Understanding the Fear of the Lord

When we have a proper understanding of the Lord, it changes the way we live. We cannot live the way God means His children to live unless we fear Him. Our modern culture has lost the meaning of the fear of the Lord. We have traded the power of the fear of the Lord for the weak imitation of it—reverential trust.

What is the Fear of the Lord?

To fear God means being afraid of Him. This isn't the terror we would feel at facing an unjust tyrant, but rather, a realization of God's holy wrath at sin.

Why Should we Fear the Lord?

We are commanded to fear Him. The Bible so often warns what will happen if we neglect this duty. Because He is holy, fearing Him is only right and proper. 

What Happens When we Fear the Lord?

Dozens of blessings are associated with fearing God. Among them are wisdom, knowledge, long life, blessings for our children, confidence, comfort, and growth for our churches. When we fear Him, He pours out so many blessings upon us. 

Properly understanding the fear of the Lord prepares one to live a holy and blessed life. When we realize that the scope of His love demands that He keep us from things that will harm us and we decide to live in the light of that knowledge, everything changes. There is great comfort and confidence for God's children in walking in the fear of God.

—taken from A Vision of God by Robert Byers. To read this book in its entirety, please purchase your copy here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #7

God is Waiting for you to Pray

"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not"—Jeremiah 33:3.

God delights to hear and answer prayer. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."—Philippians 4:6.

Have you ever experienced God answering your prayers? We'd love to hear about it. Leave a comment below!

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #6

Don't Let Iniquities Separate You From God

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear"—Isaiah 59:2.

So many times the channel to God's throne of grace is blocked  by some stubborn will or spirit. When we are sincere, the Lord will call to our attention the hindrances to our prayers. Then we can confess them and be forgiven. 

So many Christians go through their routines day after day without seeing results.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #4

Pray With a Proper Motive

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts"—James 4:3.

Here is a case of selfishness and James minces no words about it. He is blunt and pointed in telling us not to expect answers to that kind of prayer.

This type of individual looks upon God as a big welfare department, doling out assistance like a federal giveaway program instead of as our Heavenly Father, giving all that we request to help us run our program.

God wants us to be stewards and ambassadors representing His cause on this planet. When we join His program, He supplies the wherewithal to accomplish His purpose.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #3

Allow the Holy Spirit to Assist You in Praying

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."—Romans 8:26.

• The Holy Spirit convicted and alerted us to our need of a Saviour when we were lost (John 16:7-11).
• He gave us birth into the family of God (John 3:6). 
• He came into our lives and took up abode in our bodies (Romans 8:9-11). 
• He leads us in the path that is in harmony with the Bible (Romans 8:14). 
• He fills us with His presence and power (Ephesians 5:18). 
• He manifests in our lives the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 
• And finally, He assists us in our praying (Romans 8:26).

We must be conscious of His help and allow Him to impress us with right and wrong things for which to pray. Since He knows what God's will is, the Holy Spirit does not permit us to continue to pray for things outside God's plan, but He will impress us as to what to pray for and when to pray.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles to Getting Your Prayers Answered - #2

Pray According to His Will.

"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."—I John 5:14-15.

Be careful that you don't let your personal desires lead you astray from God's will. The power of suggestion from others also must be carefully guarded against. Every experience must be tested and analyzed to make sure of His will.

Someone has suggested six tests that will prove God's will in a given situation:

• The test of Scripture. Does it agree with the Bible?
• The test of facts. Do I have enough light on the matter to decide?
• The test of motives. Is the true reason behind my action right and proper?
• The test of time. Is it just a passing fancy that will fade away, or is it a permanent need?
• The test of opportunity. What about open and closed doors?
• The test of peace. Do I have a settled peace about a given matter?

The will of God can be obvious. The salvation of the soul is always His will. (II Pet. 3:9). Second, it is God's will that all His children be sanctified, dedicated Christians. (I Thess. 4:3). Third, it is God's will that we live clean, separated lives. (Rom. 12:2). Fourth, it is God's will that we be filled with the Spirit. (Eph. 5:18). 

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Basic Principles of Getting Your Prayers Answered - #1

Prayer isn't complicated.
Any believer can talk to God and get results. There is no magic formula, no secret code. The Bible simply says "Ask" but it has a dual meaning. It means to ask one time; it also means to keep on asking. We are to ask and ask, and we will keep on receiving and receiving.

The following blog posts will give some basic requirements given in the Bible for getting from God what you ask.

The first one we share today:

A Right Relationship with the Lord

Jesus said, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). It doesn't say it might be done but it shall be done.

Oliver B. Greene said,
"There are two conditions here that must be met if we expect God to keep His promise: First - "If ye abide in me" and Second - "If...my words abide in you."

Abiding in Christ means full surrender of heart, spirit and body. John R. Rice points out that those who are 'wrapped up' with Christ and His Word will want what Christ wants and thus be able to ask for the desires of their hearts.

—taken from the booklet 'You Can Get Your Prayers Answered' by Dr. Tom Wallace. You can purchase this booklet and read the unabridged version here.

Can We Avoid Trial and Error?

You hear it often. We all say it. When we don't know exactly what we're doing, when we can't figure out how to go about something or once we've finally succeeded at something, we shrug and say "It came about through trial and error—a good bit of trial and a lot of error."

A major part of both "trial" and "error" could be avoided if:

1. We gave God His proper place.

2. We did not insist on doing things our own way—in the flesh.

3. We were yielded to the supreme authority of the Word of God.

4. We quit bucking the God-given authorities in our life.

5. We placed a high priority on the local church.

6. We sought answers to our prayers.

7. We would walk a Spirit-filled walk.

It seems pretty silly and a whole lot carnal when you think about it. On things so clearly given in the Scripture, we should cease from the "trial and error" approach and by faith surrender to do exactly what the Lord has said to do.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part seven

I Peter 4:16—"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God."

We're going to take our stand and let our colors be seen. We're going to run our flag up high. We are not lowering the flag to halfmast; we are putting it up to the top. And if we suffer, we will praise God for the privilege of bearing the reproach of Christ—like Moses did in Hebrews 11:26.

The Christian life is a good life. Glean the most you can from it. Get as much as you can from it. Feed yourself upon it, and God will lead you and bless you right to the very end of your sojourn.

—This concludes our 7 part series on How to See Good Days. These posts were used with permission from the Sword of the Lord newspaper and condensed for this series. Author, Dr. Harold Sightler.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part six

I Peter 4:16—"Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed."

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek"—Romans 1:16.

If any person suffer as a believer, let him not be ashamed.

If they are heaping persecution on you, saying all manner of evil about you, don't be ashamed.

If you suffer as a Christian for doing the right thing, believing the right Gospel, serving God in an acceptable manner, then don't be ashamed.

When you live right, dress right and walk right, you will suffer. And if you suffer as a Christian, don't be ashamed. That's how you can love life and see good days.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part five

Not all of us minister in the same way. Some give themselves to evangelism, others to Bible study, others to missions and to other aspects of the ministry. It is wise to present the whole counsel of the Lord in a well-rounded ministry.

The text implies that we are given different abilities and different degrees of ability. I am to be satisfied with whatever my ability is or whatever degree of that ability I may possess.

If you're complaining and finding fault and are a bit jealous of the blessing of God upon another, then read I Peter 4:11.

If any man will love life and see good days, if he labor, if he 'minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth.' When God gives that ability, learn to take what He allows you to be and be happy with that.

7 Steps to See Good Days, part four

Oracles of God are Bible terms, Bible statements, Bible quotations. The Proverbs are the oracles of God. Many New Testament texts contain the oracles of God. When you speak, quote the oracles of God. 

You will be surprised what that will do when you fellowship with people. We live in a generation given over to profanity and obscene language. We need somebody in the crowd to say, "Praise God!"

7 Steps to See Good Days, part three

Let the man who would "love life, and see good days...seek peace." As much as in you is, be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).

Don't have enemies. Somebody may not appreciate you and may be your enemy—but don't you be the enemy of anybody. Those who despitefully use you—we are commanded to pray for them.

Be at peace with every man—as much as possible, even your enemy. Then 'ensue it'. Make it a life policy as a peacemaker. Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).

I didn't say compromisers. God's people aren't to compromise, but we are to stand, especially when truth is at stake. Be peace-loving people.

Who Cares, Anyway? Part Five

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."—Psalm 142:1-4

Do You Care Enough Not To Quit?

Thanks be unto God for the many through the ages that have cared enough for you and me. Our history tells us of those great men and women that have cared enough. In our present day and time there are those who still care. We need to care enough to go to the lost.

A young couple that had gotten saved brought their elderly grandmother to Christ. Afterward, the couple couldn't find her, so they looked through the village but couldn't find her anywhere. They went to village after village, but they couldn't find her. Days went by and they had not located her.

Finally, somebody in one of the villages was heard to cry, "There's Granny!"

The entire village went out to see her and asked where she had been. She said, "Well, you know after I found out that Jesus is alive and that He's coming back for all those who prayed to Him and is going to take them with Him, I thought about all of my old friends on the other side of the mountain. 

"I told them, 'He's alive. He's up there above the clouds, and one of these days He's going to come back for every one that prays to Him and take them up there with Him."

When Granny was asked if any of them prayed, she said, "I can't count, so I put down a straw for everyone that prayed. Here's my bundle." Tied together with a piece of lambskin were sixty-nine straws.

You have your opportunity to care enough right now. Do you care enough to go over to the other side of the mountain like Granny did?

I know you care, but do you care enough to help people get saved? Don't be indifferent. Do business with God and get it settled, because He wants to do business with you.

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Who Cares, Anyway? Part Four

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."—Psalm 142:1-4

Do You Care Enough to Allow the Holy Spirit to Move You?

Their sin and backsliding won't let some care like they ought to care. They've gotten away from the Lord and taken control at the helm of things in their lives. Their hearts have grown cold and hard, and they've become unfaithful to the point that they've become unmovable.

There was a time when messages from the Word of God could touch their hearts and even bring them to the altar. Their backsliding and sin have gotten them away from the Word of God and the influence of the church.

They've gotten away from a faithful walk with God, and no longer do they have personal time with God. Their hearts have gotten cold and complacent, and they're at the place where they're not moved.

The child of God needs an old-fashioned moving of the Holy Spirit of God until he takes down the fences. We ought to be emotionally stirred and care enough to reach those around the world who are trapped in darkness. Their lives are ebbing out, and they are going to die and go to Hell. If we could get emotional and stirred up enough to pray and give whatever is needed to reach the unsaved of this world, we would see more people saved and in Glory!

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Who Cares, Anyway? Part Three

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."—Psalm 142:1-4

Do You Care Enough Not To Be Indifferent?
Indifference won't let some Christians care like they ought to care. Some Christians are indifferent to the message on tithing, and they make up some excuse as to why tithing is not for the New Testament Age or whatever. They are indifferent to offerings, so they don't join in and give an offering even though the Bible talks about tithes and offerings.

Some are indifferent to world missions. They say, "Oh, we've done all we need to do, and we don't need to do all that."

A number of Christians are indifferent to the call to be a soul winner for the Lord Jesus Christ. Some are indifferent to the claim that Christ makes on us to be separate from the world. "Whererfore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing" (II Cor. 6:17).

Indifference keeps some Christians from caring like they ought to care. If the Bible says that we are to do something a certain way, we are to do it just because the Bible says to do it; and we are to do it the way the Bible says to do it!

Personal agendas should never get in the way of obedience to God's Word or being in line with morals. As a child of God, we need to be sure that any desire we have is guided by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, for that is the only way God will bless.

God loves the world, but our problem is that we love the world in the wrong way. We ought to love the world the way the Lord loves it and not for the things that are in this world!

The Bible says that everybody will someday stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ, so everybody ought to be doing something.
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Who Cares, Anyway? Part Two

"I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul."—Psalm 142:1-4

Do You Care Enough About Lost Children?
Do you care about the children in your community and other areas?

Wouldn't it be good if in one of our missions conferences we had slides with all the missionary outreaches of the church and pictures that showed all of the run-down areas reached and little kids all around the church? Maybe then somebody would surrender to become a new bus captain.

God loves every one of those children in Africa and other areas that need clean water, but there are a lot of kids in our own communities that need clean water. There are many kids in our area that need to be saved.

We are saved because somebody cared enough about our soul. Maybe he knocked on our door and gave us a gospel tract or stopped us and talked to us about our salvation.

What is it that stands in the way that won't let you care enough?

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