But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. (Luke 8:50)
The Word of God tells us 63 times to "fear not," and 31 times to "be not afraid" or "not be afraid." Obviously, God is trying to tell us something! If it makes no difference whether we fear, or not, then God wasted a lot of time in Scripture telling us to not be afraid. Fear is the absence of faith. It can be understood as faith in the devil. Fear is the opposite of believing and trusting in God. Fear stops faith from working. You could say that fear is faith in reverse. Fear is the cause of all worry, for worry is meditation on fear. Some may think some fear is healthy, but no true fear is good. We don't have to fear something to have a healthy respect for it, and thus to act wisely. Fear makes people do irrational things. Reverence for God, sometimes called the "fear of God" is healthy, but it has nothing to do with actually being afraid
of God.
A man attempting to daily die to himself and become the true servant of the Lord and not his flesh.
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Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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5 comments:
I have a lot to say about the 'fear of God" but I am on my iPod touch, I will respond in the morning!
Best verses in the bible that describes "Godly' fear is
Jer. 32: 38-40.
The Fear Of God, Do YOU have it?
Do you remember the expression “I am a God fearing man” or “I am a God fearing woman”, you never hear that anymore. Our society fears God less and less, it is very apparent with the violence and Godless behavior on the up rise.
I had an experience not too long ago where I felt God was leading me to find out more about the fear of God and he lead me to a deep study of the subject. I realize that “God does not give us the spirit of fear but of power and of love and of sound mind” but that does not mean that he does not lift the veil of protection to test and teach those he loves from time to time.
I hope anyone who reads this will take the time to comment on this post if you feel so inclined.
I found this great quote;
“The fear of God is the very Soul of Godliness”.
I truly believe that it is a key component in our relationship with the heavenly father. I have put together not all but some key points to focus on.
There are two different types of fear when we refer to the Fear of God.
1. Terror or dread (like a small child who fears his father’s wrath)
2. Reverence and awe (total awe for who he is)
I truly believe that when we experience the “fear of God” it is a combination of both. Many who have experienced God first hand throughout the bible have come to know the fear of God.
The first account is Adam and eve, they had walked with God without fear until their disobedience and once they had eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil they were afraid of god. (Gen 3:10)
Abraham was afraid of King Abimelech would kill him for his wife Sarah so he told the king that his wife Sarah was his sister. The reason he did this was because he did not think the “fear of God was present in that place”. Abimelech took Sarah from Abraham just as he suspected. God then came to Abimelech in a dream and told him that if he did not return Sarah to Abraham “He and all who are yours will surely die”. Sounds to me like he put the fear of God into Abimelech! Gen 20
God knew that Abraham feared men, but then God tested Abraham to see if he truly feared him!
Gen 22:1-2 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him “Abraham” and he said Here I am. Then he said “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
Why did God ask Abraham to do this? Lets read in Gen 22:12;
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.”
Jacob’s vow at Bethel;
Gen 28:16-17 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was AFRAID and said “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph he said to her in Gen 39:9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
He feared God not Potiphar.
End of part 1 of 3
When Egypt was afraid that the Hebrew’s were becoming too strong during the end of Josephs life the new king had instructed the midwives to kill the sons of the Hebrew women giving birth. Two of the women FEARED God over the king and did not do as the king instructed and because they obeyed God, God blessed them. Exodus 1:17-21
When God spoke to Moses as a burning bush Ex 3:6 “And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God”.
There are around 170 references in the bible to the “fear of God”, I am only referring to only a few to make a point that it is important to seek after it and have that buried within our heart.
Jeremiah 32: 38-40
38 They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39 then I will give them one heart and one way that they may FEAR Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My FEAR in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
I think this is one of the most important verse’s in the bible explaining the importance of understanding the fear of God. He does this so we are obedient to him, it is for our own good. “The Lord Chastises those he loves”, no one likes to be chastised but it is for our own good. In Jeremiah 38 he says "I will give them one heart and ONE WAY" I believe he was referring to Christ the NEW covenant vs 40. Jesus said "I am the WAY, the truth and the life and no one comes to the father accept through Me".
Lets look at a few of Solomon’s writings, one of the wisest men who ever lived referring the fear of God?
Proverbs 9:10 The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy one is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7 The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:28-29 Then they will call on me but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. BECAUSE they hated knowledge and did not choose the FEAR OF THE LORD.
Proverbs 2:1-5 My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, 2 so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasure; 5 THEN you will understand the FEAR OF THE LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 10:27 The FEAR OF THE LORD prolongs days but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Proverbs 16:6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the FEAR OF THE LORD one departs from evil.
And how about David, a man after Gods own heart.
Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with FEAR and rejoice with TREMBLING.
Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In FEAR of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.
Psalm 25:12-14 Who is the man that FEARS the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. 13 He himself shall swell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the Lord is with those that FEAR Him.
Here is a verse that describes both types of fear;
Psalm 33:8 Let ALL the earth fear the Lord; Let ALL the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, On those who hope in his mercy.
Psalm 34:9 Oh FEAR the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who FEAR Him.
Man’s wickedness and God’s perfection; the following is a verse describing those who DO NOT FEAR the Lord.
Psalm 36:1 An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is NO FEAR of God before his eyes.
(end of part 2 of 3)
Part 3 of 3
We are becoming a society that no longer FEARS God. Jesus said;
Matt 24:37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In Noah’s day it was so wicked God destroyed all the earth! It was a society that did not fear God, doing as they pleased with no restrictions.
So what does the new testament have to say about the FEAR of God?
Look at this key to a prospering church;
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 the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
Luke 1:50 And his mercy is on those who FEAR him from generation to generation.
Jesus raises the son of the widow of Nain;
Luke 7:16 Then FEAR came upon all, and they glorified God saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us” and “God has visited His people.”
The church was in its infancy and they were trying to collect money for the church. Ananias and Sapphira had sold their land and held back a portion of the sale. They both lied to God and this is what happened to both of them;
Acts 5:1-11 vs 5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great FEAR came upon all those who heard these things.
Paul’s encounter with God at the road to Damascus;
Acts 22: 6-7 6“As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’
It does not specify in the scriptures but do you think he was experiencing the FEAR of God, I do.
Acts 13:26 Men and Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who FEAR God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.
Speaking of those who are not seeking after God describing sinners;
Romans 3:9-18 here is vs 18 There is NO FEAR of God before their eyes.”
Walk in Wisdom Ephesians 5:15-21
vs 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the FEAR of God.
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly FEAR. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
I will repeat part of vs 28: “with reverence AND Godly fear”. If Godly fear is ONLY reverence toward God why are both mentioned in the same sentence?
Psalm 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the FEAR of the Lord.
And lastly I would like to point out one of the most important aspects of God that you can understand.
Isaiah 11: 2-3 points out the 7 spirits of God:
The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him (Jesus), the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the FEAR of the Lord.
VS. 3 His delight is in the FEAR of the Lord
Those who come to him “like little children” with a humble and contrite heart, accepting what Christ did for us on the cross, willing to submit their entire will to him and want to get to know God intimately, fear him.
Note; I agree with you that we should not fear "Worldy Fear" only Godly Fear.
I am not sure where this is in the bible, I did not have time to look it up but it goes something like this;
"Fear him who has the power to cast your soul into hell, yes, FEAR him"!
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