Victory in Two (Easy then Hard) Steps

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

Audio for this article here: SermonAudio.com/StudyGrowKnow

Links:

• Documents Reveal Hundreds of Media Companies Including Conservative Media were Paid by Federal Government to Promote the COVID-19 Vaccines
• Is the Russian Invasion of Ukraine part of the plan?
• Model on War and Food shortages
• Hate-hoaxing Atlanta rioters who tried to frame Trump supporters convicted
• Eternity Matters: News Roundup
• The Atlantic Council: “shaping solutions to global challenges” (think globalism)
• Growing alliance of Macron, Xi and Germany
• End of crypto-currency? (Hint: if it relies on digital and the Internet, then yes)
• Scientific integrity is dead and here’s why
• Catecholamines are the key trigger of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 and mRNA COVID-19 vaccine-induced myocarditis and sudden deaths…
• The Brutal Biochemistry of Messenger RNA Technology…
• Minsk Agreements
• JD Farag Prophecy Update: I don’t know what to believe anymore
• Middle East Meltdown Ezekiel 38:2b-5 Dr. Andy Woods
• The Rapture is my precious hope

Lately, the lies continue at breakneck pace and it’s a bit overwhelming to try and wade through it all. Press Secretary Jen Psaki insists that Biden is doing everything he can to lower gas prices. Is that the truth? Of course not. If Biden was doing everything possible, he would reinstate the Keystone Pipeline so that it would go back to producing up to 833,000 barrels of oil each day. Instead, we are buying oil from Russia and begging Venezuela to sell us some of theirs. Does this make sense to anyone?

What are some other lies that are being used to help usher in a one-world government where the globalists see themselves as rulers of the entire world? Well, it turns out that CV lies are making the rounds and isn’t it interesting that CV is pretty much going away? Even New Zealand is now trying something new by allowing infected healthcare workers to treat infected patients. Dr. Fauci is nowhere to be found. Is he in the witness protection program or just hiding from arrest (wouldn’t THAT be nice)?

Beyond this, we all know how the high price of gasoline is affecting all of us. While Biden condemns Putin, he continues to buy oil from Russia although he now states he wants to ban all Russian oil and gas imports. Obviously, this will further worsen the economic conditions in the USA.

Why not just reopen the Keystone Pipeline? Instead, Biden continues his assault on America and has also gone to begging Venezuela for oil too. Logic is dead. Nothing makes sense anymore because it has become all too obvious that the destruction of the United States seems to be on Biden’s agenda.

So gas is high and will go higher. Food prices are increasing as well and will all this lead to a far more dramatic shortage of food and supplies? This could possibly happen with what I’m reading about droughts and famines occurring in various parts of the world. What with edible oil products experiencing price increases, this will certainly be passed onto consumers. According to one other source, Hungary has decided to stop all grain exports. So if Hungary is ceasing all grain exports, obviously this will cause wheat and other grains to skyrocket. If you’ve invested in wheat or other grains, you may be in for a windfall, but that may not help feed you. You might want to stock up on certain things. All of this adds up to potential problems according to the FAO Food Price Index, as consumers go to grocery stores and experience both price shock and shortage shock. It’s a new world.

But in the midst of all of this, Christians need to persevere. We don’t have the option of no longer trusting God, no longer living in a way that pleases Him and no longer bringing the message of hope to the lost. We have to fight on or die spiritually.

This morning I was again reminded of Proverbs 16:6, which states in very simple terms a two-pronged approach to life itself.

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. (KJV)

The simplicity of the above statements by Solomon cannot be overstated. The first part is really a reference to our Lord’s work of redemption on our behalf. Jesus’ sinless life, painful death and resurrection have made it possible for people to come to faith in Him and thereby receive salvation; eternal life. The cross work of Jesus literally showcases His unlimited mercy toward we fallen creatures who do not at all deserve anything from Him except His wrath. His mercy provides for us the true forgiveness of all our sin and brings us close to God in relationship.

Jesus, full of mercy and truth (because He IS truth and there is no other), cleanses us from all our sin as we come to believe in what He accomplished for us, just as the one thief on the cross did hours before he died, the same type of death that affected Jesus’ life. Mercy borne of truth in God the Son.

