whole crowd of believers was one in heart and mind, and no one claimed any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power, the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all. There were no needy persons among them, for from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales, and put it at the apostles’ feet. The money was then distributed to anyone who had need.

Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas—which means son of encouragement—sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Wow, just imagine a community like that. Everything that is mine is not mine. I received it from God, I give it back. Wow, if we read this in today’s media, it would be the first sect ever started, but this is love. This isn’t about brainwashing people. People did it voluntarily, people had the choice whether they wanted to or not, but it was laid on their hearts to do it, and they gave what they had with joy. They took care of the poor, they were recognized, they were mighty in the city, people loved the disciples.

It’s like today, where everyone loves Christians because Christians are always fighting. Isn’t it sad? We do nothing but hit each other over the head today, but back then, it was all about unity. Oh, how I wish I could go there.

Well, let’s move on to Acts chapter five. Something really special happens with a man named Ananias and his wife Sapphira; they sold a property, and with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet. 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? 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 just to human beings but to God.” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.” Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Wow. We’ve heard so many teachings about this story. This is so wild, what happens. And I just have to read a bit further, just because it’s so good. Now, this is from verses 12 to 16. The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people, and all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.

Just imagine, sick people out on the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. Wow.

But why does Ananias die? Why does Sapphira die? Isn’t it a bit harsh? I mean, they sold a piece of land, and then they gave a lot of the money to the apostles. They should just be happy about that. God should just be happy about that, come on. Taking a little bit for themselves can’t be that bad. No, it can’t. And they were fully aware that they could just say, “We have chosen to keep half, and we have chosen to give you the rest, which you can distribute freely.”

Wow, they could also have said, “We are keeping most of it, and here is a portion you can distribute. Here you go.” They were allowed to do that, but they chose to lie. And for many, many people, this story is about lies and God’s consequences for lying. That’s not wrong either. It’s just a bit deeper, as we dive a bit into it, but just to establish: What does God actually say about lying?

Sure, here’s the translation of the provided text into English:

—

Well, we get it from the Ten Commandments. It doesn’t say you must not lie, but it says: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. That’s almost the same as lying. But if we take it a step further to Psalm 101, it’s pretty clear about how God views lying. And it says, let me just read here: I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise. I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; they will not cling to me. The perverse of heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with what is evil. Whoever slanders their neighbor in secret, I will put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, I will not tolerate. My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me. No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord.

We continue in Proverbs 19:9: A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish. To take the last example from Psalm 5, 5-7: You are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; you destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests bloodthirsty and deceitful people.

See, Ananias and Sapphira were not in doubt that they believed in God. But they chose for themselves. It says at the start of the episode that they were both aware of this. They had agreed. They had actively chosen to lie.

The first step: why? Why did they actually do this? What was the whole motivation behind lying when they could have just told the truth and said: You get most of it, but we’re keeping some for ourselves? What was the motivation? There could be two motivations, as I see it. The one that is most likely, I think, would be that they needed to gain people’s recognition. Wow, have you given that much? Oh, that’s impressive, respect for you, man. So, pride, human recognition, human success.

Uh, come on, we’re human. Who doesn’t need a pat on the back now and then? I mean, if we look at it humanly, they chose to deceive. Ananias and Sapphira, it starts with a little thought, then they talk about it. Could we also, couldn’t we? How is Satan? Tempts you. Couldn’t you do this and that? What if, try, if you just keep a tiny bit, you could buy that Porsche you want, or the carriage, or that donkey you’ve talked so much about. That donkey, you can buy it, and you can afford it.

Satan sows a little thought, and it’s the same with us. Satan typically plants a little temptation in us, which we then start to think more about, and when we start to think about it, we start to water it, and when we start to water it, it gets bigger and bigger and bigger, and then it grows. And that’s why Peter actually asks Ananias: Why has Satan filled your heart so that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and kept some of the money for the land?

They themselves chose to listen to the temptation. It began to grow. It began to take root. Suddenly they thought, it was actually a really, really good idea. But how do we get out of it, because it would be really annoying, we would lose recognition. Well, no one will notice, we just have to say.

The problem was, God’s spirit was working so strongly in this community. Peter, he knew it already inside. No one had told Peter. No one. They come as completely ordinary people. Here, we lay the money at the apostles’ feet. Peter, he himself says: Ananias, why have you let Satan into your heart? Why are you lying? The Holy Spirit has spoken to Peter.

Why? Because Peter had a relationship with Jesus, and because the whole community of believers. Just to read it again: The whole congregation of believers was one in heart and mind, and no one claimed any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. How do you think God honors something like that? How does God honor such a strong community when lies come in, when darkness comes into the light? Then the darkness is revealed.

The story of Ananias and Sapphira, there are three key words in it. I just want to start by saying that in Acts 4, verse 33, it says: With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all. And I don’t know how they came up with the funny translation that they enjoyed great favor, because that’s actually not quite what it says. If you read it in English, it says: And great grace was upon them all, meaning God’s great grace was on them all. And in my ears…

It’s very different to say that great grace was on them all, meaning God’s grace, than to say they enjoyed great favor. There’s a big difference, but God’s great grace was on them. Why? Because they believed in God. They were one in mind and heart, and they didn’t just sit still and listen, but they all went out and did what Jesus said they should do.

It was a congregation where there was really a spark. So they had huge grace from God. We all have that. God’s grace is new every morning, but the more we strive to be one with Him, be one with each other, walk on His word, the more we also get to see how His grace just stretches into our lives more and more and more. And again and again and again.

The second thing is with great power. It says it went in great, so God’s huge grace over them, and that it gave great power, it resulted in fear. It wasn’t a negative fear, but it was a fear people had for the disciples out of respect. Wow, that’s wild, and many were converted because of it actually.

I just want to read a slightly different story, which speaks a bit about the exact same type of fear, also from Acts. It says here too, some of the, it’s from chapter 19, verse 13 and onwards: Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.

One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor.

Many of the believers came and confessed and shared what they had done, and some of those who had practiced sorcery brought their books and burned them in front of everyone. They calculated the total value and found it to be 50,000 silver coins. Thus, the word of the Lord continued to spread and gain strength. Wow.

We have an episode here, which is not like the one with Ananias and Sapphira, but it truly instills fear among people. And it says: Everyone was seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was praised. The result of this is that we draw closer to Jesus because it creates a reverence.

And I want to start by saying, because surely many of you have this question: Why did Ananias and Sapphira actually die? Because one thing is, they did something wrong, but why did they die? Why was their life taken? Wasn’t it led by God? I mean, come on, He could have just given them new chances and forgiven them. He does that for us today.

I want to turn it around and ask: You might be thinking, why did God kill them? Now I’m really provoked. Try to find the question, why are you alive today? That’s a much more relevant question. Why are you alive today? Have you lied, have you stolen, have you lied to God? Honestly, how many times have you told someone: I’ll pray for you, and then forgotten to do it? Seriously, think about how many times in your life you’ve promised something to a brother or sister and not kept it.

To be a bit harsh, maybe you’ve been a hypocrite. That’s what Ananias and Sapphira did. Yes, they lied. They had ulterior motives. You might not have ulterior motives, but sometimes you say: Yes, I’ll pray for you, bye-bye, and you know full well when you leave that you won’t do it. Or have you

Never tried that. I know many have tried it. Why? I believe Ananias and Sapphira died because God wanted to establish that even though we are in the new covenant, His word is still valid. He is still a God we should have reverence for, who punishes. Yes, we don’t get punishment here and now, we get punishment the day we stand before the judgment seat if we don’t repent. God wants you to repent, and His grace is new every morning.

It also said that God’s grace was immense over the disciples. If it’s so great, why does He kill some? To show what they have received. God knew Ananias and Sapphira’s hearts. God sees it from a different perspective than we humans do. We don’t know if Ananias and Sapphira actually joined the community because they loved Jesus and trusted Him, or if they joined because they lacked a family, because they lacked friendships, because they lacked a social network, people to care for them.

There are many who come into a church, a Christian community, with the wrong motives. That’s just how it is. It’s a sin to say, and it doesn’t please God. If you don’t want Jesus with all your heart, then you’re lying to the rest of the people you’re among. But if you love God with all your heart, wow, then His grace is new every morning.

We don’t know where Ananias and Sapphira were. It’s exactly the same as we can talk about Judas. Judas, who betrayed Jesus. Oh, how could God be so harsh, right? Why did He choose him? Judas had a rotten heart. He was a thief. He stole from the treasury, Jesus knew that. Whether he got the judgment now, now, if Ananias and Sapphira had rotten hearts, and they get the judgment now, die like that, or if they get the judgment the day they were actually supposed to die, it doesn’t matter in God’s perspective.

It’s also people who put a timeline on it. Well, that’s harsh, God can’t be okay with that. Come on. It’s a millisecond of a millisecond of a millisecond in eternity, that’s the difference between whether they’ve lived on earth or in eternity. God’s perspective is so much different.

When I think that God establishes this with Ananias and Sapphira, so we truly understand that God is not a different God from the Old Testament to the New Testament. There are so many people who think that just because there’s a new covenant, it’s a new God. It’s not a new God. It’s the God who has always been, who always will be, and who is infinite. He is unchanging, it says in God’s word. His heart is the same every day, it doesn’t change.

The difference is, in the Old Testament, people were justified through sacrifices, and there were so many rules and laws that had to be followed, that it didn’t work. People couldn’t. Only Jesus was the only one who ever fulfilled the law. He fulfilled every single law to the letter. The law was abolished and replaced with God’s grace.

That means repentance in our hearts. Suddenly, we have to be baptized on our own faith, on our own confession, to enter God’s grace. That means in baptism, we choose to bury the old life, bury the flesh. And it doesn’t help, it might be a bit provocative, but it doesn’t help that someone has bent us forward to some baptism thing and said, here you go, now you must be baptized. That’s murder.

Why is it murder? Because baptism is burial. It says that baptism is a symbol of burial. You can’t kill other people. You have to make the choice yourself, say: I choose to die from my flesh, from who I am, to live a life with Jesus. Where were Ananias and Sapphira in that choice? It’s possible they were some of the 3,000 who chose to be baptized to belong to.

Jesus, but had they really buried the old life? Did they really understand the meaning of baptism? Did they really get it? Did they have reverence for God? Did they understand who Jesus was? They might even have seen Jesus walking around, but did they understand who He was? Did they have reverence for Him?

Jesus, He is crystal clear. He says in the Gospel of Luke 12:4: “And I say to you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will show you whom you should fear: fear Him who, after killing, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Not one of them is forgotten by God. Yes, even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God. Who is it that can cast into hell? There is only one, it is the Judge. Jesus, He is the only one who has the possibility. Satan can tempt us along the way, so we go astray. The Judge has said, but it is Jesus who has the final judgment, and Him we should fear. Not with a negative fear, but with a godly fear and reverence.

When you look back at the early church, which Ananias and Sapphira were a part of—oh, how I wish I could have been there, honestly. Just imagine, a completely fresh faith. There wasn’t even a term for Christianity; they were just called Christians, and being a Christian meant being a follower of Christ. There were no silly doctrines, no orthodox church that changed everything and introduced incense when the Holy Spirit came, or ringing a bell, or baptizing infants, and if you wanted to go to heaven, you had to remember to pay for indulgences, and you could only be forgiven if you went to the priest, and of course, you had to pay a lot of money, and then you could get a…

Man, the state steps in and tries to control the church. The state steps in and tries to manipulate the church. One religious movement after another arises, full of sects and heresies and rubbish, with Christian groups hitting each other over the head about who is right and who is not. Back then, the disciples learned by being together. They learned by seeking God. They learned by praying together. They learned by sharing their testimonies with each other. They learned from hearing: “Wow, God healed that person, He raised that lame person. Oh, that leper was healed. Oh, I just prayed for the neighbor’s girl, she was dead, she rose up. Wow, thank you, Jesus.” That was everyday life.

The church wasn’t polluted with poison, with doctrines, with—sorry—sometimes idiocy. Sometimes it turns into: Who can hit each other the hardest with a Bible? Then you’ve won. Some of the most dreadful groups on Facebook are called “Christians in Denmark” or “Young Christians.” I’ve never experienced so many discussions in my life, and oh, what is that about? Man, God must cry sometimes.

There were no smartphones back then. There were no computers back then. The free time they had was spent seeking each other, and together they sat and shared life about Jesus and shared communion together. It says they did it every day. Every day. It doesn’t work like that anymore. When you call for a prayer meeting in the church, there are two people on each line, and they are quite elderly. Prayer, fellowship with Jesus, that’s the most important thing—doing it together. There’s so much power in it. In fact, it should be that when

You hold a prayer meeting or prayer gathering, there are three times as many people as at any other events, because prayer is so important. Fellowship with Jesus. Jesus says: I give you a new commandment. You shall love one another. As I have loved you, you shall love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

That’s how the first church lived. It might be provocative, but can people see in you that you are a disciple of Jesus by the way you love your Christian fellow humans? Man, there are so many annoying questions that come up. It’s really frustrating. Anyway, Ananias and Sapphira were probably super nice. Besides making the mistake of lying, they made another mistake that many Christians make.

