Fear Of God Part 1

When the preacher prophezied of famine and wars, the teenagers mock, the adults laugh and scorn! They said "we've heard that before". The preacher called people to repentance while things are still going good but the dwellers despised it!

Twenty years later it strikes!

Men don't relate disasters today to age-old prophecy of many years past! Now they'll question heaven for their misery. Do you think if the famine and war strike the second day or second year after the prophecy they would have understood? But God's word is not of mere yesterday! "A thousand years to the Lord is but as yesterday when it is past". YOUR TOMORROW IS ALREADY HERE IN HIS EYES! SO IS YOUR TWENTY YEARS AHEAD, TO THE ONE THAT IS ANCIENT OF DAYS! He can tell you of your 30 years from now just as easily as your yesterday which you forgot!

A pending disaster in 20 years may only be averted if you change your ways right now! Therefore the wise God sends to men an early warning! Lest you build up many years deficit which cannot be recalled. HE TOLD NOAH ABOUT THE FLOOD 120 YEARS BEFORE IT OCCURRED, BECAUSE THE ARK WILL NOT BE READY IN A FEW DAYS! "There is a way which seemeth good unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"! REPENT TODAY, FOR TOMORROW MAY BE TOO LATE! Don't wait till the prophecies of doom rolled in to your doorsteps, when your innocent children or grandchildren are around: the ones to reap the harvest of your refusal to understand and to fear God!

This second epistle I now write unto you in which I stir up your pure mind that you may be mindful of the words spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandments of us the apostles of the Lord and saviour, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lust. Remember ye the judgement prophezied that "the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of ungodly men". Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Yea, all holy prophets have warned! And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, before he disappeared, prophesied of these. Lo, we have come a full circle again to the Enoch cycle, of the sons of God who will translate and overcome death! We tell and warn this generation again, like Enoch of old, that "THE LORD COMETH WITH TEN THOUSANDS OF HIS SAINTS; TO EXECUTE JUDGEMENT UPON ALL, AND TO CONVINCE ALL THAT ARE UNGODLY AMONG THEM OF ALL THEIR UNGODLY DEEDS WHICH THEY HAVE UNGODLY COMMITTED, AND OF ALL THEIR HARD SPEECHES WHICH UNGODLY SINNERS HAVE SPOKEN AGAINST HIM".

But thou child of God, flee from the judgement that looms ahead, into the sheltering arms of Jesus Christ; and keep yourself pure, that the wicked one touch you not!.

KEEP YOURSELF PURE

To some people, I was out of date, and my interpretation of God was old fashioned. But "be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap". There are three great enemies that are constantly working hard to spoil our lives with sin and to trap our souls for eternity:

1) Our flesh: (Rom. 7:18) "For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." Gal.5:19-21 says "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleaness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,variance , emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like of the which I tell you before,as I have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God". (Jer.17:9) "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" When one is born again, one shall have a new appetite. (Gal.5:22&23) "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. To live a pure and holy life, one must have a new life in Christ Jesus. Some people start a reform program or join a church or make resolutions, even get baptized, but never find victory over sin. They wonder why! These are all insufficient for victory without Jesus Christ. No power but his, can give us victory over sin and the flesh. The apostle Paul says "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me". (Phil.4:13).

2) The second tremendous enemy christians face in living pure lives is the devil. (I Pet.5:8) "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour". He is deceitful and cunning and is more than a match for anyone in one's own strength. The only refuge is in Jesus Christ. "Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil".

3) The third and subtle enemy to pure living is the world. The tendency in the world is towards inpurity. In the world, it is popular to sin and to be impure. There are many pressures that allures in the world to live unchaste lives. The bible says "the whole world lieth in wickedness", and "satan is the god of this world". Therefore, "be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove wht is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God". "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyman loves the world, the love of the father is not in him" (1 Jn.2:15). Outside Christ, we are easy prey for our flesh, the devil and the world. Give your life in complete surrender to Christ Then and then only can you have purity of life, peace of heart and satisfaction of soul. "Keep yourself pure" is our spiritual challenge, but only a transformed life in Christ can accomplish this.

Some people thought God will overlook and excuse young people who engage in sin. Some parents even defend the sinful practices of their children but such behavior often lead young people into life-time regrets and even eternal judgement. "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth: and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou that for all these things, God will bring you into judgement" (Eccl.11:9). Here, the wise man Solomon says" "Go ahead, young man, live according to the desires of your flesh, no one will stop you; but remember that for all these things God will bring you into judgement". Job says "For thou writest bitter things against me and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth" (Job.13:26). These verses are certainly clear that God will not cover sin, whether practized by the youth. God has made provisions for salvation and victory over sin are available for youth. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it". (1 Cor.10:13). God will provide a way of escape from every temptation; If you are serious, your part is to recognize the escape route and get out of temptation. Even Joseph in Egypt had to leave his garment behind and flee for his dear life rather than commit adultery, 'so that God may fight for him'. The bible again calls young people to purity and holiness of life: "Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth; while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them" (Eccl.12:1). ITim.4:12 says "Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity".

