To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Ps. 97:10)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good (Rom. 12:9)
I have been praying these verses and several others over the last month or so all having to do with asking the Lord for my character to be like His. I pray that I would hate what He hates and love what He loves.
In this process I literally see my heart becoming more compassionate toward people and more disgusted with sin, my sin, your sin, the world's sin. (It's amazing the power of claiming word over yourself everyday.)
Our cry as a bride has been for years Jesus make us like you, we want to be like you, and yet I haven't seen much change. There hasn't been an overwhelming movement of love for others and hatred for sin. Instead I've seen a moving standard. As the world's standards have gone down the drain the church's slowly move with it.
We still have standards and they are better than the world's but they haven't stayed in line with the Word. The Word says we hate evil, we focus on only pure and noble things, we must be pure in heart, full of 1 Cor. 13 love, 1 John says if we don't love our brethren we don't love God (OUCH), Proverbs says any man who doesn't bridle his tongue is a fool, etc. Have we continued to say God I want to BE LIKE YOU. In other words a walking example of Your Word, not some false sense of standard.
Exodus says the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin. Most of you reading this probably have heard my teaching on fear or have listened to the cd (if you haven't I can get a copy for you). We have to understand the difference of the fear of God and a fear of heights, snakes, etc. The fear of God is a reverential fear of who God is and in His presence this grows and grows. The fear of God in your life is shown by your character, do you hate what God hates and love what He loves? Take a look again at Proverbs 8:13.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Perhaps you've been praying now for a long time saying God I want to be like you, make me like Jesus, and yet don't feel like you are improving. Sanctification is a 2 side process. God will do what you can't do, but you have to do what you can. Get into the Word. Begin to claim scriptures over your life everyday.
I want to be like Jesus. I want to hate what He hates, love what He loves, I want to be sickened by sin, and moved to compassion as He was by people. We have to fear God and desire truly to be like Him.
Blessed are the pure and heart for they shall see God--- I WANT TO SEE HIM
Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled--- I WANT TO BE FILLED.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate
The fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control. Do we walk in the fruits?
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