BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD. Cursed is the one who trusts in Man, they will not see prosperity when it comes. Do not follow the way of people, do not fear what they fear.

Throughout the story of Moses and the Israelite’s, we find many lessons in trusting God. The Israelites complained and worried even though God miraculously saved them with mighty miracles. They easily forgot His power and ability to save them. Punishments for not trusting God ranged from plagues, death, war, sword, consumed by fire to the scariest ever – the ground swallowed them up (Numbers 16). Complaining and worrying is actually acting out in distrust to God.

In Numbers 14:28-35,  every complaint, worry and word of doom they spoke of, God made happen to them because they spoke it! Watch your words, don’t speak evil over yourself or anyone.

 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say:  In this wilderness your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me.  Not one of you will enter the land I swore with uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.  As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.  But as for you, your bodies will fall in this wilderness.  Your children will be shepherds here for forty years, suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness.  For forty years—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’  I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.”

The Israelites listened to an evil report and they believed it. God promised the people a new land but fear stuck the people and they didn’t trust God to carry out His promise.  Jeremiah 17 tells us that “CURSED IS THE ONE WHO TRUSTS IN MAN”. In Isaiah 8, the Lord tells Isaiah that he “is not to think like everyone else, do not fear what they fear nor dread what they dread, but instead fear the Lord God, it is He you should dread”. Cursed is the one who trusts in man………

Hear the Word of the Lord :

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,  but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,  but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. Proverbs 13:3-4

Sometimes when we hear “trust in God” we think it simply means that we believe in Him, but it’s much more. It also involves our actions, our thoughts, our words and our motives. It also means not allowing yourself to worry about tomorrow. Trusting in God extends to our health, our finances, our home and our tomorrows.  I like the way Psalm 131 puts it

 My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters  or things too wonderful for me.
But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

 There are times in our life when we are dealing with matters that are too great for us to bear. It is here were we can have the peace that surpasses all understanding (John 14:27 and Phil 4:7) because we have full faith that God knows our tomorrow. NO amount of worrying can change that. In fact, Jesus commanded us not to worry (Matthew 6:24). So don’t concern yourself with worrying about matters that are too great for you to bear, rest in the arms of your creator, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

When our world seems to be falling apart and the words of doom fill our heart and mind, we can easily feel hopeless. We are told not to trust in man’s words. Consider the Shumanite woman whose son died, there’s a true act of trust in God. Even thought her son was dead before her eyes, she fought on knowing to trust in her God.  There was a time that I felt like I had overwhelming troubles and I could see no hope ahead, I was listening to negative words around me. I cried out in my prayers to God about my situation and as I cried out to God, I saw a verse coming toward me out of the darkness.  It started off far away and so little that I didn’t know what it was, but as I watched these words come closer to me, I saw “Isaiah 51:12”

I, even I, am he who comforts you.   Who are you that you fear mere mortals,  human beings who are but grass,¹³ that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens  and who lays the foundations of the earth,that you live in constant terror every day  because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?For where is the wrath of the oppressor? The cowering prisoners will soon be set free;they will not die in their dungeon,  nor will they lack bread. For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord Almighty is his name. I have put my words in your mouth  and covered you with the shadow of my hand—I who set the heavens in place,  who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’” Is. 51:12-16

 I immediately knew and understood that God did not want me listening to or believing bad reports of doom around me. God wanted me to trust in Him, He is the one I turn to, He is the One who comforts me. Why in the world would I fear man’s words – even if they make logical sense and seem right – when I have a great and mighty God who loves me and fights for me?  I needed to set my mind right. It’s easy to forget these truths if we aren’t in God’s word every day.  Remember His good works, remember His saving power and remember His love for you. Never forget and make a daily effort to remember God’s goodness.

 

 

•  CURSED IS THE ONE WHO TRUSTS IN MAN AND WHOSE HEART TURNS AWAY FROM THE LORD
  This is what the Lord says:“Cursed is the one who trusts in man,  who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands;  they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert,   in a salt land where no one lives. Jeremiah 17:5-6
  
•  IT IS BETTER TO TAKE REFUGE IN THE LORD THAN TO TRUST IN PRINCES
  When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.  I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. ⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.  They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. Psalm 118:5-14
  
• BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD
  Do not put your trust in princes,  in human beings, who cannot save.4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;  on that very day their plans come to nothing.5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,  whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psa 146; 3-5
  
