Updated:2022-05-24
Why has Satan Filled your Heart to lie to the Holy Ghost?
At all costs, guard your heart against demonic or satanic influences. The apostles being of one heart and of one soul demonstrated the power of God.
But where there is unity demonic activities always manifest to cause chaos and confusion. Such was the case with Ananias and his wife, Sapphira.
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
Acts 5:1
This is exactly how the Devil works. First, he attacks your heart. These Believers have liquidated all their possessions, then placed the total proceeds at the apostles’ feet.
“And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet”.
Acts 5:2
Now here is a husband and wife team, who are Believers. They want to test whether the Holy Ghost was really operating through these men.
The Holy Ghost Knows Our Heart
The Test!
Then he creates doubts!
Consequently, this couple planned this together, but initially, only the husband approached Peter.
Subsequently, they agreed to test the apostles. They say, let us see whether the Lord God speaks through these men.
As a result, we will sell our land and keep back a part of the money. Then, we will place the remainder at the apostles’ feet.
If God is with them they will know what we did but if not, they won’t!.
This plan wasn’t Ananias and Sapphira’s but the Devil’s.
He had entered their hearts and they were unaware of this.
However, immediately Apostle Peter was aware that something was wrong.
Therefore he inquired of him the reason for his deceit.
“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?”
Acts 5:3
First Peter identifies the problem. If Satan has infiltrated your heart, it will show up in your actions. He informs us that Ananias’ deception didn’t originate from him, but from Satan.
Then, Peter openly admits that the Lord God works through him. Consequently, he informs us that Ananias lied to the Holy Ghost. But he spoke directly to Peter.
Another Person Doesn’t Know Your Heart
Peter is not the Holy Ghost. But we know that the Holy Ghost speaks through him. Ananias didn’t even inform Peter of what possession he sold. Because the Bible simply said he: “sold a possession”.
Nevertheless, Peter explicitly declared that he sold “land”. How did he know this? The Holy Ghost revealed it to him.
Then, Peter continues to enquire of Ananias:
“Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? [A]nd after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? [W]hy hast thou conceived this thing in [your] heart? [T]hou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts 5:4).
Conclusion
Blasphemy Against The Holy Spirit
Just as this husband and wife team was, there are Christians who are skeptics. They don’t believe that the Lord speaks to people who obey Him. They have never had that experience; therefore, they doubt it could
Finally, “Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things” (Acts 5:5).
It’s important to note Peter’s words. He didn’t curse Ananias. He never spoke words of death to him. But he didn’t bless him either.
“And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him” (Acts 5:6).
However, Peter spoke the Words of God. This Apostle couldn’t determine the outcome. But the state of our heart will determine our end. That was his story.
We cannot keep any secrets from God. He sees our hearts. And He must receive the glory from our obedience to Him. What is the state of your heart concerning the Word of God?
Do you believe it? But know this, you can’t say one thing and do something else. What you do reflects what’s in your heart.