By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi

The early Church did not grow by majoring on speaking in tongues, which many believers focus on today. Growth came, rather, through the presence and the prominence of the Holy Ghost in the lives of the apostles. Peter had the gift of revelation. Therefore, he could detect that Satan had filled Ananias’ heart “to lie to the Holy Ghost.” After the death of Ananias and Sapphira, there was no complaint from their relatives or friends; neither was there murmuring, accusation or argument from the other apostles because they recognised that Peter was empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Moreover, although it was the first instance of such manifestation of the Holy Ghost, nobody attempted to challenge Peter. The Church was under a great revival fire and freshness of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, the people were submissive to the acts of the Spirit. Leadership becomes very effective when it is done by the Spirit and the leaders are rooted in the scripture. If those who counsel, teach, instruct and lead others have the gift of revelation, the work will become easier and better; the church will become purer and members will become more conscious of God’s presence.

Ananias and Sapphira reached an agreement to sell a possession and bring only “a certain part (of the money), and laid it at the apostle’s feet.” Giving only part of the proceeds was not the problem. It was the decision to present it as the total proceeds of the transaction, in order to be applauded. This kind of giving is deceptive and, therefore, sinful before God. The Lord Jesus Christ commands us to avoid giving in a manner that is intended to attract attention. When we give alms, it should be done privately as to the Lord. In addition, ministers of God should not doubt their gift of revelation or be cowered by audacious liars who forcefully deny it even when confronted with the truth.

Ananias did not realise that Peter was a man indwelt by the Holy Spirit, for then, he would have known that he had “not lied unto men, but unto God.”

Today, we do not demonstrate love through communal distribution, by selling our property, because it is not a doctrine. It was a temporary practice located in Jerusalem, which was not exported to Judea, Samaria or even Antioch and other parts of the world, where the gospel was taken. Besides, the Church did not continue with the practice in Jerusalem in the process of time. Rather, believers in other territories sent relief to Jerusalem, particularly during the period of global famine.

The reason for the obsolete practice was because many people came from the Jewish diaspora for the feast of Pentecost. They did not prepare to stay in Jerusalem. However, as God poured out the Holy Ghost on the believers during that feast, many of the visitors received the Lord and decided to stay in Jerusalem. “And all that believed were together, and had all things common.” Maintaining them became the need of the hour for the early church. It thus, birthed the distribution method of selling “their possessions and goods, and (parting) them to all men, as every man had need.” God does not say we cannot enjoy what we have; but the charge to us is to give voluntarily and cheerfully, as the Spirit leads.

Ananias and Sapphira, in a hollow and subtle act, sought to emulate other generous disciples like Barnabas, just for the show of it, and to attract the Apostles special recognition. The people who do such things today, follow the footsteps of the Pharisees, who “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” Our evangelism, prayers, alms giving, and the things we do to make the lives of other people better, should be out of love from the depth of our hearts, without expecting praise from men.

When the Spirit of God abides in us, He acts as a lie-detector. He does not go to sleep or need any physical demonstration to wake up. If the Spirit of God is resident and alive in you, He will reveal to you, the secrets in the hearts of men. When Gehazi lied about the things he took from Naaman the Syrian, Prophet Elisha, his master, exposed him through the gift of revelation. There are nine gifts of the Spirit, which include the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom and the discernment of spirits, among others. These combine to help apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to edify the body of Christ.

• Further reading (King James Version): Acts 5:3,4,8,9,11-14. Acts 5:1-4. Acts 4:32-37; 2:44-46; 1 Timothy 6:17-19. Acts 5:1,2; John 12:43; Matthew 23:5,6. Acts 5:3,4; 2 Kings 5:20-27; Luke 16:15. Acts 5:3,4,8,9. Acts 5:5,6; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Revelation 22:11-15.

Acts 5:3,8,9; Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:11-15. Colossians 3:9; Revelation 21:8,27; 22:15. 2Timothy 3:14-17. Acts 5:3,9; Psalm 50:18,19,22; Proverbs 19:5,9. Romans 16:3-5; 1 Corinthians 16:15-19; 2 Timothy 1:16-18.Acts 5:11-14; Ephesians 4:11-13; John 17:21-23.