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.
-II Peter 3:3-4
[PDF available here for your study binder]
With each passing day, I find this Scripture coming to a very visual reality. More evil, at every turn, that has become an 'in-your-face' problem.
The devil goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. WOW how true! Roaring! With evil eyes, looking in the face of Christians, mocking, scoffing, saying 'HA! whatcha gonnna do 'bout that!?'
Jesus told us these days would come. Yet so many don't realize the affects on Christians. Jesus also told us that it will be so evil, so blatant, so deceptive that unless God the Father intervenes, even the elect could be deceived. (Mark 13:20)
So what do WE DO?? It is absolutely amazing how the LORD is leading us through this study of the Fear of God in his perfect timing! That is how God works, you know...HIS timing. When we seek him first, when we are humble and give him place in our life, he shows HIS path to life. With that, we find the answer in this week's lesson: Set a Guard. Beginning on page 63 of Bunyan's 'A Treatise of the Fear of God', we find urgent instruction to take heed not to hinder the growth of the fear of God.
We'll look at the first : TAKE HEED OF A HARD HEART
There are three things that progress the hardness of the heart. First, we must take heed to the beginnings of sin. We talked about that in lesson 25 Backdoor Christians. If we don't or won't heed the warnings of the Holy Spirit in God's word, we will be deceived. If we don't resist the devil, he won't leave. If you trust in yourself, you will die.
The beginnings of sin are a trap, a snare, enticing the eyes, good to the taste, and pleasant for a season. Mice love peanut butter so much, they don't consider the cost when they approach the trap. People love the taste bitterness, of hurt, of emotions, that they won't consider the cost.
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
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.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. -Proverbs 3:1-7
The trap is even more enticing when we forget the law of God, when we lean on our own understanding.
How do we avoid the enticing trap of sin? We fear God! and by fearing God, we read about HIS WAY of living in HIS written word: the Holy Scriptures and then obey God. If we won't read it, we cannot know what HIS WAY is.
Next, if we have given way to the enticement and fallen into sin, we repent! God, in his great mercy has provided a way of escape, a way to keep from being entangled by the sin. This is called REPENTANCE. And Bunyan exhorts us: DON'T go to bed without repentance!
Remember Jesus' words about 'beware of the leaven of the Pharasees'? It only takes one look, a crack in your armour, for the devil to come in to ruin your marriage, your family, your life. Let's look at what happened when King David just had a 'little look' at Bathsheba.
READ II Samuel 11
Please don't raise up an arrogant head and say that you aren't into adultery, and therefore, you don't have to pay attention. All sin begins with 'the look', the mind and eyes considering the doing of the something against God. Because all sin is against God.
Whenever there is an attitude of 'this doesn't apply to me' we have just begun the hardness of heart process. Scripture is full of TAKE HEED, BEWARE: therefore, we better PAY ATTENTION!
There is more in a little sin to harden (the heart) than in a great deal of grace to soften.
When we let our guard down, the devil walks right in. With our guard up, the devil still sends his fiery darts, but! they are quenched. Guard down = hardness of heart developing Guard up = sin averted. (Ephesians 6)
A soft, tender, and broken heart, is a fit place for the grace of fear.
Let's look at some Scriptures:
- Deuteronomy 4:9
- Proverbs 4:23
- Galatians 5:9
- Matthew 16:1-17
- Acts 28:27
- Jeremiah 17:9
- Hebrews 4:12
- I Peter 3:1-2
DEFINE:
- Leaven
- Devote
- Balance
- Priority
- Conversation
- Chaste
- Heed
WRITE: 4 synonyms and 4 antonyms of HARD in reference to the heart
If thou would be rid of a hard heart, that great enemy to the growth of the grace of fear, be much with Christ upon the cross in thy meditations; for that is an excellent remedy against hardness of heart; a right sight of him, as he hanged there for thy sins, will dissolve thy heart into tears and make it soft and tender.
An extra question: Explain the difference between balance and priority.
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