Good morning Christian friend. I hope and pray all is well with you. Here is a brief devotional message I would like to share with you from the Old Testament Law given the nation of Israel, for spiritual application for us as New Testament Christians.
If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; (De 28:58 KJB)
Notice the God’s intent for His people for receiving the words of God in written form. So that they might fear His holy and righteous Person. The overall theme for the revelation of God’s words to mankind is so that we might learn who the true God is in both essence and judgement; that our lives might change to conform to His will, His nature, His person for the joy and satisfaction of our soul.
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (De 29:29 KJB)
Whatever God did not reveal in His Holy Bible is should be of no concern for us, since in His infinite wisdom He decided what was sufficient for us to obtain to learn about Him perfectly. We would do well to simply trust and believe in what we have available in our hands, versus seeking to entertain what we do not have because of itching ears, itching hearts of vain imaginations with supposed extra dreams/visions/ revelations people claim to receive outside of what’s been given and revealed in the Holy Bible. What God has written and preserved is enough for you to and I to know.
For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. (De 30:11-14 KJB)
We do not have any excuse as to where we could try and find out ‘truth’ or the ‘will of God’ for our lives. We do not have to google search it; we do not have to spend vain hours on YouTube or social media to attempt to discover it; we do not even have to learn the tongues of old that we might discover what ‘it really means’. We have it right here available for us. Our problem is our heart. As soon as we are exposed, corrected, reproved, or admonished from its revelation, we seek to turn aside to an alternative source of spiritual revelation to nullify the true revelation as found in the Holy Bible. We do not have to travel thousands of miles to learn at the feet of some great teacher; we need simply to bow our knees wheresoever we live and search Him whole-heartedly at the altar of your heart to learn from Him His will for our lives. The word of God has been revealed, and is available to be accessed from your heart, if you so choose to.
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; (De 11:16 KJB)
Notice this oft repeated warning that God warned Israel and the New Testament church, is the warning to take heed. Ironically, much of the time the warning to take heed of ourselves is directed at us, the individual, from our hearts turning away from His commands. Of course, our outside influences will play a role or part in the process of our decision making; but the choice is ours concerning our individual will power to control our own hearts, to keep ourselves in the love of God, by keeping ourselves in love with His word. We cannot blame our spouses, our children, our family members, satan, devils, governments of this world, culture etc. We can only blame ourselves for not taking heed to His word personally. I find that when I choose to rebel against His word privately, it is usually because in the moments I hate God. You say whoa brother Carlos what do you mean? Well remember what Jesus taught us in the gospel records about love and hate, concerning Himself as the priority of others.
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Lu 14:26 KJB)
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Mt 10:37 KJB);
It’s because in those moments, I chose to love self, others, things more than Jesus. O how we must guard ourselves from the deception of self-love, and increase in the pursuit of denial of self, to die daily.
That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. (De 17:20 KJB)
Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood; (De 29:18 KJB)
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; (De 30:17 KJB).
Hmm. Where do these words ring true from the old testament and the new, concerning our hearts turning away when they’re drawn for something, someone else?
Our hearts turn from Him when we choose to doubt Him; when we choose to rebel against His counsel, when we choose not to trust in Him with our whole heart.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Pr 3:5-6 KJB)
O how we are drawn away from Him! We are drawn when sin goes uncontrolled in our thoughts, desires, and lusts of the flesh and of the mind. When we fail to do apply this verse in the action below.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2Co 10:5 KJB); failure to bring those thoughts, lusts and desires under control to the obedience the Lord Christ, will result in being drawn away from Him.
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. (Jas 1:13-16 KJB)
The Holy Ghost commanded Christians, ‘Don’t you blame no on but yourself’, when we choose rebellion against trust in the words of God; Do not err brother or sister. We cannot blame Lucifer, our pastors, our teachers or deacons, our church members, our families, the world; for self-enticements of the flesh when we are drawn by them, rather than being drawn to Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. (De 31:12-13 KJB).
What is the key? What is the answer to our problems? What is the prescription Dr. Jesus would prescribe us to combat the spiritual infirmities that plague us from within?
Hear, learn, fear. Let Dr. Jesus teach us for a moment before we close this devotional.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Mt 11:15 KJB)
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Mt 13:15 KJB).
Brother and sister, how’s your hearing today? How’s your eyesight spiritually speaking? Are you keeping them open or are you closing them against the words of God. When you and I choose to close our hears, close our eyes, our hearts will grow in carnal fatness from receiving through those members into the inner man.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mr 4:20 KJB)
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, (Lu 6:27 KJB)
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. (Lu 8:15 KJB).
Dr.Jesus said that our hearts condition will determine how we respond to God’s word. If we have an honest and good heart, we will desire to keep hearing, that we might do them. What is the inverse truth? When our hearts are evil, and not honest, we will not want to hear, but rebel and therefore not keep His words.
Notice the warning from Dr. Jesus.
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Lu 8:18 KJB)
Want to be blessed of God today?
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it. (Lu 11:28 KJB)
It is not enough to simply hear, but to respond to what we hear and learn with a good and honest heart in obedience. Do you hear God’s words?
He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. (Joh 8:47 KJB)
Christ’s sheep will hear His voice and FOLLOW HIM.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (Joh 10:27 KJB)
His diagnosis is almost done, I hope you are you still reading with me? Is your still honest and good to keep hearing from Him?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (Joh 14:23-24 KJB).
There it is. Summed up perfectly by our Lord and Saviour. Do we love Him, or do we hate Him? Our love for Him will result in our obedience to His words. Our hatred towards Him will result in our disobedience to His words.
Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, (Heb 3:7 KJB)
While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Heb 3:15 KJB)
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. (Re 1:3 KJB).
In the book of Revelation, God stated this multiple times in Revelation;
‘He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches’; Re 2:7; Re 2:7; Re 2:17; Re 2:29; Re 3:6; Re 3:13; Re 3:20; Re 3:22; If any man have an ear, let him hear. (Re 13:9 KJB).
Speaking of learning His words, let Dr. Jesus to continue to help us learn.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Mt 11:29 KJB)
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (Joh 6:45 KJB)
But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: (Eph 4:20-21 KJB)
Jesus wants to teach you personally today, daily, His will for your life from the words found in the Holy Bible. Jesus will never teach you anything contrary to what He’s revealed and recorded in the Holy Bible as preserved before us. Jesus Christ is the teacher, and the counsellor (For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6 KJB). Are you coming to Him to let Him teach you? Are you seeking Him to let Him teach you? Are you desiring for Him to teach you today? He wants you to learn of Him, from Him, to protect your heart and mind from all the evil Lucifer the false teacher seeks to offer you through temptation. It is safe to say that there are two teachers that desire for us to come unto to learn from either of them. Jesus Christ the Son of God, and Lucifer the evil fallen cherubim. One died for your sins, the other did not. One loved you before your birth, the other hated you before your birth. One’s nature is filled will all goodness and truth, the other’s nature is filled with evil and lies. One will convict you of your evil and sins, the other will not, but tempt you to allure to walk and enjoy those sins. I suppose the last reason is why so many of us seek the old teacher at times, because there is no conviction in His classroom, as there is in Christ’s classroom. I do not know about you friend, but I am tired of the shame my sins bring upon my conscience. I am glad to come to Jesus today, to learn of Him. But I can only obtain that information when I read the Holy Bible. And here is what I read.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb 4:15-16 KJB).
He invites me daily, to approach His heavenly throne room of grace, to find help in times of need. Dear Christian, there is no more fear in this relationship we have with God the Father through His Son Jesus. There’s absolute grace, love, joy, and peace. Whatever you are struggling with today, whether desires in the heart, mind, spirit etc.; Your Saviour commands you and I to come unto to Him to learn from Him how to receive forgiveness from them, and power over them, so we do not continue in those things anymore.
Lastly, fear.
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. (Lu 5:10 KJB)
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. (Ac 27:23-24 KJB)
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Ro 8:15 KJB).
After trusting in the gospel of Jesus Christ, the result of our faith removes us from the condemnation of God to the reconciliation with God, therefore there is no reason to fear in that sense.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2Co 7:1 KJB)
Living practically in the fear of God is what helps us perfect holiness in our walks before Him. Consider this a healthy spiritual vitamin for our daily intake by which we are to abide by and in. Living in the fear of God before the living God will help maintain our obedience to His words; because fear of disappointing God, fear of hurting God’s heart; fear of shaming Him, will aide us maintain those good works.
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. (Eph 5:21 KJB)
Submission starts with fear, and love maintains it.
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Php 2:12 KJB)
It is the fear of God that is the fuel to our spiritual engine that keeps us going, travelling, providing the energy to our vessel to obey the commands of God in maintaining good works etc.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2Ti 1:7 KJB); positionally we have not received the spirit of fear; but in our conduct of practicing our faith. He wants us to walk before Him the fear of the Lord which is reverence to His holy power and nature as accountability and motivation to help maintain our good works before Him.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Heb 11:7 KJB)
Noah started with faith first in His God, and then was moved with fear to obey His God. This is what I was referring to earlier. Faith, coupled with fear; to maintain good works or to accomplish the things which our God has commanded us to do etc.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Heb 12:28 KJB)
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. (1Pe 2:17 KJB)
While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. (1Pe 3:2 KJB)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1Pe 3:15 KJB)
Do you know what influence people lack that inspires their disobedience to the commands of the living God? It is living without the fear of God!
These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (Jude 12 KJB). Be careful when associating yourself with people who lack the fear of God etc.
So, in conclusion, I hope this devotion provided you enough reason for the necessity of reading the bible daily in order to learn more about Him, learn from Him; to keep your heart in love with Him and maintain your fellowship with Him while you are still on this earth. I hope I was a help for you to better understand why we need to walk before our God in the fear of God as an internal spiritual mechanism that reminds us of how/what God thinks about the choice ponder before us. In love- Brother Carlos
