Nightlion wrote:Ah, jo, ya just don't know, do ya? lol
Warning: This is a correction. I am not scolding you or putting you down neither do I have any desire to rebuke you.
First off let's get a visual aid in here shall we. I saw on The Apocalrock of late what seemed like Jesus having something to do with this other fella. I have mused over it for more than a week. Today, on my way to work I thought upon it again and asked the Lord who it was and it was put into my mind that it was.......no kidding.......wait for it.........Peter! How about that. Now here you go whipping me using Peter for a waling stick.
Hello NightLion!!
I was not rebuking you either. I'm sorry you thought I was whipping you using Peter as a waling stick. I very much appreciate your use of kindness toward me in your response. You are sincere in your dealings with me; and I love you for it. God bless you!!
I see Jesus on the left looking somber at Peter who is aghast at having denied Christ thrice. Almost like in the movies.
Even though Peter knew of God that Jesus was the Christ he was not yet accountable before God because so long as Christ was in the world Jesus was the light of the world and the power of the Holy Ghost COULD not come upon any.* So Peter waffled back and forth as a result of this reality. Jesus spent 40 days among the Jews who believed on him and told them AFTER he was gone to WAIT for the promise of the Father which is the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost.
I believe that there are a few different types of manifestations of the Holy Ghost. He is shown to have been active during Old Testament times. When Peter responded to Jesus "thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God", Jesus' response was:
Matthew 16:17-19 (KJV)
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
How does Father reveal things to us? Through the power of the Holy Ghost. Also, regardless of how or why the Holy Ghost works with us, either by guiding us someplace we can hear the Gospel message and so be drawn to accept Christ, or to act as a witness to Christ or Father after someone exercises faith and their desire to believe, or whether as a continuing guide to All Truth, man still makes mistakes and sins.
Even having Jesus present in front of the people as He walked the earth in the flesh did not constitute danger for the soul of a man to reject Him. Jesus is the one who explained this when he taught about blashpheme against the Holy Ghost. John furthers our understanding by teaching us this:
1 John 5:7-8 (KJV)
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
Jesus, as the Word, did not personally have the power and authority to convert man.
After Pentecost the Holy Ghost began to fall upon many. Peter became a fearless witness and apostle of the Lord. The matter of the two saints who held back part of the money in their consecration was certainly NOT on account of Peter's passions or his lack of anything.
The Apostles did have the power and authority to do miracles and cast out devils from the time Peter gave Jesus' true identity. Then in the evening of the day He arose from the dead,
John 20:20-22 (KJV) (emphasis added)
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Pentecost was not for at least another 40 days, at which time the earth received the Holy Ghost specifically as a gift to guide man to All Truth. It appears that at that time, is also when the process of being baptized by fire begins. And so we have at least three purposes and ways for the Holy Ghost to work upon the earth.
Peter did nothing but discern the lie. Ananias fell down and dies of his own accord. When his wife came into the play and Peter inquires as to whether or not she is implicit with her husband she affirms his suspicions. Peter does NOT curse her he simply foretells and accurate prediction that God is about to take her as well.
My take on this incident is not one which is taught by the Church. It is one which was taught to me by the Holy Ghost. I can think of no where else in the Bible where the Holy Ghost is used to smite someone. In fact, it is either Angels who are called upon by God to smite people, or God commands man to fight against other men.
Also, I am certain that there are similar incidents in the lives of most men who believe in and "fear" God wherein their fear would be so remarkable that it could cause a man to faint. But to die from their fear? I do not know, off the top of my head, of any other story in the Bible or in other Holy Canon, which indicates a man dropped dead from his fear of Father, or of the Son, or of the Holy Ghost.
Now, if this was an example of how it is that man can suffer physical death because they lie to God or any other member of the Godhead, I would say that much of mankind would be guilty and would have died as a result.
What I believe happened is that Peter did use the power and authority of the Priesthood on both Ananias and Sapphira. I do not believe that God gave Peter the instructions to do this. I believe Peter took it upon himself to cause their deaths because he was angry with them. Because they were not innocent of the sin of lying to the Holy Ghost, Peter's action would not have been considered an unpardonable act.
Anyways, you see now, don't you that it is you who are acting rash in deliberate ignorance of sublime realities.
Anybody who pretends to know anything about true religion who forfeits, forgoes, omits, skates, evades, or simply does not appreciate the core gospel of being visited of the power of the Holy Ghost as the prime axis that rivets ones feet upon the Rock of Christ will be judged a fool and all their words and teachings suspect in the hopes of their eventual redemption.
I am sorry, but I do not see this the same way that you do.
Have a wonderful day, James!!
Blessings,
jo