Podcasts about Fear God

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Series - Select Psalms Text - Psalm 128 - A Psalm of Ascent by Nick Neves, pastor | Lord's Day Afternoon | 8.17.25  

On today's episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, we're taking a hard look at Taylor Swift's new pornographic-themed album cover, The Life of a Showgirl. From the drinking and partying she parades as normal to her descent into porn culture, Swift has become a dangerous influence on young girls—and really, on everyone. We'll also address the cult-like following surrounding her, and why parents have a biblical responsibility to guard their children from this idolatry and from being exposed to Taylor Swift's sinful pornographic example. Darkness must be exposed, and the Word of God gives us the standard by which to measure it. We will also discuss how disgusting it is to excuse sin by simply labeling it “adult entertainment.” Unfriendly reminder: Civilization is currently collapsing. Let's actually do something about it?--https://www.thebrandsunday.com/

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

On this episode of Uncommon Sense with Ginny Robinson, we're addressing the troubling reality of the Epstein list and Donald Trump's failure to bring it to light, holding it up to the standard of biblical justice. God's Word commands that evil be exposed, not hidden in the darkness. I also take time to answer a variety of questions from you, my beloved audience.--https://policecoffee.com/collections/coffee

In Luke 12:1-12, Jesus exhorts his disciples to live with integrity and courage by rightly fearing and trusting the Lord. I. Guard against hypocrisy. A. Avoid the corrupting influence of the Pharisees. (v. 1) B. Everything will be revealed, so live openly. (vv. 2-3) II. Fear God instead of man. A. God's authority is greater than man's. (vv. 4-5) B. God's care comforts his people. (vv. 6-7) III. Confess Christ boldly. A. Speak the truth without shame. (v. 8) B. Our response to Jesus matters eternally. (vv. 9-10) IV. Trust the Spirit's help. A. Jesus's followers will face hostility. (v. 11) B. The Spirit will help the faithful. (v. 12)

A walk through of the book of Psalms - chapter 66:1 -20 Message by Pastor Mat - August 7, 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 -

Sylvester Stallone's been in the ring for a lot of rounds. Even though he, a few years ago, hit the big 6-0 birthday, he was still doing Rocky - Rocky 6. It was called, "Rocky's final round." Sylvester Stallone is one of the millions of Baby Boomers who have hit a challenge for which some have not been prepared - aging. I was intrigued with what Stallone had to say about people he knows. He said, "You see billionaires who have everything, yet inside they're still the same lonely, insecure people." You think you've got it all figured out, but when you turn 60 or, you know, whatever age seems to make you feel like you're getting older, there's this little hole inside you. You realize you're always going to be somewhat half full...or are we. I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Why We Can't Find Peace." I call the cycle so many of us go through in our life journey the "As Soon As" syndrome. I'll be happy, I'll be fulfilled as soon as I graduate, as soon as I get a good job, as soon as I get a better job, as soon as I'm going with someone, as soon as I'm married, as soon as I have kids, as soon as I'm not married, as soon as I can get a home, as soon as I retire; it just never ends. And "as soon as" never comes. It's one disappointing answer after another. Until, like Rocky's creator says, we just give up and accept "this little hole inside" us as being "unfillable." The ancient Jewish king Solomon knew that feeling. He was so wealthy and so powerful he was able to own or experience every "as soon as" that his heart could conceive: every purchase, every woman, every achievement, every pleasure. Here's his conclusion, recorded in his personal diary, the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible. I'm reading from chapter 1, beginning with verse 8, our word for today from the Word of God. He says: "The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing. What has been will be again, and what has been done will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Pretty sad, huh? And pretty much the human experience. But Solomon went on to diagnose why nothing and no one on earth can ever fill the hole in our heart. He said, "God has set eternity in the hearts of men. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth. Fear God and keep His commandments" (Ecclesiastes 3:11; 12:1, 13). What we've been looking for all our life is something that will last forever, because we've got this eternity thing in our heart. The hole in your heart can only be filled by something as big as all eternity. And that means only the God who made you can fill it. Not a religion about God, but God Himself, living in your heart. And that's impossible because of the choice we've made over and over again to do our life our way instead of God's way. God calls it sin and He says that our sins "have separated us" from our God. But He's also acted with unspeakable love to demolish this wall that keeps us from Him. And He says in His own words, "He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10). Translation: I did the sinning; Jesus did the dying. Then three days later, He came back from His grave to prove that He and He alone can give us life that's eternal. For millions, the search for what goes in that hole in our heart has ended at the cross of Jesus Christ. In a transforming moment when you say to Him, "Jesus, the wrong person's been running my life. I resign. I'm holding onto You as my only hope because only You can remove the wall between me and my God. So, Jesus, I'm Yours." If you've never had that liberating, load-lifting, purpose-filling, hole-in-your-heart-filling experience with Jesus, let this be the day. In fact, if you go to our website you can find there a lot of wonderful information to be sure you belong to Him. It's ANewStory.com That hole inside you is so big only God can fill it. And at your invitation, He will - today.

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

"In this sermon, we explore the sobering message of Ecclesiastes 1:1–11, where Solomon proclaims: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” Why does life feel so futile? Why do all things seem to pass without lasting significance? Solomon tells us the reason: death makes all things under the sun meaningless when considered apart from God.We consider:The deep human longing for meaning.The failure of atheism and existentialism to provide that meaning.How the fleeting nature of life and inevitable reality of death prove the vanity of all things “under the sun.”The weariness of life as a result of the fall (Genesis 3) and the curse of death.Why even the pursuit of “newness” or remembrance cannot solve the problem of meaning.Ultimately, Solomon's goal is not despair but direction: to drive us to the only source of true and lasting meaning—God Himself. The book ends not with nihilism, but with a call: “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all.” (Eccl. 12:13)

Join us for today's Our Daily Bread devotional by Tanya Marlow, taken from Leviticus 25:8-17. Today's devotional is read by Peta. Meet the team at odb.org/meet-the-team. God bless you.We hope that you have enjoyed today's reading from Our Daily Bread. You can find more exciting content from Our Daily Bread Ministries by following @ourdailybreadeurope on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. You can even sign up to receive Our Daily Bread Bible reading notes sent straight to your door for free: odb.org/subscribe

Listen to Fr. Abraham's Sunday sermon.www.stsa.church

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Is God still judging the world today? In this episode, Kyle reveals why the cross changed everything about judgment—and why you no longer need to live in fear. Discover the truth behind natural disasters, end-times warnings and what the Bible really says about your future.

Everything Matters Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 | Slim Thompson 1. Let disillusionment do its work. 2. Fear God & Keep his Commandments. 3. Reframe the Ordinary.

Discover how to live free from fear through the powerful message of Nahum! In this inspiring sermon, Pastor Jason explores God's omnipotent, omniscient, and sovereign nature, revealing how His love and justice conquer fear. Learn how the prophet Nahum's message of comfort points to Jesus Christ and offers hope for today's challenges. Perfect for Christians seeking biblical encouragement to overcome anxiety, fear-based parenting, or economic worries. Join us at Alliance Appleton for a transformative message!

In the final message of the Three Kings series, Pastor Torry Sheppard closes with the story of Solomon, the king whose reign began with unmatched wisdom and blessing but ended in compromise and sorrow. The sermon, titled “What You Don't Steward, Sours,” explores the danger of mishandled blessings and the call to use God-given resources, influence, and opportunities for kingdom purposes.When Winning Isn't EnoughPastor Torry begins by naming a universal experience: achieving something you deeply wanted—only to discover it doesn't fulfill you. Whether it's a promotion, a major purchase, or even success itself, many of us know the strange letdown of getting what we wanted and still feeling empty. He illustrates this through golfer Scottie Scheffler's candid admission before the British Open that, despite being the world's number one, golf ultimately doesn't satisfy the deepest parts of his heart.This echoes Solomon's haunting words in Ecclesiastes 2:10–11:“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired… Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done… everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”If Solomon—the wisest, wealthiest king in history—could admit the futility of pleasure and success, we must wrestle with the same question he and Scheffler asked: “What's the point?”Solomon's Splendor: Humble BeginningsTo understand how Solomon ended up disillusioned, Pastor Torry takes us back to where it began—in humility. In 1 Kings 3, newly crowned Solomon travels to Gibeon, the most sacred worship site in Israel, to seek God's help. In a dream, God invites Solomon to ask for anything he wants. Rather than riches or power, Solomon requests wisdom to lead God's people well.This reveals a profound truth: Solomon saw himself as a steward. He recognized that the kingdom wasn't his—it was God's. And because Solomon sought God's kingdom first, God granted him not only wisdom but also wealth, honor, and peace.For a time, Solomon's priorities were clear: everything he built—especially the temple—pointed to the greatness of Yahweh. Under his leadership, Israel flourished, and even the Queen of Sheba was left breathless at the wisdom, wealth, and glory on display.But as Pastor Torry notes, Solomon's story doesn't end at Gibeon. Over time, his focus drifted. His success became self-serving. The humility that brought him to worship slowly gave way to pride.The Blessing Paradox: A Pattern Through ScriptureThis shift reflects what Pastor Torry calls “The Cycle of Blessing.” It begins with humble dependence on God, which leads to divine empowerment, then to great impact, and eventually to tangible blessing—resources, influence, and success. But often, those very blessings become dangerous when they lead to pride, self-reliance, and ultimately, spiritual drift.This isn't unique to Solomon. Pastor Torry points out that this cycle shows up repeatedly throughout Scripture. We see it in King Saul, who began in humility but ended in rebellion. We see it in David, whose heart for God drifted into sin. And we can see it in ourselves if we're not careful.And this is the paradox: blessings are meant to build God's kingdom, but when misused or hoarded, they sour. From this observation, Pastor Torry provides two guiding truths: Kingdom blessings are for kingdom purposes.What we don't steward, sours.”Crossing the Lines: Solomon's Slow FadeSolomon's decline wasn't sudden—it was a slow, subtle fade. Pastor Torry highlights how Solomon violated the very warnings God gave in Deuteronomy 17: kings must not accumulate excessive wealth, multiply wives, or rely on military power for themselves.Yet Solomon did all of these. He built a palace that cost more and took longer than God's temple. He amassed chariots and gold as symbols of power. He married hundreds of foreign wives who drew his heart toward their gods.The man who once wrote, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” now lived as though he were the exception to God's commands. This wasn't ignorance—it was willful misalignment.How to Break the Cycle: Gratitude and SurrenderPastor Torry then shifts to Solomon's closing words in Ecclesiastes 12, where the weary king offers hard-earned wisdom:“Remember your Creator… Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”Two practices emerge:Gratitude – “Remember your Creator.” Gratitude humbles us. It reminds us that everything we have—wealth, influence, opportunity—belongs to God. It anchors us in the Giver rather than the gift.Surrender – “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Worship is more than a song; it's offering back to God what is most precious. Like Abraham in Genesis 22, true worship is openhandedness—a willingness to live generously and obediently with what God entrusts to us.Conclusion: Which Part of the Story Are You Living?Pastor Torry closes with three invitations:To the blessed: If you've been given much, remember your Creator. Use your resources for God's purposes and expand His kingdom.To the striving: If you're chasing “more,” stop. There's no finish line when “more” becomes your purpose. Fulfillment is found in living for something bigger—God's kingdom.To the disappointed: If success has let you down, find hope in surrender. Real purpose begins when you live for the King, not yourself.Wherever we find ourselves, Solomon's hard-won wisdom still rings true: “Remember your Creator. Fear God. Keep His commands.” When we live this way, blessings remain blessings—they don't sour.

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

On today's Quick Start podcast: NEWS: Cosby Show actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner dies in a tragic drowning while on vacation; CBS cancels The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—network says it's financial, but questions remain. FOCUS: In-N-Out owner Lynsi Snyder announces she's leaving California—her faith, family legacy, and Bible verses on the packaging. MAIN THING: Singer Ben Fuller shares how God rescued him from addiction and suicidal despair. LAST THING: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 – “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” SHOW LINKS Faith in Culture: https://cbn.com/news/faith-culture Heaven Meets Earth PODCAST: https://cbn.com/lp/heaven-meets-earth NEWSMAKERS POD: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/newsmakers/id1724061454 Navigating Trump 2.0: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/navigating-trump-2-0/id1691121630

Two Overarching 3 Kings Take-Aways God partners with ordinary people (messy) to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. Ordinary people are capable of mighty acts when we align our mind, heart and hands with God's. Solomon is Different KingPhysicallyBackground SkillsetWisdomThe Hebrew word for wisdom (hokma) means information + insight. The OT concept of wisdom carries a moral, ethical and an applied skill component. The NT word for wisdom (sophia) points to a practical and spiritual understanding of God's will and applying that knowledge to life. “Knowing the greatest goal in any situation and the best way to achieve it.” Pastor John PiperRemarkable Moment. Ordinary Day.1 Kings 3:16-28 (NIV) 16 Now two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. 17 One of them said, “Pardon me, my lord. This woman and I live in the same house, and I had a baby while she was there with me. 18 The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. 19 “During the night this woman's son died because she lay on him. 20 So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. 21 The next morning, I got up to nurse my son—and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasn't the son I had borne.” 22 The other woman said, “No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours.” But the first one insisted, “No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine.” And so they argued before the king. 23 The king said, “This one says, ‘My son is alive and your son is dead,' while that one says, ‘No! Your son is dead and mine is alive.'” 24 Then the king said, “Bring me a sword.” So, they brought a sword for the king. 25 He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” 26 The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” 27 Then the king gave his ruling: “Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.” 28 When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice.1 Kings 4:29 (NIV) “God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore.”Question: What was the genesis of Solomon's wisdom? Answer: Godly advice + a Godly ask.Godly Advice is two-fold. 1 Kings 2:1-4 (NIV) When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.' 1. Be strong, act like a man (NIV)…“show what you are made of” (Message) David is challenging/imploring Solomon to step up to what he was being called into. 2. Observe what the Lord requires. Align your words, will and ways to that of the Lord. It's not possible to lead at this level if you are out of alignment. Out of alignment places an untenable burden – emotional, intellectual, spiritual and physical on our shoulders. Alignment is a synergistic position that employs God's power to accomplish His/our joint purposes.Godly Ask. 2 Kings 3:3-15 (NIV) 3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had been a dream. “I am only a child” Solomon's ask can from a place of self-awareness. All good leadership comes from a place of self-awareness. “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this” Why? Because Solomon's was aligning with the Lord's purpose. He was falling in behind the leadership of YHWY – not asking YWHY to fall in behind his leadership! Is God's wisdom accessible to me? Godly Wisdom is neither secretive or elusive but you can only have it if you go for it! And when you “get it and follow it” there is a reward! 3 essentials to obtaining wisdom. Fear God. Trust God. Ask God. Each step comes with its own sets of rewards.Essential #1 Fear God. Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Reverence and Awe are the beginning of wisdom because if we don't hold God in the highest of regard, elevating Him and His counsel above ourselves and others, we won't align our actions with His… simple as that. Proverbs 14:12 (AMP) There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him, but its end is the way of death. REWARD #1. Proverbs 9:11-12 (NIV) 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.Essential #2 Trust God. Proverbs 3:1-8 (Charlie Amplified Version) INSTRUCTION 1My son, do not forget my teaching [these aren't secrets], but keep my commands in your heart [keep a tight grip], REWARD 2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. INSTRUCTION 3 Let love and faithfulness [hesed] never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart [keep God's hesed front in center of all emotions and decisions]. REWARD 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. INSTRUCTION 5 Trust [rely on, have confidence in] in the Lord with all your heart [emotions] and lean not on your own understanding [what seems]; 6 in all your ways [decisions and movement] submit to him [yield], REWARD and he will make your paths straight. INSTRUCTION 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes [seems]; fear the Lord [be in awe] and shun [turn away/ reject] evil.REWARD 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Essential #3. Ask God. James 1:2-8 (AMP) 5 If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame… Reward… and it will be given to him. 3 essentails to obtaining wisdom. Fear God. Elevate God over yourself. Trust God. Elevate His path over other's opinion. Ask God. Elevate God to your first and last ask. “Thou, O Christ, who went tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin, make us strong to overcome the desire to be wise and to be reputed wise by others as ignorant as ourselves. We turn from our wisdom as well from our folly and flee to Thee, the wisdom and the power of God. Amen” (AW Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy pg. 59.) “With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures.” (AW Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy pg. 64.)

What do you think of God? Is He the ultimate expression of love and kindness? A comforter and provider? Or perhaps the one who sacrificed everything to give you a new life? If that's the case, why do we as Christians talk about fearing such a God?Why should we fear the one who offers us forgiveness for all our wrongdoing? Should we really be afraid that He will condemn us to hell if we don't repent for our sins each day? Why should we live in fear that He might be angry?If you have doubts about why the Bible speaks of fearing God, this message is for you! Join us as we kick off our very special series, 'In Awe.' What does the Bible say about holding onto the fear of God? Should we even have that fear? What is its purpose, and what does it mean? Let us come together to understand what it truly means to fear God and how it can be a blessing to us and our loved ones.✅ Check in to let us support you in your journey. If you're new here, you'll receive a free digital gift card and a free movie ticket!! https://echo.church/checkin

Scripture: 1 Samuel 21-22 and Psalm 34. Today's class is entitled ,“Crippling Fear.” Crippling Fear describes the kind of fear that can easily cripple us. But Crippling Fear also describes how God can cripple our fear.      1.    Fear can easily cripple us     2.    God can cripple our fear As our story opens we see Saul trying in every way possible to get rid of David, to kill him through any method he can find. Then Saul shares with Jonathan (his son and David's best friend) that he is determined to kill David and that he won't relent. And so David has to flee from Saul and he heads to Gath - Philistine territory. David left behind his position as one of the leaders of the Israelite army, his wife, his best friend, his home, his friends, and more.  David gets to Gath and is recognized. He had thought he could live there in anonymity, but being recognized, he became fearful.  Not just a little fearful but a lot fearful and so he decides to pretend to be insane in order to protect himself. This man who had been so courageous, is now paralyzed by overwhelming fear. So then David leaves Gath and goes back into Israelite territory to the caves of Abdullah.  David's father's family and his brorhers' families and others come to the cave with David.  It's at this time that David writes Psalm 34. There are four timeless truths in Psalm 34 that tell us how God can conquer our fear, something David knew but needed to be reminded of. And like David, that God conquers our fears is something we need to be reminded of too. Psalm 34 Truths     1.     PRAISE GOD (even in the darkest of times)  David didn't start out this poem with, “Woe, is me.” He started out with, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.” Praising God is to be our natural response of faith and transforms us from within because when we praise God we are looking to him not to our condition.  It's looking heavenward versus looking inward.     2.    GOD DELIVERS - strength is found in God's inner presence and not in our own strength. It is God alone who delivers us.  As David turns to God in praise he finds God ministering to his very soul, delivering him from fear. David is no longer crippled by fear but sees that God cripples fear!  As we praise God and He delivers us, the Lord Jesus encamps around us. Hi is the One who says, “I'll never leave you, don't be afraid, I am with you.”     3.    FEAR GOD - not in the sense of being afraid of Him - but in holy awe through repentance and in faith and in obedience.  Fear God alone and no one else.     4.    GOD SAVES - “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18  David reminds us that the Lord is close to us. He saves and restores us. He rescues us. How de we deal with the fear that cripples? The answer is we turn to God who cripples fear.  We turn to God, praising Him even in the fearful, hard, difficult, dark times. We praise Him because we know He is where we find deliverance from our fear. He conquers our fear. We come to Him in holy awe, in faith, in repentance and in obedience because we know He saves us. He rescues us   IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD! What will it be in our lives? Are we going to allow fear to cripple us or will we turn to the One who cripples fear for us?  It's a simple but profound and important choice. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. Check out this video series from our website: https://www.awakeusnow.com/david-and-gods-heart Join us Sundays  https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.

