From the Word: What Are they so afraid of?

Jan

From the Word: What Are they so afraid of?

Posted on January 5th, 2010 in Faith, From the Word by Fred McKinnon

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12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

(Acts 5: 12-13, ESV, YouVersion.Com, emphasis mine)

What do you suppose the people were so afraid of, that they “dared not join them”?

Thoughts? Leave your comments below, and let’s discuss!

Tracie

Maybe they felt not good enough. Or maybe they were afraid to give up control, knowing to do those things it quite possibly meant surrendering and a sacrifice of much cost.
http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

Good responses, Tracie. Also, in the context of the passage, this is immediately after Annanias and his bride were ZAPPED for lying and stealing from God. I suppose that seeing God’s vengeance (if that’s what it was?) was enough to frighten anyone. Do I really want to be in this group?
http://www.robmckinnon.net Robert McKinnon

We see the same thing today when the gifts of the Spirit are being manifest in a group of believers. Many people see something they don’t understand and would simply rather not dive into it and learn.

God’s ways are totally un-predictable. This scares us. We often wind up running away from Him and His works, don’t we.

Another thing to consider is this: It seems that the people who “joined” them were the ones who truly saw themselves as having a need in their lives so strongly that they were willing to “risk it all” to go to the apostles.

Perhaps this is our greatest dilema? We don’t really see ourselves as being “blind, naked and miserable”? (Rev. 3:17)

Finally . . . . the fear of the Lord. How often we tend to run from God when the fear of the Lord is strong in our midst. The fear of the Lord is designed to cause us to run TO Him, but we often do the opposite.
http://www.robmckinnon.net Robert McKinnon

By the way, Fred, good post. I can’t wait to hear more. I find myself looking at my email more and more looking for the next comment! I got a lot out of yesterday’s post!

http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

Thanks, Robert – I’m loving it. I’ve already got one saved for release tomorrow AM!

Tracie

Oh okay. That makes sense. Good point Fred.
I think this was said above, but when I first read your blog today the word Powerless came to mind, or helpless in a sense. So when you see someone being zapped by God, or if I did, I would be afraid and also that sense of being powerless gets me.
Like there are times I see God work and it puts me in awe, but then I am thinking God can do anything…like zap me. Am I okay with that? It takes a lot of courage to surrender to a power greater than ourselves.
Or for me it does because sometimes I am afraid of bad things happening even when I see God do good ones right in front of me.

http://www.robmckinnon.net Robert McKinnon

Wow, Tracie! I guess you kinda nailed it on the head there. Seems like it’s a matter of TRUST on our part toward God, doesn’t it.

Ouch! Guilty here . . .

Tracie

Thank you Robert. Trust is my biggest battle I fight daily.
So I’m there with you.
http://www.fredmckinnon.com Fred McKinnon

’tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
just to take Him at His word …

Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus .
Oh, for grace, to trust Him more.

Tracie

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From the Word: What Are they so afraid of?

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