Bacon Or Eggs Part 2 Series

Bacon or Eggs Part 2

Scripture: Acts 5:1-10; Second Corinthians 9:7; Matthew 10:34-39

This is part two of my series “Bacon or Eggs.” Two weeks ago in part one of this series I shared with you that there is a difference between the hen and the hog that provide the eggs and bacon we eat for breakfast. The hen lays the egg but continues to go on with her life after because laying eggs is just part of her routine. Day in and day out she can produce one egg after another. This is not a big deal for her. Her life is separate from the eggs because the longer she lives the more eggs she can produce. Laying eggs is not a sacrificial gift for the hen because laying eggs is what she does. I told you that this is similar to the person who gives thousands of dollars to the Church or other charities annually because they have millions of dollars in the bank. To them, giving up a few thousands to charity is not a big deal.

However, this is not the case with the hog. The hog remains alive until it gives its bacon. The hog’s gift, his death, is a one-time sacrificial offering that can never be undone. When he gives his bacon his life ends. You see, unlike the hen which can produce eggs daily, the hog can only provide his bacon once. One and done. The hog lives his “best life” until he reaches the appropriate weight for which his “best life” would be required. In order for us to have “real bacon” the hog must die. As I said in part one, I want you to think of the hog as someone who is willing to give their all to God. This person is all in and is totally and unapologetically committed to God and gives Him their best. For this person, what God wants and needs comes first. God is not an afterthought.

In part one I told you that I could sum up what the Holy Spirit had told me in two words, forethought or afterthought. If you recall, by definition, forethought is a “careful thought in order to be prepared for the future.” Likewise, an afterthought is “something not thought of, said, or done originally, but added afterward.” What the Holy Spirit told me was that we can determine the relationship we have with God based on whether or not He is a forethought or afterthought. A person who thinks of the things of God first is one that has God as a forethought. God is never an afterthought, He is never an “oh yeah and God,” as this person places what God wants and needs from them before anything else. God is never an afterthought; someone they have to remind themselves to seek His heart.

This morning we are going to start with the story of Ananias and Sapphira as found in Acts chapter five. This is a story where two individuals decided with “forethought” to deceive the disciples which led to consequences that they never considered. Let’s begin with verse one of Acts chapter five. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2and kept back part of the price, his wife also knowing it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God.” 5And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and died: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6And the young men arose, wrapped him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7And it was about the space of three hours later, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8And Peter said unto her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’ And she said, ‘Yea, for so much.’ 9Then Peter said unto her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of them who have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out.’ 10 Then she fell down immediately at his feet, and died: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.” (Acts 5:1-10)

Ananias and Sapphira, sold a piece of property from which they had promised to give the proceeds to the Church. However, after they made the transaction, they decided to keep part of the money for themselves, which was fully within their rights to do. But the way they went about it had disastrous results. When Ananias came before the disciples to “donate” the money, the Holy Spirit had already revealed to Peter their decision to keep back part of the money. Peter said to “…..why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 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.” (Acts 5:3-4) Remember what I said about forethought and afterthought. Ananias and Sapphira his wife had come into agreement that they would keep back part of the money. They made this decision after they had already promised to give all of the proceeds to the Church. What is important to note here is that Peter had no way of knowing what the land was sold for so the couple thought they could give him any amount and he wouldn’t know the truth about how much they really got for the land. However, the Holy Spirit is able to see in the heart. And New Light, this is the issue, not the amount of money the land was sold for. Ananias and Sapphira lied to Peter and we know that Jesus called Satan the father of lies in John 8:44. They had allowed Satan to convince them that they could benefit more from the money than the Church could. The Holy Spirit revealed to Peter what was in their hearts. When Ananias and Sapphira came before Peter and lied, they were not lying to Peter, but to God. If you read the rest of the story, you know that both he and his wife were struck down dead for lying to God.