Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. -I Corinthians 10:12[DOWNLOAD and PRINT lesson - add to your study binder - all lessons are free for distribution]
Back in 1986 there was a song that hit the radio waves with a mighty force. This song was made an instant hit by the movie "Top Gun" and was top on the music charts for weeks and weeks. Almost 30 years later, you can still catch it being played on the radio; and it continues to be used countless times in other media as well -- such as commercials, video games, and more movies.
This very catchy song has some serious lyrics that lure the listener into acceptance of danger as a cool thing, a brave thing, and an outside-the-box-thinker thing.
Check out the lyrics of "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins:
Revvin' up your engine - Listen to her howlin' roar - Metal under tension -Beggin' you to touch and go
Highway to the Danger Zone - Ride into the Danger Zone
Headin' into twilight - Spreadin' out her wings tonight -She got you jumpin' off the deck - And shovin' into overdrive
Highway to the Danger Zone - I'll take you - Right into the Danger Zone
They never say hello to you - Until you get it on the red line overload - You'll never know what you can do - Until you get it up as high as you can go
Out along the edge - Is always where I burn to be - The further on the edge - The hotter the intensity
Highway to the Danger Zone - I'm gonna take you - Right into the Danger Zone - Highway to the Danger Zone - Right into the Danger Zone
Back in the 1970's dare devils were the extreme. These (mostly) men took chances, took their life into their own hands and thumbed their noses at God and told God to watch them "defy death".
Poignantly from the time that "Danger Zone" hit the airwaves, people from all ages and walks of life have dared to venture into that danger zone. If you aren't extreme; you're just not cool. In fact, you're not not even cool -- you are now the outcast.
"No pain; No gain" says the fitness coach.
Society chants:
Be [crazy]. Be [wild]. Live life to the [extreme].
Do things that others can't even think of.
Take the [risk] that you'll f a l l, because...
We only get one chance to live.
Do things that others can't even think of.
Take the [risk] that you'll f a l l, because...
We only get one chance to live.
Live life to the extreme
The more terrifying fact is that this philosophy has made it's way into the church and been welcomed with open arms. Ignoring the unction of the Holy Spirit, pastors, specifically youth pastors have run headlong into the Extreme mentality and take Scriptures out of context to support this "I'll do it my way" lifestyle. Every day, youth programs follow the latest, extreme trends of the world to entice the youth. Nothing is different between church events and summer festivals.
They do talk of Jesus; but this is ANOTHER JESUS. The extreme Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. Remember this? Matthew 11:29 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.
This crazy, radical, and extreme behavior is not limited to the youth. It still astounds me how many "older", "mature" people live this way.
We need to be aware of the wiles of the devil. We are constantly being pulled in the direction that says 'you don't have to fear God'.
I've heard so many times .. from so-called Christians say, "I've read the end of the book; and we win." They have the idea and lifestyle that they can keep living just like the world, post some nicey-nicey on social media, belong to some sort of churchy organization, and because of their own gumption, stubbornness and determination, they will win.
But I will call into question their rationale. Who really wins in the end? Is it really the person who lives on the edge, defies death, and calls it courageous?
Bunyan warns "Take heed of deferring to fear the Lord. Some men, when they have had conviction upon their heart that the fear of God is not in them, have through the overpowering of their corruptions yet deferred and put off the fear of God from them."
Let's stop here and look up some words ...
DEFINE:
- Defer
- Stubborn
- Extreme
- Philosophy
- Dread
- Eschewed
Here are 3 things that should provoke us to fear the LORD:
1. The man that feareth not God, carrieth it worse towards him than the beast, the brute beast, doth carry it towards that man.
The animals fear God. God has made the animals to fear man; yet, man is foolish to think that he doesn't need to fear God. WOW! We are now -- today -- in the time of the end! Because we are seeing in the headlines that the animals are no longer fearing man. Here's a compilation of articles from around the world discussing the strange behavior of animals toward man.
Look up Revelation 6:7-8 _____________________________________________________
2. Consider, he that will not fear God, God will make him fear him whether he will or not.
Look up:
Isaiah 45:18-25
Daniel 4:37
James 4:6
Revelation 14:7
3. He that fears not God now, the Lord shall laugh at his fears then.
Look up: Psalm 37:8-15 ___________________________________________________
Again Bunyan pleads: Sinner! thou thinkest to escape the fear; but what wilt thou do with the pit?
Sinner! what wilt thou do when thou comest into this snare; that is, into the guilt and terror that thy sins will snaffle thee with, when they, like a cord, are fastened about thy soul?
Look up: Proverbs 1:27-28 _________________________________________________
Proverbs 12:1 & 13 _______________________________________________
What is said of Obadiah in I Kings 18 regarding the fear of God? __________________________
What about Job? in Job 1__________________________________________________________
Who feared God in Exodus 1:17 ? ___________________________________________________
What is said of Cornelius in Acts 10? ________________________________________________
From A Treatise of the Fear of God, go to pages 54 - 59 Write the 5 exhortations to fear God that stand out to you:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5
DIG DEEPER:
Find 2 to 3 Scripture references that talk about how people will behave in the last days.
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