Promise 55 from Exodus 20:20

Ex. 20:20 - "Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.'" - Moses is telling the people, "Fear God, but do not be afraid of God." It seems as though these days we've taken the "Do not be afraid" parts so far that we have forgotten the "fear God" part. Divorce statistics are still about as high in the church as they are outside of it. Sexual immorality is probably as high too but is just hidden more in the church. There is as much idol worship and covetousness from people inside the churches as there is outside. Sin still prevails among many people who consider themselves Christians because they feel they have a "free pass" card they can use each time they sin. The "free pass" that says, "oops, did it again, sorry!" and they slap that on God with a passing breath and they think it's all fine, all clear until the next time they lay the card. What people don't realize is that they are going to suffer consequences of their sin, and it happens while they are alive. Each time we sin we miss out on experiencing the MORE of God. We miss out on His working in us and through us. We miss out on the fullness of His riches and blessings. We miss out on the experience of seeing His Holy Spirit power manifested in us, through us and around us. Sin blinds us from having kingdom vision because, whether we admit it or not, a true Christian will not be able to turn very easily from the guilt and shame of sin. The enemy uses these to plant thoughts into the mind of the child of God who sins, that says, "You do not deserve what God has for you. You are not worthy, you are a terrible Christian, you have given up your rights as children of God." These thoughts then become the focus which replaces the focus on God because we start to believe them. People then withdrawal from God in their hearts and will even go the other way toward sin thinking that "they themselves are hopeless so why try?" This is what we should fear, being separate and distant from our loving Heavenly Father. God shows us who He is through the storm, to draw us nearer to Him, not for us to be frightened away.