Fear Is A Good Thing

Fear Is A Good Thing
Acts 4:32-5:16

INTRO: Good morning. This morning we will continue in our study of the Book of Acts. Our text this morning will be from Acts 4:32 through 5:16.

I would like to begin with a story. There was a woman who was at work when she received a phone call from her sitter that her daughter was very sick and had a fever.
She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.

When she went back to her car, she found that she had locked her keys inside. She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter, and she didn't know what to do. She called her home and told the babysitter what had happened and that she did not know what to do. The babysitter told her that her daughter was getting worse.
She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door". The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger lying in the alley.
Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."

She bowed her head and asked God to send her some help. Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head.

The woman thought, "Great God, is this who you sent to help me?" She was desperate, so she was also very thankful. The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said "Yes, my daughter is very sick, I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car, I have to get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"

He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the car was opened. She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "thank you so much, you are a very nice man." The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison this week.

I was in prison for car theft and have only been out for a couple days."
The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out Loud, “Thank you, God, for sending me a professional"

I guess the point of the story is never underestimate the power of prayer, God will not always send us what we want or even what we expect, but what we need.

We saw last time that after being released from prison Peter and John met up with the other believers and they thanked God for everything He had done and was doing through His people.
We also saw them pray to God for strength and courage to keep going.

I. When God’s people, His church, pray together, things are going to happen. Let’s read Acts 4:32 – “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.”

A. Straight away Luke records that the church was united in heart and mind. They were beginning to experience a new kind of unity.

1. This new Christian unity was very evident in the way they readily shared what they had with their fellow believers.
2. I notice that this kind of sharing was voluntary and not forced upon them by some governmental or church order. These early Christians began to think differently about their possessions.
3. These young Christians started to understand what James was later to write in James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

B. Instead of keeping a tight hold of their possessions, each Christian thought of his blessings as gifts from God to be used to the benefit of all the brethren.

1. That attitude of generosity is going to have an impact on the people around them. Think of the impact that has on this assembly when we see the need of one of our brothers and sisters in Christ and help them.
2. Think of the impact on our brethren around the world when we send financial or material aid to help in a kingdom cause?
3. It not only gives us one heart and mind of generosity but it also has an impact to enhance the power of the preaching of those helped and those helping.

C. Acts 4:33 – “with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”

1. When they shared, the apostles received strength and courage to continue to preach about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. Please don’t misunderstand what’s happening here. The apostles were not in control of everyone’s property. This was individual, not corporate.

D. The church (the people) gave freely because they wanted to help as Luke is going tell us next. Acts 4:34-37 – “34. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35. and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. 36. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, 37. having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.”

1. Individual believers gave as they could. They didn’t sell everything they possessed that would be nonsense because that would mean that they would end up in need themselves.
2. Individual believers sold property and brought the money to the apostles to be distributed as needed among the family of God.
3. “to each as anyone had need.” This shows that only the needy received anything, and that those who were not needy were the givers. This was not a commune, or a socialistic club, as many interpreters have fancied. There was no uniform distribution of the property of all among the members; neither was the property of all held and administered by the apostles.
4. What was illustrated here shows that true Christian benevolence requires that we not let our brethren in the church suffer for need. It was not a matter of providing for the whole church, but of supplying the needs of those who lacked.
5. People of their own free will, from love for the brethren, would from their own property make provision for brethren in need. We read here of one of the people contributing named Joses, (or Joseph as some translations have it). He was so well known that he was nicknamed Barnabas or son of Encouragement. Throughout history people have had nicknames by which they were known and remembered.

a. For example have you ever heard of Megas Alexandros? He is better known as Alexander the Great who was one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
b. Have you ever heard of Ivan IV Vasilyevich? He is better known as Ivan the Terrible and for being the first ruler of Russia to assume the title of tsar.
c. How about Max von Sydow? You might remember him as Emperor Ming-the-Merciless in the Flash Gordon TV series.
d. Hear is an easy one perhaps, another one from fiction, John Reid? He was the lone survivor of a group of ambushed Texas Rangers and is better known as The Lone Ranger.

6. That makes me wonder, if people were to look at our lives as a Christian what nickname would they give each of us? The point is this;... people usually remember you by your actions.

II. Let me tell you about another couple who will be remembered in history for all the wrong reasons. They are going to be remembered in history for lying to the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:1-2 – “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet.”

A. Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, who we will look at in a moment, sold some property but decided to only lay a portion of the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. We might be inclined to wonder what was so wrong with this; they sold property and gave the money to the apostles to help those in need.

1. Do you remember in Joshua 6 when the Israelites took Jericho? God said through Joshua to the Israelites in Joshua 6:17-19 – “17. "Now the city shall be doomed by the Lord to destruction, it and all who are in it. Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent. 18. "And you, by all means keep yourselves from the accursed things lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. 19. "But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.''”
2. If you read on in the same passage you will find that they took Jericho but a man named Achan stole some of the treasure for himself.
3. Then in Joshua 7:1 we find this action described. “But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel.”
4. In other words in both cases something was "kept back" for themselves. In both instances the problems arose because of putting self first. Achan disobeyed God’s command that was recorded in Joshua 6. Ananias wanted to raise his stature in the eyes of all by claiming he had given all. Achan coveted possessions and Ananias coveted position. Both placed themselves before God.
5. This is a strong lesson for all God’s people. How often, I wonder, do we place our own interests first and God’s commands second?

B. Peter, as we have already seen through the Book of Acts, was a man who didn’t mince his words. Acts 5:3-4 – “3. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.''”

1. Peter didn’t soft peddle; he told Ananias that it was Satan who had filled his heart so he would lie to the Holy Spirit.
2. The apostles were inspired by the Holy Spirit, and pretending to give all the money from the sale of the land to the apostles was the equivalent to lying to the Spirit.
3. It’s interesting to me that Peter asks him this question in the later part of verse 4, “Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?”

C. I notice that the amount of the gift was not the problem, as Peter said, in the beginning of verse 4, “Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal?” In other words their land was theirs to do with as they pleased. This verse is the emphatic declaration that there was no compulsion whatever upon Ananias, either to sell his land or to give the money afterward.

1. The problem started when he tried to deceive the others and God, as to the size of the gift. It was a problem which was going to be fatal to Ananias and later to his wife Sapphira. Acts 5:5-6 – “When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.”[NIV]
2. People seem to have trouble with this and it has been said; “we cannot imagine Christ acting toward sinners in this manner.” I wonder why not? Read with me Luke 19:27 – “But bring here those enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, and slay them before me.” People simply do not like to think of God or Christ as a being whom they should fear; and such a narrative as this was designed to correct that inadequate conception of deity.

D. This was a story from many years back about a young boy who was placed inside a juvenile detention center awaiting a trial for stealing a Mars bar. He knew he was guilty. On the day of his trial the judge asked him if there was anything he would like to say before sentence was passed. The boy thought for a moment and said, "Judge have you ever stolen candy from a shop?" A painful silence came over the courtroom. Finally the judge blurted out, "No cross examination allowed! Case dismissed!” The point is mankind struggles at times with judgment. God will always judge righteously for He can see what is in the hearts of people.

III. We all have lied at some point in our lives, even in our Christian lives. You can lie to me, or your friends and family and we would be unaware of it, but you cannot lie to God and expect to get away with it.

A. Have you ever told someone you couldn’t come to church because you weren’t feeling well yet managed to go out and do some shopping?

1. Maybe you’ve said, I will be at Bible study but you know deep in your heart that you have no intention being there?
2. Maybe you’ve planned to visit a friend but can’t be bothered to go, so you phone them up with some lame excuse as to why you can’t go. When you lie to people, you are actually lying to God.
3. Ananias after hearing Peter's words fell down dead and this resulted in great fear coming upon all who heard about the incident. Some young men wrapped Ananias' body and took it out to be buried.

B. I’m not saying that if you lie to someone you’re going to die physically... but you will start to die spiritually. Unfortunately when people begin to die spiritually you can tell. They start to separate themselves from God.

1. Do you remember in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve lied to God? Genesis 3:23-24 – “therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”[NKJV]
2. Adam and Eve died, not physically but spiritually.

C. All sin separates us from God but it doesn’t have to continue to separate us from God. “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” which is the promise of 1 John 1:9.

1. People begin to die spiritually when they stop coming to church. People begin to die spiritually when they stop studying the Bible. People begin to die spiritually when they are so involved with the world and its pleasure.
2. They begin to die spiritually when they feel they need to lie to God and His people for whatever reasons they might have.

