You Two? Again?

"But Peter said, 'Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land?'" (Acts 5:3)

Well, just when I thought everything was cool and copasetic, there it goes... the resurfacing of the Ananias and Sapphira problem. Is anyone besides me wondering why the Holy Spirit keeps mentioning this from the pulpit of Bronx Bethany?

Friends, let's heed the warning. God really does not like it when we present a partial gift as if it's the whole gift. And this goes way beyond money. Remember Psalm 50? "What right do you have to speak my laws and declare my covenant, seeing that you hate My instruction and cast My words behind you?" (paraphrase of Psalm 50:16-17).

Pastor Sam reminded us of the responsibility we have when offering our gifts to God: whatever we present to God must be flawless, first-class, not fraudulent, and not free. When we consider the price that Jesus paid on our behalf, how can we offer less than our best? How dare we offer God leftovers? What would cause us to do something so foolish as to lie to the living God? How could we offer Him a "gift" we didn't even pay for? Is that the way we say "I love You, Lord"?

Ananias and Sapphira. Participants in the ministry, but unfortunately they were a couple in leadership with a big problem: in their zeal to retrofit themselves into the move of God, they pretended that they were on board with God's program. But the Holy Spirit knew their hearts. And, in the space of about three hours, God publicly dealt with a man, and his wife, who conspired to look good in the eyes of men.

You know, this past Sunday is not the first time that the Lord has given a prophetic warning that specifically referred to those of us in Bronx Bethany who are involved in music ministry. It seems that, for a long time, music ministry at Bronx Bethany has been a paradox, an "overt cover"...a hiding place for some who are not on board with God's agenda, are not obedient to His commands, but who seem more than happy to sing His praises. If that's you, sweetie, mark my words: "mene, mene, tekel"- your days are numbered, you are weighed and found lacking in substance. Watch out... when worship is used to cover treachery, judgement is inevitable. I, and others, are fervently praying that you will repent and turn, completely, to the Lord.

Confession.
Repentance.
Obedience.
Time is running out.