One of the things plaguing the church today is spiritual hypocrisy. People who want to appear spiritual, when in fact they are not. And these people go through great lengths to acquire the illusion of "Spirituality". They hang around the right people at church, they watch their speech among the christians, they even dress to give the impression of holiness. When they go home, all that changes. Out comes the worldly music, their speech goes along with the world, and their clothes are out of some fashion magazine that would make Paul blush!
What does God think of this spiritual hypocrisy?
Acts 5:1-2- But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
So, this man and his wife sold some property. Then, to appear spiritual, they told the apostles that they were giving all that they had made to the church. Boy, they looked spiritual!
But they didn't intend on anyone knowing what they were doing. God knew. God always knows.
Acts 5:3-4- 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? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
This whole time they wanted to illusion to make them appear spiritual. But the real illusion was that they could hide what they were doing from God. God sees all! And he was going to use them as an example.
Acts 5:5- And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
This all happened while the wife was elsewhere. You know, God doesn't pull punches. She was in on the deceit and so she's in on the judgement. She comes in and tries to act all spiritual!
Acts 5:7-8- And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Do you ever notice that even though God knows the answer He still asks? I believe that's to give us time to confess and forsake! He asked Adam and Eve if they'd eaten the fruit. He asked Cain where Abel was. He gives us ample opportunity to make things right! But the spiritual hypocrite will always lie or blame to keep up the appearance, because that's what important to them- not true holiness, but the illusion of holiness. Guess what?
Acts 5:9-10- Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
These people lost thier lives because they wanted to look spiritual. What are the consequences today?
Malachi 3:6- For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
We seem to think that because thousands of years have passed and the world has changed so much that God must have changed, too. We are mistaken! God never changes. The same 10 commandments He gave Moses are the same laws He expects us to try to obey (not for salvation, for reputation and continued fellowship). All through the New Testament, Paul says not to steal, not to kill, not to covet, don't commit fornication or adultery, etc.
Numbers 14:18- The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Did you realize that your kids learn from you? When you sin, they learn to sin! When you deceive, they learn to deceive! They know if you're truly spiritual. You may be able to fool the pastor, but you can't fool your kids! And the consequences of being a spiritual hypocrite are the broken hearts of many parents.
I Corinthians 15:33- Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Galatians 6:7- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
