God the Father delivers us from fear by His Word and His love. If we walk in fear then we have a “Word” problem and a “Love” problem. We can never be free from fear if we continue to justify it or excuse it as normal.
1 John 4:18 ESV There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. First, in this study, I will list the fears that we should be free from then over the upcoming weeks I will go into Scriptural detail on each. 1. We should be free from the fear of MAN: 2. We should be free from the fear of DEATH: 3. We should be free from the fear of the FUTURE: 4. We should be free from the fear of DANGER: 5. We should be free from the fear of IDOLS: 6. We should be free from the fear of DREAMS: 7. We should be free from the fear of EVIL: 8. We should be free from the fear of WAR: 9. We should be free from the fear of IMAGINATIONS (Fearful Thinking): 10. We should be free from the fear of our ENEMIES: 11. We should be free from the fear of PUNISHMENT: 12. We should be free from the fear of DARKNESS: 13. We should be free from the fear of SPIRITS: 14. We should be free from the fear of the SPIRIT OF FEAR:
0 Comments
Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. As we said in the last study, the Father desires that every place should be a meeting place and every place should be a place of worship with Him. Places of true worship are places where FAITH is tested. In this place of worship God watches the man and his heart. God told Abraham what He wanted as an offering, and Abraham obeyed. It would seem that Abraham did not just see this in the negative, as a place where he had to give up his son as an offering. Abraham saw this as a place and an opportunity to meet with God and worship Him. Now consider the offering. Abraham had received a promise of a seed that would bless the nations. He tried to make Lot that son and God said NO. He tried to make Eliezer that son and God said NO. He tried to make Ishmael that son and God said NO. Isaac was the son of promise. Abraham had waited for him for over 20 years. Now he was to lay him on an altar and sacrifice him to the Lord. But that is not all. Remember, the sacrifice to the Lord was to be burnt completely with the fire of the altar. Abraham’s promised son was to be completely consumed and fully offered up on the altar of testing and obedience. Abraham proved by obedience that he was a man of faith and a friend of God. Wow. And he said that he was going to mountain to WORSHIP. WHAT IS RSIM?
Raising The Standards International Ministries is not a social club. It is a ministry dedicated in calling believers to get back to what the Bible says. It is a call to forsake what is mentally and emotionally desirable in exchange for a pure uncompromising walk with the Lord. As a young Pastor, I would preach the value of people having the courage of their convictions, if those convictions lined up with Scriptures. The problem is that too many church members who are filled with convictions that needed to be abandoned because they were not Biblical convictions. I have spent years pointing out the Biblical principles that we should be separated from the world and dedicate our life, our gifts, our time, and our talents for God's use. But the response I get from some believers either by statement or lifestyle is, "I don't know what the Bible says, but I know what I believe." That statement ends the conversation. Here I was, thinking that the issue at hand was about what the Bible teaches. But in reality it is what the individual wanted to believe emotionally and mentally and had nothing to do with the Scriptures. There is nothing a pastor can do with that mindset, because it stems from an unteachable heart. Many times I have tried to move the discussion with certain believers to solid Biblical principles and disciplines. But I usually get stunned by the statement, "But we have our own convictions and we disagree with you!" I try to remind believers that the Father did not send us to preach our convictions, but the Word of God. When I give the Word of God in multiple Scriptures it is not me they disagree with, it is the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word. Convictions are not the same as truth. They may be, of course, and ideally should be, if they are grounded in the Word of God. But we should never make the mistake of giving our convictions an equal place with God's Word. I think it's safe to say that Hitler and Stalin had their convictions. The Jehovah's Witnesses who knock on our doors have theirs. The Mormons have theirs, the Catholics theirs, and yes, I have mine. We who are charged with preaching the whole counsel of God must be careful about blending into doctrinal truth our own pet convictions and personal beliefs. That is why I try to back up everything I teach with an incredible amount of Biblical proof and give people an opportunity to respond if they have questions or know of differing Scriptures. It is also why I have always chosen the Word of God over the teachings of any denominational organization. 1. Some convictions are little more than superstitions or pagan beliefs. (Like: Knock on wood). (Yes I can include the sacred cows of Christmas and Easter in this. For those who want to know the truth here there is enough web evidence available). 2. Some convictions are convenient excuses to indulge our egos, allowing us to stand out in the crowd, or to entertain people in some fashion. (Pastors are not the only ones who are called out in the Scriptures to be shepherds and not hirelings). To many believers have "sold out" to the world. 3. Some convictions are merely our refusal to accept something new and different to us although it is an old teaching from God's Word. 4. Some convictions are merely negative, things we hate or oppose, rather than what we should believe from God's Word. 5. Some convictions are the result of ignorance. (This is not being stupid. It is being unlearned. Once taught the truth and it is rejected, now that is stupid and foolish). 6. Some convictions are the result of the opinions of the majority. "They must be right because everyone agrees." I have seen many believers taking "polls" until they get enough people to agree with them about what they are doing or what to do. So, why does RSIM exist? To be a voice from the Father and say what He says, when the norm is desiring an echo from the world and repeating the same wrong thinking enough that it becomes true in our minds. Father God, give us the discernment to distinguish YOUR revelation truth from our personal beliefs. God give us the grace to conform our beliefs to YOUR revelation as quickly as we begin to comprehend and internalize it. Okay...this is a title to get people thinking. Many come up to me for prayer and ask if I would pray and tell them their DESTINY. This is a serious thing and not something to be taken lightly. Therefore, I have some pointers for all of us concerning DESTINY, the END TIMES, and GOD.
God knows the future completely, and he will accomplish his plan. God does not work in a vacuum, He does not have a "plan-B" for us, the world is not out of His control, and He is already present at the end of the world as we know it. We all know Is.46:9-11 but let's look at it again. Isaiah 46:9-11 KJV Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. Allow me to paraphrase this verse. Isaiah 46:9-11 tells us: God says... Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. I spoke forth the end at the beginning. Everything I plan will come to pass. I have said what I would do, and I will do it. The amazing thing is that God will accomplish His plan, and we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are a part of it. God not only knows THE future, He knows YOUR future. We may not know what’s lying ahead of us, but we can be certain God does. We can also be assured that He is already there. If we truly trust Him and genuinely believe that He will do what He has said He will do, then this assurance should give us a strong sense of confidence and security in Him and in these last days which we live. So stay in the position of faith. What should we do while our destiny is being played out? Hate Sin Like God Hates Sin: Love People Like God Loves People: Fear God and Stand In Awe of His Presence: Live Righteous Like This is Your Last Day to Honor Him On This Side of Eternity: Do not forsake the faith that is in you: Ephesians 5:18 ESV And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
What is the obstruction that prevents Christians from walking out a Spirit-filled life? Certainly God our Heavenly Father does not want to withhold any good thing from His children. If there is a problem then it is due to our unwillingness to let God have His way in our lives. It is called “The Carnal Nature.” Galatians 5:16-17 ESV But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (17) For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. We sing and speak a lot about the LOVE of God, as we should. But there are not many songs concerning the WILL of God. All resistance to the WILL of God must be emptied out before we can maintain a “Spirit controlled,” “Spirit-filled” life. This resistance is sometimes hard to identify but it is known in the Bible as carnality or the “mind of the flesh,” which by the way is enmity or strife against God. We can call this carnality by what it really is, self-centeredness and rebellion! Romans 8:6-8 ESV For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (7) For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. (8) Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. I know confessing believers who speak about their being rebellious like it is a badge of honor. The Scriptures tell us that rebellion is liken unto witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23 ESV For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king.” Everything that comes from the Father comes to us from a heart of faith and a submissive heart. We cry out for the love of God. Try crying out that God give you the wisdom and understanding to walk in His will. You can know His love without being in His will. But if you are in His will you will also be in His love. We have identified apostasy in the first five studies as a falling away or defection. The Biblical Greek explains it this way a-pos'-ta-si, a-pos'-tat, apostasia, a standing away from
It is a falling away, a withdrawal, a defection. Used twice in the New Testament, in the Greek original, to express a total abandonment of the faith. This was a warning that was foretold to the believers. Question: If apostasy is something that only lost people can do, as many of our denominational teaching espouse, than why was it important that the warning was given to believers and to the church? The first warning from 1 Tim.4:1-3: Questions: In verse 1 it says that there are those who will depart from the faith. How can you cannot fall away from, defect from, or withdraw from something you have not been in? Secondly, lost people are already the children of Satan, deceived and speak the teachings of the enemy, so how can lost people leave the faith that they were never in, and devote themselves into something they have always been in? 1 Timothy 4:1-3 ESV Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, (3) who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. More later 1 John 1:7 ESV But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
First I would like to look at the Scriptures concerning lifestyle sins or deeds of the fresh, and the consequences of living in them. Galatians 5:19-21 ESV Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (21) envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 ESV Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, (10) nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. We are told from the Word of God that a true believe cannot continue living in a lifestyle of sin. 1 John 3:5-7 ESV You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. (6) No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (7) Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. From these Scriptures we come to some conclusion. Those who live in the sins listed in Gal.5:19-21 and 1 Cor.6:9-10 will not inherit the kingdom of God. Those who live in Christ according to 1 Jn.3:5-6 keeps a life-style apart from a lifestyle of sinning. These Scriptures are so clear. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning. If we say we are in Christ we do not keep on sinning. It is as simple as this. Sometimes I ask people, “Can Jesus Christ deliver someone from lying?” Usually they affirm He can. “Can Jesus Christ deliver someone from stealing?” Usually the answer will be, “Yes, He can.” Then I ask, “What sin is too great for Christ to overcome?” Usually the answer is, “There is no sin too great for Christ to overcome.” We know this is true, yet Satan has convinced us that we have so much sin it is useless to think that we can overcome them. Wintertime is approaching. Imagine this. You are on your way to work early in the morning. It had been snowing (hard to imagine if you live in Florida), and the roads are full of slush. You are now late for work. There is a big truck ahead of you going very slowly and you can't see around it. You think, “There is really bad traffic this morning. I don’t dare pull around this truck because I may cause an accident. The roads are slippery.” Finally however you see your opportunity and you pull around the truck. What do you think you saw? There were no other cars ahead of the truck. The road was clear for a long, long way. Sometimes we are blinded by that one sin in front of us and convinced by the enemy that there are thousands more ahead of it. Focus on our Lord Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. The blood of Christ is enough to deliver us from all sin. continued later 2 Samuel 23:11-12 ESV And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. (12) But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the LORD worked a great victory.
I heard a story about a preacher who was always going out of town to do revivals. One day as he was about to leave the church office on his way to another city to preach a revival his secretary ask him for the titles of the Sunday messages so she could put them in the bulletin. The preacher said for the Sunday morning service just put in the bulletin "The Pastor Speaks" because he was still without a message and unsure about what he would preach. But he informed his secretary that on the Sunday night sermon he would be preaching from Ps.14:1, “The fool hath said in his heart there is no God”. Well, said the secretary, "What title do you want to use for the Sunday night message from Ps.14:1?" The preacher told her to come up with the title herself as he rushed out the office for his travels . The preacher returned from his preaching engagement early Sunday morning just in time for the preaching service. He rushed in, grabbed a bulletin and sat down. As he read over the bulletin he was shocked at what the secretary placed in it. Sunday morning sermon "The Pastor Speaks" Sunday night "What The Fool Says" Just a little humor to introduce the issue of Pastors preaching from a dry well and failing to stand fast. They go hand in hand. When the leaders are dry, empty, and no one is listening, instead of falling on their face and seeking God for a fresh anointing of His Spirit, there will be the tendency to go after the new catch words and modern methods of trying to draw in the crowds. We then forget that John the Baptist just preached the Word out in a desert place and the crowds came running out to hear him. John didn't have the fluff and duff, bright lights, flashy praise teams, or a corporate title. All John had was the Word of God and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I have seen some of our spiritual leaders get so far away from standing fast in the Word that all they can do is stand and speak foolishness for 30 minutes. We need a fresh Word from God today delivered from our pulpits. We need to stop trying to bring fresh water from a well that has gone dry. I believe that today more than at any other time in history, preachers need a fresh Word from the Throne Room of Heaven. Not just any word, but one which is rooted and grounded in the Word of God and not from the leaven of the Pharisees. But along with that fresh Word from God our Pastors need to stand for what is right and for what is holy because God calls it right and holy. A boy with a small horse was asked one day, "Son does your horse run fast?" The boy replied, "No sir, but he stands fast." Shammah took his stand right in the middle of a pea patch for no other reason than it was God's pea patch. We can't give what we don't have. We as men of God need to preaching from a well of living water that is flowing up and out of our bowels. Instead of trying to keep up with all the new names, gadgets, apts, and titles the world has introduced to the church, the shepherds of God's sheep should be receiving the roles and titles that God gave us in His Word, like servant and friend. More and more preachers are ridiculed, disrespected and laughed at because they fail to stand fast in God's Word. Father, help us to stand firm and fast right in the middle of Your pea patch even if we have to stand alone, and only because it is Your pea patch. Genesis 22:5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you,
