FAITH CAPSULE: God is to be greatly feared and telling lies should be strongly avoided.
Acts 15
Meditating on fearful testimonies of God makes a faithful believer. It is not all who claims to be a believer knows the fear of God. Many claims to be a believer but the words of their mouth are not valid. Believer whose words are not valid should never expect God to validate His word which comes out of such believer’s mouth. Are you the kind of believer that will say good morning when it is night time? Which word is yours? Proverb 12:6 declares, “The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.” Your word is you and it is your word that identifies who you are. The words of God are true when it states, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.” (Proverbs 19:5) Telling lies is also giving a false witness and it does not settle well with God.
The Bible documents the story of Ananias and Sapphira, ““A certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it 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?’”(Acts5:1-3) Ananias had no reason to lie, but he did. Peter responded to Ananias’ lie, “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” (Acts 5:4) Evidently, there was no curse neither was there any physical approach to hurt Ananias, but the Bible records, “Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.” (Acts 5:5-6)
By virtue of Ananias’ testimony, God is to be greatly feared and telling lies should be strongly avoided. Just as if the issue of Ananias was not enough for the people to see and fear God enough, his wife also took to the way of lying and she experienced the same result like that of her husband. Among ways of identifying what it means to fear God is when a man is consumed by the overwhelming awesomeness that is encased in the testimony of what God is doing or what He can do. What kind of life are you living? Living in the fear of God’s testimony is a way no to miss it with God; it is a way of life.
Prayer for today: Ask for the fear of God to reign and rule all your areas of living life.