Fear of God, verses the terrorism of Satan’s doctrines:
There is a prominent teaching being propagated, that we should not fear God, because God is love, and our focus should be on love, without fear. Stated directly, before we even get into this discussion, it should be made clear what Scriptures say is coming, in this age we are preparing to enter: God plans to restore a healthy fear of Him and His name, across the earth, and contrary to this lie being taught by so many, this fear of God will be for our own good:
Jer 32:38-40
38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. NKJV™
This healthy form of fear is quite simple, and is an essential part of the law: if we willfully continue in violation of His laws and precepts, judgments can and will come. We used to understand this, and accept that there were real consequences for waywardness in life. But, in today’s undisciplined world many just don’t want to believe this; so they just turn to those teachers who won’t teach this reality. It has even been suggested to me recently that there is no fiery hell, which is simply a variation of this same, we "surely won’t die" lie. This next passage not only makes mention of this fiery condition, but just reading some of what Jesus spoke [such as Luke 16:19-31, in which actual flames are mentioned] should give us cause to at the very least have some genuine concerns:
Heb 10:26-31
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NKJV™
The most common response I get to this statement from the groups promoting this no fear doctrine is, "Well, this is not the kind of God I want!" And, to this way of thinking I must then respond that indeed, it is a matter of choice; but, that people really ought to think about this choice we are again being faced with, because we have been here before. This is the same choice our forefathers faced long ago, and from the looks of it they didn’t do too well with their decision. After all, the history of mankind is one huge, bloody mess, ever since they made that choice. So, let’s look a little closer at that lie this time through, and see if we might be able to do a little better.
The "promise" of that failed doctrine was that it was a wiser, more pleasant way, at least in the eyes of the woman being approached with the offer; she had hopes of a "better way" than the one God was offering though His Word, which included the fear of consequences for violations of His commands. That is essentially what it says in the Scriptures:
Gen 3:3-6
3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
4 Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. NKJV™
The inference [the "tone"] from this, and the discussion leading up to this point, is that the Word of God is either oppressive, or impotent: it cannot deliver our desires to us; but that these words of Satan would be able to bring us to a higher level [see also 2 Sam 15:1-6]. But, my argument is so simple that it is insane: we continue to buy into this lie, even as history proves the results are terrible, and that we live in a world of terror as a result, and have done so for thousands of years. Walking in the doctrines of Satan [whom we chose to believe, instead of God, symbolized in "Son of David"] mankind has never known peace; and all our desires are empty, not truly fulfilled. But, God’s Word, that "oppressive" way of His, holds some pretty big promises of it’s own; I wonder if we finally chose to take a chance on Him, doing things His way, and on His terms, if things might work out a whole lot better than our history has proven to be? It certainly couldn’t be much worse!
Our children are being born into a world of wars, terrorism, sexual immorality, religious confusion, gangs and drugs, disinformation, climatic change, and too many other problems to list here. They are preparing to inherit the results of our bad choices; and many of them openly wonder how it is that we keep on propagating these same lies, in view of such obviously terrible results? We keep coming up with new formulations of this same old choice, and all they see is the same old results: a destroyed world, without any hope for true peace. Do the parents and leaders of these bright young minds think these children are so stupid that they cannot see the obvious?! Yet even they too will end up being swept along into the same lies, because that is all that is being taught and is readily available, while God’s truth is never truthfully promoted, not without hypocrisy; it is the current condition of all mankind. And the youth of today will tomorrow teach the same lies to their own children, if things don’t change.
What our youth do not understand, though, is what really is the answer to all these problems, since all the lost leaders and parents just keep on teaching them doctrines leading to these same old results. God promises to change all that, through that same Word of God we have steadfastly rejected all these years, in this day we are now preparing to enter. And part of that promise includes a healthy balance of the fear of God. When we continue to teach our children not to fear God’s righteous judgments, we are only teaching them ways which will eventually lead them to their own deaths. Because God’s Word did say that we would surely die; and He wasn’t lying. And if God’s Word goes on to say that we need to fear Him for our own good, then this also is true, and will bring good results, such a long, healthy life [see Gen 2:17; Is 65:20].
The truth is that living under Satan’s doctrines has been a most fearful thing, because terror is the weapon he uses to force us to do his bidding, rather than God’s will. He uses terror to maintain control over us. But, what will be so very ironic about all this is that we will ultimately come to discover that true terrorism will prove to be life without God’s Word ruling. We already have thousands of years testing Satan’s doctrines ruling in our lives, the ones our forefathers chose so long ago, and clearly see the results. The only thing we do not see being tested, and thus we have no results, is the rule of God’s Word, as laid out in the 66 books of the Holy Bible. There are several nations which profess God as their King; but there is no nation on earth which truly operates within the parameters of Scriptures. The United States, for instance, proclaims boldly to be "One nation, under God." But, clearly this nation is fully based upon the doctrines of capitalism, which is contrary to the Word of God:
Matt 6:24
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. NKJV™ [see also Is 29:13-24]
These words are from the mouth of Jesus, the purported Lord, and are fully rejected in practice, by daily, realtime choices; and the results show. And friends: this is merely a single example of the many ways one nation can, and does truly reject the rule of God’s Word in their lives.
Part of the problem has also been man’s inability to read God’s Word properly [because in His just judgment He sealed it against our understanding, until this day of renewed hope]. So, for instance, when nations gathered to go on the murder spree in the name of God, known as the crusades, the end results were an abomination, even though they thought it said so in the Word of God. But, this day He promises will be different, since He is breaking those seals for us, so that we can understand how to properly live out His Word, and thus be blessed fully by our "God of profound blessings." And the nations which choose not to live under His Word, still insisting Satan’s lies will better provide for them, will not receive those same showers of blessings from heaven. We will not need to go to war with them, to change their way to ours; their societies will simply be a terror to live in, with no peace, in the chaos of lawlessness. We need the restraint of God’s Word ruling in our lives; without it anarchy rules, as we currently see across the globe. The difference is like day and night, darkness and light; the difference is a healthy fear of God, verses the terrorism we currently live under. We have now proven God always was right: to live without the boundaries of Gods laws and precepts is to be like the walking dead, and it does not lead to Satan’s lies of promised blessings; it only leads to death. Contrary to the contemptuous lies of the demons, living inside the boundaries of our wise God we find safety, and fullness of life; and we finally have true peace, and no longer go to bed each night in terror.
Zeph 3:13
13 The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness
And speak no lies,
Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;
For they shall feed their flocks and lie down,
And no one shall make them afraid." NKJV™
Prov 16:25
25 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. NKJV™
Rev 22:12-17
12 "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. NKJV™
Ps 4:8
8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. NKJV™
This is the advice of our Lord, Whose eyes also blaze with fire [Rev 1:14]:
Luke 12:5
5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! NKJV™
By the way, my friends; the earliest record of terror recorded in Scriptures was the day mankind rejected God’s Word, and chose Satan’s doctrines:
Gen 3:10
10 So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself." NKJV™
Prior to that choice, they lived according to the Word of God; and I also note this fact: they lived in Paradise. We only have terror in our lives because we do not live within Gods laws and precepts. And, God is not oppressive for placing consequences upon willful sin; He is right an just for doing so, and truly wise. Exactly the same as pain sensations wisely built into our hands and fingers keep us from destroying them by careless actions, so the boundaries created by consequences for sin keeps us from doing harm, not only to ourselves, but also to those around us [including God Himself, the One we most often hurt the most].
Much love and aloha, from the middle of the Pacific,
your servant, mr.bill
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