Fear God

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

” Rev 14:6,7.

“God brings against ministers and people the heavy charge of spiritual feebleness, saying, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Rev 3: 15-18). God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children.

A revival and a reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.”R&H Feb 1902

The message of Rev 14:6,7 calls God’s people for a revival and reformation. As a people living in the Day of Atonement, the period of investigative judgment, when the sins of all mortal flesh come before the father in heaven, there is an urgent need for a revival and reformation among the people. For “who shall stand the day of his coming? For he is like a refiner’s fire”. Unless we are revived and our spiritual lives are reformed, Jesus will say “I never knew you”. 

“Thy way O Lord is in the Sanctuary” Psalms 77:13. We need to understand our duty during this period of cleansing the heavenly sanctuary, when Jesus Christ our high priest is ministering in the Most Holy Place, pleading before the Father, the names of those that have confessed and forsaken their sins. During this period on the typical Israelite service the Israelites were told: “ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.” “For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people.” Lev 16:29, 30; 23:29.

Are we afflicting our souls during this time? Are we reforming our lives to conform with the directive of the first angel’s message? Very soon probation shall close. How will it be for a generation that has lived in the greatest period of spiritual light, if it shall reject the provisions made through a freely available Holy Scriptures and Spirit of Prophecy writings? No other generation has been blessed like our generation. Yet the enemy has kept us so busy and blind that probation door is soon closing among us. Strong messages of revival have been preached to us this year. The evangelist Jeremiah Davis preached in the month of May. His message shook the church. Soon after we received the Health message by Pastor Rukinda. For two weeks our church was showered with a health message many other churches are dying to receive. But what was the attendance like? What was the reaction? Did we believe the message? Has there been a reformation? Have we changed our evangelist method as a result of learning Jesus’s method of evangelism which combined true healing and preaching?

In the next few weeks we shall study in detail the first angel’s message which forms the foundation of the three angel’s messages. It calls us to Fear God. What does it mean to fear God? In the Bible, God himself defines what it means to fear Him.

“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Job 1:8.

To fear God is to eschew evil. The word eschew means: to avoid (something) especially because you do not think it is right or proper; to abstain or keep away from; to shun; to avoid using, accepting, participating or partaking of.

 Therefore to fear God is to avoid evil, to abstain from or keep away from evil, to shun evil, to avoid using, or accepting or participating or partaking of evil. It is an all-encompassing word that affects all phases of our lives. The fear of God is living according to the Spirit, and not according to the flesh.

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Proverbs 8:13.

True wisdom is not found in the corridors of modern educational institutions nor is found at the feet of the wealthy or powerful. It is not found in fields of sporting stars nor is found in Hollywood and TV stars. True wisdom is not found in the pages of social media. It is found in the fear of God.

But alas where does the modern man look for wisdom? How often does the remnant forsake the fountain of living waters and instead hew for themselves broken cisterns that can never hold water?

How often do we join the world in pursuit of an education that makes us sceptics of God’s word? How often do we join the world in all that the world does, when we are supposed to be a royal priesthood, a chosen nation a peculiar people?

Is the fear of the Lord in God’s church today? Do we fear God in His house of worship? Is there reverence during the hour of worship? Is the fear of God in our homes? The basic unit of the church is the home. If the fear of God is not in the home, then it will not be in the greater church congregation. Is the fear of God in the schools we attend?

Martin Luther “wrote thus of the universities: “I am much afraid that the universities will prove to be the great gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Every institution in which men are not unceasingly occupied with the word of God must become corrupt.”” Great Controversy pg.141.1

Is the fear of God in our individual lives? When we are revived, our lives will be changed, as we behold Him every day. We shall embark on a reformation which is based on our fear of God. Following a “Thus says the Lord” leads to make important life changing decisions. It makes us to avoid things we used to do before, change our ideas and pursuits, as we conform our lives to the demands of our risen Lord.

Once the Fear of God is in the individual life, it will be reflected in the home, then ultimately it will be seen in the Church, in the school and workplaces. Those around us will know and perceive of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Fear God and give him glory for the hour of his judgment has come. Time is short. We need to allow Jesus to lay the foundation for the fear of God in our lives.

“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.” “Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.” Psalms 128:1, 112:1-3.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 28:13, 14.

True wealth is eternal life in Jesus Christ. It is more than the world can offer. And true wealth is first good health as taught in the Biblical principles. Many are the rich whose wealth has not saved them from the jaws of sickness and death.  But sickness and disease is no respecter of status and even among the poor it has fastened its grip. As people continue to ignore the health message, there is grief and mourning even among the Lord’s remnant.

It is my prayer that today if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. Depart from evil and seek the Lord with all your heart. Fear Him and honour thy Creator, in thy conversations, in thy meditations, in the life’s pursuit, trust Him and lean not in thine own understanding. Lean not in the world’s wisdom, or custom. Instead take the narrow path that leadeth to the eternal life. 

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David…. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7.

Have a blessed week

Sammy Buruchara

Nairobi Central SDA Church