Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
Act 5:2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.
Act 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
Act 5:4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
Act 5:5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
Act 5:6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Act 5:7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
Act 5:8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?"
She said, "Yes, for so much."
Act 5:9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
Act 5:10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
Act 5:11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
Before considering this part of chapter 5 let us remember those verses in chapter 4
Act 4:29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,
Act 4:30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
When they prayed that prayer the building they were in was even shaken and they were all once again filled with the Spirit, this time it would seem taking them to a new level of anointing, a new season with more boldness, more signs and wonders and more holiness.
At the moment the Spirit filled church would seem to be operating under the anointing of Pentecost but after Acts chapter 4 it seems more was required of believers, hence Annanias and Sapphira who were most definetly believers, be they wayward believers dropped dead when they tried to lie to the Holy Spirit. Benny Hinn has made some interesting comments here that this type of holiness that was required of the church in that day is rapidly approaching us , the church of today. We will be totally ineffective for Kingdom purposes if we harbor sin in our hearts. We have to be holy for He is Holy.
The time is just around the corner when we will here of preachers and leaders dropping dead because they have not dealt with sin in their lives, because we need to move into Acts chapter 5 and beyond where all were healed, where Philip was translated and Saul of Tarsus became Paul.
I have heard a few preaching on this new level of holiness, Pastor Benny is not alone in that, surely folks we need to all examine our hearts and ask the Lord to cleanse us from every bit of unrighteousness, and that unrighteousness can just be disobedience to the Spirit's prompting, I am not talking about blatant sin. I'm talking death to flesh life completely and living for Him alone.
Persecution is coming to the church in a big way, will we stand strong for Him?
and I'm shoutin' AMEN with ya! AMEN! 
