Introduction

Some passages ease into our living rooms like an old friend, and some step onto the front porch and ring the bell with urgency. Acts 5 is one of those moments. It invites us to sit still, to listen closely, and to remember that God cares about what we hold in our hands and what we hide in our hearts. He sees the gift and the giver. He knows the number and the motive. And in all of it, He remains the kind Father who calls His children to freedom, honesty, and a clean conscience.

Picture a simple scene: an envelope placed in the offering, a handshake in the lobby, a kind word in the hallway. Ordinary moments of worship and community. Yet behind every act there stands a searching Savior who loves us enough to call us into integrity. He is not hunting for perfection. He is shepherding hearts. He knows how money presses us, how image tempts us, and how comparison corners us. He also knows how truth sets us free.

The early church was buzzing with generosity. Not a program but a people—brothers and sisters sharing because grace had gripped them. In the middle of that beautiful movement, a husband and wife made a costly choice. Their names were Ananias and Sapphira. They gave, yes—but they also guarded a secret. They wanted the applause without the honesty, the reputation without the reality. And that is where the story speaks. God owns everything. He measures the heart. He calls His church to integrity.

As we prepare to hear the Word, receive this reminder from a leader who loved justice and truth: “The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

Right now, the Spirit is inviting us to something simple and strong: surrendered stewardship, sincere speech, straight-path living. Stewardship says, “It’s all His.” Sincerity says, “Say what is true.” Straight-path living says, “Walk in the light.” These are not heavy chains. They are the keys to joy. A clear conscience sleeps well. A truthful tongue sings freely. A generous heart finds fresh strength. Grace does that. Grace doesn’t shrink us; it sets us steady. It gives courage to confess, strength to be simple, and wisdom to live wide open before God and neighbor.

Maybe you carry a quiet knot in your stomach today—an unfinished confession, a hidden habit, a number you rounded up or rounded down. Hear this with hope: Jesus does not scold you to shame you; He shepherds you to save you. He invites you into the light because the light is where healing happens. He wants His church to be healthy, His people to be honest, and His gospel to be seen, not staged. Integrity matters. Appearance fades. God works wonders through a humble heart that tells the truth.

Let’s listen now to God’s Word.

Acts 5:1-4 (ESV) 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.”

Opening Prayer Father, we quiet our hearts before You. You are the owner of every breath, every blessing, every day we live. We thank You for Your generosity toward us in Jesus—mercy that forgives, grace that guides, kindness that keeps. Holy Spirit, search us and lead us. Heal what is hurting. Clean what is clouded. Strengthen what is weak. Give us soft hearts and straight words. Teach us to live with open hands and honest motives. Protect Your church from pretense. Plant in us a love for truth, a freedom to confess, and a delight in obedience. Lord Jesus, be our treasure. Free us from the pull of praise. Form in us a life of integrity that brings joy to Your people and honor to Your name. As we hear Your Word, let it shape our wills, settle our worries, and set our steps on steady ground. We ask this in Your strong and saving name, Jesus. Amen.

God Owns Everything

Everything belongs to God. That is where we start. He made the world. He made us. He gives time, skill, money, and chances to work. We do not stand at the center. He does. When this sinks in, it changes the way we hold things. Hands loosen. Worry eases. Gratitude grows.

This truth speaks to everyday life. Your paycheck. Your home. Your savings. Your calendar. Your plans. We handle these with care because they came from His hand. We ask Him what to do with them. We listen. We obey in simple ways. We learn to trust Him with outcomes.

It also settles a question in the heart. Who has the right to direct my life? God does. That is not harsh. It is steady. He knows more than we do. He sees beyond the week we are in. He is kind. He calls us to live honest lives, even when it costs. He guards our steps as we follow.

This truth shapes how we give. Giving is worship. It is a way of saying, “You gave to me, so I give to You.” The amount matters less than the honesty. The story we tell with our gift matters. We bring what we decide in truth. We say what is real. We keep our word. We refuse to impress anyone.

This truth shapes how we see our name. Reputation can feel like a tight shirt. It pinches. It makes us pose. But our worth is safe in God. He knows us fully. He approves of what looks like faith. He loves a plain, honest path. He lifts the lowly and steadies the weak.

This truth shapes the church. We are a people who gather under God’s care. We do not stage faith. We do not hide games under holy words. We bring real lives to a real Savior. We speak in clear ways. We refuse masks. We want a clean story because God lives among us by His Spirit.

This truth brings healthy fear. Not panic. Reverence. God is near. He watches over His people. He hears what we say. He weighs why we give. He cares about honesty. He protects the church from decay. He wants a house that smells like truth.

This truth frees the conscience. We do not need to pretend. We can confess. We can correct a number. We can change a habit. We can make things right with a person. We can tell the truth and rest. God meets us with mercy, and He trains us in wisdom.

Now look at the passage. Ananias and Sapphira sold land. Peter says something key in verse 4. The land was theirs before the sale. The money was in their control after the sale. No one forced them to give. The problem was the lie. They claimed a full gift while they kept some back. They made a story to look generous. They spoke words that did not match the facts. This is where ownership comes in. If God holds all things, He does not need our show. He asks for truth. He honors simple honesty. Say what you did. Bring what you chose. Keep your word. When we act this way, our gifts become clean. The amount can be small or large. What matters is that heart and hand match. Peter’s words cut through the fog. “It was at your disposal.” Freedom was on the table. Deceit was the choice. And deceit grieves God.

Peter also asks, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?” That line unmasks the deeper scene. This was not just a budget issue. This was warfare over truth. The Holy Spirit was present in the church. He was building a holy people. A lie about money was a lie told in the face of God. It invited dark counsel into the heart. It traded quiet trust for a hidden plan. This is why ownership matters. If all things come from God, then all speech about those things falls under His gaze. To shade the truth about a gift is to shade the truth before Him. The Spirit does not miss it. He is not harsh. He is holy. He loves truth because truth heals people and guards the church. When we feel the pull to shape a story, we can stop and ask for help. We can tell the truth and let God handle our image. That is wisdom. That is safety.

There is another phrase worth seeing. “He kept back for himself.” The word points to a secret stash. It was used of taking what was set apart. It shows more than a math problem. It shows a heart trying to secure itself by control. God had been pouring grace on the church. People were cared for. Needs were met. This couple tried to anchor their standing with a shaped gift and a hidden reserve. Hidden taking harms the whole body. It brings fear. It breeds doubt. It quiets joy. When we remember that God provides, we can release control. We can set numbers with care. We can say them out loud with peace. We can give in truth, or we can keep in truth, and both can honor God when done with integrity. What drains life is the mask.

Peter ends with a hard line. “You have not lied to man but to God.” That sentence tells us who stands in the center. The Spirit is God. The church lives before God. Leaders hear the words, but God weighs them. This gives weight to our speech. It gives weight to our promises. It lifts giving out of a human game. It places it in worship. When we speak to each other, we are speaking in the presence of God. When we bring gifts, we are bringing them to God. That is why honesty is the way. We do not fear people. We honor God. We tell the truth even when eyes are on us. We trust that God sees, knows, and cares. And we find that clear words, clean books, and steady hearts bring life to a church.

The Issue Is Deception Not The Amount

The scene slows down around a simple word: lie ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO