Adventure Day 36 - 3/29/09

[Read Acts 5:1-11] Sin and Holy Fear...

Ananias and Sapphira were a Christian couple involved in the earliest days of the Church. Inspired by what others had done to provide for needs in the infant Jerusalem fellowship, they decided to sell some property and give it to the apostles for distribution to church members who were in need. Keeping part of the sale money for themselves, however, they falsely presented what they gave to the church as the total amount. Their deception cost them their lives; both fell dead at the apostles' feet. The result was that "...great fear seized all who heard what had happened" (vv. 5&11).

Fear is not a common or welcome emotion in the church today. However, there is something about fear - "holy fear" - the kind spoken of in this passage from Acts, that also characterizes true revival. You see, God and sin do not go together....never. When Christ's Spirit awakens a church, that felt holy presence of Christ projects a stark contrast to our sinfulness, and our only appropriate response is "holy fear/awe" and repentance.

At times, this results in tears...tears for our senseless rebellion, and for the wounds Jesus bore on our behalf. Repentance, and the tears that often accompany true turning from sin toward God, prepare our hearts to receive the forgiveness God offers all who come home.

What sin of long standing is preventing you from that walk back home to God? What's keeping you from a soul response of holy fear/repentance? Forgiveness, and the grace of the Spirit's intimate companionship, is a great prize, my friend. Much better than the alternative option...but then again, Ananius and Saphira have certainly had a lot of company on that trail down through the years.

A revived Church, an awakened individual, responds to God's holiness with repentant heart and holy fear. Want to gauge your experience of revival? Examine your heart...

God's Peace!
Pastor Paul