14/03/2015 - A HEART FILLED WITH THE DEVIL

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But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? Acts 5.3

Man’s heart – his spirit – was created to be inhabited by God. When a person is converted, he is purified of his sins, and when he is baptized in the Waters, he sees his old nature (the old man) being buried, and the Father fills him with the Holy Spirit. However, some people, though the Lord made a great work for them, fall into temptations, and after sinning and not repenting for some time, their spirit becomes filled with Satan.

Ananias is one of these examples. He lived in the days when the Lord was building up His church. He had the opportunity of seeing Peter, as well as the other apostles, being used by the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had been (Ac 4.33). In that holy atmosphere, Ananias did not watch and fell into the devil’s temptation. Thus, he was fulminated in the presence of everyone (Ac 5.5). During my many years as a saved person, I have also seen many Christians falling astray and losing themselves forever.

Satan does not have the capacity of entering in the life of a child of God, unless it is allowed for him to enter (1 Jo 5.18). It is sad, but we have heard and seen many Christians become adulterous, liars, thieves, etc. The question without logic answer is: why? We cannot understand how someone can decide to be closed to the work of the Holy Spirit, who convinces of sin, and surrender his body and soul to the enemy (Jo 16.8).

Peter also did not understand and asked: Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? For the apostle, this should never have happened. Why does a woman betray her husband, and after, spends her whole life insisting that the daughter or son is his, until the child’s appearance proves the contrary? Can’t she see that she is allowing Satan to take control of her? Besides being adulterous, she is also a liar. The liars will prove the worst thing: the second death (Rv 21.8).

On the other hand, there are husbands who do the same. And what can we say about he who robs the house of God, a boss, or a stranger? Jesus’ order is for us to watch so we don’t fall into temptation (Mt 26.41). Ananias lie was made against the Holy Spirit, who is the Spirit of truth (Jo 16.13). Marital betrayal is also made against Him, who is the Spirit of holiness and faithfulness. Watch out! There will be no forgiveness for a sin against the Holy Spirit (Mk 3.28,29).

The property belonged to Ananias. Therefore, he could have stayed with the value of the sale. His error was to lie, saying that his offer was the whole sum. He wanted everyone’s applause. Deception is always worse than the mistake. The Spirit of God must have insisted with Ananias for him to tell the truth, but he chose the way of death.

The Lord is always guiding us to walk in the good path (Dt 30.19). On the other hand, the devil is always teaching us to be a bit “smarter”. Check the things that you say, act, and confess. If you let the evil one fill your heart, there will be a time in which you will not care anymore about the truth. Thus, do not let this happen.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares