Thursday, January 31, 2013

God is to be feared just as much as He is to be loved.

"....Do not be haughty but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either" Romans 11:20-21 nkjv.


Fearing God isn't some kind of antiquated superfluous concept, that we can just decide we won't be bothered with.
What a horrible attitude to have, also a very costly one. Person's who seem to not care about God, or think because they can't see Him with their eyes He's probably not real, hence not worth their time, is walking down a very slippery slope. 

There are a lot of people that claim they love God yet don't keep His commandments, many say they fear God yet it's not evident in their conduct, just a bunch of double talk. A friend of mine told me one day, "Yeah I fear God, but I don't think He's this tyrant you make Him out to be." I was telling her that repentance is important because nobody truly want's to experience the wrath of God. It seems as though whenever a person mentions God's wrath, which is hardly mentioned by the way, but when folks do mention it, people immediately equate that with saying, God is horrible and hates you and will kill you if thing's don't go His way. I thought to myself, too many people think God is a pushover, just rainbows and butterflies & pumpkin spice lattes. Yes He loves us, if we even begin to scratch the surface of understanding how much He loves us our minds would be blown, but He also intends to judge each one according to their works.Revelation 22:12.  Have we been taking God too lightly? We are to, "...work out your salvation in trembling and fear." Philippians 2:12. (TREMBLING & FEAR) who is doing that exactly? The man with the gun is feared, many fear the leaders of their country, folks are afraid of the police, folks are afraid of terrorist's, some are afraid of speaking in public (I'm one of them), but only a few truly fear God. In Mathew 10:28 Jesus said, "And fear not him who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell".  Even Jesus preached about fearing God, this wasn't something Christians came up with to frighten people into salvation or to paint a marred picture of God.

What will it profit me if I fear God?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever." Psalm 111:10

"For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it." Ecclesiastes 7:12

The fear of the Lord should be preached form the mountain tops. Many take each day for granted, arrogantly and foolishly many go about the day never giving a single thought as to how they were able to wake up, how they were able to arrive to work safely, and return home at night without a scratch. A pilot and passengers hop on board a plane and maybe a few would even consider that it is by Gods grace that the plane even enters the sky, and remains. Many hop off the plane and go about their business, how many give God the glory and thank Him for watching over them, not many, if any. Throughout biblical history God's wrath has been displayed in many way's, but today it's like people have forgotten and think He's that god that television shows and movies depict Him to be. He's not some guy sitting in the sky smoking pot wearing a white choir robe, or some guy in the sky with a baritone voice talking to people randomly, or some dude that delegates angles to come out of heaven and carouse with humans, and by the end of the movie the angel is deciding whether to be a human or to drag him/her self back to that insufferable perfect place called heaven. That's not God and  angels don't conduct themselves like that. I'll tell you one thing, (who am I kidding I can never just say one thing, this lengthy blog is an example of that) but I will say this, if you trust Hollywood to teach you all about God, life and death, you will go through life completely misguided.

Many going about life with this very same attitude.
"Keep calm and don't care."
 




Some examples of Gods wrath and judgement as recorded throughout biblical history:

 Genesis 7. God destroyed the entire earth with a flood, only 8 lives were spared. Think about it, out of the many people who lived all over the face of the earth only 8 lives were spared.

Genesis 19. God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Two cities filled with people and only Lot and his family were spared. Not even ten righteous were found in two cities. Many believe those cities were destroyed primarily because of  homosexuality, in fact many don't even say anything beyond that when talking about the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah, all they say is that gay people were there and God destroyed them because of that. It's the usual reference many go to when talking about the the rewards of homosexuality if it doesn't cease. God has never destroyed an entire city (Ever) because of a single act of iniquity. In the book of Ezekiel God explained why He destroyed Sodom. Read Ezekiel 16:49-50, you might be surprised at His reasons, and how many of us are guilty of what God truly destroyed them for.
And God's judgement had not ended there, He commanded Lot's family not to look back once they fled the city, but Lot's wife looked back and was turned to a pillar of salt. ouch!

Exodus 12:31 God freed the Hebrews from Egypt, but although they had seen God's power in Egypt, although they had seen the Red Sea part and crossed through it and the Egyptians in hot pursuit perish in it, although they had eaten manna from heaven, although they had been covered by God with a cloud by day and a fire by night they still did not enter into the promise land, because of their disobedience they experienced God's wrath. Deuteronomy 3:23-29 shows that not even Moses entered the land promised. In Joshua 3 the the fourth generation of Hebrews finally enter the land promised as was prophesied in Genesis 15:16, God told Abraham that it would be the fourth generation. Do not take this as to say God did not keep His covenant since the generation that leaved Egypt did not enter, on the contrary He kept His word and the Hebrews did enter, in spite of what the others did, God kept His word to His people.



Numbers 11 The people complained about only eating manna so God sent quail, so much quail that when it came from the sea it was about two cubits above the surface, that's approximately 36 inches. It was all around the camp. "...and the people stayed up all that day, all night, and all the next day, and gathered the quail (he who gathered least gathered ten homers).." Ten homers is about 12 to 20 bushels in modern day measurements. ".and they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. But while the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was aroused against the people, and the Lord struck the people with a very great plague. So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving". God had brought those people out of  Egypt, literally their food fell from the sky, they had water, they were no longer in bondage, yet they still we're ungrateful, so they experienced God's wrath.

Numbers 16. The story of  Korah, Dathan and Abiram and the rebellion they orchestrated against Moses and Aaron. These guys were just haters to be honest, their kind of like some people we all can relate to having known at one time or the other, persons that just see everything going good for you or see that you have been given an important position in your company or church or local bowling team and their just  jealous it's not them getting all the attention so they wanna try and mess everything up, by causing everyone to lose trust in you. Thing is, Moses and Aaron weren't seeking glory for themselves, like many who have been given gifts or talents from God tend to do, no Aaron and Moses simply were being obedient and through their obedience and humility they were commended by God and the people listened to them because they knew that God placed them in charge. Oh, let me not forget to mention, Korah were sons of Levi so they had an important position as well, but that wasn't enough they wanted to be the big bosses running the show. Sounds like anyone you guys know? They started disrespecting Moses, he sent for them and they didn't come, long story short, and it is a long story, all the men Korah and their households were swallowed up into the ground and the earth closed over them, all who was with Korah perished that day. "..All who were around them fled at their cry, for they said 'Lest the earth swallow us up also'". Numbers 16:28-34. But God wasn't done yet, "..a fire came out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense."" Numbers 16:35. Read Numbers 16 to get the full story, it's really amazing!

Acts 5. The story of Annanias and Sapphira speaks volumes to those who think they can deceive God. Seriously God is everywhere, I don't know why anybody at any point could possibly think there is something they can hide from God. He can read our minds and hearts, He knows all that will be, during our lives and after, He was here from the beginning of time, He's the creator of time. One of my favorite scriptures is in Isaiah 43:13 where God say's, "Yes, before the day was, I am He." It was His Spirit that hovered over the face of  the waters in Genesis 1:2. "For of Him, and through Him and to Him, to Whom be glory forever, amen." Romans 11:36. It would be unwise to think one can deceive God, even Satan that devil know's God cannot be deceived,  guess nobody gave Annanias and Sapphira the heads up. They of all people should know that God watches and know's all things, they were believers after all. They lied to the Holy Spirit when they were asked if they had given all the money they sold their land for. They withheld some and gave the rest as to appear as kind as the others who had property and sold it to help others in need, but God had seen all of it go down, yet Annanias and his wife still lied and were struck dead on the spot, the very second they lied about what they did. When I was a little girl and I was telling my friends something and they perceived it might not be true, they would say by whom do you swear that your telling the truth? And if your lying  you'll be struck down. Of course it would be by that lighten bolt people think will flash and strike somebody dead if they tell a lie. Well, Annanias and Sapphira kind of had that happen to them, minus the theatrics a lightning bolt would bring. They died instantly, the very second the lie left their lips! Don't you want to thank God right now for His grace and mercy, because if that still happened today, I doubt anybody would be alive to be reading this, I doubt I would even be writing this, I doubt the computer or internet would have gotten invented because those guys would have been dead or never even born because their parents would have been struck dead. We've all told a little white lie, or any kind of lie before, yet here we are still alive, Gods mercy and grace is indeed amazing and He is worthy to be praised.

(I just recently added all the info beneath the pic because I wanted to give more examples of God's wrath.)

I could really go on and give you example after example of God's wrath, I might even write a part two to this sometime in the future God willing. The biggest example I can think of to let you understand God's wrath is when He allowed the Chaldeans to take the Israelite's into captivity in Babylon. These were Gods chosen people, but they went astray, they always went astray in their hearts, Hebrews 3:10. God suffered long, He sent prophet after prophet to warn them because of His love, you can read of it in Ezekiel and many other books in the Old Testament, but they still did not listen. He loved His people so much He kept a remnant, He did not destroy all, He gave them a choice to save their lives yet again by telling them to allow the Chaldeans to take them into to captivity, although they would be slaves they would be alive and God promised eventually they would return back to their home as freemen, but many did not listen and were destroyed by famine, pestilence and the sword. It is important to fear and love God, fearing Him is profitable, as suppose to fearing man, which profits you nothing. God has yet again given an opportunity to save our lives, by losing it we save it, meaning if you want to gain what God has in store for those who love Him you must be willing to deny yourselves the things in this life that are keeping you away  from eternal life, Matthew 16:25. God out of His immeasurable love has been suffering long with this world not wanting any to perish, 2 Peter 3:9, but the Day of Judgement  is still ahead, we must take God seriously in His promises (fear and trembling) because it is not to be counted as slack, a thousand years is but a day with Him and a day is a thousand years. 2 Peter 3:9




"For whatever things we're written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." Romans 15:4









20 comments:

David and Christine Keller said...

WOW!!! Thank you for posting this! It is so true, and it is showed us so much!
Continue spreading the word!
God bless!
~Hannah, Ruth, and Sarah Keller~

David and Christine Keller said...

*has* showed us....

S. Knowles said...

Thanks for reading girls, all the glory goes to God :-)

Brenda said...

Hi Sateigdra,
Amen. It is the rod as well as the staff that comforts me and enables me to fear no evil. Without Gods' correction I would go astray and walk off into darkness. If God is 'light' then I can never be in darkness if I remain in Him because darkness cannot exist within light. Jesus is the light of the world. It is only when I choose to walk away from that light that I enter darkness. The choice is ours but we would be foolish to not want to be under God's correction and protection. 'Fear'of God is the respect and obedience that will keep us safe.

T-Childs said...

Wow! This is an excellent post, amongst other excellent posts you've written. I detect in you a quality that is most attractive; a desire above all to be honest, ruthlessly honest, which is always a balm to the soul and refreshing to people used to hearing half-lies and cosy platitudes of one kind and another.

There is a dangerous individuality about you Sateigdra, and I love reading your posts a whole lot. Perhaps, somehow, God has big plans for you; perhaps He is calling you to be a writer, to earn your living as a writer, because you have a way with words. Yes by all means do your chores, but ask God in prayer about writing; I really think you should. Thanks for such an honest and uplifting post. I feel I have a kindred soul.

S. Knowles said...

Amen! Yes it is His rod & staff that comforts. I think many forget. Thanks for read sis. God Bless.

S. Knowles said...

Wow thanks for your kind words Tim, you have no idea how much it means coming from you, your one of my favorite writers I alway's love reading your post when i get time. A sis from the young adults group I'm in told me I should consider writing. I never give it serious thought, I guess I compare myself to other writers & never really though I was as good as them, and I guess it's hard to be published especially Christian writers. I'll just have to ask God what He thinks, if it is His will, I will try my best to put a book together. Thanks again Tim, God Bless you.

David C Brown said...

"Wherefore let us, receiving a kingdom not to be shaken, have grace, by which let us serve God acceptably with reverence and fear", Hebrews 12: 28. Grace helps us to fear.

S. Knowles said...

Praise God for His grace and mercy. I agree grace helps believers to fear, but many who have received grace still don't fear Him. He has not withheld His grace from anyone, yet most of mankind don't fear Him at all. " For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good" Titus 2:11-14. Still many don't abide by the instructions this scripture say's grace teaches. That scripture you mentioned I think is referring to the fact that since we have been given His grace we should have reverence for Him and to fear Him, that's how we serve Him. His grace is indeed wonderful. Thanks so much for reading brother and bringing encouraging words, God Bless.

T-Childs said...

If you really are thinking of writing anything Sateigdra, before you do, write down some ideas of what you want to write and play around with them; you might want to write fiction, self-help, short stories, in fact you might have all sorts of ideas; when you have wrote down a few ideas, then decide what you are going to write first. Just a thought anyway.

S. Knowles said...

Thanks Tim I really appreciate the advice. :-)

Unknown said...

AWESOME post!! It just goes to show that if you wait on the Lord, there's a true lesson to be shared and power in the words used to share it with.

I agree 100% on all sentiments you expressed regarding the fear of the Lord. Why? Because it's Biblically accurate. In fact, it's commanded, insinuated, expressed, written, implied, and expected and there are a wide variety of Hebrew and Greek words to prove it throughout the Old and New Testaments:

Yare'
Pachad
Chat
Charad
Bahal
`arats
'eymah
mora'
gur
zu`a and dechal
yagor
samar
phobeomai
phobos
tromos
ekphobos
entrpomos
eulabeias
eulabetheis

Every one of those words are in the Bible in Hebrew or Greek form and each and every one of them mean to respect, revere, to have awe or to see as being awesome, and/or to tremble before God. The word "phobeomai" is found 95 times in the New Testament and means "be afraid."

I've heard many preachers preach that the word used in English as "fear" means "respect," which is true. What they don't teach is that you can't have respect without a sense of fear. Even the noun form of the word "awe", found in our English dictionary, means dread or terror.

I can feel that you had a desire to obey the Lord by writing this post. It's an awesome post Sateigdra!!




S. Knowles said...

To God be the glory! Thanks so much for reading and commenting, if it wasn't for you and others keeping my blog going I don't know if I would still be doing it. I appreciate every bit of encouragement and kind words.

I want to do all that the Lords ask's me to do. There are times when I think many won't take me seriously or give anything I say much thought because many think they are my words that I dreamed up, but in reality, all of what I write I was as ignorant about them as the day is long. I knew nothing, yet now I know thing's without having anybody sit down and teach me, I know it is God it is His Holy Spirit that is my teacher, so I cannot boast in man, I give the glory to God.

I believe that as long as I keep obeying Him, even in those 'Jonah moments' when you really don't want to do something the Lord told you to do so you put it off and then He comes back urging you to do it again and you do it and realize why it was so important to God that it be done in the first place.

When I write, I sit and examine myself after and say, Sateigdra are you doing this, do you fear God is it shown in your conduct? Perhaps it is God's Holy Spirit making sure I walk in all these things, Fear & Love. I know I still have to mature and grow more, but I won't be anxious for anything, just trust in God and His timing and pray that people will understand that it is not me but the Lord's word's, I'm simply a bondservant of Christ Jesus delivering a message.

Unknown said...

I should be so devout. When I read your posts I feel inadequate as a servant to God because I know there's so much more I could be doing. But then I wonder if I'm exactly where and what He wants me to be and for me.

Brenda said...

Hi Sateigdra,
I think that where the believer is encouraged to work out their salvation with 'fear and trembling' in Philippians ch.2 v. 12 sums it up accurately.

S. Knowles said...

Your not inadequate Kelline, from reading your post's you seem to be one the kindest persons that I have ever known. I pray to be more loving and kind because I know I can improve in those areas because there are times when I'm selfish and to be honest I don't like that about myself because it doesn't reflect Jesus in me.I think we're all where He wants us and if we're not He will put us there. I kept coming across a scripture about God preparing good works for us to walk in beforehand, Ephesians 2:10. So that means when we do loving good thing's God had it set up for us to do those thing's long before we were even born. Like when you helped that lady, I think God had that set up to happen long before we even existed.

Brenda your right, that scripture sums it all up, in fact that was on my mind as I wrote this I don't know why I didn't add it.

Unknown said...

I've left a message for you on my blog in the comments. I'm leaving it there for a specific reason. I'll explain later.

Brenda said...

Hi Sateigdra,
Just answered your comment on my blog, for some reason( I have written what I think the reason was in my answer ) your comment went into spam at first. God bless.

Laurie Collett said...

Our God is a God of love, but He is also a holy God of justice, as you have so well expressed. Those who dismiss His power and justice will have to answer to Him at the judgment, as will those who profess to know Him but blatantly disregard His commandments.
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting on Saved by Grace!
Your blog is a blessing and I am now following it, and I invite you to follow Saved by Grace also:
http://savedbygracebiblestudy.blogspot.com/
Love in Him,
Laurie Collett

S. Knowles said...

Thank you Laurie for dropping by, and thank you for such a wonderful comment. I am now following your blog :-)