Pastor Billy Calderwood and apologist Will Reusch discuss the question of "fearing a loving God" If God is all good and all loving, why does the Bible talk so much about the fear of the Lord while also instructing us to not be afraid? We cover this and more in this episode. Email cylinderradio@gmail.com to submit questions you have!

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

What do you do when obeying the government means disobeying God? In this thought-provoking episode of Brothers Just Searching, titled “Fear God, Honor the King,” the crew tackles the biblical command to submit to government authority and what that really means for Christians today. They explore how honoring leadership can be a powerful testimony for the Lord, while also discussing the true purpose of government—to punish evil and reward good. But where is the line drawn? The episode digs deep into Scripture to answer the tough question: When is it right to say “no” to government, and “yes” to God?Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Facebook also leave us a review If You Like To donate to this podcast you can through cashapp or email us at brothersjustsearchingpodcast@gmail.com for more infoAnything is appreciated Cashapp infoBJSmediaThis podcast is brought to you by BJS MEDIA. A christian media production from the swamps of Louisiana. Teaching THE WORD OF GOD (The Bible) and discussing religion, cults, and other world events. Brothers Just Searching Links Check out our website https://brothersjustsearching.wordpress.com/Check out Our Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/bjspodcastCheck out our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/channel/UCSKi3Aywyd1PQWQ5K1rrIUAhttps://campsite.to/bjsmediaThis is where you can listen to our podcast “Brothers Just Searching”. Below me :). Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brothers-just-searching/id1490823255?uo=4Google Podcast https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8xMDk2MjdhMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0xxj0itGZrlN6EvUpHnel1Breakerhttps://www.breaker.audio/brothers-just-searchingOvercasthttps://overcast.fm/itunes1490823255/brothers-just-searchingPocket Casts https://pca.st/7uduo3tzRadio Public https://radiopublic.com/brothers-just-searching-G7PLoENew Beginning Fellowship Church New Beginning FChttps://www.facebook.com/NewBeginningFellowshipChurchTB/Coteau Holmes Fellowship Church https://www.facebook.com/coteauholmesfellowship/Music Provided ByUltima Thule by a href="https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/51198"Blue Dot Sessions/a- [ ]#bible #biblestudy #faith #jesus #god

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Blessings of the Fear of God (1) (audio) David Eells 7/9/25 Psa 111:10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praise endureth forever. The fear of the Lord is a teaching that is all over the Bible. We all need a proper reverence and awe of God, which is the beginning of true knowledge and wisdom. Without a proper respect for God's Word, we won't gain true knowledge or wisdom. When we have a holy fear of God, we get understanding, contentment, confidence, blessings, and a desire to walk in obedience to Him. It causes us to desire a right relationship with God. The fear of the Lord is not about being paralyzed by terror, but about a deep respect and submission to the Almighty God, Who is holy, righteous, merciful, but is also the author of all chastening for His children. We also need to know that the wrath of God comes to those who continue in sin and rebellion against Him. The prophets of old show us to have a deep, humble respect for God and His Words. His judgment upon willful sin and His wrath on the wicked in this world should humble us to His will. Knowing of His sovereignty in all things helps us to read the signs of His opinion of man's works. Having a holy fear of the Lord will cause us to stay within His boundaries and make good choices. Let's look at some scriptures today to help us all get a better understanding of the fear of the Lord and what it means. When I began my study of the sovereignty of God, I gained an understanding and then experience of His sovereignty, which has borne much fruit in my life in the area of rest, peace, faith, and respect for Him. It has sharpened my fear of God and removed my fear of man's conspiracies by the devil. It has given me a strong sense of the awesomeness of God. Others have shared similar stories with me. It says in (Dan.4:35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? Nobody can push God's hand away and say, “What are you doing?” Nobody can stop Him from doing what He wants to do. This should give us faith, rest, and the fear of God. It is important to God that we know He is sovereign. Without this knowledge, we will not have the peace, rest, and the fear of God that we need in the midst of trials. We will always be wrestling with people and circumstances and trusting in our own strength, instead of seeing God's hand in it and trusting in His strength. Isa 43:13 Yea, since the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who can hinder it? Many have deceptive doctrines that appease their selfish desires such as doctrines of materialistic prosperity rather than bearing our cross, unconditional eternal security so that they may live after the flesh without fear of God's warnings, rapture without sanctification through trial, eternal life without discipleship and holiness, etc. God's people have justified just about anything to appease their flesh such as unscriptural divorces, abortion, drunkenness, drugs, lying, stealing, etc. Peace for the flesh is deception. Satan and his ministers are anxious to tell us what our flesh wants to hear. We are told in 2Co 7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. God would not tell us to do something that we cannot do by faith in Him. He wants us to be sanctified in truth. Let me share a testimony with you.   The Fear of The Lord Anonymous A few months ago, I was looking around online for some books by Watchman Nee and I ran across your website. Being brought up by what I now know to be the apostate church, when I saw “America's Last Days”, that's something you don't want to hear about because it is never taught. I entered the site (sovereignly) and began looking at the Sovereign God book. I read one line that changed my life, doctrine, and everything I had been taught – ‘that God is in control of the evil, as well as the good.' I thought some things just happened and the devil did some things. Right then the fear of God came on me and has not left. Although I have been saved for several years, I never knew what the fear of God was until I experienced it that day. Once saved, always saved, right? Wrong. I knew then that if God had not intervened, I might be in for a surprise, should I have died in that state. God had something better for me. I walk more cautiously before the Lord and want to obey Him; I've seen what He can do. Fear of man and fear of Satan are out of the question compared to what God can do. Thanks for submitting to God and allowing the word of knowledge and wisdom to flow through you. Revelations are keys and He's given us the "Keys of David" (Eells) to unlock the treasures of God. The Name of the Lord is to be feared. When Moses asked God to see His glory Exo 33:18-23 And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live. 21 and Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock: 22 and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by: 23 and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen. Exo 34:5-7 And Jehovah descended in the cloud, and stood with him (Moses) there, and proclaimed the name of Jehovah. 6 And Jehovah passed by before him, and proclaimed, Jehovah, Jehovah, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth; 7 keeping lovingkindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation. Meaning the sins of the fathers are inherited through the blood and association by the children. Deu 10:17 For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the terrible, who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward. Psa 47:2 For Jehovah Most High is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth. Psa 99:3 Let them praise thy great and terrible name: Holy is he. Psa 66:3-5 Say unto God, How terrible are thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. 4 All the earth shall worship thee, And shall sing unto thee; They shall sing to thy name. Selah. 5 Come, and see the works of God; He is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. Psa 86:11 Teach me thy way, O Jehovah; I will walk in thy truth: Unite my heart to fear thy name. Psa 102:15 So the nations shall fear the name of Jehovah, And all the kings of the earth thy glory. They saw what God did for Israel at the Red Sea and feared them. Isa 59:19 So shall they fear the name of Jehovah from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come as a rushing stream, which the breath of Jehovah driveth. 1Ki 8:41-43 Moreover concerning the foreigner, that is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name's sake 42 (for they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy mighty hand, and of thine outstretched arm); when he shall come and pray toward this house; 43 hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and do according to all that the foreigner calleth to thee for; that all the peoples of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and that they may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name. Luk 1:49-50 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; And holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is unto generations and generations On them that fear him. Deu 7:21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them; for Jehovah thy God is in the midst of thee, a great God and a terrible. We need to learn the fear of God so we do not sin. It says in Exo 20:19-20 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before you, that ye sin not. God gave His people the Commandments and the Law and showed the curse of breaking the law so that they would fear Him. In Deu 31:11 when all Israel is come to appear before Jehovah thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and thy sojourner that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Jehovah your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; 13 and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Jehovah your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over the Jordan to possess it. Deu 6:1-2 Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Jehovah your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it; 2 that thou mightest fear Jehovah thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. (The fear of the Lord's commandments prolongs life and prosperity.) Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear Jehovah thy God; and him shalt thou serve, and shalt swear by his name. 14 Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples that are round about you; 15 for Jehovah thy God in the midst of thee is a jealous God; lest the anger of Jehovah thy God be kindled against thee, and he destroy thee from off the face of the earth. (The “other gods” we are told are demons and they rule over the lusts of the flesh. Those who fear God will not follow their lusts.) Psa 119:9-11 BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: Oh let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee. Pro 2:1-8 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee; 2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures: 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding: 7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity; 8 That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints. (Seeking wisdom and understanding brings the fear of the Lord.) Pro 1:7 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. Psa 2:11 Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear Jehovah: Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Psa 34:11 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of Jehovah. Psa 66:16 Come, and hear, all ye that fear God, And I will declare what he hath done for my soul. Psa 19:9 The fear of Jehovah is clean, enduring forever: The ordinances of Jehovah are true, and righteous altogether Psa 96:9 Oh worship Jehovah in holy array: Tremble before him, all the earth. Psa 99:1 Jehovah reigneth; let the peoples tremble: He sitteth above the cherubim; let the earth be moved. Pro 8:13 The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate. Pro 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil. Pro 1:24-30 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27 When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah: 30 They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof. Pro 23:17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. 8-9 And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil. 9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Scriptural humility is to humble ourselves to the Word and will of God. Do you want to be honored of the Lord, the angels, and man? Humility needs to come first before we can receive the blessings of God, all those great promises we are believing Him for. Pro 15:33 The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor goeth humility. And Pro 22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life. How many people have lost their lives, spiritual or physical or both, because they didn't humble themselves to God's Word? Isa 66:2 For all these things hath my hand made, and so all these things came to be, saith Jehovah: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word. Eph 5:15 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (We are told His will is to walk in sanctification) 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. (I.e., Humility to one another.) Blessings come with the fear of God. Isa 33:6 And there shall be stability in thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge: the fear of Jehovah is thy treasure. Psa 25:12 What man is he that feareth Jehovah? Him shall he instruct in the way that he shall choose. Psa 31:19-20 Oh how great is thy goodness, Which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee, Which thou hast wrought for them that take refuge in thee, Before the sons of men! 20 In the covert of thy presence wilt thou hide them from the plottings of man: Thou wilt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psa 34:9 Oh fear Jehovah, ye his saints; For there is no want to them that fear him. Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, That glory may dwell in our land. Psa 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is his lovingkindness toward them that fear him. 17 But the lovingkindness of Jehovah is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, And his righteousness unto children's children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, And to those that remember his precepts to do them. Psa 112:1-3 Praise ye Jehovah. Blessed is the man that feareth Jehovah, That delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: The generation of the upright shall be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house; And his righteousness endureth forever. Psa 115:9-13 O Israel, trust thou in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. 10 O house of Aaron, trust ye in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. 11 Ye that fear Jehovah, trust in Jehovah: He is their help and their shield. 12 Jehovah hath been mindful of us; he will bless us: He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless them that fear Jehovah, Both small and great. Psa 128:1-6 Blessed is every one that feareth Jehovah, That walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labor of thy hands: Happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. 3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine, In the innermost parts of thy house; Thy children like olive plants, Round about thy table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed That feareth Jehovah. 5 Jehovah bless thee out of Zion: And see thou the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. 6 Yea, see thou thy children's children. Peace be upon Israel. Psa 145:18-20 Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him; He also will hear their cry and will save them. 20 Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; But all the wicked will he destroy. Psa 147:11 Jehovah taketh pleasure in them that fear him, In those that hope in his lovingkindness. Pro 10:27 The fear of Jehovah prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened. Pro 19:23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life, And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: 8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. Pro 14:26-27 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death. (You can escape death.) Mal 3:16-18 Then they that feared Jehovah spake one with another; and Jehovah hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared Jehovah, and that thought upon his name. 17 And they shall be mine, saith Jehovah of hosts, even mine own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. 18 Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Ecc 8:12 Though a sinner do evil a hundred times, and prolong his days, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, that fear before him: 13 This is the end of the matter; all hath been heard: Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. Judgment/Wrath of God Throughout the Scriptures, God gathered the nations against His people when they were in apostasy, and it was for the purpose of bringing a crucifixion and death to the old man. God is in absolute control; there's nothing left to chance down here concerning His children. We know the judgments that are coming upon the world will restore the fear of the Lord, and many will depart from evil. They will run to Zion, which is a place of safety, but Zion is a place of holiness, too, a place of separation from the world. When the Man-child comes as the white horse rider in Revelation 6, he will come with the latter rain anointing and the judgments of God. We see Jesus in the Man-child in Isa 11:2-3 And the Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Jehovah. 3 And his delight shall be in the fear of Jehovah; and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither decide after the hearing of his ears; Isa 50:10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God. Hag 1:12-13 Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of Jehovah their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as Jehovah their God had sent him; and the people did fear before Jehovah. 13 Then spake Haggai Jehovah's messenger in Jehovah's message unto the people, saying, I am with you, saith Jehovah. Isa 8:13 Jehovah of hosts, him shall ye sanctify; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. Jer 5:21-26 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; that have eyes, and see not; that have ears, and hear not: 22 Fear ye not me? saith Jehovah: will ye not tremble at my presence, who have placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it? and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it. 23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. 24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear Jehovah our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in its season; that preserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. 25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men: they watch, as fowlers lie in wait; they set a trap, they catch men. Psa 119:120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. Jer 10:10 But Jehovah is the true God; he is the living God, and an everlasting King: at his wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide his indignation. Mic 7:17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent; like crawling things of the earth they shall come trembling out of their close places; they shall come with fear unto Jehovah our God, and shall be afraid because of thee. Mal 1:6 A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I am a father, where is mine honor? and if I am a master, where is my fear? saith Jehovah of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 6 For I, Jehovah, change not; therefore ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed. Psa 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep. 7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared; And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 8 Thou didst cause sentence to be heard from heaven; The earth feared, and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the meek of the earth. Selah. 10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The residue of wrath shalt thou gird upon thee. 11 Vow, and pay unto Jehovah your God: Let all that are round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. 12 He will cut off the spirit of princes: He is terrible to the kings of the earth. Mat 10:28 And be not afraid of them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Heb 10:30 For we know him that said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Dan 6:26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and stedfast forever, And his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even unto the end. Heb 12:28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: 29 for our God is a consuming fire. Paul's instruction to Timothy in 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin reprove in the sight of all, that the rest also may be in fear. And our example of how fear came on everyone in Act 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. Act 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things. Rom 13:1-4 Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil. 1Pe 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; Rom 12:19 Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord. Rev 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 and they say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 for the great day of their wrath is come; and who is able to stand? Rev 14:6-7 And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. Rev 14:10 he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 19 And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God. Rev 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having seven plagues, which are the last, for in them is finished the wrath of God. 7 And one of the four living creatures gave unto the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. Rev 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth. Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth proceedeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.   Truth Poured Forth from My Anointed Is Bringing the Dead to Life Debbie Fenske 6/29/23 I want to share a word Jesus shared with me early this morning as I was sitting before Him, praying, and just waiting on Him. I heard Him speak a couple of thoughts to me. After writing down the second thought, Jesus just kept speaking this encouraging word. “Many, so many who have, in the past, been a part of UBM, are beginning now to understand the evil, and the dangers of faction. The truth that they are receiving from Me is instilling a holy fear within them. This is why I rise up in David, My servant, moving within him to keep talking and warning about this. It has been imperative for him to do so, for faction is a disease killing many. So many who have not understood this are now finally listening, and repenting, and many will return to My ministry of UBM to receive truth once again. For they are aware of the great deadness of their spiritual womb. My truth, and a holy fear of Me will produce life in them once again.” “My servant, David, must not stop speaking about these things, for I will have My way, which is revealing to all I have chosen, the true condition of their hearts. My truth will break out again like a wildfire through the mouth of My servant, for My anointing will not leave him. And My anointed chosen will soon be revealed, and many, many blind eyes will be opened, and the deaf ears will hear. Hearts will be healed, and they will rush under the presence of My anointing, and will grow, and will with much Joy, and spiritual vigor, produce much fruit which will come forth from My life within them.” “My provision, in every way, will flow once again. Press in, and I will give abundant blessings. Receive them now, as you press into Me, that I may make them manifest to you. For My Spirit is moving, stirring hearts to come back to Me, and My anointing. They are coming back to the truth. Trust Me, and wait on Me, and you will see, soon, the outpouring of My Spirit, and My great supply of provision for my people, as the unleavened bread continues to go forth from My anointed, and spoken forth from all who have received, and believe, and are walking the unleavened walk.” “The time is set for My Life received to pour forth from you, a flowing stream of Life. Remain faithful, humble, and pure. I have not, and will not fail of any of My good promises to My unleavened bread ministry.” Before I got on the Zoom meeting this morning, I prayed that God would somehow, someway, confirm this word. And I believe that He did that through some verses that were shared this morning. Deb Horton's scripture she shared was Jeremiah 32:6-15. The confirming verse is the second part of verse 8. “Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.” I also felt confirmation was received in verse 15 of her scripture verses. “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel. Houses, and fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.” Shay shared Philippians 4:19-23. Verses 19-20: “And my God will supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God, and Father glory forever and ever. Amen.” Amen! Yes, Lord. All glory belongs to You! Thank You, faithful Father, for delivering and rescuing those who You will from the evil faction, and opening the eyes of those who just could not see to receive the awful truth about faction, and so gave up and set aside Your truth. Thank You for Your blessings now, and those You are about to abundantly bestow upon UBM, and for Your faithfulness to all, all over the world, who are faithful to You in giving out the unleavened truth of Your Word. Amen!

Youth Pastor Gary Jones continues our Ecclesiastes series.How we walk into God's presence matters. Too often, we rush in, distracted, busy, or burdened, offering words without weight and worship without reverence. But Ecclesiastes 5 calls us back: Guard your steps. Let your words be few. Fear God.It's not about silence or perfection — it's about listening and posture. What if your Sunday started not with making noises but with awe? What if hearing from God became your deepest expectation?Today, we're learning to show up differently and approach God with hearts ready to listen, vows we intend to keep, and reverence that shapes our worship.Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on July 7, 2025, at 10:15am. You can find us online at nwhills.com.Key Moments00:00 Welcome01:06 Message: How You Walk In Matters05:12 Guard Your Steps Before God12:00 Two Big Themes: Listen & Fear24:20 Fear God by Keeping Your Vows33:06 The Church Is the People

7-6-25: Fear God by LifeSource Church

What if wisdom isn't just knowing the right answer, but knowing the right Person? In Part 1 of our Way of Wisdom series, we unpack how true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. It must be a reverent, humble posture that surrenders to God's voice over our own. Through Proverbs 1–6, a wild true story of buried treasure, and Paul's powerful words in 1 Corinthians 1, we discover that Jesus doesn't just give wisdom...He is Wisdom. This message will challenge you to stop chasing shallow answers and start digging for the kind of wisdom that changes everything.

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Welcome to Daily Devotion with Pastor Balla for July 2, 2025. Today's devotion from Ecclesiastes 12:12–13, titled “The Essence of Wisdom,” draws us to the heart of true understanding: “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Solomon reminds us that endless study and human opinions cannot satisfy the soul, but reverence for God is the foundation of wisdom. Rooted in Christ-centered, Lutheran teaching, this devotion explores how fearing God is not terror but awe-filled trust, and how obedience flows from faith, not from works. Whether you seek spiritual direction, biblical truth, or encouragement for daily Christian living, this devotion will help you see God's commandments as a gift of grace, fulfilled perfectly in Christ and now lived out by His Spirit.

Kentucky Bible School 2007

What does scripture teach us about the Fear of the Lord? What does growing in childlikeness have to do with this? As we emphasize obedience to Him, we want to listen to his voice, too.

