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EstherShoemake

Posts: 6,952 Member Since: 10/24/10

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Jul 26 15 4:45 AM

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                                   Lying to the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:1-11, A certain man named Ananias with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the proceeds. His wife being  aware of it, and brought certain parts and laid at the Apostles feet.  But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan  filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?" and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was not it yours?
and after it was sold was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own control? then why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to man, but to God."  Then Ananias fell down and breathed his last breath, So great fear came upon all them who heard these things. The young men arose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. Three hours later  his wife, came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said unto her, "tell me  have you sold your land for so much? and she said yes, for so much. Then Peter said, " why is it that you two together, have lied to the Spirit of God?"
Look, the same feet that carried your husband out and buried him will also carry you out and bury  you." Then she fell down at his feet and breathed her last breath. So the men came in and carried her out and buried her beside her husband." So great fear came upon the church and all them that heard these things".
They learned one thing that day, that it don't pay to lie to God.
(Fell down and breathed his last." may seem extreme to some people, much like the story of Achan  in Josh. 7: 16-26.  However, proverbs 6:16-19, tells us how God feels about deception and division. The early church was vulnerable to great spiritual danger, Yet Jesus had promised Matt. 16:18 that the power of hell would not destroy the church in its infant stage. God would move with great discipline to ensure it's purity and survival.    Note that Peter gave the wife the chance to tell the truth, she was responsible for her own relationship with God. (Signs) refer to supernatural occurrences that point to a  warning instruction from God. A sign gave credibility to the fact that what  was being said was from God.     (Wonders) points to a sign. By it's very nature a wonder caused awe in those who saw or heard it. Signs and wonders  were given by God to confirm His Word, "See Matt. 12:38-39. Satan had attacked the church from without as a roaring lion, but now attacks attacks it from inside as a serpent. V. 15, In the ancient world  many people believed that a person's shadow could possess magical healing powers. The people referred to in this verse was not necessarily Christians, but those who believed that Peter, as an advocate of a new religion, had magical powers. The people imposed their superstitions upon this new faith. V-16, (They were all healed:)  The Apostles didn't do the healing, they were only instruments in the hands of God. The power came from God." He was working miracles through the Apostles.  This reminds me of an Evangelist that put up a tent in the little town of Ovett Ms. when I was a teenager, my mother had double pnuemonia  and almost died, she then got blood clots in both her legs, and could not walk for 13 weeks, we had to turn her in bed with a sheet. Let me go back to the revival, the preacher would pray for the sick and they were falling out under the power of God and the people told that he had on a electric belt.  He came over to our house and prayed for my mother and she got out of bed and walked across the room and back, got ready and went to church that night, My Dad said the power of God was so strong that he saw a ball of fire burst in the corner of the room. People used to serve God and had more power with God. His healing power is real.  I am going to stop here and start with verse 19 tomorrow,   
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