You Caused Your Own Death

Ephesians 6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness. (ESV)

        During the time of the apostles, they went about teaching and preaching the gospel of Jesus to every nation. They baptized, cast out demons, raised the dead and healed the sick. This was the great commission that the Lord himself had given them prior to His return back to Heaven. Matthew 28:18-20 ⁽¹⁸⁾Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ⁽¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ⁽²⁰⁾ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (NIV)

  

As part of their ministry, they also tried to help those that were poor and in need. The church was on one accord in doing this and they selflessly gave what they had for the sake of others. Acts 32:32-35 ⁽³²⁾All the believers were one in heart and mind. Now one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. ⁽³³⁾With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrections of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. ⁽³⁴⁾There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales ⁽³⁵⁾and put it 

at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed as he had need. (NIV)

        However, the Bible tells the story of a couple, Ananias and Sapphira who had sold a piece of their property. But they did not do as the other people had done and gave all of the proceeds that they had earned to the apostles. Instead, they conspired to lie by keeping part of the money for themselves and giving the remainder to the apostles. Peter addressed the matter to Ananias because he knew that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit and had wrongfully kept money that was to be given to the poor. It wasn’t the fact that Ananias had kept the money because the property was his to begin with. It was that fact that he had obviously made a commitment to God to give all of the proceeds to the poor, but instead decided to be deceptive with his actions. Therefore, he immediately fell down dead and was carried out by the men that were there. 

        Unknowingly to his wife, she also came to Peter and when he asked if that was all the money that they had received from the property, she lied and said that it was. This would have been a perfect opportunity for her to be honest and tell the truth. If only she had been forthcoming with Peter and repented, she may have spared her own life. Unfortunately, she stuck to the lie that she and her husband had conspired to tell and therefore, she fell dead as well. It is a dangerous thing to lie to the Holy Spirit. When we make a vow to God of any kind, we must keep that vow. Proverbs 12:22 The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. (NIV)

           The Apostle Paul lets us know that we must wear the belt of truth. We can only be righteous in the sight of God if we are honest in all our ways. The enemy will get us caught up in the least little things. Those little things can prevent us from having a relationship with God. Nevertheless, God loves His children and all we have to do is repent of whatever sins that we have committed against Him and others. God forgives and longs for His children to walk in the path of righteousness. As a warrior for Christ, let us ensure that our walk is never compromised by what we may consider as small matters such as lying, cheating, stealing, and/or anything that goes against the laws of God. Ezekiel 36:27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them. (KJV)