This is the first time the actual word “worship” is used in Scripture. Don’t you find it fitting that the first time that the word worship is used it is connection with death. Read Gen. 22:1-9 for the complete story. God was testing Abraham’s trust and faithfulness. Abraham was trusting God’s faithfulness. God wants every place to be a place of worship. God wants every circumstance to be a circumstance of worship. True worship has nothing to do with music and everything about walking in the fear of the Lord with quick and full obedience to His Word, without holding back anything from Him, no matter the cost. Genesis 22:3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Genesis 22:7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Genesis 22:8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together. "God will provide" Jehovah-jireh or Yahweh Yireh Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Notice the emphasis on “the place”. The place of worship is important because we are called to worship God on His conditions. This means we are to move with Him when He says and not demand that He enter our structured place and time. We have been programmed to demand God to come to our place in our time slots (spiritual manipulation), for what we want to offer as worship, which usually cost us nothing. Because of this Sunday morning 11:00-12:00 programing, it would seem strange to our thinking that God would demand our obedience to be in HIS place, in HIS timing, and offering a great costly sacrifice, for true worship to happen. Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
I don't have to say this because it seems evident but I will go ahead for those who are living in the clouds. There seems to be a large group of believers in the fast lane of seeking to be entertained over seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our churches are filled today with smoke and whistles, noise and lights. Some churches are like going to a pep rally, boarding on entertaining the masses like a three-ring circus. Picture life as a fast car. There are those who are ready to jump into the passenger seat for a ride not really caring about the destination. They only want the thrill of the ride. I heard this story about a woman named Goldie who was known for her love of activity. Anyone who invites her out usually gets an enthusiastic "Yes!" One day her husband, John, went outside and got in the car. "Wait!" Goldie yelled as she rounded up the kids. She quickly ran a brush through her daughter's hair and changed her son's shirt. Then, grabbing her purse, she raced through the door. As her husband waited wordlessly, she buckled the kids in the back seat and collapsed in the front. "Okay," she beamed at him. "Let's go!" John took the car out of park and drove into the garage. You should always know where the driver is headed otherwise you might end up taking a ride to nowhere. Do you know where your life is headed with the Father? Do you know where the Father is desiring to take you? Do you join the "church of what's happening now" for the excitement of the ride? Are you so excited about taking a ride that you forget to judge who is driving and where you might end up? We should ask the Father daily for His leadership in our life lest we find ourselves the worldly passenger of a car going nowhere? See the Father and His righteousness FIRST. Genesis 15:7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
In true Biblical worship we find that God “takes us out” so that He can “bring us in”. The Father had to get Abraham out of the land of Ur in order to bring him into the land of promise. So it is with us. We are in the world, but not of the world. Our faith is not natural but supernatural. God calls us out of the world, out of sin, out of the life and nature of old Adam, out of walking to fulfill the desires of the flesh INTO a Christ-like life. God calls us into a deeper relationship and fellowship with Him. God calls us into a walk of practical righteousness and holiness. God calls us into His places in the heavenlies to sit down with Him. Our act of worship should be our natural response to the covenant that God made with us. We have nothing to bring to the table except our lives and a desire to worship the king of glory. Genesis 15:8-12 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? [9] And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon. [10] And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not. [11] And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away. [12] And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. Genesis 15:17-18 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. [18] In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: The Father walked between the two pieces establishing the covenant with Abraham while Abraham slept. The Lord Jesus Christ did the same in the garden as the disciples slept. Salvation is by faith. If I get it by faith then it is kept by faith. But what happens when I develop a heart of faithlessness?