They think: Ah, maybe I know this isn’t quite right. But no one will notice. It’ll be fine. And then I can just ask for forgiveness tomorrow. But you can’t do that if you know it’s wrong and you do it anyway. Then you haven’t repented. Did you really mean you were sorry when you come and say sorry? Of course, you can realize you were really wrong and come to God and ask for forgiveness, and then He forgives you, but it’s not just a free pass.

You can’t just go out and sin and then think: God will forgive me tomorrow. Even though His grace is new every morning, it’s not if you don’t turn around in your heart, and that’s the whole point of burying yourself in baptism. That’s the whole point. That’s why the church started with baptism. The 3,000 were baptized and added to the church. They started by burying their own pride, their own flesh, their own ideology, as I’ve said, and chose to submit to Jesus and then grow.

So we need to be careful not to unconsciously grow to sometimes be more agreeable in what we say and do, but we should all be examples for each other. We should all be in a place where we can stand by what we say. We should all be in a place where, when we come home and stand before the throne of Jesus, we don’t try to come up with all sorts of good excuses for why we’ve chosen to do what we’ve done, but we should just come before Him as we are and say: Okay, this is what I’ve chosen, and I’ve done it because I love you, Father.

Then it’s not so hard, there’s not so much to be afraid of. But often, many people end up choosing based on what they want instead of what’s right and wrong. And unfortunately, there are so many Christians who shouldn’t call themselves Christians. I’ve sat with people several times who have told me how they’ve had leading positions in churches, in mission houses around, and then they’ve gone home and even abused the daughter afterward.

I remember at one point, someone told me that he had been traveling to Thailand on a business trip, and he had taken one of his friends with him, who was from Inner Mission. They went to Thailand, and they were supposed to have a lot of business meetings, and it ended with the guy from Inner Mission ending up at a child brothel. It’s cozy. It hurts inside. I get so sad, I get so angry, I get so mad. Take the label off. Such a person is not Christian. Such a person does not want to follow Jesus.

And that’s exactly what Ananias and Sapphira did. You might say: Well, you can’t, you can’t compare it to them… Come on, man. I mean, they just lied. Sin is sin. Hypocrisy is hypocrisy. God is holy, and God is pure. And it’s not that you should go home now and think: Oh no, I’m going to be killed like Ananias and Sapphira. No, but you should go home and understand what reverence is. You should go home and dive into what holiness is. You should have this motivation to find out how you can get closer to Jesus so you can receive much more of what He has for you.

Just like when we come before Him—false, He took their life. In the same way, when you come genuinely before Him, He gives you abundantly because He really wants you, and He loves you. But He knows your heart, and He knows whether what’s happening inside is false or true. And He honors a genuine heart, He does. He is good. He is faithful.

Well, I don’t want to say much more, except for one last thing, and that is again: There are many who might sit there thinking, “But God, he’s kind of a cruel God if he doesn’t just give them another chance. Why couldn’t he just say to them, ‘Hey, what you’re doing is wrong. Try to turn around,’ and then give them a new chance? He’s a cruel God; he can’t be serious.” That’s actually how many people think.

And to that, I’d like to respond by reading Romans 9:20-23: “But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory?”

That really puts us in our place. Who are we to talk back to God? Come on. And it’s because we don’t understand who God is. God, he is the creator. He is the creator of heaven and earth. He is the beginning. He is the end. He has the right on his side. Why? Because he created everything. He knows the truth, and only he knows the truth.

And if we sit there and start blaming God: “Why can’t you do this? You’re really cruel if you do that. And you’re really harsh.” It’s because you don’t know God’s perspective. You don’t know God’s plan, and you don’t know your Bible. So rise up here, lift yourself to a perspective where you ask God: “Won’t you please show me your perspective in this situation? I really need to see it with different eyes. I find it so hard. God, won’t you please show me?”

And if you don’t feel like you’re seeing it, then have the utmost trust that he’s got it under control. He’s got it under control. You don’t need to talk back to him; he’s got it under control, and he loves you. If your heart is that you love Jesus, he really wants you, he loves you so much, but he wants you to put away your stubbornness, your own understanding, and let him in and just accept him for who he is and what he does. And then you’ll truly receive his blessings.

Close