The Fear of the Lord | SermonIndex

havok20x Jun 6, 2014

I have been studying (or at least attempting to study) on what it means for a believer to fear the Lord. I have been thinking about the men of the Bible who encountered the Lord and what their responses to Him were.

What has the Lord shown yall about the fear of the Lord? What does it look like? Is it just simply reverence? Terror? Joy? A little of it all?

This is a tiny experience. But there was a day while I was listening to a sermon about who God was that it dawned on me that God, without any difficulty, could just wipe everything away. It was terrifying! But then came comfort when I was reminded about the faithfulness of God and His promises to us, His children.

sermonindex Jun 6, 2014

Good subject Havok, below is a piece I wrote a few years ago on this very subject. It's a wee bit lengthy but may be of some use in your studies..........bro Frank

When I was a young child growing up in Scotland, more often than naught, the discipline of the children fell to the mothers. Fathers would typically be working long hours in the shipyards and often went to the bar aftwerwards, so they were never around much. This was the way it was in my house. My mother was the one who administered discipline, and it usually consisted of a slap on the back-side, or on the bare legs or sometimes just a flurry of slaps to the head when I had pushed her over the edge. I always deserved it and it was never much on my mind. Yet, every now and then I would mess up bad and I would hear these dreaded words " You just wait until your Father gets home boy.”

Now, that last sentence would strike fear into my heart. I heard it several times growing up. There was the agony of knowing that it would be my Father who was dealing with me and was not as " soft,” as my mother. Also, there was the agony of the wait. In my own little mind it would be like being on death row ïŠ. The minutes would drag by. There was no commuting this sentence. It was not used much, but when it was used, there would be no appeal.

Now, the reason that this threat carried so much weight was , and this seems obvious, I knew my Father. I had a relationship with him, I had many encounters with him. I knew for a fact that he was coming through the door at some point. My Father was real, I had a real relationship with him and I respected him. On a night following the words " You just wait until your Father gets home boy,” there would be no wrestling with my Father when he came home from work or the pub. There would be no change given to me from his pockets to go and buy some candy. No, there would be a reckoning. I knew it, just a sure as night follows day.

Now I say all that just too simply illustrate the relationship. If, for instance, my mother was a single parent, then the phrase " Wait until your Father gets home,” would be meaningless. Someone without a Father could mess up bad and never have to worry about that phrase or having to deal with a Father. The words would carry no weight and there would be no fear involved. We hear a lot about the fear of God nowadays and how it is lacking in the " church.” Now there is no doubt what-so-ever that there is little if any fear in the " church,” today. One could say the church has lost its fear of God. Yet if one were to say that, then that would imply that there was a fear of God before, now it is lost, and it has to be regained. And perhaps that is the case for a portion.

Now, I do now want anyone to be confused by my anology, it was simply stated to re inforce the notion of relationship. I have never feared my heavenly Father in the way that I feared my earthly Father. Many times I came before the Lord and wanted and expected to suffer at His hands for the way I had acted. Yet, I can honestly say that my Father is a gentle and patient God. I have undoubtedly been scourged by the lack of His presence in my life at times. In fact my fear of my Father is based on my love and respect for Him. I have also been scourged by the consequences of actions taken without His advice, He has allowed it, and that scourging , when understood and yielded too, has shaped me.
The fear of God is something that flows out of " knowing ,” God. If a man or a woman who carries the name of God, yet does not fear Him, there should be no surprise that they do not fear that which they do not know or have never encountered.

It would not make any sense to expect a person to fear the Father that they have never encountered. So, if we want to see the fear of God in Christendom, then Christendom must encounter the Living God. Remember the children of Israel at the mountain after they had been delivered from Egypt. For three day they prepared to meet the living God. It was not the preparation that that made them tremble, it was the encounter itself. In fact they cried out, they thought they were going to die as the mountain trembled, as the thunder cracked, as the lightening fractured the sky above. The heavenly trumpets blew and every sense of the Israelites were " assaulted,” by the presence of the living God. This was something to fear. Much as the prophet feared and considered himself undone in the presence of God, yet was able to lift up his eyes and say " My eyes have seen the King.” This was truly an encounter.Now neither Isaiah nor the Israelites cried out because someone gave a sermon, or they were afraid of some philosophy or theology, no , they cried out at the presence of the Living God.

It’s interesting that in revivals of the past, especially the great awakening , we look back and see that Jonathon Edwards read out a sermon called "Sinners in the hands of an angry God.” He simply read it out verbatim , no theatrics, no special skills, he simply read it out. And we see that great fear fell upon the people as they considered what it meant to fall into the hands of the Almighty. And so we look back and think " oh what a mighty sermon,” "this is what we need today,” "this is what is lacking.” And yet, can I tell you, that this sermon had been read out at least six times previously.

Now I am sure that people were affected each time it was read out but not like the time that is recorded. Where we see men panicked and fearful and crying out to God and falling down as dead and trembling in their fear. What was the difference? Can I suggest to you that the difference was that the presence of God fell upon that assembly.Now why that time and not the others? That would be akin to knowing which way the wind will blow next. God knows. Yet the undeniable fact is that the very foundations of a healthy fear of God lies in relationship. One must " know ,” the Father in order to fear the Father.

Now there are many men who can produce fear in a gathering of peoples. A witch-doctor can create fear in whole villages and regions. Priests can create fear in towns and cities around the world. Pharisees have been promoting fear for endless centuries. Yet what fear is this? The kind of fear that modifies outward behavior but does nothing to change the heart? Now let me give you a small example of fear that comes from the outside , modifies behavior to a certain degree but does nothing to change the heart. If a person speeds, drives faster that the posted speed limit, breaks the law, he undoubtedly fears he will get a ticket. Many times the threat of getting a ticket will make people slow down, not always. The man that slows down because he fears getting a ticket, has a relationship with the law. He is afraid of the consequences therefore he modifies his behavior.

If a man has a relationship with the law, if his behavior is modified by the law, then that man cannot have a relationship with Jesus. Why not? Because that man would be an adulterer. You see, after the New Covenant was put into place, we now have a relationship with the law-giver. The giver of the Law gives us a new heart and resides in it. The new man is dead to the Law and alive to the law-giver. His behavior is now modified by Jesus Himself from within and it changes his character and nature. The law that he once tried to follow out of an abstract fear of an abstract God, has been replaced with a living relationship with the God that he encountered. The man’s behavior is now modified out of love for his Lord and a desire to see his Lord gloried in all the earth. He fears not being able to draw close to the Lord; he knows that sin "separates,” him from the presence of God.

No ”“where is this more plainly seen than in Psalm 51. "Hide thy face from my sins and blot out all of my iniquities.” "Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right Spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit.”

And so when Mr. Edwards recited his words, the words penetrated hard hearts by the power of the presence of God, a God that they were now "aware,” of. This awareness of God is the same awareness that Duncan Campbell speaks of in the Hebridean revival where people were so aware of His presence that they cried out "Is there mercy for me, is there mercy for me?. And at Pentecost we see the same reaction to Peters words spoken in conjunction with the presence of God, for men were "stabbed in the heart,’ thoroughly penetrated and they cried out " What must we do to be saved.” If we want to see men fear God, if we want to see revival, we must cry out to God that His Spirit would come down. We must repent of all of our works that are done without His presence, without His Spirit. We must repent of the fact that we have went on in Christendom with business as usual despite the fact that we have not seen His presence in our midst.

It’s very telling that the Pharisees and the Israelites carried on their rituals for hundreds of years without the Ark of the Covenant. When Jesus died on the cross and the veil was ripped in tow, it exposed the fact that the Holy of Holy’s was nothing more than an empty room. And yet for hundreds of years the priests had went about their business with no ark of the covenant. We look for God in certain places that we expect to find him, and yet here He was, outside the city, tortured by the world and rejected by His own.

Psalm 114:2 "Judah was His sanctuary and Israel His dominion. " God lives within the heart of His people. His people are the temple of God. Psalm 114:7 "Tremble thou earth at the presence of the God of Jacob.” You see brothers and sisters; it’s at the presence of God that men tremble. Whether men of God or men of the world, they tremble at the presence of God. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. (2Sa 23:3)

And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. (2Sa 23:4)

Are you like the light of the morning? Do you fear God in such a fashion that makes you like the sun rising in the morning to the world? Does God inhabit you like He wanted to inhabit Judah? Do you walk in the presence of God, the awareness of God? The men and the women of God who walk in this awareness are the light of the world.

David gave us these instructions lying on his deathbed. Yet he also says this, a sentence that must have broken his heart "Although my house be not so with God.” (2 Sam 23:5) How tragic. His house did not walk in the fear of God. They walked outside of relationship with God. And so it is with Christendom. And yet we have a wonderful covenant with our God….

Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2Sa 23:5) ..... bro Frank

Oracio Jun 7, 2014

Great topic havoc and great article Frank. This part really struck me:

If we want to see men fear God, if we want to see revival, we must cry out to God that His Spirit would come down. We must repent of all of our works that are done without His presence, without His Spirit. We must repent of the fact that we have went on in Christendom with business as usual despite the fact that we have not seen His presence in our midst.

May God have mercy on us beginning with myself.

TMK Jun 7, 2014

This video ("The fear of God- Have We Lost It?)features a bunch of speakers on sermonindex:

http://youtu.be/oGjjhqk8tMY

sermonindex Jun 7, 2014

Thank you Oracio, it is a great subject. The fear of the Pharisee brings bondage, but their is liberty for the children of God.........bro Frank

savannah Jun 7, 2014

THE FEAR OF GOD

By William S. Plumer

God's word clearly teaches that there is a fear which is consistent with true religion. Once the Scriptures assert that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge," Proverbs 1:7; and twice they say that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 111:10, and Proverbs 9:10. There is no higher wisdom than to fear God, as there is no true wisdom until he is feared. The fear of God is both alpha and omega in wisdom. "The very first, and indeed the principal thing, to be instilled into all men's minds, is a biblical sense of the divine Majesty, and a solemn regard towards him." With the foregoing well agrees the prophet Isaiah: "The fear of the Lord is his treasure." Isa. 33:6. It is the more important to dwell upon this grace, as it seems not to be much spoken of. Very seldom is it a subject of pulpit discourse; rarely do we find it treated of at length in modern books; yet the Bible is full of it. Not only the Old Testament, but the New also, insists upon reverence and godly fear as essential ingredients of Christian character.

