Volume H-0002 No. H-0001 January 1997

NO FEAR?...KNOW FEAR!

No Fear!

You must have seen that caption many times. It can be found on caps, jackets, t-shirts, placards, book covers...the list goes on. It seems meant to represent someone who has no fear of anything or anyone. It has the appearance of being tough, invincible. Have you ever wondered what the "wearer" is afraid of that would cause him or her to wear such an announcement? You know, fear shows itself in many different ways! We are taught that "...the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." (Psalm 111:10) We are told that this scripture is referring to "reverential fear" and not fear as in "fear and trembling".  The word "fear" used in this Scripture means: fear, exceedingly, dreadful, fearfulness; terror, awesome or terrifying thing (object causing fear), fear (of God), respect, reverence, piety revered.  We also find in Matt. 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." (Reference: The Blue Bible, KJV, Koinonia House, Internet)  We have taken opportunity with the Word of God and made things less than they are in order to soothe our souls!

Absolutes

Can we accept a Holy and Righteous God? We place capital letters regarding God's Peace, Love, Mercy, etc. If these are Holy and Righteousness, then so is His Wrath, Justice and Judgment.

There is a Truth about God that we have failed to recognize: HE IS HOLY and HE IS RIGHTEOUS! We live in a world that no longer lives within the borders of absolutes! GOD, and all that HE IS, is an ABSOLUTE! His Judgment, His Mercy, His Wrath, His Forgiveness, His Grace, His WILL to see us as white as snow and clean...these are absolutes! Outside of God's absolute-ness there is failure, rejection, loneliness, misery, pain that will not end, broken hearts that cannot be mended...a forsaken-ness of life. And yet, we decide not to fear the God of the Universe, creator of us all. Scripture also says, "PRAISE the LORD! How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who greatly delights in His commandments." (Psa. 112:1)

For those who are parents, we can reflect on our parenting.  For example, when you give (or gave) an instruction to your child, do (did) you expect obedience? Sure! That's why you gave the instruction. Most times, when we instruct our children there is an element of fear within the child that causes them to obey. No, we don't want our children to fear out of an abusive situation. But we do want them to fear us out of a respect of our authority and of a knowing what is best. God, our Heavenly Father, respected us enough to give His Son's Life for us. Should we not "fear" the Awesome-ness of His Power and Presence?

From the Bridegroom

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.  For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.  Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep.  But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out to meet him.'  Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish said to the prudent, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  But the prudent answered, 'No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.'  And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came, saying, 'Lord, lord, open up for us.'  But he answered, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.'  Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:1-12) Our life is to be consumed with the Life of our Lord...only. If you find yourself wrapped up in other people or other things, listen quietly and carefully to the Words of our Bridegroom. Can there be any more profoundly sad words ever said other than Jesus saying "...I never knew you..."?

God's Chosen People

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.  May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.  For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, 'May peace be within you.  ' For the sake of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good." Psalm 122:6-9

"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning."
Isaiah 62:1

"And it shall be said, 'Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.'" Isaiah 57:14

Spending time recently on the Internet World Wide Web, I have come across several sites which offer information about the Holocaust. These sites offer much in the way of education. I wonder if humanity has learned anything since the Holocaust. Watching the news and reading news articles and other publications, shows that Anti-Semitism is as prevalent today as it has ever been. Sad, though, is that it is still being fostered by and within the church. Regardless of what the signs on the buildings or businesses may say, these are NOT the church...NOT the true Bride of Christ! If you find fault with this statement, we recommend that you spend time in the Scriptures WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Look At Current Events

Nothing which is morally wrong can ever be politically correct! (Taken from the sign of a Baptist Church, near Atlanta, GA. USA)

Bottom Line

Maybe, if we had a fear of the Holiness of God as did King David, Isaiah, Samuel, Jeremiah, and many others, we would find ourselves so immersed in a covenant love-relationship with Almighty God, that we would truly become the Bride for whom He died! Our bottom line is very simple: "...the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..." (Psalm 111:10)

Choice

Have you ever made a New Year's Resolution? Most of us have made one or more in our lifetimes. People speak of not smoking, going on a diet, spending more time with family, etc. Have you ever kept one of them? Seldom do we hear of a New Year's Resolution being kept! What does it mean to make a resolution about something? A resolution is something we decide, we resolve to act in a certain way, an edict that we make to ourselves and/or others.

If you don't know Christ, the most important "resolution" you will ever make is the one that brings you to Him. If you know Christ, it is the most important "resolution" you have ever made. If you've distanced yourself from Christ, resolving to return to Him will be the most important "resolution" you can make in 1997. God, our Heavenly Father, made a "Resolution" with mankind to reclaim His Creation. He offered His Son on the Tree of Sacrifice to pay for our sins...for your sins. God always keeps His Resolutions...His Word.  We don't have to worry that He might not make good on it. We don't have to worry that we can't be a part of the finished product of His Resolution. His Word is Sure, Pure, Loving and Unconditional. He Loves YOU! He died for YOU!

Confess that you are a sinner in need of His Resolution...His Saving Grace. Acknowledge that He is the Son of God Who died for YOU on the Cross. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins. Ask Him to come into your heart and fill you with His Presence and the fulness of His Most Holy Spirit. You see, when God makes a "Resolution", it's a done deal....

HE IS THE ABSOLUTE ETERNAL RESOLUTION

In Jesus' Name, Be Blessed!

Baruch Haba B'Shem Adonai!

Blessed Is He Who Comes In The Name Of The Lord!