“First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.” Proverbs 16-18, MSG If you’re too conceited or self-important, something will happen to make you look foolish.

In the beginnings of our studying of Acts, we have been basking in the heavenly, holy actions of the courageous apostles and powerful prayers of all the followers of Jesus.  Just yesterday (Acts 4) we observed a church who truly acts “One-hearted-One minded” while being led by God’s Holy Spirit.  We long to be a part of it all!

But, as happens with we humans who are fallible and easily distracted—even by goodness and holiness—we sin.  The One heart-One mind church must deal with the sin as soon as they discover it.  God will not sanction sin.  Through Jesus, He forgives sin when people repent.  But when a man and a woman dressed in the guise of goodness comes into the group of new believers to blatantly and willfully sin in a haughty, deceitful act to impress others, God steps in.  His Holy Spirit warns Peter.

Acts 5, The Message

Ananias and Sapphira

5 ^1-2 But a man named Ananias—his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him—sold a piece of land, secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it.

^3-4 Peter said, “Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn’t lie to men but to God.”

^5-6 Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it. The younger men went right to work and wrapped him up, then carried him out and buried him.

^7-8 Not more than three hours later, his wife, knowing nothing of what had happened, came in. Peter said, “Tell me, were you given this price for your field?”

“Yes,” she said, “that price.”

^9-10 Peter responded, “What’s going on here that you connived to conspire against the Spirit of the Master? The men who buried your husband are at the door, and you’re next.” No sooner were the words out of his mouth than she also fell down, dead. When the young men returned they found her body. They carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

¹¹ By this time the whole church and, in fact, everyone who heard of these things had a healthy respect for God. They knew God was not to be trifled with.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18, NIV

Before leaving earth for heaven, Jesus told Peter: “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”  Is this one of those times?  Ananias and Sapphira, led by the opposing enemy of the church with deceit, are removed.  “The powers of hell” will not conquer what Jesus is building.  Whoa.  Don’t mess with God!

We must always be on the lookout for the sly ways the enemy appears in our church groups.  The enemy slips in to cause division with confusion using the only tools he knows of envy, pride, and the comparison between the good others do with our good even if it means lying about it!  No one is exempt from Satan’s distracting and deceiving ways to destroy what Jesus is building in the lives of His believers—children of God—brothers and sisters of Jesus!

God knows all hearts so He knows before we do what could occur. His Holy Spirit, who lives in all believers of Jesus, was sent to warn us, just like He did Peter.

Is Peter remembering this act of deceit as he writes his letter of warning to all believers later? 

“Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.” 1 Peter 5:8-9, NLT

Another apostle, Paul, will come along later and write about how to avoid the enemy with how to clothe ourselves in ways that please God while “skirting around” our enemy’s ways!  These words of wisdom are a clear message of “Do this-not that.” 

Because of who you are in Christ now…

DO THIS:

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:12-17, NLT

NOT THAT:

“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.” Colossians 3:5-9, NLT

What breaks the heart of God and all who believe in Him is when a person does good only to get attention and gain importance through notoriety for themselves.  As a public school teacher and leader of a church, I was often asked each year around Christmas if I knew of a “deserving family” who could use what they (individually and as a company or church) had to offer.

I soon learned to be wise with my words to protect the recipient from being extorted.  My first question was, “Will there be cameras to document this kindness; OR will you give without anyone knowing you gave?”  The answer to this question would be a deciding factor along with gaining the family’s permission to receive quietly and anonymously.

“Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.”  1 Peter 5:2

“And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 1 Peter 5:5-6, NLT

Lord,

This powerful lesson jolts our senses at first, until we realize your love for us goes so deep that it pains you for us to fall for the devil’s schemes knowing that all he has to offer us is eternal death.  May we know you more for You are Truth who gives eternal Life!  Give us wisdom to walk many steps ahead of the enemy by the power of your Holy Spirit living in us.  Give us your discernment to readily see the difference between Truth and lies. I trust in you, dear Jesus!

In Jesus Name, Amen