Discussion Questions How would you explain what the "Fear of the Lord" is? Which aspect of the Fear of the Lord (Reverential Awe, Loving Delight, Humble Obedience) do you most often neglect? Pause and ask the Lord to grow you in this area.  What is the connection between listening and obedience?  What are some ways that we try to manipulate God to bring about another “end?”

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

Sunday Sermon // Pastor Rolo Bernales // Luke 12:1-7

Lead Pastor Josh Carstensen continues our Ecclesiastes series.Solomon had it all — pleasure, progress, wealth, legacy — and still said, "I hated life." But in Ecclesiastes 3, he discovers something more profound: the secret to meaning isn't in chasing everything in every season. The secret is in embracing the season you're in.In this message, we'll explore how to meet God right where you are: whether you're grieving or dancing, building or breaking, asking hard questions or simply holding on. Real joy begins when we stop striving and start trusting.Thank you for listening to this message from Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis, Oregon, on June 22, 2025, at 8:30am. You can find us online at nwhills.com.Key Moments00:00 Welcome00:58 Message: Finding Meaning and Joy in Every Season07:08 Solomon's Pursuit of Meaning16:41 Reading from Ecclesiastes 322:24 Embrace Opportunities and Limitations25:05 Embrace God's Justice Over All Seasons29:58 Embrace The Work You Have32:02 Embrace and Fear God in All Seasons

Jesus Delivered Us (audio) David Eells – 6/22/25 Father, fill us with faith as we discover what has been accomplished for us by the sacrifice of Jesus. How that he bound the strong man and delivered us from evil. Give us understanding that we be not ignorant of satan's devices. Help us to stand on Your Word and swing our sword of the Spirit which the fallen angels cannot resist. We ask for your grace and power to open up Your Word to our hearts and minds and make us all the spiritual warriors You have called us to be. The enemy fears those who know their rights. Saints, I'm going to talk to you today about what Jesus provided for us and our deliverance from the demonic hoards. When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, He replied, (Luk.11:19) And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. (20) But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. (21) When the strong [man] (The word “man” is actually not in the original; it was added-in later. Jesus was calling the devil “the strong” when He was spoiling his kingdom.) fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So it actually reads, (Luk.11:21) When the strong fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace. These “goods” Jesus is talking about are the things that the devil, “the strong,” has been given authority over in this world, and the “court” here represents his kingdom where he, “the strong,” rules and reigns. (Luk.11:21) When the strong  fully armed guardeth his own court, his goods are in peace: (22) but when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him (That was Jesus who overcame him!), he taketh from him his whole armor wherein he trusted. Did you know that the devil has no armor? His kingdom has no armor. He and his demons have no armor if we believe it. They have no protection against the authority that God has given to us. The protection has all been taken away from them. His “whole armor” has been taken away since it is God in (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. And He gave us authority in (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. This is something that has already been accomplished; it isn't something that we have to accomplish. God has given us authority to partake of everything that Jesus did for us at the Cross. (Col.1:12) Giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet (The Greek there is “made us competent or able.”) to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. Whatever a saint walking in light is entitled to, God made us able to partake of that, so if you think that you lack ability, you are just wrong and you need to study the Scriptures. For example it says in (Eph.6:13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God (So we have been given God's armor and the devil has none), that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (16) Withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. So, through faith in this Word we can cast down all of his weapons against us. We are invincible. And in (Php.4:13) I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me. Jesus made us able to be a partaker in whatever we need. He made us able to plunder the devil's kingdom, and the devil's kingdom is wherever the devil rules or his curse reigns. Wherever the devil has ability, we now have the ability to take it away from him. The devil has no power if we believe this. Do you remember when Joshua and Caleb were seeking to bring the children of Israel into the Promised Land? After spying out the land, these two said that their enemies' defense was removed from over them. We read this in (Num.14:9) Only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. The demons and the people they use are the ones who should fear us. All that the other ten spies could see were the giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw that the enemy had no armor. That's the way we have to see the enemies of God's Kingdom. It makes no difference whether those enemies are the lusts of the flesh, works of darkness, demons, the devil, or whatever. Their defense is removed from over them. They have no power against the Word of God. Jesus was the “Stronger” Who came and took away their whole armor (Luke 11:22). Praise be to God! So Jesus has already divided the spoils for us. Those “spoils” of the devil's kingdom are all the places where he has taken advantage of your life or taken authority over the things or circumstances that God has put in your hands. All these add up to “spoils.” When Jesus went about doing good and “healing all who were oppressed of the devil” in (Acts 10:38), He was spoiling the devil's kingdom. If you are being oppressed of the devil, Jesus destroyed this oppression. He broke this power everywhere He went. Whether it was hunger, sickness, demonic possession, or mental need, it didn't make any difference; Jesus broke the oppression and He told us to do the same thing because (Mat.12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. The devil's power over God's people rests in the fact that God's people don't know that his power has already been broken, and they don't know the authority that's been given to them. Although the Word speaks it plainly, it still has to be a revelation that you pick up and use like a sword. The Bible says of Jesus in (Col.2:15) Having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. He already made spoil of our eneies. “Triumphing” is not the victory. “Triumphing” is celebrating the victory that has already been won. Jesus triumphed over the devil and He rubbed the devil's nose in what He had accomplished on the Cross. The victory was at the Cross; what came after the Cross was the triumph, which is our responsibility. (2Co.2:14) But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. We are to simply celebrate His victory. Hallelujah! What we need to do is repeat what the Word says about our circumstances or situation, and we do that by stating what the Word says about our authority and righteousness. All we have to do is believe that. The devil wants us to look at ourselves and our failures and the curse around us, but we just need to remember that we have authority over that curse. We've been crucified with Christ and we're not alive anymore; now it's Christ Who lives in us. (Gal.2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. When we remember what the Word of God says about us and about our circumstances, we can celebrate the victory. When we are praising God for what He has done, this is triumphing over the devil; it's celebrating the victory! Praising God is not necessarily singing songs, and some songs that you sing in church don't really praise God. Many songs don't even confess the Word of God. They don't celebrate the victory, and as a matter of fact, a lot of them just confess the problem. We are not under the curse anymore because (Gal.3:13) Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (14) that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (He became accursed for us so that we could have Abraham's blessings.) So, how was Abraham blessed? (Gen.24:1) … And the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. (Gal.3:15) Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: Though it be but a man's covenant, yet when it hath been confirmed, no one maketh it void, or addeth thereto. (16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (17) Now this I say: A covenant confirmed beforehand by God, the law, which came four hundred and thirty years after, doth not disannul, so as to make the promise of none effect. (18) For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise: but God hath granted it to Abraham by promise. So, now we are celebrating the victory that He has already accomplished. Jesus said in (Joh.16:33) … In the world ye have tribulation: be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. And He said in (Joh.19:30) … It is finished… That's what we have to remember when we look around us and, instead, we see the very opposite. If we apply the Word to the problem, we are going to spoil the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12). The Bible says when Jesus took away the devil's armor, He divided the spoil. (Isa.53:12) Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul unto death… Jesus said in (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me… He's talking there about those who are dividing or plundering the spoils. If you are with Jesus, then you are going to do what He did, and what He did was plunder the devil. All of His physical life, He plundered the devil, and by His victory over the devil, He made it possible for us to plunder the devil's kingdom too. We should be spoiling the devil's kingdom; we should be destroying the curse around us. We should be bringing people into victory by putting faith in their hearts. We should be delivering those who are captive by casting out demons. And we should be delivering those who are oppressed of the devil by healing the sick. We should be doing everything our Lord Jesus did. Jesus went on to say, (Luk.11:23) He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. So you are either going to be “gathering” or you are going to be “scattering.” That means you are either going to be on the attack or you are going to be on the run. You're going to be doing one or the other, and sad to say, most Christians are on the run because they don't understand what Jesus did. They don't understand what the Word of God says. They don't understand what their position and calling is in this world. As believers, we are on the attack. We are going into the Promised Land to take this land for Jesus Christ, and not a man there can stand before us. The Lord said in (Jos.1:5) There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life. as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Most Christians don't understand that the victory has already been given to us. We are not supposed to go in there and lose people; we are supposed to go in there and conquer the enemy. It's been given to us to conquer the enemy. Jesus said in (Joh.20:21) … as the Father hath sent me, even so send I you. God did not send Jesus to fail. He sent Him with the Word of God and He sends us with the Word of God too. He says in (Eph.6:17) And take the … sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. We have to take the Sword of the Spirit and we have to fight, because if we don't fight, we are going to lose. If we are not plundering, if we are not gathering the spoils, we're being scattered. The word “scattereth” there is from the Greek word skorpizo, and this is where we get the English word “scorpion.” It's from the same root as the Greek word skorpios, meaning “to penetrate and to put to flight.” When a scorpion stings with its tail, it penetrates and puts to flight because of the pain and misery it inflicts. Jesus spoke about scorpions. (Luk.10:19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. In the kingdom of the devil, scorpion spirits are tormentors. When a scorpion spirit stings you, just as with a real scorpion, it hardly ever kills, but it's very painful. Scorpion spirits can torment your body with sickness and pain, and they may also torment you with fear. (1Jn.4:18) …fear hath punishment… If you are not plundering, the devil is going to penetrate you with one of these spirits, causing you to flee. If you are not plundering, then your thinking is contrary to the Word of God and you are not going to stand up to the devil. (Luk.10:18) And he said unto them, I beheld Satan fallen as lightning from heaven. (19) Behold, I have given you authority… If your Bible says “power” instead of the word “authority,” then it has the wrong word because the Greek there is exousia, and it means “authority.” “Authority” is the “right to use power.” You have been given the right to use God's Power. (19) Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power (Now that word is the Greek word dunamis, meaning, “power.”) of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you. (20) Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you… This is talking about serpent and scorpion spirits. These are different kinds of spirits and they have different works. In the kingdom of the devil, the serpent spirits have authority. While the poison a scorpion inflicts is in its tail, the poison that the serpent inflicts is in its head, and as the saying goes, it's the head that wags the tail. The Bible says in (Deu.28:13) And the Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God… You are going to be above and not beneath; you are going to be the head and not the tail, just as Israel was supposed to be the head and not the tail. The tail reveals something about the head in most of God's creatures. For example, you can tell a dog's attitude when you look at its tail. If his tail is standing up in the air and wagging back and forth, you know that dog is happy and content, not fearful. But if his tail is tucked down between his legs, you can tell he's feeling guilty or fearful. You can read his mind by looking at his tail. The superior authority is always the head and not the tail. And the serpent's poison being in the head symbolizes that the serpent spirit poisons the mind. The job of the serpent spirit, mostly, is not to bring about torment, but to change your mind. Their job is to deceive, as the Bible says in (Gen.3:1) Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. He was subtle. He was crafty. He was wise in an evil way. (2Co.11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness (So the “serpent” is a beguiler.) your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. Serpent spirits beguile. They are deluding spirits and deceiving spirits. They want to change your mind, just as the serpent changed Eve's mind, because he wanted to pervert her knowledge. He wanted her to partake of knowledge that was forbidden. (Gen.2:17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it… He wanted her to partake of knowledge that wasn't legal. Scripture tells us about different ways we can receive things through the spirit realm that are illegal. Let's go to (Deu.18:9) When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. (10) There shall not be found with thee any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, one that practiseth augury, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, (11) or a charmer, or a consulter with a familiar spirit, or a wizard, or a necromancer. (12) For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (13) Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God. (14) For these nations, that thou shalt dispossess, hearken unto them that practise augury, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. (20) But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die. (21) And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken? (22) when a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken: the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously, thou shalt not be afraid of him. You see, there is false or deceptive knowledge. Going to consult familiar spirits or deceiving spirits, even if they claim to be prophets, is illegal. Going to consult wizards or necromancers is not allowed. All these operate in forbidden knowledge. But the devil wants to give you forbidden knowledge because he wants to delude you. He can make the “tail” do whatever he wants if he can change your mind, if he can change the knowledge that God has given you. If he can do that, then he's got you. That's why these serpent spirits have been given authority in the devil's kingdom. They are higher spirits than scorpion spirits because their primary purpose is to deceive you. Some of these “serpents” are “seducing spirits” that operate by giving you false doctrine. (1Ti.4:1) But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. They seduce you by giving all kinds of flesh-pleasing reasons why it is advantageous for you to believe their doctrines. There are seducing spirits forbidding you to eat meats, or to marry (as in this context), and so on, because if you have a false doctrine, that head is going to wag that tail. The devil knows the rest of the body is going to follow. The most important thing for the devil is that you accept the spirits that work in your head; that's the way he can control the rest of your life.  Remember, we are not to receive forbidden knowledge. Instead, we're supposed to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. You'll win the battle if you start with the head, but if you have spirits of rejection, fear, anxiety, condemnation, or guilt, then the devil has a stronghold in you. If you have anything that he can use against you, then you've got a “spy in your camp”. And the devil has rights now, because one demonic spirit can open the door for other demonic spirits so that you won't be able to stand up against the devil, who is looking to destroy you. We read in (Mat.12:43) But the unclean spirit, when he is gone out of the man, passeth through waterless places, seeking rest, and findeth it not. (44) Then he saith, I will return into my house whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. (45) Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more evil than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man becometh worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this evil generation. The devil's seducing spirits are “double agents.” They talk in your mind as if they are your friend and as if they belong to you, but whatever is speaking in your mind that's contrary to the Word of God is a stronghold of the enemy by which he can conquer you. You have the authority to cast it out. Get rid of it! Father, continue to grant us repentance as You bring to our attention where we have read or listened to things that are not according to Your Word and accepted those things we might have once believed as true that were not. Lord, help us to search our hearts and minds for any past church doctrines or religious beliefs that are not true. We only want what is True to be what we base our faith in. Father, help us to discern and destroy the strongholds we may have and get rid of them! Amen. Thank You Lord! The Bible says in (Rev.9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth (That's speaking of Satan.): and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss. (2) And he opened the pit of the abyss; and there went up a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (3) And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. (4) And it was said unto them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree, but only such men as have not the seal of God on their foreheads. (5) And it was given them that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when it striketh a man. As we've learned, the tormenting spirits are scorpion spirits. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35, the Lord says that He will turn you over to the tormentors until you should pay what is due (Matthew 18:34), and those tormentors are these scorpion spirits. Nobody is ever going to see with their physical eyes the creatures described here from the bottomless pit, because they're coming to the second heaven. It's like the angel here in (Rev.14:6) And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven (The Greek word means “middle heaven.”), having eternal good tidings to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; (7) and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. “Middle heaven” means the angel is in the second heaven. That means you don't see him, although the angel is right here with us in the devil's kingdom and he's preaching the Gospel. We can see what's in the first heaven, but the second heaven is a different realm, a “twilight zone,” if you will. And so this scorpion spirit of Revelation 9 has been given five months to torment those people who don't have the seal of God on their foreheads, but they are not able to see this spirit that came out of the bottomless pit. Satan has authority to loose these angels that the Bible says were held for the end of time, for a time and a season when God was going to judge the earth. (Rev.9:1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven fallen unto the earth: and there was given to him the key of the pit of the abyss.) (Rev.13-15) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, (14) one saying to the sixth angel that had the trumpet, Loose the four angels that are bound at the great river Euphrates. (15) And the four angels were loosed, that had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, that they should kill the third part of men.) Satan was given authority to loose them when he was cast out of heaven, and that's what is happening here. The Bible says, (Rev.14:11) And the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. As we read, both smoke and torment are also mentioned in Revelation 9. Out of the smoke came tormenting spirits that were like locusts and like scorpions, and we've seen that these are demons with the authority to penetrate and to put to flight. Other demons are mentioned often in the Scriptures. For instance, (Rev.16:13) And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs: (14) for they are spirits of demons… People who have a gift of discerning of spirits have seen frogs in the spirit realm, and those frogs were evil spirits, just as the scorpion spirits are evil. You know, the devil always sends his “big guns” after you when you get into a deep trial, a heavy trial that will have a really terrible outcome if you lose it. The Bible says in (1Jn.4:18KJV) … Fear hath torment… During a battle or a trial, you may have suddenly felt a spirit of fear just come down on you. That's another one of the devil's “big guns,” and if you listen to it, if you give in to it, you are going to run from the devil. Now we are commanded in Ephesians 6 what we should do! (Eph.6:11) Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. (13) Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (15) and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil [one]. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  We should put up a shield of faith to quench those “fiery darts” of the wicked one. What does a fiery dart do? Just like the tail of the scorpion, it's made to penetrate and put to flight. It's made to conquer you, but with the shield of faith, you can quench rejection, fear, depression, anxiety, condemnation, or any other of these fiery darts, which are tormenting spirits that come against you, because they can only come against you if your mind isn't right. But if you have faith in your mind, how is it possible for fear to come into you? If you have faith in your heart, how is it possible for depression, or anxiety, or any of these other spirits that seek to take hold of you, to conquer you? Remember what the Scripture says about you. (Rom.6:11) Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. Don't ever think that whatever the spirit may be that's coming against you, is you. When these kinds of deceiving spirits speak into your mind, that's when you have to use the armor and put up your shield of faith. Don't accept those thoughts as yours. They're not coming from you, and they don't belong to you. There's a doctrine in the apostate church about the “holiness” of oppression, the “holiness” of sickness. They want you to believe that this martyr's syndrome is good for you, but you know if God promised you an “egg,” He's not going to give you a “serpent.” (Luk.11:11) And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he give him a scorpion? The serpent and scorpion represent doctrines of death, but an egg represents life. What some churches have is actually a doctrine of death because they think that God is going to send them a “scorpion” or some other curse. And as for sickness, they think they are going to have to put up with it but Jesus and the apostles didn't. They claim that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was sickness, but it never was, and Paul even said it wasn't sickness. (2Co.12:7) And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted overmuch, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted overmuch. I am not stating that there was a demon inside of Paul, but an angel of Satan was humbling him. The word “messenger” in the Scriptures, 181 of 183 times, is translated as “angel,” so an angel of Satan was sent to buffet him, and the word “buffet” means “to beat or strike repeatedly.” Paul was not talking here about an infirmity or sickness; only the KJV says that Paul's “thorn in the flesh” was an “infirmity.” No Bible derived from the ancient manuscripts has this translation because that's not the word “infirmity”; it is the word “weakness.” Scripture says that Christ was crucified through weakness. (2Co.13:3) Seeing that ye seek a proof of Christ that speaketh in me; who to youward is not weak, but is powerful in you: (4) for he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God. This same Greek word asthenes translated as “weakness” in 2 Corinthians 13:3 by the King James, is what the King James in 2 Corinthians 12:9 claims is “infirmity.” Paul did not have an infirmity. The Bible says, (Psa.103:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases. God is not going to turn around and say, “No, Paul, you keep this disease. It's good for you.” This is not our God. Those churches claim that it was sickness in order to make a person who is going through sickness and suffering feel righteous, but most of the suffering that God's people go through is because they don't believe the Word. God promises an egg while the devil wants us to settle for a scorpion, and it's sadly true that for most people, what's ruling their life is a scorpion. If you listen to rejection, anxiety, fear, or guilt, you are being ruled by the devil. If you listen to shame or unbelief, you are being ruled by the devil. (Rom.6:16) Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves [as] servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? You can't listen to what God says and listen to what the devil says at the same time. (1Co.10:21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. You can't partake of the Lord's Table and the table of demons at the same time because everything demons will feed you is contrary to the Word of God. God promised us in (Exo.23:27) I will send my terror before thee, and will discomfit all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee. (28) I will send the hornet before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. A hornet is like a scorpion, because it also penetrates and puts to flight. It's a little bitty thing, but it can move a great big man. So you see, God can make our enemies fear us, and they do fear us if we know our authority.  If we know what the Word of God says and we step out and swing that Word of God like a sword (Ephesians 6:17), they fear us. Our daughter had a dream once about five chickens that represented five evil spirits that were bothering my mother. Well, those chickens were “chicken,” because just as soon as we gave them the Word, they ran. Evil spirits do fear us, but they recognize whether or not we know the Word of God. And they know whether or not we're standing on the Word of God, but they'll try to bluff us as long as they can. The devil wants us to fear him, and he is constantly trying to make us fear the “fiery darts” of the curse that he administers. But we know the Word of God says we've been delivered from all that. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; (14) in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. And the Bible tells us who we are in Christ. (Rom.6:11) Reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. (18) And being made free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness. Now that's a sword. That Word is a sword for you to use against the devil's lies. The devil wants you to act on what he says, but the Lord wants you to know who you are in Christ and act on what He says about you. If you don't act on what the Lord says, you don't get anything, because (Jas.2:17) Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. The devil's kingdom operates the same way. He can come by and put a little thought in your mind, but if you don't accept or act on it, if you don't chew or meditate on it, you are not guilty. The devil can put these little thoughts in your mind but you can reject them, and if he gets a little stronger, you can get a little stronger. You can speak up and just rebuke him! You can throw the Word of God into his face as Jesus did! Our faith and understanding of what Jesus did for us make us free from being fearful of any weapon the devil has.  Remember, we read that Christ took away the devil's “whole armor” (Luke 11:22). He took away all of his power (Matthew 28:18). He delivered us out of the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). All of this is our shield, and you need to use this knowledge. You don't fear the devil when you know who you are and that you don't have to give in to him. However, many people do give in to the devil; they give in to the spirits he sends against them, because they don't believe they have any other choice. Well, there's a reason that the Gospel is called the “Good News.” We do have another choice; we have authority over the devil. He has to move when we say, “Move!” If we step out and exercise that authority over him, he has to move. Thank you Father! As we've seen, the word skorpizo, refers to scorpion spirits, and the devil comes to scatter. Jesus said in (Joh.16:32) Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is come, that ye shall be scattered (That's the word, skorpizo.), every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. Fear scattered the disciples when the men came for Jesus in the garden (Matthew 26:50-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47- 53; John 18:1-14). They were afraid the same thing was going to happen to them, but we know that (Joh.3:27) A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. The devil sent a spirit there to put fear in them so they would just abandon Jesus in his affliction. To be perfectly just, He had already told them that this is what He came for, so what could they do? The devil also comes to divide. There's another word used in the Scriptures, which is diaskorpizo, and it means “to scatter and separate.” A good example of that is, (Joh.11:52) And not for the nation only, but that he might also gather together into one the children of God that are scattered abroad. That means not only are they scattered from their land, but they are separated from each other, and the devil did it through those scorpion spirits. They divided, they separated, and scattered the Body of Christ, just as God warned us through the apostle Paul. He said in (Act.20:29) I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; (30) and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. All of God's people are supposed to be coming out of the bondage they're in and back to this one land. Do you know what that means? It means that we are supposed to be one. Jesus said, (Joh.10:16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. This is what the Tribulation is going to do. God's people are going to become one Flock with One Shepherd, but for now they are diaskorpizo, they are “scattered abroad,” separated. They wanted to hang out at Jerusalem and have Church but the persecution scattered them to spread the gospel. Scorpion spirits separate the Body, separate the Flock, and they do this with false doctrine, false understanding, and false thinking. I've heard people say about our teachings, “Well, aren't you doing the same thing?” No, and when you look around us, you see people from all different backgrounds here. We all get along very well. We want the Flock to be one, but there is only one way the Flock is going to be one, and that's to give up sectarianism, because sectarianism is a work of the flesh. Let's read that in (Gal.5:19) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties (The three Greek words there mean “contentions,” “dissentions,” and “sects.”), (21) envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Demon spirits come in to make you believe the lie that you are something great, or that you have everything you need without the rest of the Body, but the Bible tells us in (1Co.12:13) For in one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all made to drink of one Spirit. The Body needs to be one, because the Body has different parts of God's knowledge and different parts of God's gifts. When all are put together, the Body is edified, it's “built up.” (Eph.4:15) But speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; (16) from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love. God wants His Flock to be one, and we want His Flock to be one, but the devil is warring against this unity. The devil knows that when God's Flock is one, it's going to be a powerhouse, and so we want to learn not to be separate from our brethren. We want to know what it is that has deceived our brethren to make them separate from us. Babel always seeks to be one but their motives were evil and God scattered them, most likely with scorpion spirits.. The mind-deceiving serpent spirits deceive different members of the Body in different ways to keep them from knowing the truth. Since the head wags the tail, the rest of that body, whether it's one person or a group of many people, is going to follow whichever way the head leads. That's the job of the serpent spirits, but other demon spirits do the same thing. They sow their seeds of fear, doubt, unbelief, anger, lust, and so on, and if you receive their seed, your flesh will take on their nature. Your flesh will take on the nature of these demonic “gods” of the lusts of the flesh. Now Jesus sows a Seed, too, and if we believe and act on and live on it, we take on His Nature. The Spirit of Christ is come in order to sow His Seed in our hearts so that our hearts take on His Image. What's an “image”? Well, it's an imagination. The Bible says, (Rom.1:21) Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings… In other words, they “became vain in their imaginations.” So, what is a “vain” imagination? The Scriptural word for “vain” is mataioo, and it means “aimless, foolish, futile, without purpose.” A “vain” imagination is not doing what it's supposed to do; it's not working for God anymore. Your imagination was created to do something for you on this earth for God. If it's not fulfilling that purpose, then it's fulfilling another one, and it is vain. (Rom.1:21) Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. If you become vain in your imagination, if you have the kind of imagination that, for instance, brought the Flood (Gen.6:5-7) And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (6) And it repented Jehovah that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. (7) And Jehovah said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the ground; both man, and beast, and creeping things, and birds of the heavens; for it repenteth me that I have made them.), then your senseless heart is being darkened, because those imaginations are evil; know that the gods of the lusts of the flesh are taking advantage of you through this ground that they've gained in you. We need to be (2Co.10:5) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. This is talking about re-taking the ground, these high places, that those spirits have taken from us. Anywhere you are being ruled by any lust, there's a demon around. He doesn't necessarily have to be on the inside; he might be on the outside, but he's still there. You can rebuke him, and when you rebuke him, he has to leave. If you know who you are in Christ, if you know the authority you have in Christ, and if you repent and believe it, when you rebuke the demon, he has to leave.  So whatever problem you may have or situation you may currently be dealing with, you don't have to keep it. You don't have to be ruled by it any longer. You can take the authority you have in the Name of Jesus, and it has to leave. Any stronghold in your thoughts, or evil imaginations that the devil has used against you, you bring them into the obedience of Christ and cast them all away. Amen. Now, I want to remind you that the most important thing is to submit yourselves unto God. (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We do this by repenting and believing what the Word says about us. “Resist the devil, and he will flee” is a promise to us from the Word of God. If we submit to God and resist the devil, he has to flee, but the devil's not going to tell us that. He's going to try to convince us that he doesn't have to leave. He's going to try to convince you that you're in bondage to this lust. No, we're not in bondage to this lust. We've been set free from that bondage because Jesus bound the strong man and then He plundered him. Jesus crippled the devil.  In the animal kingdom, when the mothers want to teach the babies how to hunt, the predator mother cripples the prey first. It may be a bird or a rabbit, and she sends the cub after it. She's teaching that cub how to be a predator. We need to understand that's what our Lord did for us. He went and crippled the devil. And not only that, He also took away his armor. Our Lord made it possible for us “little cubs” to run out there and jump on that old, mean devil. We can see a parable from God when we look at the animal kingdom. So now the devil is crippled, he has no armor and he's defenseless before us, but we have to know it and we have to believe it. We have to speak the Word of God; we have to swing the Sword!  Now I'd like to share with you the following testimonies:   God's Word Gave Faith for Deliverance From Ten Afflictions - Anonymous Wonderful things have taken place in our lives since reading “Sovereign God, For Us and Through Us.” We have been delivered of Asperger Syndrome (autism), bipolar disorder, asthma, sinus infections, food allergies, acid reflux, esophagitis, lacking a thyroid, broken toes, and smoking, over less than a five-month period through faith in the Word. My oldest son, at eleven years old, has been healed of Asperger Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism, and bipolar disorder. Since my faith was awakened, I took courage in the promises of God and took him off of all his medication, which amounted to seven pills a day. He had been taking pills for five years to control behavioral problems. We were able to finish the school year with minimal problems, he had absolutely no withdrawal symptoms. By faith I called the school to tell them we were taking him off of all his meds because we had prayed and believed that God had healed him. It was a great opportunity for his teachers to see a miracle. Since then, we have had trials of our faith. The symptoms tried to come back. But I had already been through “hell on earth” from this demonic activity that we had earlier mistaken for mental illness. There was no way I was going to accept it back, once I knew the truth! The medications that he had been taking made him a zombie! They took away his personality and stunted his growth. Now he is happy, with an animated personality. He is able to eat and has gone through a big growth spurt! My middle son, aged five years, was healed from severe asthma! He was taking two inhalers twice a day, Singular pills, and Nasonex nasal spray for chronic sinus infections. In addition, he had to have nebulizer treatments. He has not had to take any of it since we stood on faith for his healing! We have had trials of our faith for him also. Twice it tried to come back, but I rejected it and cast it out again. He runs around and jumps on the trampoline and doesn't have problems breathing or being out of breath or with chronic sinus infections anymore! My youngest son, at age three years, has been healed from food allergies and severe acid reflux. He had been allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts. Every time he would eat these foods he would have constant reflux and esophagitis so bad that he would almost lose his voice and would wake up crying all night. We stood on faith for this also. He has not had any problems with reflux or allergies to foods since. Again, when we were tested on this, we stood firm on God's promises. The symptoms left very quickly. My husband was healed from severe acid reflux disease and has not had to take Nexium for four months now! He can eat whatever he wants without any trouble. My son had also recently broken two toes on his right foot, so we prayed over them. They were completely healed within two days! He is able to fully bend them and move them now. He had injured the same foot years ago by dropping a weight on it and had not been able to bend those toes for years. But since God healed them, he has regained the motion in his toes on that foot!  God delivered me from smoking, too. The thing that seemed like such a mountain to me just six months ago is just a side thought now. I had tried to quit smoking once, but had done it with more of a white-knuckle approach. I mostly went about it through my own willpower. Satan would tempt me often to start again. I would be jealous when I saw others smoking because I still wasn't depending on God for strength. I needed my crutch back. I started smoking again. Later while reading Sovereign God, I knew I needed to forsake this idol for good. This time I prayed to God to take the desire away for smoking. If any part of my deliverance came from my flesh, it would be another struggle, and possible failure again. After I prayed to God to deliver me, I knew instantly that I was delivered. I still had some cigarettes that I finished up, but I realized that the desire to smoke had left me. When the last one was gone, I knew I would never again want another. (Note: It might have been better to throw that partial pack away, but, thank You, Lord, for my deliverance.) It has been that way ever since – like I've never smoked a cigarette in my life! Praise God!  These deliverances all happened simultaneously once I realized what Christ really did at the Cross. He still offers the same healing today that He did during His ministry on earth!  I have received a tremendous miracle. Ten years ago, I had my thyroid removed because of a cancerous tumor that had been growing in it. Since then I had taken total replacement hormone for my body systems to function. If I missed more than two or three days in a row of taking it, I would not be able to hear my alarm to wake up in the morning or to think clearly that day.  The doctors had told me that I could not live without this replacement hormone – the body cannot function without it indefinitely. All the body systems would shut down and I would eventually slip into a coma and die. About a year ago the doctors kept having to retake my thyroid blood levels and adjust my prescription dosage down. Every six weeks, when I would go in to have the blood level drawn again, it would still be too high! Because I didn't understand what was happening at the time, I was becoming frustrated at the lab and the doctor. After I read “Sovereign God,” I realized that God had been growing my thyroid back all this time in preparation for the coming wilderness time ahead! I reached up to my neck and felt around the scar. Sure enough, there was something there again!   I had wondered about this situation in a wilderness-type environment, with no access to meds or health care. Now I don't have to be concerned about it anymore because I have received a tremendous miracle. I have been off my thyroid replacement meds for three months now. I feel more energy now than while taking it. God is good! He truly will meet all our needs even before we ask or before we have come to fully know the truth! God has wonderful things for me to serve Him with in the near future. I won't leave this earth until He is finished with me. Thank You, Father, for Your gifts! Another testimony:   Set Free from Unforgiveness by A.L. I had unforgiveness in my heart toward someone. The Lord said it was time to be delivered, and He started working with me. This took about one year. It was rough at first. The enemy didn't want to leave, trying several times to keep me from forgiving. I put up a wall when this person was around. It was my way to keep from being hurt anymore. Some encounters were better than others, but the more I prayed, the better they got. Oftentimes, my memory would be flooded with all the hurtful things that I had buried inside. But I would cry out to the Lord and ask Him to forgive me for holding onto them and to please take them. He always did. There were times that I would be mad or aggravated with this person and would start ranting about what they had done. These rantings, the out-loud ones, were always to my mom. The rantings in my mind were to the Lord. He would always settle me down and take that memory so that it would be gone. My mom would very gently and lovingly look at me and tell me to let it go and remind me that I had to forgive this person. Most of the time it worked, but a few times I would fire back at her out of frustration and tell her, “I know. I'm working on it, but it doesn't go away overnight.” My mom prayed for me a lot, probably more than I realized.  During this time, the Lord had me listen to the audio of “The Curse of Unforgiveness” series. [This is also in book form and available at no charge from ubm1.org as a PDF.] I downloaded it to my iPod and would go for a walk and listen to it. I listened to it several times. The more I prayed and overcame, the more layers the Lord peeled off.  During the winter months, I like to stand or sit in front of the fire to pray. It's always quiet and peaceful. One night, the Lord put this person in my mind, so I started to pray. As I was praying, I asked the Lord to forgive me for having unforgiveness, anger, hurt, and bitterness in my heart. I asked Him, “Would You please take it?” As soon as I said those words, I felt it all come out of my chest. It was gone. I can't explain, but the feeling was great! I started praising the Lord with tears streaming down my face. I was free!  The next night I was in my same spot, praying. The Lord brought this person to my mind again, only this time, I had to ask for love. I told the Lord, “I don't love this person. Would You please forgive me and give me love for them?” As soon as I said those words, I felt the love of God go right in through my chest. This feeling is indescribable – a hundred times better than the night before. I stood with tears streaming down my face, praising the Lord for His grace to get me through to the end.  I love this person now and pray for them. I can be around them without it bothering me. There are no more buried memories. The Lord tilled up all of the roots so they could be plucked up and He could plant His Seed. Whenever I am delivered of something, I ask the Lord to fill that spot with something from Him. Thank You, Heavenly Father for Your grace to get me through to the end.  We learn that it is the Father Who turns people over to the tormentors. Scripture consistently tells us God uses demons for chastening (Matthew 18:34). When we want to take away a demon's authority, we need to make sure that the groundwork has been done first so that we have the legal right to take away his authority. We must forgive. Jesus tells a story of a master who had forgiven his servant a great debt, but this servant went out and would not forgive his fellow servant a much smaller debt. Jesus said that His Father would turn that unforgiving servant over to the tormentors until he should pay what was due.  Let's read that parable. (Mat.18:21) Then came Peter and said to him, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? until seven times? (22) Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times; but, Until seventy times seven. (23) Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, who would make a reckoning with his servants. (24) And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents. (25) But forasmuch as he had not [wherewith] to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.  (26) The servant therefore fell down and worshiped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. (27) And the lord of that servant, being moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. (28) But that servant went out, and found one of his fellow-servants, who owed him a hundred shillings: and he laid hold on him, and took [him] by the throat, saying, Pay what thou owest. (29) So his fellow-servant fell down and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee. (30) And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.  (31) So when his fellow-servants saw what was done, they were exceeding sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. (32) Then his lord called him unto him, and saith to him, Thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou besoughtest me: (33) shouldest not thou also have had mercy on thy fellow-servant, even as I had mercy on thee? (34) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due. (35) So shall also my heavenly Father do unto you, if ye forgive not every one his brother from your hearts. The Lord said He will turn you over to the tormentors until you pay for what you have done because if you don't forgive, you are not forgiven. The devil knows when he has this right. He knows when you are not forgiven and he torments you, and his demons will continue to torment you, until you take that right away from him. This is necessary because you can't be saved while you are holding on to unforgiveness. If you don't forgive, you are not forgiven, which is the very foundation of salvation. If you want to take away the demons' rights over you, you need to forgive and you need to believe that Jesus delivered you from them at the Cross. That's the key. (Col.1:13) Who delivered us (it has already been done) out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.  Like this person's testimony, if you will be sure to forgive everyone and exercise your faith toward God's promises, you will be a new person who is free to love and to associate with good people. I say that because so many of these people don't feel comfortable around good people and don't associate with good people. When they're around good people, they feel convicted. In my experience most demonic torment and much sickness is based in unforgiveness. See - The Curse of Unforgiveness

