“THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
Thus saith the Lord God:
Prov. 1/7 “The fear
of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and
instruction.” When I was first saved, it happened because I FEARED GOD, I knew
nothing about loving Him; (“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he
loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4/10)
that`s something that followed in relationship with Him, “because He first
loved me;” 1 John 4/19, and I encountered Him because I FEARED for my very
soul. Why did I fear? Because being unsaved, on the outside looking in, I got
the right message. “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;”
What message are the unsaved getting these
days, as they look at a church, that allows sin and excuses it by saying “we`re
under grace”? As they look at leadership that fornicates and commits
adultery? As they look at
leadership that`s chasing money? As they look at leadership professing the
“Love of God” for all unconditionally, then they watch in astonishment as
people are kicked out of churches? What message are the unsaved getting as they
watch churches conduct business just like any other company or corporation in
the world, just SELLING another commodity? What message are the unsaved getting
as church leadership elevates itself, commends itself, gives references to
itself and one another as they spread their marketing material telling
everybody what a great preacher such and such is? Just like the world of
business and politics, backslapping and supporting one another, a mutual
admiration society, a fan club of self.(John 7/18.) There are tracts and
brochures promoting the preacher, the singer, the evangelist, the (false)
prophet-prophetess, and not once is Jesus mentioned, as they endeavour to build
a huge idolatrous mausoleum, an abomination in the sight of God, just like the
money making corporations in the world. “How can ye that receive honour one of
another receive the honour that cometh from God only?” John 5/44. What message
are the unsaved getting as they watch leadership selling books, tapes, videos,
Bible classes for MONEY!!! The spiritual condition is no different from that of
the Roman Catholic Church that Martin Luther “earnestly contended for the
faith” with back in the early 16th century: They were SELLING
“indulgences” giving the people false hope of Salvation: The churches today are
SELLING preaching and teaching because they are “entangled again with the
affairs of this life”: What a crock of garbage!!!! JESUS SAID “FREELY YOU HAVE
RECEIVED, FREELY GIVE.” Math. 10/8. Did Jesus pass the bag around the 12
Apostles and the multitudes before He taught them???? Whoops, sorry boys, no
money in the hat, no sermon today….I know what message they are getting; I
listen to them mock churches and leadership; just liars they say, con men, all
they want is my money, they`re just using the name of God as “a cloak of
covetousness, God is witness.” 1 Thes. 2/5. “And through covetousness shall
they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgement now of a
longtime lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Pet. 2/3. “Having eyes full of adultery and that
cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have
exercised with covetous practices
cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray
following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of
unrighteousness: But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with a
man`s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water,
clouds that are carried with a tempest: to whom the mist of darkness is
reserved for ever. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they
allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness; those that were
clean escaped from them who live in error.
While they promise them liberty they themselves are the servants of
corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world
through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again
entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the
beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of
righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy
commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the
true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed
to her wallowing in the mire.” 2 Pet. 2/14-22.
“My brethren be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” James 3/1. “You cannot serve God and Mammon.” Math. 6/24. “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Tim. 6/9-10. I know what message they`re getting as I listen to rock musicians and rock bands sing songs mocking evangelists and the people of God. The church is looking no different from the world it`s in. IT SHOULD BE DIFFERENT! PECULIAR! But instead it`s under REPROACH MOCKED AND DERIDED, NOT FEARED OR REVERENCED.
When church leadership “uses its liberty as
an occasion for the flesh,” Gal. 5/13, two things happen, “their folly shall
be manifest to all men;” 2 Tim. 3/9, and “great occasion is given to the
enemies of the Lord to blaspheme;” 1 Sam. 12/14. And again “For the name
of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”
Rom. 2/24; and then leadership cover their selfishness by saying “we are
under grace;” What happens then, THE SHEEP FOLLOW THE LEADER AND DO THE SAME,
excusing themselves as being under grace!!! “WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? SHALL
WE CONTINUE IN SIN, THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND? GOD FORBID!!!!"
If leadership is so blasé and casual, and the sheep are so blasé and casual about sin, showing little or no “FEAR OF THE LORD”, (remember Ahab? “and it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.” 1 Kings 16/31) HOW ARE THE UNSAVED GOING TO FEAR TO THE SAVING OF THEIR SOULS?????
“FOR THE TIME IS COME THAT JUDGMENT MUST BEGIN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD:” 1 Pet. 4/17.
Luke 12/5. “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.”
If you want to be caught up in a “move of His Spirit,” then you`re going to have to allow God to restore judgement to the pulpit and submit yourselves to it wholeheartedly, trusting Him, because the church is under the reproach of the enemy right now, no different from the condition of Israel in the time of Ahab and Jezebel, Idolatrous: Every one following their own selfish visions and dreams, especially so called leadership that tacks international on the end of the name of the ministry, so important, befitting their BIG EGOS, totally false. As Jesus said of the Pharisees, “But all their works they do for to be seen of men.” Math. 28/5. Jesus “made Himself of no reputation.” Phil. 2/7, and He said to “Follow Him,” so that means we make ourselves of no reputation. John said “HE MUST INCREASE BUT I MUST DECREASE.” John 3/30.
If you want to be caught up in a “move of His Spirit,” then you`re going to have to “come out from among them,” be “set apart,” “circumcised,” become “a royal priesthood,” “a peculiar people,” a light that shines in a world of darkness, “hating even the garment spotted by the flesh:” Jude 23. “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? “Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump.” 1 Cor. 5/6-7.
You won`t see people saved by being nice to them, preaching humanism to them, all they will do is use you and take advantage of you. YOU`LL SEE THEM SAVED WHEN THEY SEE YOUR WITNESS OF PIETY AND REVERENCE TOWARD HIM AND YOU START TO PREACH THE TRUTH AND “THE FEAR OF THE LORD” INTO THEM. Read the book of Jonah again and the preaching of John the Baptist and the words of Jesus as they spoke to those who showed indifference toward the Lord.
“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest. And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard entreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: For they could not endure that which was commanded, and if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned; or thrust through with a dart, and so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I EXCEEDINGLY FEAR AND QUAKE:” Heb. 12/18-21.
The church and its
leadership have become covetous, ambitious, selfish, little “bless me clubs,”
pretenders, pretending to “love one another,” pretending to be happy,
pretending they have got it all together, pretending to be leaders, pretending
they care, smile in your face and tell you “they love you,” then backstab you
and kick you out of their fellowships, pretending to be hot for Jesus while
they bask in their lukewarmness, excusing one another and making excuses why
“we`re not hot,” prophesying, “the Lord will do a new thing” that never comes,
basking in pharisitical hypocrisy, on their way to apostasy lying to one
another, being deceived, saying it`s OK, “you`re under grace;” “God still loves
you,” when it`s an abomination to Christ; “BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM NEITHER
COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH.” Rev. 3/16. “Even so at this
present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
How much do you really love Jesus? Do you love Him enough to have the courage to address the above issues? Do you love Him enough to stop compromising with the “unfruitful works of darkness?” Eph. 5/11. Do love Him enough to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4/15) to longstanding friends and family and persons you hold in “admiration because of advantage” Jude 16,even when you know they`ll hate you and turn against you including people in the church? DO YOU REALLY LOVE HIM ENOUGH TO FORSAKE ALL!!!!
WHAT PRICE ARE YOU PREPARED TO PAY TO SEE HIS GLORY?
“And Jesus answered
and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, AND RESTORE ALL THINGS.”
Math. 17/11. What was Elijah restoring when he called down fire on
Samuel said to Saul “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” 1 Sam. 15/23. Samuel prophesied to Saul the Lord`s rejection of him being King of Israel, but he still stubbornly and rebelliously clung to the leadership because he wouldn`t let go of the position that he perceived bought him recognition, fame, and fortune; the end result is that, “he fell on his sword.” 1 Sam. 31/4 . It`s no different today, any leadership that resists His will, eventually will “fall on their sword.” Amen.
“See that you refuse not Him that speaketh.”
“HIS MERCY IS ON THEM THAT FEAR HIM.” Luke
1/50.
Bevan Kluver, Straight Talk Ministries,
Ph/Fax 07 55452874,
Website www.straighttalkmin.org
bevan.kluver@bigpond.com
“Speaking the truth in love in the spirit of meekness earnestly contending for the faith.”
HELPING HIM PREPARE A BRIDE WITHOUT SPOT OR WRINKLE:
HATING EVEN THE GARMENT SPOTTED BY THE FLESH:
"THAT HIS FEAR MAY BE
BEFORE YOUR FACES, THAT YE SIN NOT." EX. 20/20.