~
The Early Church And Unbelievers Feared God (2of2) ~
God does not want His children living in
fear. “Grace and peace be multiplied to you
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to
us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him
who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3). However, God does want His children to have a
proper respect and reverence for Him. We
are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”
This Week’s Passage ~ “But a certain man named Ananias, with
Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 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. 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? 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.’ Then
Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard
these things. And the young men arose
and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his
wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you
sold the land for so much?’ She said, ‘Yes,
for so much.’ 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.’ 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. So great fear came upon all the church
and upon all who heard these things” (Acts 5:1-11).
Fearing God Results in
Salvation ~ “It is
a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews
10:31). “A wise person fears and departs from evil,
but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16). This does not mean the Christian is to live a
fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will.
Fearing God Results in Fearlessness ~ “The Lord
is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord
is the strength of my life; of whom shall
I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1). The answer is: only God. With the gift of salvation comes
responsibility.
Fearing God Results in Witnessing ~ “Come and hear, all you who
fear God, and I will declare what He
has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
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