The Fear of the Lord

SongOnTheWind · Jun 23, 2021

I am asking these questions, because I'm looking around me today, and I see all kinds of excuses not to fear God, and I just want to guard myself and my children against a lack of fear of the Lord in our lives. It's like we're surrounded by hypocrisy, and it feels like apostacy. It may well be just that. How are we to survive, thrive, and overcome and endure to the end? And not be deceived? I pray, I meditate on the Word of God, I worship Him, and I teach my kids to do the same. I have to be very careful who I fellowship with at my church. It's that big a deal, now. And it's not so easy to live out as it is to write out, believe me.

I am not planning on giving up my hope or my faith. God is always faithful!

But can anyone else relate? It's a very lonely place to be right now.

So, back to the discussion

The Word of God is sharper than a double edged sword. It is more than precise. There is a precise answer out there (in God's Word) that will cut the enemy down to pieces. It is written!

Maybe fearing the Lord is to do with the renewing of the mind? Like adopting a different mindset, or attitude? But it seems to be more profound than that.

GallagherM · Jun 23, 2021

SongOnTheWind said:
Do you think the body of Christ has lost the fear of the Lord?

I do not know. That depends on the individual so I can not say yes or no.

GallagherM · Jun 23, 2021

I would suggest it is important to read the bible to keep a healthy relationship with God, and to love others. To me personally, @SongOnTheWind, it is about faith and love.

Carl Emerson · Jun 23, 2021

SongOnTheWind said:
So again, how can all true believers grow in this fear? Is it a work of grace, or diligence, or the Word of God, or walking in truth, or prayer, or a combination of some, all, maybe even more?

What's the key?

For me the Key was as stated in posts #5 and #6...

Maria Billingsley · Jun 23, 2021

SongOnTheWind said:
I don't assume that because Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him, that Peter answered out of fear, or sought to obey the commands given him out of fear either, seeing as he was adamant that the Lord knew he loved Him.

In fact, the bible also says that perfect love casts out all fear, but that is not the fear of which I am focusing on in this thread.

I agree that we can and should both love and fear God. I agree that we can look at fearing God in the context of love, as well as loving God in the context of fearing Him; but I don't know that love is caused by fear, or fear by love.

I did not say fear causes love.( I think we have a different perspective on fearing God thus not really understanding what I am saying) Anyhow.....
Peter denied Christ three times because he feared for his life more than he feared God. In other words he did not agape Christ he phileo Christ.

SANTOSO · Jun 24, 2021

Dear one,
You pose a good and wonderful question that we should consider, that we may perceive and understand how we should walk in the fear of the Lord in this day and age.

Dear one,
This is what we have heard:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, -Galatians 1:3
who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, -Galatians 1:4

Dear one,
we must believe that grace and peace of God were given to us, to deliver us from the present evil age.

That is to say that we should have faith in Christ, that He delivered us from the present evil age.

In other words, we should have the substance of things we hoped for, the evidence that we have not yet seen, that we believe in union with Christ, that He gave Himself up for us because He loved us, that He delivered us from the present evil age.

In His grace, that He strengthens us through His Holy Spirit, that is, through the love of Christ, we overcome the world. Christ’s love for us that brought assurance of peace in our lives when we are faced with evil.

How should we understand the fear of the Lord? Carl, already mentioned the key in post#17.

This is what we have heard:

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. -Isaiah 11:1
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 the fear of the LORD. -Isaiah 11:2
And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, -Isaiah 11:3
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. -Isaiah 11:4

So the Spirit of God the Father rested upon Christ. One of the Spirits, that is, spoken is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

So the fear of God is Spirit. How should understand about the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. We listened to what our Lord Himself have said:

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. -John 6:63

So we should consider the words that Christ have spoken to us are Spirit and Life.

How do we have the Spirit of fear of God in our lives ?

By having His words in our hearts; For this is what we have heard from our Heavenly Father:

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. -Proverbs 4:20
Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. -Proverbs 4:21
For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. -Proverbs 4:22
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. -Proverbs 4:23

So dear one, when we keep the words that the Father has spoken through His Son— the Spirit of fear of the Lord gives us life.

For we also heard:
The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. -Proverbs 19:23

So the Holy Spirit leads us to the words that Christ have spoken that He received from the Father, and we who have the Holy Spirit rest satisfied; we will not be visited by harm.

