IF and THEN

Part One

PROVERBS 2:1-5

“…IF you will receive My words, and treasure up My commandments with you, so that you attend to wisdom, you shall extend your heart to understanding”
Proverbs 2:1-2

“…IF you cry for discernment, lifting up your voice for understanding”
Proverbs 2:3

“…IF you seek her as silver, and search for her as hidden treasures”
Proverbs 2:4

“…THEN you shall understand the fear of Jehovah and find knowledge of God”
Proverbs 2:5

In understanding the fear of the Lord we are given access to the knowing of Him. We live in a day in which understanding is relegated to teachings and concepts but the true knowing of God must be on an experiential basis not a doctrinal one. There is a Way that we can grow into the understanding of the fear of the Lord; it is a way fraught with conditional promises. Religion does not like the word “if” for it denotes responsibility and accountability; the pathway to discipleship is full of this word. “If” in the scriptures confirms the exercising of our own will and choice. It is the determining factor of a person’s walk with God and God’s walk with them. The beauty of God is that all of His “ifs” to us culminate in His “then” to us, for He desires relationship and investment on both of our parts. God has invested His Son and we are asked to simply comply with His “ifs”. Every promise given by God is conditional. It requires faith and faith is revealed by doing. “If” implies more than an intellectual acknowledgement; it is in itself a conditional statement requiring our response.

“IF you…”

This is the phrase given to us. A quick glance at these two words brings us not only to a conditional response, but more importantly a personal one. Many wait for someone else to do a thing or pray that somehow the “then” will come to pass. The promises wait for those who fulfill the “if” which must precede the blessing of the promise.

God will never circumvent the fulfilling of the promise without the corresponding “if’s” being met in our lives on a personal basis. No amount of prayer will short circuit God’s desire for our obedience.

Religion is expecting God’s approval without walking in God’s way.

God Never Tells Man To Do Something
That Man Cannot Do

* Noah built the ark ---------------------God flooded the earth
* Moses stretched forth his hands---------God parted the waters
* Joshua marched around the walls---------God tore them down
* Elijah smote the water------------------God parted the waters
* Elisha threw the stick in the river-----God made the iron swim
* Naaman dipped 7 times-------------------God healed his leprosy
* We lay hands on the sick----------------God will heal

“IF and THEN” are the realities of His Way to the fulfillment of His Life in us.

* List Courtesy of
The Dusty Scholar

Brian Troxel
www.aword.info