October 27, 2024 / 0 comments

Hope – Its Source

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

  • Hebrews 4:16

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

  • Hebrews 10:19

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

  • Hebrews 12:28-29

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

  • Genesis 3:8-10

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

  • Philippians 2:12-13

“Biblical references to the fear of God fall into two distinct categories. The first is awesome dread, and the second is astonished devotion.”

  • Dr. David Jeremiah, Hope, Living Fearlessly in a Scary World

Dr. Jeremiah has that secondary title which has been a theme throughout the book.  What are our fears?  How can we cope?  How can we live fearlessly?  This world has been a scary place ever since Adam and Eve bit into that forbidden fruit.  But it seems to have gotten so much more scary in my lifetime.  Maybe that is how God prepares His Saints for the next step in life, to die and be with Him forever.

But do you have a fearful dread of seeing God and being in His presence?  Are you like Adam and Eve?  Will you run and hide?

Or will you be so in awe, that you might fall flat of your face in worship?

But that is at a time, either way, when our decisions have already been made.

What is God offering here and now?

Dr. Jeremiah gives Scriptures that are promises from God.  These promises are provided to each believer who fears God, for God is the biggest fear, whichever way you fear Him.  I will just give the Bible reference for you to look up.

  • The Promise of Provision: Psalm 34:9-10
  • The Promise of Protection: Psalm 33:18-19
  • The Promise of Purity: Psalm 103:12-13 and 2 Corinthians 7:1
  • The Promise of Prosperity: Psalm 128:1-2
  • The Promise of Prolonged Days: Proverbs 10:27
  • The Promise of Privilege: Malachi 3:16
  • The Promise of Perpetuity: Deuteronomy 5:29 and Psalm 103:17

And Dr. Jeremiah gives a fitting conclusion from Solomon:

“Now all has been heard;
    here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
    for this is the duty of all mankind.”

  • Ecclesiastes 12:13

Lord, strengthen me.  Make us fearless.  You give us fearlessness from death, knowing that our destination is better, but we are so timid against the little things in comparison.  The harsh word, the flair of anger.  Regardless of the concept today that those are harmful, it seems that only Christians and Jews are made to withstand them.  We need to be made of sterner stuff.  We have You within us.  We should act like it.  Thank You for being there in the past and thank You in advance for being there the next time.  In Your name I pray.  Amen.

Editor’s Note: The mini-series that is starting next Sunday Afternoon will be crazy love by Francis Chan. I had thought about doing his book when I opted for Dr. Jeremiah’s. Sometimes we need to wait on the Lord. (My late wife’s often used saying)

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.

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