Podcasts about Fear God

Gerald E. Weston | Recorded November 22, 2025

Gerald E. Weston | Recorded November 22, 2025

The Age old Question:  What is the Meaning or Purpose of Life?  So many have contemplated this, and have also attempted to answer.  For Me?  All truth comes from the scriptures of the Bible, and funny enough, it actually tells us very Directly in Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Biblical Truths:  No one is an accident. Not a single person is created without purpose. No matter what you may think, your life has valuable meaning; in fact, every decision we make has eternal consequences. So, In Christ, purpose is not a mystery — it is a promise. Hope is not fragile — it is anchored in resurrection. Victory is not uncertain — In Christ, God always ensures it. We are called with a high calling, secure in an eternal purpose, and destined to share in His glory — especially the day when the dead in Christ shall rise first. We Uncover our God-given purpose, Renew our unshakeable hope, and Celebrate our promised future for every believer who is …in Christ. Email Us: info@heartofworshipchurch.com Visit Our Website: www.heartofworshipchurch.com For Prayer Requests: pray@heartofworshipcurch.com

1Remember also your Creator inthe days of your youth, beforethe evil days come and the years draw near of whichyou will say, I have no pleasure in them;2beforethe sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain,3in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, andthose who look through the windows are dimmed,4andthe doors on the street are shutwhenthe sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the sound of a bird, and allthe daughters of song are brought low5they are afraid also of what is high, andterrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along,and desire fails, because man is going to hiseternalhome, and themourners go about the streets6before the silver cord is snapped, orthe golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher isshattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern,7andthe dust returns to the earth as it was, andthe spirit returns to Godwho gave it.8Vanityof vanities, saysthe Preacher; all is vanity. 9Besides being wise,the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arrangingmany proverbs with great care.10The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11The words of the wise are like goads, and likenails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they aregiven byone Shepherd.12My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of makingmany books there is no end, andmuch study is a weariness of the flesh. 13The end of the matter; all has been heard.Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.14ForGod will bring every deed into judgment, withevery secret thing, whether good or evil.

We connect Rehoboam's failure and Judah's forced burdens with Jesus' promise of a “light” burden, showing why following him means trading weights, not living weightless. We unpack yokes, crosses, rejection, and allegiance as practical, hopeful paths of discipleship.• Rehoboam's arrogance contrasted with God's lighter rule• What Jesus means by an easy yoke and light burden• Yoke as surrender of direction and pace• Burden as carrying good for others• Love your enemies through dignified nonretaliation• Take up your cross as daily self-denial• Expect and endure the burden of rejection• Fear God over human power• Confess Christ as an act of allegiance• Gratitude and resilience when discipleship feels heavyLet us know what you find in your own study!Send Mike a quick message! (If you seek a reply, instead please contact through Outloudbible.com) Support the showCheck out outloudbible.com for helpful study resources, and to discover how to bring the public reading of God's word to your church, conference, retreat, or other event.

In 3 instances Angels visited people outlining God's plan for the birth of Christ. Today, Tom Pounder shares from Luke 1 and 2. While God's plan may sound scary, we do not need to fear. We can trust Him knowing that He will walk beside us throughout. 00:00 - Introduction01:53 - Luke 1 v11-1303:20 - Luke 1 v26-3004:40 - Luke 206:32 - Isaiah 4107:41 - ConclusionShare your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

In 3 instances Angels visited people outlining God's plan for the birth of Christ. Today, Tom Pounder shares from Luke 1 and 2. While God's plan may sound scary, we do not need to fear. We can trust Him knowing that He will walk beside us throughout. 00:00 - Introduction01:53 - Luke 1 v11-1303:20 - Luke 1 v26-3004:40 - Luke 206:32 - Isaiah 4107:41 - ConclusionShare your stories, prayer requests, or your response to this devotional in the comments below.If you would like to know more about New Life, who we are, what we believe, or when we meet, visit http://newlife.church. Or you can fill out a digital connection card at http://newlife.church/connect - we would love to get to know you better!

Ecclesiastes is written by a “Preacher.” This Hebrew word, Qoheleth, pictures a speaker standing before an assembly to deliver an important message. The Qoheleth, King Solomon, was no ordinary preacher. He was the wisest man on earth. “And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. For he was wiser than all other men.” After a life of successes and failures, Solomon leaves us the words he most wants us to remember: “The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.”Take-Home Message: Obedience to God is everyone's entire duty.The Preacher's Process (9-10)The Preacher's Source (11)The Preacher's Warning (12)The Preacher's Conclusion (13-14)After all has been heard, the entire duty of mankind is to obey God, because God will bring all deeds into judgment, including everything hidden, whether good or evil.

What do we give the King of Kings?  What could we possibly give to the One who owns everything?  He created all things, and all things are under His feet.  Join Kim in this podcast of Woman of the Well Ministries as she takes us on a journey through the Scriptures revealing what God wants from all mankind.  Come with us as we explore the gifts we may choose to give to Jesus.   Scriptures Mentioned in this Episode 1 Peter 1:3–4 – A living hope and incorruptible inheritance. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Peter+1%3A3-4&version=KJV Matthew 2:1–11 – The visit of the wise men and their gifts to Jesus. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+2%3A1-11&version=KJV Micah 6:8 – What does the Lord require of you? www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6%3A8&version=KJV Ephesians 5:15–16 – Walk circumspectly and redeem the time. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+5%3A15-16&version=KJV Matthew 6:33 – Seek first the kingdom of God. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A33&version=KJV 2 Timothy 2:15 – Study to show yourself approved. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+2%3A15&version=KJV John 1:14 – The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A14&version=KJV James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+1%3A17&version=KJV 1 Corinthians 6:20 – Glorify God in your body and spirit. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+6%3A20&version=KJV Luke 12:32–34 – Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12%3A32-34&version=KJV Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Fear God and keep His commandments. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ecclesiastes+12%3A13&version=KJV Romans 12:1–2 – Present your bodies a living sacrifice. www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A1-2&version=KJV Did you enjoy this podcast? Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning into this podcast, then do not hesitate to write a review. You can listen to us on all major podcasting platforms like Apple Podcasts,  Spotify,  Google Podcasts,  YouTube, and Podbean. Check out Kim's latest Bible Bit book on Amazon! Do you want to bring Kim Miller to your church, upcoming retreat, or conference? Contact us! This podcast is brought to you by Woman at the Well Ministries and is supported by our faithful listeners. To support this podcast, please visit our support page. 

Fear God! Wait for the Lord.

You Shouldn't Be Concerned About Whether Others Fear God. You just be concerned with whether or not you reverence Him. Learn more on this episode of Fight To Win with Pastor Kurt Owen.Tactical Tip: Many of our videos contain a short section we call Tactical Tips. Most offer ways to improve personal safety and security. The tactical tip on this video starts at 1:12. Pastor Kurt demonstrates how to position your magazine in your magazine carrier for mag changes.Request the Free Offer: https://www.fighttowin.tvLearn More, Register for Events & Donate:https://www.kurtowen.com/***2025 UPDATED TEXT TO GIVE INFORMATION***Text GIVEKOM to 44321Prefer to Watch the Video?https://youtu.be/J0Y0volCg8sBecome a supporter of this podcasthttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fight-to-win-tv-with-kurt-owen--5638799/support.

Luke 2: 8-14 Intro: If fear is not addressed, there are serious consequences. - Pastor Joseph Thomas - Monday, December 15, 2025

Luke 2: 8-14 Intro: If fear is not addressed, there are serious consequences. - Pastor Joseph Thomas - Monday, December 15, 2025

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

Ecc 5:6  Don't let your mouth make you sin. And don't defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.Ecc 5:7  Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead. 

