THE EARLY CHURCH (7)
Notes
Transcript
IS GOD JUST?
IS GOD JUST?
Pray
Should you fear the LORD
130 times “fear of the LORD” in the Bible
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear him.
So is it a good thing to fear the LORD?
Do you at this moment in your life fear the LORD?
Are there consequences for not fearing the LORD?
But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. However, he kept back part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge, and brought a portion of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
“Ananias,” Peter asked, “why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the proceeds of the land? Wasn’t it yours while you possessed it? And after it was sold, wasn’t it at your disposal? Why is it that you planned this thing in your heart? You have not lied to people but to God.” When he heard these words, Ananias dropped dead, and a great fear came on all who heard. The young men got up, wrapped his body, carried him out, and buried him.
Wasn’t Ananias doing good?
Was GOD just in this?
It seems a little harsh
What about Moses and the rock?
Its seems harsh to us because we do see sin like the LORD does.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ananias earned death on his own.
He brought sin into the church.
What does the LORD owe us?
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:
Who is this who obscures my counsel
with ignorant words?
Get ready to answer me like a man;
when I question you, you will inform me.
Where were you when I established the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who fixed its dimensions? Certainly you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
What supports its foundations?
Or who laid its cornerstone
while the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Who enclosed the sea behind doors
when it burst from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
and total darkness its blanket,
when I determined its boundaries
and put its bars and doors in place,
when I declared, “You may come this far, but no farther;
your proud waves stop here”?
Then Job answered the Lord:
I am so insignificant. How can I answer you?
I place my hand over my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
twice, but now I can add nothing.
The LORD doesn’t need our counsel
About three hours later, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. “Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
Then Peter said to her, “Why did you agree 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.”
Instantly she dropped dead at his feet. When the young men came in, they found her dead, carried her out, and buried her beside her husband. Then great fear came on the whole church and on all who heard these things.
Was the sin not giving? (NO)
They lied about the price.
The LORD is building His church and they were getting in the way of that.
Warning do get in the way of GOD plan it won’t end well.
Was Ananias being a good spiritual leader in his home? (NO)
He lead his wife to death.
Men don’t drag you family down in the sight of the LORD because of your stubbornness.
“Tell me,” Peter asked her, “did you sell the land for this price?”
“Yes,” she said, “for that price.”
What can we learn from this?
GOD sees our sin even when we think HE doesn’t.
Would we do things different if Jesus was physically in the room?
Well HE is here right now!
