"Sin makes men cowards." - Matthew Henry

"Fear argues a degenerate soul." - Virgil

"The consciousness of atrocious crimes astonishes and confounds." - Juvenal

The devil and the world want us - as Christians - to believe that we are really missing out in life by serving Jesus. Everywhere we turn, we are confronted with the images that seem to portray the fact that the Lifestyle of Sin is the Best way - the "cool" Life - the place of fun, happiness, great pleasure, and total satisfaction.

Our young people especially - through peer pressure - are made to feel that they are weird, extreme, missing out, or totally deceived because they refuse to partake in Satan's evil practices as sex outside of marriage, smoking, drinking, drug taking, etc.

It's time like never before that we rise up and demolish these lies with the Sword of the Spirit - God's Holy Word.

It's time that we - through the anointed, Holy Ghost, non-compromising, and truth-revealing preaching - present God's perspective - the correct side - on this issue.

When we do, sinners will most likely reconsider their evil ways, and the saints will stop serving Two Masters and quit wondering what they're missing by living holy, separated, and consecrated lives unto Jesus.

First of all, we would like to make it plain and clear that a name synonymous with Sinner is the name - Fearful. Wicked people are Fearful people.

In Revelation 21:8, we read that they are the first mentioned in a category of sinners who are headed for Hell - the lake of fire - "But the fearful...shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

These "Fearful" comprise one of two people. They are either those who for fear of the consequences - loss of life, property, jobs, reputation, etc. or other forms of persecution - never receive Christ as their Lord and Savior. Or they include those who had received Him at one time - but are now afraid to associate themselves with Him in this adulterous and wicked generation or to stand by the godly principles as found in the Bible. These are the first ones headed for the "lake which burneth with fire and brimstone."

This kind of Lifestyle doesn't sound too promising, does it?

Psalm 73:19 confirms that the wicked are characterized by overwhelming fears - "...they are utterly consumed with terrors." Because they have chosen to live in rebellion toward God and resultantly - set themselves up as His enemy - their guilty consciences are constantly besieged by the "terrors" of the Almighty. They are continuously plagued with the fear of suddenly, swiftly, unexpectedly, or as in a moment, losing it all as they are brought to "desolation."

Psalm 73:19 reads in its entirety - "How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors."

In other words, they are destroyed by "terrors" - terrible things which produce alarm and panic in their minds and overwhelm their souls. They are confronted by severe and very dreadful things which result in their total and final ruin.

Is this the kind of Lifestyle that the devil presents as being Fun, Fun, Fun?????!!!!!

Job 15:20-21,24 go on to say - "The wicked man...A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him... Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle."

Oh! This really sounds like a Lifestyle that we all would like to envy!

Here is a picture that the Devil will never allow us to see!

Who in their right mind would want to be constantly tormented with "a dreadful sound" - the sound of fears or sudden frightful sounds - of "destruction" on the horizon?

The wicked man lives in fear - knowing that "the destroyer" can visit him at any moment. Even in his "prosperity" - times of peace and safety - he is never safe. He is constantly plagued with "trouble and anguish."

The Scriptures verify that a guilty conscience leads to inordinate and unholy fears.

In Genesis 3: 8 and 10, we read how Adam and Eve ran from God due to their disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit - "And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden...And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."

Instead of enjoying sweet fellowship with God in the garden, they were hiding among the trees. Their own sin brought Fear and Shame into their lives. The Lord was no longer a Friend to them but a Judge. Instead of being a Comforter, their guilty consciences could only see Him as a Terror - "...I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself."

This is the true picture of suffering humanity today. As the Scripture attests - "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Hence, they are running from God in a Holy Fright. They know that they are guilty and cannot bear to come face-to-face with their Judge.

Psalm 53:5 also confirms that the way of Sin is one attended with Fear and Shame. It also adds that the wicked man faces imaginable fears besides the real ones - "There were they in great fear, where no fear was..." This is where paranoia comes in. At times, they will have no ground or occasion for fear - yet be filled with horror - simply because they are not in right standing with God.

Lastly, Proverbs 28:1 tells us - "The wicked flee when no man pursueth..." No matter how bold the sinner may present himself, the truth of the matter is that he is beset by continual frights and apprehensions. Secret fears haunt him. He is constantly looking over his shoulder - expecting dangers or troubles to come his way.

This is the kind of Lifestyle that -
...Hollywood has everyone laughing about
...the Devil presents as being so much fun
...Satan tries to convince us as Christians that we are missing out on.

All we can say here is that - THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!!

This lie needs to be blasted from pulpit to pulpit across the globe!

The Lifestyle of Sin is not a picnic! On the contrary, it is one that is filled with "terrors," "desolation," "a dreadful sound," "trouble and anguish," and "great fear."

Where are the Preachers who - being inflamed with Holy Ghost Fire - will pound their pulpits in Righteous Indignation and send this lie back to Hell from whence it came?

Where are the Spirit-filled Christians who will witness everywhere - telling the truth concerning the pathway of those who are running from God?

It's time like never before that we - as the Church - stop looking across the fence to see if the grass is really greener on the other side.

Whose report will we believe?
Will we believe what Satan and Hollywood say or what God says?

Hear the Word of the Lord from the Prophet Isaiah today - ''Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him" (Isaiah 3:10-11).

"...yea, let God be true, but every man a liar..." (Romans 3:4).

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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