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Return to the Old Paths pt. 1
Jer. 6:16 NIV, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it’.”
Return – the act of coming back from straying away, or repositioning.
Proverbs 9:10 REMINDS US THAT THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS WHERE WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING ORIGINATE.
Let’s look at the KJV Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth [DIFFICULT], do I hate. Matthew 10:28 – And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
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When we don’t fear something, we can mock it, take it lightly, or be indifferent.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man. Psalms 33:8 – Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. Proverbs 14:27 – The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
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Fear and Keep – stand in awe…
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It’s a “fountain of life” that keeps us away from the “snares of death.”
2 Chronicles 17:9-10 So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah…
Take Inventory: Psalm 15 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised. But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
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Has Integrity – firm, honest, and upright.
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Speaks the truth.
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Avoids Backbiting – malicious talk about someone who is not present.
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Doesn’t reproach – you encourage vs. beat up.
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Loves the sinner but hates the vile sin.
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Respects those who fear the Lord.
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Swears to his own hurt – keeps his word; doesn’t change.
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Wise with finances and is not influenced by wealth.
THOUGH THE STORMS COME, “he who does these things shall never be moved.”
Closing – When we fear God we rarely fear man or circumstances.
Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
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