Perhaps one reason why so little is said of it is, that many minds are confused respecting its qualities. It will therefore be wise to seek to understand its nature, and the difference between it and all those kinds of fear which are spurious. Godly fear does not at all consist in servility and guilty dismay, nor in mere dread and terror. This kind of fear is neither holy nor useful. Indeed it sadly perverts men, and fits them for a life of sin. "Fear, if it has not the light of a true understanding concerning God wherewith to be moderated, breeds superstition," says Hooker.

Godly fear consists with love. This is so true, that the more we fear God, the more we love him; and the more we love him, the more do we fear him. Godly fear is not a destroyer, but a regulator of other graces. Without it faith might become presumptuous, hope might lose its sobriety, love might degenerate into fondness or sentimentality, and joy might become giddy. But where the heart is full of godly fear, all these unhappy results are avoided. So far from agitating, it calms and quiets the mind. It seems to give both gravity and cheerfulness. It moderates without depressing; it animates without intoxicating. It is good ballasts to the ship in her passage through tempestuous seas.

This fear is a fruit of God's bounty. It is gracious. "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." Without an interest in God's favor, we can never make so excellent an attainment.

Godly fear is a saving grace. It is declared to be a part of true religion in all dispensations. "They shall fear you as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations." Psalm 72:5. So that religion without love is not more spurious than religion without godly fear.

One of the most striking features of synagogue worship for centuries past has been an evident lack of profound reverence for God in the entire manner of conducting the religious services of the Jews. The basis of this fear is found in the nature, word, and works of God. Jehovah is "the great and dreadful God." We must gain a knowledge of him. "As the justice of God and his anger must be apprehended before he can be feared slavishly, so the majesty of God and his goodness must be understood before he can be feared filially. Who can stand in awe of a majesty he is ignorant of? Men, knowing not God's nature, have often presumed so much upon his mercy, that they have been destroyed by his justice."

Any right thoughts of God's amazing purity of nature will surely beget a pious fear of him. Because he is "glorious in holiness””he is fearful in praises." "As the approach of a grave and serious man makes children hasten their trifles out of the way; so would the consideration of this attribute make us cast away our idols, and our ridiculous thoughts and designs." And not only God's majesty and holiness, but also his love and mercy beget a great fear of him. So says the Psalmist, "There is forgiveness with you, that you may be feared." Psalm 130:4. So says Paul, "We receiving a kingdom, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." Heb. 12:28. The same is true of God's power and government. "You are great, and your name is great in might; who would not fear you, O King of nations?" Jer. 10:6, 7. Jesus Christ told us to fear him who had power to cast into hell. Luke 12:5. In like manner, to fear and tremble at God's word is an effect produced on the heart of all the pious. So the Scriptures teach; so God's people experience.

And how often does God awaken sentiments of fear, not only by exhibitions of his wrath and displays of his power, but by marvelous acts of his grace and mercy towards the rebellious and perishing. Psalm 40:3; Acts 2:43. There are some remarkable examples of the fear of God recorded in Scripture. One is that of Moses, mentioned in Heb. 12:21, where it is said that the giving of the law on mount Sinai produced the deepest awe and even terror. "So terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake." A similar record is made by Isaiah: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and His robe filled the temple. Seraphim were standing above Him; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; His glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. Then I said: Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty." (Isaiah 6:1-5)

A still more remarkable effect, if possible, was produced on the prophet Habakkuk by an unusual display of God's glory. The song reads thus: "His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. His brilliance is like light; rays are flashing from His hand. This is where His power is hidden. Plague goes before Him, and pestilence follows in His steps. He stands and shakes the earth; He looks and startles the nations. The age-old mountains break apart; the ancient hills sink down. His pathways are ancient. I see the tents of Cushan in distress; the tent curtains of the land of Midian tremble. Are You angry at the rivers, Lord? Is Your wrath against the rivers? Or is Your rage against the sea when You ride on Your horses, Your victorious chariot? You took the sheath from Your bow; the arrows are ready to be used with an oath. You split the earth with rivers. The mountains see You and shudder; a downpour of water sweeps by. The deep roars with its voice and lifts its waves high. Sun and moon stand still in their lofty residence, at the flash of Your flying arrows, at the brightness of Your shining spear. You march across the earth with indignation; You trample down the nations in wrath. You come out to save Your people, to save Your anointed. You crush the leader of the house of the wicked and strip him from foot to neck. You pierce his head with his own spears; his warriors storm out to scatter us, gloating as if ready to secretly devour the weak. You tread the sea with Your horses, stirring up the great waters. I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood." (Habakkuk 3:3-16)

A reason given by Paul for serving God with reverence and godly fear, is that he "is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:28, 29. A very high degree of holy fear is therefore well founded. There is cause for adoring reverence for the heavenly Majesty. Although there is not much said in modern writers respecting the fear of God, yet it is different with those who lived long ago. Thus says Hall, "There is a trembling that may consist with joy. Trembling is an effect of fear, but the fear which we must cherish is reverential, not slavish, not distrustful. I will so distrust myself, that I may be steadfastly confident in the God of my salvation. I will so tremble before the glorious majesty of my God, that I may not abate anything of the joy of his never-failing mercy."

