27th Mar 26 | 16:08
Studies by Book
01 Acts 05 01-11 THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH 13 Acts 05 05-06 Open and willing for His cleansing
📖 Acts 05:01-11
13 – 29Mar2023 – *Open and willing for His cleansing* - _Acts 05:01-11_ - THE FEAR OF GOD IN HIS CHURCH - Bible reading: _Jeremiah 33:08-11_
“Lord Jesus, we give ourselves to You for Your cleansing of us. Thank You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
_Acts 5:5-6 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So *great fear came upon all those who heard these things*. (6) And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him._
When this incident took place, the fear of God came upon all the people who heard these things.
This was how it was from the start of the early church. _Acts 2:42-43 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (43) *Then fear came upon every soul*, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles._
We must always keep in mind that the Lord is cleansing His church so that His fear will come upon the people of our world, who are forsaking God. The Lord is making Himself known to the people of the world that He is holy and He is to be feared.
*_Malachi 3:3-4 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._*
God’s people are to be a model of the ways of God to the world. In cleansing us, He makes our lives as His church to be lives of joy, praise and honour to His name.
_Jeremiah 33:8-11 *I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me*, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. (9) *Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.*' (10) "Thus says the LORD: '*Again there shall be heard* in this place—of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, (11) *the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever"—and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD*. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD._
People of the world ought to fear and tremble for the goodness of God to His church since the Lord continues to refine us. _Psalms 126:1-2 A Song of Ascents. When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion, We were like those who dream. (2) Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."_
We are to be those who declare the praises of Him who has brought us from darkness into His marvellous light. _I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, *that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy*._
We were those who had no identity but now we are the people of God for He is refining us. The Lord is causing us to cling to Him for He is our identity. *_Jeremiah 13:11 For as the sash clings to the waist of a man, so I have caused the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah to cling to Me,' says the LORD, 'that they may become My people, for renown, for praise, and for glory; but they would not hear.'_*
The Lord’s intention is to make His church to be a royal diadem in His hands. We are to be called Hepzibah and Beulah for the Lord delights in us. Therefore, it is necessary for us to welcome the cleansing of His church.
_Isaiah 62:1-4 For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, *Until her righteousness goes forth as brightness*, And her salvation as a lamp that burns. (2) *The Gentiles shall see your righteousness*, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the LORD will name. (3) *You shall also be a crown of glory In the hand of the LORD, And a royal diadem In the hand of your God.* (4) You shall no longer be termed Forsaken, Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; But *you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; For the LORD delights in you*, And your land shall be married._
```Let us give ourselves to the correction of the Lord.```