FEAR…YES, OR NO?
Good evening, all, I hope that this day finds you well.
May I ask a question? IF GOD WERE TO COME AND TELL YOU THAT HE IS TIRED OF PEOPLE’S BEHAVIOUR AND THAT HE IS GOING TO DESTROY THE ENTIRE BOKSBURG AREA, WHAT WOULD YOUR REACTION BE?
Throughout the Bible we are given a command to fear God, or to fear the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:1-2 Amplified Bible
6 “Now this is the command; the statutes and the judgments (precepts) which the Lord your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might do (follow, obey) them in the land which you are crossing over [the Jordan] to possess, 2 so that you and your son and your grandson may fear and worship the Lord your God [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect], to keep [and actively do] all His statutes and His commandments which I am commanding you, all the days of your life, so that your days may be prolonged.
Romans 3:14-18 Amplified Bible
14 “Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood,
16 Destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 And they have not known the path of peace.”
18 “There is no fear of God [and His awesome power] before their eyes.”
So, what does it mean to fear God?
Is it to be afraid, it is fear or apprehension that we feel when a punishment is surely near, it is not terror or suspicion, it is not the fear which makes a man run and hide? Let me explain it this way, the fear of the Lord is like the fear of a loving child, that reverence and Holy desire to please God. We must remember that God and God alone has the power to cast each and every soul into hell, in other words, God has life and death in His Hands, he is able to bring us into His Kingdom, to save us from darkness, however it is all in His control, maybe we need to ask…
Lord, what does it mean to fear you?
To fear God is to follow and obey Him, to follow His ways knowing that He is King above all.
To fear God is to seek Him, mind, body, and soul, in spirit and truth.
Entering a battlefield to wage war, requires physical, mental, and spiritual preparation. In a real war, the soldier is taken through rigorous training exercises (boot camp), not to demoralize but to strengthen the body, the soul, and the spirit, to be enabled, equipped with the best fighting armor for waging the war. In saying that, our spiritual warfare requires the same attitude and discipline of commitment, yet so many of us are lacking to do battle on our knees. It takes preparation, equipping ourselves with God’s word and putting on the spiritual armor of God.
Turn with me to
HEBREWS 12:25-29
25 See to it that you do not refuse [to listen to] Him who is speaking [to you now]. For if those [sons of Israel] did not escape when they refused [to listen to] him who warned them on earth [revealing God’s will], how much less will we escape if we turn our backs on Him who warns from heaven? 26 His voice shook the earth [at Mount Sinai] then, but now He has given a promise, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the [starry] heaven.” 27 Now this [expression], “Yet once more,” indicates the removal and final transformation of all those things which can be shaken—that is, of that which has been created—so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is [indeed] a consuming fire.
HOW DOES HAVING A FEAR OF GOD TAKE AWAY FEAR?
WILLIAM D EISENHOWER put it this way:
‘Many of us presume that the world is the ultimate threat and that God’s function is to offset it. We give it unwarranted power, which is temporary, yet the Biblical position is that God is far scarier than the world…’
Let us remember the flood, the cities Sodom and Gomorrah, the story of Ahab and Jezebel (found in 1 Kings 16). God decreed punishment, every male in his household would be killed.
GOD SITS IN JUDGEMENT YET FORGIVES.
Jesus warned us throughout the Bible to fear God not men, (it is interesting to note that fear is mentioned over three hundred times in the Bible), Jesus spoke lovingly to all and yet did not mince words when people needed to face their sin and repent, so why do we?
John 15:13 Amplified Bible
13 No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.
So, in knowing all of this, what does it mean to fear the Lord, to fear God:
Every time we listen to the news, or pick up a newspaper, it is just more sad, bad news, seeing what is happening produces fear and it spreads. As we know fear can be negative, a wrong fear that holds people back or it can be positive, a healthy fear keeping us out of danger and trouble.
Look at the story of the 12 spies that Moses sent out to go see the promised land, 10 of them came back with a report so discouraging that people became filled with fear, ready to quit and return to Egypt yet hold on these were the same people who were present with miracles, the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the pillars, fire, and cloud that led them. WHEN FEAR GRIPPED THEM, THEY FORGOT ABOUT GOD’S PRESENCE AND HIS PROMISES.
Yet two of the spies had the right kind of fear, a different spirit, they feared God if they did not do as He had commanded. God rewards
Revelation 21:8 Amplified Bible
8 But as for the cowards and unbelieving and abominable [who are devoid of character and personal integrity and practice or tolerate immorality], and murderers, and sorcerers [with intoxicating drugs], and idolaters and occultists [who practice and teach false religions], and all the liars [who knowingly deceive and twist truth], their part will be in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
How do we attain godly fear, the right kind of fear?
- The fear of God is a gift from Him:
Genuine fear of God is from true salvation, surrounding all to Him, and receiving the Holy Spirit, scripture is full of good and bad fear.
- The fear of God produces godly humility:
When someone truly fears God, it makes the person yield to Him, no matter what, this person trembles before God, he recognizes how small we are before God, it keeps us from being high and mighty, to honor Him as God and to be considerate to all others.
Let me give you an example, have you ever been bullied at school or even work, you do whatever you are told, yes, why? because of fear. Are you understanding now?
- The fear of God instills obedience:
It creates a deep desire to obey and please Him above all else, knowing that one day each one of us must give an account of our life before him, it goes much deeper, it is more than respect, it is to place our faith and trust in Him alone.
Turn with me to
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 Amplified Bible
9 Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth] or away from home [and with Him], it is our [constant] ambition to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the [a]judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or [b]bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities, and abilities]. 11 Therefore, since we know the fear of the Lord [and understand the importance of obedience and worship], we persuade people [to be reconciled to Him]. But we are plainly known to God [He knows everything about us]; and I hope that we are plainly known also in your consciences [your God-given discernment].
Apostle Paul understood this, King David understood this, so why are we battling with this?
- The fear of God develops godly courage:
WHEN YOU FEAR GOD MORE THAN MAN, THEN YOU WILL FEAR MAN LESS THAN GOD.
We can look to the disciples, they did not back down, put in jail, received beatings, even losing their lives, THEY CONTINUED TO DO THE RIGHT THING BEFORE GOD.
It saddens me to think that majority of us would turn from God in those situations.
- The fear of God helps us avoid sin:
We should all strive for godly fear that causes us to flee from sin, to say NO to sin and its deadly consequences, as God has the power to punish those who sin against Him.
- The fear of God builds and encourages godly leadership:
If we have godly fear, we will not take advantage of others by abusing positions of authority, a leader takes responsibility, leads, and teaches others about God. (What an amazing feeling it is to be in the service of God, to humbly wait on Him for His guidance and empowerment)
- The fear of God leads to loving God and others:
So, fear of God must grow into the love of God in us, towards other people as we know God is love. The more we get to know God and understand his Word, to live according to His Word, the more fear we have of God, the more blessings we receive, we will come to know that He is loving, merciful and forgiving, yet He is also Holy, just, and righteous.
We will then develop an overwhelming spiritual comfort and a deep sense of spiritual security, the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. God will see you through because you fear Him, He will deliver us not only from evil but from our own sin, which is what separates many people from God, yet when we fear God, there is salvation and deliverance.
I leave you with this:
1 John 4:18
18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].
Whatever it is…keeping you from God, it is time today to come to the Lord. Let us pray…
