Look what God did to Ananias and Sapphira for lying to the Holy Spirit. They didn't even have to lie, they could have given whatever they wanted, but impressing people was too important to them to consider that lying offended God.
Acts 5:1-11
The fate of Ananias and Sapphira
"1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,
2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?
4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it.
6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.
7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land [d]for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.”
10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things."
Next time we think about lying perhaps we ought to consider what God thinks of it before letting a lie fly out of our mouth. This includes a lie someone else told us that we believe.
God has not changed, His truth has not changed, but man wants it to seem so by changing His Word. Pretending doesn't make it so.
Never feel bad that you are in pain and begging God to send our Savior to collect you soon.
"Abba" means "Daddy." When we were in Jerusalem a number of years ago we saw little children running after their fathers shouting "Abba, Abba", it was their word for "Daddy."
We are little children to our Father in Heaven. He cares about what happens to us and understands the cries for help.
What if you were in a flood and the water was rising to the second floor. In all the chaos of the flood you hear your small child crying from a nearby tree, "Daddy, Daddy, help me." Wouldn't you be deeply concerned about getting to that child to save him?
Remember this is the way our Father in heaven sees us, as little children crying out to Him for deliverance from the flood, from the trials, and from the sin-sick world.
We need never feel condemned for crying out to God or begging Him for His help!
Psalm 91:14-16 "…14 “Because he loves Me, I will deliver him; because he knows My name, I will protect him. 15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver and honor him. 16With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”…"
Thank God Jesus Christ goes through with us in everything we must endure. Even when we don't "feel" Him we know with our mind and heart that He is with us.
Deuteronomy 31:6
"6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”
Can you hear the man in the flood shouting out to his little boy; "I won't' leave you, I am here"?
I do not agree to disagree, I stand on the truth. Those things I have diligently prayed about and heard from God on, cannot be changed. If you disagree with me then go to prayer that God would show you or that He would enlighten me further, but never just be content to agree to disagree.
Truth is more important than relegating it to the acceptance of everyone's views no matter how different they may be. As born again believers we ought to be diligently seeking truth rather than validation from those around us.
The mantra "agree to disagree" comes from a mentality that promotes everyone's ideas as equal even though they may be opposite. This thinking is irrational.
When we have been told by God through His Word and prayer the truth of a matter we no longer need to consult him further, the matter is settled. However, if the Holy Spirit is stirring within us that we might be wrong we must go to prayer and further Bible reading to find the reason for the warnings within us.
I have found that born again believers who have diligently studied seem to agree on almost everything except non-essentials that are not specified in Scripture.
The mantra "agree to disagree" is the lazy way of unconcern about truth. IF truth matters, and it does, then we ought to be sure of what we believe through a study of the Word and questioning the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 2:15
"15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
If there is disagreement then we must go back to prayer and study to come to an agreement. Of course, this takes time and diligence.
Matthew 7:7
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
God never said different things to different people, HE says the same to all those who are seeking Him.
Amos 3:3 "Will two walk together, Except they have agreed?"
Colossians 2:8
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
1 Corinthians 1:10-11
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers."
How can every believer be of one mind, after all this is a command from God? Its really quite simple, when two parties disagree they go to prayer and study until there can be agreement.
This is rare in our day when everyone just wants to feel superior and lazy. They care only about spending their time playing, pretending they already know it all and refusing to research when someone challenges them.
The other difficult matter in our culture is that most people are far too distracted with worldly pursuits to take the time to study on their own without their favorite teachers clamoring in their ears.
Most people today do not trust the Holy Spirit, they trust in the teachers of our day who are influenced by the apostate seminaries or Bible colleges they attended. They even mock those who have not attended these institutions as unable to know the truth because all they had was the Holy Spirit.
Wow, all Peter, Paul and all the other writers of the Bible had was the Holy Spirit. Now we have elevated the teachers and the seminaries above the Holy Spirit, as though these people know better than God.
John 16:13-14 "13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 e will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you.…"
God spoke these words to you and to me, they were not for a select few nor were they for an elevation of one person over another. We all have a calling from God, no one is less or more than anyone else but all have value.
1 John 3:13-15…13 So do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.…
Galatians 3:26-28
""For in Christ Jesus, you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
God is not looking for excellence or accomplishment of man but rather He is looking for obedience to whatever He has given us to do no matter what it may look like to those who elevate themselves.
I am convinced that one of the shreds of evidence that Christ is coming soon is all the ways in which believers can connect with other believers as well as unbelievers for Christ in these last days.
I am also convinced that our home going is so very close that most of us will meet Christ in the clouds very soon.
Even though we plan our lives as usual as though He is not coming we are waiting expectantly for Him every day.
James 5:7-8
"7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until [a]it gets the early and late rains. 8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord, is near."
2 Peter 3:17
"17 You, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