The book of Job is wisdom literature, like Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. What can we add to what has already been written on the Book of Job? Is it the oldest book in the canon as its historical milieu would place it, or was it written (down) much later? Is it merely a literary story meant to illuminate the relation between God and man-in-the-created-order, or is it historical? We are not so foolish as to claim that we know any of these answers, or how God has in fact put His word together, but we have learned not to put the plausible stories of man in the place of what He says in His word. We will never go far wrong if we simply trust what God says, being careful readers of scripture. What we do know is that Job is a masterpiece of literature by any metric, and one of (if not) THE greatest works of wisdom literature ever crafted. I cannot help but end with a quote from another such brilliant work: Ecclesiastes 7:23–29 All this I have tested by wisdom. I said, “I will be wise,” but it was far from me. That which has been is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness.... Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, while adding one thing to another to find the scheme of things — which my soul has sought repeatedly, but I have not found.... See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes. (ESV) Ecclesiastes 12:10–13 The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (ESV)

When we fear something, we run away from them, right? Not so with God.As children of God, we are removed from His wrath and brought into sonship. Our terror is turned to awe and reverence to our Heavenly Father. We now delight to obey Him, and “would be ashamed to do anything which would grieve him”, as Sinclair Ferguson explains.Scott and Chris dive deeper into the fear of God in this episode, and explain how the fear of God as His children help us from wandering.Ask a Mailbag QuestionFollow Us on InstagramVisit Our Website

Join us as Mike Bongo concludes our sermon series on the book of Ecclesiastes with a sermon entitled "Fear God and Keep His Commandments" from Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.

Sometimes you need to take a stand!

This message closes out our series in Ecclesiastes with a look at the passage that has served as our benediction throughout. We will examine the importance of fearing God. Speaker: Minister & Lead Pastor, Tom Olsson Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on June 22, 2025

This message closes out our series in Ecclesiastes with a look at the passage that has served as our benediction throughout. We will examine the importance of fearing God. Speaker: Minister & Lead Pastor, Tom Olsson Passage: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 This was recorded live in Grand Rapids, MI on June 22, 2025

Do you ever feel like fear is hiding in plain sight—disguised as perfectionism, control, or a constant buzz of worry? In today’s devotional, Keri Eichberger gets real about her lifelong battle with anxiety and the freedom she’s discovered in trusting a sovereign, loving God. This isn’t just a pep talk—it’s a call to honest reflection and a practical reset for anxious hearts. Because when God is near, fear doesn’t stand a chance. What You'll Learn: Why fear often hides in everyday thought patterns (and how to spot it). How to recognize the connection between control, anxiety, and misplaced trust. Two core truths that disarm fear: God is in control and God loves you deeply. The difference between knowing you “shouldn’t worry” and actually living in peace.