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FEARING GOD IN HIS KINGDOM

“I WILL MAKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH THEM; I WILL NEVER STOP DOING GOOD TO THEM, AND I WILL INSPIRE THEM TO FEAR ME, SO THAT THEY WILL NEVER TURN AWAY FROM ME.”    JER. 32: 40.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”  Heb.12:28, 29.

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed– not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence– continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe”   Phil.2; 11-15.

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“Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.”  11 Cor.5; 11.

A WRONG AND A RIGHT KIND OF FEAR OF THE LORD

Fearing God leads to a disciplined lifestyle. The lives’ of many saints bear witness to this:

• “He who knows what it is to enjoy God will dread His loss.  He who has seen His face will fear to see His back.” —Richard Alleine.
• “I fear God, yet I am not afraid of Him.”  —Thomas Brown.
• “The learning of the Christian man ought to begin with the fear of God.” —Thomas Cranner.
• “Reverent fear of God is the key to faithfulness in any situation.” —William Plumer.
• “No one can know the true grace of God who has not first known the fear of God.” —A. Tozer.
• “It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man.” —John Witherspoon.

One of the precious messages of the Bible is “FEAR NOT” used about 50 times. Some of these includes the following:

Genesis 15:1      Genesis 26:24            Exodus 14:13  

Isaiah 43:1          Luke 2:10                   Acts 27:24            Revelation 1:17

There are variations of this like with Jesus’ words, “it is I; be not afraid”.   (John 6:20)

It seems there is a wrong and a right kind of fear:  the fear of God which we ought to have.

“And unto man He said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom”. Job 28:28

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever”. Psalm 19:9

“He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God”.  2 Samuel 23:3

Lack or absence of this fear can only bring sin, disillusionment and end in tragedy

“THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES” – a picture of degenerate man. Romans 3:18

MEANING OF “FEAR OF THE LORD” OR “FEAR OF GOD”  

“In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Prov. 14:26-27

 

Where the true fear of God is, there is a real principle of grace, which is “a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life”, John 4:14; eternal life is connected with it; or the Lord, who is the object of fear, he is the fountain of life: as of the natural, so of the spiritual and eternal life; spiritual life springs from him and is supported and maintained by him, the consequence of which is life everlasting;

Does “fear of the Lord” mean physical fear where you stand and tremble in the presence of the Almighty? Dr. C.I. Schofield defines it as meaning “reverential trust with a hatred of evil“.

Fear of the Lord means piety.  It is used to express our religious duty toward God. Under the Old Covenant we see that it is essential but not inherited. It is something that must be taught to children and people so that each generation may learn to fear the Lord.  Fear is the thing that God requires from each one of us.  It isa purpose of creation.

“Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days that they shall live upon the earth”. Deuteronomy 4:10

“You shall fear the lord your God, and serve Him”. Deuteronomy 6:13

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:  fear God, and keep…….” Ecclesiastes 12:13

THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT TO FEAR

·       We are not to fear idols or other gods

“And the covenant that I have made with you ye shall not forget; neither shall you fear other god’s”. 2 Kings 17:38

·       We are not to fear man   (Saul’s mistake)

“I feared the people”. 1 Samuel 15:24

“the fear of man brings a snare”. Proverbs 29:25

·       We are to fear the Lord only

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him–the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD–  and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.  Isaiah 11:1-4.

·       We are not to fear earthly calamities for they signify the near return of our Saviour

“…men’s hearts failing them for fear… then look up…” Luke 21:25-28

·       We are not to fear “fear”

Trouble and anguish shall make him (the unsaved) afraid”, Job 15:24

“Casting all your care (worries and fears) upon him…” 1 Peter 5:7

   THE FEAR OF GOD IS COMMANDED.

• Only one fear remains and that is a holy fear of the Lord God Himself.

