When we understand the jealousy of our God–and we’ve looked at those different aspects.  In Deuteronomy, we looked at these basic statements that God makes of Himself, His person, and also of His will.  The very fact that the apostle Paul goes on and says, "All of these things were written to remind you that you don’t have a guaranteed entrance into the kingdom of God."  In the case of Israel, it was into the Promised Land.  A whole generation was left to die in the wilderness.  "We’re all waiting for you guys to die."  Can you imagine the last old dude they were having to wait for to die?  They’re sitting there, going, “Come on dude, die.”  “Hurry up.”  “You’re the last guy of your hard-hearted, stiff-necked generation.  We need you to go away and then God can take us into the Promised Land.”

Who were these people?  “No, we won’t go up.  Oh, it’s all that was promised, but there are giants in the land, and there are walled cities.  We’re as grasshoppers in their eyes.”  God said, “Ten times you’ve accused Me and that’s enough.  You’re not going in.  If that’s who you see Me to be, then that’s who I will be to you, according to your faith.”  And they died off.  Joshua and Caleb were still kicking, the only two that were on God’s side, “We’re well able, let us take the land.”  Amen?

Caleb comes on later as an old man and says, “Look, I’ve got the strength I’ve had as a young warrior.  Let me take my mountain.”  Are we hoping to just stroll into the Promised Land or are we going in as warriors and taking what’s rightfully ours?  I’m going to tell you what’s rightfully yours:  a victorious Christian life.  I’m going to tell you what’s rightfully yours:  you’re the head and not the tail.  I’m going to tell you what’s rightfully yours:  God wants to bless you coming in and going out.  But for all of those rights that belong to us, read this second half of that twenty-eighth chapter and you will see that they can all be taken from you and you will no longer have the ability for one person to cause seven to flee.  You’ll be the one turning your back to your enemies and fleeing.  Our God is an awesome God.

As he prepares to take the people in, the admonitions begin to come.  “When you go in, just remember one thing.  You’re going to be living in houses you didn’t build and drinking from wells you didn’t dig.  Let Me remind you of one thing over and over: without Me you could do nothing.”  That’s what all those first chapters of Deuteronomy are saying.  They were just a little wordier.  You did not gain to yourself, what you have, through your own abilities.  God blessed you.

The moment we lose that; we’ve lost the fear of the Lord, an elevation of self that brings a reproach on the holiness of God.  Corinthians, when it talks about the chastening of the Lord, says to embrace that.  God’s doing it for your good; amen?  He says that all of the chastisement that’s taking place in your life is to bring you to perfecting holiness in the fear of God, is what Paul goes on to conclude in that verse.

Do you want perfection to be the standard in which you live and walk?  It comes by fearing God.  It comes by not thinking more highly of yourself.  It comes by not trusting in your wisdom.  It comes by realizing the fear of God is wisdom.  What is the fear of God?  It's listening to His Word, knowing what His will is and doing it regardless of the consequences, trusting God to provide for you, trusting God to deliver you.