“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalms 19:7-11
Category Archives: Fear of the Lord
THE FEAR OF THE LORD: PART 2
My first post on Fear of the Lord listed many Scriptures on the blessings we can expect if we fear the Lord. I was blown away by how many there are. Moreover, they are so important I decided to list them below this post just in case you missed reading them. Even if you did read them it is worth reading them again, they are so encouraging.
The Bible makes it clear we are all called to “Fear of the Lord“. As we are told in the Psalms the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10
“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
What promises? In the preceding verses, we were told that when we repented of our sins and were baptized; dying to self, being born again by the Holy Spirit. we are now “the temple of the Holy Spirit“. It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to live a holy life.
“Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24
This scripture was spoken by Samuel to the people of Israel. Jesus had not paid the price for our sins back then so Samuel was speaking to people who had not received the Holy Spirit and yet expected the people to serve Him because of the miracles He had performed to establish them as His nation in the Promised Land.
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!” Luke 12:5
BLESSINGS FOR THOSE THAT FEAR THE LORD
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Psalms 34:9 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,” Psalms 25:14 “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Psalms 103:11
“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” Psalms 147:11
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” Psalms 33:18
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” Psalms 103:13
“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50 “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” Psalms 34:9
“He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” Psalms 145:19
“Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.” Psalms 85:9
“The fear of the Lord leads to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23
“The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.” Psalms 34:7
“You that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.” Psalms 115:11
“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27
“The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” Proverbs 10:27
“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.” Proverbs 22:4
“Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Proverbs 15:16
“Oh, how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you; which you have wrought for them that trust in you before the sons of men!” Psalms 31:19
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord; that walks in his ways. For you shall eat the labour of your hands: happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of your house: your children like olive plants round your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that fears the Lord. The Lord shall bless you out of Zion: and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, you shall see thy children’s children, and peace be upon Israel.” Psalms 128:1-6 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:2-5
Those that fear the Lord will be raptured, glorified and return with Jesus to rule and reign with Him during His Millenial reign on this earth.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Concerning The Fear of the Lord, God has spoken to the Timothy 2 Team (www.Timothy2.org) in this way: “The Fear of the Lord has all but left My Church. It must return if the ‘Church’ is to stand. It must return if the ‘Church’ is to make a difference. I am about to judge My ‘Church’, and the first thing that will be judged is the lack of The Fear of the Lord!”
The Dictionary says: “Fear: Awe or reverence for God, to have reverential regard for, as to fear the Lord.”
The Bible says:
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil….” Proverbs 8:13
“…by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6 “The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech, I hate. Proverbs 8:13 “He that walks in his uprightness fears the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despises him.” Proverbs 14:2 “Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7 “And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28:28
Each of us must ask ourselves this question: Do I really hate evil; have I really departed from evil, or is there a compromise in my own life? Have I allowed the values of the world to become my values? When I discover evil in my own life, do I confront it and get rid of it, or do I make excuses for it? Do I encourage purity and The Fear of the Lord in the lives of those for whom I am responsible to teach and disciple? These are very serious questions. We cannot be in bed with evil and claim to fear the Lord.
The Lord has commanded in Leviticus 19:2 “You shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.” But the only way that we can live an untainted life in a world filled with darkness is by walking in the Fear of the Lord. It is “The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord” that produces holy and righteous living in us. Also, it is through the Fear of the Lord that we gain access to an intimate relationship with God: Psalms 24:3-4 “Who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…” Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 10:12-13
“You shall not fear other gods, but you shall fear the Lord your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.” 2 Kings 17:39
“The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether. Psalms 19:8-9
What tremendous blessings are in store for those who choose to walk in the Fear of the Lord!
“And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.” Isaiah 11:2-3
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” John 16:13
Note the six attributes of the Spirit of the Lord (Holy Spirit) given by Isaiah: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, and the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. The seventh attribute is given by Jesus in the N.T., the Spirit of truth. When the Bible speaks of the Seven Spirits of God it is referring to these seven attributes.
God the Holy Spirit is also known as “The Seven Spirits of God”. (Revelation 1:4, 5) Since there is only ‘one’ Holy Spirit, God shows us that the “Seven Spirits” are actually seven ‘Attributes’ of the Holy Spirit.