In this episode of Uncommon Sense, I'm discussing my changing views on Israel, Donald Trump, and Candace Owens and why principles grounded in Scripture must always matter more than personalities.I'll discuss how easy it is to get swept up in political figures, influencers, and movements… all while forgetting that God alone is who we should be following. The devil is just like a stalker prowling around, watching, scheming, seeking someone to devour. And in these chaotic times, he's using deception, manipulation, and emotional brainwashing to pull people into confusion and ultimately into Hell.In this episode, we're talking about how the synagogue of Satan is operating openly today, pushing narratives meant to distract and divide. I am urging my listeners to stay anchored in the Word, remain spiritually alert, and refuse to be seduced by personalities, platforms, or “conservative celebrities” who very well may not be aligned with God's truth.Ultimately, we all need to return to the Bible (now more than ever) and to guard our minds and souls as the days grow darker and darker.--https://www.bible.com/

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

Second Sunday of Advent - Theme is PEACE Scripture: Luke 1: 26-38 Intro: If fear is not addressed, there are serious consequences - Pastor Joseph Thomas - Sunday, December 7, 2025

Second Sunday of Advent - Theme is PEACE Scripture: Luke 1: 26-38 Intro: If fear is not addressed, there are serious consequences - Pastor Joseph Thomas - Sunday, December 7, 2025

Matthew 11:1-11

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

Message by Pastor Mat - Dec 4, 2025 Apologetics, Debate, Bible Discussions, Evangelism, and much more Discerning the fruits of the Spirit vs the fruits of self - Mark 7:5-23 "The mystic fruit bowl" - https://youtu.be/kw7QiLQMQ_M?si=356Fx_r9ohUeTLwjThe Deity of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Salvation - https://www.youtube.com/live/gquqBQIL_0U?si=7zmPLi1X0CcW-v7f(Discussing discipleship) Bible study on Luke 9:60-62 "Let the dead bury the dead" - https://www.youtube.com/live/BkWtkOrEs-Q?si=y-zyqNGfWi3kzVu2To know more on how to be saved, what are the requirements and such, please see our playlist on the Gospel and Eternal Security (assurance of salvation) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3pJdCnnwrEeCQOCTTmDW1GjUYxpd44DG&si=_rT-lThl0klHt5Cd Our Ministries Website - https://christiancoffeetime.ca/ 1John 5:20) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." - Intro Music: A Flourish by Niya is licensed under a Creative Commons License.https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...Support by RFM - NCM: https://bit.ly/2xGHypM -

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

Does having the fear of God mean being scared of God? Should I be terrified of God? What is the biblical understanding of the fear of the Lord?

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

Series Title: “Live Like You're Dying- A Study Thru Ecclesiastes” Sermon Title: “Don't Waste Your Life” Text: Eccl. 12:9-14 “Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. The Conclusion of the whole matter: Live by the word of God. v. 9-12 The Necessity of the Minister of God's word. V. 9 “Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. I Tim. 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. 2 Tim. 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Tim. 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. Rom. 10:14 And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” The Necessity of the Ministry of God's word. God's word brings pleasure. V. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. Ps. 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. God's word brings pain. V. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. The Necessity of the Mainstay of God's word. V. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Live in the fear of God. What does it mean to Fear God? v. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Prov. 9:10 “The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” How do we know if we fear God? v. 13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. Prov. 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Why do we live in the fear of God? v. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. I Cor. 4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.

November 30, 2025Pastor Curt WhiteSupport the show

Ecc 5:6  Don't let your mouth make you sin. And don't defend yourself by telling the Temple messenger that the promise you made was a mistake. That would make God angry, and he might wipe out everything you have achieved.Ecc 5:7  Talk is cheap, like daydreams and other useless activities. Fear God instead.

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

“Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2 As a philosopher I have loved the great tradition of human wisdom. For many years I drank from the tributaries. Aristotle taught that the good life is something one lives, not something one acquires. Socrates taught that wisdom begins in humility. These insights nourished me long before I realized they were preparing me to recognize the far greater wisdom God has given in Scripture. The Greek thinkers stood downstream from a fountain they dimly sensed but could not reach. The book of Ecclesiastes speaks from that very source. Qoheleth, קהלת, the Assembler, often called the Preacher, gathers what God has revealed about life in this world. He describes the human condition with a single Hebrew word: hevel, breath, vapor. Not meaninglessness, but ungraspability - and paradox. Life slips through the fingers of those who try to seize it, and understanding reaches its limit in paradox. What cannot be possessed must be received. What we cannot control must become ours by gift. And this is why Ecclesiastes so often speaks the language of generosity. Work is a gift. Food and drink are gifts. Joy is gift. Companionship is gift. Time itself is gift. The Preacher calls us to leave behind the restless striving that characterizes life in the tributaries, and to return instead to the fountain where every good and perfect gift flows from the hand of the Giver. He also tells us something our age urgently needs to hear. There is nothing new under the sun. Our modern confidence in our own progress (central to the evolutionary mythos) is little more than hubris. We imagine ourselves advanced beyond our “primitive” forebears, yet our world repeats the same patterns of confusion and pride. Postmodern deconstruction, gender confusion, DEI initiatives, and cultural relativism are not new. They are ancient errors retold in new vocabulary. Ecclesiastes understood the human heart long before our age attempted to deconstruct it. Near the end of the book the imagery sharpens. “The words of the wise are like goads,” given by one Shepherd to guide us back toward the fountain of wisdom. When the risen Jesus confronted Saul and said, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” Paul, deeply trained in Greek language and philosophy, recognized the proverb immediately. The Shepherd's mercy often comes to us as a sharp turn, redirecting us from the dry channels of self-reliance back to the living waters of God Himself. The book ends where all honest searching must end. Fear God. Keep His commandments. Receive His gifts with gratitude. This is the whole duty of man, the culmination not only of the Bible's wisdom literature, but of every sincere philosophical quest. I wandered long among the tributaries, but Scripture led me home to the Fount of every blessing and tuned my heart to sing His grace. Here is a helpful overview of Ecclesiastes. May your listening be as blessed as ours was in the reading. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2w

This man was speaking of OUR guilt, you know? Yes, his and the man who was nailed to the other cross.

Fear God

Imagine having a bank account that deposits 960 dollars every single day, but with one catch: you can't save any of it for tomorrow. Every night, your balance resets to zero. What would you do? You'd spend every dollar wisely, right? Well, we already have this bank—it's called time. Every morning we wake with 960 minutes, and every night they're gone forever. This powerful metaphor opens our exploration of Ecclesiastes 12, where the ancient teacher confronts us with life's most uncomfortable truth: time is the one resource we can never stockpile, slow down, or earn back. The passage urges us with stunning urgency to 'remember your creator in the days of your youth'—not as a religious obligation, but as the central organizing principle of a life worth living. Through vivid imagery of a decaying house representing our aging bodies, the teacher shows us that death itself becomes our greatest instructor, rattling its chains to wake us up to what truly matters now. The scripture reveals that over 90% of believers come to faith before age 30, underscoring that the spiritual path we pave in youth becomes the road we walk in age. We're challenged to stop measuring out our lives with coffee spoons, avoiding the deep questions, and instead to lose our lives in Christ so we can truly find them. The invitation is beautifully simple yet profoundly challenging: fear God, keep His commandments, and discover that what we surrender to Him is always returned as something infinitely better.

A sermon by Joe Byler based on Ecclesiastes 12 preached on November 23rd for the Short North congregation as part of our sermon series called "Fully Alive: Wisdom and the Way of Jesus in Ecclesiastes"

