Guard Your Heart: Why Motives Matter

We have many hidden motives, but our outward actions speak a different tone to what’s in our heart. For example, someone may donate publicly to appear generous, but in their heart, the intent may be to gain praise—not to honour God.

When you read Acts 5, we read about Ananias and Sapphira, there is a great deal of things we can learn from their life and incidents that surrounded them.

Who was Ananias and Sapphira ?

[Acts 5:1-2 NIV] 1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.

• Ananias and Sapphira were a married couple who were part of the early church community. As the church grew, a strong spirit of unity and generosity filled the believers.  [Acts 4:32 NIV] 32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

• Moved by this spirit, many believers sold their properties and brought the proceeds to the apostles to support those in need. Ananias and Sapphira appeared to do the same we read that in [Acts 5:1-2 NIV]

• On the surface, it seemed like they had made a generous offering. But there were two serious issues with their action that displeased God and led to their sudden deaths:

  • 1. They acted hypocritically, seeking to appear righteous while hiding their true intentions.

  • 2. They lied to the Holy Spirit by pretending they had given the full amount.

Hypocrisy – The First Sin Judged in the Church

• The first sin judged in the apostle was hypocrisy (Ananias and Sapphira) - Acts 5:1-11

• They wanted to show they have given but held back some

• When there is hypocrisy there will be spiritual blindness - We cannot grow in Spiritually.

• Hypocrisy impedes us to grow spiritually, it’s a weed in our spiritual life - 1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. '

• God knows our every thought and actions, we may not be able to escape each of that in front of his judgement. We need  to get rid of hypocrisy as Peter says 1 Peter 2:1 rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind

The Lying Spirit – A Work of Satan

• Lying spirit originates from Satan as John 8:44, he is the father of lies [John 8:44 NIV] 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

• Whereas in Jesus there isn’t any falsehood. He is completely pure and truthful. When Peter confronted Ananias, he revealed the true source of the deception: [Acts 5:3 NIV] 3 Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?

  Full Truth vs Partial Truth: The Subtle Deception

• In the early church, believers shared everything they had. As an act of unity and love, they sold their possessions and brought the entire amount to the apostles for distribution to those in need.

• [Acts 4:34-37 NIV] 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means "son of encouragement"), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.

• Ananias and Sapphira also sold property—but unlike others, they held back a portion while claiming to have given the full amount. They presented part (z = x – y) as if it were the whole (x). This was not just a minor slip—it was a deliberate lie to the Holy Spirit.

• Lying to the Holy Spirit is a grave sin. Satan often deceives believers by minimizing partial dishonesty. He whispers, “It’s not really a lie—you still gave something.” But in God’s kingdom, truth is not measured in percentages. There is no such thing as 80% truth with the Holy Spirit. A half-truth is a whole lie.

• This subtle distortion was how Satan deceived Eve—by twisting God’s command. It’s a common tactic he still uses today.

  Biblical Parallel: King Saul’s Partial Obedience (Similar experience)

• We see this same pattern of partial obedience disguised as full obedience in the life of King Saul.

• God’s instruction to Saul was clear: [1 Samuel 15:3 NIV] 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.' "

• Yet Saul spared King Agag and kept the best animals: [1 Samuel 15:9 NIV] 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs--everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

• When confronted, Saul defended himself: [1 Samuel 15:20 NIV] 20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king.

• He presented partial obedience as full, just like Ananias and Sapphira. But God saw through it. The result? 1 Samuel 15:23 NIV] 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

God’s judgment

• Lying to Holy Spirit is equivalent of Divination & idolatry -  [1 Samuel 15:23 NIV] 23  like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

• It’s like disobedience to God’s spirit and doing your will, Satan did that and he was thrown out from heaven

  • “Rebellion is like the sin of divination”

    • Rebellion (Hebrew: meri) = Refusing to submit to God’s authority.

    • Divination (Hebrew: qesem) = Occult practices like sorcery, witchcraft, or attempting to predict the future outside God’s will

  • “Arrogance is like the evil of idolatry”

    • Arrogance (also translated as stubbornness or presumption) means thinking your way is better than God’s.

    • Idolatry is worshiping anything other than God—placing something or someone above Him.

• Under the law of Moses - Leviticus 19:26 & Leviticus 20:27 Death was the punishment

  • [Leviticus 19:26 NIV] 26 " 'Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it. " 'Do not practice divination or seek omens.

  • [Leviticus 20:27 NIV] 27 " 'A man or woman who is a medium or spiritist among you must be put to death. You are to stone them; their blood will be on their own heads.'

• "Ananias and Sapphira were put to death based on this sin. Judgement was instant.

Lessons to learn from Ananias and Sapphira

a. Sincerity of Heart

• God desires honesty and openness. He wants us to be sincere to him.

• He is our father, who understands our weakness and can empathise with us.

• It’s better to confess our weaknesses and ask for help than to fake righteousness. Its ok to say, God I am unable to love someone or I am not able to do this.He values them more than being a fake.. [Jeremiah 17:10 NIV] 10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."

• Insincerity gives Satan a foothold in our hearts and destroys all the good things that God is planning to do in our lives.

b. The Motives of Our Heart Matter

• The Holy Spirit doesn’t just look at actions, but the heart behind them. [1 Samuel 16:7 NIV] 7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

c. Spiritual Sensitivity – A Conscience That Convicts

• A heart walking with God becomes conscience-stricken when sin enters.

• We read David felt guilt for just cutting Saul’s robe  [1 Samuel 24:5 NIV] 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

·       When the apostles preached and the people heard the message People were “cut to the heart” in     [Acts 2:37 NIV] 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

• Ananias and Sapphira were numb, showing no conviction—making way for greater sin.

d. Holy Reverence for God

• Their immediate deaths sparked holy fear among the early church. [Acts 5:5,10–11] – “Great fear seized all who heard…”

• Reverence is lacking in many churches today, where numbers or popularity often take priority over holiness.

• Without reverence, we quench the fire of the Holy Spirit:

  • [2 Corinthians 2:15-17 NIV] 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

  • [2 Corinthians 3:6 NIV] 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

• The revenant fear comes when we see God and his judgement and fear his judgment.  [2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NIV] 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

e. Daily Spiritual Cleansing

• The early church had daily prayer and communion—fleshly sin still crept in when they were having a prayer and spirit led life

• We live in spiritually dark times (like Sodom and Gomorrah), the end times are near. Daily washing in the Word and Spirit is essential to keep us protected from this kind of sins.

• How do we cleanse ourselves ?

  • Cleanse our Body as advised in  [Romans 12:1-2 NIV] 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

  • Renew the mind to protect us from the evil things -[Philippians 4:7-9 NIV] 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

f. Praying for Spiritual Discernment

• Satan often works through relationships, he wants a partner in Crime we see in Ananias and Sapphiraagreed together in deception, Same was the case with Adam and Eve.

• Pray for discernment, so that we’re not trapped to the other partner to fall in to this sin. [Philippians 1:9-11 NIV] 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.