How are we not visited by harm ? This is what we have heard:

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way; -Psalms 37:23
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. -Psalms 37:24

So dear one,
We are not visited by harm because our steps are established by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we delighted in Christ. Yes, we are delighted in His ways, that is, His mercy, compassion, that He has been slow to anger, and rich in grace and truth.

Because our Lord hold us by the hand, that is, Christ who uphold us in His righteousness; we will rest satisfied what He has prepared for us who love Him and as He has promised us that we will not be visited by harm but guided by His strength to His holy abode as we a shared in His sufferings for righteousness. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s suffering, and through Christ, we share abundantly in the comfort of the Father’s love in the age to come and be found in His glory of His grace.

How should we understand the fear, that is in the fear of God ?
This is what we have heard:

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned' -Romans 5:12

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. -Romans 5:9
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. -Romans 5:10

Dear one,
Since all sinned, this brought all condemnation, that is the wrath of God. For all who sinned are considered the enemies of God.

This is also what we have heard:

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them.
And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. -Jeremiah 32:40
I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. -Jeremiah 32:41
"For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. -Jeremiah 32:42

So dear one, God want to put the fear of Him in our hearts, that we may not turn away from Him, so that nothing that will prevent us from accepting the Lord’s goodness forever, that is, His covenant of love that is in the Beloved Christ Jesus.

So how are we to walk in the fear of the Lord?
Dear one, be established in the Lord’s righteousness. For we heard:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." -Romans 1:17

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

GallagherM said:
I would suggest it is important to read the bible to keep a healthy relationship with God, and to love others. To me personally, @SongOnTheWind, it is about faith and love.

I agree, but my questions are specifically about the fear of the Lord

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

Carl Emerson said:
For me the Key was as stated in posts #5 and #6...

So, prayer, which I agree is extremely important.

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

Maria Billingsley said:
I did not say fear causes love.( I think we have a different perspective on fearing God thus not really understanding what I am saying) Anyhow.....
Peter denied Christ three times because he feared for his life more than he feared God. In other words he did not agape Christ he phileo Christ.

I agree he did not love Christ as he should have, but also he feared for his life as you stated. Maybe our definitions differ a little. I am speaking of reverance and awe of God, not a repulsion from Him.

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

SANTOSO said:
Dear one,
You pose a good and wonderful question that we should consider, that we may perceive and understand how we should walk in the fear of the Lord in this day and age.

Dear one,
This is what we have heard:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, -Galatians 1:3

who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, -Galatians 1:4

Dear one,
we must believe that grace and peace of God were given to us, to deliver us from the present evil age.

That is to say that we should have faith in Christ, that He delivered us from the present evil age.

In other words, we should have the substance of things we hoped for, the evidence that we have not yet seen, that we believe in union with Christ, that He gave Himself up for us because He loved us, that He delivered us from the present evil age.

In His grace, that He strengthens us through His Holy Spirit, that is, through the love of Christ, we overcome the world. Christ’s love for us that brought assurance of peace in our lives when we are faced with evil.

How should we understand the fear of the Lord? Carl, already mentioned the key in post#17.

This is what we have heard:

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. -Isaiah 11:1

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 the fear of the LORD. -Isaiah 11:2

And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, -Isaiah 11:3

but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. -Isaiah 11:4

So the Spirit of God the Father rested upon Christ. One of the Spirits, that is, spoken is the Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

So the fear of God is Spirit. How should understand about the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. We listened to what our Lord Himself have said:

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. -John 6:63

So we should consider the words that Christ have spoken to us are Spirit and Life.

How do we have the Spirit of fear of God in our lives ?

By having His words in our hearts; For this is what we have heard from our Heavenly Father:

My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. -Proverbs 4:20

Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. -Proverbs 4:21

For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. -Proverbs 4:22

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. -Proverbs 4:23

So dear one, when we keep the words that the Father has spoken through His Son— the Spirit of fear of the Lord gives us life.

For we also heard:
The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. -Proverbs 19:23

So the Holy Spirit leads us to the words that Christ have spoken that He received from the Father, and we who have the Holy Spirit rest satisfied; we will not be visited by harm.

How are we not visited by harm ? This is what we have heard:

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in His way; -Psalms 37:23

though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. -Psalms 37:24

So dear one,
We are not visited by harm because our steps are established by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we delighted in Christ. Yes, we are delighted in His ways, that is, His mercy, compassion, that He has been slow to anger, and rich in grace and truth.

Because our Lord hold us by the hand, that is, Christ who uphold us in His righteousness; we will rest satisfied what He has prepared for us who love Him and as He has promised us that we will not be visited by harm but guided by His strength to His holy abode as we a shared in His sufferings for righteousness. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s suffering, and through Christ, we share abundantly in the comfort of the Father’s love in the age to come and be found in His glory of His grace.

How should we understand the fear, that is in the fear of God ?
This is what we have heard:

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned' -Romans 5:12

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. -Romans 5:9

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. -Romans 5:10

Dear one,
Since all sinned, this brought all condemnation, that is the wrath of God. For all who sinned are considered the enemies of God.

This is also what we have heard:

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them.

And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. -Jeremiah 32:40

I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul. -Jeremiah 32:41

"For thus says the LORD: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them. -Jeremiah 32:42

So dear one, God want to put the fear of Him in our hearts, that we may not turn away from Him, so that nothing that will prevent us from accepting the Lord’s goodness forever, that is, His covenant of love that is in the Beloved Christ Jesus.

So how are we to walk in the fear of the Lord?
Dear one, be established in the Lord’s righteousness. For we heard:

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." -Romans 1:17

Thank you. I don't think I'm having trouble understanding fear of the Lord. I just see a complete lack of it around me, and I do not wish to be influenced by that lack. I want to grow in the fear of the Lord. I was wondering if this lack is just something I am seeing around me, or if it is more pervasive in the body of Christ these days. What do you think?

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

GallagherM said:
I do not know. That depends on the individual so I can not say yes or no.

What if a large number of individuals are affected? If you are the only one that you personally know that seems to have any regard for the fear of the Lord, and everyone else looks at you as though you are crazy for having it, would that feel right? When should we start to think about it?

GallagherM · Jun 24, 2021

Imagine standing in front of the Father who is a consuming fire, spirit, filled with love @SongOnTheWind

GallagherM · Jun 24, 2021

I believe it’s okay to tell people that you wanna worship God in spirit and in truth. How they look at you doesn’t matter called to love regardless.

2 Corinthians 5;13 NLT If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

@SongOnTheWind

SANTOSO · Jun 24, 2021

SongOnTheWind said:
Thank you. I don't think I'm having trouble understanding fear of the Lord. I just see a complete lack of it around me, and I do not wish to be influenced by that lack. I want to grow in the fear of the Lord. I was wondering if this lack is just something I am seeing around me, or if it is more pervasive in the body of Christ these days. What do you think?

Dear one,
Have you heard:

For Christ did not please Himself , but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on me." -Romans 15:3

I try to understand what this reproach means.
Webster dictionary defines as
1: an expression of rebuke or disapproval
2: the act or action of reproaching or disapproving was beyond reproach
3a: a cause or occasion of blame, discredit, or disgrace
b: DISCREDIT, DISGRACE
4obsolete : one subjected to censure or scorn.

So can we understand as that many made sharp rebuke and shows disapproval of God and that blame or disgrace fell on our Lord Jesus Christ. Now that they place the blame on the Body of Christ. Is the Body of Christ not a part of Christ?

For we heard:
Therefore He (Christ) had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. -Hebrews 2:17

How are we to understand those who lack of the fear of God?

Since the reproach of those who reproach God fell on Christ our Lord, we should likewise bear all things in Christ. In other words, through the love of Christ in us, we bear the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves, as we followed apostle Paul exhorted to do in Romans 15:1-7.

What we should do when we saw a complete lack of the fear of the Lord and not to be influenced by the lack ? This is what we have heard:

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer. -2 Corinthians 5:16
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. -2 Corinthians 5:17
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; -2 Corinthians 5:18

Dear one, though many believers were born again —regretfully still set their minds on the things of the flesh not on the things of the Spirit ! This is the counsel that we have received:

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. -Galatians 6:1
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. -Galatians 6:2

So dear one, we are told not to regard those believers according to the flesh but we should restore them in a spirit of gentleness.

