Total Picture (TTP) III

Acts 5:⁹ “And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.”

If you are in a church and you have not fully committed to the heart of the vision and the values, please keep your money in your pocket. You may get into trouble and that was what happened to Ananias and Sapphira. Everybody was contributing and Ananias and Sapphira wanted to put up a show, pretending to be part of what was going on. I can just imagine the conversation that went on in their house. It probably was something like this;

Ananias: We must be wise about what is going on here. The way everyone is flocking around this Peter, I have my suspicions and I am watching him very closely!

Sapphira: I see what you mean Anan. Do you know you are older than this Peter?

Ananias: I knew it! How old is he anyway? We cannot sell off what we own and put it in the hands of such a child? We cannot put our lives in Peter’s hands, Saph!

Sapphira: I think you have a point there Anan! So, what should we do?

Ananias: The plan is, we would sell our property just like everyone else is doing. But we will give only a fraction of what it is worth to Peter. Everyone will still rejoice, no one will know.

Sapphira: Alright Anan,

According to plan, Ananias and Sapphira brought their seed to Peter and he said, “…were you not afraid to lie to the Holy Spirit?” Wait a minute, who did they lie to? In the physical, it was to Peter. But who did Peter say they lied to? The Holy Spirit! This is the Principle of Representation. Peter was not standing by himself or by his own authority. He was representing the Holy Spirit. Ananias and Sapphira got into trouble that destroyed them physically. Read Acts 5. God is neither hungry nor interested in gifts from people whose hearts are not committed to Him. There is no financial need in God’s kingdom that He cannot provide for. If God is asking you for something, it is for your own good, in fact, it is a privilege of your destiny. If God is not asking you for anything, you should be ashamed of yourself.

There was a time we had a need in the church, and we had been praying and asking God to make a way. Then a man brought a lot of money to us. But the Holy Spirit said, “Return his money, I have not accepted his sacrifice.” When God says, “I have not asked you to give me anything”, you are in a bad place with God. I have learnt that it is not everybody God dims fit to ask to give Him something. Those of us that are obedient will have access to God and His blessings. Through us, God would make sure that no one lacks anything in His church. I pray that you will choose common wealth by covenant and not common wealth by community.

Prayer: Lord, I ask that Your Covenant will be in effect in my life even as Your Word bears fruit in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen!