“Great Fear In The Church”
Acts 5:1-11
I can’t say for anyone else but I pray often for a personal revival and a church wide revival.
What is taking place in our verses today is the example of what the Lord has desired of His children; to draw us closer to Himself.
A great bit of personal giving (love offering) is taking place and we are looking at a family who wanted not just to give, but that others would see their great gift.
A lesson that shows us that the Lord is active with His children and it is not the amount but the motive that is important.
Five (5) observations from this family
I. The Heart Problem
Vss. 1-2 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
We were traveling the other day and I asked my wife, “If you were to be named in the Bible, would it bother you that it would because of judgment?”
Sold a possession - We find out from Peter that this possession was a piece of land.
Kept back - to set apart or separate for one’s self
I can only imagine that the asking price caused perhaps a bidding war and they sold it for more than the expected to.
I know we do not add to the Bible but there had to have been a conversation between husband and wife….
Possible Conversation:
“Oh my, sweetheart, we were not expecting this to happen; we only wanted 4 pieces of silver and look at what we have received. I think we should give what we planned to sell the land for and invest a little for our own future; what do you think Sapphira?”
“Well if you think that is ok; what will we tell everyone when they ask about the price?”
“The value of the land is clear and no one needs to know what it really was sold for.”
“OK dear, whatever you say you’re the head of the family.”
II. The Heart Exposed
Vss. 3-4 "But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."
Wait a minute; when did they “lie to the Holy Ghost?”
It was when their conversation was no longer yea, yea or nay, nay.
Matthew 5:37 “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
Cannot say for anyone else, but there is a whole lot of hiding our lives so others do not think that we have any problems.
I wonder if honesty were applied in the fellowship of believers that the blessing from the Lord would be so much more?
III. The Heart Troubled
Vss. 5-6 “And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6 And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.”
It looks like the exposure and the charge came upon him unexpectedly, like a bolt of lightning.
Great fear came on all them that heard these things - in today’s words might be, “woo did you just see that?”
“Ya right, wait, what? I’m so glad I am not in his shoes.”
Fear - dread, terror, that which strikes terror or causes us to stop and retink.
Phobos (fob’-os) we get our word phobia from this word.
There is no embalming and hot days are not good on a dead body.
IV. The Heart Ensnared
Vss. 7-8 “And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.”
Once again I cannot add to the Word of God but I can only imagine the heart of Peter as he knows what must be done and yet praying in his heart that she would not be part of this mess.
I believe Peter is giving her ample opportunity to do and say right.
V. The Heart Stopped
Vss. 9-10 “Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10 Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.”
Tempt - to try whether a thing can be done, to attempt,
Malachi 3:15 "And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered."
Matthew 4:7 "Jesus said unto him, (Satan) It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
Conclusion:
Vs. 11 “And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.”
A great fear of the Lord that is upon a New Testament Church can yield real revival.
No more pacifying the procrastinators
No more rambling and restlessness
No more standing and sediment
Simply put, God’s people are in tune with God’s will and are no longer playing church; looks like business in God’s house is picking up.
What about here and now?
What would happen if God showed up in the same manor and 911 was being called?
How many would decide that playing church is enough and it is time to be the church.
People need to hear the Gospel and people in the church house are hurting and need the sweet Holy Spirit to heal; not just the body but the broken and contrite hearts.
Psalms 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
Do you know the Lord as your Saviour?
What about your relationship with others?
Is there an agenda that causes you to be in church?
Let's Just Praise the Lord
Bill Gather Trio (1972)
Chorus:
Let's just praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Let's just lift our hearts to heaven and praise the Lord;
Let's just praise the Lord
Verse 1
O we thank you for your kindness, we thank you for your love,
We have been in heavenly places, felt blessings from above;
We've been sharing all the good things, the family can afford,
Let's just turn our hearts
Verse 2
Just the precious name of Jesus is worthy of our praise,
Let us bow our knees before Him, our hands to heaven raise;
When He comes in clouds of glory, with Him to ever reign,
Let's just lift our happy voices, and
