SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025

The Deadly Danger of Deception and the Holiness of the Church

MESSAGE: HYPOCRISY OF ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA

The early New Testament church, born out of the mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, experienced unprecedented growth and profound unity. This revival was characterized by an unquenchable thirst for God and a radical willingness to share. “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common” (Acts 4:32). Believers sold lands, houses, and possessions, and “laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 4:35).

This incredible atmosphere of love and communal giving became the backdrop for one of the most sobering and severe acts of divine judgment recorded in the New Testament—the hypocrisy and death of Ananias and Sapphira. Their story stands as an eternal warning: God delights not only in our giving but also, and more importantly, in the manner and motive with which we give.

The core of their sin, captured in our MEMORY VERSE, was deceit aimed at God: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” (Acts 5:3).

1. The Context of Giving: The Youth’s Offering to God

The early church’s giving was voluntary and sacrificial. It was a reflection of their perfect bond and unity. For Christian youths today, this principle of sacrificial giving remains vital.

Question 1: What can Christian youths give to the Lord?

As Christian youths, we are expected to give our time, talents, and treasures to the Lord. Nothing should be too much to dedicate to Him.

Time: Give your best hours to study the Word, pray, and serve.
Talents: Offer your skills—creativity, technology, leadership—to the work of the Kingdom.
Treasures: Share what you have with other believers wisely, especially giving to the less privileged and those in genuine need.

Youths should also be involved in the welfare programs of the church and ensure that their giving is from a pure heart, in a godly way, and at the right time. The tragedy of Ananias and Sapphira was not that they gave too little, but that they decided to give in a hypocritical manner, motivated by a desire for public praise without the corresponding spiritual integrity. Due to the wrong motive in their giving, the judgment of God came upon them instead of blessings.

This reminds us of the eternal law of spiritual consequence: “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8).

2. The Deception of Ananias and Sapphira

The deception of this couple was clearly modeled on another believer’s generosity. Barnabas had just given the full proceeds from the sale of his land, earning great respect. Ananias and Sapphira wanted the same reputation without the true sacrifice.

“But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession” (Acts 5:1). They brought only a part of the money, yet presented the offering as if it was the full proceeds.

Modern Youth Deception

Some youths today are sadly like Ananias and Sapphira, leading lives of double standards and hypocrisy:

Secret Sins: Engaging in ungodly acts outside the watch of their parents, teachers, and pastors (Romans 1:29-32).

Double Standards: Having separate standards for dressing, music, and friendships—a holy face for the church and a worldly persona outside.

Active Lies: Saving sin partners with innocent names, cheating in the exam hall but sharing testimonies of “success by hard work,” or swearing falsely to parents or church committees.

They are lured by the fleeting, forbidden pleasure described in Proverbs: “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell” (Proverbs 9:17-18).

Question 2: What should be the response of Christian youths today to deception?

Christian youths must reject deception instantly, remembering that God’s knowledge is absolute: “Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed” (1 Samuel 2:3). Our every action is weighed in the scales of divine justice.

Question 3: Mention some Bible characters that practiced deception.

The Scriptures are replete with individuals who practiced deception and suffered for it:

Gehazi thought to deceive Elisha for personal gain (2 Kings 5:25).
The sons of Jacob deceived their father with Joseph’s blood-stained coat (Genesis 37:31-32).
Ammon deceived his father to defile his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:6).

Youths must know that God frowns at deception because it is an act of spiritual treason against His truth and holiness.

3. God’s Omniscience and the Discovery of Deception

Ananias and Sapphira were attempting to deceive the entire church leadership, but their deeper sin was against the third person of the Trinity.

Peter’s powerful question exposed the true nature of their sin: “But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost… Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God“ (Acts 5:3-4).

The Holy Ghost revealed the deception to Peter, exposing the evil partnership between husband and wife. This confirms that God is a revealer of secrets (Daniel 2:19-23).

God Sees All: The Scriptures assure us, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13). He is Omnipresent and Omniscient (Psalm 139:1-12).

God Knows the Heart: He looks from heaven and beholds all sons of men (Psalm 33:13). He “searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

Since there is nothing hidden from God, youths are warned to desist from any sin or evil which will surely be counted against them on the day of judgment (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

4. Divine Discipline and the Dangers of Deception

The discipline upon Ananias and Sapphira was swift, severe, and immediate. “And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things” (Acts 5:5). His wife, Sapphira, suffered the same fate. They were both judged for their sin of disobedience and hypocrisy.

This displays the perfect justice of a Holy God who “is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Habakkuk 1:13). Youths should know that God still judges.

Question 4: What are the dangers of deception?

The immediate, devastating consequences reveal several critical lessons regarding the dangers of deception:

Deception Spreads: If they had been successful, many more people would have been involved in deceptive presentation, undermining the spiritual integrity of the church. Sin of deception is like cancer; it spreads to the other members of the fellowship.

Leadership Sin is Leading Sin: Ananias was a leader of his home. A leader’s sin is a leading sin. His act of deception, supported by his wife, led to their joint destruction.

God Demands Purity in Motive: God must not only be pleased with our visible actions, but also with the secret activities. Youths should be careful of getting involved in things not acceptable to God, whether public or private.

Sin Grieves the Holy Spirit: Their ultimate sin was against the Holy Spirit. Youths should flee from things that would make them grieve the Holy Spirit. Purity of heart is very important to ensuring the right type of continual fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Reputation Over Integrity: They should have simply told Peter they were giving only a part of the proceeds, which was their right (“was it not thine own?”). Instead, they tried to gain the reputation of Barnabas without the corresponding integrity, incurring God’s wrath.

The result of this divine discipline was profound: “great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things” (Acts 5:11). The fear of God ensured the church remained intact and committed to continuing faithfully with the Lord.

5. The Way of Escape: Repentance and Conversion

The severe judgment on Ananias and Sapphira serves as a stark warning, but it is also a call to salvation.

Question 5: What should sinning youths do to escape the judgement of God?

A great day of judgment is coming for those who remain in sins (Revelation 21:8). The only way of escape from God’s wrath is repentance and coming into the saving knowledge of Christ.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Sinning youths can and must:

Acknowledge their sinful state.
Accept the offer of Jesus as their Savior and personal Lord.
Repent of their sins—meaning to turn away from them completely.
Yield their lives fully to the Lord.

For saved youths, the instruction is to continue in the Lord, ensuring that every action is motivated by purity and every word is marked by truth. Let the lesson of Ananias and Sapphira inspire you to live a life of uncompromising integrity.