Peter speaks to Ananias about lying to the Holy Spirit.

Acts 5:3-6

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“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

In the post on Acts 5:1-2. Ananias promised to sell his land for the purpose of donating the money to the members of the way of Jesus Christ. However, he lied about how much he sold his land for and kept part of the money for himself.

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 oppose 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 to be 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,’ will 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, that 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.

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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