•  HUMAN HELP IS WORTHLESS
  Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. With God we will gain the victory,  and he will trample down our enemies. Psalm 60;11-12
  
•  DON’T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT CONSULTING THE LORD FIRST
  “Woe to the obstinate children,”  declares the Lord,“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,  forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,  heaping sin upon sin; who go down to Egypt  without consulting me;who look for help to Pharaoh’s protection,  to Egypt’s shade for refuge. But Pharaoh’s rotection will be to your shame,  Egypt’s shade will bring you disgrace. Isaiah 30:1-3
•  CONSULTING WITH MEDIUMS WILL LEAD YOU ALONG A DARK AND FEARFUL PATH
   When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. Isaiah 8;19-22
  
•  DO NOT FOLLOW THE WAY OF PEOPLE, DO NOT FEAR WHAT THEY FEAR
   This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear,  and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread. Isaiah 8;11-13
  
• WOE TO THE ONE WHO DOES NOT SEEK HELP FROM THE LORD
  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,  who rely on horses,who trust in the multitude of their chariots  and in the great strength of their horsemen,but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,  or seek help from the Lord Is Jeremiah 31:1-2
• Ask God for wisdom  But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

 Don’t Worry

Don’t Complain

Don’t speak words of hopelessness, FEAR or doom
But instead trust in the Lord God, He is with you! Put all your hope in Him, you can trust in Him to deliver you. Wait on the Lord, Be silent before Him. Lift up your hands and Rejoice, for the Lord is coming to save you. Everything is going to be alright in Christ.

 

Don’t cower in fear when you hear words from man, watch the news, receive bad news or when your thoughts bring you to the “what if’s”. It’s important to trust God in all things, cast down all imaginations (that’s when your mind wanders- worst case scenarios), and also to fix your mind or make an effort to control what you think (Philippians 4;8). The devil can’t hear your thoughts, but he can throw lies and terror into your mind (those are the fiery darts).  Trust God and never give up the good fight of faith. Proclaim the name of Jesus on the Mountaintops and let your life honor the greatness of His name.

• Related articles:
  Fear of the Lord vs. the Fear of man, who do you fear?
• The shumanite woman, it is well, it is well 2 Kings
• Psalm 131 Calm Down
• Power of Words
• Faith can move mountains, how can I have this faith?
• What is grace and how can I be in God’s grace?

Traits of a godly servant 1 & 2 Timothy

A Servant of the Lord must be : (1 Timothy 3, 2 Timothy 2)

1. Blameless – above reproach, unblammable
2. sober minded – temperate , self controlled
3. self controlled – of a sound mind, sane, discreet
4. of good behavior
5. hospitable – kind to strangers
6. able to teach – 2 Timothy 2;24 a servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but be gentle to all, able to teach , patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth and that y they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will
7. not given to wine – you can’t be a drunk and a servant of God. You need to pick one or the other. Do you serve God or your desires?
8. Not violent – not someone who is always quarrelsome or ready to smack someone. Calm down.
9. Not greedy for money –. Do your dreams of being a godly servant have you daydreaming of mansions , yachts, fame and all of the world’s luxuries?
10. Gentle and not quarrelsome – Stop calling people stupid and getting angry because they don’t see things your way. Be gentle and patient, walk in humility correcting those who are in opposition. It’s not easy, I know…….
11. Not Covetous- go to #9 for a recap on that. Set your sights on the Lord and His Kingdom, that’s all you need.
12. One who rules his own house well – his children in submission with all reverence, for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?  Disqualified!   I notice that I’m battling against outside influences that affect our children. Television, Music, School, Friends, Movies – why is my child  singing “I’m suicidal?” why is my youngest singing “talk dirty to me?”  or the latest song “When you feel my heat Look into my eyes It’s where my demons hide It’s where my demons hide”. Where did this new disrespect of elders come from?  Not to mention social media and other things the kids can so easily hid. I think it may be more difficult to parent a child today  with so many outside influences and as we ship them off to government run schools for 6-7hours a day. They bury themselves in books and social media in their room until nightfall.  We’re losing our kids, that’s my humble opinion.  Homeschooling makes this easier, but with the load of busy work from school , there is never a second left for youth group or bible study.  Pray about how you can change that. They are only with us a few years and then they are gone.
13. Not a novice – not a newbie, no offense but the bible says you need more time if you’re brand new to Christianity. Grow in Christ and be an example of a new Creation and in time, the Lord will lift you up. There’s good reason for this so pay attention to God’s instructions. If a newbie is given high standing in the church he may puff up with pride and fall back into the same condemnation as the devil.  Consider the greatness of Moses and the testing of his life. He didn’t lead the people until he was 80 years old. He was the most humble man on all the earth. Consider also the status the Lord raised Joseph up to. He endured years of tribulation and testing to get to position that the Lord had planned out for him. Wait on the Lord.
14. Have a good testimony and well thought of by outsiders so he does not fall into disgrace into the snare of the devil
15. Reverent – honorable and reputable
16. Not double tongued- not deceitful,  revengeful, saying one thing and meaning another – a fibber
17. have a clear conscience – inward moral impression of one’s actions and principles, moral judgment
18. Being of one wife, ruling their own children and houses well
19. Endure Hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. If you endure, you will reign with Him
20. not entangle himself with affairs of this life, this way you may please Him who enlisted you as a soldier
21. Work hard to present yourselves approved to God, rightly dividing the word of truth.
22. Shun profane and idle babbling , for they increase more ungodliness and their messages spreads like cancer.
23. Depart from all iniquity!
24. Be prepared to do the Lord’s work
25. Flee youthful lusts.- Seriously, stop making excuses. God created you to be holy and you can be holy. Stop listing to teachers that okay this behavior; it’s a doctrine straight from hell. In Numbers 15, the people were to wear tassels to remind them of God’s commands and “that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined and that you may remember and do all My commands and be holy for your God.”

