Why? | Lesson 16

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  Rom 1:21-22  

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You will need to sit down for this lesson.  Are you a Christian?  Why do you say you are a Christian?  Have you asked yourself that?  Is it because you grew up talking in those terms? Because you were promised a ticket out of hell? Maybe you were told you'd have a better life, power to make things happen or change in your situation, or maybe simply because you realized that you are nothing and you need a saviour....

It's time to ask yourself these very specific questions.  It matters.  The Lord looks at our heart, he knows our motives, and desires that we make the right choices for the right reasons.

I hesitate to continue on our journey through this Treatise of the Fear of God because we've come to the section in which Bunyan details the "privileges" of those who fear God.

My husband and I have learned an arduous lesson about the "blessings" and "privileges" of the Lord.

Let me explain: (we need clarity -- there is so much garbage out there)

We always want to be doing what the Bible says.  And we wanted to be good little Christians with a happy home, picket fence, and fun times... if there was some extra money to dream and plan for the future..well that was pretty great, too  Was that too much to expect?  After all, "the promises of God are yea and amen."  Those are Bible words.. let's grab hold to that! We can have our cake, and eat it with cherries on top.

We were swept away, like many others, by focusing on the promises found within the Bible and believed the teaching that all these "good" promises were for anyone who had enough faith to believe in them.  The teaching indoctrinates us in the illusive ways of the world -- candy coated in Bible language -- It says that all we had to do was associate ourselves with "good" thoughts from the Bible (aka promises), be "givers" to the local church (sow into good ground), and be generally "good" people.  We would then "access" the blessings of heaven stored up for those who "believe".  All of this seemingly right teaching wrapped up in a pretty name of "faith" with a little bit of Jesus sprinkled on top.  According to SO MANY preacher and teachers, the subtle reason to be a Christian is to get access to better "stuff" -- without works, mind you...'cause that's under the "law" and we are under "grace" (I'll call that the lazy man's walk)

Oh! But they teach integrity, morals, being diligent in your job, and being a "good" spouse and parent.  That must make what they teach right -- or does it?  How is that line of thinking different than the Mormons.  They are nice, hard working, family first - kind of people, they even use the name of Jesus in their conversation and on their places of worship.  Or how is it different from the out-doorsie people who love nature, want to improve the environment, advocate for people groups who have been wronged or are "under-privileged" ? Doesn't the Bible teach to do good, be kind, stand up for those in need, be a good "steward"?

What about those financial - wise teachers like Dave Ramsey and Robert Kiyosaki -- using your "talents" wisely, budget, plan for the future, leave an inheritance and a legacy for your children? Isn't the book of Proverbs full of "wisdom" for sound business practices?

Are the blessings of God found within the written Scriptures available to everyone who believes that they like the promises and would like to have them for their own??  That is what is being taught from every platform across America in particular.

Then to whom do the blessing and privileges of the written word of God belong?
We need to ask the LORD God himself -- in so doing we SEARCH the Scriptures and have ears to hear -- what God hath said.  

DEFINE:

• Consider
• Contemn
• Scorn
• Despise
• Christian
• Redemption
• Disciple
• Follower
• Servant

LOOK UP and Fill in the blanks: (we're looking at pages 40-46 of A Treatise of the Fear of God)

Scripture                          Blessing                  For Whom?

• Psalm 34:9-10
• Psalm 25:12
• Psalm 33:18-19
• Psalm 34:7
• Jeremiah 26:19
• Psalm 85:9
• Psalm 103:17
• Psalm 103:13
• Psalm 145:19
• Psalm 147:11
• Psalm 115:13
• Psalm 128

Let's take a closer look at: Write out the verse and the truth of that verse (what do you see in the verse?)

• Exodus 7:16
• Romans 8:8
• Philippians 4:11-13
• II Corinthians 4:7-18
• Deuteronomy 28:1-14
• Deuteronomy 28:15-58
• Proverbs 10:22
• Revelation 16:15

I ask the question again, according to the Bible, to whom do the privileges of God/the blessings of God belong?  

According to the Bible, what makes a Christian different from all the rest? This is a 2 part answer.  

1. A true Christian believes--  Jesus Redeems us out of sin UNTO the Father by His obedience at the Cross and we then believe in that wonderful work that Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, did and repent of our ways -- he saves us.   Not by works of righteousness that we have done but by his mercy he saves us...(Titus 3:5)

2.  A true Christian Fears God.

But WHO does GOD SAVE??  Who does God deliver?  Those who FEAR HIM!  

How can you be saved by a merciful God whom you do not fear? to whom you refuse to yield?  whom you contemn? 

How can you expect, even demand blessings of God just because you found a promise written down. God is not mocked.  He knows the motivation of our hearts.  You may have good things going on in your life right now -- out of debt, own multiple homes, have a good job, people like you -- what good will that do you when you life is REQUIRED of you?

You can't have Jesus' redemptive salvation without knowing the only true God.  You can't KNOW God if you don't fear him.  Many many want Jesus without God the Father, and still others hold onto God while refusing Jesus.  You cannot have one without the other. (John 1)   If you think you can -- you believe another jesus, a false way...(Galatians 1:6-7)  

Seriously consider WHY you call yourself a Christian. If you want eternal life, if you want to go to heaven ... you better fear God... you better seek HIS FACE .. because according to John 17:3 

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Now go over to Matthew 7:13-29

Why so hard hitting?  Because time is running out!  Time is running out!  Did you hear me?  I implore you by the mercies of God, turn to the LORD -- fear him -- surrender to him. Stop fooling yourself into thinking you are OK.    Are you ready for what is coming? Are you ready to meet your maker?  it's time!

Society has made God, righteousness, salvation, redemption, the Bible all sorts of dull, boring, and muted - messed up vague half-truths.  God is still God and He still set forth His way -- JESUS CHRIST

DIG DEEPER : Read

John 14:6 & 7

I Corinthians 3:4

Luke 12:20
I, II, II John