Question: What is one of the greatest threats to the church?

The Point: The church must be on guard against hypocrisy.

"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." -Acts 4:36-37

"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. 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." -Acts 5:1-10

1) God not only sees my actions but my motives

"25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." -Matthew 23:25-28

2) Hypocrisy is an assault to God's character

"2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began" -Titus 1:2

"44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies." -John 8:44

We need a healthy fear of the Lord.

"5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it...11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things." -Acts 5:5, 11

"24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day." -Deuteronomy 6:24

"Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!" -Psalm 112:1

"But the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love." -Psalm 147:11

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Proverbs 9:10

"The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm." -Proverbs 19:23

"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord." Isaiah 11:2-3a

"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." -Matthew 10:28

"31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied." -Acts 9:31

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body[a] and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God." -2 Corinthians 7:1

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," -Philippians 2:12

"There are three elements to the fear of the Lord: respect (or reverence), admiration for His glorious attributes, and amazement at His infinite love" -Jerry Bridges

"17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile," -1 Peter 1:17

"I literally adore the way that Peter handles this topic of the fear of the Lord; I think it's incredibly helpful. And I think as I was studying this passage, I saw this clearly for the very first time. He's clearly not talking about a terror of God's condemnation. The fear that God would turn His back on you, the fear that He would throw you out of His family. Now how do I know that? Because Peter puts two titles together that, for the Christian, ought to always be together. He puts Father and Judge together. God is for the believer, not just our Judge, He's a Father-Judge. Now, what does that tell you? It tells you that the one who watches over you, the one who holds you accountable, does that with the spirit and the heart of a father. It means you're already in His family. He's already made you an object of His love. You already bear His name. You're already the object of His loving protection and provision, His fathering care. And so, it's like having a loving father, but who is an authority in your life. You're not afraid that He's going to hurt you. You're not afraid that He's going to pack your bags and throw you out of the family. But you know that there will be consequences to not obeying Him. That's exactly the picture he's talking about. Consequences are not condemnation. Hear what I’m about to say, “The consequences are God's discipline. God disciplines those whom He loves.” It's just wrong to think that since I'm God's child, and since I'm the object of His grace, there'll be no consequences for my sin. The Bible just doesn't teach that. In fact, it says if God loves me, He couldn't possibly not discipline me. Discipline without love is not discipline, and love without discipline isn't love. And that's so beautifully presented here as Peter says you fear Him like a child would fear a loving father; you have deep awe and respect for His authority. And so, you want to live in a way that pleases Him; that's the picture here." -Paul Tripp

1) Confess & Repent

"5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." -1 John 1:5-9

2) Live Authentically