IV. Let’s continue. Ananias is dead and buried but his wife has no idea what has happened to him. She comes along three hours later and tells Peter the same lie.

A. Acts 5:7-11 – “Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?'' And she said, "Yes, for so much.'' Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together 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.'' Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” [NKJV]

1. Peter asked her if they had sold the land for the amount Ananias had laid at the apostles' feet. When she said that the amount named was correct, Peter knew they had conspired to deceive or, as he said in verse 9, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?" Peter gave her opportunity to confess hers sins to God, that’s why he asked her why they had taken this action. Then he told her the men who had buried her husband's body would also bury her. She too fell down at Peter's feet, died and was carried out by the young men to be buried beside her husband.
2. Peter was not a mind reader; he was inspired by the Holy Spirit. In 2 Chronicles 6:30-31 – we read this plea; “Forgive, and deal with each man according to all he does, since you know his heart (for you alone know the hearts of men), so that they will fear you and walk in your ways all the time they live in the land you gave our fathers”.

B. This event with Ananias and Sapphira sent a strong message through the church and an even stronger message to those in the surrounding areas. The message was fear, not only because of the two deaths, but also because of God's ability to know the intents of the hearts of the conspiring couple.

1. That’s a sobering thought isn’t it? It ought to cause anyone to think twice before trying to deceive God.
2. Fear in the world’s eyes is always seen as a bad thing.

a. People fear terrorists attacking our cities.
b. They fear they might lose their jobs.
c. They fear they might fail a final exam.
d. They fear that they may lose a loved one.
e. They fear the pandemic that is sweeping the world.

C. I suggest to you that the fear we find in Acts 5 is a good fear. I would suggest that on this occasion it did four things—it united, divided, brought attention to Christ and brought new believers. Continue now with me in Acts 5:12-13 – “And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.”

1. I recall from somewhere that it was said one of the most beautiful birds on the earth today is the peacock. What the male peafowl does when he is ready to mate is open up all his feathers and displays all their beautiful colors. Why does he do that? He's trying to get the females attention.
2. Why did God enable the apostles to perform many miraculous signs and wonders? God worked miracles through the inspired apostles and four things happened.

a. It united because the church continued to assemble on Solomon's porch.
b. It divided because although those outside of the church had been moved to fear, they did not dare to join the number of believers.
c. It brought attention because those outside the church held the Christians in high esteem and increasing numbers of those who believed on Jesus were added to the Lord.
d. Finally it brought new believers because Luke tells us in verse 14, “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,”

3. In other words the fear, signs, miracles and wonders were done to get people’s attention to the gospel.

CONCLUSION:
Let me bring your attention now to Hebrews 1:1-2 – “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;” God doesn’t speak to us in the various ways like He did before. Today He speaks to us through His word. That’s why these things don’t happen today. We have the complete and final revelation from God in the form of His Word.

Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” We don’t live by sight. We live by faith.

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” During Biblical times they didn’t have the word of God as we have today—written conveniently in a Book. After they performed the miracles the apostles continued to preach about Jesus rising from the dead and look what happened. They got people’s attention and they are still getting people’s attention.

Let us continue in Acts 5:15-16 – “so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”

People were so impressed with the way God worked through the apostles that they brought their sick out into the streets. There was no misunderstanding about what was going on in Jerusalem. Peter could see the people and stop to heal them as he passed by, or, at least, his shadow would fall on them. Whether they were actually healed by the shadow of Peter passing over them, one cannot tell from the text.

This is not what some of the religious world claim happens today, where you need faith first and a healthy bank account next. The apostles were not hoaxers. People came and they even came from surrounding towns bringing those who were sick or possessed by an evil spirit. All were healed by the power of God working through the apostles.

You see fear really is a good thing. In fact fearing God and keeping His commandments is all God wants from everyone. Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” Folks we have to fear God and do His will now while we still have life in these bodies.
The Hebrew writer warns us of another fear in Hebrews 10:26-27 – “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.”

Fear will always be around us.
Fear will always be within us.
We have to choose what kind of fear we want to live with. Fear of things in the world is something we cannot control but fearing God is a decision you could make right now to control your future. You see fear really is a good thing. It all depends on cause of your fear.
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We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins... If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.

Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

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Reference Sermon: Mike Glover