So also Hopkins on the first commandment says, "Certainly we cannot have the Lord for our God unless we supremely fear and reverence him. Yes, as the love, so the fear of God is made the sum of all the commandments, and indeed the substance of all religion; for, although it be but one particular branch and member of that worship and service which we owe to God, yet it is such a remarkable one, and has such a mighty influence upon all the rest, that oftentimes in Scripture it is put for the whole."

How clearly too does John Bunyan describe this virtue in his account of Mr. Fearing. As he says, "No fears, no grace. Though there is not always grace where there is the fear of hell, yet to be sure there is no grace where there is no fear of God." Where this fear of God is genuine, it is not an occasional exercise, but an abiding principle. "Be in the fear of the Lord all the day long." Proverbs 23:17. "Happy is the man who fears always." Proverbs 28:14. "Rejoice with trembling." Psalm 2:11. "Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear." 1 Pet. 1:17. We are to "perfect holiness in the fear of God." 2 Cor. 7:1. We are to work out our "salvation with fear and trembling." Phil. 2:12. When the Holy Spirit rested on Christ, it "made him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord." Isa. 11:2, 3. So that it is clear that there is, there can be no genuine piety””without the fear of God.

Someone may ask how these views agree with the statement of John, that "there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18. The proper answer is, that John is here speaking of servile fear, which, as he says, "has torment;" whereas we are speaking of a fear which has no torment.

John Newton says, "The Lord bids me 'fear not'””and at the same time he says, 'Happy is the man who fears always.' How to fear and not to fear at the same time is, I believe, one branch of that secret of the Lord which none can understand but by the teaching of his Spirit. When I think of my heart, of the world, of the powers of darkness””what cause of continual fear! I am on an enemy's ground, and cannot move a step but some snare is spread for my feet. But when I think of the person, grace, power, care, and faithfulness of my Savior, why may I not say””I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. I wish to be delivered from anxious and unbelieving fear, which weakens the hands and disquiets the heart. I wish to increase in a humble jealousy and distrust of myself and of everything about me."

Charnock says, "Men are apt to fear a just recompense for an injury done to another; and fear is the mother of hatred. God being man's superior, and wronged by him, there follows necessarily a slavish fear of him and his power; and such a fear makes wrathful and embittered thoughts of God, while he considers God armed with an unconquerable and irresistible power to punish him." But the fear which arises from just views of the whole of God's character produces very different effects, and is in fact very different in its nature.

The benefits of godly fear are many and of great value. It is the best preservative against sinful and dangerous alliances with the wicked. "do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord Almighty””him you shall regard as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread." Isa. 8:12, 13. How many wicked alliances are formed; and for no other reason than that men are led into them through a lack of sterling religious principle. The consequence is, misery forever. From how many distressing entanglements men would be rescued by the fear of the Lord. It also drives away that fear of man. which brings a snare. Christ says, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him, who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say unto you, Fear him." Luke 12:4, 5. Christ himself proposes the fear of God as the great remedy for the fear of man. Nor is there any other that is found adequate. But this is enough.

How justly does God rebuke that fear of man: "Have you forgotten the Lord who made you, who stretched out the heavens and laid the earth's foundations? Why should you live in constant fear of the fury of those who oppress you, of those who are ready to destroy you? Their fury can no longer touch you." Isa. 51:12. It is not possible for us to fear God too much, or man too little. And so surely as we have just conceptions of the eternal power and majesty of God, we shall have no tormenting fear of the puny arm of mortals.

The fear of the Lord inspires confidence and boldness in a righteous cause. That this is experienced by all God's people, has been illustrated in a thousand striking cases in history, and is clearly declared in Scripture. "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge." Proverbs 14:26. The fear of God is the great preservative against sin. Nothing could be more important than this. "Keep yourself out of sin, and fear nothing." If we can resist all temptations to sin, and be pure from iniquity, nothing can harm us. This may be done by a proper fear of God. "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27.

The care of godly men in all ages has been against sin. And as their spiritual enemies are very many and insidious, they have learned to be much afraid of that which in others awakens no apprehension. They are cautious about little sins, and their cry is, "Catch the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines; for our vines have tender grapes." Song 2:15. In ancient vineyards a tower was erected, and a watch set there for birds, foxes, and thieves””the three great enemies of the vintage. Birds always, and thieves sometimes, approached vineyards in the daytime; but foxes commonly came at night. Larger foxes preyed much on poultry and on smaller animals, but the young foxes that ventured abroad resorted much to the vineyards. This they did both day and night. They were numerous, cunning, greedy, and destructive. If there were many of them, they ruined the vintage. They did their work slyly. Great vigilance was therefore requisite. Some suppose that in the passage just quoted, "tender grapes" represent young converts. The truth is that all Christians, and especially those who have but little knowledge of the deceitfulness of sin and of the doctrines of Scripture, should be ever on their guard.

