be afraid. God is always saying, do not fear. Moses says to them, do not fear. That’s the spirit of fear. He said, because God has come to test you. What’s the test? That his fear may be in you, so you may not sin. Wait a minute, Moses, you just contradicted yourself. Don’t fear because God has come to see if his fear is in you? He’s not contradicting himself. He’s differentiating between being scared of the Lord and the fear of the Lord. There’s a difference. The person who is scared of God has something to hide. What does Adam do in the Garden? He runs from the presence of God, because why? He’s got now the spirit of fear. But the person who fears God, they’re terrified to be away from God. So if you want a definition, the first primary definition of the fear of the Lord it’s to be scared, no not scared, it’s to be terrified to be away from God. If you look at Lucifer, he led worship in Heaven, but he didn’t fear God, so iniquity was formed in him. If you look at a third of the angels, they’re in Glory, but they didn’t fear God, and they’re no longer in Glory. Every single creature around his throne throughout eternity, I believe is going to be tested in the two major things: the fear of the Lord and the love of God. Those are the two forces that keep us on the road of life.
SID: Moses wanted the presence of God above anything.
JOHN: Yes he did.
SID: Above everything. You want the presence of God. Tell me about the presence.
JOHN: You know, Moses, think about it, had the best life a human being had on the planet. He had the biggest house, the wealthiest grandfather. He had servants. He had everything he wanted, but yet he left it. Israel was abused by that same society. They have stripes on their backs. Their children are being put to death. They come out and they’re constantly saying, let’s go back to Egypt. It was better for us. Why? What’s the difference? Moses longed for the presence of God. Israel longed for what God could do for them. They wanted a promised land. See, Moses, God actually offered him. He said, “Hey, go ahead, go to the Promised Land. I’m going to send an angel, but I’m not going.” Now if God were to say that to Israel, if they were to be taken to Egypt without an angel, they would have taken the Promised Land with an angel. I’m sure of it. But Moses said, “If your presence doesn’t leave with us in this place of suffering, this place of lack, this wilderness, I’m not leaving and don’t take us out of here.” Because what Moses was communicating to God is, if I have to choose, I would rather have your presence over your promises. Israel wanted his promises over his presence.
SID: We’re after the promises and not the presence. When we have the presence, the promises are there. It’s called favor. I mean, my brain keeps going tilt on some of the teaching that’s relevant today that is based on prophecy that says there will be deception in the last days.
JOHN: That was the temptation of Satan with Jesus. Flesh, first one, rock. God wants you, doesn’t the Bible say, “I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or seen begging for bread.” There’s your bread. Convert it. The next one was everything your eyes can behold, the lust of the eyes, all the kingdoms of the world. Just worship me. Worshiping is just who we obey, not who we sing to. Our greatest form of worship is obedience and that comes out of a heart that fears God.
SID: Is Jesus your savior or your Lord? I want you to say a prayer with me, but mean it. This is going to make the difference between knowing him or knowing about him. Repeat after me. Dear God, out loud, Dear God, I’m a sinner against you and you alone have I sinned and I’m so sorry. I make you my Lord and Savior. Lord Jesus, give me the enabling power to have your presence wherever I go. Come and live inside of me. Amen.
JOHN: Amen.
Tags: its supernatural, Sid Roth
Tags: its supernatural, Sid Roth