Should a Christian Fear God?

2 Tim 1:6-7 ⁶ For this cause, I remind you that you should stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of a sound mind. The cowardly will be cast into the lake of fire.

The cowardly will not be a part of God's Kingdom. The Messiah instructs us not to let our hearts be not fearful.

John 14:27 ²⁷ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don't let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful.

Our hearts are not to be fearful, the apostle John instructs us that love casts our fear.

I John 4:11-21 ¹¹ Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. ¹³ By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. ^4:14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. ¹⁶ We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. ¹⁷ In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us. ²⁰ If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? ²¹ This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

So, should we fear God? Is the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified the only gospel of the bible?

1 Corinthians 2:1 - 5 (NKJV) ¹And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. ²For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ³I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. ⁴And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

So is the only gospel of the bible the gospel of Christ crucified? And should we only have love of God in our hearts and no fear of God?

Brethren, there are wolves in sheeps clothing out there who would like for you to believe this. And they can quote the above scriptures to prove their point. And indeed, if these are the only scriptures you look at, you might just think that the gospel of Christ crucified is the only gospel of the bible and that since we have the love of God in our hearts we have no reason to fear God.

Before we come to this conclusion, maybe we should check out a few more scriptures on the subject. Let us not forget that wolves can use scriptures to try and deceive us. Satan quoted scripture to try and decieve Christ, but Christ didn't fall for Satan's deception. The Messiah knew other scriptures that expounded on the subject that Satan was trying to be deceptive about. The scriptures Satan quoted were true sciptures, but he was trying to misuse them, not taking other scriptures into account. Jesus knew ALL the scriptures and because of that he knew Satan was slanting the scriptures he quoted improperly. And Jesus stated to Satan, "It is also written." That is what you need to see also brethren when those who teach fearing God is only a part of the Old Testament and NOT a part of the New Testament Gospel. They are trying to deceive you, just as Satan was trying to deceive our Messiah. However, if you know the scriptures, you will not fall for this deception, just as the Messiah did not fall for Satan's attempt at deception.

So are there scriptures that clearly show we are to fear God and that the Gospel of Christ crucified is not the ONLY gospel of the new testment?

Deuteronomy 13:4 ⁴ You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you shall serve him, and cling to him.

Deuteronomy 6:1-19 ¹ Now this is the commandment, the statutes, and the ordinances, which Yahweh your God commanded to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you go over to possess it; ² that you might fear Yahweh your God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, you, and your son, and your son's son, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. ³ Hear therefore, Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised to you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁴ Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one: ⁵ and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. ⁶ These words, which I command you this day, shall be on your heart; ⁷ and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. ⁸You shall bind them for a sign on your hand, and they shall be for symbols between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the door posts of your house, and on your gates. ¹⁰ It shall be, when Yahweh your God shall bring you into the land which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you, great and goodly cities, which you didn't build, ¹¹ and houses full of all good things, which you didn't fill, and cisterns dug out, which you didn't dig, vineyards and olive trees, which you didn't plant, and you shall eat and be full; ¹² then beware lest you forget Yahweh, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ¹³ You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name. ¹⁴ You shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you; ¹⁵ for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God; lest the anger of Yahweh your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. ¹⁶You shall not tempt Yahweh your God, as you tempted him in Massah. ¹⁷ You shall diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he has commanded you. ¹⁸ You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of Yahweh; that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land which Yahweh swore to your fathers, ¹⁹ to thrust out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has spoken.

Israel stopped fearing God and then stopped keeping his commandments and the results were disastrous, just as God warned. Fearing God, Loving God and obeying his commandments go hand in hand.

Have you noticed that those who keep God's commandments, fear God? And those who do not keep God's commandments, do not fear God? Those who think the law of God has been done away, think they have no reason to fear God, but they are sadly mistaken. Scripture clearly teaches we SHOULD fear God. And it's not just an old testament teaching. Now, I hope no one is under the false impression that the Pharisees and Saducees kept the law, but didn't have the love of God. That is just protestant propaganda, because the Pharisees and Saducees did NOT keep the law and did not fear God. They just claimed to keep the law, while disobeying it, making them hypocrites that disgusted Jesus. For example, Judas admitted to them that he had betrayed innocent blood. And they replied, "What is that to us?" They knew Jesus was a prophet from God, they knew he was innocent and still had him killed. That is MURDER, that is NOT keeping God's law! Stephen also cleary showed that even though they had the law, they were not keeping it.