 Vs 10” And let them be tested first, and then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless”

  This list can go on and on, but it’s a good start. In all things remember that our ultimate goal is Loving God and Loving others.  1 Corinthians lists the definition of God’s love as evident in our lives. I like to look over the list and consider what I need to work on:

• Longsuffering – enduring in times of trouble (Rejoice Romans 5:3-4 and James 1)
• Kind to others, never quick to be angry. Always considering others first
• Love does not envy
• Does not behave rudely. (There goes south Florida, Aventura and Boca specifically, no offense though. If it makes you feel better, you have great malls)
• Does not seek its own, does not demand it’s own way : Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. Philippians 2:3
• It is not provoked (He will not shout or cry out,  or raise his voice in the streets.³ A bruised reed he will not break,  and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; Isaiah 42:2-3 and Matthew 12:20 )
• Thinks no evil – ^“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil 4:8
• Does not rejoice in iniquity. Hmmm need to think about that, I found myself laughing at something really stupid and ungodly in a movie bc I don’t know why – maybe bc I was expected to laugh. I had to stop myself. How about laughing at ungodly jokes or some radio morning shows. Turn it off. Rejoice only in the truth, not in iniquity – even if you’re the last one standing.
• Rejoices always in the truth. What is truth? Jesus is truth. Jesus is the only way to God the Father.
• Bears all things. Love bears ALL things, even sandpaper people. That’s not always fun. Love bears all circumstances – think about that. What circumstances are you going through?  Endure through all times in love as you cling to the Lord. Love bears all things.
• Hopes all things. I love hope.
• Endures all things. Amen!
• Love never fails.
• Do not seek praise from people. Set your mind to live a life that pleases the Lord. “We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.⁷ Instead, we were like young children among you. 1 Thes 2:6

The Lord’s eyes are on all our ways, we are not hidden from his face.

The Lord says, “My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.  I will repay them double for their wickedness and their sin, because they have defiled my land with the lifeless forms of their vile images and have filled my inheritance with their detestable idols.” Jeremiah 16:17

He searches and tests our heart, even our innermost motives are not hidden from him.  

I the Lord search the heart  and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct,  according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:10  and  1 Thes 2:4

Call on Him, He will tell you great things!

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know Jeremiah 33:3 See, I am doing a new thing!   Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness  and streams in the wasteland Isaiah 49

Expect persecution and trials, but no worries! The Lord God goes before you. Be Strong.

 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution 1 Timothy 3:12

Peace and Shalom, make sure you are ready for the Lord’s return. The time now is sooner that it ever was. Be ready, get your heart right with the Lord. The Lord’s love never fails, it never gives up, it never gives up on you. Live a life with that same unconditional love towards others. Live a life that pleases the Lord God.

Backsliding…..Have you drifted from the Lord?

Have you found yourself drifting in your spiritual life?

“For they have perverted their way; They have forgotten the LORD their God. “Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings. Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God. Surely the idolatrous commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel” Jeremiah 3:22-23

Some of the most godly kings were guilty of backsliding- Joash, Hezekiah and Solomon to name a few. They walked with the Lord,  saw visions, prophecied ,they had prophets to warn them, they saw awesome and wonderful miracles and power of God. Yet, as time went by they began to fall away from the Lord. Pride, Wealth, Fame, were some of the things that tripped them in their walk with the Lord. The Lord warned them and shook up their world to try to get their attention. Some listened and some did not.

   If King Solomon was not immune to this, neither are we.

We have to make sure the desires for this world, our busyness, forgetting God’s promises, forgetting what God has done for us, and unbelief do not enter into our minds, our lives, or our hearts.

Backsliding is a gradual process, we barely notice it. Backsliding is like drifting along the shore of an ocean- without knowing you are moving. At first you see where you are stationed on the shore with your family, chairs, umbrella. After a while of playing in the surf, you look up and suddenly your stuff is no where to be found. You have drifted so far- and you didn’t even notice you had moved. The same it is with backsliding. It’s quiet and you don’t notice it unless you stand grounded always checking yourself, making sure you are anchored and have your eyes fixed on your place. It’s easy to drift. We can get so caught up in our world, we get tired, and maybe even lazy. We are all in danger of neglecting our relationship with Him. Work hard, be alert, make the effort and seek the Lord with all your might and with all your heart

 Charles Stanley on avoiding the disaster of drifting said, “Maybe you’re caught up in the wrong crowd and haven’t attended worship services in a long time. The most disturbing part of it is that you just don’t feel God’s presence anymore. Something is happening to your spiritual life- and it isn’t good. You’re drifting, which means you’re headed for trouble” I went through the bible and found some things that we need to be careful of so we don’t end up backsliding and falling away from the Lord: that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

    Heb 6:12
Backsliding is prompted by:

1. Pride and a haughty spirit -Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
2. Spiritual blindness You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
3. Spiritual Blindness and forgetting you have been cleansed: Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Rev 3:17-18, 2 Peter 1:5-11
4. Murmuring: But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Ex 17:3
5. Not Remembering all God has done for you/ not waiting for Him: But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
6. Lusting after evil/ Not Content: In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wilderness they put God to the test. So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease among them.
7. Envy: In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the LORD. The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked. At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
8. Idolatry: They exchanged their glorious God for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
9. Forgetting They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt ,miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. So he said he would destroy them -had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. Then they despised the pleasant land; 10. Not believing: they did not believe his promise.
11. Complaining : They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD. So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the wilderness, make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands.
12. Not Putting God first: They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; they aroused the Lord’s anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them. But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come. By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
13. Rebellion: for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips.
14. hanging around unbelievers :They did not destroy the peoples as the LORD had commanded them, but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to false gods. They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood.
15. Doing evil :They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. Therefore the LORD was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. He gave them into the hands of the nations, and their foes ruled over them. Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. Yet he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. He caused all who held them captive to show them mercy. Save us, LORD our God and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. Psalm 106: 13—47 (#4-#11)
16. Envy, wanting worldly things: Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
17. Giving up when troubles arise: Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.
18. Not believing in God’s promises Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful
19. Craving Worldly desires: the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.” Mark 4:15-20 (#12-15)
20. The Love of Money: Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Tim 6:9-10
21. Forgetting God : Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, be careful! Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath. Duet. 8:11-18: Jer 3:2-25 by the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, sat like a nomad in the desert. You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains there. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 8 I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel’s immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense(make believe or pretend),” declares the LORD. “Return, faithless people,” declares the LORD, I will cure you of backsliding Jer 48:7-8 Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be taken captive, ! 29-30 “We have heard of Moab’s pride— how great is her arrogance!— of her insolence, her pride, her conceit and the haughtiness of her heart. I know her insolence but it is futile, ”declares the LORD, “and her boasts accomplish nothing.

Warning

Jer 4:19 Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the LORD your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty

Jer 5:7-9 “Why should I forgive you? your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes. They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife. Should I not punish them for this?”declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?

Jer 8 :4-12 “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: “‘When people fall down, do they not get up?When someone turns away, do they not return? Why then have these people turned away?Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. I have listened attentively,but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?”Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle. Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the LORD‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,”when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely? The wise will be put to shame; they will be dismayed and trapped. Since they have rejected the word of the LORD, what kind of wisdom do they have? Therefore I will give their wives to other men and their fields to new owners.From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace. 12 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when they are punished, says the LORD.

