Thus far our study has repeatedly demonstrated the pattern God follows in temple building, divine order brought about through His word, the revelation of His glory followed by certain judgement for irreverence or lack of fear.
1 Peter 1:15-16 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."
It was during the very early period of the church, the presence of the Holy spirit was fresh, miracles were seen daily, when judgement fell upon Ananias and Sapphira. A casual reading might cause one to think God to be rather harsh instead of fatherly. Our author, Mr Bevere attempts, rather well, to help the reader gain insight by examining the human motives that would cause this couple to behave so contrarily.
Acts 5:1-2 But a certain man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife's full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles' feet.
(1) Ananias and Sapphira sold property and kept back some of the proceeds, and brought a __________ of it for use by the church, at the apostles direction.
Is there a problem with that? Not according to Peter. Acts 5:3-4
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
(1) Ananias _______ to the Holy Spirit. What isn't stated but is implicit in Peters question is that Ananias declared the amount given to be the total sum for the sale of the property.
The motive significance is found in Acts 4:36-37 And Joseph, a Levite of Cyprian birth, who was also called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means, Son of Encouragement), 37 and who owned a tract of land, sold it and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.
(1) Did Barnabas bring the entire amount as a gift? ___________
Ananias and Sapphira's position in the young church is unknown, but it becomes obvious that they were not about to be out done by this fellow Barnabas. Not willing to give the entire amount, which was their right, but not willing to appear less generous than Barnabas, they lied about the amount received. Remember God looks upon the heart motive.
What is also not stated but is clearly articulated by their actions is that they had no fear of God nor reverence for His holiness. Judgement was immediate.
Acts 4:36-37
Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles' feet.
Acts 5:5-9 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. 7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"
"Yes," she said, "that is the price."
9 Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
(1) If this were about money then it would be fair to say God is a harsh judge, however this is not about money: it is about motive. Ananias and Sapphira were judged for their ________________________________________.
Notice the reaction of the church.
Acts 5:11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
The Church wakes up to the holiness of God when Ananias and Sapphira fall dead just as it had when Aaron's two sons made an irreverent offering.
Our author makes a relevant point when he states that divine order requires us to acknowledge the difference in our relationship between Jesus, God the father, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus was the essence of the approachable love of God. But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
(1) As popular as Jesus was, among the Jews of that day, He said "do not ______________ them {the children} from coming to me.
Of God the father the Word tells us For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!" Romans 8:15
(1) As our _______, (the word means father, a term of endearment) we owe God the love and respect due our earthly father, even more so. He is our provider, our role model, the authority in our lives.
Of the Holy Spirit we must not be so familiar for He is the one that restores divine order. Matthew 12:32 "And whoever shall speak a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever shall speak against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.
(1) How would you define your relationship with the Holy Spirit, in comparison to that of Jesus or God the father? _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________
Peter writes sometime after the event with Ananias and Sapphira in 1 Peter 1:15-17 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 17 And if you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man's work, conduct yourselves in fear [Phobos, respect, reverence, sense of awe] during the time of your stay upon earth;
(1) The Word is pretty emphatic: conduct yourselves in _________ during the time of your stay upon _________.
Listen to the words of Paul Philip. 2:12b . . . work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
(1) Paul adds the word _________ to fear. Our love for God should be so strong that we have great concern over offending him.
It is the Holy Spirit of God who indwells the believer that consistently brings course correction to our lives. Teaching us to live holy lives. Our obligation is to listen and obey.
Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
(1) What is it that teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives? _________
2 Cor. 5:16 Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
(1) Just as we are citizens of the kingdom of Heaven and are now subject to the laws of that kingdom, so we should relate to people as they relate to the kingdom of God. Paul says that he and many that he writes to knew Jesus while He walked the streets of Israel, the Gentle Jesus who beckoned even little children. Now we should view him with spiritual eyes and Jesus is ____ ____________________________________________.
Mr Bevere correctly points out a cardinal problem in today's church. "Signs and wonders will become common place when there is a lack of the fear of the Lord in your hearts." (L)
(1)Yes God is love but God is also a __________________ according to Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our "God is a consuming fire."
(2) How should we worship God? _____________________________
For the "born from above" person, God is a loving father, but he is also holy to be revered, and our judge.
Hebrews 10:30-31 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
(1) Our Father, "Abba" deserves both our love and absolute awed respect, irreverence cannot exist in His presence. He is our loving father, but, according to the previous verse, He is also our ___________________.
(2) It is He that has made us clean and acceptable by the washing with the water of the living Word. According to Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; Our service to Him must be with ____________ and ________.
Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
(1) The fear of the Lord is _________, _________ and _________.
(2) If the fear of the Lord is forever, could Lucifer, the most magnificent creature ever created, have possessed it and still sinned? _________________________________
(3) Having never seen divine retribution ( the wage of sin is death and death had not yet come to planet earth) could Adam and Eve have possessed a fear of the lord and still sinned? _________________________________________________________________
Proverbs 16:6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
(1) Nadab and Abihu, having witnessed God's judgement first hand, should have possessed a fear of God, but for some reason they must have felt themselves above judgement. Are their those in the church today, that perhaps think this way, and thus lack a fear of the Lord? ____________
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.
(1) Have we in the church, like Ananias and Sapphira, so foolishly believed that we can lie to the Holy Spirit and get away with it? Do we lack a fear of the Lord?
God is not__________; for whatever a man sows, this he will also _____
Love motivates men to remain true to their wives, it helps children to obey their parents. If love, by its self, were compelling enough to command absolute purity then men would never stray and children would always be submissive. Love must be coupled with reverence, piety devotion and veneration, all of which are encapsulated in the word "fear".
If there is a common denominator between those who have been judged with immediate death, it is because they were "irreverent in the presence of the Lord whose glory had been revealed already." (m) Our author points out that clearly the pattern of order, glory, and judgement are again demonstrated.
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