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When Faith Turns to Fear


John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son (Jesus), 

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.



Perishing is not God's will for anybody. 



John 10:10 (ESV)
10 The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. 


I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly.


The greatest expression of love is giving. It involves more than just words.  Love is a person not a feeling.  Love is a choice not a emotion.  


1 John 4  (ESV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.


If you love God, you give to Him.  If you love people, you give to them.  Here is a story in the Bible about giving. 



Acts 4 (ESV)
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, 



and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 


33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.


34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 


35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.


People tend to go to a church that matches their commitment level.  We need to be fully committed to God.  


36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 


37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.


This was recorded because God was pleased with this.  They exchanged temporary stuff for eternal things.  


Acts 5 (ESV)
1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 

2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 


3 But Peter said, 

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 


4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? 


Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”


5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

This happened in the age of grace.  Peter knew him by name. 


6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.


7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.


8 And Peter said to her, 


“Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” 


And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 


9 But Peter said to her, 

“How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord?'

Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”


10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. 


When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

This could happen to believers because it says that the whole church was afraid that it could happen to them.  



Judgement can happen in the lives of Christians.   

Galatians 6:7  (ESV)
7 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.


What was happening was precious to God.  These people loved God more than their stuff, and these two made a mockery of it.  These two wanted the recognition for the giving without the sacrifice. 



Galatians 6 (ESV)
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.


Jesus gave us His all.  When these people gave all they had, they were acting like Christ. 


We must remember there are crooks.  Listen to the Holy Spirit.  God might ask for your Isaac though (Genesis 22).



1 Corinthians 11:31  (ESV)
31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.


We must count holy what God counts holy. We must consider precious what God considers precious.  Not just at Church, but all the time.


Ephesians 5:1(ESV)
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 


We must not token give (Luke 21:4). We must give when, where, and how much the Holy Spirit directs us to give.  



Giving to family and employees is good ground. 


You don't have a lot of money.  It's the heart that makes the gift acceptable.


John 3:16 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


Keith Moore, Faith Life Church
https://flcmedia.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/FLCBranson/MP4/2018/HD/180909Video.mp4 
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