The story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 4:32-5:11) offends the modern reader, but it should help us to answer a timeless question: What is the fear of the Lord? Matthew 10:28

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What is the fear of the Lord?

• I remember hearing this phrase as a kid and I thought it was a bad thing
• Not supposed to be afraid of God, are we?
• I was told that it’s just talking about “respect”
• Respect God, like you respect a sweet old man
• Grampa Gene
• But then I read verses like this:

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

• (Gulp) This is not respecting a sweet old man!
• This is Jesus telling people to fear God. This is in opposition to someone who might say the fear of the Lord is just an Old Testament thing.

I bring up this question because today we’re covering Acts 4:32-5:11. It tells a terrifying story and then lands on this verse:

Acts 5:11 (NLT) 11 Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

• That’s a BAD thing, right? Wrong. It’s a good thing, and that’s what we’re going to be talking about today. Before we read it, let me ask you a question:
• Do you take God too seriously or too lightly? (put it on a spectrum)
• I think 99% of today’s Christians take him too lightly
• he is just a sweet old grandpa figure
• Today’s story will hopefully swing the pendulum back a bit
• Now let’s get to the text…

Acts 4:32-35 (NLT) 32 All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. 33 The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. 34 There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them 35 and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.

• Another general description of the early church
• More than that… it’s a setup for the two stories to follow…

Acts 4:36-37 (NLT) 36 For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. 37 He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

• There are lots of cool nicknames: “Air Jordan”, “The Rock”, “Billy the Kid”, but how cool would it be to have the nickname “Son of Encouragement".” Now that’s a guy I want to hang around. Do you have some encouragers in your life?
• This is almost certainly the same Barnabus who shows up three more times in Acts (9:26-7; 11:22-6; 15:37)
• A positive example of generosity in the early church
• (Pillar New Testament Commentary) Although only a field was sold, ownership of land...