Fear God, 217

 ~ The Conclusion of “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  ~  “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!  There is no want to those who fear Him” (Psalm 34:9).

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16).

The Wisest of Advice  ~  The Book of Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books in the Bible.  Most scholars believe it was written by King Solomon, considered by many to the wisest man to have ever lived.  Ecclesiastes recaps all the ways this wealthy king tried to find happiness and satisfaction in life – all of which were of no avail.  Then he did find the answer and this is his summary statement near the end of the book: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).  

King Solomon who lived a “full life” and experienced all that this world has to offer concluded that to fear God and keep His commandments was the only way to be truly successful and happy.

Comment  ~  You cannot fear God in the reverential sense without loving God.  The Scripture says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18a).

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 blog.

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All Saints

 ~ The Bible Is the Most Important Resource About “All Saints” ~

Paul Greets All Saints  ~  “Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord.  Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.  Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.  Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.  Greet one another with a holy kiss.  The churches of Christ greet you” (Romans 16:12-16).  “Greet all of your leaders and all the saints.  Those from Italy greet you” (Hebrews 13:24 nasu).

Paul Declared Himself Least of All Saints  ~  “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.  Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory” (Ephesians 3:8-13).

The Saints Salutations  ~  “All the saints greet you.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:13-14).  “Greet every saint in Christ Jesus.  The brethren who are with me greet you.  All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen” (Philippians 4:21-23).

All Saints in Christ Jesus  ~  “Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:1-2).

Able To Comprehend With All Saints  ~  “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19).

Praying Always For All Saints  ~  “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:17-18).

Love To All Saints  ~  “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:15-16).  “I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.  For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother” (Philemon 4-7).

Christ Is Coming Back to Earth With All His Saints  ~  “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:12-13).

Definition  ~  The primary use of the term saint in the Bible is an individual who is separated from the world in order to be consecrated to God (a believer in Jesus Christ).  “Preserve me, O God, for in You I put my trust.  O my soul, you have said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord, my goodness is nothing apart from You.’  As for the saints who are on the earth, ‘They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight’” (Psalm 16:1-3).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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God Our Rock, 11

 ~ God Is My Rock, 2 ~

Introduction  ~  In Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49 Jesus relates the importance of building your house upon rock rather than sand.  This principle is even more critical when it comes to our spiritual life.  Each post in this series looks at a different Biblical passage which refers to our God as a Rock (not a complete list). 

Scripture  ~  “The Lord lives!  Blessed be my Rock!  Let the God of my salvation be exalted.  It is God who avenges me, and subdues the peoples under me; He delivers me from my enemies.  You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man.  Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, and sing praises to Your name.

“Great deliverance He gives to His king, and shows mercy to His anointed, to David and his descendants forevermore” (Psalm 18:46-50).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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