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In Proverbs 23:17 Solomon is speaking to his son and giving him advice. One of the things he said was "fear the Lord ALL day long and don't be envious of those that do evil. We've discussed how we should fear the Lord (respect, give reverence and remember HIS position in respect to YOUR position) in the morning when we awake, at noon in the middle of our day and at night when the day is behind us. As far as that is concerned when we're drifting off to sleep before we lose consciousness as it were...we should ask God to help us "fear" Him even while we're sleeping when we don't even know we ARE fearing Him! If there's one thing I think our families need...that our churches need and yes I dare say our nation needs it is an old fashioned return to the fear of the Lord. I don't mean the kind of fear that is afraid God is behind the next tree with a baseball bat waiting to bop you over the head. I mean a respect for God. A reverence for Him. An actual understanding that He's God and we're not! We really DO seem to have that mixed up. It seems like we think WE'RE in charge and GOD is working for US! No, no that is not and has never been true. Again Solomons said to his son and to us we should fear the Lord...ALL DAY LONG!!!
Another thing I'd like to mention in that regard are the days you HAVE feared God all day long and it seems like it's just not worth it. It seems like it's just not working out. I've heard people say "I've feared the Lord and I see others getting ahead while I am lagging behind. I see others get well and I'm still sick. I've feared the Lord and it seems like others are getting the desires of MY heart." It doesn't help much when the adversary pours gas on that fire either does it. I would remind you that weeping may endure for a night BUT joy comes in the morning! It's not over because YOU declare it over. It's not over because the adversary says it's over. It's not over till God says it's over and HE is still speaking, working, watching and making all things work for your good and His glory. I had a preacher friend share this story with me once. He said "Jeff I was an associate pastor at a Baptist church in Georgia once. There was a lady who attended the Church of God in our community. She started calling around looking for a ride to the Baptist church (ours) for the upcoming Sunday. Somebody asked her why and she said it was because her son was going to be saved there this Sunday. They asked ma'am did he tell you that? Have you heard something to let you know that he's "coming forward" this week? She said no...God told me! She got the ride and showed up at the Baptist church. At invitation time she watched as her son "walked the aisle." It was announced that he had indeed given his heart to the Lord. That Church of God lady started shouting for all she was worth at the back of that building and shouted herself all the way down the aisle heading for the front of the building. She shouted her hair down! Finally the pastor looked at me and said Bro. Bill would you see if you can help that lady and see if she'll calm down some. I went over and asked her if she would quiet down some and this lady who was in her mid eighties literally put both hands on my shoulders and lifted me up off the ground and said 'I've been praying for that boy to be saved for 35 years! I'll have you know I'll shout as loud and as long as I want to shout!' I just said go ahead lady...you just shout on!" Three months later she was in Heaven but God let her see the results of fearing HIM all day long even though it was a lot of days she spent fearing Him! Hang on...the answer is coming as sure as God is God. I was young and now I'm old but I've NEVER seen the righteous forsaken! The grass is NOT greener on the other side! This sickness is NOT unto death. He is the deliverer of your soul and that deliverance is on the way!! My part and your part is to fear the LORD....ALL DAY LONG!!! Jeff
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I truly believe the cross changed everything! If you are under the weight of sin that has you burdened down and feeling like you can't go forward it's not the fault of the cross. Through the sacrifice of Jesus and the shedding of His blood for your sin to be forgiven you can be FREE! If you're sick and can't seem to get well the stripes placed on the back of Jesus as He was going to the cross can heal your sickness. I don't just believe in healing...I believe God heals EVERY time we pray for healing. 1) He heals instantaneously and miraculously. Don't tell ME He doesn't...I have SEEN it! 2) Through the process of time and the help of doctors and medicines...they SHALL recover. And then 3) The sick will awake in Heaven at the feet of Jesus never to need a prayer for healing again! At any rate...the cross changed it ALL!
I also believe the cross changed the way we feel about one another. If you hate someone...because they don't look like you or act like you or believe like you...whatever the reason for the hate you feel it can be resolved at the cross! In Christ there truly is no east or west...bond or free...male or female. When we meet at the cross we ALL meet on and at the same level. The rich MUST come down...the poor MUST come up. The Have Not's must have and the Have's must Have Not! The ground is level there...at the cross! Equality is everywhere...THERE! If you say you have been to the cross and you still hate then check your geography. You've been SOMEWHERE...but it wasn't the CROSS! Jeff Some of you have been given a talent to sing but you don’t sing. For some it’s an ability or talent to teach but you don’t teach. Some have an incredible knack for selling. You could sell a health club membership to a dying man but it’s been fifteen years since you told anybody about Jesus. Still others have been blessed with the means to give…to the work of the Lord…and you guessed it…they don’t. You know what the real problem is? You don’t believe in God. See if you really believed in God and that He would take away that talent to sing that you don’t use…wild horses couldn’t keep you from singing that song. If you really believed your talent to SELL would be lost if you didn’t TELL others about Christ…an atomic bomb couldn’t keep you from telling about Him to others. If you REALLY thought God wouldn’t allow you to participate in HIS economy if you were greedy with your money you’d rob a bank to get out your own funds to give in the offering. That’s our problem…we really don’t believe in God!
Jeff In the parable of the talents the boss left for vacation and left with his three servants...talents...or abilities One of them got five, one got two and the other received one. The one with five and the one with two invested theirs and doubled their investments. The fellow with one buried his and earned nothing. Watch this please. The fellow who received two talents was just as accountable for what he was given as the one who received FIVE! He couldn't do what we do and that's complain about how much somebody else was given to start with. He not only couldn't complain about the seeming inequity it wouldn't do him any good to do so. He's only responsible for what he HAS. I have people all the time tell me "if I ever hit the lottery preacher and win 25 million dollars you won't have to worry about that building fund or special ministry at the church because I'm gonna give that money to the Good Lord!" You know what? I'm not nearly as concerned about the imaginary 25 million that you DON'T have as I am the $25.00 you DO have in your pocket right now that you won't use for God NOW!! Hear me...God will never trust you with two until He can trust you to do the right thing with ONE. He won't trust you with THREE until He can trust you to do the right thing with TWO! He won't trust you with four until He can trust you to do the right thing with THREE... This could go on into infinity but you get the point. Our problem is not that we CAN'T...it's that we WON'T.
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AuthorDr. Jeff R. Steele 
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