If our children strayed in the manner of their bad companions, we would still believe and pray that they will mend their ways after the Lord’s ways. So dear one, let us pray that our Lord grant us to have compassionate hearts, being kindness, and approach other believers who still set their minds in earthly things. Let approach those who are weak faith with humility , meekness, and patience, bearing with one another. Even if we do have complaints against them, let us ask the Lord to give us strength to forgive them, as the Lord forgave us.

How do apostle Paul bear the failing of the weak ? This is what we have heard ：

For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. -Philippians 3:18
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. -Philippians 3:19

So apostle Paul bore the failings of the weak with tears; yes, he bore with tears over those who set their minds on earthly things.

What apostle Paul have said:

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. -Romans 15:1
Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. -Romans 15:2

So dear one,
Let us not please ourselves but let us build our neighbors for his edification in the Lord.

I understand that can be challenging. This is what we have heard, that may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit:

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. -Romans 15:4 NKJV
Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus -Romans 15:5 NKJV
that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. -Romans 15:6 NKJV
Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.-Romans 15:7 NKJV

Dear one,
Let us stand in one Spirit of God, be one mind in Christ, and strive together for the faith of the gospel. To God be the glory. Amen

Carl Emerson · Jun 24, 2021

SongOnTheWind said:
So, prayer, which I agree is extremely important.

It is about wanting it passionately - and if you don't have that deep crying out for His fear then ask for it...

Maria Billingsley · Jun 24, 2021

SongOnTheWind said:
I agree he did not love Christ as he should have, but also he feared for his life as you stated. Maybe our definitions differ a little. I am speaking of reverance and awe of God, not a repulsion from Him.

Ok great we see things eye to eye. As I read some of your other posts, there are many who teach in error leading to reasons why reverence and awe , fearing the Lord, appears to be lacking. I have list but probably the wrong forum to share. All of these errors indeed lead to a hypocritical relationship with The Father.

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

GallagherM said:
Imagine standing in front of the Father who is a consuming fire, spirit, filled with love @SongOnTheWind

I get what you're saying, but I don't think it's a question of imagination. If you told this to a congregation in a Sunday morning service, they'd take it to be very obvious and condescending. I think it's a heart condition, and a response to authority and example of leadership. Double standards and unjust scales. Maybe me crying out to God is not enough. Maybe it takes a group 'effort' for want of a better word. Effort isn't it.

GallagherM · Jun 24, 2021

It’s not imagination when that is really what God is (a consuming fire, spirit, and love) I know in my own life I desire to worship God in spirit and in truth. I can’t force anyone to have a relationship with God and show reverence towards Him. It’s most certainly a condition of the heart. Thank you for your time.

SongOnTheWind · Jun 24, 2021

GallagherM said:
It’s not imagination when that is really what God is (a consuming fire, spirit, and love) I know in my own life I desire to worship God in spirit and in truth. I can’t force anyone to have a relationship with God and show reverence towards Him. It’s most certainly a condition of the heart. Thank you for your time.

This is exactly why I started the thread. Thanks for sharing your thoughts

biblelesson · Jun 24, 2021

Can I offer my experience? I didn’t want to be around people who did not seem to be true to loving Christ, and basically appear to be hypocritical in their ways, and my spirit was troubled also. Through crying out to God for a long time, I’m less troubled, and God has shown me that I have been judging, although the people’s behavior was truly hypocritical.

So, what’s the issue?
I’m to love, even those who I’m around that are false believers. But, because I did not understand that the power to love comes from God, and not my carnal self, that was crucified with Christ, I naturally felt guilty when my spirit was convicted around certain people who displayed ungodly behaviors.

I can now through God’s grace be calm around people who display hypocritical ungodly behavior, through the help of the Holy Spirit. I can pray for them or not. It’s best to be led by the Spirit to pray.

God is Growing me and it is not easy.

I want to say that it doesn’t matter if others fear the lord. The question is do I fear the lord. Looking at other’s walk is judging them. But my deciding I don’t want to be around them is for my spiritual health.

I know now that God is the teacher, the husbandman. All of our wrong beliefs and way of seeing things has to be cut out of us. He is the Gardner that trims the weeds. I know there are more weeds in me that God the Husbandman must cut away by His Spirit. His aim with all of us, through pain, is to see His beauty and love. I believe once there, there is no other beauty in the world. The love and understanding that does not exist now for those around us who don’t truly believe or fear God, will be given by God. Then we won’t see their hypocrisy. Then we can pray!

Hod bless you!

The Fear of the Lord

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