The
Fear of God
Matthew
10:28 And fear not
them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul:
but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body
in hell.
Christ is
speaking here of the Father, not the devil. Note that Jesus
is not saying that death is a function of the devil as is commonly
preached today (This
verse was spoken before Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.)
Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for
evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This is spoken by was spoken
by Christ quite some time after he had risen from the deah and
ascended to be seated at the right hand of the father.
Despite the words of Christ preachers and evangelists
the world over tell us that it is the devil and not Christ that
has the power of death. I know a preacher who’s wife has been
dying of cancer since last August and this Word of Faith preacher
has steadfastly hour after hour day in and day out has spent
an enormous amount of time and physical strength rebuking the
devil for this sickness and disease that has struck his wife,
and he is now rebuking devil over death.
To put this
in perspective I greatly love this brother and his wife and
the people in his Church and have been attending services there
for the better part of a year. He is doing this because he has
been taught to do this. But his situation is a bit more complicated
than that he just found a biblical philosophy that he liked
and became a servant of it.
A decade of so ago he was had been a bible believing
Baptist and he discovered the baptism of the Holy Spirit along
with healing and deliverance. He also has related that he was
sick and dying and went to a faith hospital run by people associated
with the Word of Faith teaching. He was terrified and they told
him that only by right confession, and resisting the devil at
the smallest sign of any symptom would he live. I believe that
he was really healed – but after the healing that he was brought
under the bondage of the man made traditions of these teachers
and their ministries. So every day is an exhausting battle to
live that centers around confessing specific verses for minutes
if not hours, and audibly rebuking devil for minutes and
hours until he or his wife either feels relief or is too worn
out to continue. Some will defend this lifestyle as “The Faith
Walk” I no longer can.
The only walk
we have been called to is one with Christ.
This is the worship of faith and this is the worship
of healing above the person of Jesus Christ from whom both faith
and healing flow. These patterns, these so-called immutable
spiritual laws that our modern Faith Pharisees claim to see
from Genesis to Revelation are like the waves on the troubles
sea that toss to and fro all that are caught in their grasp.
Far from steadfast their theories have changed time and again
since the coming of the Faith Healing movement led by John Alexander
Dowie in the 1880’s. The writings they use span two centuries
and come from a number of denominations have invented that in
their own words have little to do with Christ and his death
on the cross.
Paul
the Apostle seems to have a decidedly different take sickness
and death.
2
Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at
home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
2 Corinthians 5:8 We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the
body, and to be present with the Lord.
In view of the faith movement’s obsession with sparring
over every death of every believer it has become rather evident
that first, they do not believe any of these scriptures cited
above, but instead follow the traditions of men.
And it is
also evident that these preachers and their disciples have a
deep-seated feeling that cannot be shaken by any verbal profession
of promises, as they claim as their main stay.
And that regardless of what they recite, confess, and
or profess, they know in their heart of hearts they and their
disciples are not right with God. – So these people are sorely
afraid of death. And only serving to further compound their
problem they are afraid even to admit to their fear regarding
God and the Devil. They act in this way (and I mean act) not because they have had
some grand change of heart, or have had some personal revelation
from God in regard to fear.
No they do this for fear of the brethren. They are afraid
that they will be deemed unspiritual; they fear will be seen
as a babe and loose their all important esteem in the eyes of
the in crowd. And most
importantly they did not come up with any of these ideas themselves
they do this because they have been taught to do so. Because
they have been taught that it is right and that anyone that
is spiritual has no fear. And so we have churches, ministries
and entire denominations that have banished the word “fear”
from their lexicon and they along with their disciples pretend
that they are the people of perfect love.
Luke
12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of
them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they
can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he
hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you,
Fear him.
