The Trouble With Lying Series

Introduction

I asked ChatGPT the following question, “What is the trouble with lying?”

Here is the partial answer I received, which is pretty good:

The trouble with lying lies in its multiple negative consequences, both for the liar and those around them. Here are some key issues: (1) Erosion of Trust; (2) Reputational Damage; (3) Legal and Ethical Consequences; (4) Psychological Stress; (5) Societal Harm; and (6) Self-Deception. In essence, while lying might offer a short-term solution or escape from a situation, it often leads to more complex and severe long-term consequences.

Today, I want to examine a story in the Bible and learn about the trouble with lying.

Scripture

Let us read Acts 5:1-11:

1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and 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 for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Lesson

Much of today’s message is gleaned from commentator John Stott.

The story of the lying and consequent death of Ananias and Sapphira is important for several reasons.

It illustrates the honesty of Luke as a historian; he did not suppress this sordid episode.

It throws light on the inner life of the Spirit-filled community of the first century; it was not all perfect and righteous.

It is also a further example of the strategy of Satan.

Satan attacked that fledgling church community on three fronts.

Satan’s first and crudest attack was physical violence; he tried to crush the church by physical persecution (Acts 4:1-22).

Satan’s second and more cunning assault was moral corruption or compromise. Having failed to destroy the church from the outside, he attempted through Ananias and Sapphira to infuse evil into its inner life, and so ruin the church community and Christian fellowship (Acts 5:1-11).

Satan’s third and most subtle ploy was distraction. He sought to deflect the apostles from their priority responsibilities of prayer and preaching by preoccupying them with church administration, which was not their calling (Acts 6:1-7). If he had been successful in this, an untaught church would have been exposed to every wind of false doctrine.

So, these then were the weapons of Satan—physical (persecution), moral (subversion), and priorities (distraction).

It is extremely important to keep these three weapons constantly in mind to defend against them.

Why?

Because Satan’s strategy has not changed over the centuries.

A study of Satan’s attack on the church in the first century will help us know how to withstand his attack on the church in the twenty-first century.

So, today we shall study Satan’s attack upon the inner life of the church, an attack which is intended to subvert and undermine the moral fabric of the church.

Acts 5:1-11 teaches us about the trouble with lying.

Let’s use the following outline:

1. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)

2. The Lessons of Ananias and Sapphira

I. The Story of Ananias and Sapphira (5:1-11)

First, let’s look at the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

In verses 1-2, Luke tells us, “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

In the previous chapter, in Acts 4:37, we read that Barnabas “sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”