Jer 14:10 This is what the LORD says about this people: “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the LORD does not accept them; he will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins.”

Hosea 11:7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them.

Hosea 14:9Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the LORD are right;the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

Prov 14:14-16The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways, and the good rewarded for theirs. The simple believe anything but the prudent give thought to their steps.The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure Remember Him- come back to him in your thoughts.

Job 20:21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Seek repentance before Him with a humble heart and if you have offended anyone, go and confess your offense and make peace

 “Return, ye backsliding children” Turn to Him: Come back! There is Mercy and Grace for you from the Father ready to be poured out into your life. He waits all day with open arms calling your name. Yes, come as you are- even in our wayward ways. He calls out “come back my backsliding children” he doesn’t say, come back all who are right with me – don’t think you have to better yourself first before you come back to Him. Today is the day of salvation. Don’t wait any longer. Go to the Lord and He will make your ways straight.

“But all who believe, must believe in Jesus, and repent of their sins” Charles Spurgeon, in 1886 said is best: “Come empty, ragged, filthy, just as you are, and believe in God that justifieth the ungodly. Cast yourself on Him who came to call, not the righteous, but sinners to repentence”

Put God first; Trust in Him alone. Get rid of all the idols in our lives. What do I put before the Lord?
1. Remember Him– come back to him in your thoughts. Job 20:21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Seek repentance before Him with a humble heart and if you have offended anyone, go and confess your offense and make peace “Return, ye backsliding children”
2. Turn to Him: Come back! There is Mercy and Grace for you from the Father ready to be poured out into your life. He waits all day with open arms calling your name. Yes, come as you are- even in our wayward ways. He calls out “come back my backsliding children” he doesn’t say, come back all who are right with me – don’t think you have to better yourself first before you come back to Him. Today is the day of salvation. Don’t wait any longer. Go to the Lord and He will make your ways straight. “But all who believe, must believe in Jeus, and repent of their sins”
3. Put God first; Trust in Him alone. Get rid of all the idols in our lives. What do I put before the Lord?
4. Get rid of all unrighteousness : Stop judging others and begin to clean your heart out daily of any hidden sins. Remember there is no salvation in ourselves, but in the blood of the Lamb of God- our Savior Jesus Christ. To think ourselves so righteous is a lie. It’s all about Jesus, not us. His Kingdom only. When we were yet without strength Christ died for us. It is not our own strength or righteousness that we are saved.
5.  Job 20:21 Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. Seek repentance before Him with a humble heart and if you have offended anyone, go and confess your offense and make peace “Return, ye backsliding children”Today is the day of salvation.  Go to the Lord and He will make your ways straight. “But all who believe, must believe in Jesus, and repent of their sins”
  Live for Christ: die to ourselves and our desires and let Christ reign in your heart. There is no greater joy than this. From a fleshly and wordly standpoint, this doesn’t sound like something we’d want to do. When we finally do decide to live for Christ only we will find the joy, the peace and the amazing walk with God our soul desires. There you will be content and there you will find your joy. Searching for this in wordly things will never bring you to the place where you are searching. It is only found in Christ. Living for Him, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me 8:34-35

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it Luke 9:23

Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it Gal 5: 24-

 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.. Put no idols before him : We cannot serve two Gods!No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and man.

Fear God not man. Fear of the Lord defined

Sometimes we need to consider our ways, STOP at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. Jeremiah 6:16, Haggai 1:5,7

 Expect rejection and persecution when you do the Lords work:
Remember that they are not rejecting you, but they are rejecting the Lord our God :   And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.1 Samuel 8:6-8 

What is the Fear of the Lord and is it evident in your life? Have you found yourself fearing man more than God?

He listens to us!
  Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. Mal 3:16

BE BOLD and courageous
  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. heb 13:16

He Watches Us and Delivers us
Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

 Listen!
 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
Fear ye not me? saith the Lord:
will ye not tremble at my presence,
which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
Neither say they in their heart,
Let us now fear the Lord our God,
that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Jeremiah 5:21-24

