It is through the fear of the Lord that one departs from evil (Proverbs 16:6)

1 Peter 1:14-17 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”17b So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents”

It is not the love of God but the fear of God that enables us to walk away from sin and live in freedom.

There are two ditches that line our faith journey leading to salvation. Jesus said narrow is the road.

The first ditch is legalism, which ignores the love of God - legalism preaches a false gospel of salvation by works and always leads to the same dead end of judging others with no love. The love of God - the revelation of just how Good God is delivers you from the ditch of legalism.

The second ditch is lawlessness, This ditch ensnares us into believing we can live however we want and follow our senses whatever feels good but this is a lie that prevents many from experiencing the presence, blessing, and power of God. This ditch ignores the fear of God. We need to receive the love of God and walk in the fear of the Lord to live out this faith journey, season over season.

Psalms 128: 1-4 NIV Blessed are all who fear the Lord,who walk in obedience to him.

2 You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house;your children will be like olive shoots around your table.4 Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Holiness is misunderstood by many people today

Holiness means belonging completely to God. It is being set apart for God

“How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets the real thing, it’s irresistible!” - CS Lewis

Holiness is not an end to itself but a doorway into something we all desire… deeper intimacy with God

Pursue..holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

Pursue = to do something with intense effort and clear goal.

The question we have to ask- Is he talking about positional holiness or behavioral holiness?

Eph 1:4 NLT 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes God positionally says I declare you holy because of the finished work of the cross. You will never be more holy, you will never be more loved.

2 Cor 5:21 NLT For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,[a] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

positional holiness and behavioral holiness:

Positional holiness applies to our status as saved members of God’s kingdom

Our position in God’s kingdom does not change from year to year or decade to decade. You are born again into God’s kingdom.

Behavioral holiness applies to the way we live it out- our actions and attitudes

Our actions can- and should- change as we grow and are mind is renewed.

Pursue..holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 NKJV

On this faith journey called life- How do you react when you blow it? Without the fear of God, you’ll stay distant from God.

But if you have the fear of the Lord- you’ll come back to God. With a heartfelt prayer, God I need you.

Proverbs 24:16 NLT The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.

Micah 7:8 NLT Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Phil 2:12:13 NLT Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.