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Thursday, December 04, 2008

The Fear of the Lord


When looking toward the future what do you see?
Is it a new car, a bigger home, a job with more money?
Or do you dream of growing closer in relationship with God?
How many people think about their transition to Heaven and how their whole life here on earth is a preparation for eternal life in Heaven.
Or preparation for Hell.
What is missing for many people is a healthy "Fear of the Lord."

The “Fear of the Lord” as it is spoken of in the bible is not just a concept, but an experience that predisposes us to wisdom.

In fact, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who practice it”
(Ps. 111:10; Sir. 1:14)

The fear is not the fear of a tyrannical god who impetuously and arbitrarily inflicts punishment, but the proper respect, and fear, of a God who administers just punishment for those who deserve it.

The biblical fear of the Lord is an intelligent fear, based on a deep perception of the holiness and majesty of God, which rightly recognizes the possibility of violating the law of God, despising His love, rejecting His mercy, and meriting eternal separation from Him.

While the fear of the Lord is imply the beginning of wisdom, and the end of wisdom is love
(1Jn. 4:17)

One doesn’t jump into love without a deep and ongoing experience of biblical, Spirit-inspired fear.

The scripture tells us in fact that “blessed is the man who fears the Lord” and that, indeed, this God-given fear of the Lord frees us from other fears: “He is not afraid of evil news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady, he will not be afraid.”
(Ps. 112:1, 7-8)

The fear of the Lord is glory and exaltation, and gladness and a crown of rejoicing. The fear of the Lord delights the heart, and gives gladness and joy and long life. With him who fears the Lord it will go well at the end; on the day of his death he will be blessed.
(Sir. 1:11-13)

Fear of the lord and Love of the Lord go together. One of the reasons why there has been so much foolishness in the Church and in the world is because there has been so much lack of fear of the Lord.

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