 The Fear of the Lord is

1. To obey His voice
2. The beginning of  knowledge
3. Wisdom and knowing to depart from evil
4. Where you find the Knowledge of God
5. To hate evil, pride, arrogance, evil ways and filthy mouths
6. The way to prolong our days
7. A place of confidence in the Lord
8. A fountain of life
9. keeps us from the snares of death
10. is needed before instruction and wisdom
11. Is the instruction of wisdom
12. Keeps us from evil
13. Brings riches, honor and life when combined with humility
14. Where our heart should be all day- not envying sinners
15. One of the seven fold spirits of the Lord
16. gives quick godly understanding
17. Our treasure= through which we receive wisdom and understanding which results in stability and strength of salvation
18. A Precious Key for our churches
19. The way to increase our church family and walk in harmony together
20. a way for our churches to walk in order to have comfort, rest and unity with the Holy Ghost
21. what the Lord notices in your life
22. Prepares you for the Lord’s teaching
23. To delight in His commands
24. rewarded with blessings
25. Keeps you safe prov 29:25
26. To fear God is to trust Him
27. Our duty in Life – To fear God and keep His commands
28. reminds us not to Trust in mans words or to be swayed by the countenance of others
29. keeps us from fearing man
30. the spirit of the Lord that the Lord is searching for within us
31. To trust in His Ways, not our own ways
32. To hope in His Mercy
33. in that which the Lord delights to see in His people
34. blesses us with the Mercy of the Lord and righteousness unto our children’s children
35. The Lord taketh pleasure in those who fear Him
36. There is no want to those who fear Him
37. The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him! A key of our protection and deliverance in troubles because the angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them

 To Fear Man

1. is to lack knowledge and wisdom
2. is to be wise in your own eyes (Saul’s downfall)
3. is a snare and a trap in your life
4. the sign of a fool
5. is to despise wisdom and instruction
6. is to love evil
7. will shorten your days
8. is trouble
9. envy sinners
10. is to not honor God’s laws or commands
11. is to despise God’s ways
12. despise the Lord
13. trust your own ways

 Hear the Word of the Lord:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.  In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death. Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.Prov 1:7,9:10. 8:13,2:5,10:27,14:26, 15:16, 15:33, 16:16 , 22:4. 23,17,Ps 111:10, Job28:28

  And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.  Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel;Is33:6, Acts 9:31, 2Kings 17:34,Job 1:8, Job 2:3 “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?  Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.   So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Ps 25:12, 112:1, Prov 29:25, Eccl 12:13, Heb 13:6

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?  Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Prov 3:7, Is 50:10, Mal 1:6, 3:16

 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Ps147:11,115:13,103:17,34:9,34:7,2:11,1

   Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

 

My Theory:

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears. According to scripture and what the Lord has done in my life, I believe there is an order with the 7 fold spirit. I believe we receive the Fear of the Lord first because “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom and true knowledge”. After the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord, we receive the spirit Knowledge, then might, then counsel. Next gift received after this is spirit of understanding,(Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart) then the spirit of wisdom is given (a gift) – and we are always growing and growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church.

May the Lord Strengthen and encourage you today. May He make you a bold witness for Christ.
Teach us your ways, O Lord, that we may walk in your truth. Unite our hearts to fear your Great name. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!

“Fear God and not Man”.

• 1- Peter’s denial of Christ.  Peter feared man in this situation- He didn’t want to deny Christ; his spirit was willing and he spoke words of strength, but when evil came to sift and shake him, he temporarily fell under pressure. He felt awful, repented, and as the Lord had prophesied, Peter went out of that situation strengthened and stronger in order to encourage his brothers (and probably with a more humble and understanding heart)
  2- Saul, Israel’s first King. He lost the throne because of two wrongs he did. The first wrong: Saul didn’t do as Samuel told him In 1 Sam 13-14, Saul decided to act in the way he thought was best- but he didn’t obey (he made excuses to Samuel for his doings) and it cost him the throne. The second test he failed is when Saul was told to attack Amalek in 1 Samuel 15. He was to destroy everything- but he didn’t. First he blamed the people (notice he didnt’ repent first) he only repented when he felt the pain of losing the kingdom. Notice Saul’s words to Samuel: “ I have sinned, I have feared the people and their voice“.
  3-Judas– took the side of man over the Lord. I know it may seem like he liked money, but I think he liked being “popular” with the “in crowd” also . Notice how he couldn’t wait to run and tell the pharisees about what he was about to do. He treasured the approval of man over the approval of the Lord. I can just see him proudly meeting in the Temple and enjoying the new-found status in his betrayal of Christ. He had the opportunity to repent and time to think about it, but he had let it sink so deep into his heart it consumed him. The devil throws wrong thoughts, ways and ideas into our thoughts like an arrow. We can choose to obey them or disregard them.