by: Jeanette Grattan Parker
A man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. (Acts chapter 5). They did not fully disclose the details of their land purchase price and kept back part of the sale price. His wife knew all about it. She was knowledgeable of all the terms of the purchase. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira colluded together to contrive the lie and brought a certain part of the purchase price and laid it at the apostles’ feet. It was a time of free will giving. So, they did not give the whole amount of the purchase price to help the needy. They had seen previously how Barnabas freely gave and he received praise for his generosity.
Peter knew immediately through his special gift of discernment there was something dishonest going on. He called out Ananias for his dishonest ways, “Why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” Obviously, Ananias was shocked! How would Peter know? Peter goes on to explain. While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own power? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied unto men, but unto God. Ananias fell under the deception of Satan just as Adam had been disobedient and was a poor listener and thought he could get away with his wrongdoing. Eve, had been deceived. When Ananias heard these words, he fell down…dropped dead.
Great fear came upon all those who saw and heard about this death. And the young men arose, wound him up, carried him out, and buried him.. About three hours after, his wife, not knowing what was done that her husband had just dropped dead, came in. Peter spoke to her. “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.Then Peter said to her, how is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried your husband are at the door, and shall carry you out also. Then she fell dead straightway at his feet, and died. The young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.. Again, great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. The question might be, “Why did they have to die? When lies and corruption infiltrate the church, it has to be cleansed. The church will be judged on its purity. Ananias and Sapphira wanted to be recognized as Barnabas had been for his generosity. Only problem was, they were not giving what they were representing themselves to be.
They did not have to give the full price of their land. It was in their prerogative to not give the full price and they could have chosen to keep back part of the price. They lied and violated the principles of the church at its core. They were egotistical, self serving and interested in personal recognition. The judgement was swift and decisive. People lie all the time and don’t just up and drop dead. There ae many people dying. We don’t know all the reasons. Apparently God in His sovereign judgement had to make a strong point on behalf of the perpetuity of the church. He wants an unblemished church. We know that judgement begins at the house of God first.Thanks for reading!
Jeanette Grattan Parker Ph.d-Founder-Superintendent
Today’s Fresh Start Charter School
4514 Crenshaw blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90043.
www.todaysfreshstart.org
Weekly Columnist for LA Sentinel News
askdrjeanette.successontheway@gmail.com
“Inquiring Minds Want To know.”© All rights reserved. Partial Scripture list references: Jeanette Grattan Parker is Founder-Superintendent of Today’s Fresh Start Charter School:4514 Crenshaw BL, LA 90043 323-293-9826 www.todaysfreshstart.org Dr. Jeanette’s Articles are copyright. All rights reserved. Inquiring Minds Want To Know” © Ask Dr. Jeanette (TM) www.Ask Dr.Jeanetteparker.com. Askdrjeanette.successontheway@gmail.com. Let me know. Dr. Jeanette also writes a weekly article for The Los Angeles Sentinel News. Dial in Sundays for music & message: 11:30am {1-712-775-8971—code 266751}
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