Faithfulness and the Fear of the Lord
The stories of Abraham , Job and Jesus for instance teaches us the importance of fearing the Lord and how God abundently bless them whereas the story about Ananania (Acts 5),Saul, Adam and Eve, Lucifer, the Israelites , children of Eli (1 Samuel 2:12) teaches us the consequences of dishonoring the Lord and pay a great price even death
- As my mom used to tell me Live your life knowing God is watching everything we do and we will be held responsible for every action we take
- The fear of the Lord is often misunderstood, but it is foundational to a healthy relationship with God.
- If you Got scared every time someone mentioned the name of God that is not the correct way of fearing God
- Many confuse fear with terror, but biblical fear of the Lord is more about reverence, awe, and respect.
- You hate what he hates and you love he loves
- You don’t want God to leave you and therefore you make every effort to obey him and respect him
- Like David say don’t take away your spirit from me
- The fear of the Lord does not mean we cower in His presence, but that we approach Him with respect. It helps us to see our dependence on God, knowing that apart from Him, we can do nothing.
Proverbs 9:10 tells us,
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,"
Psalms 89:7
God needs to be greatly feared
Matthew 10:28 (NIV):
Jesus once said, “I will show you whom shall you fear. Fear not those who at most can only kill and destroy your life, but the One who can kill and burn your soul forever.”
Isaiah 11:2
Jesus the fear of the lord will be with him
How do we Honor God
- which means true understanding starts with recognizing God’s greatness.
- To love God with all your might , your soul, your thoughts, your strength
- Having respect for his word
- Dedicating your life for him
- Lean not your understanding - get your first opinion from him
- Forging others so since God has forgiving your sin
- By acknowledging Him in everything you do —-Giving him the creditfor your accomplishments
- He is the judge of all, both in this life and the next.
- To fear God is to recognize that His ways are higher than ours.
- By loving and serving others
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV):
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The benefits of Honoring God
- Detronomy 28 lists out all the blessings we get when we fear the Lord and walk with him in righteousness
- The fear of the Lord is tied to wisdom, meaning that when we revere God, we make wiser choices.
- It also guides us to avoid evil, for fearing God means we respect His commands and strive to live according to them.
- This fear doesn’t drive us away from God but draws us closer, as it builds a sense of trust in His power and righteousness.
- Psalm 34:9 encourages us, "Fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing."
- This verse shows that the fear of the Lord is not about losing out, but about gaining everything we truly need.
- It is to see His holiness and recognize that He is beyond compare. Fear of the Lord helps us to live with a sense of purpose, aligning our lives with His will.
- It prevents pride from taking root in our hearts because we understand that we are nothing without God.
- Proverbs 14:26. In the fear of the Lord, there is strong confidence,says Fear may seem like it would weaken us, but fearing the Lord strengthens us by giving us firm trust in His power. ?
- When we fear the Lord, we see sin for what it truly is – rebellion against the One who is sovereign. This fear leads to repentance, as we become more aware of how our actions affect our relationship with God.
- Proverbs 8:13 teaches,
- "To fear the Lord is to hate evil and violence. Let God take the revenge for you
- The story of David and Uriah’s wife (Abigail)
- If we fear the Lord, we should be moved to reject all that is contrary to His nature. In doing so, we also grow in love for what is good and righteous.
- Jesus said I am the vine you are the branches..
- Fearing the Lord gives us a sense of awe and wonder at His works, His creation, and His involvement in our lives.
- When we fear God, we know that He is our refuge and our protector.
- Fearing the Lord brings freedom, because we no longer need to live in fear of man or circumstances.
- This fear brings joy because we know that we are under the care of a mighty and loving Father.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 sums up the duty of humanity: "Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
- When we fear the Lord, we keep His commandments, not out of obligation but out of love.
- The fear of the Lord is linked with love because, as we fear Him, we grow in affection for His goodness. It’s a fear that deepens our relationship with God.
- Psalm 147:11 assures us, "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him." God delights in those who revere Him because it shows our trust and faith in His authority.
- Fearing God brings blessings upon our lives, as
- Psalm 115:13 says, "He will bless those who fear the Lord, both small and great."
- It frees us from the pressures of this world, knowing that we live to honor Him.
- Psalm 103:17 promises, "The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him."
- Fear of the Lord opens us to God’s grace and mercy in every area of life. It brings healing to our souls and restoration to our hearts.
- This fear leads us to experience God’s abundant love. The fear of the Lord purifies us, making us holy as He is holy. It transforms us from the inside out, leading us to live in a way that honors God. Those who fear the Lord seek justice and mercy, just as God does. They care for the poor and the oppressed, walking in love toward others.
- The fear of the Lord turns us away from selfishness and toward generosity.
- It prompts us to live for something greater than ourselves.
- When we fear God, we align our will with His, seeking to do what pleases Him.
- This fear helps us avoid the pitfalls of sin, as we know the consequences of disobeying God.
- Fearing the Lord keeps us spiritually alert, knowing that we are accountable to Him. It fosters a deep desire for purity and holiness in our lives. The fear of the Lord draws us into a deeper prayer life, as we seek His guidance and wisdom. It leads us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Fearing the Lord sets us apart from the world, as we live according to His ways.
- It gives us a sense of belonging, knowing that we are His children. The fear of the Lord helps us to see others through His eyes, with love and compassion. It stirs within us a longing to see His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. This fear drives us to share the gospel, knowing that all will stand before God one day.
- Fearing the Lord brings us peace, as we trust in His sovereignty over our lives. It comforts us in knowing that God is in control, no matter the circumstances. The fear of the Lord inspires us to worship, for He alone is worthy of all honor and glory. It leads us to live with integrity, knowing that we are always in God’s presence. When we fear the Lord, we walk in the light of His truth.
- The fear of the Lord is our safeguard against temptation and sin