Fan the Flame - a Journey Through Actsഉദാഹരണം

Day 10 - Radical Discipline

Imagine a world of true unity, where no person had more than another and no one was in need, where through radical generosity came radical provision! No more poor, homeless, or needy! What we see described here is the early Christian community that looked just like that. Believers were selling their possessions and laying the money at the apostles' feet to provide for anyone in need. During this time, Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, sold a piece of property, but they conspired to keep part of the money for themselves while pretending to give the full amount to the church.

When Ananias brought the money to Peter, Peter confronted him, asking, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?” (Acts 5:3). Ananias, in his deception, not only lied to men but to God. As a result, he fell dead. A few hours later, his wife Sapphira followed the same fate when she also lied to Peter. This event caused great fear to come upon the entire church.

This passage is both sobering and powerful. Ananias and Sapphira’s sin wasn’t just about keeping money; it was about lying to God and trying to appear more generous and righteous than they were. Their deception revealed a deeper issue—hypocrisy. They wanted the praise of men without true integrity before God.

The gospel teaches us that God sees the heart. External actions, no matter how religious or charitable they appear, mean nothing if our hearts are not right with Him. The early church was being shaped into a community of truth, transparency, and unity under the Holy Spirit. Ananias and Sapphira’s dishonesty threatened that purity, and God’s judgment was swift.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). As His followers, we are called to walk in that truth, without pretence or deception.

This passage challenges us to examine our hearts. Are there areas where we are pretending to be something we are not? It’s easy to fall into the trap of putting on a spiritual “mask,” wanting to appear more righteous or generous than we truly are. Yet God calls us to live with integrity, to be authentic before Him and before others.

In today’s culture, where image and appearances can often be prioritised, the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira is a reminder to prioritise truth and sincerity in our walk with God. The beauty of the gospel is that we don’t need to pretend. God’s grace is sufficient for our weaknesses, and His love for us is not based on how we appear to others.

Let this passage also remind us of the seriousness of sin and the importance of honesty in our relationships with God and His people. Our call is to live in genuine faith, trusting that God’s approval is far more valuable than the praise of others.

Would we come before God with humble hearts, recognising that He sees beyond our actions and into our very thoughts and motives? God helps us to live with integrity and truth, both before Him and before others. Let us pray for forgiveness for the times we have tried to deceive or present ourselves falsely and ask God to help us to value His truth above all else and to live in a way that honours Him.

Written by Ashley Hicks