Do Not Lie to God

Acts 5:3-4

“Then Peter said, ‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.’”

Lying to God the Holy Spirit has serious consequences. We do not deceive Him; we are only deceiving ourselves.

In this passage, Paul clearly confronts the lying spirit of the enemy who influenced Ananias to lie about the nature and amount of his gift. The enemy deceived Ananias, and he tried to deceive leaders anointed by the Spirit to shepherd the Church. Plainly, Paul points out that the Holy Spirit is God.

Why do we feel like we can get away with disobedience? Do we really believe God does not see what we are doing? Do we close our eyes and do it anyway hoping God has closed His eyes? Usually the consequences of our self-deception and lying to God are not as severe as it was for Ananias in physical death, but what are we doing to our spirit man?

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Ask the Father to help you face the areas of your life where you are not being honest with yourself and with God. Jesus gave you the Spirit as your Helper. Be honest with Him. Be honest with yourself.

Do not lie to God.

Dive Deeper: Study Acts 5; Isaiah 63:10; Matthew 12:30-32; Mark 3:28-30.