Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of Scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
Have you ever witnessed a large forest fire? There have been many over the years, burning down forests in Canada, and down through the U.S. Perhaps you watched one on the news, as the thick plumes of their smoke filled the sky. Maybe you caught a glimpse of its fury, as its huge flames ignited dry trees like they were matchsticks. But if you have ever been up close to a fire, you will notice all of the animals, as they begin running out of the woods. They sense the danger that is quickly approaching, and take great heed to its warning. At that moment, the only thing that matters to them is saving their own lives, as they hurriedly abandon everything behind them, and flee from the wrath to come.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
To be saved, one must possess the fear of God. It is this fear of the fire of God’s wrath that men depart from evil. We live in an age that is filled with many forms of false Christianity, who actually teach that hell doesn’t exist, and it’s no wonder why they live as disobedient wretches to the true faith. It is the fear of God that causes people to change direction in their life. It is the fear of getting killed by the fire that causes the animals to run the other way. Even the critters know that they must turn or burn. Anyone who truly follows Christ Jesus will flee from their own sins, to save themselves from the wrath of God.
Hebrews 12 ²⁸ Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire.
Many religious people in the days of Jesus were refusing to repent, and turn from their sins. Oh, they certainly appeared religious on the outside, just like many people in Christianity today, both of which share the exact same characteristics. They refuse to align their lives with the teachings of scripture. For some of them, they are so arrogant that they can never be brought to a place of repentance, because there is no fear of God before their eyes.
“God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. Selah. Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.” Psalms 55:19
Matthew 3 ⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Genuine repentance is about fearing God enough to change direction in your life. It’s departing from sin to serve and do His will. It is to reject iniquity, and completely submit to God’s purpose. In these wicked times, many people are going the wrong direction, and if they don’t change course, they are going to perish in a head-on collision with the fire of God’s wrath.
Luke 13 ⁴ Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Jonah 3 ⁹ Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?
¹⁰ And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
Noah’s life is an example of a man who greatly feared God. He knew that the wrath of God was coming upon the Earth. It was his Godly fear that caused him to build an ark to save his family from the destruction that God would quickly bring to pass.
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7
The Lord Jesus commanded His own disciples to fear God. Anybody who claims to be one of His followers had better do the same.
“And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28
Like creatures departing from a forest fire, men depart from sinful living by the fear of God.
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6
“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7
The Philippian church was very obedient because they were walking in the fear of the Lord.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12
Those who continue living in their sins, and reject the path of repentance don’t fear God. They are unconcerned about the repercussions and consequences for their own rebellious behavior. God is not mocked, and His vengeance cometh quickly.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18
“….The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.” Psalms 36:1
“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:” Romans 11:20
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:” 1 Peter 1:17
There is no equality between a general and a private. Likewise, in the sight of God there is no equality between a woman and a man. There is no equality between a husband and a wife. Women must humbly submit to men in all places of society, otherwise they make a mockery of the teachings of our Christ. Women who refuse to do this are shameful, and have no fear of God, nor of man who was created in God’s image.
Ephesians 5 ²¹ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Those who claim to follow Christ will submit to the teachings of Christ. They will flee from their sins, to ensure their own salvation. As Noah and the other prophets knew, God is eventually going to destroy the wicked in His wrath. You would think that people would understand this, because even the animals in the woods have enough common sense to run away from…..
….. The Forest Fire
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.♥️
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 