I asked a firmly grounded brother-in-the-Lord to read over my last post Afresh and verify it for biblical truth. This is what he replied, “Powerful, won’t be well received I’m afraid. Your follow-up article should be on the ‘fear of the Lord’. It isn’t discussed at all in church anymore.”
This made the gears in my head start turning and I felt a quickening in my spirit. I went back into my index and found an article I wrote 7 years ago. Please read Consequences of Losing the Fear of God. It is even more appropriate for 2019 than it was when I wrote it.
In the Bible, there are distinctly two types of fear. There is the ‘fear of God’ and then there are the ‘fears in life’. In the article I referenced above Consequences of Losing the Fear of God, it discusses the ‘fear of God’ which we are to most definitely possess. Then there are the ‘fears in life’, or ‘fears of the world’, which are something that we are not to give into. These fears have already been conquered by Jesus on the cross. Please read the following article I also wrote 7 years ago addressing this fear in Fear Removed.
I finished my previous article Afresh stating this:
“We were never called to be perfect. We were simply called to be obedient to His Word. If we are obedient–>we will love. If we are obedient–>we will pray. If we are obedient–>everything will fall into place.”
But what drives us to obedience? What my friend was saying is that the ‘fear of God’ (reverence and awe) must be preached once again, because that is the driving force behind obedience.
When I look at the ‘prosperity gospel’ and the ‘false charismatic movements’ I no longer see any ‘fear of God’. So many speak flippantly about Jesus appearing to them as if Jesus and them are best buddies. But whenever I read the Word of God where the Lord appears to an individual, there is an awe and reverence that inspires ‘godly fear’ and respect. I like Isaiah’s description, “Woe is me, for I am undone!”
We need to go back to the very beginning of the church age. We need to revisit Ananias and Sapphira. The whole situation with Ananias and Sapphira was actually an act of God’s mercy for our sake. He showed us that He is still the same God that must be feared:
And great fear and awe gripped the whole church, and all who heard about these things. (Acts 5:11 AMP)
The majority of the false charismatic movements have come out of the two largest Pentecostal denominations there are. Even though, I still stand by both of these tremendous denominations because I know that Satan is always there to attack the fiercest that which is closest to the truth. I have personally been under the leadership of five individuals that have been convicted in federal courts of law for various crimes. What is amazing is that I was able to sense when they no longer had the ‘fear of the Lord’ within them, but I was unaware of the crimes they were engaged in. None of this deters me though, because I recognize the fact that I must never lose the fear of God.
The command to ‘Fear God’ is literally woven throughout the fabric of the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. Biblically, ‘fear of God’ (reverence and awe of God) leads to ‘obedience to God’ and ‘obedience to God’ leads to ‘love of God’ (Who first loved us 1 Jn 4:19) and ‘love of God’ drives out ‘fear of judgment’ (1 Jn 4:17-18) which in turn drives out all ‘worldly fears’. Love then becomes the most excellent way! (1 Cor 12:31 and 1 Cor 13)
Abraham, our father in faith according to Romans chapter 4, sets the pace throughout the Bible for the ‘fear of God’ in reverence and awe:
But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” So he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.” (Genesis 22:11-12 NKJV)
So I would like to finish this article up by adding to the ending of the last article by saying that:
“If we fear God with the reverence and awe that is demanded–>we will live a life of obedience. If we are obedient–>we will live a life of integrity and love—>and then all else will fall into place.”
The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short. (Proverbs 10:27)
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom. (Proverbs 15:33)
By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
The Lord is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His covenant. (Psalms 25:14)
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. (Matthew 28:8-9 KJV)
The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Annointing 