The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 reminds us that God's favor can flee when WE becomes ME. Ananias and his wife began with a good heart, but deception crept in—and they died not for withholding money, but for dishonesty before God. When we don’t give God full authority, we create space for the enemy to get a foothold.

God is holy, righteous, and full of grace—but His presence should be approached with reverence. We’re called to fully submit, taking every thought captive and surrendering it to Him.

This also challenges us to look at the three sides of self:

1. The me I pretend to be—when we live behind a mask, we carry a weight God never intended for us. The church should be a place of loving correction, not judgment, where we can lay those burdens down.

2. How I see myself—what we believe and speak over ourselves matters. Lies and distortions about our identity can distance us from truth.

3. Who I am in Christ—our true identity, secure and whole, is found in Him alone.

The church should be a place of loving correction, not judgment. When we live honestly and fully surrendered, God’s favor and presence can fully rest on our lives.

To learn more about our ministry or to give, visit keystonenorth.church