Spiritual warfare #5

 Today’s spiritual warfare lesson is the claim that Satan can fill the heart of the believer. We see this in Acts 5:3, “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?” [ESV]

 

This example shows a man (and his wife) who decided to lie. Because they lied, they died. The issue was not that they kept back part of the sale of the land. Why did this happen? Barnabas had sold a field and given it to the church to care for the needs of others (see Acts 4:31). My suspicion is that Ananias and his wife perceived this gave Barnabas status and decided to follow suit. Or maybe they wanted to genuinely help others but did not want to give everything. What matters is these two are believers whom Peter identifies as “Satan filled your heart.” What does this mean?

 

The word translated as “fill” is the same word used for the filling of the Holy Spirit in Acts 4:31. We know Satan is the “father of lies” (John 8:44). When a believer lies, it’s a very dark place to be and a dangerous thing to do. Paul states in Romans 8:13 – 14, “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” [NIV]

 

Think about this for a moment. Every one of us will die physically, so that’s not what Paul is telling the Romans. Paul generally refers to death as “spiritual” death. Meaning being separated from God and subject to eternal Hell (see Romans 6:23).

 

Now we wade into deep theological waters. Does that mean Ananias lost his salvation? The Bible does not tell us, either way, so it is not legitimate for us to ask/answer that question. The Bible does tell us that he was influenced by the devil to the point that Peter uses the same word for being “filled” with the Holy Spirit.

 

Maybe you can identify with Paul when he states, “So I find that, as a rule, when I want to do what is good, evil is right there with me.” [Romans 7:21 CEB] For some reason God has allowed His people to struggle with sin and the mind behind sin, Satan. 

I think this does several things. First, it keeps us dependent on the Holy Spirit to fill us with the power (the ability) to overcome evil. Second, it makes us VESTED in our spiritual walk. This demonstrates the present and future benefits of our salvation. Finally, it reminds us that we are vulnerable and fatally flawed in our own strength. And that should keep us close to our Shepherd (Jesus).