Acts 7:51-53 ⁵¹ "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. ⁵²Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. ⁵³ You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn't keep it!"

They did not keep God's law and did not fear God and hence did not love him.

Psalm 2:11 ¹¹ Serve Yahweh with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹² Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

Some false ministers try to teach that the Gospel of Christ's sacrifice is the ONLY gospel that can be preached. They use the scriptures I first gave, but ignore the above scriptures. Are they misleading people brethren?

Revelation 14:6-7 ⁶ I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. ⁷ He said with a loud voice, "Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!"

Is the gospel of Christ crucified the only gospel of the bible? No, it is not. Since we have the love of God in our hearts, should we still fear God? Yes, we should. Do I have more new testament scriptures proving this point? Of course I do.

Matthew 10:28-31 ²⁸ Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. ²⁹ "Aren't two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father's will, ³⁰ but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Therefore don't be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.

The Messiah taught diciples to fear God the Father.

1 Peter 2:17 ¹⁷ Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

The apostle Peter taught we are to Fear God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ¹ Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God - The Apostle Paul.

Jude 1:10-12 ¹⁰ But these speak evil of whatever things they don't know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, they are destroyed in these things. ¹¹ Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion. ¹² These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Jude wrote that those without fear is not a good thing.

Eph 5:15-21 ¹⁵ Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God, even the Father; ²¹ subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

Did I read that correctly? In the FEAR of Christ. I don't think they read this scripture very much in the traditional Christian churches. We just don't find very much fear of Christ in the world today. That is going to change.

Revelation 19:3-5 ³ A second said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever." ⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!" ⁵ A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!"

So is there a contradiction with the first scriptures I read about not having fear? How do you deal with this, as is appears to be a contradiction?

Why don't we let Jesus clear up the contradiction of what we should or shouldn't fear.

Matthew 10:27 - 31 (NKJV) ²⁷“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ²⁸And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

We are not to fear those that can kill us, mankind, or Satan, or his demons, or the government, but we are to fear God who can take our names out of the book of life. The apostle Peter also understood and taught this.

I Peter 3:13-15 ¹³ Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? ^3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled." ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear:

Now that we see Fearing God is a part of the Gospel, what are the rewards for Fearing God?

Proverbs 1:7 ⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

How important is wisdom anyway?

Hosea 4:6 ⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you, that you may be no priest to me. Because you have forgotten your God's law, I will also forget your children.

Do you want God to instruct you in the way you should go? Do you want to dwell at ease? Do you want friendship with God? Do you want your children to inherit the earth?

Do you want long life and prosperity?

Proverbs 10:27 ²⁷ The fear of Yahweh prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

Do you want God's eye upon you, to deliver you from famine and your soul from death?

Psalm 33:18-19 ^33:18 Behold, Yahweh's eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness; ¹⁹ to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine.

^33:18 Behold, Yahweh's eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness; ^33:19 to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine.

Do you want an angel encamped about you? Well, do you?

Psalm 34:7-8 ⁷ The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. ⁸ Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Do you want to lack nothing that is good?

Psalm 34:9-10 ⁹ Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him. ¹⁰ The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.

Do you want to be delivered from the hand of your enemies?

2 Kings 17:39 ³⁹ But you shall fear Yahweh your God; and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies."

Do you want God to fulfill your desires and hear your cries?

Psalm 145:19 ¹⁹ He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Do you want God to be your help and shield?

Psalm 115:11 ¹¹ You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield.

Do you want God to take pleasure in you?

Psalm 147:11 ¹¹ Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.

Do you want wealth, honor and life?

Proverbs 22:4 ⁴ The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life.

