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August 29, 2025
Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:14–16)
The first ditch is legalism, and the second one is lawlessness.
Many in the church were in the legalism ditch years ago. In those days holiness centered around man-made lifestyle requirements that were unscriptural. They preached a false gospel of salvation by works. It was terrible bondage and led many to resentment and some even leaving the faith. A major revelation delivered us from this horrible trench: God is a good God. Our heavenly Father’s love became real and pulled many out of this ditch of legalism.
we did what human beings often do—we determined to get so far from the legalistic trench that we strayed to the opposite side and fell into the lawlessness ditch. This ditch ensnares us into believing we are saved by an unscriptural grace that permits us to live no differently than the rest of the world—we can now live according to the desires that stem from our senses rather than a crucified life that draws from the power of Christ within. This is a lie that prevents many from experiencing the presence, blessing, and power of God. Holiness is not bondage; rather, it is the true liberty that
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“By the fear of the LORD one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6 NKJV).
“John, this prison was not God’s judgment on my life; it was His mercy. If I continued walking the path that I was on, I would have ended up in hell forever.”
there are millions of Americans just like me—they love Jesus, but they don’t fear God.”
Scripture makes it clear—the starting place of knowing God intimately is the fear of the Lord.
Without it, we develop a phony relationship with a knockoff Jesus—one who is not the Lord of glory.
It is by the fear of the Lord that we depart from evil, not by the love of God.
The fear as a vessel for defying evil
The love of God draws us to Him; the fear of God keeps us from the evil that seeks to destroy us.
All who fear the LORD will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. (Proverbs 8:13)
What do I tolerate that Jesus died to set me free from?
These two unrelated incidents reveal how the fear of the Lord is crucial to avoiding the ensnaring evil that would shorten our tenure as effective ambassadors of Christ.
Why isn’t there longevity of effectiveness?
How joyful are those who fear the LORD . . . Their good deeds will last forever. Such people . . . will long be remembered. (Psalm 112:1, 3, 6)
The love of the LORD remains forever with those who fear him. (Psalm 103:17)
If you don’t delight in the fact that your Father is holy, holy, holy, then you are spiritually dead. You may be in a church. You may go to a Christian school. But if there is no delight in your soul for the holiness of God, you don’t know God. You don’t love God. You’re out of touch with God. You’re asleep to his character. —R. C. SPROUL
“The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever” (Psalm 19:9 NKJV).
She sets herself apart for her husband, which includes refusing to desire or engage with other lovers.
the blood of Jesus does indeed cleanse us from all sin; however, we get confused when we mix the work of justification with the work of sanctification.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13 NKJV)
So the argument is, even though we continue to live no differently from the world, controlled by our various lusts, we are holy because Jesus is our holiness.
“Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8 NKJV).
It’s not enough to have an outward form of godliness but deny the power of the transformation of our inward desires.
When we align ourselves with the world’s desires in our neglect of pursuing holiness, we become adulterers. It’s such an affront to our Husband that we actually turn ourselves into His enemies.
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. (Psalm 25:14 NKJV)
God knows if I am chasing after holy behavior or if I’m consistently excusing my love or tolerance for worldly desires and the pride of accomplishments. It all begins with my heart’s intentions. Will I chase after purity of heart and mind, resulting in a change of actions? Will I do so even if those who are close to me don’t?
But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them. —ISAIAH 26:7
There are many unsaved people who confess their belief that God can save. However, until they repent and believe in the gospel, they are without saving grace.
The same proves true for our pursuit of holiness. There are many Christians who believe that God can give the ability to live holy, but until they wholeheartedly believe that grace empowers, they won’t benefit.
You are not the same as those who do not believe. So do not join yourselves to them. Good and bad do not belong together. Light and darkness cannot share together. (2 Corinthians 6:14 NCV)
We must remember, there’s a difference between going into the world to reach unbelievers and being influenced by an improper alignment with them.
(2 Corinthians 7:1 YLT)
The fear of the Lord motivates us to will (gives us the desire), and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ enables us to do (empowers us).
If we’re unaware of grace’s empowerment, we will continue to attempt to please God in our own ability. We will have received God’s grace in vain.
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found. —PSALM 119:35
“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66:2)
“by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6 NKJV).
The person who fears God always obeys. This person, at the core of his or her being, is unmovable from the following foundational truths:
up best. Therefore, no matter what He says, I gladly choose
They blamed God for their discomfort, lack, and anything else that wasn’t gratifying.
We do this today!!!!!
Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies. (Deuteronomy 28:47–48 NKJV)
Trembling at His Word involves joy and gladness in the core of our being.
I will never forget the time I discovered the five sins that kept Israel from its destiny: craving evil things, worshiping idols, sexual immorality, testing G...
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Passage: If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. (Isaiah 1:19 NKJV)
Point: The evidence of holy fear is obedience, which entails both a right attitude and follow-through in action, no matter the circumstances.
Obey God immediately.
This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. (Matthew 5:23–24 MSG)
