From Fear to Reverence
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
3 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 to men but to God."
5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.
6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.
11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
A. Why did Ananias and Sapphira do what they did?
1) A mixture of desires
2) Strength in numbers
B. If we revere God, we have nothing to fear
1) Re-examining our relationship with God
2) Re examining our relationship with other people
Summary
Fear and reverence are no different for those who do not acknowledge God. If we have not experienced the essence of God, which is love, we cannot understand why it's wrong to follow our own desires and to do what it takes to protect ourselves. We become desensitized to our own deception of people and of God. God wants us to choose justice and good, not because we are afraid of punishment, but because we have experienced and understood the depth of God's love and desire to follow him.
For Discussion
1) What have you learned from this story?
2) Why did the couple do what they did?