#top .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-b3e211f28c960696011c2a338e6fef49{ padding-bottom:10px; } body .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-b3e211f28c960696011c2a338e6fef49 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{ font-size:25px; } .av-special-heading.av-gs9o3p-b3e211f28c960696011c2a338e6fef49 .av-subheading{ font-size:15px; } Through My Bible Yr 02 – November 21Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:14 LISTEN HERE Through My Bible – November 21 Ecclesiastes 11:9 – 12:14 (EHV) https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/tmb-ehv/02-1121db.mp3 See series: Through My Bible Ecclesiastes 11 Advice to the Young 9 Young man, be happy while you are a child, and let your heart make you glad during the days of your youth. Walk down the roads on which your heart leads you and on the way your eyes see—but know that for all these, God will bring you into judgment. 10 Put frustration out of your mind, and ignore the troubles of your body, because youth and the dawn of life are vapor. [1] Ecclesiastes 12 1 So remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the bad days come and the years arrive when you will say,     “I have no delight in them,” 2 before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars are darkened, before the clouds return after the rain, 3 before the day when the watchmen of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent over, and the women who grind grain cease because they are few, and those watching through the windows can barely see. 4 Then the double doors to the street are shut,     as the grinding of the mill grows quiet. A person wakes up at the sound of a bird, but all the sounds of music are muffled. 5 Then they fear heights and terrors along the road. The almond blossoms become white. The grasshopper drags himself along, and the caperberry has no effect. [2] Why? Because the man is heading to his eternal home. Then the wailing mourners will go around in the street. 6 Remember your Creator     before the silver cord is snapped,     and the golden bowl is broken,     before the jar is shattered by the spring,     and the waterwheel is broken by the well, 7     and the dust goes back into the ground—just as it was before,     and the spirit goes back to God who gave it. 8 “Nothing but vapor,” said Ecclesiastes, the speaker. [3] “It is all vapor.” 9 Besides being wise, Ecclesiastes taught the people knowledge, and he weighed, collected, and arranged many proverbs. 10 Ecclesiastes searched to find just the right words. What was written was honest—they were true words. 11 Sayings of wise men are like cattle prods, and those sayings collected by experts are like firmly fixed nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything in addition to these. There is no end of making many books, and much study wears out the body. 13 This is the conclusion of the matter. Everything has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments. For mankind, this is everything. [4] 14 Yes, God will bring everything that is done into judgment, including everything that is hidden, whether good or evil. Footnotes Ecclesiastes 11:10 Or because both youth and the coming darkness are vapor Ecclesiastes 12:5 Or the caperberry shrivels up. The caperberry was associated with sexual vitality. Ecclesiastes 12:8 Ecclesiastes is not a personal name, but a title for a person who gathers a group of people to speak to them. The Hebrew word qoheleth here has the definite article, showing that it is a title. Ecclesiastes 12:13 Or this applies to everyone #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-aocsdx-89cb4ca21532423cf697fc393b6fcee0{ height:10px; } The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. #top .hr.hr-invisible.av-4vzadh-3f04b370105df1fd314a2a9d83e55b26{ height:50px; } Share this entryShare on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare by MailLink to FlickrLink to InstagramLink to Vimeo

Ever find it a struggle to obey God's Word, and actually enjoy it? Listen in on this week's episode of Thinking With Your Bible as Scott and Chris discuss how a healthy fear of the Lord leads to a willing obedience to His Word.Key Points:The believer's fear of the Lord is no longer slavish, but filial. The OT links the fear of the Lord to keeping His commandments. Jesus's teaching in the NT confirms the OT connection between fearing God and obeying Him.Loving God is obeying him – you will not truly love God if you aren't obeying Him.Love for, fear of, and obedience to God are inseparably connected.Our delight in obeying the Lord is made possible only through taking on Jesus who perfectly loved, feared, and obeyed His Father.“Obedience is the fruit of the tree of which the fear of God is the root.  We cannot rightly obey God if we do not fear Him -- if we do not honor, reverence, and love Him.” – Jerry Bridges, The Joy of Fearing GodFollow Us on InstagramVisit Our Website

Today Dr. Mays talks about the importance of “Fearing” God. Foundation Scripture: Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14How can Agape Leaders serve you?   Please find us at:         Website:  http://www.agapeleaders.org/    LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregg-mays/      Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/agapeleaders.org      Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/agapeleaders10/ Bible Break With Agape Leaders: http://www.agapeleaders.org/daily-devotionTik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@greggmays            YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCmM7ETR652mLtDSKSjda-pwGet Your Copy of the A Word Wednesday Devotion: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=A+Word+Wednesday+Devotion&ref=nav_bb_sbRead Dr. Mays' book Practical Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=practical+leadership+lessons+from+an+average+leader&crid=259U5RNS5J5W5&sprefix=Practical+Leadership%2Caps%2C102&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_4_20 