Now I don’t
know about you but I tend to consider Christ somewhat more of
an authority than my church, my pastor, my bible school, and
especially myself. So that when my church, my pastor, my bible school or I myself says
or teaches something that is in disagreement with the words
or the life of Christ – I need to examine what has been said
and in any disagreement I have decided to err on the Lord’s
side. Further it has
come into my consciousness that preachers have been using Paul
and the Apostles to disagree with what Christ taught and use
the apostles over Christ. So
that when I hear my church, my pastor, my bible school or even
I myself teach something using the apostles to discount or override
something that Christ clearly says or what Christ is clearly
demonstrating in his life – I need to stop and examine what
has been said and in any disagreement I have decided to err
on the Lord’s side. So when I look and read in three
verses from two gospels that Christ tells me that I need
to fear God who has the power of Death and the power to cast
us in hell for all eternity – I am simple enough to say yes
Lord.
Acts
5:11 And great fear
came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
If this was written
today we would read in this very where Peter and John came running
out and started cursing and rebuking the devil – and they Peter
would have gave his next sermon on fear being of the devil and
how now the church has failed God and let the hedge go down
and now everyone in the church is going to get sick and start
dying. But Peter would have continued you guys are so lucky
that John and I happened by in just a nick of time and were
all going to join hands now and stand and confess some promises
together and put that hedge back up.
Speaking of things
to fear the one thing that the Word of Faith Movement fears
is “Hedges” fallen or broken hedges are the cause according
to them of all sickness and disease – the quote Job as saying;
“That which I feared came upon me.” And they say by Job’s confession
that satan was able to take him. Forgetting that in Job satan
had to get permission from God before he could act.
So what is this
legendary hedge in scripture – well in old Pentecost in the
1970’s we were taught it was the angel of the lord. But in the
Charismatic movement the Word of Faith Movement tells us that
it is our confession our words that make up this hedge – lets
think about this for a moment. Can I save myself? Your answer
should be no. Can I save you? Your answer should be no.
Our salvation comes from Christ along.
This is real important stuff.
Can I die for my
sins? Your answer should be no.
Can I die for your sins? Your answer should be no. Christ
alone died for your sins
Can my words make a hedge around me? Can my words protect me from
sickness and death? Only the Word of Faith Movement believes
this.
My words are like
the wind they have no substance or power no sooner are they
spoken than they fade away. In order for my words to be a hedge
I would have to speak or confess things like a mantra 24 hours
a day 7 days a week. Then I would have up a wall of powerless
substanceless words that cease from being as soon as I stop
speaking.
The Word of Faith
movement believers that by their much speaking
that which is of no substance can of itself create substance.
Matthew 6:7 But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: For
they think (believe) that they shall be heard for their much
speaking.
So how
is confessing something 100 times 1000 times or all-night different
from whether it is a verse or promise than praying like that
– Jesus said this practice is heathen in origin and not to be
named among his followers.
But some people
will say: But we are doing this with the word of God and that
negates anything that Christ said because it’s the word. Its
God’s word, and God hold his word above his name. And nobody
can stand against the word of God, nobody, not even Jesus.
In case you haven’t
noticed the people who are doing all this confessing are a little
thin on signs wonders and diverse miracles, there a little thin
on the audible voice of God speaking and bearing them witness
and a mite bit thin on angels bodily appearing, and a mite thin
on being caught up to heaven and being taught by God.
See there were
people who spoke scripture in the bible day and night in the
bible they kept it as frontlets before their eyes and other
places – these people were the Sadducees, the Pharisees the
Scribes, the Lawyers and these guys battered Christ daily with
scripture trying to do one of two things either to trip him
up or to try to manipulate and gain control of him. Those were
the men of the letter, those were the men of the word.
And these people had a mantra the letter the letter the
letter and the temple the temple the temple.
Those were men
of long prayers, those were men of doctrine, those were men
of the wisdom of the Talmud and the traditions of the great
rabbis and Jesus heaped upon those men rebuke and condemnation.
The word of faith
People’s mantra is the word the word the word and the church
the church the church
Incidentally I
counted it myself the Greek words that that are translated condemn
and condemnation are the same words translated approve judge
and test and discern and are used 175 times in the New Testament.
And the word convict(ion) is used only once.
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him,
and delivereth them.
This is a bad hedge verse because
it has the FEAR word in it.
And this encampment of the angel of the Lord has a qualifier
that he only does this for those that FEAR HIM.
Numbers
1:50 But
thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony,
and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong
to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof;
and they shall minister unto it, and (They) shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
Numbers 1:53 But
the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony,
that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children
of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge
of the tabernacle of testimony.
Numbers
11:23-25 And the LORD said unto
Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether
my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. And
Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and
gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set
them round about the tabernacle. And the LORD came down in a
cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon
him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass,
that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and
did not cease.
Have we not
been taught that fear has no place in the Church?
Acts 9:31 Then
had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and
Samaria, and were edified; walking in
the fear of the Lord, and in the (Manifold) comfort of the Holy
Ghost..
How can this be that someone could be edified
walking in the fear of the Lord and the manifold comfort of
the Holy Spirit at the same time?
Romans 3:17-18 And the way of peace
have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Having
no fear of God in this passage is not a compliment, it is a
condemnation.
Romans 11:19-21
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might
be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off,
and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded,
but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed
lest he also spare not thee.
If
we stand by faith are we then saved by that faith? Is faith
the key that opens all doors and God must bow to it? Look at
this verse; Paul tells us that God will reject those that stand
by faith, and are high-minded. If God speared not the natural
branches he will not spare even those who confess that they
have been justification by faith if it is not mixed with fear.
Scripture said God hateth the proud and God hateth the forward
look and neither faith, or the word of their confession shall
save either of them.
1 Corinthians 2:3 And
I was with you in weakness, and in fear,
and in much trembling.
Paul came
in weakness and in the fear of God with much trembling
2
Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.
How if the church is
justified by faith, and if the church is seated in the heavenlies
with Christ Jesus, and if the Church has been given exceeding
precious promises can Paul tell us let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfect our sanctification
in fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:15 And
his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he
remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling
ye received him.
2
Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted
from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:20 For
I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would,
and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest
there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings,
swellings, tumults:
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting
yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Philippians 2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
1
Timothy 5:20 Them
that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
Fear who, Timothy? No that they might fear
God.
Hebrews
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a
promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you
should seem to come short of it.
Hebrews
11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet,
moved with fear, --
and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Hebrews
12:28
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let
us have grace, whereby we may serve well pleasing God with reverence
and fear:
1 Peter 1:17
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons
judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your
sojourning here in fear:
1 Peter 2:17 Honour
all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
Isaiah 11:1-3 And there
shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch
shall grow out of his roots: 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:
The
servant is not above the master. If the Spirit of the the fear
of the Lord rested upon Jesus and we are to be Jesus’ disciples;
then that same spirit that rested on Christ should be in us
or at very least resting on us.. And if it is not, we are none
of His. If the spirit of the fear of Lord does not dwell in
us it is because we are someone else’s disciple, and no doubt
we have taken their haughty spirit, their spirit of pride, and
their spirit of self-will.
Hebrews 5:7-8 (Christ) Who in the days of his flesh, when he
had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying
and tears unto him (The Father) that was able to save him from
death, and was heard (Of
the father and Christ heard the Word that Proceedeth from the
father on that matter) in that He (Christ) feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience
by the things which he suffered;
The error of this
day is so dire that the body of Christ is utterly perishing
before my eyes and it is more than I can bear. The Church has
become overrun with grievous wolves that preach themselves their
ministries and their own self-serving, self-exalting, teachings
and doctrines. Christ is the Corner stone of our faith, if and
when we are saved we receive of his portion not our own portion
or of some portion that supposedly belongs to the Church. Jesus
is still the door the gate and the way the truth and the life,
No man can come unto the father but by Christ. And those that
would are thieves and robbers. So I take a plumb-line in my
hand and hold it to Christ and a doctrine and see how it measures
up to Christ.
Example; Give and it shall be given to you pressed down shaken
together shall God give unto you.
– and you shall receive 100 fold in this world
and the world to come.
Current Doctrine: “Give to get. Play God like the stock market.
Use God for success and your investment plan for personal wealth
building.
Christ now we take
our plumb-bob and hold it to Christ and ask did Christ give?
The answer is: Yes. What did Christ give 1) He first gave up
his earthly inheritance as the first born in the house of Joseph.
2) He gave up houses and lands mother father sisters and brothers
3 He gave himself as a ransom for our salvation.
Did Christ receive
100 fold inheritances of the first born while he was yet alive
– NO!
Did Christ receive
100 fold mothers while he was yet alive
-- No! In scripture we can count three women that went
to his tomb.
Did Christ receive
100 fold sisters and brothers for forsaking James and Joses
and Simon and Judas and his sisters while he was yet alive (That
is a minimum of 6 brothers and sisters) and At his death there
were 11 disciples and 3 woman so the answer is No!
I don’t want to
go tediously through this but the poison is so strong in the
veins of those who have become charismatic crack addicts that
with the least wiggle room they justify their dependence and
continue in the life style.
Christ had a total
of possessions of 1 garment he wore day in and day out for 3.5
years one pair of sandals, one cloak (As he allowed his disciples
to have one and maybe a stave walking stick.
– where did he have 100 fold of fine clothes and garments
houses and lands while he was in the land of the living. The
truth is that all that he had was stolen and he died destitute
in a borrowed grave.
Oh well Judas had the bag – where in scripture did Christ stay in
hotels and inns, where in scripture did they eat in restaurants
where in scripture did Christ in his disciples ride around in
chariots? Where in Scripture did Christ rent the hippodrome
for healing and revival services. Where in scripture did Christ
take up tithes and offerings? The answer is all of these are
unscriptural lies. Part of a long standing web of deceit where
mens souls have been beguiled by the wicked one as eve was.
And have traded their incorruptible treasure for the corruptible
pleasures and wealth of this world.
So when did Christ
received his 100 fold for all he gave? The bible clearly says
he received it when he went to be seated at the right hand of
the father. If we are receiving of his portion and the servant
is not above the master then you may receive some random acts
of kindness and grace here but the bulk is in the world to come.
Luke
6:20-38
(We might call this the law of being a disciple of Christ)
20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples,
and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be
filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22Blessed
are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate
you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out
your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23Rejoice
ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is
great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Jesus
is clearly equating his disciples with the prophets of old –
he is saying that the cost of being his disciple is being poor,
being hungry, great sorrow and weeping, being hated of men,
being separated from their company, being reproached , having
your name used as a slur word for evil – this is the price for
the true Gospel.
24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have
received your consolation. 25Woe unto you that are
full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for
ye shall mourn and weep. 26Woe unto you, when all
men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Jesus
clearly equates the tenants of the prosperity Gospel to being
a false prophet woe unto you that are rich, woe are you that
are filled with food, woe unto you that laugh and spend your
time amusing yourselves, woe unto you when men speak well of
you, when men invite you into their company and make your name
a symbol of success and honor – this is the price for the false
Gospel
27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies,
do good to them which hate you, 28Bless them that
curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. 29And
unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other;
and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat
also. 30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and
of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31And
as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32For if ye love them which love you, what
thank have ye?
for sinners also love those that love them. 33And
if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have
ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to
receive, what thank
have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much
again.
Let
us pull out our plumb-line again – If we do good to them which
to good to you what thank have ye?
If
we do good to our pastor and church members -- what thank have
we?
If
we do good to our boss and co-workers that can take us out to
dinner or come to our church for a feather in our hat – what
thank have we?
If
we give to someone and we say Lord I’m doing this for you to
receive from you –what thank have we?
35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping
for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall
be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful
and to the evil. 36Be ye therefore merciful, as your
Father also is merciful. 37Judge not, and ye shall
not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive,
and ye shall be forgiven:
Love
your enemies (Those that hate you)
Lend
hoping for nothing in return this includes tithes offerings
and gifts to God as well as to the poor.
Then
great shall be your reward – the then some here but the bulk
like Christ is in the life to come
38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure,
pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men
give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete
withal it shall be measured to you again.
So
in context now interpret this much abused verse.
Psalm
9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations
may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
Psalm 2:11 Serve
the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
There
is no fear of God in our worship because we worship a God after
our own flesh, a patchwork God of attributes that we feel we
would like to serve – none in this day have heard the audible
voice of God, None have seen His shape nor had God attest them
with Signs, wonders, and diverse miracles. We even dare to use
the words of Paul to void the words of Christ and the words
of the apostle John to void the words of Christ and the Prophets.
This is an exceedingly sinful generation whose stench has reached
up to heaven
Their worship and offerings are loathsome before
the Lord they worship with their lips but their hearts are far
from me. They confess they quote they praise and worship but
they do not delight in me – they only seek me for personal gain.
Psalm
5:7 But
as for me, I will come into thy house
in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship
toward thy holy temple.
Psalm
25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will
shew them his covenant.
The
implication of this verse is that the Lord speaks with those
who fear him. He fellowships and communes with those that fear
Him. Those that fear Him receive the word that proceedeth. It
the book of revelation it says that the overcomers will receive
secret manna. For our faith Pharisees this verse can only mean
that we receive secret teaching and doctrine so we can have
bigger and wealthier ministries. The secret of the Lord is learning
the ways of God. Israel saw Gods acts but Moses knew the ways
of God.This is called “walked with God” in the OT Revelation
3:30 behold I stand at the door and knock – this is not a call
to salvation Christ is in one of the seven churches it is a
call to sup with him and he with you –the secret of the Lord
is a sharing of himself with those – that truly fear him that
is to fear and do. If there is no doing that is not the fear
of God. In a parable one man hid his talent in a napkin – that
was not fear – that was a no thank you and handing back what
you were given. That was stubbornness, that was rebellion, the
others worked in fear and created 30 60 and 100 fold.
Psalm
31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them
that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that
trust in thee before the sons of men! According the current
madness this “goodness” would be material wealth, physical power
and earthly authority – This is the Gospel of greed, this is
the Gospel of self-will, This is the Gospel of the flesh. It
is the Gospel of wealth. It is the Gospel of success. It an
irresistible pheromone to the carnal nature of man. It is the
dead rotting bird that a dog loves to roll on and take up it’s
scent. I weep at the corruption
and the coming destruction of the Church. Oh how great is thy
goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; This Goodness is our inheritance in Christ Jesus – It is the
testimony of Christ it what Christ and the Apostles walked in
– who lived their lives wandering the earth seeking a city that
was NOT made by hands whose builder and maker was God --
thou hast wrought for them
that trust in thee before the sons of men! This is the
demonstration that is wrought in them
– that which our eyes have seen that which our hands have handled
. . . and the underlying factor of all of this is the
fear of God.
Psalm 33:18 Behold,
the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon
them that hope in his mercy
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that
fear him, and delivereth them.
This requires no confession – this is a
statement of fact because the Lord’s eye is on those that fear
Him. Scripture says He watches over his word, but He also watches
over those that fear Him and protects them. I have found the
Lord has been with me and watched over me before I was even
saved. I have been of fire as a child, I drowned, I have nearly
been killed almost a dozen times but the Lord has watched over
me.
Psalm 34:9 O
fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that
fear him.
Why don’t people’s prayers get answered? Because
they are arrogant, proud, demands of God – we have been taught
by the servants of the Devil that were are to demand and command
of God. There is no fear so we ask amiss There is no delighting
ourselves in the Lord – we ask to consume upon our lusts and
flesh. – my God shall provide all your needs according to his
riches in Glory – this Fear of God is the underlying principal
that has evaded this evil idolatrous lustful generation.
Psalm 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will
hear their cry, and will save them.
Psalm
103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them
that fear him.
Psalm
111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom . . .
Psalm
115:11 Ye that fear the
LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.
There is no help of God and God is not a
shield to those that trust in themselves and in man. There is
no help of God and God is not a shield to those that do no fear
him even when they say with their lips they have perfect love
and have nothing to fear – they lie and their hearts are far
from Him.
Psalm 119:38 Stablish
thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted
to thy fear.
Why are we not established in the Lord,
why do we not experience his word – it is because we are not
devoted we do not delight in the fear of God Instead we focus
on smooth things – teaching that tell us how good we are and
all that we deserve.