Our God is a consuming Fire

OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

(Isaiah 66:15) For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. (KJV)




That must have been something like the children of Israel experienced with the living God; fear mixed with wonder.

a) Moses did not want them to forget - Deut. 4:10-13

(Deuteronomy 4:10-13) Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. (KJV)

b) God wants us to remember - that is why He has given us the King James Bible (400th anniversary is coming up)

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

a) Modern people do not have a fear of God
b) It is only for the primitive heathen - bowing down to the sun, sacrificing virgins to a volcano

Columbus was stranded in Jamaica and surrounded by unfriendly natives; fearing what they might do he told the chief that if they did not help them their God would blacken out the sun. For a while the chief refused to help, then when a lunar eclipse took place (one that Columbus knew was going to happen) the chief gave in.

In the early 1900's a British explorer tries the same trick on an African chieftain, "If you don't help me, my God will curse you and blacken out the sun." The chieftain replied, "oh you mean the lunar eclipse that is going to take place in two days."

c) Christians are not used to fearing God
d) It's too Old Testament
e) We are under grace, so there is no need to fear God

Sometimes I think we relate the fear of God to punishment; the fear of God is from the word yaw ray - reverence or respect.

Example: I would like my kids and grand-kids to obey me not out of fear of punishment; but out of respect for their paw paw.

If we do not have the fear of God out of respect for God to obey His word, then we will have the fear of God when we suffer chastisement for disobedience.

SHOULD WE FEAR THE LORD?

(Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (KJV)

(Job 28:28) And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (KJV)

(Psalms 111:10) 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. (KJV)

a) the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge
b) the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom

a) to depart from evil is understanding
b) who is it that despise wisdom and instruction? {fools}

DOES GOD REQUIRE US TO FEAR (RESPECT) HIM?

(Deuteronomy 10:20) Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. (KJV)

(Deuteronomy 6:13) Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

( Deuteronomy 6:24) And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as [it is] at this day.

(Deuteronomy 10:12) And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

THAT IS OLD TESTAMENT, WE ARE UNDER GRACE NOT THE LAW

(Romans 6:14-18) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. (KJV)


(John 14:7-15) If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments. (KJV)

Do we respect those that we love? I loved my mom and dad and I respected them. Did I always agree with them? Did I always obey them? NO

When I was younger not as much, but when I got older, when I matured I did.

For the Christian as they mature, they should have a greater love for God and for Jesus Christ and that would result in willing obedience.

Are we going to do it right all the time? NO

let me close with this verse; (1 John 1:9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)