This is the first step in our spiritual renewal. Without this step – exercising faith in what Jesus has accomplished for us and on our behalf – there is no salvation for us, no renewal, no walking with God in fellowship. It is here it must begin.

Once we have exercised faith in Jesus for the redemption of our live’s and the expiation of all our sin, we then move into the area where the rubber meets the road. It’s called the daily living of being a Christian. Too many Christians gain salvation and then continue to live their lives as though they need do nothing and God blesses them and frees them to live in whatever way they wish to live. How many Christians have been told/taught that God wants to bring our dreams to fruition? Hogwash. He wants people who are dedicated to Him and His purposes, period.

The second part of Proverbs 16:6 tells us how to do that. It is not easy in the least. It requires a healthy fear of (offending) the Lord and if you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know I’ve talked about that before. A true, reverential fear of (offending) the Lord, keeps us motivated to live correctly, which involves the way we think, the way we act, and the way we talk. In essence, this fear of (offending) the Lord, covers all the bases and provides the ability to do what we should be doing, thinking and saying in a most natural way.

I’d like to admit that I’ve not reached this point flawlessly yet and there is good reason to believe no Christian in this life will ever fully reach it. However, the obligation set upon us is to strive to get to this point.

Let me provide an example from the Hebrew Scriptures. In the book of Joshua, after Moses’ death, Joshua had been appointed to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land and to literally take the Land that God had promised to Abraham. Repeatedly, the Israelites were told not to “fear” but to be “courageous” as God Himself was going to lead them into that Land and destroy their enemies before them. There were times of great victory because of it and there were times of complete and utter failure either because the people disobeyed God by doing what He did not permit, or they simply failed to believe He would do what He promised He would do.

I think the application to the Christian is clear. We are to trust our God to help us to fear (offending) Him so that this healthy fear/respect moves us to do, think and say the things that are correct. Will we always do that? Unfortunately, not until we get to the Millennial Kingdom (or the afterlife), whichever comes first, when our sin nature is fully extricated from within us. God Himself will do that when He provides us with glorified bodies and minds, absent the ability to ever sin again.

But for now, we battle not only Satan, but our flesh. These two things create huge obstacles for us, but Solomon tells us the way around those things is to have a healthy fear of (offending) the Lord. In essence, this fear needs to be developed. It doesn’t simply happen. I suppose there are those Christians whom God gifts with this healthy, reverential fear so that they are most suited to the task He calls them to. But for most of us, it is a gradual process of learning more about that growing fear of (offending) the Lord.

Consider a man who loves his wife immensely. He doesn’t necessarily fear her, does he? If he truly loves her, he will avoid hurting her, won’t he? Suppose this man encounters temptation at work or someplace else when he is away from his wife. What is the one thing that will keep him from being unfaithful? Essentially, it is his fear of (offending/hurting), the wife he loves. That fear of offending/hurting her if strong enough, will keep him from harming the relationship by doing something with some other woman who is not his wife.

Do we neglect God by giving into the temptations of our flesh, which make us feel good for a few moments but remove us from fellowship with God? We need to be willing to seriously consider what we do, what we say, and what we think always reminding ourselves about our fear of (offending) the Lord.

I tend to give into my emotions too often and then have to backtrack with apologies later. While apologizing is good, it’s better not to do or say something that causes me to have to apologize.

Christians, in this day and age especially, where Satan appears to have been given the go-ahead to bring this world to its final format, bringing the judgments of God, we must learn what it means to have a growing fear of (offending) the Lord. I truly believe because this particular subject is broached so often in His Word that this is one of the most important guiding principles for Christians to do what God expects us to do.

If you have a better way, please let me know. I’d love to hear it. To be clear, I am not talking about an unhealthy fear of God that makes us feel as though He is ready to strike us down in anger when we do something wrong. I’m not talking about that at all. I’m talking about a true, healthy, reverential fear (or great respect), so that our inner desire is not based on a fear of judgment, but to do, say and think things out of a growing love for (or fear of offending), God.

Take the time to memorize Proverbs 16:6. It doesn’t take long. Repeat it to yourself often throughout the day. Say it as a prayer. See if God doesn’t reward you with a greater and growing fear of (offending) Him so that living the way He wants us to live becomes far more natural and easier because the proper motivation within us takes root.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective