Post by Watchman on Aug 2, 2006 17:40:43 GMT -5
"Perfect obedience brings perfect love and perfect love will bring perfect faith.
I would urge you not to listen to words that are contrary to the doctrine of Christ. That doctrine is trusting God and showing this by obedience."
And They Were Afraid
By Brother R. G. Stair
"And They Were Afraid." The greatest weapon that is in the hand of the devil is fear. It has caused so many to lose their soul and mind and even the health in their body.
Just think about how the mind and spirit are affected when we hear bad news. The person continues not feeling well and then, in seeking to find out what is wrong, to the doctor they go. He tells them that they have heart trouble, or cancer, or even aids. Fear grips the heart and faith dies.
Let us look at this verse of scripture.
"FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME;
THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL;
AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE." -- HEB 2:14-15
Fear of death; there it is - the very root cause of so many under bondage, held captive by the devil. Now what is the power of death? What is it that cause so many to fear death? What gives death the power to grip men in fear and unbelief? We find it revealed again by the very word of God.
"THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN; AND THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW." -- 1 COR 15:56
Fear and unbelief are two powerful sins. They are the forerunners of the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. It is important to know that God will rid His kingdom of this wicked sin and places it alongside the inexcusable sin.
"BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH." -- REV 21:8
The first and greatest commandment of the Father is, "THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." -- EXO 20:3
"AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT. AND THESE WORDS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, SHALL BE IN THINE HEART." -- DEU 6:5-6
Put God first. Love Him above all others and things. Jesus summed it up with these words:
"AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH: THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT." -- MARK 12:30
Let us read what love does to fear and unbelief.
"WHOSOEVER SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, GOD DWELLETH IN HIM, AND HE IN GOD. AND WE HAVE KNOWN AND BELIEVED THE LOVE THAT GOD HATH TO US. GOD IS LOVE; AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM. HEREIN IS OUR LOVE MADE PERFECT, THAT WE MAY HAVE BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT: BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE." -- 1 JOHN 4:15-18
Can you not see with these words that, as we walk in truth and faith in God's love, unbelief and fear cannot remain?
Why is it then that so many are overcome by fear and doubt? Dear one, the one thing that God cannot do is lie. Therefore, Satan, the old serpent, as he did in the garden, seeks to make God a liar.
"NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE SUBTLE THAN ANY BEAST OF THE FIELD WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. AND HE SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YEA, HATH GOD SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN?
AND THE WOMAN SAID UNTO THE SERPENT, WE MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREES OF THE GARDEN:
BUT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, GOD HATH SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF IT, NEITHER SHALL YE TOUCH IT, LEST YE DIE. AND THE SERPENT SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE." -- GEN 3:1-4
God said that you will die. Well, I am telling you that you will NOT surely die. That is not what He MEANT. This is what He REALLY was saying.
Oh, how the devil still uses that method today.
Keep the commandments, God says. Well... He really did not mean that; He knows that you can't do it. Live holy, God says. Nobody can live holy, replies the devil. Go and sin no more, God's word speaks. WE cannot live without sinning, the devil and his crowd comes back again.
Friends, the word of God is true and pure and holy. You have that same divine nature placed in your heart at the new birth and should, by that nature, now live godly and holy.
If you are not living godly and holy, then you need to fall down before the Almighty God and repent and trust Him for faith to believe Him unto salvation.
How does fear and unbelief come in? Why it comes in through disobedience.
Take a look at Adam and Eve. After they disobeyed the word of the Lord, instead of being joyful to have the Lord come and walk, talk, and fellowship with them as He had done every day before, they did not want to see Him come.
Read the account with me and see how their disobedience brought fear and then unbelief.
"AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY: AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN." -- GEN 3:8
They hid themselves! Can you grasp this? From the very presence of God, they hid themselves!
"AND THE LORD GOD CALLED UNTO ADAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE ART THOU?
AND HE SAID, I HEARD THY VOICE IN THE GARDEN, AND I WAS AFRAID, BECAUSE I WAS NAKED; AND I HID MYSELF." -- GEN 3:9-10
Here was the birth of fear. "I was afraid". It was the result of disobedience that came from not believing the very word of God. The day that you eat, you shall surely die.
"AND HE SAID, WHO TOLD THEE THAT THOU WAS NAKED? HAST THOU EATEN OF THE TREE, WHEREOF I COMMANDED THEE THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT EAT?" -- GEN 3:11
Who have you been listening to? Where did you hear that? I told you what to do. Have you disobeyed My command?
"AND UNTO ADAM HE SAID, BECAUSE THOU HAST HEARKENED UNTO THE VOICE OF THY WIFE, AND HAST EATEN OF THE TREE, OF WHICH I COMMANDED THEE, SAYING, THOU SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: CURSED IS THE GROUND FOR THY SAKE; IN SORROW SHALT THOU EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE." -- GEN 3:17
Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife... Here is also the very basis of why God will not ever trust or give to the woman the right to declare His word. Being the weaker vessel and easy to be deceived, God commands her to be obedient to her husband or a man of God.
"AND THE LORD GOD SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, WHAT IS THIS THAT THOU HAST DONE? AND THE WOMAN SAID, THE SERPENT BEGUILED ME, AND I DID EAT." -- GEN 3:13
"BUT I FEAR, LEST BY ANY MEANS, AS THE SERPENT BEGUILED EVE THROUGH HIS SUBTLETY, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." -- 2 COR 11:3
"LET THE WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE WITH ALL SUBJECTION. BUT I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, BUT TO BE IN SILENCE.FOR ADAM WAS FIRST FORMED, THEN EVE. AND ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED, BUT THE WOMAN BEING DECEIVED WAS IN THE TRANSGRESSION." -- 1 TIM 2:11-14
And the woman, to this day, still listens to the words of Satan and takes them over the direct word of God. They are truly deceived to think that God will not cause them to surely die if they rebel against His revealed will and word.
"SO HE DROVE OUT THE MAN; AND HE PLACED AT THE EAST OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN CHERUBIMS, AND A FLAMING SWORD WHICH TURNED EVERY WAY, TO KEEP THE WAY OF THE TREE OF LIFE." -- GEN 3:24
When men lose the fear of God, they give over to the fear of Satan and give in to a fear of their wives or, to the woman, power that Satan gave to them over men. It is the power of lust and the flesh that has been used to bring many men of God down (Samson, David, etc.)
When men lose the fear of God, they are then brought to the fear of death and unbelief.
Here is a scriptural description.
"HEREIN IS OUR LOVE MADE PERFECT, THAT WE MAY HAVE BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT: BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE." -- 1 JOHN 4:17-18
"HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM.
BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD, IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED: HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE ARE IN HIM." -- 1 JOHN 2:4-5
Perfect obedience brings perfect love and perfect love will bring perfect faith.
I would urge you not to listen to words that are contrary to the doctrine of Christ. That doctrine is trusting God and showing this by obedience.
"IF YE BE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YE SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND:
BUT IF YE REFUSE AND REBEL, YE SHALL BE DEVOURED WITH THE SWORD: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT." -- ISA 1:19-20
I want to close this message with a story from the Bible that has blessed me so many times.
"AND WHEN THE MEN OF THAT PLACE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, THEY SENT OUT INTO ALL THAT COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT, AND BROUGHT UNTO HIM ALL THAT WERE DISEASED; AND BESOUGHT HIM THAT THEY MIGHT ONLY TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT: AND AS MANY AS TOUCHED WERE MADE PERFECTLY WHOLE." -- MAT 14:35-36
What a saying - "As many as touched were made perfectly whole"!
"AND, BEHOLD, THERE COMETH ONE OF THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE, JAIRUS BY NAME; AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE FELL AT HIS FEET, AND BESOUGHT HIM GREATLY, SAYING, MY LITTLE DAUGHTER LIETH AT THE POINT OF DEATH: I PRAY THEE, COME AND LAY THY HANDS ON HER, THAT SHE MAY BE HEALED; AND SHE SHALL LIVE. AND JESUS WENT WITH HIM; AND MUCH PEOPLE FOLLOWED HIM, AND THRONGED HIM." -- MARK 5:22-24
I want you to keep these words in mind now as I go through this incident with our Lord Jesus.
"AND A CERTAIN WOMAN, WHICH HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD TWELVE YEARS, AND HAD SUFFERED MANY THINGS OF MANY PHYSICIANS, AND HAD SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD, AND WAS NOTHING BETTERED, BUT RATHER GREW WORSE,WHEN SHE HAD HEARD OF JESUS, CAME IN THE PRESS BEHIND, AND TOUCHED HIS GARMENT. FOR SHE SAID, IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE. AND STRAIGHTWAY THE FOUNTAIN OF HER BLOOD WAS DRIED UP; AND SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED OF THAT PLAGUE. AND JESUS, IMMEDIATELY KNOWING IN HIMSELF THAT VIRTUE HAD GONE OUT OF HIM, TURNED HIM ABOUT IN THE PRESS, AND SAID, WHO TOUCHED MY CLOTHES? AND HIS DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SEEST THE MULTITUDE THRONGING THEE, AND SAYEST THOU, WHO TOUCHED ME? AND HE LOOKED ROUND ABOUT TO SEE HER THAT HAD DONE THIS THING. BUT THE WOMAN FEARING AND TREMBLING, KNOWING WHAT WAS DONE IN HER, CAME AND FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM, AND TOLD HIM ALL THE TRUTH. AND HE SAID UNTO HER, DAUGHTER, THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE; GO IN PEACE, AND BE WHOLE OF THY PLAGUE." -- MARK 5:25-34
What a story and glorious miracle! Jesus walking along and here, a desperate woman, suffering in her body, took and chance, or better still, made a choice. What did she have to lose? She had lost ALL already and unless she had a healing, she was going to die. She pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' clothing. At once she was made whole. What a great act of faith! Jesus knew it immediately and stopped in His steps. Who touched me? The women stepped forward and admitted the fact that she was the one. It just blessed the Lord to see someone with that faith. He told her it was all right, to go and be well.Now this is the point that I want to bring here. As He stopped to heal the woman, we seem to forget the man with a daughter at home dying. Remember how I told you not to forget the beginning of the story? You did, didn't you?
"AND, BEHOLD, THERE COMETH ONE OF THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE, JAIRUS BY NAME; AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE FELL AT HIS FEET, AND BESOUGHT HIM GREATLY, SAYING, MY LITTLE DAUGHTER LIETH AT THE POINT OF DEATH: I PRAY THEE, COME AND LAY THY HANDS ON HER, THAT SHE MAY BE HEALED; AND SHE SHALL LIVE." -- MARK 5:22-23
There it is. The daughter was dying, the man was desperate, and now he has to stand by and watch Jesus stop to heal the woman. He must have been frantic. Please, Lord. Do hurry. My daughter is dying. Come, Jesus, please, he cries.
But Jesus will never pass by faith, so He stops and heals the woman.
"WHILE HE YET SPAKE, THERE CAME FROM THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE'S HOUSE CERTAIN WHICH SAID, THY DAUGHTER IS DEAD: WHY TROUBLEST THOU THE MASTER ANY FURTHER?" -- MARK 5:35
Too late; the daughter is dead. The word is told the father and he breaks under the news. He had healing on the way. He knew that if Jesus would just get there in time, the daughter would live.
Alas, too late! Words of death, then doubt, and now unbelief overcomes him.
Listen to the Lord Jesus in this matter.
"AS SOON AS JESUS HEARD THE WORD THAT WAS SPOKEN, HE SAITH UNTO THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE." -- MARK 5:36
Don't listen to their words, Jesus is telling the man. Those words will bring you fear and doubt. I have spoken and My words are life. Believe them and you shall see the daughter live.
You need to stop listening to those that tell you that God's word is not truth and that you do not need to obey them. That brings fear and unbelief and then you shall die.
Don't listen to those that say you cannot live holy. Holy is your Father and you must be holy to come into His presence.
"I WILL THEREFORE THAT MEN PRAY EVERY WHERE, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING." -- 1 TIM 2:8
"A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS." -- JAMES 1:8
"DRAW NIGH TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS; AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YE DOUBLE MINDED." -- JAMES 4:8
"FOR IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US, GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEART, AND KNOWETH ALL THINGS.
BELOVED, IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US NOT, THEN HAVE WE CONFIDENCE TOWARD GOD. AND WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE OF HIM, BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT." -- 1 JOHN 3:20-22
"BUT WHEN JESUS HEARD IT, HE ANSWERED HIM, SAYING, FEAR NOT: BELIEVE ONLY, AND SHE SHALL BE MADE WHOLE. AND WHEN HE CAME INTO THE HOUSE, HE SUFFERED NO MAN TO GO IN, SAVE PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND THE FATHER AND THE MOTHER OF THE MAIDEN. AND ALL WEPT, AND BEWAILED HER: BUT HE SAID, WEEP NOT; SHE IS NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH. AND THEY LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN, KNOWING THAT SHE WAS DEAD.
AND HE PUT THEM ALL OUT, AND TOOK HER BY THE HAND, AND CALLED, SAYING, MAID, ARISE. AND HER SPIRIT CAME AGAIN, AND SHE AROSE STRAIGHTWAY: AND HE COMMANDED TO GIVE HER MEAT." -- LUKE 8:50-55
Put them out as the Lord did. Reject words that produce unbelief and doubt and bring disobedience.
"AND SAMUEL SAID, HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS." -- 1 SAM 15:22
Maranatha.
Brother Stair
I would urge you not to listen to words that are contrary to the doctrine of Christ. That doctrine is trusting God and showing this by obedience."
And They Were Afraid
By Brother R. G. Stair
"And They Were Afraid." The greatest weapon that is in the hand of the devil is fear. It has caused so many to lose their soul and mind and even the health in their body.
Just think about how the mind and spirit are affected when we hear bad news. The person continues not feeling well and then, in seeking to find out what is wrong, to the doctor they go. He tells them that they have heart trouble, or cancer, or even aids. Fear grips the heart and faith dies.
Let us look at this verse of scripture.
"FORASMUCH THEN AS THE CHILDREN ARE PARTAKERS OF FLESH AND BLOOD, HE ALSO HIMSELF LIKEWISE TOOK PART OF THE SAME;
THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL;
AND DELIVER THEM WHO THROUGH FEAR OF DEATH WERE ALL THEIR LIFETIME SUBJECT TO BONDAGE." -- HEB 2:14-15
Fear of death; there it is - the very root cause of so many under bondage, held captive by the devil. Now what is the power of death? What is it that cause so many to fear death? What gives death the power to grip men in fear and unbelief? We find it revealed again by the very word of God.
"THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN; AND THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW." -- 1 COR 15:56
Fear and unbelief are two powerful sins. They are the forerunners of the blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. It is important to know that God will rid His kingdom of this wicked sin and places it alongside the inexcusable sin.
"BUT THE FEARFUL, AND UNBELIEVING, AND THE ABOMINABLE, AND MURDERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND SORCERERS, AND IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, SHALL HAVE THEIR PART IN THE LAKE WHICH BURNETH WITH FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: WHICH IS THE SECOND DEATH." -- REV 21:8
The first and greatest commandment of the Father is, "THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME." -- EXO 20:3
"AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THINE HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIGHT. AND THESE WORDS, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY, SHALL BE IN THINE HEART." -- DEU 6:5-6
Put God first. Love Him above all others and things. Jesus summed it up with these words:
"AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH: THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT." -- MARK 12:30
Let us read what love does to fear and unbelief.
"WHOSOEVER SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD, GOD DWELLETH IN HIM, AND HE IN GOD. AND WE HAVE KNOWN AND BELIEVED THE LOVE THAT GOD HATH TO US. GOD IS LOVE; AND HE THAT DWELLETH IN LOVE DWELLETH IN GOD, AND GOD IN HIM. HEREIN IS OUR LOVE MADE PERFECT, THAT WE MAY HAVE BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT: BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE." -- 1 JOHN 4:15-18
Can you not see with these words that, as we walk in truth and faith in God's love, unbelief and fear cannot remain?
Why is it then that so many are overcome by fear and doubt? Dear one, the one thing that God cannot do is lie. Therefore, Satan, the old serpent, as he did in the garden, seeks to make God a liar.
"NOW THE SERPENT WAS MORE SUBTLE THAN ANY BEAST OF THE FIELD WHICH THE LORD GOD HAD MADE. AND HE SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YEA, HATH GOD SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF EVERY TREE OF THE GARDEN?
