Sunday Sharing: Lie, Lie, Now you Die!

This week I was reading Acts 4 and 5 mostly and although I once again had a difficult time choosing just one highlight, I decided to go with the true account of Ananias and Saphira  because I made this video in one of my Sunday School classes with the boys using puppets to retell the story.  To my great surprise, it is my most popular video on YouTube!

People tend to think that lying is no big deal, yet no one wants to be lied to.  God still hates lying because he hates all sin.  As the early church was getting started in the Acts4:34-35, it says:

(34) Neither was there any among them that lacked:  for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, (35) and laid them down at the apostles' feet:  and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

But Ananias and Saphira sold a possession but brought only part to the apostles, saying it was the whole price.  Peter somehow knew they were lying and said in Acts 5:3-4:

(3) 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?  (4) 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.

Three hours later, his wife, Saphira, came and backed up her husband.  Acts 5:8-10 says:

(8) And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?  And she said, Yea, for so much.  (9) 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.  (10) 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.

 Isn't it interesting, that Peter lied about knowing Jesus right before his crucifixion and here he confronts Ananias and Saphira about lying?  Peter was forgiven, Ananias and Saphira were struck down dead.  Peter said they lied to the Holy Spirit and not to men, but unto God.  The fact that Saphira stood by her husband and backed him up did not excuse her.  A good wife should help her husband do what is right in the eyes of the Lord.  Who knows, perhaps it was her idea.  The scripture doesn't really say whether Saphira talked Ananias into do this or not but it is obvious, both knew it wasn't the whole price of the land.

Integrity is such an important trait for believers to have if we want to make an impact on our culture.  Just last week, Pastor Thompson said, "We have no message if we have no integrity."   Perhaps this is why the Lord made it clear his followers should not lie by striking down Ananias and Saphira as the church was just beginning. 

Feel free to share your thoughts about this in the comments or a scripture highlight you heard or read last week.

Other highlights from last week: 

Acts 4:23-31 The apostles threatened to stop preaching but prayed for bravery to speak God's message
Acts 5:17-42 The apostles jailed for preaching Jesus and freed by an angel

(Scripture verses are from King James Version this week.)
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