Fear God, 2

~ Abraham Feared God ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’  And he said, ‘Here I am.’

“Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’

“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.  Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off.  And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’

“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.  But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’

“And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’

“Then he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’

“And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So the two of them went together.

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him.  And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.  And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

“But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’

“So he said, ‘Here I am.’

“And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’

“Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.  So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided’” (Genesis 22:1-14). 

Comment  ~  Notice it was not Abraham’s thoughts or words which proved his fear of God—it was his actions.

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Prayer Conditioning

~ 7 Keys to Prayers That God Will Hear ~

The small book of James provides 7 Critical Factors for an effective prayer life in just four verses.

1.  Submit To God  ~  “Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  A Christian who realizes that he is more loved by God than he ever imagined will find it easy to “love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). 

2.  Resist The Devil  ~  “Submit to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).  A Christian with a realistic view of himself will realize that he is more sinful than he ever dared to believe. 

3.  Draw Near To God  ~  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).  When you love someone you seek to be with that person.

4.  Cleanse Your Hands  ~  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).  When you love someone you want to do things which please that special person.   

5.  Purify Your Heart  ~  “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).  When you truly love someone your entire focus is on them. 

6.  Weep Over Your Sins  ~  “Lament and mourn and weep!  Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:9).  When you really get to know someone your thoughts become like their thoughts—and you see things the way they see them. 

7.  Humble Yourself  ~  “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).  As you do the first six things you will be humbled and one of the results will be an effective prayer life (James 5:16). 

Summary  ~  Let’s put it all into context.  “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from?  Do you think they just happen?  Think again.  They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves.  You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it.  You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.  You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you?  And why not?  Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to.  You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

“You’re cheating on God.  If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way.  And do you suppose God doesn’t care?  The proverb has it that ‘He’s a fiercely jealous lover.’  And what He gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find.  It’s common knowledge that ‘God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.’  So let God work His will in you.  Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper.  Say a quiet yes to God and He’ll be there in no time.  Quit dabbling in sin.  Purify your inner life.  Quit playing the field.  Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out.  The fun and games are over.  Get serious, really serious.  Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

“Don’t bad-mouth each other, friends.  It’s God’s Word, His Message, His Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk.  You’re supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it.  God is in charge of deciding human destiny.  Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?” (James 4:1-12, The Message).

Additional Note  ~  Appling these Prayer Conditioning techniques clears the air between you and God. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Grace, 2of10

~ The Manifestation of God’s Grace ~ 

Key Scriptures  ~  “And the Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:14-18).

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). 

Comment  ~  Jesus Christ was and is the full embodiment and manifestation of grace.  The normal (but sadly not “average”) Christian life will become increasingly filled with grace and will manifest grace to others.  This a natural result of the process of being conformed to the image of their Savior Jesus Christ.

Contemplate This  ~  “We are [being] transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as [the grace of] God enters our lives and we become like Him” (2 Corinthians 3:18b, The Message). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .