THE FEAR OF GOD!

EXODUS 20: 20

"Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that THE FEAR OF HIM may remain with you, so that you may not sin!"

The beginning of wisdom is THE FEAR OF GOD! The One Truth Today points out how important it is to have the fear of God remain with you, so that you do not sin! That is a test of God, and those that pass do not have to be afraid. It is a wise and healthy thing to have THE FEAR OF GOD! Without the fear of God what is to keep you from sinning and doing anything that comes to your mind, including anything that you and others can conceive? What keeps us from killing others, committing adultery, homosexuality, or any of the other sins? Where would our sense of morality and socially acceptable behavior be if we did not fear God, and His judgement? Those who do not fear God, have no morals. They feel no guilt and thus they keep on sinning. There is no remorse and thus nothing to stop them. They fail the test of God. Those who fear God cannot understand those who do not, but it does explain their behavior.

The Lord gave His ten commandments in a dramatic way to Moses. There was thunder and lightening, smoke and trumpets. The people trembled with fear at the sights and sounds, and stayed a safe distance away from the site. They believed that if God spoke directly to or was seen by a person, they would die. Moses overcame that fear and knew that God was testing man and that THE FEAR OF GOD, was also a blessing from God to keep them from sinning!

You do not have to be afraid when God tests you, but you do have to be afraid if you do not fear God! The reverential fear of God was placed in your heart by the God that can Save you from your sins. Knowing and accepting this gift will keep you from sinning and lead to new life!

The beginning of wisdom is THE FEAR OF GOD! Respect for His Word and His Truth follow naturally. That is why we are called believer's. That is what separates God fearing people from non believer's. We are all going to be tested in this life, but, if you fear God and live by His commandments you will avoid sinning and you will be Saved! Those who do not Fear God do not have a fear of anything and their actions prove it. They have no respect for God and no constraints on their behavior. The problem is that everyone is responsible for their choices and actions and they will reap what they sew. Bad acts lead to bad results and the harvest of sewing the seeds of sin is death. The Reverent Fear of God is what keeps us from sinning and making bad choices. Rejection of God leads to separation forever and damnation instead of Salvation. Have you passed the test? Have you learned about THE FEAR OF GOD?

THEY DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH!

MATTHEW 23: 3

"For THEY DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH!"

Did your parents ever tell you not to do something that they in fact did themselves? When someone pontificates about what you are doing or what you are about to do, could they apply the same message to themselves? When it comes to their faith, do they practice what they preach! When a pastor or teacher of the Word does not live up to what they preach, what is your reaction? Why is it that some among us want to appear righteous while they commit the sins that they warn others about. It is not uncommon for those in authority to place heavy burdens on their constituents while at the same time never applying the same rules to themselves. They try to exalt themselves with empty pride and then to add insult to injury, THEY DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH!

The One Truth Today instructs us about the Lords Word and what He thinks of false teachers and hypocrites. As parents He wants us to listen and then obey His Word before we try to instruct others on how to act. His teachings must be on our minds and hearts before we can try to tell others what to do. Remove the plank from your own eye before you address the splinter in another persons eye. We have to practice what we preach in order to be credible. Always keeping in mind that "no one is good, no not one". Let him who is without sin cast the first stone! It is our duty to strive for perfection and the goal of righteousness. We know that only Jesus Christ the Lord God is capable of perfection and without His mercy we could never be Saved from our sins. No one should say about you, THEY DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH!

If you are a child of God and a servant of the Lord you need to be humble in spirit and striving to do only the Will of God. We need to know God's expectations and plan for our lives. We need to not only hear His Word, but we need to put them into action in our lives. We can not be a hearer only, we must be a doer of the Word. Guard yourself against telling other what to do unless the Lord leads you and teaches you what to do and say. Never be a hypocrite and tell someone to do something when you are not willing to do the same thing yourself. Be true to your word and the Word of God. Your actions will speak louder than your words and others will know if you are true to your words. Your children and others in your influence will know what the truth is. Do not let anyone say about you, THEY DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH!

WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID?

PSALM 27: 1

"The Lord is my light and my Salvation, so WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?"

Have you ever been so afraid that you trembled? As a child were you afraid of the dark or what was under your bed? Before important events in your life have you been afraid of what might happen? Before the proposal, before the exam, before the battle, did you tremble and were you frightened? Are you worried right now about something that you have to, or may have to face?

Is there something that might effect your life, that could occur, and your confidence is at a low point? The One Truth Today is here to help you right now! If you can answer affirmatively to these questions, then your troubles are over! Is Jesus Christ, the Lord God, the light of your life. Have you accepted the Lord into your heart and do you believe in Him for your Salvation! Do you know for a certainty that the Lord is your fortress that will always protect you from danger. Then why should I tremble, WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID!

In this Psalm, David has seen the light and knows that his Salvation comes from the Lord. David is assured that he is not alone in any of his struggles, and even if he stumbles or falls the Lord will save him. David knows that their are evil people in the world and that his enemies will attempt to destroy him, but he knows that the Lord will Save him. David is aware that there is a strong tower or fortress that he can run into and be safe. David, just as ourselves, will be protected from danger and concludes that he does not have to tremble and even in a time of great danger he can say, WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID? If the Lord is with you then you can say the same thing.

Has the Lord Jesus Christ become your Salvation? If you are a child of God you do not need to fear anything in this world. The Lord is inside of you, and beside you, and will be with you to protect you from all harm, even to the end of time! So if the Lord will Save you and give you New and Eternal life, why should you ever be afraid of anything and why should you ever tremble? You will never die the second death. No one and no thing can ever have control over your eternal soul and your eternal body, except the Lord God. When you are yoked together with the Lord you are an unbeatable team. There is no load or no burden that you can not pull together. If necessary the Lord will carry you. The Lord is our light, and He is our Salvation. You have the fortress of God protecting you from danger and it is impenetrable. Do you have the Lord? You can say with assurance, WHY SHOULD I TREMBLE, WHY SHOULD I BE AFRAID!

THE GOD OF THE LIVING!

MATTHEW 22: 32

"I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. I am

THE GOD OF THE LIVING, and not the dead."

The One Truth Today is a remarkable statement that was made by the Lord God after the deaths of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, . It confirms to us all that there is life after death when the Lord said, I am THE GOD OF THE LIVING! What do you believe will happen to you after you die? Is your death the end of everything? The Sadducees', at the time of Jesus Christ, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They obviously did not understand the scriptures. They did not acknowledge the power of God over life and death. Do you believe in the resurrection of your body after death? Where will your soul spend eternity? If you do not believe God you will be just like the Sadducees', wrong, and not understanding of His power!

Whether you believe it or not, Jesus Christ is THE GOD OF THE LIVING!

In Exodus 3: 6 God said, "I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

God was speaking in the present tense. His message was clear, that He is the God of the living and not the dead. Although their earthly bodies had passed and had been buried in the ground, their soul and their new heavenly body was present with the Lord. They were not just figures of the past, but still living and present with the Lord. God spoke of this long after they had died to the flesh. There is no confusion in this message,. The faithful and righteous among us will be resurrected to be with Jesus Christ the Lord God for eternity. He is not the God of the dead, he is THE GOD OF THE LIVING!

Many heard the message then and many have heard the message now. Some did not hear the message then and some do not hear the message now, but, the message has never changed!

Those who do not believe in life after death are in for a shocking revelation upon their demise.

You have not comprehended the power and plan of God. His Word has revealed to all who will listen what your future holds. That is why it is explained so often that "the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God". If you are not afraid of death and your future, you are a fool, and once more you are a dead man walking. If you accept and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you will be Saved and your soul and new body will live on for eternity in Heaven. Even though you have died to the flesh the Lord will say about you, I am THE GOD OF THE LIVING!

OBEY YOUR FATHER!

MATTHEW 21: 31

"Which of the two sons OBEYED HIS FATHER?"

Our One Truth Today is found in the Lord's parable about the father and his two son's. The oldest son was asked to go and work in his father's vineyard. If you relate this to yourself today, it would be the equivalent of the Lord asking you to go and work in His Church. The older son refused to go and work in the vineyard and did not obey his father. Have you refused the call of the Lord to work in His Vineyard? In our parable the older son finally did what his father requested and obeyed him by working in the vineyard. How many of us have come to a knowledge of the Lord and knew what He wanted us to do? So many times the desires of our life on earth caused us to disobey the will of the Lord. Like the older son, did you finally obey and agree to work in your Father's vineyard? Have you come to accept the Lord's will for your life?

When the first son refused to work in his father's vineyard, he turned to his younger son and asked him to go and obey him. The second son said that he would go and work in the vineyard.

There was a problem because the younger son did not go and did not obey and did not work in his father's vineyard. He did not do the will of his father, even though he said he would. In fact he never intended to what his father requested. This son was only giving lip service to his father and pretended to do his will. In the end the oldest son did in fact go and work in his father's vineyard even though he had refused to do so at first. This brings us to the Lord's threshold question; "which of the two sons obeyed his father"? Which son are you like? Have you obeyed your Father in Heaven?

The priests and elders knew the right answer. They knew that the first son had obeyed his father and did what he asked in the end. Their problem was that they did not understand that they represented the second son, who said he would go and did not! They missed the truth and the Messiah that they had looked and longed for. If you do not acknowledge and accept the Lord into your life you can not do the will of God. You can not agree to do God's will and then do your own will. They had failed to learn to OBEY YOUR FATHER. We must obey the Word of God and have trust and faith in him. In that Jesus Christ is the Lord God we must first know and love Him. We must put His Word into action in our lives. If you want to work in your Father's vineyard you must OBEY YOUR FATHER! Are you a good son or daughter that obeys your Father?

IF YOU HAVE FAITH!

MATTHEW 21: 22

"You can pray for anything, and IF YOU HAVE FAITH, you will receive it!"

There is a lot of controversy about those who "name it and claim it". Many question whether you will receive, if you believe. So many people have questioned why their prayers have not been answered. If a believer asks for something in prayer, with great faith and assurance, shouldn't it be answered? Why are our prayers not answered? If we have a firm and relying trust and faith in God, and we have no doubt, shouldn't all of our prayers be realized? Could we actually move a mountain and throw it into the sea? The One Truth Today tells us that we can pray for anything, and IF YOU HAVE FAITH, you will receive it! Do you believe your prayers will be answered?

It is not sufficient to believe eight out of the ten commandments. You can not just pick and choose your way through the Word of God. It will not matter whether you believe what the Lord tells you, His Word will still be the Truth. Either you believe that the Bible is the infallible Truth or you do not. Just as a surgeon can not be "partially sterile" in an operation, and a woman can not be "a little bit pregnant", you can not say you have a little faith, or some faith and count that as "IF YOU HAVE FAITH"! What the Lord is trying to teach us here is that can not be a partial believer, or believe a little bit, you have to have 100% true and abiding faith, and no doubt in God! IF YOU HAVE FAITH, of that kind, you can ask for anything and you will receive it. Is it possible for a man to have that kind of faith? Yes we can!

There is another consideration that must be understood to allow us to comprehend this concept. To receive the answer to your prayers you must be a believer who has faith and is a child of God. You have to understand that the answer to your prayers may be immediate, or it may be delayed or the answer may be NO! A large component is whether or not it is in the will of God. Another important concept is that some prayers are not answered until we pass from this life to our eternal home in Heaven. "The blind will see, the lame will walk the dumb will speak", can occur on earth under the appropriate circumstances, but will definitely occur when as we die to this life we are given new life, in perfection and Heaven. Prayers are answered in God's will and in God's timing, but they will be answered. Pray that you will be in God's will.

Ask with faith for anything, knowing that you have complete faith in God and that He will answer your prayers, in His timing. You can pray for anything, IF YOU HAVE FAITH, you will receive it!

I TRUST IN YOU!

PSALM 25: 1-2

"Oh Lord, I give my life to you. I TRUST IN YOU, my God!"

We live in a precarious world. Who do you trust? Do you trust that someone enough to place your life in their hands? Do they have the ability to Save you or give you new and eternal life?

One has to be careful when choosing the one to trust, because the threshold question is, can they do the job, can they be trusted? Will they ever leave you or desert you? Are they infallible or fallible? That is why you can never put your trust in a man, they will let you down every time, because they are fallible and subject to many limitations. The truth is that there is only one in whom you can trust. "Oh Lord, I give my life to you. I TRUST IN YOU, my God"!

The perfect answer to the question, who do you trust, is Jesus Christ, the Lord God. He is the only one with no beginning and no ending. He is the only one who is all powerful and all knowing and always present. He is the only one who can save you from death and give you new life, and that eternal in perfection. He is the only one who can forgive you of your sins and have mercy upon your soul. There is really only one teacher who has the answers to all of your questions about life. He is the Truth, the Light and the Way. If you want to have hope for your tomorrow and to see your soul lifted up, there is only one you can find and say, I TRUST IN YOU. my God!

We all need to give thanks and praise to the Lord for He alone is good and He alone can Save us. He will not remember our sins and offenses and instead will forgive us and give us new and eternal life. The Lord accepts us as we are with unfailing love and unconditional faithfulness.

The Lord always keeps His promises, unlike man, if we accept and believe Him. If you are relying on a parent, or sibling, a friend or a spouse, you are making a mistake. No one is good,

no not one, and that includes all men. Only God is good and only God is trustworthy. If you know that someone has imperfections and is subject to failure is that the right place to put your trust? There is only one place on earth or in the heavens where you can be certain of your trust! You can trust in the Lord, today, tomorrow and forever. The One Truth for Today is that if you give your life to the Lord God, you can say with assurance, I TRUST IN YOU!