Imagine Being Known As A Hypocrite!

[0:00] The 8th of May. Imagine being known as a hypocrite. Acts 5.3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit?

[0:13] You're a hypocrite. If someone said that to you, I'm sure you would be hurt, especially if they were referring to something you said or did about your faith in Jesus Christ.

[0:24] A hypocrite is someone who tries to deceive people into thinking they are better than they really are. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, were like that, trying to make other members of their congregation think they were more generous than they really were.

[0:41] They were hypocrites. Peter obviously discovered their hypocrisy and he took it very seriously indeed. He saw it as the work of Satan in the hearts of Ananias and his wife.

[0:54] and saw their hypocrisy as lying against the Holy Spirit. God is the God of truth. He hates lies and Peter knew that if such hypocrisy were to be tolerated, then the church would be shown to be unfaithful to God and to Christ, to the truth itself.

[1:13] Both Ananias and Sapphira paid an awful price for their hypocrisy. It was a dire warning that deliberate sin must not be tolerated among the people who claim to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[1:28] Sadly, these two people are forever known as hypocrites. If they had confessed their sin and sought forgiveness, it would have been so different for them. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

[1:41] And a prayer. Dear Lord, take away any hypocrisy from my heart and life. For Jesus' sake. Amen.