FAITH CAPSULE: Ways of man under heaven are not hidden but accountable before God.
2 Kings 5, Acts 5:1-11
Have you been getting away with lying or you have perfected in deceiving others for so long? Have you convinced self that your lying and deceiving others is with no bounds? Lying and deceiving can be destructive to a liar’s life. As much as lying and deceiving others reigns outside of the church, so it is also rampant inside of the church. Acts 5:1-2 recorded, “But 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.” There was no indication that Ananias and Sapphira had to sell their possessions, and it can be assumed that it was a voluntary move. So why would they lie? Are you a believer who will lie, fake, or deceive to get attention or to impress fellow believers? In life, every conduct of man is not hidden from God but accountable before God.
Peter knew that Ananias and Sapphira were lying, faking, and deceiving. It is written, “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?’” (Acts 5:4) What is worth doing for the Lord is worth doing truthfully in truth. Both, Ananias and his wife, might have engaged good intentions but lying as their garment set them away from the presence of God. The bible stated in Acts 5:5, “Then Ananias hearing these words fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.” Lying and deception took the life of Ananias and Sapphira.
Just like Ananias and Saphira, it was lying and deception that terminated Gehazi from living in the center of his divine assignment. After the healing of Naaman, Elisha refused to accept gifts from Naaman. Without any direction from Elisha, Gehazi the servant of Elisha deceitfully went after Naaman and stated, “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” (2 Kings 5:22) Gehazi accepted gift from Naaman against Elisha’s will. Elisha knowing about Gehazi’s deceptiveness asked Gehazi about his action but Gehazi lied. Elisha responded to Gehazi’s deceptiveness stating, “…was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow.” (2 Kings 5:26-27) If you are lying and deceiving others goes unnoticed for years, it will only take one day for the truth to expose you as a liar.
Prayer for today: Ask God to deliver and preserve you from deceptive spirit.