When we are born again Jesus made it possible for our Heavenly Father to send the third person of the Trinity to indwell our spirit which was God’s plan from the beginning: Proverbs 20:27 says: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord,“, Our spirit is the lamp of the Lord which requires oil, the Holy Spirit, to function properly. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, the Holy Spirit departed their spirits immediately so they died spiritually and then died physically some nine hundred years later.
As we have just covered, the primary attribute of the Holy Spirit is Fear of the Lord. Now that the Holy Spirit has been restored to our spirit as our Counsellor, Teacher and Comforter, all seven attributes of the Holy Spirit are available to us.
“The Seven Spirits of God” are made available to us through the ‘Fullness’ of the Holy Spirit. This is not to be confused with the ‘Charisma Gifts’ or the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’. Rather it is walking in the ‘Fullness’ of “The Seven Spirits of God”.
EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO FEARED THE LORD
ABRAHAM: “He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now, I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Genesis 22:12
HEBREW MIDWIVES OF MOSES TIME
Read Exodus 1:15-21 for the full story.
“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” Exodus 1:17
ISRAEL
“And Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.” Exodus 14:31
“And he [Saul] took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.” 1 Samuel 11:7, see 1 Samuel 11:1-7
THE EARLY CHURCH
“And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.” Acts 2:43
“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. Acts 9:31
BLESSINGS FOR THOSE THAT FEAR THE LORD
Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! Psalms 34:9 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,” Psalms 25:14 “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.” Psalms 103:11
“The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.” Psalms 147:11
“Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy.” Psalms 33:18
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” Psalms 103:13
“And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” Luke 1:50 “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.” Psalms 34:9
“He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.” Psalms 145:19
“Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.” Psalms 85:9
“The fear of the Lord leads to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” Proverbs 19:23
“The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.” Psalms 34:7
“You that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield.” Psalms 115:11
“In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:26-27
“The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” Proverbs 10:27
“By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.” Proverbs 22:4
“Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.” Proverbs 15:16
“Oh, how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you; which you have wrought for them that trust in you before the sons of men!” Psalms 31:19
“Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord; that walks in his ways. For you shall eat the labour of your hands: happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of your house: your children like olive plants round your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that fears the Lord. The Lord shall bless you out of Zion: and you shall see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life. Yea, you shall see thy children’s children, and peace be upon Israel.” Psalms 128:1-6 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:2-5
There are more, many more perhaps I will do another post on the Fear of the Lord.
THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS NO LONGER FEAR GOD
A new study released by the Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated Lifeway Research titled the “State of Theology, found that 60% of U.S. adults believe that religious beliefs are “a matter of personal opinion” and “not about objective truth.”
Scott McConnell, the executive director of Lifeway Research, said in a statement released Monday that he believed the COVID-19 pandemic played a factor in the findings.
“Religious identity, beliefs, and behavior are interrelated,” said McConnell. “When in-person church attendance behaviors were interrupted and habits were broken, it affected some Americans’ beliefs about the need to gather with other believers to worship.”
“Many Americans think about God as if He had only revealed Himself in a vague, nondescript way. They seem to fill in the gaps with whatever they want to believe,” McConnell stated.
“This creates sharp contrasts between what Americans believe about God and how He revealed himself in great detail in the Bible.”
It is interesting that the study revealed that a little over half of U.S. adults (53%) still say sex outside of traditional marriage is a sin, in contrast to 42% who disagree. In fact, it marks an increase in Americans who see non-marital sex as sinful compared to 2016 when 49% said it was sinful which is a hopeful sign.
The study reported that 46% of Americans believe that the Bible’s condemnation of homosexual behavior is not relevant today, while 42% believe that it is still relevant.
“Discussions of sin are inherently theological because they explore whether God set standards and what behaviors miss this mark,” McConnell noted.
“So, those who acknowledge certain behaviors as sin are acknowledging a deity’s standards. This is a different discussion than whether society agrees on an ethical standard of conduct that we determine.”
Just as God’s nation Israel fell away from understanding God as Creator and the one whom they should fear. America a nation founded on knowing and fearing God likewise is falling away fast and opening the nation up to God’s judgment and ultimate wrath.
“Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.” Deuteronomy 10:14
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 12:11-13
Jesus told us beforehand that in the last days before His return that people would no longer believe He exists and to be feared, as a result, lawlessness will increase.
“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13
Will you be one of those that endure to the end and as a result be saved?
