Spiritually Smart = Job 28:28
In the Old Testament book of Job (Verse 28:28), we read that "the fear of the Lord is wisdom." In other places in the Bible we also read that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10; Psalm 111:10) We can then also say that the fear of the Lord leads to Christ as the beginning of wisdom, because we read in at least one verse that Christ is "the wisdom of God.":
"But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Others, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God." (1 Corinthians 1:24)
Christ is also the mercy and love of God (Isaiah 61:1-2; John 3:16). Therefore, without Christ we are all completely lost (John 3:18).
It is through the fear of God that we come to Christ. Christ is the Savior of the world. That means He is saving us from something. God's word and the method in which Jesus saved us tells us that we are saved from something horrible.
God's word and God's holy Spirit combined, warns humanity of their judgment, conviction and condemnation. Without these, there would be no reason for the "fear of God", no need for Christ, and no need for the salvation He brings.
This is exactly how I ended up coming to Christ. And that is why I named my website "Spiritually Smart." Because it is only through the fear of the Lord that we all become "smart" (wise). And this only happens through the spiritual realm and through the aid of the holy Spirit. "God is Spirit. And those who worship Him must do so in spirit and in truth." John 4:24
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“And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28
“I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!” —Luke 12:4, 5
Right before I was born again I experienced clearly the terror of God. God opened up my understanding to His holiness and that showed me clearly my sinful condition, my separation from Him and what that meant for me. This revelation from God propelled me into prayer to Him for mercy. With all my heart, mind, soul and strength I pleaded with God to have mercy on me.
That is when He showed me His Christos Son. I was lead supernaturally to His word (the holy Bible) and opened it up and felt God Almighty communicating with me right through His holy and powerful written word. God preached the gospel to me through the Old and New Covenant writings and I ended up on my knees confessing I was a sinner and I then felt the blood of Jesus cleanse me of all sin. I then opened the door of my heart and invited Jesus in and He baptized me in His Holy Spirit (Rev 3:20; Eph 3:17; John 14:23). This was on the living room floor of the house I was renting at the time in Long Island, New York.
After these 21 years I finally realized I am done with the way the church structure is set up in this country. I also fully realized I am responsible for seeking God with all my heart, mind, soul and strength and that there is no valid excuse for anything getting in the way of that. This hit me most clearly just this past November, 2016. Since then, I have been doing just that, seeking God with all my strength. I am a full-time student of the Lord Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit and in His written word.
And that is my message to all who will hear it; That we are all expected to have this relationship, fellowship, union with God and His Son, Christ Jesus. Or else we will absolutely face this sentence at the judgment, "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' Matthew 7:23
In order to avoid this terrifying fate we all must go to Jesus in prayer, yoke up with Him and learn of Him, with all our heart and persevere one day at a time until the very end.
"But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 24:13
Jesus is being literal. He told us plainly. And we need to believe Him. If we believe Him and react to His commands, we will receive many precious promises.
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!' Matthew 25:23
"Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions." Luke 12:44
"And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed on Me," Luke 22:29
"To the one who is victorious, I will grant the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne." Revelation 3:21
But if we do not listen to, obey and trust in Christ. We will receive the dreaded sentence of eternal punishment mentioned many times throughout the entirety of God's Word. (2 Thess 1:8)
That doesn't have to be you. No matter what you've done. No matter where you have been. You have a chance to be united to God and His love and mercy through Christ Jesus. This is an offer we cannot refuse. We must do this. We must give our lives completely over to God (Matthew 22:36-40; Romans 12:1). it is the only way to avoid eternal punishment while also gaining the glorious promises of eternal life with God in a city built just for us.
"The material of the wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundation stones of the city wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation stone was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, chalcedony; the fourth, emerald; the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, topaz; the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst. And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was a single pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp [is] the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. " Revelation 21
This is the gospel (good news) announced by God's servants and offered freely to all by God. This is all ours, but only through Christ (cleaving to Him, His commands). It is all conditional. And there is nothing in this world worth losing what God is offering.
And it can be lost. That is the truth. That is why Jesus tells us "there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Luke 13:28; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30)
We are God's creation. And we all will be judged by Him. That is simply the truth and we have to deal with it. We cannot put this off. We do not know when it will be our turn to stand before God for judgment. It can happen at any time. All who have died in this world have already met their fate. God makes sure we all are given plenty of chances before that day comes.
"For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2
Because tomorrow may never come.
The Bible says,
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13
And,
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12
If you read this message and you feel like God is calling you to turn from your sinful life right now and accept His precious gift of salvation through Christ, then say this prayer:
Say, "My Lord and my God, Have mercy on my soul, a sinner, I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is listening to my prayer right now. I open up the door of my heart and I invite You into my heart Lord Jesus."
Now please pick up a Bible (you can probably get one at any thrift store, cheap), and study it every day. If you see God telling you to do things that seem too hard to do, pray to Him and ask Him for the power to obey Him. God never tells us to do anything that is too hard. By His Spirit within us, we CAN do whatever He says! He even says that His "yoke is easy, pleasant and His burden is light and we will find rest for our soul." (Matthew 11:29, 30)
God bless, and if something happened to you when saying the above prayer, please drop me a message here.
I pray that God the Father bless you through His Son Jesus the Christ! Amen.
You can be saved!
God loves the people in the world so much that He came down to die for us. If God is opening your heart to His message and you feel convicted for your sins which have separated you from a holy God and you feel the need to be forgiven, then say this prayer. This is how I was powerfully converted to the Christ in 1997!
Say, "My Lord and my God, have mercy on me, a sinner. I believe Jesus the Christ died on the cross and shed His precious blood for the forgiveness of all my sins. I believe Jesus raised from the dead and ascended into heaven and is now on the right-hand side of God listening to this prayer. I open up the door of my heart and I invite You in, Lord Jesus. Thank you, God, for saving my soul and I vow to serve you with all my heart which is the first and greatest commandment. Amen."