“You shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him”. Deuteronomy 13:4

“Honour all men love the brotherhood. fear God,   honour the king”. 1 Peter 2:17

“You that fear the Lord, praise Him. … glorify Him;  and fear Him”.  Psalm 22:23

• The earthly disciples set up a noble example in this matter.

“… and walking in the fear of the Lord…were multiplied”.  Acts 9:31

• Cornelius was a man who feared God.

“A devout man, and one the feared God with all his house…”.  Acts 10:2

• The fear of God teaches us to live circumspect lives.

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”.

2 Cor. 7:1 

This godly fear becomes a powerful motivating force in our lives.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

• It is a hatred of evil.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil”. Proverbs 8:13

• It is wisdom.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. Psalm 111:10

• It is a treasure.

“Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith”. Proverbs 15:16

“The fear of the Lord is his  (believer’s) treasure”. Isaiah 33:6

• It is a fountain of life.

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life”. Proverbs 14:27

• It is clean.

“The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever”. Psalm 19:9  It is sanctifying.

• It endures forever.

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever”. Psalm 19:9

• It is godly.

“Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear”. Hebrews 12:28

There is a difference between reverence and fear.

  WHAT MOTIVES CAUSE US TO FEAR GOD?

• The holiness of God causes us to fear Him.

“Who shall not fear thee, o Lord, and glorify Your name?  For You only are holy”. Revelation 15:4

• The greatness of God causes us to fear Him.

“And now Israel, what doth the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God… for the Lord your God is the God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible”. Deuteronomy 10:12-17

• The goodness of God causes us to fear Him.

“Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He has done”.

1 Samuel 12:24

• The forgiveness of God causes us to fear Him.

“But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.” Psalm 130:4

• The wondrous works of God cause us to fear Him. Joshua 4:23, 24.

• Coming judgments cause us to fear the Lord.

“He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come.” Revelation 14:7

  THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS NECESSARY.

• It is necessary to worship.

“But I, by your great mercy, will come into your house; in reverence will I bow down towards your holy temple. Psalm 5:77

• It is necessary in service.

“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling”. Psalm 2:11

• It is necessary to keep us from sin.

“Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”   Exodus 20:20

• It is necessary for the perfecting of holiness in our Christian lives. 

“Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”

2 Corinthians 7:1

 ELEVEN RESULTS OF FEARING THE LORD

• It brings pleasure to the Lord.

“The Lord takes pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy”.  Psalm 147:11

• It causes the Lord’s pity to increase upon the child of God.

 “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;”  Psalm 103:13

• It brings acceptance with God.

“Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.” Acts 10:35 

• It brings the mercy of God.

“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him”. Psalm 103:17

• It brings blessings.

“Blessed is the man that feared the Lord”. Psalm 112:1

• It brings confidence.

“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence”. Proverbs 154:26

• It brings separation from evil.

“By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil”. Proverbs 16:6

Today there is little fear of God and an abundance of evil.,

• It brings Christian fellowship.

“Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honoured his name.  “They will be mine,” says the LORD Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession.  Malachi 3:16, 17.

• It supersedes the fear of man.

“Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; {Or Do not call for a treaty every time these people call for a treaty} do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.  The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary;     Isaiah 8:12,13

• It brings answered prayer.

“He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him: He hears their cry and saves them”. Psalm 145:19

• It brings long life.

“The fear of the Lord prolonged days”. Proverbs 10:27

“Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”  Psalm 86:11

 IN CONCLUSION

Let us pray that God will teach us to fear Him, but even more than that; let us remind Him of His covenant promise unto us,

“I will make an everlasting covenant with them; I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear Me, so that they will never turn away from Me.” Jer. 32: 40.

Thus, we see that God’s precious Holy Spirit has poured out the love of God into our hearts whilst at the same time He inspires us to have an awesome respect for Him.

Surely these two characteristics will guarantee Kingdom Children that will walk worthy in the presence of their God.  

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honour him!  Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!  For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.  From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you {Hebrew him} will I fulfill my vows.” Ps.22;22-25.

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