Serve the Lord with Fear

And Rejoice with Trembling

Chapter 1

The title comes from Psalm 2:11.

Here are Psalms 2, 3, and 4 from the Holy Bible, Hoehn Version—

___Psalm 2

1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,

3 "Let us break their bands in pieces, and cast away their cords from us."

4 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision.

5 Then he shall speak to them in his anger, and vex them in his strong displeasure.

6 Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion.

7 I will declare the decree, the Lord has said to me, "You are my Son, this day I've begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I'll give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's container."

10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings, be instructed, you judges of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, so he's not angry, and you're destroyed from the way, when his anger is kindled but a little. Blessed are all of those who put their trust in him.

___Psalm 3

1 Lord, how have they increased that trouble me! There are many who rise up against me.

2 There are many who say about my soul, "There is no help for him in God." Selah.

3 But you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

4 I cried to the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

5 I laid down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord protected me.

6 I will not be afraid of ten thousand people, that have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O Lord, save me, O my God, for you've struck all my enemies on the cheek bone, you've broken the teeth of the ungodly.

8 Salvation belongs to the Lord, your blessing is on your people. Selah.

___Psalm 4

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness, you've enlarged me when I was in distress, have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

2 O you sons of men, how long will you turn my glory into shame? How long will you love vanity, and seek lying? Selah.

3 But know that the Lord has set apart him that is godly for himself, the Lord will hear when I call to him.

4 Stand in awe, and sin not, commune with your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

6 There are many that say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift up the light of your countenance on us.

7 You've put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

8 I will lie down in peace, and sleep, for you, Lord, only make me dwell in safety.

Chapter 2

“Serve the Lord with FEAR, and rejoice with TREMBLING.”

The very next verse says, “Kiss the Son, so he's not angry, and you're destroyed from the way, when his anger is kindled but a little.”

And who is the Son? Well, that would be Jesus, the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16)

And Jesus said, “Don’t fear those who can kill the body, but after that have no more that they can do, but I will forewarn you whom to fear—fear him, who after he has killed, can throw you into hell.”

And that, of course, is God.

At the start of chapter 2, above, the two words FEAR and TREMBLING are capitalized.

These same two words were written by Paul the Apostle, (formerly, Saul of Tarsus, of the tribe of Benjamin), in Phil 2:12

The Apostle says, “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

But why are fear and trembling emphasized? Doesn’t God provide salvation to us for free by the blood of Jesus?

Yes he does. But, you see, after we become saved, there is the possibility of losing our salvation.

There is a false teaching, “Once saved, always saved.” That statement is a lie.

Jesus said, “He that endures to the end shall be saved.”

Jesus said, “Be faithful until death, and I will give you a crown of life.”

And Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day (Judgment Day), Lord, Lord, haven’t we done many wonderful works in your name, haven’t we cast out demons in your name.”

And Jesus will answer them, “Depart from me, you that commit sin, I never knew you.”

I was discussing this passage with a Christian brother, and he said, “But doesn’t the fact that Jesus said, I never knew you, show that they had not been Christians?”

I answered the Christian brother, “No, it doesn’t.”

Those people had cast out demons. You can’t cast out demons if you’re not a Christian, as can be seen in Acts chapt 19, where the seven sons of Sceva, a Jew, tried to cast out demons unsuccessfully.

Because they weren’t Christians, they didn’t have the authority to use the name of Jesus to cast out demons, as they tried to do.

In the early chapters of Ezekiel, God says to Ezekiel, “When a righteous man turns to wickedness, all his righteousness will be forgotten…”

It’s the same principle here. They had been Christians, but then they turned away from the Lord, and it became as though they had never been Christians, even though they had once been Christians.

There is also a passage in Hebrews chapt 6 about backsliders who can’t be renewed to repentance.

But I think I’ve backslidden a little myself, and yet, the Lord received me back. But if you get too far away from the Lord, you might not be able to get back to the Lord.

That’s why fear and trembling.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

We need to spend some time in the word every day, (the Bible).

“Be diligent to make your calling and election sure.”

“Pray without ceasing.”

Jesus said, “And what I say to you, I say to all, Watch (be ready)”

And we’ll have more power as Christians by receiving from the Lord Jesus the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, says Jesus in Acts 1:8

And not only is it possible to lose your salvation, and not only does Jesus say that some former Christians will go to hell, but also, there are forces at work to try to make sure that you are one of those who don’t go to heaven.