But why should we give good heed to little things in the Christian life? It is a fair question; let it be answered. Many things which seem to us little are followed by the greatest consequences. One spark of fire has kindled a flame that burned down a city. A word has often shaped the course of an empire, or determined the destiny of a soul. Until we see the end of a thing, we cannot tell whether it is to be great or small in its effects. On earth we see the end of nothing in moral causes. They are mighty. They take hold on eternity. Their sweep is everlasting. Their effects are much more certain than those of natural causes. They work incessantly. Our greatest rivers have their rise in little springs whose streams are often buried under leaves and shrubs. The causes now at work in forming men's character seem contemptible to many. But a leak, though not larger than a straw, will sooner or later sink a ship. The smallest opening made by a mole in the bank of a canal, will of itself grow to a waste of all its waters. One weak link in a chain, causes the vessel to drift on the rocks. One of the most heroic deeds ever performed was suggested by the perseverance of the ant. A little white powder or a drop of some poisons is fatal to human life. A scratch has brought on inflammation that ended in death. A glance of the eye has led to crimes that will not be forgotten while eternity endures. A sentence has subverted the labors and schemes of a lifetime. The greater part of human life is made up of acts that do not seem great in themselves, but the whole series completes the character. What is lighter than a word? Yet for every idle word that men shall speak they shall give account to God. What is quicker than thought? Yet as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. As "sands form the mountains, and minutes make the year," and as syllables compose the web of the greatest speeches, so many comparatively trivial acts determine the character.

One harsh word now, another an hour hence, and so on, will prove a man a churl. A few irreverent words scattered along through a day mark a man as profane. One stealthy act of pilfering proves a man a thief. He who would not be convicted of grand larceny, must avoid petty larceny. He who would not defile his soul with perjury, must shun lying. He who would not be found a liar, must beware of evasiveness. The sum of human character is made up of many apparently small things. Every great stream is fed by many lesser ones.

But what are the "little foxes?" One says they are worldly thoughts. This is true. Another says they are wrong opinions. This is as true. Another, no less wisely, says they are our hidden corruptions, our sinful appetites and passions””which destroy our graces and comforts, quash good motions, and crush good beginnings. When men fear not little sins””they will soon fall into presumptuous iniquities. When they are not conscientious about minor duties, they will soon fail in weightier matters. He who cannot walk well, cannot run well. Envy is the forerunner of murder, and naturally leads to it. Covetousness is the fountain of all theft. As a grain of sand will fret a sound eye and make it weep””so the least sin perceived will tenderly affect a good conscience. We must take and destroy these little foxes by a right use of the word of God. The Scripture is clear. It is pure. By it are all God's servants warned. We must watch day and night. We must pray frequently and fervently. We must have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. We must make constant application to the blood of cleansing. Above all, we must be in the fear of the Lord all the day long. Blessed is the man who avoids little sins and minds little duties; in the great events of life he shall not be covered with dishonor. His heart is right. God is with him. Christ will never forsake him. "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever."

Another benefit flowing from the fear of the Lord is freedom from worldly anxiety. In the passage quoted from Habakkuk we saw how wonderfully the fear of God took possession of the prophet. In the words immediately following he gives us, that triumphant song: "Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, I will still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my savior. The Sovereign Lord gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer and keeps me safe on the mountains." (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

Thus the greatest degree of holy trembling was followed by the highest degree of freedom from carking care about temporal affairs. All this is according to the promise, "The fear of the Lord leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble." Proverbs 19:23. The fear of God also quiets the afflicted soul, and hushes all its agitations on the bosom of the Eternal. Thus David speaks: "O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. (Psalm 60:1-4)

The fear of the Lord also leads to communion with God. This is abundantly taught in Scripture. "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him; and he will show them his covenant." Psalm 25:14. Again, "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his mercy." Psalm 147:11.

The cultivation of the fear of the Lord is the best means we can use to promote and retain revivals of genuine religion. Thus Luke, describing the state of the early church, says, "Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied." Acts 9:31. On the other hand, if religion be not revived, if the love of many wax cold, and wickedness abound, here is the way to avoid guilt and to please God. The prophet Malachi lived in times of unusual and dreadful apostasy and sin, when men called the proud happy, when they that wrought wickedness were set up, when those who tempted God were even delivered. Yet he says, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for those who feared the Lord, and who thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, says the Lord Almighty, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serves him." Mal. 3:16, 17.

In fine, without the fear of the Lord no service is acceptable, however decent, however costly, however painful. But with the fear of God, any commanded service is pleasing to God, however poor our offering may otherwise be. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter””Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

UntoBabes Jun 8, 2014

I agree with Jonathan Edwards here that God's people, when in a carnal state, should experience a servile, or tourmenting kind of fear that is necessary to usher them to a speedy repentence.

here is a quote from " Religious Affections"

" For so hath God contrived and constituted things, in his dispensations towards his own people, that when their love decays, and the exercises of it fail, or become weak, fear should arise; for then they need it to restrain them from sin, and to excite them to care for the good of their souls, and so to stir them up to watchfulness and diligence in religion: but God hath so ordered, that when love rises, and is in vigorous exercise, then fear should vanish, and be driven away; for then they need it not, having a higher and more excellent principle in exercise, to restrain them from sin, and stir them up to their duty. There are no other principles, which human nature is under the influence of, that will ever make men conscientious, but one of these two, fear or love; and therefore, if one of these should not prevail as the other decays, God's people, when fallen into dead and carnal frames, when love is asleep, would be lamentably exposed indeed: and therefore God has wisely ordained, that these two opposite principles of love and fear should rise and fall, like the two opposite scales of a balance; when one rises the other sinks. As light and darkness necessarily and unavoidably succeed each other; if light prevails, so much does darkness cease, and no more; and if light decays, so much does darkness prevail; so it is in the heart of a child of God: if divine love decays and falls asleep, and lust prevails, the light and joy of hope go out, and dark fear and doubting arises; and if, on the contrary, divine love prevails and comes into lively exercise, this brings in the brightness of hope, and drives away black lust, and fear with it. Love is the spirit of adoption, or the childlike principle; if that slumbers, men fall under fear, which is the spirit of bondage, or the servile principle; and so on the contrary. And if it be so, that love, or the spirit of adoption, be carried to a great height, it quite drives away all fear, and gives full assurance; agreeable to that of the apostle, 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear." These two opposite principles of lust and holy love, bring hope and fear into the hearts of God's children, in proportion as they prevail; that is, when left to their own natural influence, without something adventitious, or accidental intervening; as the distemper of melancholy, doctrinal ignorance, prejudices of education, wrong instruction, false principles, peculiar temptations, &c.

