THE FEAR OF GOD
Proverbs 14: 26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
The biblical fear of God is a not cowering terror, or the feeling of dread like the feelings we experience when encountering an enemy. Its rather a deep, loving awe, reverence, and submission to His supremecy and majesty. Knowing the He is our God and Creator.
I believe that this holy reverence acts as a vital compass to children of God. Just as children in the natural fear their earthly Father there is still love, submission and trust in knowing that He guards over you for your own advancement and protection. So too is the fear of God. It draws believers into intimate fellowship with God. Our ultimate dominion and blessings could lie in our ability to understand the Fear of God.
Wisdom Proverbs 9:10 and Proverbs 8:13, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom
Health and Protection Proverbs 3:7–8 and Proverbs 14:7, fearing God and turning away from evil brings health to the flesh, strength to the bones, and positions believers for divine favor.
Brings Satisfaction and Peace It replaces the “fear of man” (people-pleasing or peer pressure) with a secure, God-centered focus that brings stability and contentment. Proverbs 29:25: The fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
Prosperity Psalm 112:1-3: Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands… Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.
As the modern day church we may have strayed from the command of God that requires us to Fear Him. Perhaps it’s worth some study time. Dominion, including growth could be locked into our understanding of this spiritual concept. The early church understood that the Word of God and The Holy Spirit did not work alone to receive the multiplication they needed.
Acts 9:31 Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit and they were multiplied.
After all our perspectives and considerations, Solomon states it very simply
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
Solomon’s final words in Ecclesiastes brings to light humanity’s entire purpose into two essential elements: fearing God and obeying His commands. The Fear of God is not a burden reserved for the spiritually elite, but the universal calling of every person ever created.
Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
Greek word for “fear”
phóbos – to flee from. Fear, terror, reverence, respect, honor. Including the idea of astonishment, amazement (Acts 2:43)
Fear of God (reverence, respect, honour, astonishment, amazement) follows when a consistent culture is established. The fear of God is fertile ground for signs and wonders.
DOES JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOTHING?
Job 1:9 So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
The entire being of Job was subject to rigorous testing by the Lord that tested the body, soul and spirit of Job.
This conversation between the Lord and Satan already infers that Satan was already aware of the faithfulness and integrity of Job. Satan was already aware of the Divine protective covering over the life of Job , his family and his possessions. How else would Satan have known about the hedge that was installed by the Lord on every side and all the blessings conferred upon Job?
(Job 1:10)
It was the Lord who recommended Job to be tested.
Scholars of the Word should pay careful attention to these words …….
Job 1:8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”
Note this clearly. Job did not evaluate himself; this was the observation by the Lord concerning the character of Job.
The removal of the protective hedge left the entire person of Job to be vulnerable to all forms of testings that were targeted to dismantle his body, soul and spirit.
- Job lost his material wealth and possessions
- When the loss of material possessions did not cause Job to curse God, the next area of testing was the health of Job (painful boils all over his body Job 2:7)
- Job lost his ten children in a storm. This area of intense testing targeted the soul of Job.
- The spirit of Job was tested as he endured the various “counsels” of his “worthless” friends. Job desired clarity from the Lord concerning his testing.
But in all this Job did not curse Almighty God. It is amazing to note that Satan is more conscious of the Divine protective covering conferred upon a faithful, righteous community of believers than the believers themselves. In this season Job is not a single individual; Job represents a company of believers whose relentless faith, trust and hope is invested in the Lord in every crisis.
Does this “Job company” fear the Lord for nothing?
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS – A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT CAUTION FOR THIS PRESENT DAY
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Jesus represents the “scapegoat” upon whom was laid all our iniquities. Study the complete Old Testament ritual that was carried out during the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur – Leviticus 16:7-28)
In this present Reformation, those in Christ understand that Jesus is our “scapegoat”. Jesus is our Righteousness and our Peace.
The silence of the lambs is not an opportunity to perpetuate a relentless culture of religious bigotry, spiritual abuse, oppression and suppression and corrupt operating systems by religious extremists.
We will continue to speak out against these atrocities like we are presently doing, for example THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY
Anything less than this represents a betrayal of the mandate that Jesus was anointed for ….
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me, To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
ABC MNEMONICS
BLESSINGS (BENEFITS) OF THE REVERENTIAL FEAR OF GOD
MNEMONIC – REVERENTIAL
Psalm 115:13 He will bless those who fear the LORD, both small and great.
Deuteronomy 5:29 ‘Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!
REFUGE (PROTECTION / DELIVERENCE)
ELATION
VISITATION BY ANGELS
EXCELLENT HEALTH
REMEMBRANCE
EXTENDED LIFE
NOURISHMENT (PROVISION)
TRIUMPH
ILLUMINATION AND REVELATION
AFFLUENCE
LINEAGE
AMPLIFICATION
R – REFUGE (PROTECTION / DELIVERENCE)
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge
Psalms 115:11 You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD; he is their help and their shield.
Psalms 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.
Psalms 31: 19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.
Psalms 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, 19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine
E – ELATION
Psalms 128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you
V – VISITATION BY ANGELS
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God
E – EXCELLENT HEALTH
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones
R – REMEMBRANCE
Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name
E – EXTENDED LIFE
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be shortened
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.
Psalms 128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD 5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
N – NOURISHMENT (PROVISION)
Psalms 111:5 He has given food to those who fear Him; he will ever be mindful of His covenant.
T – TRIUMPH
Malachi 4:2 But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves. 3 You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the LORD of hosts
I – ILLUMINATION AND REVELATION
Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever
Psalms 25:12 Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 13 He himself shall dwell in prosperity and his descendants shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant
Psalms 119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You
Psalms 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant
A – AFFLUENCE
Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches and honor and life
Psalms 34:9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him
Psalms 31:19 Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues
L – LINEAGE
Psalms 128:1 Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plants all around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. 5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, and may you see the good of Jerusalem all the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
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