A Place of Spiritual Battle

The story in Acts 5:1-5 tells of Ananias and Sapphira.
The setting--It says that Satan filled their heart to lie to God 

Their heart wActs 5:1‑5
1          Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.
2          With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.
3          Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?
4          Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
5          When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.  (NIV)as a battlefield.  Imagine the thoughts that went into their mind. 

What do you think God was telling them?

God is always on the side of truth.  God would want them to humbly give some money and not make a big deal of it. 

What was Satan telling them?

He told them they could have an awesome reputation with the church.  Wouldn’t everyone think they are wonderful for giving the money they got for their land?

Did you know that every thought
that comes into your mind is
not necessarily your thought?

Ananias and Sapphira listened to Satan’s input into their heart rather than God’s.  If they had been keeping their thought life thinking of God and His ways, the choices they would have made would have been much better. 

The battle in the heart results in two kinds of hearts. 

Let's look at the characteristics of evil and good hearts.

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