Hypocrisy in the Laodicean Church

Our daily personal Bible study focuses on the book of Acts. Acts is the most important book for missionaries. So many important truth we can glean from this sacred book. Let me share my reflection in the tragic deaths of Ananias and Sapphira.

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 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? 4 While you kept it, didn’t it remain your own? After it was sold, wasn’t it in your power? How is it that you have conceived this thing in your heart? You haven’t lied to men, but to God.” 5 Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and died. Great fear came on all who heard these things. 6 The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later, his wife, not knowing what had happened, came in. 8 Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter asked her, “How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 She fell down immediately at his feet, and died. The young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 Great fear came on the whole assembly, and on all who heard these things.

Chapter 4 describes the believers in early church in Jerusalem as one heart and one mind as they were so filled with the Holy Spirit. We can easily see the evidence the Holy Spirit’s infilling because “all” the fruits of the Holy Spirit were manifested in the believers’ life.
This is the result of entrusting our life wholly to the Lord, the pen of inspiration tells us that,“When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing.” DA 676. The early church was so united and they loved one another. Only the Holy Spirit can produce such.
Have you seen this kind of spirit in the church today? Because of the indifference and lukewarmness, sadly, pastors and missionaries seem like coercing the church members to donate to a cause.

Chapter 5 begins with a sad story of Ananias and Sapphira who lied against the Holy Spirit. The pen of inspiration tells us the whole story, “In sharp contrast to the example of benevolence shown by the believers, was the conduct of Ananias and Sapphira, whose experience, traced by the pen of Inspiration, has left a dark stain upon the history of the early church. With others, these professed disciples had shared the privilege of hearing the gospel preached by the apostles. They had been present with other believers when, after the apostles had prayed, "the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost." Acts 4:31.
Deep conviction had rested upon all present, and under the direct influence of the Spirit of God, Ananias and Sapphira had made a pledge to give to the Lord the proceeds from the sale of certain property. Afterward, Ananias and Sapphira grieved the Holy Spirit by yielding to feelings of covetousness. They began to regret their promise and soon lost the sweet influence of the blessing that had warmed their hearts with a desire to do large things in behalf of the cause of Christ. They thought they had been too hasty, that they ought to reconsider their decision. They talked the matter over, and decided not to fulfill their pledge. They saw, however, that those who parted with their possessions to supply the needs of their poorer brethren, were held in high esteem among the believers; and ashamed to have their brethren know that their selfish souls grudged that which they had solemnly dedicated to God, they deliberately decided to sell their property and pretend to give all the proceeds into the general fund, but really to keep a large share for themselves. Thus they would secure their living from the common store and at the same time gain the high esteem of their brethren. But God hates hypocrisy and falsehood. Ananias and Sapphira practiced fraud in their dealing with God; they lied to the Holy Spirit, and their sin was visited with swift and terrible judgment.”AA 71-72

A very important lesson is in verse 2, two church members- Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also had sold a field. Part of the profit from their sale was “kept back” by the couple, and Ananias only laid a part of the money at the apostles’ feet. Ananias probably made a pretense of having given all the proceeds. The church in her present Laodicean state may be fooled by this hypocritical show. But Peter, who was filled with the Holy Spirit cannot be fooled by this! He discerned instantly that Ananias was lying to God and to him. Then and there his hypocrisy was exposed! Ananias fell down and died. Sapphira showed up a little later, I don’t want to speculate but she probably had gone shopping or to the bank to keep the money safe. But she, too, lied to Peter and to God, saying that they had donated the entire proceeds of the sale of the land to the church. When her lie had been exposed, she also fell down and died at Peter’s feet. How sad…
But God is trying to tell us something that this story applies to us.

Ananias and Sapphira are both symbol of Laodicean church. So, this story is about us! Ananias and Sapphira have both problem with total surrender. They were so divided. What have we kept back from God?After a little reflection, perhaps some of us will say, tithes and offering. Yes, this could be one because God requires not only our “first tithe” but the “second tithe” as well. The pen of inspiration says,
“To promote the assembling of the people for religious service, as well as to provide for the poor, a second tithe of all the increase was required. Concerning the first tithe, the Lord had declared, ‘I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel’ (Numbers 18:21).

But in regard to the second He commanded, ‘Thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which He shall choose to place His name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always’ (Deuteronomy 14:23, 29; 16:11–14). For two years, this tithe, or its equivalent in money, was to be brought to the place where the sanctuary was established. After presenting a thank offering to God and a specified portion to the priest, the donors were to use the remainder for a religious feast in which the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow would participate. Thus provision was made for the thank offerings and feasts at the yearly festivals, and the people were drawn to the society of the priests and Levites, that they might receive instruction and encouragement in the service of God. Every third year, however, this second tithe was to be used at home, in entertaining the Levite and the poor, as Moses said, ‘That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled’ (Deuteronomy 26:12). This tithe would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality.” PP 530
So, what are the purposes of the second tithe?

1. Fund for The Uses of Charity and Hospitality for the Levites and the Poor
   “this second tithe was to be used at home, in entertaining the Levite and the poor, as Moses said, ‘That they may eat within thy gates, and be filled’ (Deuteronomy 26:12). This tithe would provide a fund for the uses of charity and hospitality.” PP 530

2. For the Relief of The Poor and Other Benevolent Uses
   “The consecration to God of a tithe of all increase, whether of the orchard and harvest field, the flocks and herds, or the labor of brain or hand, the devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the poor and other benevolent uses…..” Education, p. 44.

3. Tended to Keep Fresh Before the People the Truth of God's Ownership of All
   “the devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the poor and other benevolent uses, tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of God's ownership of all….”—Education, p. 44.

4. To be Channels of God’s Blessings
   “the devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the poor and other benevolent uses, tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of God's ownership of all, and of their opportunity to be channels of His blessings…”Ed 44

5. To Kill Out All Narrowing Selfishness and To Cultivate Breadth and Nobility of Character
   “devotion of a second tithe for the relief of the poor and other benevolent uses, tended to keep fresh before the people the truth of God's ownership of all, and of their opportunity to be channels of His blessings. It was a training adapted to kill out all narrowing selfishness, and to cultivate breadth and nobility of character.” Education, p. 44

6. Second Tithe Can Also Be Used to Support Missionary Work in New Places
   “There will be an abundance of places to use the second tithe in doing earnest missionary work in new places.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 7, p. 139.
   Not to promote but there are so many ministries in Thailand which are taking the gospel to the unreached and new places, you may set aside a portion of your second tithe to support them.

7. Second Tithe Can Also Be Used for Church Building and Improvement
   “Our fellow laborers in Australasia responded cheerfully and heartily. The second tithe was set apart to increase the building fund. Many gifts of money, labor, and material, representing untold self-denial, were made. Those who were connected closely with the supervision of the work—Elder Burden and his family, Dr. Merritt H. Kellogg, the Drs. Kress, and others—made great personal sacrifices, working unselfishly and untiringly to complete the structure. At times when those in charge were put to their wits' end to know how to obtain the means necessary for the advancement of the work, the Lord moved upon someone to make a loan to the institution, sometimes without interest, and sometimes at a low rate. Greatly encouraged, the workers would persevere, sacrificing their earnings, and striving to prepare the building for occupancy. The Lord richly blessed their faithful efforts and gave them a precious experience. In spite of vexatious delays and hindrances, the will and way of the Lord was carried out in the completion of the building. The dedicatory services and formal opening took place Jan. 1, 1903.”—Needs, July 4, 1903.

The pen of inspiration is reminding us that faithfulness to tithes (first tithe and second tithe) is one of the conditions of prosperity.
“So heavy a tax upon the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty; but, on the contrary, the faithful observance of these regulations was one of the conditions of their prosperity.” PP 527
But the question is, how much percentage is required by God?

“The contributions required of the Hebrews for religious and charitable purposes amounted to fully one fourth of their income. So heavy a tax upon the resources of the people might be expected to reduce them to poverty; but, on the contrary, the faithful observance of these regulations was one of the conditions of their prosperity.” PP 527
How much? “one fourth of their income.” Sadly, many church members are not aware of this. But it’s not too late to surrender to the Holy Spirit’s leading as He impresses us.

However, as I kept repeating the question, what have we kept back from God? The Holy Spirit impresses me with another important points. As I mentioned earlier, this sad story is about us. Administrators, what have we kept back from God? Pastors, what have we kept back from God? Missionaries, what have we kept back from God? Laymen, what have we kept back from God? Have we given our whole heart and whole time for the Lord? Or are we so divided that the Holy Spirit cannot live in us?

Are we not the same with Ananias and Sapphira? Now let us ask ourselves, what have we kept back from God?
Is this story not applicable for missionaries who has cellphone games addiction, watch worldly movies, listen to secular songs and other worldly things? With too much Facebook (social media) missionaries and pastors don’t even have time for personal Bible study and house-to-house visitation. Sadly, we are Ananias and Sapphira. I’m not trying to expose our hypocrisy but let us admit our spiritual bankruptcy and repent.

Friends, what have we kept back from God? Are we not also like Jacob, who, after deceiving his father Isaac into giving him the blessing, was not willing settle with his father and brother Esau? Instead, he ran away and covered his sin with his charitable missionary works. He ran away from his father, brother and uncle. He tried to ignore his feelings of guilt but that guilty thoughts have haunted him all his missionary life.

Friends, let us ask ourselves today, what have we kept back from God?