Pastor W.F. Kumuyi continues his series on yielding to the leading of the Spirit, focusing on the dangers of lying and people-pleasing. He emphasizes that those who develop a habit of lying enslave themselves and erode their greatness before God and humanity. Truthfulness, he asserts, must be maintained at all times.
The Peril of Lies
Kumuyi recalls a biblical account where a young man falsely claimed to have killed King Saul, expecting a reward. Instead, his lie led to his death, as taking credit for killing the anointed king was treason. Similarly, Ananias fell dead after hearing Peter's words, his plan for a great life abruptly ending. While modern liars may not die instantly, their souls are separated from God, a spiritual death akin to Adam and Eve's. Without repentance, there is no transformation or eternal life after death.
The Sin of People-Pleasing
The pastor warns against seeking the praise of men, as seen in Sapphira's case. People-pleasers often ignore the fate of their sin partners, thinking liars will continue to enjoy privileges. Such unity in deception jeopardizes one's standing before God. The devil exploits the desire for recognition, leading to eternal suffering. Believers must reject pretense, lying, and deception, obeying the command to not lie to one another. Silence can also be a form of lying.
Root Causes of Lying
Lies stem from fear, unbelief, and dissatisfaction with one's circumstances. Such individuals live outside God's kingdom. Kumuyi urges believers to continue in what they have learned, becoming perfect and thoroughly furnished for good works. This influences others to turn to the Lord and secures the assurance of heaven.
Unity in Truth, Not Deception
Ananias and Sapphira were united under Satan and faced punishment. Those who follow their path and speak lies will not escape. While unity at home is good, it must align with scripture. Couples should emulate Aquila and Priscilla, whose lives were conditioned by biblical requirements. Parents must not endorse unscriptural decisions of their children, as supporting evil cannot lead to heaven.
The Early Church Example
If the apostles had challenged Peter during the Ananias and Sapphira incident, God's power would have ceased in the early church. Their unity in the Spirit, devoid of self-centeredness, is instructive for churches today. Following this example leads to revival, genuine soul-saving, sanctification, and filling with the Holy Ghost.
Further reading: Acts 5:3-4, 8-9, 11-14; Acts 5:1-4; Acts 4:32-37; 2:44-46; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; John 12:43; Matthew 23:5-6; 2 Kings 5:20-27; Luke 16:15; Acts 5:5-6; Ecclesiastes 11:3; Revelation 22:11-15; Ephesians 4:27; 2 Corinthians 2:11-15; Colossians 3:9; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15; 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 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.
