The Fear We Lost

Intro

Mother’s Day reminds us that few people shape the direction of a life more than a mother. Before a child understands theology, government, morality, or even language clearly, they are already being discipled by what they see modeled in the home.

A mother helps determine where the eyes of a child will look: Will they look only horizontally toward success, approval, beauty, achievement, and influence? Or will they learn to look vertically toward God?

The home is never neutral.

That is why Proverbs says:

“The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.”

Some homes build reverence for God. Some unintentionally build admiration for self. Some teach children to fear the Lord. Others teach children to fear public opinion more than holiness.

And when we arrive at Acts 12, we encounter a ruler raised in a dynasty that repeatedly positioned itself against God.

Herod the Great tried to kill Christ. Herod Antipas mocked Christ. Now Herod Agrippa persecutes Christ’s church.

The Herodian line shows us something sobering: a legacy can be built either toward God or against Him.

And today’s passage asks every parent, every mother, every father, and every believer: What are we teaching people to worship?

Context of Herod

Herod in Acts 12 is Herod Agrippa I, grandson of Herod the Great. He ruled Judea from approximately AD 41–44 under Roman authority.

He belonged to the Herodian dynasty:

His grandfather tried to kill Jesus as an infant (Matthew 2)

His uncle mocked Christ before the crucifixion Herod Antipas

Agrippa himself persecuted the church in Acts 12

The Herodian line repeatedly positioned itself against God’s purposes.

Mom’s how are you positioning your kids in relation to God?

Proverbs 14:1 ESV

The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down.

Before verses 20–25, Herod had already:

Executed (Acts 12:1–2) James the Apostle

Arrested intending public execution Peter the Apostle

Become increasingly politically driven by Jewish approval

Herod looks untouchable. Yet the chapter ends not with Herod’s triumph, but with his death and the advancement of the Gospel.

A man may impress crowds while offending heaven.

Whose all approval do you gain in this world?

At what price?

People who live for the praise of men become vulnerable to the judgment of God.

Context of Tyre and Sidon

These are two port cities that would have depended greatly on places inland like Judea for agriculture needs to be met

So in a sense they came to Herod with a need to be met that could have life and death consequences

So given Herod’s family history and the political setting he was in his ego had became one full of pride and lack of respect for God

Now with all this in the back of our minds we are better euiped to address the spiritual issues we come across in todays passage

Vain Worship

Acts 12:22 ESV

And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

These people’s vision was no longer directed vertically but horizontally

The man they were worshiping was just that, a man

He held a lot of power and did have a big impact on their lives, but he was given his position, he was given the resources to manage by God

And in the moment of being praised for what he was stewarding he had a responsibility to redirect their vain Worship to the one who they needed to truly worship as we see Peter do earlier in Acts

Acts 10:25–26 ESV

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.”

See when we are given things to Steward it is not about us, but about the one who gave them to us

Mom’s how do you use your gifts to point others to God

How do you use the principles of Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

The Fear of God

Why did Herod not give God the glory

No fear and pride

So often like Herod we let things in life and in us keep us from having a fear of God

While we do serve a God who is full of love, we also serve a God who is described as jealous

Exodus 34:14 ESV

(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),

That means he is a God who does not take lightly when we assign glory where glory is not due

That means he is a God who is not to be taken and served whole heartedly

For this jealous God is a God who struck down Herod dead without warning and further humiliated Herod’s legacy by having his flesh consumed by worms

I am afraid their is must judgment from God in the American church because we lack a healthy fear of God

Rather we hyper focus on aspects of Him and neglect looking at his entirity

Love

God is presented primarily as affirming, accepting, compassionate, and relational at the expense of his holiness and wrath

Common distortions we see:

Love detached from holiness

Grace detached from repentance

Acceptance detached from transformation

Emotional comfort replacing covenant faithfulness

Scripture certainly emphasizes God’s love (John 3:16; 1 John 4), but biblical love is covenantal and sanctifying, not merely therapeutic.

Grace

is often used as a free pass. Often in American culture is used to speak against judgment

We cannot say something because we serve a gracious God

Titus 2:11–12 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Or we often promote Christianity as a relationship not religion

“The statement becomes dangerous when it removes reverence, obedience, holiness, and submission.”

“Biblical Christianity is deeply relational—but it is covenant relationship with the King.”

I have relationship and religion

My religion shows me how to live in a way that respects the relationship I have with the Creator of the universe

Also the religion aspect reminds us this is not just a friendship relationship, but rather is a relationship with the king of the universe who chose to befriend me

Always in a relationship like that their is great respect for the king, you don’t just walk in however you please, also when special benefits come when you go places you realize it is not because of who you are but who the king is

We over emphasize the favor and blessing of God

God becomes viewed primarily as:

enhancer of life,

provider of comfort,

opener of opportunities,

giver of personal fulfillment.

Suffering, discipline, self-denial, and endurance become marginalized.

Yet the New Testament repeatedly normalizes:

persecution

suffering

sacrifice

costly discipleship.

It is not about what can I gain from this relationship but what can I give

Attributes Often Neglected

The problem is not emphasizing love and grace. The problem is emphasizing them in ways the Bible never divorces from holiness, repentance, and obedience.

1. God’s Holiness

Holiness means:

moral perfection,

separateness,

purity,

absolute righteousness.

Older Christian traditions centered worship around reverence and awe. Modern culture often centers relatability and emotional accessibility.

The biblical response to holiness is frequently:

trembling,

repentance,

silence,

awe.

2. God’s Wrath

Scripture repeatedly presents wrath as part of God’s righteous character, not a contradiction to love.

Without wrath:

the cross becomes unnecessary,

justice becomes sentimental,

sin becomes trivialized.

3. God’s Sovereignty

Modern culture often prizes:

autonomy,

self-expression

Biblically, God does not merely offer suggestions. He reigns.

Outro

As we see in the last few verses of chapter 12 the Gospel goes forward despite a lack of fear

Will we be willing or unwilling participants of the Gospel going forward?

1. Examine What Receives Glory in Your Life

What consumes your thoughts?

What do your children think matters most to you?

2. Restore the Fear of God

Not terror of abandonment— but reverent awe of holiness, authority, and majesty.

3. Redirect Praise

When blessed: point to God.

When gifted: point to God.

When successful: point to God.

4. Mothers: Build Your Home Vertically

“Does my home teach people to admire Christ?”

5. Do Not Oppose What God Is Advancing

Empires fall. Proud rulers die. Cultural movements collapse.

The Gospel keeps advancing.

Final challenge:

“Will you be a willing servant of Christ’s kingdom—or will the kingdom move forward despite your resistance?”