MADE VOID OR CANCELED OUT THE FAITH: Romans 4:13-16 ESV For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. (14) For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. (15) For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression. (16) That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. In verse 14 the Greek “to make null or void” means to make empty, abase, neutralize, falsify, or cause faith to be in vain. We will see that we are not boast that we were grafted in to the branch because we were grafted in by faith, and if we no longer walk in faith then we will be cut off. Romans 11:17-22 ESV But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, (18) do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (19) Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” (20) That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. (21) For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. (22) Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. Romans 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Romans 4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. Romans 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; [21] And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. [22] And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Galatians 3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. In true worship we will find that as we seek the Lord something wonderful will happen. Remember that we worship by (1) walking hand-in-hand with God the Father daily in confession, repentance, sacrifice, obedience, and thanksgiving. (2) We must deal with sin correctly, (3) bring the acceptable offering to the Lord, and (4) have complete obedience no matter how great the personal cost. But what is the proof of true worship? It is having a great testimony. In the Scriptures given today we will see Abraham's “TESTIMONY OF WORSHIP.” Thousands of years after Abraham lived we still have his testimony of worship in the New Testament as an example to follow. Today we still look to the acts of Abraham and stand in awe at his un-relentless desire to seek and please the Father’s heart. In all that we honor Abraham for we can see that his worship came out of a heart of faith. ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD. That is why we stress Heb.11:6 so strongly. James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Today, some who claim to be worshipping God could be defined as an emotional activity, void of faith and trust in God and His Word. Does your worship carry a testimony of faith trusting in what God says? We proclaim today that we are the seed of Abraham blessed with his blessings. Okay, then it would seem right to carry the same testimony of faith as Abraham. We said in previous studies that there is no evidence within Scriptures that supports a believer being able to "sin away" his salvation. However, there is a "falling away" from the faith which we are covering in these studies.
We in the first two studies that apostasy was a falling away or defection. The Biblical Greek explains it this way a-pos'-ta-si, a-pos'-tat (apostasia, "a standing away from") It is a falling away, a withdrawal, a defection. Used twice in the New Testament, in the Greek original, to express abandonment of the faith. I know that many are emotionally tied to their church doctrines either because it was the church were they were saved or it was the one which their parents brought them up in. However, it is of no benefit to embrace doctrines that have so many "embarrassing Scriptures" that teach otherwise. I have found that people will believe anything you teach as long as you teach what they already believe. I embrace the doctrine of "the eternal security of the believer." But I do not embrace the doctrine of eternal security or "once saved, always saved." When some approach a lot of the salvation Scriptures such as Jn.3:16 they read it like the "believing" is eternal. No, the life is eternal. The believing is conditional. We will be covering many examples within the Scriptures of those who walked with our Lord Jesus Christ and then walked away from the faith. However, if your mind is made up to embrace your denominational teaching over the Word then your heart is unteachable. Why do I teach this? Because the Scriptures relating to falling from the faith is a great warning to the church. If you embrace the "once saved, always saved" doctrine, or perseverance of the saints then you cannot embrace Revelation chapter 22 as God's Holy Word Revelation 22:18-19 ESV I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, (19) and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Some would say that our Lord is speaking to lost people here. But the lost don't have any part of the tree of Life, which is our Lord Jesus Christ. Genesis 15:1-6 After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward. [2] And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? [3] And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. [4] And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. [5] And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. [6] And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
In true Biblical worship, as we seek the Lord, something wonderful will happen. We worship by walking hand-in-hand with God the Father daily in confession, repentance, sacrifice, obedience, and thanksgiving. We saw in the first few studies that true worship happens... (1) when we deal with sin correctly, (2) when we bring the acceptable offering to the Lord, and (3) when we respond with complete obedience to the Lord no matter how great the personal cost. We also learned that true worship comes forth from a heart of gratefulness and thanksgiving. Here is the new dynamic about worship. When we walk in belief (faith), the Father takes the initiative and comes to meet with us. After the battle with the kings, the Lord appears to Abraham in a vision. He reveals Himself as Abraham’s Shield and Reward, (Protector and Provider). In that place of worship Abraham reminded God about His promise for a son. Abraham tried to help God by bringing his servant Eliezer before the Lord as the heir and seed of promise. In this time of worship God gave Abraham a visual picture of the stars and renewed His promise of a son from his bowels. Two great results happened in this act of worship. 1. Abraham believed God at His Word. 2. God counted that belief as righteousness on Abraham. |
AuthorCharles Morris. Founder and Senior Pastor of RSI Ministry, RSI School of Ministry, and RSI Publishing L.L.C.. Archives
March 2021
Categories
All
|