Day 9
"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?"
Acts 5:3
Prayer
My Father in Heaven, open our hearts to hear Your words.
In Acts 4:32-5:11, Your recently born Post-Pentecost church was generously sharing their possessions with eachother. But Ananias lied to Peter about his gift to the congregation.
Your word in Acts 5:3 says that he lied to the Holy Spirit. Many are surprised that men can talk to the Holy Spirit at all. But, in this Post-Pentecost age of the indwelling Holy Spirit, You have decreed that Christians will have intimate two way conversation with You in the spiritual realm.pp
The Holy Spirit teaches us all things and reminds us of scripture. He gives us words for witnessing, leads, warns, testifies in us, intercedes for us and speaks to us through our conscience.3.3 We speak to You and Him in prayer... and in our thought life.
Words of conscience which we think are our own may actually be the Holy Spirit speaking in us. If we lie to ourselves to convince ourselves that wrong is right, we can actually be lying to the Holy Spirit. Ananias did this. Your Holy Spirit can be resisted and lied to. Of these things I have been aware for many years.
But I seldom think of Satan's ability to interact with believers in the spiritual realm... to fill one's heart. People in the church argue with me when I say that Satan can put ideas into our minds, that he can communicate spiritually. Your Son, Jesus, was tempted by Satan (Mark 1:13, Hebrews 2:18). How strange for Christians to believe that Satan can communicate with and tempt Jesus, but can't do the same with us. How else can he deceive? Your word says that he can deceive the elect (1 Timothy 4:1, 2 Corinthians 2:11).
When we are tempted, our own lusts may draw us into sin (James 1:14) but that does not mean that there is no such thing as a demonic tempter (1 Corinthians 7:5, 1 Thessalonians 3:5). Christians can fall away and follow Satan (1 Timothy 5:15) but he does not have power over those who are called by Your name (Colossians 1:13). He can not force. But he can deceive.
I was well aware that I can walk by the Spirit as I hear and obey Your Holy Spirit. But I have not been aware that I can "go after Satan" (1 Timothy 5:15).
Lord, My God, give me discernment of Spirits (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 10)SG that I may always walk in the light... following You in everything that You are doing.
I ask this that Your name be glorified... that Your name be lifted higher and higher and higher.
Amen.
Additional Information
Click any gold colored superscript (H) in the text for more information. A superscript like 4.3f will open subchapter 4.3. Click 4.3f. Then look down the page for 4.3f.
About this Devotional
You are reading the Walk by the Spirit Daily Devotional Series, which is subchapter 3.7 of the free, online book Fellowship with God in the Sixth Path. In the Walk by the Spirit Daily Devotional, readers learn how to how to walk by the Spirit. Walking by the Spirit is one way the New Testament describes fellowship with God, the subject of this online book.
Fellowship with God in the New Covenant is defined as, "a two way conversation in the spiritual realm, as we follow Christ, bearing His yoke in the world". The area below the white section on this page will reveal every word and phrase in that definition, from the scriptures.
Helpful Links to Other Pages in This Site
These Devotionals are Prayers
In the Walk by the Spirit Devotionals, instead of reading about God, you talk to God. That is because God has told us to pray "continually, always, at all times, in everything", and "without ceasing".4.12
Devotional Navigation
The arrow (>) at the top right of your screen takes you to the next devotional. The arrow (<) at the top left of each devotional will take you to the navigational control panel for the Walk by the Spirit Daily Devotionals.
Where Are You?
You are reading in subchapter 3.7 of chapter 3 of the free online book, Fellowship With God in the Sixth Path. Words from this book have been read in 190 countries and 50 languages. Navigation at the top and bottom of each page, allows you to open the table of contents for the book, visit the home page, ask questions or share your story.