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE SAFEST EMOTION IN THIS HOUR
The only thing worth seeing is the move of God on this earth. God saving souls, making disciples is what counts. Where does this happen? Listen to this message from Mario Murillo about the GLORY OF GOD. Only when people repent and empty themselves of self and live for God will they see the GLORY OF GOD. It happens in the places of supreme darkness where people are at the end of themselves. Watch the video, if your a Christian you will be glad you did. If you are not, I hope the fear of God rises up and repentance follows.
WHOM DO YOU FEAR?
“Do not fear” is the most common commandment in the Bible; it appears more than any other commandment. God uses this phrase whenever he asks someone to do something scary or something that they are not used to doing. He says, “do not be afraid, fear not, or don’t be afraid.”
Read these amazing passages:
And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” Exodus 14:13-14
But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” Numbers 21:34
“See, the Lord your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’” Deuteronomy 1:21
“And I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not fear the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell.’ But you have not obeyed my voice.” Judges 6:10
Look what God says to Ruth, “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman.” Ruth 10:29-30
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
It is only God you should fear:
“Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?” Job 4:6
Practical wisdom for living is the central concern of the book of Proverbs. We are told that the beginning and essence of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 9:10).
How did the church grow: “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.“ Acts 9:31
“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God” 2 Corinthians 5:11
“And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Philippians 1:14
Time is short may we be bold to speak the word of the Lord and the Gospel to others without fear.
WHOM SHALL I FEAR?
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?“ Psalms 27:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains are moved into the heart of the sea” Psalms 46:1-2
“Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalms 112:1-2
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:4-5
“You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday… because you have made the LORD your dwelling place, the Most High, who is my refuge, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.” Psalms 91:5-6,9-10
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?“ Psalms 56:3-4
The Word of God is enough, you do not need words from Ron Edwards.
THE INDIGNATION OF THE LORD IS AGAINST ALL NATIONS!
Not only do we know the indignation (righteous anger) of the Lord is against all nations at the end. but we also know their fate – destruction.
“Come near, you nations, to hear;
And heed, you people!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
The world and all things that come forth from it.
For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations,
And His fury against all their armies;
He has utterly destroyed them,
He has given them over to the slaughter.
Also their slain shall be thrown out;
Their stench shall rise from their corpses,
And the mountains shall be melted with their blood.” ISAIAH 34:1-3
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” PROVERBS 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.” PROVERBS 34:27
“When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
“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,
They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.” PROVERBS 1:27-30
“If you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;” PROVERBS 2:1-6
Help us Lord, to warn the world of the coming judgement, that they might know that a good God must judge unrighteousness, otherwise He is not a good God.
DANGEROUS VEIL OF DECEPTION IN THE LAST-DAYS GENERATION
One warning in Scripture about the last generation is that they can only hear things that “tickle their ears” or make them feel good (2 Timothy 4:3-4). It is hard to imagine a generation that better fits that description than the one now emerging. This group has been conditioned to reject, and even be offended by, anything that challenges the humanistic propaganda they have been fed through education, entertainment and the media. Previous generations have had their own fits of worldliness and carnality, but never have we seen the kind of violence and outrage that the emerging generation displays toward ideas that challenge their safe spaces and comfort zones. Such a “safe place” mentality could not be a more dangerous place, and this will ultimately lead to the most terrible consequences of all.
Is there anything we can do to help those in such eternal jeopardy? Yes, we can do what Jesus exhorted His followers to do at the end of this age:
- STAND UP: We must be bold with the truth and not be affected by how our boldness and clarity will offend many today. It will bring accusations and persecution, but this is an honor and glory for all who follow the King. Find one thing Jesus said or did for which He was not attacked. He said that His followers would be treated the same way. He told us to expect the same if we abide in Him and speak His truth. We are told that “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Therefore, we should be alarmed if we are not getting accused, slandered and persecuted. Stand up!
- LOOK UP: If we know that God approves of us, then we should not care what anyone else on earth thinks. The apostle Paul wrote, “For if I were still trying to please men, I would not be the servant of Christ” (see Gal. 1:10). If we have seen the King on His throne, how can we be impressed with or fear any man? The fear of man, or seeking the approval of men, is the No. 1 factor that will compromise or nullify our service to the King. Look up to Him, not down at men.
- REJOICE: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10c). If our joy is centred in the Lord and His approval, not man’s, we will be strong in the faith and for the truth. Never let anything steal your joy in the Lord. If we have the true and holy fear of the Lord, then we will not fear anything or anyone else on earth. Therefore, to live in the holy fear of God is the greatest liberation from the shackles the world would try to put on us. The only hope for the emerging generation to be free from the shackles of fear and conformity is to see the bold strength of those not bound by it—those who do not live in the fear of man or anything. Their King’s perfect love casts out all perverted, evil fear. Extract from article by Rick Joyner in Charisma Media 22/01/2018
FEAR OF THE LORD LEADS TO OBEDIENCE
This message is for ministers/pastors/leaders:
To build Christians that will stand strong and stay the course, leaders will need to not only to teach sound doctrine, but even more importantly, be a godly example and live a sanctified life of fidelity to the truth, thus helping to mature the saints. Ministers and especially pastors/shepherds will, like leaders in the Book of Acts, need to share their lives with their flock, and therefore, teach more by their life example perhaps than anything else.
In Jesus’ parable (Matt. 7:24-27) He uses a storm, signifying the pressures, hardships and trials of life, as well as the persecutions we will suffer for the gospel, as a measuring gauge for how solid our foundation is. And what is our foundation based upon? Jesus taught us that it is based upon doing His sayings. Obedience is the issue. “”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Obedience, not lip service, is what God requires.
Have you ever thought about what gives us the strength and fuel to obey God? Why are some people obedient and some are not? Why are some doers of the Word and some are not? Why do some people stay faithful to God and remain true while others do not? Why do some start this Christian race but never finish? What is it that causes us to endure to the end (Matt. 24:13)?
I would like to suggest that it is the fear of the Lord. Obedience to the Lord is not only proof of your love for Him (John 14:21), but also of your fear of Him. There’s been an emphasis on love, although we’ve fallen short of the full counsel of God in that area, too, but there has not been nearly as much of an emphasis on the fear of the Lord. It takes both of them to produce a strong constitution in your Christian life. Notice in the following two different translations how the love of obedience in Jesus was rooted in the fear of the Lord. They are identical. Or a better way to say it would be that the manifestation of the fear of the Lord is obedience to His Word and His commandments.
“And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:3 ESV
“He will delight in obeying the Lord.” Isaiah 11:3 NLT
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; Proverbs 24:3
If we build our lives and homes on the true wisdom and knowledge of God that comes from the foundation of the fear of the Lord, we need not fear the storm, because we will stand.
Paul’s Great Desire
One of the apostle Paul’s greatest burdens was this very thing: that the people He ministered to would stand firm in their faith and remain obedient to God even in the midst of the troubles and persecutions of his day. Other New Testament writers shared the same burden.
Paul’s great desire was that the people he taught would not falter under pressure, lest his work be useless or his labour be in vain. Notice his great concern for the Thessalonian saints (1 Thess. 3:1-9). He had warned them of the troubles that would soon come. In his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, he warned them of the same troubles (Acts 20:25-31). To the Galatians and the Hebrews he did the same, warning them not to turn back to the Law. He was preparing them for the storm and the persecution they would receive from preaching the cross and paying the price to follow Jesus. Warnings are such a large part of the Scriptural admonition that Paul and the other New Testament writers gave to the churches. Today there is a glaring absence of these warnings in our preaching.
Here are some more scripture warnings: Matthew 7:15, 10:17, 24:4-5, 24:11-13, 24:24; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:1, 15; Acts 20:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10:12, 11:3; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 5:6, Philippians 3:2, 18; Colossians 1:28, 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 2:1-3, 4:1; 2 Peter 1:10, 3:17.
Fellow minister and preacher, how well are you preparing yourself and your people for the storm? Are you teaching them the whole counsel of God or catering to itching ears? Are you including the warnings in your preaching? Are you preaching on only the goodness and mercy of God, or do you also preach on His severity, wrath and judgments? Are you only preaching on the love of God, or do you place emphasis on His holiness too? Do you ever preach on sin and repentance? Are your concepts of the love of God and the grace of God accurate and in accordance with Scripture?
If not, then Paul warns, we may be guilty of the blood of men: “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. …. Therefore watch, remembering that for three years night and day I did not cease to warn everyone with tears” (Acts 20:26-27, 31).
Make sure you are preparing yourselves and those whom God has entrusted to you for the storm. Oh, how much stronger our churches would be if we included these things in our preaching and teaching and living them out before the people!
extracted from message by Bert M. Farias, revivalist and founder of Holy Fire Ministries,
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 