People have always tagged God to be wicked whenever the story of Ananias and Saphira comes up. You ask them why and they tell you, but lying is not a big deal and besides, he is a forgiven Father.
Well, it was a greater deal because their actions nearly ended man's hopes.
Why was it such a big deal which God couldn’t wait to forgive them but instantly take His breath from them? Be led by the Spirit as you read.
In Acts chapter 4, the Spirit of God has manifested Himself greatly in Peter and John; the unschooled working signs and wonders, boldly preaching the Word and overcoming the fearful rulers and teachers of the law, it boldened the faith of the believers and they praised God. Thats how the building of the Church begun and Satan wanted to make a bad move.
One attribute the Church, that is the body of Christ possessed those days was oneness in heart and mind (Acts 4:32). To be of one accord is power and there is no way Satan could get into the Church if this is possessed today. Unity is Power, hence the term Trinity (Father, Son and Spirit). They are one and none can be influenced. So, in the latter part of Acts 4, the possessors begin to sell what they have to support one another. When a man gets empowered by God and he comes to the end of himself, he withholds nothing and always want to give to support the needy; that is an expression of God as Love.
Reminder, whoever sold property, brought the proceeds at the Apostle’s feet. The word feet is very key and we must note that. The human body ressts on the feet and cannot be carried without it. Feet spiritually symbolizes EFFORT or Power, that is the Potency or Fertility of the Church.
Remeber Jesus feeet? okay lets go ahead.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Symbolically, the verse means preachers of the good news are decorated with Power, they are fertile and take dominion in everything they touch because the Gospel is the Power. So, their life is beautiful because they never lack worthy people in the Kingdom of God. Without the feet, preaching the Gospel is impossible.
So, in Acts 5, the opening word according to the ESV is “But... meaning the building of the body of Christ was ongoing until Satan decides to thwart the plan.
Do you remember Adam and Eve? The enemy found them in the beginning of creation In Genesis 3? So why does Satan want to use Ananias and Saphira in the beginning of the building of the Body of Christ? Why is it always about beginning. In the beginning of the Old Testament, the Devil won over man whose leader was Adam, our first father. The catastrophe that put us in was much until Jesus, the last Adam came.
Here, The Devil wants to use Ananias and Saphira to overcome the Church, the bride of Christ and take dominion over the congregation.
Remember, he said in Isaiah 14:13, For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;…
Who is that congregation? He was talking about the Church. Satan wants to be like God and take praises and worship just like the battle in Heaven. This time, he decided to do it with Ananias and Saphira.
How was he going to do it?
In Acts 5:2 …and with his wife's knowledge.” The women always initiate the knowledge for the Man. With his wife’s knowledge means the man possessed the ill influence of the woman just like in the Garden. In other words, Satan influenced the wife again, and the new version of the woman influenced the man. Simple!
Their mission was to plant DISCORD, DISHONESTY AND CORRUPTION in the house of God. These three will weaken the feet of the Bride of Christ and make her a “whore” in the absence of the groom. If this had been successful, the fertility, I mean the potency of the Bride of Christ will be gone and she will be barren in every thing she does, no impact and the preaching of the Gospel will be of no effect.
Acts 4:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
Apostle Peter had the revelation and through the power of the Holy Spirit, he saw Satan as the orchestrator. Just like Judas Iscariot, the devils vessel is of no use to anyone, hence the need to uproot it from the congregation.
The woman had her share and at the end, great fear (reverence for God) came upon the Church. The Power of God overshadowed his bride and Satan found no other means deceive anyone. So, the Church of God regardless of what people think is without spot, wrinkle or blemish.
So why is the Church filled with deception?
To be continued.
Content created and supplied by: @apnewsgh (via Opera News )
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