This year God has promised us resounding Victory. But for you to access this resounding Victory, you must have the fear of the LORD. So, today we want to understand “THE FEAR OF THE LORD!”
Proverbs 3:7 says, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”
Do you know that God has an inexhaustible treasure house for all? The fear of the Lord is the key that opens the door for you to enter the treasure house of God to obtain all the favour you require in life.
Isaiah 33:6 says, “In that day God will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure” (NLT).
There are different types of fear of God: 1) The sinner’s fear of God – the fear of judgment; 2) The son’s fear of God – the fear of respect or reverence.
What really does the LORD require of His children? To fear the LORD is the number one thing that God requires of His children (Deut. 10:12).
Deuteronomy 10:12 says, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?” (KJV)
Prompt obedience to the voice of God is a way to respect Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey His commands, for this is the whole duty of every person” (NLT).
In Matthew 10:28 Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
God is greatly to be respected. Psalm 89:7 says, “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him.”
The whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. This is the conclusion of the whole matter.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
If you fear the Lord, and keep all His commandments always, it will be well with you and your children forever (Deut. 5:29).
You learn to respect God all the days of your life (Deut. 4:10). We ought to fear God. We ought to tremble at His Presence.
In Jeremiah 5:22 God said, “Fear ye not Me? Will ye not tremble at My presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?”
Jesus tells us who to fear. Don’t fear the wrong people. In Luke 12:4-5 Jesus said, “And I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.”
We ought to fear the name of the LORD. Have a healthy, holy fear of God. Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
Isaiah 59:19 says, “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.”
Such reverence or respect for the LORD will cause you to depart from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 says, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.”
In Proverbs 1:29 – 31 God said, “For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. 30 They rejected My advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. 31 That is why they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way. They must experience the full terror of the path they have chosen. 32 For they are simpletons who turn away from me—to death. They are fools, and their own complacency will destroy them. 33 But all who listen to me will live in peace and safety, unafraid of harm.”
Many proverbs point out that the “bitter fruit of living their own way” will be the consequence people will experience in this life.
Faced with either choosing God’s wisdom or persisting in rebellious independence, many decide to go it alone. The problems such people create for themselves will destroy them. Don’t ignore God’s advice even if it is painful for the present. It will keep you from greater pain in the future. When you get Born Again you lose the fear that sinners usually have – the fear of judgment.
How long should we fear the LORD? Forever!! (Ps. 72:5-8).
They that fear the Lord run away from everything that is contrary to His Word. And because of this, a book of remembrance will be written before God for them (Mal. 3:16-18; Phil. 2:12-13).
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To work out your salvation with fear and trembling means to obey God’s instructions (Words, commands).
Because the wicked have no fear of God, nothing restrains them from sinning. They plunge ahead as if nothing will happen to them. But God is just and is only delaying their punishment. This knowledge should hold us back from sinning.
What does the Bible say about the fear of the LORD?
1. The fear of the Lord is wisdom (Job 28:28).
2. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10).
3. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7).
4. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever (Ps. 19:9).
5. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Prov. 8:13). Beloved, from the above Scripture, can you claim that you really fear of the LORD? Do you hate anything that contradicts God’s Word?
6. Do not be high-minded, but fear the LORD (Rom. 11:20).
7. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence (Prov. 14:26).
8. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life (Prov. 14:27).
9. The fear of the Lord tendeth to life (Prov. 19:23).
Conclusion: Do you understand that when you respect the Lord, it will be well with you and your seed forever? Beloved, your decision to respect the Lord will tremendously benefit your life and that of your posterity. Therefore, I challenge you to start respecting the Lord today! Make up your mind and start doing it right now. It is for your own good.
Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!
- Your friend: I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor).
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