Marriages formed to conspire against the Holy Spirit

Acts 4:36 through 5:11

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• Honorable follower of Jesus Christ sold his land and gave it to the Apostles for the body of Christ.
• Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold their land but fraudulently held back part of the proceeds.
• Peter speaks to Ananias about lying to the Holy Spirit.
• Peter speaks to Sapphira about conspiring with her husband to lie to the Holy Spirit.
• Apostles highly esteemed in Christ, many healed from all over, and the family of Jesus Christ grows.

Honorable follower of Jesus Christ sold his land and gave it to the Apostles for the body of Christ.
“And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 4:36-37

The followers of Jesus Christ left the Jewish culture, their families, and previous way of life that was rooted in the laws of Judaism. This made them very dependent on one another, and many sold their land and homes and gave the proceeds to provide for the multitudes of the Way of Christ, as described in the previous post on Acts 4:32-35. Barnabas was one such person and was the same Barnabas that joined Paul on his missionary journeys to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as described in the post on Acts 13:4-5. [Paul came to Jesus Christ in Acts 9, and his missionary journeys began in Acts 13]. Barnabas sold the land he owned and brought 100% of the money to the Apostles, to be distributed to provide for the necessities of the multiple thousands who gathered in the name of Jesus Christ.

The amount of the proceeds that Barnabas brought to the Apostles was not important, but that from the Holy Spirit within him he wanted to help provide for the necessities of fellow Christians. As Christians today, we do not have much to give to others, if anything at all, but the Holy Spirit within us still wants to contribute to fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Those contributions can be in words of encouragement, blogs, social posts, sharing insights from the word of God, and being a help in whatever way we can. Stephen waited on tables, a humble waiter, as described in Acts 6:1-7 and Peter didn’t have a penny to his name, as quoted, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Acts 3:6

“But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:7-11

“Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.” Proverbs 10:12

Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold their land but fraudulently held back part of the proceeds.
“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.” Acts 5:1-2

Ananias and his wife conspired to withhold part of the proceeds from selling a plot of land. The proceeds were to be used to provide necessities for the multitudes living for Jesus Christ. This is not about the money but about integrity in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today, marriages/partnerships are brought together when they share in common living for the beast that gives them what to speak, do, think, and feel. In those partnerships, they jointly hold back their support for God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. As a team, they oppose living in the presence of the Holy Spirit, oppose belief in God, and oppose the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ. Today, marriages/partnerships are designed to contribute to and strengthen “family” values of the atheistic community culture.

People who make contributions to charitable causes but defies the presence of the Holy Spirit like to feel good about themselves for contributing as “upstanding” members of the community. They cherish positive social feedback more than they do living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. They have a form of Godliness but deny Jesus Christ as they are filled with many good works and service, “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5. The Holy Spirit speaks these words to these “well-meaning” people, “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants…Now to you I say, and to the rest…as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come.” Revelations 2:19-20, 24-25

Keeping back part of the proceeds is like someone promising to donate 100% of the proceeds of a sell. However, they say they sold the item for $100.00 but actually sold it for $300.00, so they donate $100.00 and keep the other $200.00 for themselves. In other words, they lied to the charitable organization to make themselves look like an upstanding philanthropist while enriching themselves financially. This is what Ananias and Sapphira conspired to do against the Holy Spirit.

Click here for a post on the “Bear with three ribs dangling from mouth” from Daniel 7:5.

Peter speaks to Ananias about lying to the Holy Spirit.
“But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?” Acts 5:3

Peter was confronting Ananias for allowing Satan to influence his thoughts and feelings to value money over the presence of the Holy Spirit. Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit to enrich himself. Today, those of today’s culture choose to lie to the Holy Spirit in order to have the gains, comforts, and pleasures provided by this world. To lie to the Holy Spirit is to disregard the Spirit of Christ in order to benefit self in some way. People are doing that by choosing to live by the beast that opposes the presence of the Holy Spirit to give them what to feel, think, speak, and do. In return, they receive social approval and material gains through various channels. They oppose belief in God, oppose the need for the forgiveness of unbelief through Jesus Christ, and opposes the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Charitable deeds done by the atheistic culture holds back contributions made in the presence of the Holy Spirit. They give in such a way that is by the “letter of the law” which kills the Spirit. In other words, they will give to community approved organizations but will not give in the Spirit of Jesus Christ from compassion on a personalized level. Most of the giving done today is through a collective community effort, through tax funded programs, government sponsored housing programs, government funded food programs, etc. They are holding back proceeds in the presence of the Holy Spirit to enrich the community agenda of being the source of every person’s needs. They reject the need for God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

To lie to the Holy Spirit is to lie about our need for Jesus Christ and is lying about God our Creator. It is not possible to partly believe in God, to partly live for Jesus Christ, nor partly embrace the Holy Spirit. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23

In today’s culture, which is global, the social and economic needs of a person is more important than the need of the spirit and soul. The massive contributions of community, state, national, and global subsidies amounts to nothing in the eyes of God. What matters to God is how much we contribute within the presence of the Holy Spirit, from compassion, goodwill, love, kindness, joy, goodness, and gentleness. This is the “widows might” that our Lord Jesus speaks of, “And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.” Luke 21:1-4

“While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Acts 5:4

Peter made it clear that it wasn’t about the money, it’s the fact that Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit.

Peter explained to Ananias that the land was his to do with whatever he wanted and so was the money he made from selling it. There was no reason whatsoever for Ananias to lie about how much he sold the land for and how much he was able to contribute to the followers of Jesus Christ. There was something dark within the heart of Ananias, where the light of Jesus Christ was not shining. That is the place where the Holy Spirit was defrauded. For some reason, he felt it was necessary to lie about how much he could contribute in order to enrich himself with the money he didn’t contribute. Apparently, he wanted to make himself look charitable and favorable to those in need while enriching himself financially. This is similar to Judas who betrayed our Lord Jesus with a kiss.

“Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him” Acts 5:5-6

Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit in order to enrich himself, and the result was literal death. There is no escaping the consequences of lying to the Holy Spirit, this is the Spirit within us. Either we embrace that Life within us or we reject Him. Rejecting Him results in spiritual death, death to realizing our need for Jesus Christ, and death to belief in God our Creator. This is the result of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, “Therefore, I say to you, any sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” Matthew 12:31 The sin against the Holy Spirit is written within our spirit, mind, and soul, something that cannot be hidden or covered up, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 “…be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Those who lie to the Holy Spirit, who blaspheme Him, are buried beneath their sin, and will be buried among the dead in eternal hell.

Peter speaks to Sapphira about conspiring with her husband to lie to the Holy Spirit.
“Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.” Acts 5:7

Sapphira, the wife of Ananias, had no idea that Ananias had died three hours earlier. Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit about the amount of proceeds he received from selling their land as he and his wife kept back some of the financial gains for themselves. He fell dead after lying to the Holy Spirit. As a team, Sapphira and Ananias lied and said 100% of the proceeds were given to provide for the necessities of the followers of Jesus Christ, as described in the second section of this post.

“And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Acts 5:8

Peter asked Sapphira if she had sold the land for the price that Ananias said he sold it for. Sapphira said “Yes”, and immediately Peter knew that she and her husband had conspired together on what price they would say they sold the land for. The purpose Ananias and Sapphira conspired to lie about the amount of proceeds received was to be able to enrich themselves financially by keeping some of the proceeds for themselves. In other words, the husband-and-wife team conspired against the Holy Spirit and defrauded the Spirit of Jesus Christ in order to gain worldly riches.

“Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Acts 5:9

Marriages/partnerships of today are designed to bolster today’s culture, which is global. Their common bond is unbelief in God, their rejection of Jesus Christ who forgives unbelief, and their opposition to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Today’s culture governs and lives for the beast that gives them what to feel, think, speak, and do. This entity gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people as they are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do. The beast that has power over physiology does not want anything to be said, done, thought, or felt that contributes a penny to Jesus Christ, God, or the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit says to them, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

“Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” Acts 5:10-11

The populations of cities across the globe live for the beast, conspire against the Holy Spirit, and have fallen away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They have fallen down dead, died to the Holy Spirit. Click here for a post on the “Global Falling Away” from 2 Thessalonians 2. The Holy Spirit restrains lawlessness so when people die to Him lawlessness is unleashed, as described by clicking the link in the previous sentence. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

Apostles highly esteemed in Christ, many healed from all over, and the family of Jesus Christ grows.
“And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.” Acts 5:12-13

Through the Apostles, the Spirit of God did many signs and wonders among the people, which would be miracles that brought the people to believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God. And brought the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All of the Believers were in one accord on Solomon’s Porch. A picture of Solomon’s Porch is seen below.

Solomon’s Porch was part of the temple structure during the days of Jesus, before it was destroyed in 70A.D. under the rule of Roman Emperor Titus. From what I could gather from the pictures of the temple, at the back of the Bible, Solomon’s Porch, also known as the Royal Porch, Royal Portico, Hall of Pillars, or Royal Colonnade, is as seen in the image on the right. Solomon’s Porch would be the structure with the brown roof. If someone was standing in the Kidron Valley, looking towards the temple, Solomon’s Porch is what would have been seen. The image to the left is what Solomon’s Porch would have looked like from the inside, or from under the roof. That area would have been able to accommodate many people.

“None of the rest dared joined them” refers to the rest who were like Ananias and his wife Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit and were struck dead, as described in the posts on Acts 5:1-11. Everyone else gave respect to the Apostles as ministers of the message of God, with words of forgiveness and Salvation, through whom the Holy Spirit came to the people, in the name of Jesus Christ.

“And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.” Acts 5:14-16

The only way Believers can be added to the Lord is by being receptive to the Holy Spirit, “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:3 Upon hearing the Good News from the Apostles, they believed in God through Jesus Christ, and rejoiced in not having to serve God through the laws of Judaism. Christianity involved men and women very much more than the customs of the Jewish culture rooted in Judaism.

Many people said “Yes” to Jesus Christ and brought the sick onto the streets of Jerusalem. They were hoping that as Peter passed by, just his shadow touching the sick would bring healing. Faith is what healed the sick, not Peter’s shadow. They knew Peter had the power of the Spirit of God working through him in the name of Jesus Christ, and they glorified the God of Peter and gave their life to the way of Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8 People had faith for a healing and returned home as Believers in Jesus Christ not as healers.

Also, upon hearing about the Apostles ability to heal, in the name of Jesus Christ, a multitude came from the surrounding cities of Jerusalem seeking healing. They were seeking healing from sickness and those with unclean spirits. They came to the Apostles as people with the Spirit of God working through them in the name of Jesus Christ. They were all healed. Healings brought people to the Apostles where they would hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and returned home as Believers not healers. People were healed and became Believers in God through the Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ not through the written laws of Judaism.

In today’s culture, there is a beast with power over every cell of physiology and is able to perform physical healings. This is the same beast that gives people what to speak, think, feel, and do. The one miracle this beast cannot do is to give live to belief in God, to enliven faith in Jesus Christ, and to give the Holy Spirit. As followers of Jesus Christ, we turn away from physical healings that do not add to the family of Jesus Christ. Our faith is not in healings but is in our Lord Jesus for the Salvation of the soul. The entity with power over physiology gives life to the image of the beast to speak and live through people. They are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they are given to say and do.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11