Fear God, 144

~ In The Final Days All Will Fear 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  ~  “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: ‘Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?  Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?’  He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: he will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure” (Isaiah 33:14-16).

Comment  ~  “Sinners in Zion” refers to the non-fearing Jews in Jerusalem at that time.  There are always unbelievers mixed with any large group of believers.  Religious “hypocrites” are also mentioned in this passage.  A third group is also mentioned: those who walk with integrity in the fear of God.  In the final days all who have not come to fear God will now fear Him. 

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.

(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/ .

Truth, 4of5

~ The Word Of God Is Truth ~

Series Introduction  ~  The Creator of this universe clearly asserts that there is “absolute truth.”  Each member of the Trinity confirms this—as does the Word of God.  Thus, the popular concept of a few decades ago of their being “relative truth” and the current common perception of “your truth” and “my truth” are false narratives according to Almighty God. 

Key Scripture  ~  “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.  Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.  And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.  Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:14-19).

Other Passages  ~  Jesus said, “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them by Your truth.  Your word is truth.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth” (John 17:14-19).

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). 

Comment  ~  The spoken Word of God, the written Word of God, and the living Word of God (Jesus Christ) while He was on earth are all the truth.  Have you heard the truth?  Are you really listening with open ears? 

Closing Thought  ~  There is a common saying, “Figures don’t lie—but liars figure!”  In other words, people can manipulate data.  While that may be true, the reality is truth is always truth—even if the majority doesn’t believe it to be (or if data has been manipulated)!  In like manner that which is false is untrue regardless of how many believe it to be true.  C.S. Lewis put it this way, “When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.”

~ 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/ .

Truth, 3of5

~ The Spirit Of God Is Truth ~

Series Introduction  ~  The Creator of this universe clearly asserts that there is “absolute truth.”  Each member of the Trinity confirms this—as does the Word of God.  Thus, the popular concept of a few decades ago of their being “relative truth” and the current common perception of “your truth” and “my truth” are false narratives according to Almighty God. 

Key Scripture  ~  “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.  Nevertheless I tell you the truth.  It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.  And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.  I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine.  Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:5-15).

Other Passages  ~  Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.  And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever — the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:15-18).

Jesus said, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.  And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning” (John 15:26-27).

“We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.  By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6).

“This is He who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.  And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:6-8).

Comment  ~  The Spirit of God is truth.  We have now seen that God, the Father; Jesus Christ—The Messiah; and the Holy Spirit are all the source of truth.  The Trinity consists of three different personalities but the same characteristics and traits—all are key sources of truth.  In our next post in this series we will look at fourth source of truth. 

Closing Thought  ~  There is a common saying, “Figures don’t lie—but liars figure!”  In other words, people can manipulate data.  While that may be true, the reality is truth is always truth—even if the majority doesn’t believe it to be (or if data has been manipulated)!  In like manner that which is false is untrue regardless of how many believe it to be true.  C.S. Lewis put it this way, “When the whole world is running towards a cliff, he who is running in the opposite direction appears to have lost his mind.”

~ 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/ .