OUR EMOTIONS

The church has become like the world, yet the world still wants what the church use to provide; God’s power to touch lives and transform hearts. I keep asking myself, “where is the power of God in Churches today?” I would say one of the biggest reasons for the lack of the presence of the Spirit of God in churches today is due to the lack of restraint of our emotions. My friend our emotions are out of control and if not held in check by ourselves (not God’s responsibility) they will move us out of God faster than sin. When I was a child I would see the power of God suddenly fall unsolicited. The Spirit of God would drop and people would be healed (without the laying on of hands) others would run with great abandonment and shame to the alter repenting, but where is this power today? It is not present, why? Because the people in most churches have failed to pay the price, they have failed to live a godly life (I include myself here at times) to have the presence of God manifest itself in our midst, they kept to rituals and customs in church, and they have failed to keep their emotions in line with what God expects. All throughout the Bible there were conditions the people had to meet to be able to meet with God, but today we bring bad attitudes, intentions, our selfishness, and wrong motives to church (in our thoughts and heart) we come to church dressed like we are going to a cook-out on the beach, we come with a predetermined time we plan to spend with God, and our time at church is always program driven. All of these areas are emotionally driven, we want what we want and we want it now. When I was child we did not have a piece of paper handed to us by the “door greeters” in church with the order of the service and announcements. Papers like these were given out at the ball games and venues of entertainment, not at church. But today: the who, what, when, and where of the church is the first thing you learn about. Sadly this church bulletin is nothing more than an old marketing ploy. Marketing experts have learned (and so have church leaders) people like to have something in their hand something they can read and take home with them, just go to the doctor’s office or shopping. Why take the Spirit of God home with you when you can take a piece of paper? Paper is cheap, but having the Holy Spirit in our midst will cost us something. All of this stuff feeds our emotions and is a substitute for what God wants to see in our lives. Our emotions are tied to our living and if we allow our emotions to rule our living our living will be very difficult and far outside of God. Here are a few areas I would like for us to look at in this article that if not careful our emotions will control all we do in and out of God.

Our spiritual behavior in and out of church is tied to our emotions. In a recent Wednesday night service (which was the second to the last nightly service to a Bible conference) we were praying corporately, then suddenly the prayer dropped off, and a lady began speaking in tongues everyone got still after all the church had been asking God to speak to them all week. I got a little excited it has been some time since I have heard tongues (not heavenly language or an unknown tongue) and then an interpretation (according to the gifts given in 1 Corinthians 12:10) God was going to speak to His people tonight, but before the lady finished an usher came down the aisle and sat the lady down in her seat. I could not believe it what they asked God for (for Him to speak to them) they turned away. Our emotions will change our behavior. Things that should not cause fear (dread or a feeling of doom) into our lives will control our senses and fill our heart with needless confusion and strife. Even the things of God will be distorted and even displaced by our emotions for the good or bad. Our sense of perception will be skewed to the point even our reality to the operating of the Holy Spirit will be distorted. We find this misapplication of the move of the Holy Spirit operating in most Pentecostal churches, especially in America, when it comes to speaking in tongues. Paul admonished the Church at Corinth, “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:1-4) The words “gifts,”“him,” and “unknown” were added during the 1611 translation. Now this does not make these verses wrong, but it does add to “mysteries" that drives this misapplication of truth. Now I will be honest how this all happens is a mystery to me. I do agree with God speaking to us though some tongue and with the understanding from God through an interpretation in a language we know. There must be an interpretation or it is not of God. Make no mistake my friend there are counterfeit spirits in many churches today that duplicate this communication and many people who just out right fake it, be not deceived. Later on in Chapter 14 Paul corrects the Church at Corinth by saying, “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” (1 Corinthians 14:19) This is consistent with what happened in the Book of Acts, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4), please notice no “unknown tongue” in Acts. And of course the people knew what the disciples were saying, “And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?” (Acts 2:7-8) We must not allow our emotions to carry us away into presumption and out of God. We must reject the draw of hyper-spiritualism and apply God’s divine principles correctly if we are going to receive from them.