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-2821 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Philippians 1:21-249 Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. 12 My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.Ecclesiastes 12:9-14After writing much of the Book of Ecclesiastes from a common but false premise, one that excluded eternal accountability and the God of eternity, now the Preacher concludes, having led us to the conclusion of the whole matter. This is why it is so important to remember your Creator in this life; because when this life is over, one will answer to the eternal God and to eternity.David GuzikJUDGEMENT14 And it shall be said,“Build up, build up, prepare the way,    remove every obstruction from my people's way.”15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:“I dwell in the high and holy place,    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,to revive the spirit of the lowly,    and to revive the heart of the contrite.Isaiah 57:14-15Eternity, Eternity! I wish that I could sound or shout that word to everyone in the streets of Sydney. You've got to meet it, where will you spend Eternity?Reverend John Ridley14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.Ecclesiastes 12:9-14There is, and will be, an eternal accounting for everything we do. This is the complete opposite of believing that all is vanity or meaningless; it means that everything has meaning and importance, both for the present and for eternity. “If God cares as much as this, nothing can be pointless.”Kidner“The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly narcotic for the consciences of millions.”A.W. Tozer“We ask for a world of softness and mercy, but what we really demand is a world in which God has removed the consequences of human sin — a world that would make virtue meaningless and love impossible.”C.S. LewisWhat's At Stake?And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.Matthew 10:2825 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.Matthew 16:25“Die before you die. There is no chance after.”C.S. LewisWhat's The Standard?For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.1 Corinthians 3:11-15How To Prepare?Live by FaithLive with UrgencyLive HolyI tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,Matthew 12:3619 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.Matthew 6:19-21Live Close24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.'Matthew 25:24-25Live Looking17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 2 Corinthians 4:17-5:2

One of the marks of our age is a rejection of authority.This rejection has led to a lack of respect for God and the government he appoints. Obedience to God and government, in that order, leads to great blessing. If we are to respect the authorities God places in our lives, we must start with a healthy respect for God Himself.To fear the Lord does not mean that a Christian lives in constant fear of punishment. Instead, it means to live with reverence, awe and respect for God. This leads to humility, obedience, confidence, trust, and security. Fear God, and you will have nothing else to fear.Unless the governments commands force us to disobey Gods commands, we should obey the government that God has appointed. This respect for government reflects our reverence for God Himself.“Be subject for the Lords sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover up for evil, but living as servants of God. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” (1 Peter 2:13-17)Take Home Message: Obedience to authority leads to blessing and life.Obey Government (1-9) • God and Government • God Appoints Government Authorities • Don't Stand for an Evil Cause • Obey God Before Government • When should we disobey government? When the governments commands force us to disobey Gods commands.Fear God (10-13) • What fearing God does not mean: To be a Christian that lives in constant fear of punishment. • A biblical definition of the fear of the Lord: A reverence, awe and respect for God that leads to humility, obedience, confidence, trust, and security.Enjoy Life (14-17)

Every November, I sit down with Emilio Lartigue. He has served in ministry beside me for many years. He has a platform that he teaches theology and contemplates the philosophical side of the gospel. It's called Truth Matters and is a compliment to TruthCurrents. So, for the next several weeks we are going to talk about some critically important theological issues. So, join us.

What does it mean to fear God? And why is it essential for gaining biblical wisdom? In this episode, we dive deep into Proverbs 8 and explore the foundational principle that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.In this video, we discuss:✓ What biblical wisdom really means (it's more than just knowledge)✓ The true definition of fearing God and why it matters✓ How the fear of the Lord transforms your daily life✓ Practical steps to grow in godly wisdom✓ Why wisdom is more valuable than wealth✓ The difference between being afraid of God vs. fearing God✓ How God's forgiveness leads to greater awe and reverenceKey Scripture References:Proverbs 8:1-11 - Wisdom calls out to youProverbs 1:7 - The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledgeProverbs 9:10 - Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdomPsalm 86:11 - Prayer for an undivided heart2 Corinthians 7:1 - Perfecting holiness in the fear of the LordWhether you're facing difficult decisions, seeking direction, or wanting to live more faithfully, this conversation will help you understand why fearing God is the foundation for everything else in the Christian life.

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:   ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate. To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus (NOT a Morning Mindset resource) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 2:16–17 - Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. [17] Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Support a daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/ ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.