What forces?

The Devil and his demons.

In John 10:10, Jesus said, “The thief doesn’t come but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.

That’s what the Devil and his demons are trying to do.

But the Bible also says, “Resist the devil, and he will run away from you.”

Remember how Jesus told the Parable of the Planter? The Planter planted good seed. There was one good ground category. But there were three other categories that failed to produce.

The Devil and his demons want you in one of those three other categories that are unsuccessful as Christians.

Another scripture talks about the devil going around, “Like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour.”

I am aware that Jesus said that no man can pluck Jesus’ people out of His hand, and that Jesus’ Father is greater than Jesus, and no man can pluck them out of the Father’s hand.

And that should be of comfort to Christians.

But Jesus’ people can walk away from the Lord, and can turn their back on the Lord.

But how would that happen?

It wouldn’t take very much. If Christians get sloppy about their Bible study…

Paul tells Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved unto God…”

Or, if Christians get sloppy about their prayer life…

I was living at a place where TV was provided. Then I moved, and the new place didn’t have TV provided.

I did without TV for several months. But finally, I got a TV.

When I went from no TV to having TV, my TV viewing time went from zero to hours a day.

TV is not such a bad thing, if you’re careful what you watch, but if it crowds out your Bible study, or your prayer life, or both, then TV is endangering your soul.

In Ephesians chapt 6, Paul says, “We don’t wrestle against flesh and blood (humans), but against, Princedoms, Powers, Rulers of the Darkness of this World, and Wicked spirits in high places.”

Bible Teacher Kenneth E. Hagin says these are the four categories of demons.

Another example I use is if you have a tree in your back yard that needs to be cut down, you could go at it with a paring knife from the kitchen.

Or, you could go at it with a pocket knife with a three inch blade.

You could use a Boy Scout hatchet. You could use a lumberjack’s ax.

Or, you could pull the cord, and start the engine of a chain saw, and probably have that tree down in ten minutes, or so.

Why?

Because the chain saw has more power.

Similarly, Christians who have the Baptism with the Holy Ghost with the speaking in unknown tongues (languages) have more power than Christians who don’t.

Do I have scripture for that?

Yes. Jesus said, “You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come on you.” (Acts 1:8)

But the Baptism with the Holy Ghost wasn’t available until after Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, and ascension back to heaven, where he had come down from.

The first baptisms with the Holy Ghost happened on the Day of Pentecost, in Acts chapter 2.

The evidence of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the speaking in unknown tongues. You’ll pray in a language you never learned.

How is that possible?

When Jesus baptizes you with the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost will give you strange words to speak in a strange language.

Then, you add your voice, and speak out those strange words with your mouth and tongue and vocal cords.

In Acts chapter 10, Cornelius, the Centurion, became a Christian, and received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, and spoke in unknown tongues.

In Acts chapter 19, they received the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, and spoke in unknown tongues.

The evidence of the Baptism with the Holy Ghost is the speaking in unknown tongues.

In Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, John the Baptist tells us that Jesus is the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost.

You get it from Jesus.

In Matt 7:7, Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given to you…”

So, ask Jesus for the Baptism with the Holy Ghost, if you’re a Christian.

“When you pray, believe that you receive the things that you ask for, and you shall have them.” (Mark 11:24)

With all the forces that are working against them, Christians ought to make sure they obey the will of the Lord, and get the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.

And this will help you, too, when it comes time to cast out demons.

In Mark 16:17,18, Jesus said, “These signs shall follow those who believe, In my name, they’ll cast out demons, they’ll speak with new tongues (languages), they’ll lay hand on the sick, and they’ll recover.

Norvel Hayes said the Lord told him that this passage in Mark chapt 16 contains the most important words that ever came out of Jesus’ mouth.

Jesus wants us to cast out demons, speak in unknown tongues, and lay hands on the sick for their healing.

Please join me in doing what our Lord Jesus wants us to do.

For more information, please see my book, “How to receive the Baptism with the Holy Ghost.”

“But if that wicked servant shall begin to eat and be drunken, and to beat the menservants and maidservants, his Lord shall come in an hour that he doesn’t expect, and shall appoint him his portion with the hypocrites.” (says Jesus)

Don’t be that wicked servant, but rather, be the righteous servant of the Lord who is watching for his return, and ready.

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor. Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill." Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all. If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries? Or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace. So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers. He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire. You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure. You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is anyone merry? Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.