Fear is cast out by the Spirit of God, no other way than by the prevailing of love; nor is it ever maintained by his Spirit but when love is asleep. At such a time, in vain is all the saint's self-examinations, and poring on past experience, in order to establish his peace, and get assurance. For it is contrary to the nature of things, as God hath constituted them, that he should have assurance at such a time.

They therefore do directly thwart God's wise and gracious constitution of things, who exhort others to be confident in their hope, when in dead frames; under a notion of "living by faith, and not by sight, and trusting God in the dark, and living upon Christ, and not upon experiences;" and warn them not to doubt of their good estate, lest they should be guilty of the dreadful sin of unbelief. And it has a direct tendency to establish the most presumptuous hypocrites, and to prevent their ever calling their state in question, how much soever wickedness rages, and reigns in their hearts, and prevails in their lives; under a notion of honoring God, by hoping against hope, and confidently trusting in God, when things look very dark. And doubtless vast has been the mischief that has been done this way."

sermonindex Jun 8, 2014

This is a very good subject indeed. It is a one sided experience we have of God if we never come into contact with his 'dark side'. By dark side, I do not mean that there is any darkness at all in him, but there is a time when it is what we are presented with in our interpretation of our circumstances.

In the book of Job, we are presented with El-Shaddai, which denotes the concept of destruction. It is the name given to God in the poetic section of the book 3.1- 42.6 whereas in the rest of the book, we have YHWH as his name.

In this section, Job feels that God has become his enemy and is attacking him, not because he is at fault in any way, and therefore deserves to be disciplined, and even pleads with God to show him where he is at fault 'Make me know my transgressions and my sin,' 13.23.

But God does not answer. All of the understanding of his past dealings with God were being demolished because there is silence regarding his request and readiness to repent, had he inadvertently sinned.

So this presentation of the character of God is not concerning sin but is about the suffering of the innocent.

D. Tidball says 'His theology tells him that he ought not to be ignored by God at such a time as this. His experience tells him that he is being deserted by God. The God whom he has trusted until now, is he believes, a God of power who answers prayer and saves people in need' The Message of the Cross, (Nottingham: Intervarsity Press, 2001), 86.

To deal with El-Shaddai is a bitter and terrible experience, as in: 'Call me Mara (bitter) for El-Shaddai has dealt bitterly with me', Ruth 1.20. However, one learns the fear of God through this dark night, which leads to resurrection power when everything of the flesh has been destroyed and our service for God can go ahead unhindered.

sermonindex Jun 8, 2014

This experience of feeling abandoned by God is something that will test every saint. In the midst of this experience, there is a fear that has to be dealt with and it has to , at some point, give way to faith.

David experiences this fear at a certain point after he has sinned greatly and he cries out to God to restore unto him the joy of his salvation and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Jesus, in a very different situation cries out to His Father in heaven when He feels that He has been forsaken.

God is never to be trifled with. We must indeed fear God in this context. He is not my buddy nor my pal although He has called me friend. This should only make us reverence Him all the more. He is high and lifted up. He is majestic and glorious and all of heaven bow down to Him and cry " Holy." Indeed we have been allowed to boldly approach the throne, but not glibly. We do not skip into His presence although we can run into our high tower. We must bring to Him the sacrifice of praise. He is my savior and He is high and lifted up. He is my personal Lord and and still the train of His robe fills the Temple. He comes to me in sweet and glorious fellowship and He holds the whole universe in the palm of His hand, the same hand that holds mine. It is a glorious mystery how one so vast as He, knows and cares for one so small as me............bro Frank

havok20x Jun 8, 2014

The more I come to know The Lord, the more that I love and fear him. I am so weak and so small compared to Him, and I have hardly perceived the gravity of that. From what I have been reading and seeing, there should indeed be a trembling when we encounter even a glimmer of His presence. Even the seraphim cover their faces and cry out night and day, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!" When we truly see God for who He is, then we truly see ourselves for what we are--absolutely unworthy to be there but gloriously redeemed by the precious, incorruptible blood of Jesus--it really ought to make us love The Lord even more.

It makes so much sense what you said Frank. How can they fear The Lord if they have never encountered Him. Maybe that's why all these people who claim to be in the presence of The Lord and exhibit all sorts of emotions and manifestations, seem to remain exactly the same as before they got there. Perhaps it is because there is no real basis of comparison in their lives or the lives of those around them?

I wonder if someone could look at my life and understand what it means to fear The Lord.

sermonindex Jun 8, 2014

Havock writes......

" How can they fear The Lord if they have never encountered Him. Maybe that's why all these people who claim to be in the presence of The Lord and exhibit all sorts of emotions and manifestations, seem to remain exactly the same as before they got there. Perhaps it is because there is no real basis of comparison in their lives or the lives of those around them?"

Yes indeed brother, it is not possible to encounter the living God and remain the same. The soulish realm can never satisfy. The soulish realm cannot change anyone. To enter into the presence of God, as Isaiah discovered, is to be changed forever. There is total transparancy before the throne. One understands the smallness of man in comparison to our God who is vast beyond our minds in His presence. It is the fulness of God. It fills everything, it is beyond emotions, it becomes part of your dna, every particle of who we are is lit up in the presence of God.

The sad fact remains today that there is more than one generation now who have not encountered God in His manifest presence but believe they have. They have mistaken the soulish emotional reaction to various things ( there is also emotion involved in the manifest presence of God) as the very presence of God. At best it's shades of grey, it is eyes that have only known, or in some case become accustomed too , a dimly lit place not knowing that through the door lies a place of brilliant sunshine. Jesus is still calling, but if He has not been truly encountered He cannot be truly feared in the proper sense of that word........bro Frank

sermonindex Jun 8, 2014

"They therefore do directly thwart God's wise and gracious constitution of things, who exhort others to be confident in their hope, when in dead frames; under a notion of "living by faith, and not by sight, and trusting God in the dark, and living upon Christ, and not upon experiences;" and warn them not to doubt of their good estate, lest they should be guilty of the dreadful sin of unbelief. And it has a direct tendency to establish the most presumptuous hypocrites, and to prevent their ever calling their state in question, how much soever wickedness rages, and reigns in their hearts, and prevails in their lives; under a notion of honoring God, by hoping against hope, and confidently trusting in God, when things look very dark. And doubtless vast has been the mischief that has been done this way."

Looks like I'm screwed. All I have is "living by faith, and not by sight, and trusting God in the dark, and living upon Christ, and not upon experiences;"

ginnyrose Jun 9, 2014

QUOTE:
______________________________________________________________
What has the Lord shown yall about the fear of the Lord? What does it look like?
______________________________________________________________

You asked a personal question so I will answer from my personal experience.

The term 'fearing the LORD' evokes a terror in the mind of a serious thinking person. Then we are told we are to love the LORD with all your heart, soul and mind and strength. How can one love someone that you fear? Seems impossible. Yet, God never asks us to do the impossible without giving us the grace to fulfill it.

Many years ago when I was a young woman many accommodated this conflict by reinterpreting the 'fear of the LORD' to mean we are to love Him.

Close study of this word means exactly how we understand the English translation: to be scared of. Well...! We are to love what we fear? Yes, sir!

When a body fears something it will drive you to do what you normally are not inclined to do because you are scared of the consequences. You know these consequences are sure and not pleasant hence your respect and obedience to it.

For many of us we came to the LORD because we feared hell and we wanted an escape. Scripture assured us that rebellion to the will of God will ensure an eternity spent in hell. This is enough to drive some fear into the heart of a person and we feared the person who has that capability to do so. And we also know this is a constant reality.

When one understands this, he/she will turn to the LORD out of fear of hell. In the process of it all, we experience a warm love from this God who strikes fear in the heart of the ignorant. We learn to love Him; we learn to see his handwork in all of creation; our admiration for Him grows from one of casual acceptance to one of awe. It grows and grows and grows....and we eventually experience real joy in our hearts; his WORD delights us emotionally, intellectually, mentally and spiritually. Yet, at the same time I am well aware of his wrath against all sin and rebellion. And it will be bestowed upon me if I choose to walk away from such a loving Father.

Fear - it has a way of motivating us to do the right thing. Fear is not an emotion that is to be feared. It is one that works to protect us from harm. Always. It works to alert our minds to something that is dangerous for reasons unclear to us.

Lack of fear is to be feared, for sure.

My testimony.

ginnyrose

MaryJane Jun 9, 2014

ginnyrose you wrote:Fear - it has a way of motivating us to do the right thing. Fear is not an emotion that is to be feared. It is one that works to protect us from harm. Always. It works to alert our minds to something that is dangerous for reasons unclear to us.

Lack of fear is to be feared, for sure.

________________________________

I find myself a bit confused here by what you wrote? I have always looked upon fear in my life that I deal with as sin. Its something I struggle with often. For me fear always leads to worry??? I wonder if you are speaking to a different kind of fear? Are there different kinds of fear?

Some things I will be prayerfully considering shared here. Thank you to all those who have shared what the LORD has placed on your heart.

God bless
mj

sermonindex Jun 9, 2014

Hi MJ,

Let me answer " is there different kinds of fear." Yes indeed. If you feared a crocodile you would be right to and if you saw one then fear would make you take flight and probably save your life. There is obviously the fear of God which this thread is about. And then there is the fear that is not of God. So there is three kinds right there. The last two are the one's that get confused.

One quick simple example. One man fears the law so therefore he does not speed so he can avoid the penalty of the law. Another man simply is a good man and does not speed because he in honorable and does not want to break the law. One man's motivation is to avoid the penalty, the other man's motivation is to honor the law.

You and I are both ex Catholics, one of the largest religions in the world so we know a thing or two about how religion works as opposed to relationship. Religion has rules that must be kept but are inevitably broken. The rules become forbidden fruit and the desire to break the rules becomes great. The flip side in Catholicism is that one stringently keeps the rules all their life's and they are ruled by fear and guilt. None of the two of these examples have a relationship to Jesus but they have a relationship with the rules.

When I met Jesus, when I knew Him as opposed to knowing about Him, then everything changed. I no longer wanted to " break the rules," not because I feared punishment but because I loved my Lord. Does the flesh still battle against the spirit? Yes indeed. Do I respect and revere my own most High and Holy God, my Father, my Jesus? Yes indeed. When I sin do I fear the punishment to come? No,I welcome and expect it, yet what do I find when I come trembling into His presence? Love and forgiveness. Instead of my just deserts I find mercy before the throne. Have I often suffered the effects of my sin, has this been allowed by my Lord because there is a natural consequence oftentimes to my sin? Yes. What has motivated me to want to become more like my Lord, sin less, strive towards the high mark, be obedient to the Lord and His word? Love...........bro Frank

sermonindex Jun 9, 2014

Dear brothers and sisters,

The Holy Spirit has also been quickening me to that Holy fear of God.
I clicked onto a podcast tonight that I'd never heard and truly David Wilkerson speaks directly about this very subject. May the Lord grip us in that Holy fear.

The Awful Presence of God

http://ia700804.us.archive.org/26/items/SERMONINDEX_SID15404/SID15404.mp3

MaryJane Jun 9, 2014

Greetings Frank

Thank you for responding. I do have a been understanding about fear now. When I first came to of the LORD there was the fear of hell that played a part in my seeking to know HIM. I did not know want to go to hell, I knew I was a sinner in need of saving so out of fear I turned to the cross. Yet once I sat at the foot of the cross, once I truly saw my sins and what they had done my heart began to change. The fear I once held on to for self suffering hell was replaced by a love and desire to no longer bring pain or sadness to my LORD. The realization that HE loves me so much that HE would suffer and die for me even though I was deserving of hell changed my motivation towards HIM. My desire to live in HIM and walk with HIM was no longer out of fear but rather a deep desire to be near and close to HIM. I didn't just want to know about HIM now I wanted to know HIM(as you said) I do still have fear of the LORD in the sense that I do not want to offend HIM. HE is GOD and I know and trust that HIS wrath and judgement is real for those who walk in sin and rebellion. As you said it is love, love for my JESUS that causes me to want to walk the narrow road. HE draws me to HIMSELF, and gives me all that I need to walk this journey with HIM. How could I look upon HIM and the cross and not be captivated by the beauty that is there. How could I not want to be near HIM always...
There is another fear that I carry in my heart, the realization and the understanding that I need to be near HIM daily, the knowing my flesh is so very weak and if I should turn to the left or the right, off of the narrow path I will stumble and fall. I am learning and seeking to understand what it means to walk my faith, believing that HE will keep me if I remain in HIM.

Thank you for helping me better understand that different kinds of fear. I had not considered there might be more then one kind but feel I have better understanding now.

God bless
maryjane

sermonindex Jun 9, 2014

Good Post MJ,

I was lying in bed considering the subject this morning and counting in my head the many facets of fear and how it fits into the subject at hand. So here are some. And these relate to God. There is pre-salvation fear and that is one thing, then there is post salvation fear which is quite another. I loved how you put it, that fear gradually gave way to love in a transition. Here is the word that is mainly used in the NT for fear.

fob-eh'-o
From G5401; to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere: - be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.

Now the context of the Scripture is going to give it meaning. As we can see from above. " Frighten" or " terror," are only partial parts of the word fear. There is reverence and awe which fits nicely in with the post salvation transitional aspect we see as fear gives way to faith.

Now there is a different kind of fear altogether which is wholly sinful. It's an every day fear of situations that tend to spring from our own insecurities and dysfunctions and previous experiences and perhaps how we were raised. Worry and anxiousness are derivatives, family members of this fear. This fear comes with bondage. Jesus asks why we worry, He asks us if we can add one inch to our height, He scolds the disciples as lacking in faith when they believe they are going to drown, He tells us to be anxious for nothing, He tells us to consider the lillies of the field, He tells us that the gentiles fear about what they should wear, basically how they shall put food on the table. He further tells us that God knows that we have need of these things but our role is to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousnes, because apparently the role of this fear is to take our eyes off God and onto the " cares of the world," which choke out the word and the life of God in us...........bro Frank

ginnyrose Jun 9, 2014

Mary Jane,

I would like to address your confusion about the fear I wrote about. I have very little time, so I will make this very brief.

I want to point you to Joshua 5:13-15. In order to understand the full impact of this incident you must understand well what happened before this so read carefully, prayerfully all the chapters and verses that precede it. Then stop and consider the full impact what Joshua experienced there in verses 13-15.

This incident illustrates well the fear of the LORD where the rubber meets the road.

God bless.

Sandra

UntoBabes Jun 9, 2014

Well Butters,

Truth is designed to nail you, not to screw you. Jonathan Edwards has written this book to awaken people who have false hope about their standing before God. The subject of this quote is someone who is in a dead frame, yet someone who thinks that he is right with God.
Is that true of you?