Always be ready | Lesson 2

Behold, I come quickly

Revelation 22

Lesson Two:  Always Be Ready

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Let's begin by reading Hebrews 12:28-29
         "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."

Now we pray:  Lord, help me to write this to be understood.  Give us ears to hear what your Holy Spirit is teaching us.  Help me to encourage the reader and keep us in your lovingkindness.  Because of Jesus our Saviour and in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

Ever since Jesus was born a man, crucified, died, buried and rose again and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, Christians have been expecting his return.  Albeit, the past 25 years or so, that expection has grown cold.  

How can that be?  Just as it is written in II Peter 3:3-4  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 

We are living in the days where professing Christians are bored with God.  They don't read the Bible for themselves.  They don't seek his face.  They don't want to wait for his return.   There is no more fear of God.   There is so much noise today to help the lukewarm and backslidden Christian stay apathetic and think it's ok with God.
***Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. I Corinthians 10:12 (we must stay humble) 

     Let's look at two words:

• GRACE:  God's favour, God's ability in us to do his good pleasure
• FAITH:  Obedience to keep God's Word. 

I want to make a quick stop at Ephesians 2:8  

            "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"

With all the 'grace' talk going around from Christiany preachers and in churchy clubs, I wanted to show you how the LORD showed the way through the confusion.  

We are saved by grace  ... God is gracious (Joel 2:13) and longsuffering, not wanting that any should perish but that all would come to repentace. (II Peter 3:9)  WHAT? wait a minute... God wants us to come to repentance? But we've been told it's by grace?

Let me explaine:  "By Grace" is the Father God looking at Jesus (who alone paid the price of redemption) to see who would believe on him -- this is God's mercy and love allowing every person the opportunity to come to him.

"Through Faith" is believing God without relying on our own understanding, and obeying the Father because of Jesus, without us meeting him in the flesh.      --That's us believing the completed work of redemption through Jesus Christ AND THEN us continuing to walk with the Father following Jesus example of obedience. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

 "Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:29

 ... 

Do you see it?  Of course, it's not of ourselves. The LORD God Almighty made the way...JESUS.

But does that mean we keep on living a life unchanged after we've accepted his free gift??  God forbid (here's another compelling study)  What is written in Romans 3:31?  

       "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." 

The current conversation is that the law is works and we are under grace. Why is the churchy teachings always trying to separate God from himself?   Hmmm did they forget to read Romans?

Hold that thought --  and jump right over to Psalm chapter 19:7-14.  What an amazing treasure!  Here we see truth about the Word of God.. all of it.. God's word is:

~The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise th e simple. 

~The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 

~The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. 

~More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 

~Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. 

Why are we talking about this in regard to our study of the fear of God?  As we look at the first few pages of our text, we find that John Bunyan points us straight to God himself.  

We must intentionally grab hold of the truth that GOD Almighty is the ONLY LIVING GOD and Jesus Christ is his ONLY BEGOTTON SON; in whom is the only salvation.  Then we will be able to move forward to fear God and what he says.  

The churchy society is falling fast into a disregard of the fear of God.  The Scriptures tell us this will happen.

I am overwhelmingly reminded to obey the LORD God, to be humble before him, to search him out in the Scriptures, to watch for and be ready for the immenent return of our LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ.  I do because He is God, because he loved me first.

Reading on page 4of the Treatise, By the presence of God, when we have it indeed, even our best things, our comeliness, our sanctity and reighteousness, all do immediately turn to corruption and polluted rags.

In Jeremiah 5:22 the LORD is asking us something pretty significant..  Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence,

Especially today, we Christians must purpose in our heart to not be conformed to the things of this world.  We must be transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2)  ...

 BUT BEWARE! Dear Reader,

 the Devil goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

There are a LOT of mind games masquerading as Christian beliefs.  Mixing pagan and false religions with the Bible is the endtime preparation for the antichrist.  For example: chanting (quoting over and over) Bible verses to move God to do what you want ..won't renew your mind (word of faith/prosperity teachers).  Only allowing possitive thoughts and not having negative thoughts won't renew your mind (New Age, Buddism, and the like).

Q:  How can we keep our mind right with SO much garbage bombarding us daily??

 A:  Stay upon God by hiding God's word in your heart that you might not sin against him -Psalm 119:11.

The same God who is faithful to forgive a repentive heart, heal a broken heart, and make us his dear children because of Jesus is the same faithful God who executes judgement.  And He is the same God who wrote the ALL the Scriptures for our benefit.   Beware of those who would entice you away from God AND his Word by the tickling of the ears.  Our ears are prone to prefer the comfortable, non confrontational, polite teachings...But what DID GOD SAY?

The very first and oldest lie the devil brings to our attention is ...Did God really say that?  Are you prepared with your answer?  Are you ready, like it says in I Peter 3:15
              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: 

...And fear.. there it is again.  Let me be clear and straightforward:  We are not to fear man.  In Jesus, we are not to fear the devil...but we ARE to fear God.

Matthew 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

Remember that everything written here is for your edification and growth as you walk with the LORD God Almighty.  Don't take my word for it -- YOU search the scriptures.  YOU ask the LORD to open your eyes.  YOU talk to God and give way to the Holy Spirit to talk to you.

Always Be Ready: 

1Peter 3:15 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:

The above verse is a big reason why we are in this study. Are you ready with an answer? Yes! Giving place to the importantance of the fear of God, and humbling myself under the mighty hand of God.

1Peter1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

Digging Deeper:   Look up the following words in the 1828 Noah Webster dictionary (download e-    Sword.net). What did you discover about how these words describe the Word of God?

• statutes 
• judgements 
• law
• commandments
• Testimony
• Fear