Intense Ministries Articles
Restoring the Fear of the Lord to This Generation
by Dr Dean Simpson
Reprinted with permission from Helping Hands Ministries Newsletter, Winter 2001
�The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom.� Proverbs 4:7, Psalms 14:10
Several people have asked me my perspective on the 9-11-01 (WTC and Pentagon) events. My reply has been this: For three years, God has had me preaching and teaching on �Restoring the Fear of the Lord to this generation.� There are four things that led me to present these messages.
1. Much of the teaching on Christian TV and in Christian Publishing was directed at �Christian Prosperity�, which equates to pride; whereas my Bible teaches that we are to bear the Cross before we drive the Cadillac. (Hebrews 12:1-8, II Timothy 3:12) Also, pride and a haughty spirit brings destruction and a fall. (Proverbs 16:18-19) Many have been blessed but their lives unchanged.
2. In the U.S.A., in this generation, �Righteousness� has been equated to �Riches�. Whereas the church outside of the U.S.A. lives a day-to-day existence. (II Timothy 3:12) They are rich in Christ! Are we?
3. This younger generation wears T-shirts with �No Fear� printed on them; drives cars with the same message, and mocks the idea of an �eternal day of judgment�. The attitude has been �Why Fear�? because my parents will take care of the problem. So we now have a generation without wisdom (Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 2; Proverbs 4:7). Without Wisdom there is no sense of a �No Fear� generation. Then came September 11th -- terrorism; war; possible draft, FEAR!, will this lead to repentance and the Fear of God?
4. The �Church� refuses to preach against sin. Why? Because there is compromise (sin) in the Body of Christ today. How long has it been since you have heard a �Bible Message� on repentance? (I Chronicles 7:14) When have we truly repented? You say, �We did repent the week of September 11th.� But several weeks have passed now and it is �business as usual� in our churches. Church! We need to walk in repentance instead of having to be forced into repentance. Someone has said, �The Church will not be judged because of the sins of the world...but the world will be judged because of the sins of the Church.� The Bible reflects this truth from Genesis through Revelation. In our efforts to be acceptable, we have lost the true meaning of Righteousness. In 1831 a famous French Statesman, historian, and social philosopher, Alexis de Tocqueville, visited America to see what made her great. A few years later he published his two-part work entitled �Democracy in America.� It has been described as �the most comprehensive and penetrating analysis of the relationship between character and society in America that has ever been written.� This famous French historian gave this conclusion for America�s greatness: �I sought for the key to the greatness and genius of her harbors...in her fertile fields and boundless forests; in her rich mines and vast world commerce; in her public school system and institutions of learning. I sought for it in her democratic Congress and in her matchless Constitution. Not until I went into the churches of America and heart her pulpits aflame with Righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good (righteous), and if America ever ceases to be good (righteous), America will cease to be great.�
At this time of the year, (especially this year), we need to be reminded of what true �peace of earth -- good will to men� is. (Isaiah 9:6) True peace is not the absence of fear, but is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We need to re-establish the fact that the government is on His shoulders and His name is called:
Wonderful - Experience His wonder in 2002;
Counselor - Seek His Wisdom in 2002;
Mighty God - Receive His Power and Might for 2002;
Everlasting Father - be eternally secure in Him in 2002;
Prince of Peace - Rest in the One Who is �at the right hand of the Father� making intercession for you in 2002.
And remember, (Isaiah 9:2), �of the Increase of His Government and Peace There is No End!� GOD BLESS YOU INTERNALLY - GOD BLESS YOU EXTERNALLY - GOD BLESS YOU ETERNALLY IN 2002!
In His Wonderful Name,
Dr. H. Dean Simpson, Director
To Contact Helping Hands Ministries, E-mail: [email protected]
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Last updated: Thursday, January 03, 2002 3:20:55 PM by AWS
