agrogersThey feared men so little because they feared God so much. – Source unknown.
Churches today are more likely to teach people not to fear God. This is incredible given the overwhelming number of verses in both the Old and New Testaments exhorting believers to fear God.
The fear of God is more than just reverential awe. And there are many benefits from a true fear of God.
What is the fear of God.
Why should we fear God.
Acquiring the fear of God.
Examples of fearing God.
Blessings from fearing God.
Commanded to Fear God.
People who DON’T fear God.
Miscellaneous Passages.
Conclusions.
Links.
What is the fear of God
It is similar to the fear one might have when one’s life is threatened
Luk 12:4-5 NKJV “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
It is produced when God kills Ananias and Saphira
Act 5:10-11 NKJV Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. 11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
It is produce when God’s power over evil spirits is recognised
Act 19:16-17 NKJV Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
Godly fear can be accompanied with trembling
Php 2:12 NKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Why should we fear God
God has the power to destroy body and soul in hell
Luk 12:4-5 NKJV “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!
We might lose our salvation
Rom 11:20-21 NKJV Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
Willful sin will be punished severely
Heb 10:26-27 NKJV For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:30-31 NKJV For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Verses that promote the fear of God
Psa 34:16 NKJV The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Mat 10:33 NKJV But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Luk 9:26 NKJV For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
Joh 3:36 NKJV He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Acquiring the fear of God
Teach to children
Psa 34:11 ESV Come, O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
How to acquire the fear of God
Pro 2:1-5 NKJV My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
Examples of fearing God
All men will fear God
Psa 64:7-10 NKJV But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; Suddenly they shall be wounded. 8 So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; All who see them shall flee away. 9 All men shall fear, And shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing. 10 The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.
Those who are in covenant with God
Jer 32:40 NKJV And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
Those who saw Jesus miracles
Luk 5:25-26 NKJV Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”
Luk 7:15-16 NKJV So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 16 Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”; and, “God has visited His people.”
Noah
Heb 11:7 NKJV By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Jonah
Jon 1:9 NKJV So he said to them, “I am a Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
Cornelius
Act 10:2 NKJV a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
End time saints
Rev 19:5 NKJV Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
Blessings from fearing God
Days prolonged
Ecc 8:12 NKJV Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him.
Hear our prayers
Heb 5:7 NKJV who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Wisdom
Psa 111:10 NKJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
Pro 1:7 NKJV The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Happiness
Psa 128:1-6 NKJV A Song of Ascents. Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. 2 When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. 4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. 5 The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. 6 Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
God’s goodness
Psa 31:19 NKJV Oh, how great is Your goodness, Which You have laid up for those who fear You, Which You have prepared for those who trust in You In the presence of the sons of men!
God’s supply
Psa 34:9 NKJV Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
God’s salvation
Psa 85:9 NKJV Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
God’s lovingkindness
Psa 103:11 NKJV For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
God’s increase
Psa 115:13-14 NKJV He will bless those who fear the LORD, Both small and great. 14 May the LORD give you increase more and more, You and your children.
God’s pleasure
Psa 147:11 NKJV The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
God’s instruction
Psa 25:12 NKJV Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
God’s compassion
Psa 103:13 NKJV As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Longer life
Pro 10:27 NKJV The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Avoid evil
Pro 16:6 NKJV In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
Riches and honor
Pro 22:4 NKJV By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and life.
Spiritual confidence
Pro 14:26 NKJV In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
Praise
Pro 31:30 NKJV Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
Commanded to Fear God
2Co 7:1 NKJV Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
People who DON’T fear God
The Wicked
Psa 36:1 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the Servant of the LORD. An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
Jer 2:19 NKJV Your own wickedness will correct you, And your backslidings will rebuke you. Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing That you have forsaken the LORD your God, And the fear of Me is not in you,” Says the Lord GOD of hosts.
Rom 3:18 NKJV “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
People who don’t change
Psa 55:19 NKJV God will hear, and afflict them, Even He who abides from of old. Selah. Because they do not change, Therefore they do not fear God.
Miscellaneous Passages
God ought to be feared
Psa 76:11-12 NKJV Make vows to the LORD your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
Psa 89:6-7 NKJV For who in the heavens can be compared to the LORD? Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the LORD? 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
Psa 96:4 NKJV For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
Fearing God is the ‘the whole matter’
Ecc 12:13-14 NKJV Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Fear of God and His goodness are linked
Hos 3:5 NKJV Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days.
God helping us will cause others to fear Him
Psa 40:1-3 NKJV To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. 3 He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.
God’s blessings will cause others to fear Him
Psa 67:7 NKJV God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Seeking Wisdom leads to the fear of the Lord
Pro 2:1-5 NKJV My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.
Conclusions
- The fear of God is not simply reverence for God
- Hebrews 12.28 says that we must serve with reverence and fear
- The fear of God is likened to a fear that comes when one’s life is threatened
- The fear of God results from recognizing that our eternity, although presently secure, may be ‘cut off’ in the future (Heb 11.20)
- We are commanded to fear God
- Fearing God is at the heart of a godly life
- A sign of conversion is that one fears God (Jer 32.40).
- Thus, one could conclude that a person who has no fear of God is not converted
- The blessings that come from fearing God are numerous
- The only people who do not fear God are the ungodly
- A sign of conversion is that one fears God (Jer 32.40).
