STUDY VI. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF SAUL

Saul was the first king of Israel anointed by Samuel the prophet, after he had gone out to seek for his father's lost donkeys. After searching they decided to go to the prophet in search of direction, and as was the custom, they went with a gift. Samuel told him the donkeys were left and took him aside and anointed him to be the king of Israel. He never mentioned about him being anointed to anyone.

He was told that he would meet a group of prophets and he would prophesy like them and it happened.

God changed him by giving him another heart.

1Sam 9:1-10:16

We see that he was hardworking, had respect for God's prophet and was also humble. 

Saul then called all the Israelites to choose the king publicly before them all. He chose by lot and finally Saul was chosen, but he had hidden himself in the suitcases. God revealed where he was and he was called though not everyone believed in him. 1Sam 10:17-20

The first battle he fought the ammonites and God gave him victory.

They later went to gilgal and renewed the kingdom there and Saul was made king in gilgal. 1Sam 11:1-15

Jonathan and the people attacked the Philistines and Saul charged them to come. The Philistines assembled to fight back and the Israelites were hard pressed and began hiding themselves in caves, thickets, cliffs and pits, some crossed Jordan and they that remained were trembling.

Now he waited seven days, according to the appointed time set by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattering from him.

He later asked for burnt offerings and peace offerings but as soon as he finished offering, Samuel came.1Sam 13:1-11

He had acted out of fear and this costed him his kingdom.

 

Samuel said to Saul, “You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”

1Sam 13:13-14

Never act out of fear. Disobeying Gods clear instructions can cost you your destiny. Saul went beyond his boundaries and offered the offering which was only the work of a priest.

It's good to seek to act within the boundaries of your calling. There is a limit in what God wants you to do. Seek to know the boundaries of your calling and live only within your boundaries unless you want to destroy your life and ministry.

God chose another person in his place but he didn't die at that time but continued serving as king for more than ten years though he was rejected.

Even today there are many whom God has already rejected but they are still on their thrones serving. Many servants of God who once were highly anointed like Saul have been rejected by God due to disobedience and going beyoytne boundaries God has set for them.

Saul only thought about himself and his son. Among his army, only he and his son hard a sword. 1Sam 13:22

A picture of preachers who only wants to God's word but feel threatened when other members read the bible for themselves. Those who want to make others dependent on them; such a pity that majority of those who call themselves never read the bible for themselves but only wait for what will be preached to them on Sundays.

God gave Saul victory over the Philistines in chapter 14. This teaches us that God can give you victory even when he has rejected you because he cares for those who are under you.

God performing a miracle or giving you victory is never a sign that he is with you or he is pleased with you. God does good to everyone, and sends rain and sunshine both to the wicked and the righteous. Mat 5:45

Saul was given an assignment to destroy amalekites and their king but unfortunately he only destroyed the bad things but kept the fattened sheep and bulls and spared the king. 1Sam 15:1-20

God was displeased and said through Samuel:

Samuel said, “Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.” 1Sam 15:22-23.

He obeyed partially but partial obedience is disobedience.

Saul acknowledged his sin and begged Samuel to honour him before the people but Samuel rejected. His repentance was not sincere. He still wanted people to think that God still was with him when he wasn't. Many whom God has rejected still want the honour and still want to be thought of as one whom God is still with even when they have lost contact with God.

1Sam 15:24-31

In the beginning Saul was small in his own eyes, but he became proud when God lifted Him. 1Sam 15:17

We learn from Saul that we must beware of Pride.

Partial obedience is disobedience. Our obedience must be complete.

We must never act out of fear and we must live within the boundaries of our calling.

The rest of the time Saul lived chasing God's anointed King, David until his death.

What a poor ending.

The fact that God has anointed you for a specific purpose should be the reason you seem God more to finish well. Many who are anointed finish poorly.

In history of the church, there are many who God anointed but they lost contact with God and many of them claim to be Elijah prophesied in Malachi. In almost every generation there is a man who claims to be Elijah after backsliding from his calling.

The end of a matter is better than the beginning.

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STUDY V. FINISHING STRONG

STUDY IV. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF JEHU

Jehu was anointed by Elijah the prophet to be the king of Israel the same time he went and anointed Elisha to be the next prophet. He was the son Of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi. 1Kings 19:13-16. 2Kings 9:1-3

 the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu’s head and said, “...I anoint you king over the Lord’s people, Israel... destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the Lord’s servants who were killed by Jezebel.

The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel. 2Kings 9:6-8

His commission was clear.

Jehu and his company rode to Jezreel and the king sent two horsemen asking whether there is peace but Jehu asked asked what they had to do with peace.

... And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

Jehu drove furiously, going to do what He was anointed to do.

When God anoints you to do something, you must be passionate about doing what God commissions you to do.

We must never do God's will half-heartedly but with a passion and zeal.

When Jezebel heard Jehu was coming, she applied make on her face to try to seduce Jehu but it didn't work. 9:30. Interestingly, it the first time in the bible a woman applies make up.

Jehu killed all the kings sons.

Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s relatives living in Jezreel and all his important officials, his personal friends, and his priests. So Ahab was left without a single survivor. 2Kings 10:11

Then Jehu said, “Now come with me, and see how devoted I am to the Lord.” So Jehonadab rode along with him. 2Kings 10:16.

Serving the Lord and doing His will must be done in passion and zeal.

How passionate are you when doing what the Lord asks you to do?

When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he killed everyone who was left there from Ahab’s family, just as the Lord had promised through Elijah. Vs 17

So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal,

They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.

In this way, Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel. 2King10:25-28

Jehu did what he was anointed to do but after destroying the house of Ahab Baal worship in Israel, but there was an omission in his assignment.

But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. 2King 10:29-31

He was supposed to destroy the golden calves to remove idolatry from Israel completely but He didn't. He relaxed. He sat down and congratulated himself how he had served God wholeheartedly.

The same thing occurs today, you see many believers after serving God wholeheartedly for years reach a certain period that they relax in their Christian life and Start congratulating themselves. This is the time that many backside.

Even after accomplishing great things for God, you can backslide.

How many great men of God we read of who God used greatly but later on fell into sin? It's because they loose their guard. They start being less watchful. They start thinking that because God has blessed them, then whatever they do God will bless even when God has not spoken to them.

Their past deliverances become the song of the day. 

May the Lord deliver us from such.

The Christian life is one where we have to be watchful until the end.

Don't rely on your past how you used to serve God or how God used you: what about now and tomorrow, thats is more important.

You may have been fresh last year but be stale today.

The manna that fell got worms after one day but the manna that was kept in the ark of the covenant remained fresh for years.

Always remaining in the presence of the Lord is the secret of always remaining fresh.

Maintaining a life of meditation of God's word, Psalm. 1:2-3, and leaning and trusting God and total yieldedness and complete submission to his voice like brach on the vine.. Jerem 17:7, John 15:1-5

Remember not to relax and congratulate yourself, but be careful in your personal walk with God.

Destroy in your life everything that needs to be destroyed. Restore what need to be restored. Resolve what needs to be resolved.

Your omissions may quench your fire.

The fire in the alter of your life must be kept burning in your heart.

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STUDY III. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF JEHOSHAPHAT 

Jehoshaphat was one of the kings of Judah. He was the son of King Asa who was one of the godliest kings of Israel. He had a godly heritage.

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father’s early years and did not worship the images of Baal. He sought his father’s God and obeyed his commands instead of following the evil practices of the kingdom of Israel. He was deeply committed to the ways of the Lord. He removed the pagan shrines and Asherah poles from Judah. 2Chron 17:3-4,6

He sent the Levites to teach the law of the Lord to the Israelites and the fear of the Lord filled the whole land. He helped the Israelites to know God and fear Him

Jehoshaphat enjoyed great riches and high esteem, and he made an alliance with Ahab of Israel by having his son marry Ahab’s daughter. 2Chron 18:1-34

Ahab as we know was an evil king, but Jehoshaphat didn't care about that. He didn't understand that bad company corrupts good morals.

He visited Ahab and Ahab asked to join him in battle.

Jehoshaphat asked Ahab to inquire of the Lord first. He had discernment to first of all hear what God was saying about the situation.

It's always important to develop that attitude, that before joining a spiritual battle or before undertaking anything, to first enquire from the Lord, to hear what the Lord says about the matter.

Ahab called 400 false prophets who spoke well of Him. Even today, false prophets will always tell you what you want to hear. The false prophets never speak on repentance, or the way of the cross or on sin or on God's judgement or hell.

Jehoshaphat was not convinced about them and asked whether there was no prophet of God. Micaiah was called and prophesied his doom and he was slain in battle.

Jehoshaphat returned and God sent Jehu to warn him.

Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you. 2Chr 19:2.

The true prophets are not men pleasers but speak the very mind of God straight to your face.

He appointed judges and told them to judge the people in the fear of God.

Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 2Chron 19:9

A message was sent to Jehoshaphat if a great army marching to attack him.

Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 2Chron 20:2-4

He prayed, and reminded God of His covenant  and acknowledged their weakness. Vs 6-12“O Lord God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you! 

God spoke and instructed them and God fought for them. 

In every battle you read of in the new testament, God always gave different instructions. There is no formula for fighting; we always have to seek God on what to do in every battle.

God always speaks when we seek Him wholeheartedly and desperately concerning any matter.

What is your first response when you face challenges. Learn to always seek God.

Vs 33 says that During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

This one of the omissions in his life.

Some time later King Jehoshaphat of Judah made an alliance with King Ahaziah of Israel, who was very wicked.  2Chron 20:35

Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish. Vs 37

The next verse is that he died and was buried.

He started well but ended poorly. 

We can see the reason was that he joined himself with wicked men  and what he was supposed to do but he omitted.

He did many wonderful things for God yet he ended poorly because of the company. The authority God gave him, he didn't use it to remove the pagan shrines from Israel and thus people did not fully commit themselves to the Lord.

Take heed to your company.

Do not be deceived. Bad company corrupts good morals. 1Cor 15:33.

What you omit doing may cost you to end your Christian life poorly.

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STUDY II. FINISHING STRONG

 

THE LIFE OF SAMSON

for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Judges 13:5.

Samson was chosen before he was born to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines. God anointed him for that and just like he does even today. God has called many with great destinies and Even anointed them to fulfill the purpose to which He has called them to fulfill.

His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” Judge 14:3

Though anointed by God, Samson disobeyed Gods command in Deut 7:3 that says You must not intermarry with them. Do not let your daughters and sons marry their sons and daughters.

The interesting thing is that God still used him even when he disobeyed. God using a man of God is never a mark that God is pleased with him nor that God is with him. It is easy when you are anointed by God to think that the warnings in God's word belong to other not you. God will still use you  and that should terrify us even the more.

Samson killed a lion afterwards. At that moment the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him, and he ripped the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands. He did it as easily as if it were a young goat. But he didn’t tell his father or mother about it. Judg 14:6. The anointing still came upon him.

Then he found the jawbone of a recently killed donkey. He picked it up and killed 1,000 Philistines with it. Judg 15:15

So God caused water to gush out of a hollow in the ground at Lehi, and Samson was revived as he drank. Then he named that place “The Spring of the One Who Cried Out,” and it is still in Lehi to this day. Judg  15:19

He could pray and God answer him.

One day Samson went to the Philistine town of Gaza and spent the night with a prostitute. But Samson stayed in bed only until midnight. Then he got up, took hold of the doors of the town gate, including the two posts, and lifted them up, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron. Judg 16:1,3

Even in immorality, Samson could still take the gates into a hill. He had the strength to do. Just like a preacher can be living in sexual sin and still preach leading others to Christ. 

If God uses you, it is never a sign that He is pleased with you.

So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes you so strong and what it would take to tie you up securely.” Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I SHALL BECOME WEAK AND BE LIKE ANY OTHER MAN.”

The mission of Delilah was to find out where Samsons strength lay to weaken him so that he could become just like other men. 

After much persuasion, Samson yielded and told him his secret. She cut his hair and Samson rose up just like other days but the Lord had left him.

And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Judg 16:20.

He was anointed but God was not able to accomplish what He planned through. Being anointed by God doesn't mean that God will accomplish everything He desires through you. You can abort your destiny through careless.

The attitude towards God's word, if you think it applies to others not you, you'll probably not end well unless you change your attitude towards God's word.

Thinking that Even when you sin, it's not a big deal because God still uses you, you may end up like Samson. God uses even those who live in sin because he loves those being ministered through them. Sin will take the anointing from your life if you are not careful.

The hair represent the life of consecration. Our consecration is our source of strength 

Unless we guard the secret place, our devotional life, our power will be limited. Do not let sin or anyone or anything else take you from the place of prayer.

Will the anointing God has placed in your life fulfill the purpose God wants to accomplish through you or will your destiny die prematurely.

Desire to have a lasting and enduring anointing.

Take God's word seriously. Stay away from sin. Don't take God's word for granted.

Learn and be warned.

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FINISHING STRONG.

 

STUDY I

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; 

Ecc 7:8

The preacher tells us that the way we finish any matter is of far more importance that the way we begun it. In the same way, even for the Christian journey; the way we finish our Christian race is far more important than the way we start. 

We must be very much more interested in finishing well in our walk with God.

Paul said that his desire was to finish with joy the course of his life. Acts 20:24. This also must be our desire, to finish with joy the race and course that God has for us. As we all know, in the racing competition, especially the long distance races such as the cross country, there are multitudes who join the race in the beginning but majority of them drop out of the race and only a few of them finish, and it's only those who finish well that are recognised. There is no award for those who never finished.

Even in college and universities, numerous students join to study different courses but some drop out. During graduation ceremony, only those who finish the course are awarded the certificates. There is no certificate for those who joined then dropped out.

Paul asks, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1Cor 9:24-27

Paul explained that unless he disciplined his body to do what it should not and not what it wants to do, he would be disqualified. He explains what he means by being disqualifed in chapter 10:1-13,

He gives the example of the children of Israel who God brought out of Egypt to take them to the promised land. They were many who came out of Egypt but only two of them reached the promised land.

In the same way, there are many people who get born again but backslide along the way.

Peter warns and says, For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

2Pet 2:20-22

Paul warns that many will fall from the faith. You cannot fall from where you had not ascended first.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1Tim 4:1

Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold

Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. Mat 24:12

Both in Peter and Mathew, the context is talking about false prophets. 

Not every preacher on TV or radio is of God. Not everyone who performs miracles is of God. Jesus said that we should not believe every spirit but test them to see whether they are of God. 1John 4:1

The context of the quoted verses above show us that the reason many will not finish well is because that will be listening to false preachers.

Man's problem with God is not money but sin. Jesus died for sin. He came to call sinners to repentance.

All the workers of iniquity in the last day they will be thrown in hell, even if they were preachers and performed miracles and did many wonderful things. Mat 7:21-23, Luke 13:27.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our learning, ...Rom 15:4

The scriptures are to teach us, warn us, correct us, rebuke us. 2Tim 3:16

In these studies we will look at examples of men in scriptures who finished well, and those who fell and a lesson for our lives to help us finish well in our Christian journey.

God who helped others finish well is willing also to uphold to and help you and I to finish well. He is more interested and eager for us to finishing well that we are interested and eager to.

He is willing to give us all the resources we need to be able to finish well if we will seek Him. He will give us all the encouragement, all the warnings, all the wisdom, all the knowledge, all the discernment, all the fellowship of brethren, and everything else we'll ever need to finish well, if we seek Him wholeheartedly about it all the days of our pilgrimage.

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STUDY XIII. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. Prov 8:13

There is a difference between hating evil and avoiding evil.

To hate is to detest or dislike something intensely. 

You can avoid evil because you want to preserve your reputation before men. You may avoid evil in the presence of your pastor, parents or friends who have a high reputation of you but deep within you, you may desire to do it. When in private, you may indulge in things that you would not indulge in openly. Avoiding evil doesn't mean you fear God. To fear God is to detest and dislike evil intensely. You don't want to do it even in private. 

For example, if you are told to take the water in the toilet bowl after the toilet has been used and not flashed; you detest that. T

You don't have even the slightest desire to do it, whether in private or in public. But supposing there is a dog or a pig, you may train them not to eat the feaces, but deep within their hearts, they desire a taste of it. 

They can only avoid it in your presence but in private they will do it.

To fear God is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, corruption and a forward tongue.

The nature of man is corrupt and depraved from the core and unless one is born again, they cannot hate evil. We must acquire a new nature to be able to hate to do anything evil. To be able to hate pride and always love to humble yourself. When you are humble you will not seek a name for yourself, you will never despise anyone, you will not quarrel with others or fight, you will not seek to prove yourself. When you hate perverseness in speech you will be very careful with your tongue. You will not speak uncontrollably, you will say what you mean, and you will easily apologise when you are rude or hurt others. You will be constantly judging yourself and you will always do your best to keep your conscience clear.

The very first thing that God requires of us is that we may fear him.

“Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, And you must always obey the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good. Deut 10:12-13

The angel will be sent to preach that men should fear God and give Him glory. Rev 14:7

Where are you?

Does your life show a person who fears God or are you a compromiser.

What is your attitude towards sin? If you avoid sin but don't hate sin, you don't fear God. Seek God that He may fill your heart with the fear of God 

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STUDY XII. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: And He will delight in the fear of the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear; Isaiah 11:3

This verse is telling us what the fear of the Lord teaches us. When there is fear of God in our eyes, we shall not judge by what our eyes see not by what our ears hear.

99%of all the information we have comes through the eyes and through the ears. The same with the way we make judgements or decisions; it's based on what our eyes see and what our ears hear.

Jesus said that we should not make judgement based on the outward appearance but make righteous judgements. John 7:24

Our eyes deceive us. For example, we know that that earth rotates around the sun, but if we judge by our eyes, we will think that it is the sun that moves round the sun, as we see during the day. We don't feel beneath our feet the earth movement but it's there. Our eyes and feelings deceive us. If we rely on them for making judgements, we will be wrong. What we hear from others is not reliable. Many people will tell you about others and feed you with the wrong information. Even the information we get from the news is not reliable. 

When we have the fear of God, it will teach us to seek God about everything before making any decision or judgment on others. 

Lot is a classic example! Gen 13:10, Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.

Lot decided where to invest based on his eyes and we know that later on God destroyed sodom by fire. If he had sought God, God would have warned him but he was wise in his own eyes.

Eve also; Gen 3:6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. 

She made a decision based on what her eyes saw and she sinned. This is what happens. We are warned not to be wise in our own eyes.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Prov 26:12.

Prov 3:7. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Gehazi Also is another example. 2Kings 6:15-17

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.

“Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!”

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

If we seek God always, we will never judge people or make decisions based on what our eyes see, or what our ears hear but we will learn to go to God in brokenness and humility and seek Him to open our eyes to see as He sees and to hear as he hears. It's only then that we can make the right judgements on people, on circumstances, and on everything affecting us.

Choose to walk in the fear of God. Stop making decisions based on what your ears hear and what your eyes see but learn to seek to see things from God's point of view.

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STUDY XI THE FEAR OF GOD .

 

“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. Mal 4:2

Sun is the source of light. The sun of righteousness will lighten your path the way of righteousness. As you walk this way, your woulds will be healed, both emotional and physical and psychological woulds. Your life will be filled with joy. You will be free from gloom, depression, discouragement, anxiety, and fear. Nothing will weigh you down; but this is only for those who fear the Lord. Are you among them? You can choose to be.

The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble.

If you fear God, you need not fear anything else.

Isaiah 8:11-13

God is giving us a strong warning. God warns us many times but if He says that something is a strong warning, then we should take heed to it. 

He warns that we should not fear what the other people fear, or tremble before what makes others to tremble. We should regard God as Holy in our lives and we should fear and tremble before Him alone.

If in your heart you truly fear God, you will not fear anything else in this life. The fear of God drives our all the other fears. If you have other fears, it's because you don't fear God in some way.

“For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

The one who trembles before God's word is a blessed man indeed. To tremble at God's word is to go to His word and studying to see whether there is a portion of scripture that you are not obeying. You read God's word word carefully lest you may find out that you are obedient to Him according to the light you have in your heart and conscience.

If you tremble at God's word, God will look upon you with favour. When God looks upon you with favour, then you will overcome in every circumstance or situation. Nothing will overwhelm you. He will give you all the wisdom you need for every situation. All the health you need, all the counsel you need, all the encouragement you need, all the warnings you need, all the resources you need, all the knowledge you need, Everything you'll ever need in this life, God will take care of it.

The purpose of man, is to make the fear of God his everyday duty.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.

Whatever you do, fear God, respect Him, reverence Him, regard Him as holy in your life. Know that He is watching you closely whatever you do, wherever you are, listening to everything you say, searching the motives and attitudes of your heart.

Choose to always fear God. Don't check whether others have made the same decision or not, look only unto Jesus, stop regarding men, their opinions are worthless.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY X. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. For surely there is a latter end, a future and a reward, and your hope and expectation shall not be cut off.

Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your mind in the way of the Lord.

Prov 23:17-19

We are exhorted here to continue living in the fear of the Lord every moment and every time; from morning to evening and from evening to morning; 24/7. There is a reward for such as continue living in the fear of the Lord; they have a wonderful future ahead and their expectations shall not be cut off. There will never be a miscarriage of the expectations of those who fear the Lord. They will be fulfilled in due time. Whatever the attack the devil may launch against one who fears the Lord 24/7, he will never succeed against them. The enemy have no place in the life of one who continues to fear the Lord. 

The best decision you can make is to decide that from henceforth, you will walk in the fear of God all your life.

Where is the man who fears the Lord? God will teach him how to choose the best.

He shall live within God’s circle of blessing, and his children shall inherit the earth.

Friendship with God is reserved for those who reverence him. With them alone he shares the secrets of his promises. Psalm 25:12-14(TLB)

There are many decisions we have to make every single day. Do you want God to help you always choose the best? Choose then to fear and reverence Him.

Do you want to live within God's circle of blessings? That the boundaries where there is a curse, God will separate you from such a place or environment; that everytine you are where the blessings of the Lord are? Choose to fear and reverence God.

Do you want God to share with you His secrets? You don't share secrets with everyone. Secrets are reserved for those whom you are most intimate with. God also has many secrets, but He doesn't share them with everyone. He only shares His secrets with those who fear Him.

Fear the Lord.

But the eyes of the Lord are watching over those who fear him, who rely upon his steady love. He will keep them from death even in times of famine!  Psalm 33:28-19.

Those who fear the Lord are the most privileged people for God will show them favour. If there is only one bread remaining in the town, God will make sure that it goes to the house of the one who fears Him. God will keep those who fear Him from premature death. They will live the full length of their days. Exo 23:26

If you belong to the Lord, reverence him; for everyone who does this has everything he needs. Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those of us who reverence the Lord will never lack any good thing. Psalm 34:9-10

God will always provide everything needed by the one who fears Him. 

Choose to always fear the Lord.

Decide in your thoughts and heart that they will be filled with the fear of the Lord.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY IX. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Prov 14:27

By Mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil. Prov 16:6

Snare is a trap. The trap is set to lead you to die spiritually. The wages of sin is death. There are numerous traps and snares that the devil places along our path to cause us to sin. We may never know all of them, but if the fear of God is in our hearts, it will act as a fountain of life giving us discernment and leading us to escape all of the traps. The fear of God will give us discernment and we'll be able to escape the traps that can lead us to sin. 

It is only the fear of God that will keep us from sinning. Our attitude to sin changes when our hearts are filled with the fear of God. God I able to keep us from falling( Jude 24), but we have a responsibility of walking in the fear of God.

Jesus was tempted in every way we are tempted(Heb 4:15b), but He didn't sin. He was always praying with deep loud crying with tears during his time on earth so that He could be kept from spiritual death which is as a result of sin. His prayers were heard because of His godly fear. Heb 5:7.

It is the fear of God that leads us to seek God earnestly that we maybe preserved and kept from sin. Prayerlessness is a sign of a person who has no fear of God. When the devil wants to lead any to sin, the first attack is always on the effective prayer life.

One can pray but God does not listen to everyones prayers. If you pray just to fulfill a duty or to ease your conscience, such prayers don't go beyond the roof. But when you are earnest in seeking God, you will find Him. Jer 29:13

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Psalm 34:7

Deliverance will be to those who fear God, 

Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing. Psalm 34:9-10

Again, them that fear the Lord, seek Him and God will not withhold anything He sees is good for them. 

Power over sin is something good in the eyes of God and therefore He will not withhold it from those who fear Him.

The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will make them know His covenant. Psalm 25:14

God has many secrets but He only reveals to those who fear Him. Secrets like; 

How can you live an overcoming life; how to please God; how to fulfill ones purpose, how to have true spiritual authority, how to always be filled with the Holy Spirit, how rejoice always, how to finish well, how to live a holy life, how to grow in Christlikeness, how to maintain fellowship with God.....

 There are many secrets hidden from the eyes of most Christians but if you fear the Lord, the Lord will open your eyes and show you His secrets and covenants.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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STUDY VIII. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” Gen 22:12

God had promised to give Abraham a son in His old age. He waited for 25 years before the son was given. After raising up, he became the darling of his heart. He loved his son more than everything he owned, more than even Sarah herself. God asked Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a burnt sacrifice. Gen 22:2.

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

God didn't force Abraham to make a hasty decision. He gave him time to think about it.

On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Gen 22:4

The journey took three days. Along the journey Abraham was thinking; is it worthy to serve a God like this. Day and night the thoughts are going on in his mind, and could have turned back afterwards but He had made up His mind; that it's worthy to serve a God who asks me to sacrifice the thing that I love most. 

He will not let anything he loved, and even something that God gave as a promise to come between him and God. 

He gave up the thing that cost him everything.

Even when he reached, God waited untill he made the alter, prepared the firewood and laid the son on the alter and took out his knife to kill the son. When he took out the knife, in his mind he had already sacrificed the son. The actions always follow the mind.

It was only the the angel told him to stop. He was being tested whether he feared God.

God always tests his children to see whether they fear him. 

You can pray, and God answers and then God asks you to sacrifice what he himself gave. 

Has God ever asked you to sacrifice something dear to you, or to give up a certain friendship? To walk with God, he will always ask you to sacrifice what you love most, because it is usually the thing or person we love most that comes between us and God.  God is a jealous God and He must have the first place in our lives in everything, and whatever may try to occupy that place must be sacrificed on the alter; Isaac, the one who we love most, though a gift of God, must be sacrificed so as to never have the uppermost position in any part of our being. God must be enthroned in our hearts.

The mark that one fears God is that he/she is willing to obey God in everything even when it hurts them. 

If you only obey God when it's convenient, it's because you don't fear God. When you fear God you obey Him whether it's convenient or not. People may have misunderstood Abraham, even his wife, but he died to the opinions of men. He was not seeking to be understood by men but sought to obey God when it hurts most.

This act, Abraham called it worship. Gen 22:5

It's only a person who fears the Lord that truly worships Him. Worship is not about singing songs of worship, but it's offering our lives to God as a living sacrifice everyday. Choosing to sacrifice my will and obey God even when it hurts me, to walk in holiness. This is the way to please God. Rom 12:1. Offering our bodies means giving your tongue to only be speaking things that will glory God and sacrifice anything that the tongue may want to speak that doesn't glorify God. 

You offer your eyes not to look at or read things that don't Glorify God. The eyes aren't for lusting after women but seeing the beauty of Christ.

To give your mind not to meditate on things that don't Glorify God but meditate on what glorifies God. 

In the same way, the heart, the hands, the feet and all our being.

This is the sacrifice that God wants from you.

If the, Abraham decided to sell all his properties and animals and give to God, he could still be disobedient to God. Giving money to God as a substitute to obedience is worthless. God will not accept it. 

Obedience is better than sacrifice.

It's only a man who fears God who truly worships Him. Not one who is moved to tears during the worship session in church. The best time to worship is when you are alone with God, obeying His voice no matter the cost.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOB THE MAN WHO FEARED GOD..STUDY VII

 THE FEAR OF GOD 

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Job 1:8

Job had no bible, no church and no fellowship but he had the fear of God. What did the fear of God teach him.

Read until the end, it's a little bit long but worth reading.

The testimony of God to satan about job was that He feared God. Can God boast about you to satan? What can God say about you, He who sees both your public life, your private life and also your inner life; what does God think about you. That is more important that what men think about you because men don't even know 10% of your life. Most of your life is hidden from men, and your inner thoughts, motives and attitudes are hidden from men and therefore don't seek the approval of men.

What does God think about you?

Why did God say that Job feared Him?

 

And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Job 1:5.

He was concerned about sin in the inner life. He said, perhaps they have cursed God in their hearts. Not in their mouths, but in their hearts. That only God can see and hear. The thoughts you entertain in your heart prove that you either fear God or not.

How much are you concerned about your inner life, your inner thoughts, attitudes and motives? The fear of God will teach you to be careful in your inner life not just your outer life. 

Your inner testimony before God must be more important than your outward testimony before men. 

Watchfulness in your inner life is a prove that you fear God. Careful in your outer life is a proof that you fear men. 

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.Job 1:20

In difficult circumstances, he knew that God was still in control. Nothing would cause him to stop worshipping God, either gain or loss, his relationship with God was independent of that and God was more important to him that everyone and everything else. More important that family and properties. He lost His children and properties but worshipped.

If you fear God, God will have the first place in your life in everything. He will be more important that family, property and friends.

What is the position of God in your life?

Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. Job 1:22

One who fears God is very careful with their speech. They have learnt to tame their tongues. They have learnt to be quick to listen and slow to speak. James 1:19

They don't make promises they don't intend to fulfill. They keep their word even if it hurts them.  Psalm 15:4. Their yes is yes and their no is no. James 5:12.

The way one uses their tongue is the primary way in which we know whether they fear God or not. Job was careful with His tongue.

His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10

He refused to compromise even when his beloved wife told him to curse God and commit suicide. He had made up His mind like a flint that He would walk in the fear God and would not allow anyone to lead him astray. God was more important to Him that his family.

“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. Job 31:1

Job was careful with His eyes. He decided that God didn't give him eyes to lust after women but to glorify God.

Jesus said in Mat 5:28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take? Job 31:4

He walked in the realisation that God was seeing everything he was doing. He couldn't hide from God.

One who fears God knows that he cannot hide from God and that God is seeing him all the time.

“If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands,

Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted.

“If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, then let my wife belong to another man; let other men sleep with her.

“For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. Job 31:7-11

He lived in constant judgement of himself to see whether there is somewhere he sinned against God.

He who fears the Lord is always judging himself.

“If I have despised the claim of my male or female slaves When they filed a complaint against me, how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb.Job 31:13-15

He never despised those in lower rank than he and he never took advantage of anyone weaker than him.

This is a mark of a man who fears God; he doesn't despise any human being and he will never take advantage of those who work for him. He realised that God made him and the servant as well. All are made in the image of God.

Or have eaten my morsel alone, And the orphan has not shared it Job 31:17.

The fear of God made him generous.

“For calamity from God is a terror to me, And because of His majesty I can do nothing. Job 31:23

He knew that God would judge him one day. 

One who fears God is aware of the coming judgement and lives in such a way that they will not be found guilty on the last judgment.

“If I have put my confidence in gold, And called fine gold my trust, job 31:24

A man who fears God does not make money his god but it's servant. God and not money is enthroned in his heart.

if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. Job 32:26-28

One who fears God does not worship any created thing but always enthroned God in his heart.

“Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge. Job 31:29-30

The man who fears the Lord does not seek revenge over his enemies. He does not wish evil on those who do him harm. He doesn't rejoice when evil happens to their enemies.

“Have I covered my transgressions like Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors? job 31:33-34

One who fears the Lord does not justify himself and does not cover their sins. They confess and forsake them

or if I have stolen its crops or murdered its owners, Vs 39.

One who fears God does not use people without paying them. He doesn't take something belonging to another without paying.

Do you really think you fear God?

Job did not have a bible but had the fear of God. The fear of God taught him all the above mentioned things.

Remember he had no fellowship, he had no church but had the fear of God. We have the bible, we have church, we have fellowship but have no fear of God. 

You can cry out to God today

Unite my heart to fear thy name

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY VI. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. Ps 86:11

The psalmist has a cry in his heart to God, "unite my heart to fear your name". This should be our constant cry in our hearts too, that God gives us a heart that fears Him.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.

Ezek 36:26-27

This passage shows that the nature man and nature of man is stubborn and hard towards God. Paul says that the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Rom 8:7

Since the whole nature of man is opposed to God, we must cry to God that He may take away our stony hearts and give us hearts of flesh that will be responsive to Him and that will receive the fear of God.

David cries out, Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10.

He understood that God had to work in Him, but he also must submit and surrender completely for God requires surrender before working in His people. 

You cannot change yourself but God can change you and give you a brand new heart that will fear Him. You must surrender and also ask Him to give you a heart of flesh, a heart that will fear Him.

Jer 32:39-41

and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.

I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul.

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Mat 7:7-8

Ask God for such a heart.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

STUDY V. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Prov 29:25

The alternative to fearing God is fearing men.

The fear of men is laying a dangerous trap on your path. To be concerned about the opinions of men will make you a slave. Trying to seek a good reputation amongst men is worshiping men. Thinking, what would so and so think about this, is equivalent to bowing your knee to that person and saying to them, I worship you, I value what you say about me. 

Paul says that if he sought the approval of men or sought to please, he cannot be a servant of God. Gal 1:10

There are things that you'd never do in the presence of people who you are seeking their approval.

For example, you can find two people arguing or fighting but if a person who goes to the church with them comes to the scene, or an elder or a pastor, immediately they start acting nice towards each other. They love each other, and if it was a home, they even give a warm welcome to the visitor whose opinion they value much. After the visitors leave, the quarrel continues. Why, because the person who they are seeking approval of has left the scene. Who has been left there, only God, and Jesus and the angels, but their opinion is not as important as that of the church person. These has become worshippers of men.

Rom 1:25 

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

 they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever!

Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed? Isaiah 2:22

The opinions of men are fit to be thrown in the dustbin. It is the fear of God that sets you free from every other fear. If you fear God, you need not fear anything else. Isaiah 8:13(TLB).

Assume you are told that you have only three days to live and you will face the judgement of God for the way you lived. What would you do?

Your priorities would change drastically. You'd repent and forsake the sins you been indulging in secretly for them they will all be brought to light. You'd go to apologise to those whom you hurt for your actions will all be brought to judgment. You'd fulfill the promises you made and when not possible, you'd ask to be pardoned for you'd have to give an account of the words you spoke. You'd fulfill your vows. 

You'd ask forgiveness from those you took advantage of and restore what doesn't belong to you and repay those whom you owe for youd want to face God with a clear conscience.

But why don't you do the above things mentioned above? Because you don't fear God. No matter how much you claim to fear God, if the fear of death will make you do something you were not doing before, you don't fear God.

The way to live a holy life is to fear God and not men. Seek God's approval not men approval. 

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

Jesus told His disciples not to fear men but fear God. Mat 10:28.

I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.

Ps 5:7

You worship whom you fear, God or man.

Stop regarding men and their opinions or approval, but rather fear God and seek His approval

STUDY IV. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

Come, my children, and listen to me, and I will teach you to fear the Lord. Does anyone want to live a life that is long and see good?

Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 

The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.

But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth.

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.

Ps 34:11-17

David is calling us to teach us what the fear of God is all about. He says that if we want the full length of our days and not die prematurely, and if we want to see and enjoy the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living; we must fear God.

The very first evidence that we fear God is proved in the way we use our tongue.

We must stop speaking evil of others, and destroying their reputation; we must stop gossiping, and stop speaking lies.

You may claim to fear God but how do you use your tongue? 

The other way is by departing from evil and instead do good to others. 

You cannot walk into a place where you know you will be tempted and still claim to fear God. Depart from evil. Stop sinning. Do good to others.

The other thing is that you must seek for peace and pursue it. Peace with God and with men. You must hate strife and arguments and walk in the direction of peace. Be a peace maker.

When you do this, the promise is that when you pray, God will hear you and solve all your problems. His eye will look at you with favour.

Fear God.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate. Prov 8:13

The fear of God is hating evil. What is evil? The first thing we must hate is pride. Pride comes when you compare yourself with others and you see some area you are better than them, maybe your beauty, experience, education, wealth, anointing, character.... whatever it is we are proud of, we must hate pride. Thus we must stop comparing ourselves with others but only compare ourselves with Jesus Christ. Those who compare themselves with others are fools. 2Cor 10:12

We must hate arrogance. We must never despise any human being or respond in an arrogant way to any no matter their weaknesses and failures.

We must hate the way that leads to sin. When you sense that walking in a certain way or with certain people will lead you to sin, you choose and be determined not to go that way.

We must also hate perverseness in speech. We must be careful the way we use our tongue that it does not hurt others who listen.

Our tongues must be used to bless not to curse.

Before speaking to others, even when correcting, we must think, what is the best possible way to say what I want to say.

We must be very careful with the way we use our tongue.

This is the first evidence that we fear God.

Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

Everything they say is wicked and deceitful. They refuse to act wisely or do good.

He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Ps 36:1-4

When there is no fear of God before your eyes, you commit evil and think that no one will ever find out what you did but you are just deceiving yourself.

There is a promise for those who commit sin secretly.

Be sure your sin will find you out. Numb 32:23

Fear God and depart from evil. God will expose all your secret sins and you will have nowhere to hide. Repent before it's too late. Let the fear of God be always be in your eyes.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo 

You

STUDY III. THE FEAR OF GOD

 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  

Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.

If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Prov 9:10-12

Beginning of something is the basics. For example we can say the beginning of learning is learning ABCD.... and 1,2,3...

Unless you learn this first, you will never be able to learn anything else in any other subject. 

We have to grow in wisdom if we are to be effective in our lives on earth, but we have to start from the basics, we have to learn the fear of God first of all.

When we learn the fear of God, God will give us wisdom in every situation or circumstance we face in life. 

Do you want God to give you wisdom in everything you face in life; on how best you can be effective for His glory, on what opportunities to take and which ones to leave,....then, you must learn the fear of God first. 

There are two types of wisdom, a heavenly and demonic wisdom.

For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, shows no favorism and sincere.

James 1:14-17

Wisdom that God gives has seven pillars. Prov 9:1

The seven pillars are mentioned in Jam 3:17 which results in;

1. Bringing purity 

2. Brings Peace

3. Always Gentle

4. Open to listen and reason with the others

5. Full of mercy and good fruits. It does not lead one to be a faultfinder or accuser or judge others but quick to do good.

6. Does not show favourism to friends or family or those of higher rank in society. Treats all men equal.

7. Always sincere. There is no hypocrisy.

If you want to walk in purity, fear God.

If you want to leave in peace with everyone, fear God.

If you want to deal gently with others even those who fall, fear God.

If you don't want to be a dictator, one who forces his opinion on others and who is conceited that my way must be followed and never questioned; fear God. In this you can even make yourself a god if you get offended when your ego is hurt, you easily get offended and get hurt by others and keep on meditating on what others have done or not done, or said to you because you are a fool. Fear God and you will have wisdom.

Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools. Ecc 7:9

If want to be fair to everyone and never show favourism to any, fear God.

If you want to be free from hypocrisy, fear God.

God will always give you all the wisdom you need for every situation you'll ever face in life if you will learn to fear God.

The fear of God is the beginning of all Christian education.

Before you learn any other thing about Christianity, before you learn about rapture, or tribulation, or second coming of Christ, or about the seven Trumpets, or the seven plagues or anything else you can learn in the bible learn the fear of God first of all.

Joseph did not have a bible but his father taught him the fear of God, that is why he resisted the temptation by potiphers wife to commit sexual sin though no one was watching. He knew God was watching. Gen 39:1-16

Job did not have a Bible but heard the fear of God and that is why he was upright. Job 1:8.

These old testament saints did not have a bible, could not have fellowships, could not hear an encouragement but they had the fear of God. We who have all that do not have the fear of God; that is why though we are full of bible verses, there are many sins committed in the church by the church leaders and the members.

There is no fear of God left in the church.

The devil has gotten the church sidetracked from the most important thing in the Christian life, to other peripheral things and led them to argue on things that have no eternal value.

What is the most important thing to you.

What are you willing to fight for die for.

If you look at that from a heavenly point of view, how much value will it carry in eternity.

God back to the basics.

The first lesson you must learn is to fear God. Drop every other topic and learn this one first. Learn the fear of God.

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STUDY II. THE FEAR OF GOD

  

And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your entire time on earth as “foreigners in the land.” 1Pet 1:17

The apostle Peter tells us that our time on earth must be lived in reverent fear of God for God show no partiality. God does not His children to go astray because He is just. If a non-beliveer dies and his mouth was full of lies, and another child of God dies but has spoken lies which He Never repented of, do you think that God would send one liar to hell and the other to heaven simply because one went to church and the other didn't? God would be unjust to do so .

Peter tells the brethren that 

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 2Pet 3:9. He is writing to believers telling believers to repent.

The last message of Jesus to the church in revelation 2&3 is for the church to repent. 

Paul says that But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. 1Cor 11:32

The discipline God gives His children is so that they may repent and walk in holiness and stop sinning.

God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Heb 12:10b-11

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Heb 12:14

God wants His children to walk in righteousness and holiness and that is why He disciplines us when we leave the life of holiness and righteousness.

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 2Cor 7:1-2

The only way we can become truly holy from inside is when we walk in the fear of God. The evidence that we are in this path is that we will wrong no one intentionally. We will not seek to corrupt anyone and we will never use our position or authority to take advantage of anyone.

The reason you wrong others and don't think it's a big deal is because you don't fear God. The reason you encourage others to compromise or force them to compromise for them to get a favour from you, it maybe to get money or sex, it's because you don't fear God. The reason you take advantage of those under you or the weak, and swindle them their labour, it's because you don't fear God. 

It's unfortunate today that even majority of preachers have no fear of God in their hearts. They use their position to take advantage of their members to enrich themselves or force submission, threaten curses to those who leave their churches and so on...

If those leading have no fear of God, how can those following have the fear of God. You cannot give what you don't have. 

The time we are living on earth, we must live in reverent fear of God.

Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 2Pet 3:11

Jesus told His disciples, not unbelievers, but those who left everything to follow Him, 

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. Luk 12:5-6

“It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. Isaiah 8:13

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THE FEAR OF GOD . STUDY I

 

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, “You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!” But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?

Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, AND I ALSO KEPT YOU FROM SINNING AGAINST ME; therefore I did not let you touch her.

And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’

Gen 20:1-11

This is an illustration of the importance of having the fear of God in our hearts. We see that God kept Abimelech from sinning against Him because He hand the fear of God in His heart. In the integrity of his heart and cleanness of his hands he had taken Sarah to be His wife because he didn't know she was married. God knew the truth and kept Abimelech from committing adultery with Sarah.

If God could keep a heathen king from committing adultery, why is it that there are many preachers who God allows to fall into adultery with their church members? There are many cases of men of God who have been caught as the Pharisees said to Jesus, "in the very act" John 8:4.

Every Sunday they mount on the pulpits and preach great sermons but secretly, they are living in immorality. Why does God not keep them from sinning against Him like He did to Abimelech? 

There is only one reason. There is no fear of God in their eyes.

It is in this passage that the phrase, "fear of God" comes for the very first time in the bible, and it is in relation to sexual sin. 

The first area that proves that you fear God is in relation to sexual sin. 

Jude tells us in Vs 24 that God is able to keep us from falling and from this passage we know it is only if we have the fear of God in our hearts.

The fear of is the greatest lack in the church today. We hear many great sermons on every other topic, except the fear of God. We hear of breakthroughs, miracles signs and wonders, giving,  but it's rare to hear about the fear of God.

When was the last time you heard a sermon on the fear of God and to stop sinning? This is almost never heard. The greatest problem is not lack of money in the church, but that men do not fear God. There is no reverence for the all seeing God. 

The presence of God departed from the church and almost in every church today, they are spiritually, 'ichabod', i.e. the glory has departed. It's rare to experience true joy and lasting peace because these are only found in the presence of God. 

Do you fear God? Do you have reverence for Him. Do you respect Him who sees you even when no one else is watching? Do you reverence Him who cannot be bribed or deceived. He who sees your thoughts, attitudes and motives; Do you have respect for Him?

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo