Lesson 351

(Lesson 351)(07-31-12) Acts 5:1-11, "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things."

This lesson deals with those so small minded as to try to deceive God. Just as Ananias and Sapphira, there are millions, claiming the Christian mantle today, who seem to have forgotten that God is omniscient, He knows every thing that happens, everywhere in the universe at any given nano-second. NO man/woman will EVER be able to deceive Him.
There are those who try, in their daily dealings with others, to do the same thing Ananias and Sapphira tried. As Ananias was told, he was NOT required to give all he had, he could have kept half, or all of it. No problem! The sin was NOT in the amount he gave the sin was in the deceit, he wanted to leave the impression that he was doing more than what he actually did.
That practice, sadly, is alive and well today. Many "good Christian people" want to leave the outward appearance that they are true blue super glue, but in reality they are filled with guile, consciously,and daily, they conspire to deceive others while trying to deceive God Himself.
If one can live with the "little white lie", one can just as easily be persuaded to tolerate the great lie.
Matt. 22:37-39, "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
If we simply accept God's saving grace, put Him first in all things, and love our neighbors as we love ourselves, we'll never have to want for anything. ~