Sin does not satisfy! There is no enjoyment in sin! A young lady was asked once why she was doing a sinful thing when she claimed to be a christian. She said she wanted to enjoy herself. It is deception! The aim of satan in tempting people is nothing more than an effort to spoil their life and damn their soul, and he will do it unless you go to Christ for salvation and deliverance. A FISH CAUGHT IN THE FISHERMAN'S HOOK THOUGHT THE BAIT IS REALLY SWEET, NOT REALIZING IT IS FOR HIS LIFE. Give Christ complete control in your life and you will find that "greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world". Through Christ you can be kept pure. Every other way besides Christ will finally end in failure.

THE BIBLE SPEAKS ON PURITY

Keep thyself pure is an important command found in the word of God. (I Tim.5:22) "Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure". When we say we love Jesus it means a lot; for how can we say we love Jesus if we do not keep his commandment? Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandment" (Jn.14:15). The psalmist asked "who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?" Then he answered: "he that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully". (Psa.24:3-4). Jesus said in Mat.5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God". Those with a pure heart are able to reach God now in worship and will see God in the end. Heb.12:14 also says "Follow peace with all men and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord". We must keep ourselves pure if we would gain heaven. Although not that one gains heaven by pure living. Salvation comes by faith through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, but pure living is what we have when Christ saves us :"If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and TO CLEANSE US from all unrighteousness". If you are not an hog, stay out of the mud! "We know that he that is born of God sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God KEEPETH himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not" (I Jn.1:9; 5:18). Apostle Paul said "But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks" (Ephe.5:3-4). "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleaness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience", (Col.3:5-6).

And what about the verse that says God created them male and female and said unto them "be fruitful and multiply"? Such question has been raised by skeptics of purity. However this scripture informs us that sexual partnership was made by God for the husband and wife relationship. It was intended for perpetuating the human race. But when a sexual experience takes place outside of wedlock, it becomes a damning sin. God has pronounced judgement upon those who use sex in other ways. Sex before marriage is fornication and a great evil before the Lord which is punishable with death. Moses spoke about this: "If any man takes a wife, and go in unto her, and hate her; ..... and bring up an evil name upon her and say, I took this woman, and when I came unto her, I found her not a maid, then shall the father of the damsel and her mother bring the tokens of the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate .... But if this thing be true, and the tokens of virginity be not found for the damsel, then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city SHALL STONE HER WITH STONES THAT SHE DIE: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you" (Deut.22:13-21).

Yea Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today and forever; "God requireth that which is past" (Eccl.3:15). Children, keep yourself pure!

Judgement for the impure:

When sexual experiences take place outside of wedlock, it is sin and will bring a harvest of misery and remorse. God puts curse on immorality. The first curse is that it brings judgement from God. (Lev.20:10) "And the man that committed adultery with another man's wife, even he that committed adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death". The second curse on immorality is defilement: "Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbour's wife to defile thyself with her" (Lev.18:20). Again (In 1 Cor.5:18) "Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committed fornication sinneth against his own body". Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church about one of their members who was guilty of immorality. He said when the church comes together, they should expel him from the fellowship (1 Cor.5:3-5). He also said further "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away that wicked person". (1 Cor.5:11-13).

A Christian brother was caught with pornographic textbooks used in a college-subject cunningly named "human-sexuality", under the guise of "social sciences" . The wise will stay away from such college courses but the "simple pass on and are punished". What is pornography? It is simply fornication with your eyes! When I pointed it out to this brother years ago that it was wrong, he forbade me to enter his house again and would not talk to me for years. I left him with the scripture which said "CORRECTION is grievious unto him that forsaketh the way". When those lustful demons took over, the first thing we notice is such men began to touch and hug somebody else's wives in the congregation. Watch them! "Whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent" (Prov.6:29). Not long afterwards, this brother was accused of fornication, had married and divorced and remarried, and had been accused of fathering an illegitimate child by another divorcee. "HAVING EYES FULL OF ADULTERY, AND THAT CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN" (2 Pet.2:14a). The shame alone is something! "But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away". (Prov.6:32-33).

No one can disobey God without suffering the consequences! A wrong use of sex breeds disease and deteriorates one's character and personality, and spoils one from enjoying the best in the true marriage relationship.

The third curse on immorality is that it closes the door to heaven. Those who would not repent are trading with spiritual death and damnation. The bible tells us frankly that homosexuals, fornicators, and adulterers cannot inherit the kingdom of God. "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers,nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind; nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God". (1 Cor.6:9-10).

"Marriage is honourable in all and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Heb.13:4). Rev.21:8 reads"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death". These scriptures clearly tell us that impure living, unrepented of, will keep a person out of heaven. Don't be robbed of eternal life. Now adays many young people have fallen into sin by the flattering lips of the opposite sex. Proverbs chapter seven describes how people are led into impure living. Those who play with their emotions and toy with impurity end up far beyond their first intentions and plans. Gradually they become ensnared victims; often the begining was allowing lust to take them into a world of unreality. Under sexual temptations people do more foolish things and throw their lives away more quickly than under any other circumstances. When you do not claim immediate victory over your passions and lusts, you are wide open to be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and you are an easy prey to sins that will bring a lifetime of regret. Consider the end before you begin!

If you are guilty of impure living, God's grace can reach you now, and his mercy will forgive you. That is, of course, if you repent of your sins and turn from them. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn.1:9). Thank God that through Jesus Christ, we can be forgiven and cleansed from sin, yes, even from the sin of immorality. Will you not now repent? Pray now to Jesus Christ to forgive you and to come into your heart, and to cleanse your life from the sins. Make your decision now to follow Jesus, to obey the word of God and to study the bible daily!

WHO IS IMPURE?

Many people are deceived by the devil that they are not guilty if they are not caught. But the bible says "therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God" (1 Cor.4:5). "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; and he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting" (Gal.6:7-8). Don't be deceived that you are not guilty of sin if you are not caught. Remember the bible says: "For God shall bring every work into judgement; with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Eccl.12:14). These scriptures show us that one cannot escape the consequences of sins committed in secret because God will surely bring them to judgement. God's word says we are to "abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul" (1 Pet.2:11). Some people try to satisfy their consciences with the thought that they have not sinned as long as they are just short of the "sex act"; so, they engage in all kinds of familiarities with the opposite sex. They engage in heavy petting and fondling thinking that they have not sinned since they did not go all the way. Many married people are unfaithful to their partners by such intimacies with another but try to make themselves believe that they are doing no serious wrong. What a deception! God calls it SIN. Jesus said: "YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT WAS SAID BY THEM OF OLD TIME, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT WHOSOEVER LOOKETH ON A WOMAN TO LUST AFTER HER HATH COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER ALREADY IN HIS HEART" (Mat.5:27-28). In James 1:14,15 it reads: "But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death". Jude 18-19 says "remember ye not the words of the apostles of the Lord, how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts".

Literal acts are not necessary to make us guilty of sin. One can be guilty of immorality through lustful eyes, lustful dressing, even lustful imagination. The bible tells us that before the great flood, "God 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. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart" (Gen.6:5,6). "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man." (Mat.15:19,20a). By God's standard, one can see that those who read sexy literatures, or look at obscene pictures, or tell suggestive stories are guilty of the sin of immorality.

If you are guilty of the sin of immorality, either by thought or deed, God waits to cleanse you from it. When you repent of these sins and turn to Christ for a new heart, then and then only will you find deliverance. God says "come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it". (Isa.1:18-21).

Reward of Purity:

God has planned and desired that all people should be happy, successful, honorable, and should receive eternal life, but he will not force anyone to receive these blessings. The provision is abundant, but the choice is yours. God's grace and mercy are available but we must voluntarily accept his provisions. Keep yourself pure because purity makes you trustworthy: Proverbs 31:10 says "who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies". When people have kept themselves pure they are usually trustworthy in every area. Proverbs 6:32,33 says that impurity destroys confidence.When a person has once betrayed trust, it makes it difficult for others to trust the person again. Purity qualifies you for christian service: (1 Tim.3:2-7) "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of fithy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous ....". "For a bishop must be blameless as the steward of God: not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker,not given to filthy lucre. But lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate" (Titus 1:7,8).

Many people have disqualified themselves from positions of leadership in the church, the community, and the business world because they have had a fling at impurity. Keep yourselves pure so that you can qualify for responsibilities that have spiritual and eternal consequences.

"This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind; having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephe.4:17-19). Consider therefore these things and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ in repentance! "AND WHEREWITHAL SHALL A YOUNG MAN CLEANSE HIS WAY? BY TAKING HEED THERETO ACCORDING TO THY WORD" (God's word!) (Psa.119:9). Finally, come ye children, hearken unto me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. WHAT MAN IS HE THAT DESIRETH LIFE, AND LOVETH MANY DAYS THAT HE MAY SEE GOOD? KEEP THY TONGUE FROM EVIL AND THY LIPS FROM SPEAKING GUILE; Depart from evil, and do good. Seek peace, and pursue it! The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. But the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth" (Psa.34:11-16). "FOR THE WAYS OF MAN ARE BEFORE THE EYES OF THE LORD, AND HE PONDERETH ALL HIS GOINGS" (Prov.5:21)

Repent therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out!

(Say this prayer with me right now: LORD JESUS, I AM A SINNER! I AM SORRY FOR DISAPPOINTING YOU; I NEED YOU NOW LORD! FORGIVE ME AND CLEANSE ME WITH YOUR BLOOD. YOU SHED YOUR PRECIOUS BLOOD FOR ME TO ATONE FOR MY SINS. CLEANSE ME NOW LORD; CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART, AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME; HELP ME LORD! LET ME SIN NO MORE. THANK YOU FOR ACCEPTING ME. AMEN!)



Bro. Julius Adewumi, GOSPEL DISTRIBUTION; USA.