"Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!"
Acts 5:1-12 gives an account of a couple that had an absurd ending. Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property and held back some of the proceeds from Apostle Peter. They had a good motive; their desire was to support the work of God, but they had one issue –they failed to recognize and respect the anointing upon Peter. The apostle never had any other charge against them besides that, for he asked 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? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God." And after that question, Ananias fell dead and he was buried immediately!
Two important lessons to learn from this portion of scripture: One being that, when you choose to give to God, He is more interested in the state of your heart than what you’re giving. Like He commanded the Israelites never to sacrifice a lame animal unto Him, He always requires the best from us, and nothing less. Secondly, we get to know that God’s servants are not mere men, but God regards any treatment towards or against them as being towards Him.
Ananias and Sapphira had ownership over their property, and it was out of their free will that they decided to sell it. Even after the sale, they had the liberty to give God 50% of the proceeds in truth. However, they purchased their death when they chose to give God less than what they declared; and tried to make a fool out of Peter, because they never thought he would tell whether they sold it for that much. God hates false pretense.
Numbers 12 explains of how Miriam earned herself leprosy because of conniving with Aaron to gossip about Moses, and if it wasn’t for Moses’ intercession for her, she would have died a leper. God clearly defended Moses and showed Aaron and Miriam that his servant was not like them.
In 1Samuel 15, King Saul disregarded the orders of the prophet, thinking he had a better idea that would please God. Unfortunately, his heart did not carry a proper motive, and his respect for Prophet Samuel had disappeared. He was so used to the prophet, that out of disrespect he tore his robe when he had refused to give in to his demands! That was the beginning of Saul’s end, and he never got any better.
Do you recognize the anointing of God’s Spirit upon His servants? What respect do you have for the anointing? What reverence do you genuinely have for God’s servants? Many people have blessed themselves by getting the revelation of recognizing and respecting the anointing, and others have deprived themselves by failure to get it.
If Ananias and his wife had recognized the anointing upon Peter and respected the anointing more than they respected the man, they would not have died. That’s why Peter told him, “You have not lied to men but to God”. God’s servants may look like everyone else, move in the same vehicles, make mistakes, and face what others face but before God, they are of greater honor. Be wise; don’t gang up with the ‘Miriams’ who have questions like: “Have the words of the Lord been given to Moses only? Have they not come to us?” Bless yourself; always recognize and respect the anointing of God upon His servants.
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