Our tongue is tied to our emotions. What can I say that we do not already know? Our tongue is the most destructive force in our lives. Look at the words James uses to define the power of the tongue, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:5-8) Our tongue is keen as an adder’s bite to take life, yet it also as powerful as birth to give life. The tongue has been given power by God to either bless or curse us and we are the ones who choose between the blessing and the curses for ourselves and others. And again it is our emotions that are in the driver’s seat. Our emotions drive our thoughts (which drives our heart condition) and out of our mouth speaks our heart. We must take heed to our tongue and keep it in total subjection if God will be able to bring us to the end and purpose He has planned for us. I cannot stress this point enough. A soft word turns away wrath, speaks of a tongue under control. Silence is the sound of God’s man in the school of spiritual growth and development, but a froward tongue is the way of haughtiness, contempt, and destruction.

Our words (especially singing) are tied to our emotions. If you are moved by man’s word’s God’s words will not move you. Take heed my friend, man’s words are kindled and spread with emotions that move our heart and will move us far away from God’s heart and will. Deception is spread by arrogant and presumptive words. Just watch Christian TV (like TBN) and watch the manipulation. Church leaderships have watched and learned the lessons of the propagandist and arrange services with music, lights, flags and banners to stir up the emotions of the people. The sadness to all of this is the people are missing out on a real move of God. Churches today have substituted God’s Spirit for a popular well written contemporary song. You can go from one church to the next, but in all of these churches they sing the same contemporary songs, why? What happened to the hymns? Traditional songs most if not all of them have been written out of an internal, intense dealing of God; like any one of Fanny Crosby’s 5,000 hymns or Horatio Stafford’s unforgettable song “It Is Well with My Soul,” were written out of personal loss, recognizing their great need for God, and a submission for an inward strengthening by God. Can we adopt the heart of the song as it was given by God to the writer? No of course not. Because we cannot share in the loss or the dealing of God like the writer, thus we have no spiritual part in it. Our singing is just an emotional ascent with the tune that tickles our emotions and the sad part is we think it is God moving on us when in fact it is not God moving on us, but our emotions leading us up and away from God. God is found down in a low place. God does not take us up like our emotions do oh no God takes us down in the depths of ourselves so we can see who we are as compared to who He is. Our emotions are subtle and mask our need to go down in ourselves, they want to lift us up in our self-seeking and selfishness, they want to be blessed, they want to be satisfied, they cry out “come fill me, come bless me” they say “I want to live and be happy” well God does not want us to live He wants us to die, because He knows if we can die to our self He will be able to live through us. Jesus taught, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:24-26) You know I find it amazing the Bible only records Jesus singing one time after the Passover meal as He was heading out to the Garden of Gethsemane as a part of the Jewish custom to sing hymns (old Jewish chants) as they departed the feast. If singing is so important in a church service (where some churches spend 30 – 90 minutes) why did not Jesus tell us to do it? Paul knew the truth. In Ephesians Paul shows us the correct direction and location of music as it relates to Christians, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” (Ephesians 5:17-19) I have found churches that sing a lot in their service are usually led by emotional people and there is not much spiritual growth and development in their lives or the church. David is often given credit for all of the singing in churches services as in the Palms he wrote because of God’s dealings and judgments in his heart, but if you closely look at David’s life you will find David was a very emotional man and his emotions got him into trouble with God and man time and time again.

Sometimes I have a test of faith as I mature in God. He does not ask me to understand Him, but He understands me perfectly. I do not always understand Him, but I love Him anyway. Did you know the Lord has a right to leave us without a touch of His presence for weeks or months at a time? The further we go on in God, the less He is going to honor our field of emotions. We have to learn to walk with the Lord without His conscious presence, which at times is very terrifying. Less and less are we dependent on our devotional patterns that served for our living. How is faith going to develop in us if God is going to humor us along all the time? In those difficult places we will never be able to synchronize the state in which we are moving with our fluctuating emotions. We must control our emotions (our responsibility not God’s) as we allow our emotions to run parallel with our experiences in God. Written by David Stahl

MINISTRY 2010

Last week Karen read me the end of an article that appeared in our daily paper. The article was about how the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California was teetering on the edge of financial ruin. It ended with these words: “But those who have watched the church’s fortune decline believe Schuller and later his children failed to do much to attract younger people. Newer evangelical leaders like Rick Warren (a good Southern Baptist) and Bill Hybels (now here is where God and I are greatly disappointed) began offering hip worship services and an emphasis on social activism and the latest technology. Schuller got left behind, Thumma said.” How blind and unspiritual these words are. How ungodly and arrogant the nominal church in America has become. When I think of these words I see in my mind (and heart) what John was saying about the apostate church and what it will look and sound like, even in 2010. John shares, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Revelation 3:17-18) They think what they are saying and doing in ministry, “rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;” is what God is after, but in reality they “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” I really believe the religious crowd like TBN and all of the other Christian cable programming will be the spiritual platform that the Anti-Christ will use to deceive the world having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof. A self-seeking and oh so self-centered, selfish giving to get message like Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, and others (I cannot call it preaching) spew. This week TBN had one of their three beg-a-thons (they seem to have them more often than before), I could not believe the out and out manipulation and lies, “quickly you have 3 minutes to run to your phone and call us to give us money so God will bless you.” Are they telling us God cannot bless us unless we call TBN and give them money? Woe unto them, shame on the owners and staff of TBN and even more shame on the people who believe these lies. Giving to get is man’s way of doing things, God’s way is giving so that others may receive. The Bible time and time again warns us, “be not deceived,” yet it happens every day on Christian TV and around the world in fleshly driven churches. I am convinced more and more that people in 2010 do not want to hear the truth. Many pastors (whom I personally know) have learned if they tell the world the truth they will not have a huge following and they will do whatever they can to destroy them. After all, Jesus told the truth and the religious folks of His day killed Him. And is the servant greater than the Master? Pastors have learned if they want people to like them and give them money all they have to do is tell the people what they already know and what they want to hear. Who wants to hear death to our selfishness? When will pastors learn if the world is running after your ministry God is not. When will pastors get back to the tried and true teachings and practices of the Bible alone and not be dependent on the power of technology, but on the power of God? I hear many pastors today say, “we must go where the people are,” 1000 percent wrong! No, pastors must preach the word of God as God directs them and then leave their ministry and the results to God. The reality is those pastors who use gimmicks, tricks, special services, and etc. really do not believe God can do what He said He can do, they have sold out the truth of the power of the Gospel message. They have called God a liar and deny His power. Jesus asked Peter who He was, “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (revelation) I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:16-18) The revelation the church is to be built on is who Jesus Christ is, not on hip worship services and social activism. What has happened to truth? Honor? Simplicity? Integrity? A Godly ministry? Remember what you use to win someone to Christ (if you have) is what you have won them to. If you use a hip service or social activism you have won them to that not the Gospel. Do you see that? Oh I hope and pray you do. Jesus never got involved with the social issues or the politics of the day. He was always about higher things in life; like doing His Father’s will and bring men out of darkness of this world into the glorious light of God. Paul encouraged the slaves to be obedient to their masters. How strange this must be to the society of 2010 who lives for its freedom and personal desires. Jesus and Paul knew if the Gospel could penetrate the hearts and minds of the people they would be able to endure what life brings their way. Pastors who preach a social message, especially in some of the black churches with black liberation theology, have nothing of God within them (oh they may be popular, draw big crowds, and raise large sums of money) and try to make up from their lack of true spirituality by acting the part (hypocrites or actors) and selling the truth for worldly fame and fortune. You know people know the truth when they hear it and they will sell all they have to get it.

Ministry is 2010 oversees churches (especially in America) full of people who think they are Christians, but have been lied to by being told they must repeat the sinner’s prayer which is found nowhere in the Bible. I think one of the greatest mission fields in the world is the nominal churches in America. Oh they have done all of the right religious activities; worked hard to further their denomination or non-denomination church (remember most non-denominational churches like Calvary Chapel with churches in most big cities and other denominations are really denominational only they are trying to hide the truth so they could throw stones at the main-stream denominations), but have failed to allow God to make them the work of God. Paul tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) Do you mean I do not have to walk around abortion clinics picketing or work for some politician to be saved? Now please do not misunderstand me here; even by man’s laws (which makes it legal) abortion is ungodly and just flat out wrong, but becoming a social activist in the campaign to put a stop to abortion will not save your soul and win you to Christ. The same goes for feeding the poor, saving the whales, saving the earth, or any social program in the world. Salvation is a thing of the heart and an understanding within ourselves we have sinned and come short of the glory of God. The “good works” Paul is talking about here is not working for God, but becoming the work of God. And those “works” Paul is talking about is allowing God to bring His dealings and judgments into our lives. Now they will only be “good works” in our lives if we allow them to conform our character and nature into the image of Jesus Christ. If not they will cause us great heartache and pain. Funny man thinks he is going to work his way to heaven, he has a works centered heart condition, but this can never be. Man MUST become (a process of learning and ever learning through God’s work in our lives) the work of God and they have created or “ordained that we should walk in them.” Sadly, many people (cannot call them Christians) have given their tithes and offerings, but failed to give their heart and life in submission and obedience. They have not allowed God to write His words on their heart. Most pastors preach or teach a watered down sermon (not the word of God) every Sunday (most churches in 2010 have no Wednesday and Sunday night service), host Bible conference after Bible conference, but there seems to be no spiritual growth and development in their lives nor in the lives of the people. Our lives must reflect our preaching and teaching. At the church we attend we watch during the song service (usually three fast ones and a slow one) and have noticed the ones who sing the loudest, wave their hands the longest, and act the holiest; do not sit still for the preaching of the word of God they are always talking or playing with their cell phones, nor do they have their Bible. Have you noticed no one really brings their Bible to Church any more? Why should they after the song service (not praise and worship; praise is to speak of God’s goodness not to sing and worship, according to the Bible is to bow our heads to the ground) most churches throw the Scriptures up on the big white screen no need for the Bible or no need to take notes. Sadly from the starting point of when real commitment is needed to be saved they have been lied to and what they think is heartfelt repentance instead they have been converted to a denominational religion. And later when they try to walk upright before God and man they wonder why they cannot. They wonder what has happened? Why have they failed? Why they have no joy or victory in their lives? For our Christian life to be effective and fulfilling it must start with the correct foundation (built on the revelation of who Christ is) and then be bricked and mortared (supported) with Godly truths, precepts (where we get our concepts from), and principles all of our lives. I have seen it for years. I have written and spoke against it for years, yet this ungodly practices flourishes in main-stream denominations and even Pentecostal circles. Salvation is found only in the name of Jesus not in reciting a prayer or doing good works. Peter told the crowds, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:10-12) John told us what we must do to receive this salvation, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess (not repeat a prayer, but speak from our heart even maybe feel bad and cry) our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:8-10) The word “confess” here means we agree with God what He is saying about us is true. And what is God saying about us without Jesus Christ, “we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” How can we walk with God unless we agree with Him? I know I find it almost impossible to walk with my wonderful wife Karen if we are in disagreement. Our confession must end us in remorse and sorrow for what we have done and what sin has wrought in us and every relationship we have.

But in 2010 according to Rick Warren and others for a church to be successful you have to offer a hip service, rally your members to be socially active in things, and use the latest social networking medians; like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. I cringe every time I hear a church say, “visit us on Facebook.” Whatever happened to the members of the church beating the pavement the old fashion way; visiting people in need, the sick, and inviting them to come to church? Are we that removed from people? Are we that busy? What value do we place on people that are lost in their sin? Do we really think they are going to take the first step? No of course not. We have become full and content in ourselves. We have become so technical driven and less and less in personal relationships in our day-to-day lives we expect things of the Spirit to apply as they do in the natural. I have said and will say again, the more we go towards technology the less of God is in our lives. I do not care how much you spin it, you know it is true. John tells us, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6) Things born of the world: technology gadgets, social media websites, movies, music (even most Christian music), and the like are of the flesh, but those things born of the Spirit are of the Spirit and they are Spirit and they are life. No matter how hard you try my pastor friends, you cannot use fleshly things to win people to Christ! You can win them to your kingdom or another’s, but never to the kingdom of God. Paul brings it down to the heart of the issue, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) The hip services and social activism of ministry in 2010 is foolishness to God and those that go after them will perish, but the preaching of the cross (no matter how old-fashioned and appearing obsolete) is the power of God and is unto salvation.

I really believe for ministry to be effective and powerful in 2010 we must go backwards 20, 30, even 40 years ago, we must go back in time where the Gospel was shared one-on-one with power and authority unto salvation. Now please understand I am not writing these things to run down the church with negative criticism that is destructive, that is never my intention, but I am writing these things to provide constructive criticism that always sets our thoughts towards God, honest soul searching for the truth, and an inward reflection that always leads us to a closer walk with God. I am writing these things so that we will shake ourselves and wake up from our slumber before it is too late. When you look at things from God’s point of view maybe Robert Schuller and the folks at the Crystal Cathedral are right not to go after the worldly ways of ministry. In the end God will bring it all down; He is the one with the final word not man. Written by David Stahl

THE FEAR OF GOD

A few weeks ago while talking with a Christian friend on email he relayed some things he had done that he was sorry for and wanted to talk with someone. Now at this time he had not repented he was only sorry. Most often when we are sorry we are sorry we got caught and not sorry of our action or words and this was the case with my friend. During the course of our conversation I asked, “do you not have the fear of God?” and he quickly replied “yes.” I shook my head in bewilderment to his words he did not have the fear of God, because if he did he would not have done the things he did and when caught he would have gone back to repent of his actions and make things right before God and man. Our conversation and how fast he replied stuck with me and his words haunted me. Later the Lord opened up some thoughts I would like to share with you and end by sharing a true experience in my life.

I have known some churches that routinely practice public confession of sins now confessing our sins is always a good thing to do, but to confess in an open forum to people who have nothing to do with the transgression is only setting themselves up for greater condemnation and shunning by the brethren. My Christian friend quoted the beginning of James 5:16 and said he had to openly confess his sin at church. I encouraged him to confess, not to confess openly, but to the one he sinned against and to God. James was not talking about public confession when he said, “Confess your faults (sins) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16) James was talking about confession, but not publicly. He was talking about confessing to the one that you have sinned against and to God. And to pray with the one you have sinned against so that they will be able to come to a place of forgiveness and healing can take place in both lives. Never forget forgiveness is a two way-street, God’s idea is for both parties to walk in His glory and overcome in this relationship. But that is dependent not on God, but on both individuals involved. One can ask the other for forgiveness and be sincere while the other individual rejects his words, we see it happen all the time. Did you know if we do not confess our faults or sins to the one we have transgressed against God may not forgive us? I cannot say God will not do something He is God and I am not, but forgiveness is a thing of the heart and until we ask forgiveness from the one we have sinned against it is our heart that is held captive by our actions and ours words. Forgiveness is such a freeing feeling, I know times I have missed the mark and people have forgiven me, what a free soaring feeling I experienced. It was life and life abundantly. In Romans, Paul tells us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) and this is true, but please notice there is a sinning and a coming short. We must take heed to our selves because Jesus died for our sins not for our coming short of God’s glory. Coming short of God’s glory is not sin. Sin is sin. Sin is to miss the mark and coming short of God’s glory is coming short of God’s glory there is a huge difference between the two. We have already identified what sin is, but now coming short of God’s glory maybe a little harder to nail down. Coming short of God’s glory is our ungodly thoughts, attitudes, desires, and motives that will follow us to heaven and unless we allow God to deal them on earth He will have to in heaven. Timothy says, “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.” (1Timothy 5:24) The Bibles says God will wipe always all tears in heaven, “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelations 7:17) and again in Revelation “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) All of this will happen in heaven and now in heaven God will use a different standard; no longer grace, but now God’s purifying fire. Take time and take a prayerful look at 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 to complete this thought.

What will keep us on track and prevent us from sinning and coming short of God’s glory? Is it God’s grace, mercy, or His faithfulness? No these are things God gives us out from His love for us and expects us to freely give back to our brothers and sisters as freely as we have received. If they keep us from doing things against God’s word it will be because we have allowed this understanding to grip our heart to such a degree it becomes a part our daily life and becomes automatic in our lives, which is God’s intention in our lives. The only other thing I can compare this thought is likened to, what keeps me from sinning against my wife? The love and devotion she has given me over these last 31 years. The four outstanding kids she has given me and the forgiveness she has extended to me when I have failed her. No, strangely it is fear that prevents us from sinning against God’s word and man’s laws and regulation. I asked Karen what prevents me from robbing a bank or store and she said it was God in me, well that is partly true, God in me is the hope of glory, but I know many Christians like my friend who has God in them, but they still sin and come short of the glory of God. It is the outcome or the consequence of our actions that keep us on the narrow path that leadeth to life. If I rob a bank and get caught (no matter how much I love God) I could go to prison for the rest of my life, this I do not want to do. I would be afraid to rob a bank for fear of going to prison, this is what keeps me from robbing a bank. So too in God, fear of God’s reaction to me sinning or coming short of His glory keep me on the straight and narrow path and in the way everlasting. God’s judgments are final and eternal. Now we do not like that word fear, but did you know the Bible lists 400 occurrences with 385 verses in the bible, one for each day of the year and then some. It is the fear of God in us that keeps us from sinning and coming short of the glory of God. When we loose the fear of God we have thrown off respect for God and His word. When we lose the fear of God we have thrown off all restraint and common sense and then we are capable of doing anything, and I mean anything. We all are just one thought and action from total depravity, but for the fear of God keeping us on track.

Did you know there are many (we will look at five) types of fear in the Bible? The first type of fear is where we get the word awesome from. For example in Joshua we read, “That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.” (Joshua 4:24) The word fear here from Strong’s #3372 is to fear, revere, and to be afraid. We are standing on our feet with our hands at our side, our knees are shaking, and our head tilted back as we look heavenward. This is the picture of the awe and respect we have for God. It is also a fear, we are afraid of His reaction to our waywardness, but at the same time we have a reverence for His holiness that keeps us on the right path, the path he desires we walk. The second type of fear we find in the Bible has do to with our personality and inward strength. In 1Timothy we read, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;” (2 Timothy 1:7-8) Many Christians (who do not really know the Bible) make a grave mistake by not knowing what type of “fear” God is talking about. We do not like fear. Fear is not of God. Why would God give us a spirit of fear? Well the fear Timothy is talking about is not the understanding of the word fear we think of and use today. The word “fear” here from Strong’s #1167 is timidity, fearfulness, and cowardice it has nothing to do with being afraid of something or even being afraid of God. God has not give us a spirit that is full of timidity, fearfulness, or cowardice, but a spirit that is bold and daring a spirit that is able to come boldly before the throne of grace and ask what we may. God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, no coward will inherit the kingdom of God. Many Christians quote 2 Timothy 1:7, but sadly their words only reflect their lack of knowledge of God and His word. I am here to tell you God will give you a spirit of fear. Back in 1993-1996 there were some areas in my life God wanted me to allow Him to work in, He knew what my future held, pastoring, teaching, and traveling for Him. He needed for me turn over those areas to Him so that they could be cleaned up, but I resisted. Never resist the Holy Spirit! So God stepped up the pressure on me, time was wasting. I cannot explain it like I cannot explain why the God of the universe wants to make our heart His eternal abode, but out from these areas God allowed a spirit of fear upon me that tormented me. Do you know fear has torment? Until I faced the fear head on and allowed God to work in those areas I had no peace of heart. Man what an unbelievable relief I felt in my spirit and soul after I submitted and surrendered to God’s work. We see God using fear all throughout the Bible. In 2 Chronicles and the fourth type of fear we read, “And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil. 14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.” (2 Chronicles 14:13-14) Fear here is Strong’s #6343 for terror and dread. Would God put fear on man? You decide? As for me I say yes because the Bible bears this truth out. Or in Acts, “Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” (Acts 5:10-11) Here “fear” is Strong’s #5401 for fear, dread, or terror. Not just fear, but the bible says “great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.” I would guess the most famous verse in the Scriptures that comes to mind when we talk of fear is from the Psalms, “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.” (Psalms 111:10) Here the word “fear” is Strong’s #3374 for fear, terror, and fearing. Without the fear of God how can we learn wisdom? How can we get understanding? We cannot and if we say different we lie to ourselves, others, and the truth is not in us. It is the fear of God that keeps us from sinning. It is the fear of God in our lives that keeps us in our walk with God. It is no wonder many Christians have turned away from the truth of the word of God and are not walking with God. It is not about God’s grace or mercy oh no they are rich and free for the asking, why Christians in the Church today are falling away is because they have rejected the fear of God and replaced it with the fear of man. Jesus said, “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. 28And 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.” (Matthew 10:27-28) Words we all must live by and take heed to if we will ever be brought to the end of the purpose of our lives. You know if we really had the fear of God in us we would do what He wants has asked us to do and love Him the more. Written by David Stahl