“COME, YOU CHILDREN, listen to me; and I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” The fear of the Lord is almost no where to be found in America and her church. I have heard scarcely a sermon on the fear of the Lord, and typically not even an honorable mention of it. I have heard many Christians dumb down the fear of God because they have a twisted view of the Almighty. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.
The fear of the Lord is a reverence for and awe of a holy God. God says what He means and He means what He says. If you truly feared God, you would not live how you wanted. You would walk in obedience to His Word and be quick to repent when you knowingly disobeyed Him. You would seek His face everyday and study the Word of God. You would humble yourself before Him. If you truly feared Him, you would never point the finger at others, you would have no attitude of “I deserve” and you would be grateful in all things. What is interesting in the Hebrew phrase “fear of the Lord,” is that it is equal to how much you love Him. Those that greatly love Him, greatly reverence Him.
There is a symbiotic relationship between the fear of the Lord and the love of Him. We think of these things (fear and love) in our human mind as dissimilar; but in reality, these are needful of one another. If you say you love Him, but do not fear Him; then you do not love Him. The love of God requires that we trust, obey and fear Him. There is NO love of God without the fear of the Lord. You do not know Him and have not been acquainted with His ways. The fear of the Lord is pure, beautiful and redeeming.
All the OT prophets operated in a great love of Him and a great reverence of Him. As Isaiah proclaimed when he came into the Lord’s presence, “I am undone!” All the NT apostles and the church operated in the fear of the Lord. In fact, when the church feared God; it grew and multiplied, “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. THEN FEAR (my emphasis) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the LORD ADDED to the church daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:40-47
Let me show you some Scriptures that are promises to those who fear Him.You have wisdom, knowledge and understanding IF you fear the Lord:Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.The fear of the Lord prolongs life:Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
There is stability in the fear of the Lord:Isaiah 33:6 And He will be the stability of your times, A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.The fear of the Lord produces confidence, hope and safety:Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge.Job 4:6 “Is not your fear of God your confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?Those who fear Him are blessed, prosperous and have His favor:Psalm 112:1 Praise the Lord!How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, Who greatly delights in His commandments.Psalm 128:1 How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.
The fear of the Lord produces a cleansing effect and a shunning of all evil, arrogance, wickedness and sin:Psalm 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
Exodus 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.”The fear of the Lord produces obedience:Deuteronomy 14:23 You shall eat in the presence of the Lord your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God. Colossians 3:22 Bondservants, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.Repent of your lack of fear of God. Humble yourselves before Him and He will exalt you! Find the fear of the Lord and the true riches will be added unto you!#runyourrace
To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page