AND THE WOMAN SAID UNTO THE SERPENT, WE MAY EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREES OF THE GARDEN:
BUT OF THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WHICH IS IN THE MIDST OF THE GARDEN, GOD HATH SAID, YE SHALL NOT EAT OF IT, NEITHER SHALL YE TOUCH IT, LEST YE DIE. AND THE SERPENT SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE." -- GEN 3:1-4
God said that you will die. Well, I am telling you that you will NOT surely die. That is not what He MEANT. This is what He REALLY was saying.
Oh, how the devil still uses that method today.
Keep the commandments, God says. Well... He really did not mean that; He knows that you can't do it. Live holy, God says. Nobody can live holy, replies the devil. Go and sin no more, God's word speaks. WE cannot live without sinning, the devil and his crowd comes back again.
Friends, the word of God is true and pure and holy. You have that same divine nature placed in your heart at the new birth and should, by that nature, now live godly and holy.
If you are not living godly and holy, then you need to fall down before the Almighty God and repent and trust Him for faith to believe Him unto salvation.
How does fear and unbelief come in? Why it comes in through disobedience.
Take a look at Adam and Eve. After they disobeyed the word of the Lord, instead of being joyful to have the Lord come and walk, talk, and fellowship with them as He had done every day before, they did not want to see Him come.
Read the account with me and see how their disobedience brought fear and then unbelief.
"AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY: AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN." -- GEN 3:8
They hid themselves! Can you grasp this? From the very presence of God, they hid themselves!
"AND THE LORD GOD CALLED UNTO ADAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE ART THOU?
AND HE SAID, I HEARD THY VOICE IN THE GARDEN, AND I WAS AFRAID, BECAUSE I WAS NAKED; AND I HID MYSELF." -- GEN 3:9-10
Here was the birth of fear. "I was afraid". It was the result of disobedience that came from not believing the very word of God. The day that you eat, you shall surely die.
"AND HE SAID, WHO TOLD THEE THAT THOU WAS NAKED? HAST THOU EATEN OF THE TREE, WHEREOF I COMMANDED THEE THAT THOU SHOULDEST NOT EAT?" -- GEN 3:11
Who have you been listening to? Where did you hear that? I told you what to do. Have you disobeyed My command?
"AND UNTO ADAM HE SAID, BECAUSE THOU HAST HEARKENED UNTO THE VOICE OF THY WIFE, AND HAST EATEN OF THE TREE, OF WHICH I COMMANDED THEE, SAYING, THOU SHALT NOT EAT OF IT: CURSED IS THE GROUND FOR THY SAKE; IN SORROW SHALT THOU EAT OF IT ALL THE DAYS OF THY LIFE." -- GEN 3:17
Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife... Here is also the very basis of why God will not ever trust or give to the woman the right to declare His word. Being the weaker vessel and easy to be deceived, God commands her to be obedient to her husband or a man of God.
"AND THE LORD GOD SAID UNTO THE WOMAN, WHAT IS THIS THAT THOU HAST DONE? AND THE WOMAN SAID, THE SERPENT BEGUILED ME, AND I DID EAT." -- GEN 3:13
"BUT I FEAR, LEST BY ANY MEANS, AS THE SERPENT BEGUILED EVE THROUGH HIS SUBTLETY, SO YOUR MINDS SHOULD BE CORRUPTED FROM THE SIMPLICITY THAT IS IN CHRIST." -- 2 COR 11:3
"LET THE WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE WITH ALL SUBJECTION. BUT I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, BUT TO BE IN SILENCE.FOR ADAM WAS FIRST FORMED, THEN EVE. AND ADAM WAS NOT DECEIVED, BUT THE WOMAN BEING DECEIVED WAS IN THE TRANSGRESSION." -- 1 TIM 2:11-14
And the woman, to this day, still listens to the words of Satan and takes them over the direct word of God. They are truly deceived to think that God will not cause them to surely die if they rebel against His revealed will and word.
"SO HE DROVE OUT THE MAN; AND HE PLACED AT THE EAST OF THE GARDEN OF EDEN CHERUBIMS, AND A FLAMING SWORD WHICH TURNED EVERY WAY, TO KEEP THE WAY OF THE TREE OF LIFE." -- GEN 3:24
When men lose the fear of God, they give over to the fear of Satan and give in to a fear of their wives or, to the woman, power that Satan gave to them over men. It is the power of lust and the flesh that has been used to bring many men of God down (Samson, David, etc.)
When men lose the fear of God, they are then brought to the fear of death and unbelief.
Here is a scriptural description.
"HEREIN IS OUR LOVE MADE PERFECT, THAT WE MAY HAVE BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT: BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE; BUT PERFECT LOVE CASTETH OUT FEAR: BECAUSE FEAR HATH TORMENT. HE THAT FEARETH IS NOT MADE PERFECT IN LOVE." -- 1 JOHN 4:17-18
"HE THAT SAITH, I KNOW HIM, AND KEEPETH NOT HIS COMMANDMENTS, IS A LIAR, AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN HIM.
BUT WHOSO KEEPETH HIS WORD, IN HIM VERILY IS THE LOVE OF GOD PERFECTED: HEREBY KNOW WE THAT WE ARE IN HIM." -- 1 JOHN 2:4-5
Perfect obedience brings perfect love and perfect love will bring perfect faith.
I would urge you not to listen to words that are contrary to the doctrine of Christ. That doctrine is trusting God and showing this by obedience.
"IF YE BE WILLING AND OBEDIENT, YE SHALL EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND:
BUT IF YE REFUSE AND REBEL, YE SHALL BE DEVOURED WITH THE SWORD: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT." -- ISA 1:19-20
I want to close this message with a story from the Bible that has blessed me so many times.
"AND WHEN THE MEN OF THAT PLACE HAD KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, THEY SENT OUT INTO ALL THAT COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT, AND BROUGHT UNTO HIM ALL THAT WERE DISEASED; AND BESOUGHT HIM THAT THEY MIGHT ONLY TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT: AND AS MANY AS TOUCHED WERE MADE PERFECTLY WHOLE." -- MAT 14:35-36
What a saying - "As many as touched were made perfectly whole"!
"AND, BEHOLD, THERE COMETH ONE OF THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE, JAIRUS BY NAME; AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE FELL AT HIS FEET, AND BESOUGHT HIM GREATLY, SAYING, MY LITTLE DAUGHTER LIETH AT THE POINT OF DEATH: I PRAY THEE, COME AND LAY THY HANDS ON HER, THAT SHE MAY BE HEALED; AND SHE SHALL LIVE. AND JESUS WENT WITH HIM; AND MUCH PEOPLE FOLLOWED HIM, AND THRONGED HIM." -- MARK 5:22-24
I want you to keep these words in mind now as I go through this incident with our Lord Jesus.
"AND A CERTAIN WOMAN, WHICH HAD AN ISSUE OF BLOOD TWELVE YEARS, AND HAD SUFFERED MANY THINGS OF MANY PHYSICIANS, AND HAD SPENT ALL THAT SHE HAD, AND WAS NOTHING BETTERED, BUT RATHER GREW WORSE,WHEN SHE HAD HEARD OF JESUS, CAME IN THE PRESS BEHIND, AND TOUCHED HIS GARMENT. FOR SHE SAID, IF I MAY TOUCH BUT HIS CLOTHES, I SHALL BE WHOLE. AND STRAIGHTWAY THE FOUNTAIN OF HER BLOOD WAS DRIED UP; AND SHE FELT IN HER BODY THAT SHE WAS HEALED OF THAT PLAGUE. AND JESUS, IMMEDIATELY KNOWING IN HIMSELF THAT VIRTUE HAD GONE OUT OF HIM, TURNED HIM ABOUT IN THE PRESS, AND SAID, WHO TOUCHED MY CLOTHES? AND HIS DISCIPLES SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SEEST THE MULTITUDE THRONGING THEE, AND SAYEST THOU, WHO TOUCHED ME? AND HE LOOKED ROUND ABOUT TO SEE HER THAT HAD DONE THIS THING. BUT THE WOMAN FEARING AND TREMBLING, KNOWING WHAT WAS DONE IN HER, CAME AND FELL DOWN BEFORE HIM, AND TOLD HIM ALL THE TRUTH. AND HE SAID UNTO HER, DAUGHTER, THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE; GO IN PEACE, AND BE WHOLE OF THY PLAGUE." -- MARK 5:25-34
What a story and glorious miracle! Jesus walking along and here, a desperate woman, suffering in her body, took and chance, or better still, made a choice. What did she have to lose? She had lost ALL already and unless she had a healing, she was going to die. She pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus' clothing. At once she was made whole. What a great act of faith! Jesus knew it immediately and stopped in His steps. Who touched me? The women stepped forward and admitted the fact that she was the one. It just blessed the Lord to see someone with that faith. He told her it was all right, to go and be well.Now this is the point that I want to bring here. As He stopped to heal the woman, we seem to forget the man with a daughter at home dying. Remember how I told you not to forget the beginning of the story? You did, didn't you?
"AND, BEHOLD, THERE COMETH ONE OF THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE, JAIRUS BY NAME; AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE FELL AT HIS FEET, AND BESOUGHT HIM GREATLY, SAYING, MY LITTLE DAUGHTER LIETH AT THE POINT OF DEATH: I PRAY THEE, COME AND LAY THY HANDS ON HER, THAT SHE MAY BE HEALED; AND SHE SHALL LIVE." -- MARK 5:22-23
There it is. The daughter was dying, the man was desperate, and now he has to stand by and watch Jesus stop to heal the woman. He must have been frantic. Please, Lord. Do hurry. My daughter is dying. Come, Jesus, please, he cries.
But Jesus will never pass by faith, so He stops and heals the woman.
"WHILE HE YET SPAKE, THERE CAME FROM THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE'S HOUSE CERTAIN WHICH SAID, THY DAUGHTER IS DEAD: WHY TROUBLEST THOU THE MASTER ANY FURTHER?" -- MARK 5:35
Too late; the daughter is dead. The word is told the father and he breaks under the news. He had healing on the way. He knew that if Jesus would just get there in time, the daughter would live.
Alas, too late! Words of death, then doubt, and now unbelief overcomes him.
Listen to the Lord Jesus in this matter.
"AS SOON AS JESUS HEARD THE WORD THAT WAS SPOKEN, HE SAITH UNTO THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, BE NOT AFRAID, ONLY BELIEVE." -- MARK 5:36
Don't listen to their words, Jesus is telling the man. Those words will bring you fear and doubt. I have spoken and My words are life. Believe them and you shall see the daughter live.
You need to stop listening to those that tell you that God's word is not truth and that you do not need to obey them. That brings fear and unbelief and then you shall die.
Don't listen to those that say you cannot live holy. Holy is your Father and you must be holy to come into His presence.
"I WILL THEREFORE THAT MEN PRAY EVERY WHERE, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING." -- 1 TIM 2:8
"A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS." -- JAMES 1:8
"DRAW NIGH TO GOD, AND HE WILL DRAW NIGH TO YOU. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS; AND PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, YE DOUBLE MINDED." -- JAMES 4:8
"FOR IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US, GOD IS GREATER THAN OUR HEART, AND KNOWETH ALL THINGS.
BELOVED, IF OUR HEART CONDEMN US NOT, THEN HAVE WE CONFIDENCE TOWARD GOD. AND WHATSOEVER WE ASK, WE RECEIVE OF HIM, BECAUSE WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND DO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT." -- 1 JOHN 3:20-22
"BUT WHEN JESUS HEARD IT, HE ANSWERED HIM, SAYING, FEAR NOT: BELIEVE ONLY, AND SHE SHALL BE MADE WHOLE. AND WHEN HE CAME INTO THE HOUSE, HE SUFFERED NO MAN TO GO IN, SAVE PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN, AND THE FATHER AND THE MOTHER OF THE MAIDEN. AND ALL WEPT, AND BEWAILED HER: BUT HE SAID, WEEP NOT; SHE IS NOT DEAD, BUT SLEEPETH. AND THEY LAUGHED HIM TO SCORN, KNOWING THAT SHE WAS DEAD.
AND HE PUT THEM ALL OUT, AND TOOK HER BY THE HAND, AND CALLED, SAYING, MAID, ARISE. AND HER SPIRIT CAME AGAIN, AND SHE AROSE STRAIGHTWAY: AND HE COMMANDED TO GIVE HER MEAT." -- LUKE 8:50-55
Put them out as the Lord did. Reject words that produce unbelief and doubt and bring disobedience.
"AND SAMUEL SAID, HATH THE LORD AS GREAT DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES, AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS." -- 1 SAM 15:22
Maranatha.
Brother Stair