Judges 6:9-10 says “I delivered you from the Egyptians and from the hands of all your oppressors, and dispossessed them before you and gave you their land, and I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not obeyed me.”
This statement of God gives us insight into the concept of “fearing” God. The Israelites served the Baals, or the false, man-created gods of those already occupying the lands they were moving into. God wants our worship, alone, not shared. He is jealous for this sole worship (Exodus 34:14), but the Israelites compromised. They syncretized or added the Baals, basically demons, along with their religious observance of God’s ways. They were taking up what the world said was important instead of what God says is important. He is still saying the same thing today.
11 Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, 12 and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. 13 So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
Judges 2:11-13 New American Standard Bible
So when we “fear” something, we give it our attention, our regard, our respect, and our worship. What are you fearing these days? Let us fear the Lord, and worship Him alone. Then all other things we need will be added to us, without worshiping them.
Our ninth fundamental truth states that we experience sanctification or becoming more holy and set aside for God them more we seek and cooperate with Him. “Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of dedication unto God. (Romans 12:1,2 [KJV/NIV], 1 Thessalonians 5:23 [KJV/NIV], Hebrews 13:12 [KJV/NIV]) The Scriptures teach a life of “holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14 [KJV/NIV]) By the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to obey the command: “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15,16 [KJV/NIV])”
Let’s be set apart for Kingdom work in His power and let it continually renew and transform us. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).
– Pastor John
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