Part 5

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The Acts of the Hebrews – Part 5

5.1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphirah his wife, sold a field, 2 And kept back part of the proceeds his wife also knowing about it…

Our biggest daily conflict isn’t with the NWO, Satan, the government and the Chan-Flu, our biggest daily conflict is with our stuff, our money, our personal finances. 

Covetousness fuels the flames of discontentment: 

If all you’re aware of is what you don’t have it’s going to fuel your discontentment,  it’s going to fuel your spending, it’s going to fuel your debt, it’s going to fuel your unhappiness because it’a an appetite that can never be fully satisfied.  

Beware of The Fake Giver (Rich young ruler of Luke 18:22).

Don’t live on the dark side of generosity. Debt makes your spiritual life paper-thin. The Rich Young Ruler choose to fail at generosity, and he had all the resources to accomplish it!

v.2 so they and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why has s.a.tan filled your heart to lie to the Ruach Hakodesh, to keep back part of the price of the field? 4 While it remained in your care, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your own authority? 

Debt = discontentment = limited margin = living on the edge. 

To be generous or dead? Total loss, complete loss…for those who aren’t rich toward יהוה.

v.4 Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to vuvh. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ruach: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wrapped him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7 And it was about three hours later, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in…

Everything that comes our way isn’t for our consumption, now, or later or for our children…there’s an adjustment and component of the heart that MUST be calibrated…be rich toward יהוה. 

Mammon cannot be like air – total consumption, not even food or water is for total consumption…even food and water we’re to fast from to be spiritually healthy…how much more mammon – for spiritual health. 

Lk 12:15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

What do we do with our extra?

Luk 12:16 And he told them a parable, saying, 16 “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?(My extra!)’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my extra grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But יהוה said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward יהוה.”

Unlike Ananias and Sapphira we don’t see immediate effects, meaning our current economical situation is NOT an immediate reflection of our behavior; but consequence of our past habits in multiplication. 

We don’t actually want fair really, we want opportunity, we don’t want fair we want to be balanced.

7 And it was about three hours later, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Kepha asked her, Tell me whether you sold the field for this much? And she said, Yes, for this much. 9 Then Kepha said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to tempt the Ruach of the Master vuvh? See, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out. 10 Then she fell down at his feet immediately, and yielded up the ruach: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carried her out, and buried her next to her husband.

Money & Generosity – it’s ours to manage but we don’t posses it. 

Acts 20:20 (Paul) And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you…35, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Not a moment in time transaction – it’s an outcome of a lifestyle that brings happiness.

Lk 12. The rich man and the bigger barns…save it now and consume it later…you fool….not for being rich…but he assumed it was his consumable- disposable income….it wasn’t…I require it now! 

Somebody else got it…not because he was generous…but because he was consumable and disposable and now he’s DEAD – TOTAL LOSS…consumed it all or hoarded all for future consumption…not rich toward יהוה. 

Generosity transcends inspiration and guilt in five important ways:

1. it’s a belief
2. that leads to a discipline 
3. which allows you to give more
4. save more 
5. and consume less

 = generosity births lasting happiness. 

Six take aways on generosity: 

1. It’s not spontaneous and less emotional, it’s strategic – there’s a plan to it!

2. It’s not determined by cash flow. generous people are consistently generous – it’s not determined by their cash flow. 

3. The widows mite: It’s not the amount that counts. Generous people give by percentage not the amount. The amount does not count. 

4. Not all rich people are generous. Rich people are rich and generous people are generous…there’s no natural correlation…so don’t put off generosity today because you’re striving to become rich tomorrow!

5. Generosity equation =  “the strategic-planned-unbridling of mammon.”

6. Unbridling your mammon unbridles you! 

The Compassionate Giver (Luke 10:35). Don’t permit inconvenience or expense to stop you.