“But a certain man named Ananias with his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property. And with his wife’s knowledge and connivance he kept back and wrongfully appropriated some of the proceeds, bringing only a part and putting it at the feet of the apostles. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart that you should lie to and attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit, and should [in violation of your promise] withdraw secretly and appropriate to your own use part of the price from the sale of the land? As long as it remained unsold, was it not still your own? And [even] after it was sold, was not [the money] at your disposal and under your control? Why then, is it that you have proposed and purposed in your heart to do this thing? [How could you have the heart to do such a deed?] You have not [simply] lied to men [playing false and showing yourself utterly deceitful] but to God” (Ac 5:1-4; AMP)

‘Satan’ is one of the devil’s names; it means the accuser, the enemy of God and man. He was the designer of this evil plan. It was an occult conspiracy to which husband and wife fully agreed. It is exactly the way a secret cult functions. Ananias and his wife chose to enroll in the army of the devil. They came as spies in the camp of God. They knew it was a dangerous mission. If they are exposed as the enemy’s agents, they can die. But they trusted the devil that he was ready to lead, sponsor and reward. Satan knew that the true believers were still young and spiritual warfare was not yet their major ministry. The strategy was to install a stronghold of lies, deception and religious hypocrisy in the middle of the young church. This occult structure will become a permanent fixture there. At the beginning, some brethren may raise some questions about the spiritual qualities of their leaders. But the devil hoped that the majority will take his agents for granted. With time, the believers will accept this stronghold of lies. They will learn to tolerate it, assuming it is normal to have such a bitter root amongst them. That was the plan. The devil was confident that the plan will work. Ananias and Sapphira were ready for action. Who can discover the truth?

They brought the money to the apostles’ feet, just the way they saw Brother Barnabas doing it. They waited for a compliment from Peter or at least the cry of ‘Praise the Lord’ from the congregation. But suddenly, Peter asked Ananias: ‘Why did you conceive this thing in your heart? You lied to God and not to men!’

The word ‘conceive’ in Hebrew means to lie down in a passive position ready to fulfill the purpose to be pregnant. In other words, Peter confronted him with this prophetic word: ‘Ananias, you accepted the proposal and the purpose of the devil to become his agent…you are heavily impregnated with his lies and wickedness! You are a danger to the church!’ Ananias was a bomb ready to explode. Before it could destroy the church, Peter defused its power. Only the Holy Spirit could have known!

In Christ I declare:

I trust the Holy Spirit to lead me into the whole truth!

I lean not on my own understanding!

I acknowledge God in all things!

God shall direct my path!

I am a child of God!

I am filled with the Holy Spirit!

The devil has nothing in me!

In Jesus name

Amen!