Fear God, 10

~ The Israelites Were Commanded to Fear God, 3 ~

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.”  

Comment  ~  The Scripture for this week is in relation to the Moral and Ceremonial Laws which were given to the Israelites by Moses. 

This Week’s Passage  ~  “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.  Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.  Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the Lord your God.  And if you offer a sacrifice of a peace offering to the Lord, you shall offer it of your own free will.  It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day. And if any remains until the third day, it shall be burned in the fire.  And if it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination.  It shall not be accepted.  Therefore everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the hallowed offering of the Lord; and that person shall be cut off from his people.

“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.  And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the Lord your God.  You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another.  And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.  You shall not cheat your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.  You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

“‘You shall do no injustice in judgment.  You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty.  In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor.  You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.  You shall not hate your brother in your heart.  You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.  You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.  You shall keep My statutes. You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. You shall not sow your field with mixed seed. Nor shall a garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you.

“‘Whoever lies carnally with a woman who is betrothed to a man as a concubine, and who has not at all been redeemed nor given her freedom, for this there shall be scourging; but they shall not be put to death, because she was not free.  And he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord, to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, a ram as a trespass offering.  The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before the Lord for his sin which he has committed. And the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.  When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as uncircumcised.  Three years it shall be as uncircumcised to you. It shall not be eaten.  But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, a praise to the Lord.  And in the fifth year you may eat its fruit, that it may yield to you its increase: I am the Lord your God.

“‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.  You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.  You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord’” (Leviticus 19:1-28). 

Comment  ~  In our society today we will fear God when we understand His requirements.

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:

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7 Church Types, 3of3

~ Applications From the 7 Churches ~

The Seven Churches of Revelation 2-3 outline the history of the Christian Church from Pentecost until the present time.  There are a number of basic lessons to be learned from this important passage of Scripture—and we have both a general command and a specific command to learn from these churches.  The general command, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  We also have specific commands.  Each of the seven letters to the seven churches contains the phrase, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  If you are a Christian then you are commanded to listen to the Spirit of God regarding these churches. 

The Prophetic View  ~  This passage is rightly viewed as prophetic literature.  It was written ahead of the period of the seven churches and accurately describes the general progression—actually regression—of the church of Jesus Christ on earth.  It is a condensed spiritual history of the Church from the ascension of Christ until His Second Coming.  It includes not only the seven types of churches but the exact order in which they appear.  As fulfilled prophecy it confirms our faith and the truth of God’s Word. 

Current Christendom Collectively  ~  This portion of Scripture allows an accurate evaluation of the Church in all its manifestations and in all time periods.  It is a sobering evaluation which comes with plenty of specific warnings and lessons—lessons which should be applied by local congregations and individuals today. 

Individual Churches Today  ~  Every local assembly of Christians should examine themselves and see where they fit.  Each local church doing so will find that they are a combination of the characteristics of the seven churches.  The question that needs to be answered is in what proportions of the seven are present in their current congregation.

Individual Christians Today  ~  We live in the period where the last four of seven churches are well represented—but especially the last two.  The Laodicean church seems to dominate the prosperous well-developed countries.  The third-world countries tend to see more influence of the Philadelphian church.  There are many warnings from Revelation 2-3 and the Seven Churches.  How about you?  Are you lukewarm as is characteristic of the Laodicean church? 

Summary of the 7 Churches  ~  The Ephesus believers warn us about moving away from our first and best love.  Are you as close to your Savior as you once were?  The Smyrna believers illustrate that we should not fear suffering for Christ.  Are you fearful of God’s continuing presence should you be called upon to suffer for His name?  Pergamum believers warn of the danger of false or incomplete doctrine.  Does your church preach the whole Word of God?  Thyatira includes worldliness, paganism, and idolatry.  Have you succumbed to the world, the flesh, or the devil?  Sardis believers warn of the danger of spiritual deadness.  Is your faith current events or ancient history?  Our Savior reminded the Philadelphia believers that His reappearing would happen quickly.  Are you constantly expectant regarding His sure return?  Finally, the Laodicean church is apostate professing to be Christian but lacking the reality and vitality of real Christianity.  Have you maintained the early excitement and enthusiasm you had when you first believed?  How about doing a personal inventory based upon these seven churches?

~ 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/ .