Lesson 17 | Boot Camp
(this lesson PDF copy ready here | Treatise of the Fear of God PDF here)
Are you interested in the future? How about prophesy? There is quite a stir in the air right now and it's not just prophesy teachers talking. News sites, both main stream and alternative, are a buzz with all the WEIRD things going on around the world on a daily basis. Do the events and happenings around have any bearing on our own little life?
Last lesson, I asked you "Why do you call yourself a Christian?". The point of the lesson was to get you to dig deep in your heart to find the answer. Do you want a better life here and now? Do you want power to get what you want? Are you a Christian to have a type of guilt-free selfishness?
OR do you want to know the God of all creation? Do you realize that you are wicked, selfish and need a saviour to get you out of the muck that looks like you are stuck in with no hope of escape? Sometimes I think we need to ponder these questions even in our 'mature' Christian life. It keeps us in humility of mind...not thinking more of ourselves than we ought.
This lesson is titled: END TIMES BOOT CAMP | watching, praying, and ready because we're here -- at the end -- and as one ministry puts it : Now The End Begins. It is imperative that we heed Jesus admonition of Luke 21 -- when you see these things come to pass LOOK UP your redemption draweth nigh! Can I get a Hallelujah!
Which brings us to page 47 and 48 of our text (did you download your free copy of A Treatise of the Fear of God?) Here Bunyan answers the question about I John 4:18 -- perfect love casteth out fear. If you've been following with us, you know that the fear that is cast out is:
- fear of devils
- fear of men
- fear of bondage
Now the fear that perfect love casts out cannot be that son-like, gracious fear of God; because that fear that love casts out has torment.
Let's pause here and write some things down..
Let's read more specifically on page 47 - second column and then look up the following Scriptures:
- Proverbs 28:14
- Ecclesiastes 8:12
- Ecclesiastes 12:13
- I Peter 2:17
- Revelation 14:7
Because of sin that entered into the world at the beginning, all those born after Adam and Eve were born into sin. We are not naturally born with the fear of God. There is no fear of God, none of this grace of fear before us, we don't know what it is. The fear of God flows from a new heart, faith and repentance: salvation by Jesus Christ. We must have a mighty change of heart and life, or else we are strangers to this fear of God.
- Psalm 55:19
- Romans 3:18
- Romans 11:20
Here we see that a high mind and the fear of God are set in direct opposition the one to the other. Can a man at the same time be a proud man and fear God too?
What does God say?
- Psalm 138:6
- James 4:6
- I Peter 5:5
- Malachi 4:1
Why End Times Boot Camp? First a little story:
As a youth, I hated PE class. From seventh grade to my senior year, I dreaded that class! I attended a small school and nearly everyone was involved in the sports program..but not me. I couldn't keep up: I was always winded, slow, and discouraged. Because of all that, I came to think that I wasn't athletic. Albeit, I loved walks, riding my bicycle, and riding horses. Then I got married and we began a family. I needed to be able to stay strong to take care of our babies, the house, and my hubby..so I searched for an exercise program that would suit my situation -- mind you, I still thought I was not athletic nor sportsy, so it had to be easy for me to grasp and accomplish.
In the meantime, I would always take the children for long walks to the park or walk to my parents house...it was about 1-2 miles a couple of times a week. I tried all sorts of fitness videos. Then I discovered T-Tapp. (you'll have to go check it out) This program is awesome! And it is very educational (this really helped me understand how my muscles should work) and met me at my fitness level (couch potato to pro athlete)
That was 10 years ago! Much has happened in these past ten years and I took for granted the strength and agility that helped me get so much done in my very full days as wife and mama of 6 little ones. I've had many talks with the Lord about my muscles, blubber and all. And I kept coming back to it didn't seem worth the effort of devoting time every day to physical exercise. Boy! how wrong I was!!
I started having increased back pain, sluggishness, and lack of strength in general. And I'm not old -- yet :) I looked at my diet -- I pretty much have eaten the same foods and the same amounts all these years. I am not one who thinks that starving oneself is wise. Except for a godly fast, the Bible is full of 'it's good and definitely okay to eat'. So, what gives? Ahh.. lack of exercise.. wow...really, Lord?
As of Tuesday, I have begun my own T-Tapp boot camp to kick this ole flesh into the strength that the LORD requires of me to care for the things of my household. And let me tell you -- it's been hard! I really, REALLY, do not want to do this! As a kick start --one hour a day for the next week! Yikes! I'd rather be doing something else. But, seriously, I'm already more energetic, no back pain, even standing up straighter...And then it hit me...
How many Christians have that same slacker story when it comes to being strong in the LORD and it the power of his might? We are deceived into thinking that there is nothing we must do. (Well, maybe just 'claim' the strength of the LORD) And here is where the fear of God and End Times Boot Camp tie together. We must be diligent, steadfast, and consistent in the ways of the LORD in order to keep watch for the LORD and to keep our heart from falling away.
Pride, O that ugly pride - keeps us thinking that we're okay right where we are. Just like my blubbery self, I was making it okay... I still got my stuff done even if it was slowly, I don't have to sleep on my stomac...I can sit in different chairs...I can make excuses all over the place .. I still was a bit haughty.
With that in mind let's look at I Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
Oh! Thank you LORD! If I can see an immediate change for the better in my physical body -- HOW MUCH MORE the increased strength of the LORD when we are diligent to heed and DO the word of God and to fear God in all that we do everyday.
In Luke 18, Jesus said that men ought always to pray; and in Mark 13 to watch and pray...so join me in our 7 Days End Times BOOT CAMP:
Let's see what the LORD is asking us to do in these last days and we'll take the next few lessons to break it down ..
DAY 1 | End Times BOOT CAMP | watch . pray . ready!
- Commit to spending 1 hour each morning to spend with the LORD -- a morning quiet time -- Read your Bible, pray for others, study the Scriptures
- Start a daily journal - write the Scripture verse that jumped out to you, write down those you are praying for, write praise reports/answer to prayers, (have you written your Psalm of praise? see lesson 15)
- Read Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
- Read Ephesians 6
- Read Psalm 51
DEFINE:
- READY
- SLACKER
- SLOTHFUL
- ATTEND
- EXERCISE
- BOOT CAMP
- DILIGENT
- COMMITMENT
- REDEEM
Please check back tomorrow for DAY 2 | End Times BOOT CAMP | watch . pray . ready!
Praise the LORD! He is merciful, full of compassion, and able to keep that which you have committed to him.
until next time,
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