27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 05 01-11 THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH 19 Acts 05 11 Encouraging one another to walk in the fear of God
📖 Acts 05:01-11
19 – 04Apr2023 – *Encouraging one another to walk in the fear of God* - _Acts 05:01-11_ - THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _ Psalms 89:6-8_
“Lord Jesus, we commit ourselves to walk in Your fear so that You will be glorified in us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
*_Acts 5:11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things._*
A great fear of God came on His church. This is the special qualification that the Lord is bringing among His people. We are to be a community that fears the Lord. *The fear of God is our unique identity.* *_Psalms 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him._*
What happened with Ananias and Sapphira resulted in the church learning to walk in the fear of God.
When Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron died in the presence of the Lord, we can imagine the emotions of Aaron, their father. How would any father have felt at the sudden death of his two sons? Aaron could have said or done something that it would again be displeasing to God. Praise God for Moses, who strengthened Aaron at that very frightening moment.
*_Leviticus 10:3 And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace._*
Aaron had to understand what had taken place. God had to be regarded as holy by those who come near to worship God. *It is His church that must reveal that we worship a holy God.*
God is purifying the sons of Levi, His church. He is doing this because we as His church must offer an offering of righteousness. _Malachi 3:2-4 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For *He is like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness*. (4) "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years._
Ananias and Sapphira did not offer an offering of righteousness to the Lord in what they did. The Lord is examining our lives and all that we do. Are our lives an offering of righteousness to God?
As we are refined to offer an offering of righteousness to God. We are displaying His fear in us. This is our common identity. When His fear is displayed in us, God is glorified in us.
God has to be glorified among His people because His people walk in His fear. _Isaiah 49:3 "And He said to me, *'You are My servant, O Israel, In whom I will be glorified*.'_ We as His church must be conscious of who we are. *We must give ourselves to His Holy Spirit so that He will bring out His glory through the fear of God displayed in us as His people.* We therefore constantly encourage one another to walk in the fear of God. This is what binds us. Our common passion is the fear of God that will bring glory to God.
*_Jeremiah 32:38-40 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; (39) then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. (40) And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me._*
When the Lord returns, He must be glorified in His church. _II Thessalonians 1:10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed._
Paul and his team, as they ministered in Thessalonica, taught the people to walk in the fear of God. As they walked in the fear of God as His church, when the Lord returned, He would be glorified among them.
As Peter administered this judgment on Ananias and Sapphira, he was bringing the fear of God to the entire church.
```Shall we commit ourselves to encourage one another to walk in the fear of God?```