1. Daniel would not cease praying puting God first in the face of death, because he feared God.

Daniel 6:4-28 ⁴ Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. ⁶ Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever. ⁷ All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong decree, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, except of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. ⁸ Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. ⁹ Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree. ¹⁰ When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before. ¹¹ Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. ¹² Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree: Haven't you signed an decree, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter. ¹³ Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't respect you, O king, nor the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. ¹⁴ Then the king, when he heard these words, was very displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him. ¹⁵ Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establishes may be changed. ¹⁶ Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. [Now] the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you. ¹⁷ A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him. ¹⁹ Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions. ²⁰ When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions? ²¹ Then Daniel said to the king, O king, live forever. ²² My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt. ²³ Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. ²⁴ The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions mauled them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den. ²⁵ Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. ²⁶ I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end. ²⁷ He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. ^6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
2. Job would not take God's name in Vain and curse him, because he feared God.

Job 1:20-22 ²⁰ Then Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down on the ground, and worshiped. ²¹ He said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. Yahweh gave, and Yahweh has taken away. Blessed be the name of Yahweh." ²² In all this, Job did not sin, nor charge God with wrongdoing.

Job 2:7-10 ⁷ So Satan went forth from the presence of Yahweh, and struck Job with painful sores from the sole of his foot to his head. ⁸ He took for himself a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he sat among the ashes. ⁹ Then his wife said to him, "Do you still maintain your integrity? Renounce God, and die." ¹⁰ But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job didn't sin with his lips.

How do I know Job feared God?

Job 1:1 ¹ There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God, and turned away from evil.

Job 1:8 ⁸ Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant, Job? For there is none like him in the earth, a blameless and an upright man, one who fears God, and turns away from evil."

3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down to an idol because they feared God.

Daniel 3:12-30 ¹² There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not respected you. They don't serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. ¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar in [his] rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar answered them, Is it on purpose, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don't serve my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? ¹⁵ Now if you are ready whenever you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music to fall down and worship the image which I have made, [well]: but if you don't worship, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall deliver you out of my hands? ¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If it be [so], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods, nor worship the golden image which you have set up. ¹⁹ Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his appearance was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: [therefore] he spoke, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. ²⁰ He commanded certain mighty men who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. ²¹ Then these men were bound in their pants, their tunics, and their mantles, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ²² Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ²³ These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. ²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste: he spoke and said to his counselors, Didn't we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered the king, True, O king. ²⁵ He answered, Look, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are unharmed; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the gods. ²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace: he spoke and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God, come forth, and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth out of the midst of the fire. ²⁷ The satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power on their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their pants changed, nor had the smell of fire passed on them. ²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel, and delivered his servants who trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. ²⁹ Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything evil against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other god who is able to deliver after this sort. ^3:30Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
4. Nehemiah would not allow merchants to break the Sabbath or even tempt God's people to break the Sabbath because he feared God.

Nehemiah 13:14-21 ¹⁴ Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances. ¹⁵ In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. ¹⁶ There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day? ¹⁸ Didn't your fathers do thus, and didn't our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath." ¹⁹ It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day. ²⁰ So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. ²¹ Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they didn't come on the Sabbath.
5. Stephen was killed for speaking the truth.

Acts 6:8-7:60 ⁸ Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹But some of those who were of the synagogue called "The Libertines," and of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians, and of those of Cilicia and Asia arose, disputing with Stephen. ¹⁰They weren't able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. ¹¹Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." ¹²They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and came against him and seized him, and brought him in to the council, ¹³and set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law. ¹⁴For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place, and will change the customs which Moses delivered to us." ¹⁵All who sat in the council, fastening their eyes on him, saw his face like it was the face of an angel. Acts 7:1-60 ¹The high priest said, "Are these things so?" ²He said, "Brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, ³and said to him, 'Get out of your land, and from your relatives, and come into a land which I will show you.' ⁴Then he came out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and lived in Haran. From there, when his father was dead, God moved him into this land, where you are now living. ⁵ He gave him no inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on. He promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when he still had no child. ⁶ God spoke in this way: that his seed would live as aliens in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. ⁷ 'I will judge the nation to which they will be in bondage,' said God, 'and after that will they come out, and serve me in this place.' ⁸ He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs. ⁹ "The patriarchs, moved with jealousy against Joseph, sold him into Egypt. God was with him, ¹⁰ and delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favor and wisdom before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. He made him governor over Egypt and all his house. ¹¹ Now a famine came over all the land of Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction. Our fathers found no food. ¹² But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers the first time. ¹³ On the second time Joseph was made known to his brothers, and Joseph's race was revealed to Pharaoh. ¹⁴ Joseph sent, and summoned Jacob, his father, and all his relatives, seventy-five souls. ¹⁵ Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, himself and our fathers, ¹⁶ and they were brought back to Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver from the children of Hamor of Shechem. ¹⁷ "But as the time of the promise came close which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, ¹⁸ until there arose a different king, who didn't know Joseph. ¹⁹ The same took advantage of our race, and mistreated our fathers, and forced them to throw out their babies, so that they wouldn't stay alive. ²⁰ At that time Moses was born, and was exceedingly handsome. He was nourished three months in his father's house. ²¹ When he was thrown out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son. ²² Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He was mighty in his words and works. ²³ But when he was forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the children of Israel. ²⁴ Seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him who was oppressed, striking the Egyptian. ²⁵ He supposed that his brothers understood that God, by his hand, was giving them deliverance; but they didn't understand. ²⁶ "The day following, he appeared to them as they fought, and urged them to be at peace again, saying, 'Sirs, you are brothers. Why do you wrong one another?' ²⁷ But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Do you want to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?' ²⁹ Moses fled at this saying, and became a stranger in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons. ³⁰ "When forty years were fulfilled, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush. ³¹ When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight. As he came close to see, a voice of the Lord came to him, ³² 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' Moses trembled, and dared not look. ³³ The Lord said to him, 'Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. ³⁴ I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.' ³⁵ "This Moses, whom they refused, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?'--God has sent him as both a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. ³⁶ This man led them out, having worked wonders and signs in Egypt, in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness for forty years. ³⁷ This is that Moses, who said to the children of Israel, 'The Lord our God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me.' ³⁸ This is he who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel that spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, who received living oracles to give to us, ³⁹ to whom our fathers wouldn't be obedient, but rejected him, and turned back in their hearts to Egypt, ^7:40 saying to Aaron, 'Make us gods that will go before us, for as for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we don't know what has become of him.' ⁴¹ They made a calf in those days, and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their hands. ⁴² But God turned, and gave them up to serve the army of the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets, 'Did you offer to me slain animals and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? ⁴³ You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, the star of your god Rephan, the figures which you made to worship. I will carry you away beyond Babylon.' ⁴⁴ "Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, even as he who spoke to Moses commanded him to make it according to the pattern that he had seen; ⁴⁵ which also our fathers, in their turn, brought in with Joshua when they entered into the possession of the nations, whom God drove out before the face of our fathers, to the days of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor in the sight of God, and asked to find a habitation for the God of Jacob. ⁴⁷ But Solomon built him a house. ⁴⁸ However, the Most High doesn't dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says, ⁴⁹ 'heaven is my throne, and the earth a footstool for my feet. What kind of house will you build me?' says the Lord; 'or what is the place of my rest? ⁵⁰ Didn't my hand make all these things?' ⁵¹ "You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. ^7:52Which of the prophets didn't your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers. ⁵³ You received the law as it was ordained by angels, and didn't keep it!" ⁵⁴ Now when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, ⁵⁶ and said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" ⁵⁷ But they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and rushed at him with one accord. ⁵⁸ They threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ They stoned Stephen as he called out, saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" ⁶⁰ He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!" When he had said this, he fell asleep.
6. Isaac and Rebekah married in honor of their parents.

Genesis 24:1-8 ¹Abraham was old, and well stricken in age. Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. ²Abraham said to his servant, the elder of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please put your hand under my thigh. ³I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you shall not take a wife for my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live. ⁴But you shall go to my country, and to my relatives, and take a wife for my son Isaac." ⁵The servant said to him, "What if the woman isn't willing to follow me to this land? Must I bring your son again to the land you came from?" ⁶Abraham said to him, "Beware that you don't bring my son there again. ⁷Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my birth, who spoke to me, and who swore to me, saying, 'I will give this land to your seed.' He will send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there. ⁸If the woman isn't willing to follow you, then you shall be clear from this my oath. Only you shall not bring my son there again."
Genesis 24:50-67 ⁵⁰Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing proceeds from Yahweh. We can't speak to you bad or good. ⁵¹ Behold, Rebekah is before you. Take her, and go, and let her be your master's son's wife, as Yahweh has spoken." ⁵² It happened that when Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed himself down to the earth to Yahweh. ⁵³ The servant brought out jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and her mother. ⁵⁴ They ate and drank, he and the men who were with him, and stayed all night. They rose up in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master." ⁵⁵ Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young lady stay with us a few days, at least ten. After that she will go." ⁵⁶ He said to them, "Don't hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master." ⁵⁷ They said, "We will call the young lady, and ask her." ⁵⁸ They called Rebekah, and said to her, "Will you go with this man?" She said, "I will go." ⁵⁹ They sent away Rebekah, their sister, with her nurse, Abraham's servant, and his men. ⁶⁰ They blessed Rebekah, and said to her, "Our sister, may you be the mother of thousands of ten thousands, and let your seed possess the gate of those who hate them." ⁶¹ Rebekah arose with her ladies. They rode on the camels, and followed the man. The servant took Rebekah, and went his way. ⁶²Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he lived in the land of the South. ⁶³ Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the evening. He lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, there were camels coming. ⁶⁴ Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she dismounted from the camel. ⁶⁵ She said to the servant, "Who is the man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." She took her veil, and covered herself. ⁶⁶ The servant told Isaac all the things that he had done. ⁶⁷ Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife. He loved her. Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
7. Abraham would not steal plunder from conquered nation when he rescued Lot.

Genesis 14:5-24 ⁵In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, ⁶and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. ⁷They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar. ⁸The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim; ⁹against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. ¹⁰Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills. ¹¹They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way. ¹² They took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed. ¹³ One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram. ¹⁴ When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. ¹⁵He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. ¹⁶He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. ¹⁷The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley). ¹⁸Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. ¹⁹He blessed him, and said, "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: ²⁰and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand." Abram gave him a tenth of all. ²¹The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself." ²²Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, ²³that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich.' ²⁴I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion."
8. David did not murder Saul because he feared God.

1 Samuel 24:1-22 ¹It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi." ² Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats. ³ He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave. ⁴ The men of David said to him, "Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly. ⁵ It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. ⁶He said to his men, "Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed." ⁷ So David checked his men with these words, and didn't allow them to rise against Saul. Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way. ⁸ David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth, and showed respect. ⁹ David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to men's words, saying, 'Behold, David seeks your hurt?' ¹⁰ Behold, this day your eyes have seen how that Yahweh had delivered you today into my hand in the cave. Some urged me to kill you; but I spared you; and I said, I will not put forth my hand against my lord; for he is Yahweh's anointed. ¹¹ Moreover, my father, behold, yes, see the skirt of your robe in my hand; for in that I cut off the skirt of your robe, and didn't kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor disobedience in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, though you hunt for my life to take it. ¹² May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you. ¹³ As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes forth wickedness;' but my hand shall not be on you. ¹⁴ Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom do you pursue? A dead dog? A flea? ¹⁵ May Yahweh therefore be judge, and give sentence between me and you, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of your hand." ¹⁶ It came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice, and wept. ¹⁷ He said to David, "You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you. ¹⁸ You have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, because when Yahweh had delivered me up into your hand, you didn't kill me. ¹⁹ For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away unharmed? Therefore may Yahweh reward you good for that which you have done to me this day. ²⁰ Now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand. ²¹ Swear now therefore to me by Yahweh, that you will not cut off my seed after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." ²² David swore to Saul. Saul went home; but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
9. Joseph did not commit adultery because he feared God.

Genesis 39:1-21 ¹Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there. ² Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian. ³ His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand. ⁴ Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. ⁵ It happened from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Yahweh was on all that he had, in the house and in the field. ⁶ He left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He didn't concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome. ⁷ It happened after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph; and she said, "Lie with me." ⁸ But he refused, and said to his master's wife, "Behold, my master doesn't know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand. ⁹ He isn't greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" ¹⁰ As she spoke to Joseph day by day, he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her. ¹¹ About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside. ¹² She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!" He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside. ¹³ When she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside, ¹⁴ she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, "Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. ¹⁵ It happened, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside." ¹⁶ She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home. ¹⁷ She spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me, ¹⁸ and it happened, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside." ¹⁹ It happened, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, "This is what your servant did to me," that his wrath was kindled. ²⁰ Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody. ²¹ But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
10. The Apostle Paul did not covet the brethren's money.

Acts 20:25-38 ²⁵ "Now, behold, I know that you all, among whom I went about preaching the Kingdom of God, will see my face no more. ²⁶Therefore I testify to you this day that I am clean from the blood of all men, ²⁷ for I didn't shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. ²⁸ Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood. ²⁹ For I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. ³⁰ Men will arise from among your own selves, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn't cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears. ³² Now, brothers, I entrust you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build up, and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. ³³ I coveted no one's silver, or gold, or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands served my necessities, and those who were with me. ³⁵ In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" ³⁶ When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him, ³⁸ sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.

Keeping God's commandments teach us to fear God.

Deuteronomy 14:22-29 ²² You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes forth from the field year by year. ²³ You shall eat before Yahweh your God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God always. ²⁴ If the way is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which Yahweh your God shall choose, to set his name there, when Yahweh your God shall bless you; ²⁵ then you shall turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: ²⁶ and you shall bestow the money for whatever your soul desires, for cattle, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. ²⁷ The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. ²⁸ At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: ²⁹ and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the foreigner living among you, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

We tithe and keep God's Holy Days that we may LEARN to fear Yahweh our God always.

Deuteronomy 31:9-13 ⁹ Moses wrote this law, and delivered it to the priests the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰ Moses commanded them, saying, "At the end of every seven years, in the set time of the year of release, in the feast of tents, ¹¹ when all Israel has come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he shall choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. ¹² Assemble the people, the men and the women and the little ones, and your foreigner who is within your gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear Yahweh your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; ¹³ and that their children, who have not known, may hear, and learn to fear Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land where you go over the Jordan to possess it."

Every 7th Feast of Tabernacles we are supposed to read the Law. All the years that I have been attending the Feast of Tabernacles I have only seen this done once. Mark Carr the minister of the Knoxville congregation read this scripture and realized we have not done it as a group and decided we should be doing it. And we did it and did you know there were people that got upset about it? They felt there was other more important things we should be doing like, music or children's classes or sermons. Could anyone give a better sermon than God? I'm only dissappointed that we had not started doing this earlier.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ¹⁸ It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites: ¹⁹ and it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear Yahweh his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; ²⁰ that his heart not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he not turn aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children, in the midst of Israel.

The King of Israel was to have a personal copy of the scriptures that he was to read daily. It's easy to get a printed copy of God's word today. Do we study it daily so that we may learn to fear God? We should be brethren. I do now, but there were times in my life when I didn't and I didn't fear God the way I should have. The more I read and study, the more I do fear him and see how powerful and mighty he is and how small I am. I am so thankful for his word and I hope you are too.

Proverbs 23:17-18 ¹⁷ Don't let your heart envy sinners; but rather fear Yahweh all the day long. ¹⁸ Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the Lord all of the day; For surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off.

Do you love the brethren? Do you love God? How do we know if someone really loves God and his children?

1 John 5:2-4 ²By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.

God's law is not burdonsome. I hear many people say they love God and love his people, but then I see them ignore his commandments. God's word says you know someone by their fruits. If someone claims to know God and doesn't keep his commandments, they are a liar!

1 John 2:3-6 ³ This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. ⁴ One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most certainly been perfected in him. This is how we know that we are in him: ⁶ he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked.

Our savior and soon coming messiah, Feared and loved God and he showed it by keeping his commandments as an example for us to follow. We as Christians should fear God and love God and we should be showing it in our lives by keeping his commandments. As the God told Moses face to face in Deuternomy 5:29.

Deuteronomy 5:29 ²⁹ Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!