THE FEAR OF GOD SERIES

BIBLE STUDY: 

THE FEAR OF GOD SERIES

ECCLESIASTES 5:7

It is written, come and hear, all ye that fear God, Psalm 66:16.

Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with His hand said, men of Israel , and ye that fear God, give audience, Acts 13:16.

Men and Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent, Acts 13:26

These words are from the Bible and are very clear. This scripture, which Paul spoke, may seem strange to your ears. It may even offend some of you. You may believe it is not appropriate to scare people into making commitment to Jesus. Nevertheless, the Bible tells us, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh, Jude 1:23. It said, save with fear.

DOES THE WORD ‘FEAR’ MEAN FEAR

Some may be of the opinion that the word ‘fear’ as it appears in the Bible, does not really mean what it says. Satan deceives the whole world. People gather their itching ears want to hear. In the old testament, several Hebrew words are used which translate into the English equivalent of ‘fear’. In nearly every case, it means exactly what it says, fear, be afraid, terror, dreadful fear, etc. In some cases, it may mean reverence, as to revere or respect someone with great power. The same is the case in the testament. several Greek words are used, which translate much the same.

            As we read in Hebrew 10:31, the meaning comes across loud and clear. The next scripture presents a very good question, Rev 15:4.

SET YOUR HEART TO UNDERSTAND

It is my hope that you will set your heart to understand , as Daniel did...from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand..thy words were heard, Daniel 10:12. If you are earnestly seeking God’s truth, He will reveal Himself to you. Incline your ear to hear, and your heart to understand. Hear the word of God. He that hath an ear, let him hear. This message is not a popular one today, yet it is the truth. You may not be in agreement with what God’s word says, nevertheless, it is written, Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel, 1 Cor 9:16.

SCRIPTURE ON FEARING GOD

The Bible tells us, He that walketh in His uprightness Feareth the Lord, Pro 14:2 in the other way round, he that does not walk in his uprightness, does not fear the Lord.

A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth, and  is confident, Pro 14:16.

Some time ago, a certan gentleman stated that we should not fear the Lord, but only love Him. As he continued sharing his views, his words began to approach blasphemy of the Holy Spirit- as he seemed to be connecting things of the Spirit of God with satan.

Jesus tells us, FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY, BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO KILL THE SOUL; BUT RATHER FEAR HIM WHICH IS ABLE TO DESTROY BOTH SOUL AND BODY IN HELL, MATTHEW 10:28

it is written, because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. Though a sinner do evil, a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that FEAR GOD, which fear before Him, but it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall be  prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he feareth not before God, Ecc 8:11-13. God is telling you to fear Him, for it will not be well with those who do not.

            The bible tells us of those who honour God with their lips, but do not fear Him. Although they may seem to honour God, their heart is really far from Him, Isa 29:13.

WHO FEARED GOD IN THE SCRIPTURES?

You may still believe you do not need to fear God, but let us examine the scriptures to see who did fear God. The Bible tells us: Abraham, Gen 22:12, Joseph- Gen 42:18, Moses- Ex 3:6, Israel- Deut 21:21, Jacob- Gen 28:17, The people - 1 Sam 11:7, David- 2 Sam 6:9,  Nehemiah - Neh 5:15, Hannah - Neh 7:2, Job - Job 1:1, The waters - Psalm 77:16, Hezekiah - Jeremiah 26:19, The King - Dan 6:26, Noah- Hebrew 11:7, Acts 5:11, Acts 10:22, Heb 12:21, 5:7.

WHAT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD?

Proverbs 9:, 1:7 Few people these days really seem to comprehend the ‘holiness of God’ and His perfect and equal justice. Psalm 111:10 These verse seems to be telling us several things, including those who obey His commandments will have a good understanding of the scriptures. Could this be saying, we might know a person’s understanding of the scriptures according to his obedience to the word? Certainity, we know that those who do not know Jesus (the unsaved) have very little understanding and they do not obey the gospel.. Job 28:28, Prov 15:33, Isaiah 33:6, Hosea 4L6, Psalm 19:9, Proverbs 8:13, 14:26, Psalm 34:9, 89:7, 33:8, Rev 3:14-19, Deut 10:12-13.

Five requirements are presented here (each of these also appear in the new testament)

1.         FEAR THE LORD

2.         WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS

3.         LOVE HIM

4.         SERVE THE LORD..WITH ALL THY HEART AND SOUL

5.         KEEP THE COMMANDMENT

HOW CAN I  LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD

You may ask, how can I learn to fear God? MY SON, IF THOU WILT RECEIVE MY WORDS (thus, a condition, you are to receive God’s word), AND HIDE MY COMMANDMENT WITH THEE(so there is a second condition, hide His commandment with the), SO THAT THOU INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO WISDOM (note, a third condition, incline your ear to wisdom, Pro 8:1) AND APPLY THINE HEART TO UNDERSTANDING ( the fourth condition, you are to apply your heart to understanding) YEA, IF THOU CRIEST AFTER KNOWLEDGE( Do you cry after knowledge, yet do not spend much time reading the Bible? if you cry after knowledge, put away the indiscipline television life, newspaper, and ungodly books and study the bible) AND LIFTEST UP THY VOICE FOR UNDERSTANDING, IF THOU SEEKEST HER AS SILVER, AND SEARCHEST FOR HER AS FOR HID TREASURES, THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, Proverbs 2:1-5.

Perhaps, you believe you know the Bible, yet are we not all in various stages of learning? for the Lord giveth wisdom; out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding, Proverbs 2:6. We are to cry after knowledge and search for her. Apply your heart to understanding as you search the scriptures, and incline your ear to receive God’s word and obey Him. Surely understand the fear of the Lord.

When you obey God, the Bible says, happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief, Proverbs 28:14.

GOD DOES MANY THINGS SO THAT PEOPLE WILL FEAR HIM AND SIN NOT

Joshua 4:23-24, Eccl 3:14, Exodud 20:20, Mark 4:41, Matthew 27:54, Psalm 119:120

BENEFITS OF FEARING THE LORD

Psalm 34:7, these verse give three promises to them that fear God, an angel encampeth round them, the amgel delivers them, and the Lord pities them. Another wonderful benefits  of fearing God is,  Luke 1:50, Psalm 103:11, 17-18, 147:11, 33:18-19, 112:1, 115:13, 128:1,2,4, psalm 25:14, 85:9, proverbs 19:23, 14:27, Acts 13:26, Rev 19:15,16, Psalm 111:5, acts 10:35, Proverbs 22:4, Psalm 31:19, Rev 11:18, Psalm 25:12, Malachi 4:2, Psalm 145:18-19, Proverbs 10:27, 13:13, 2 Kings 17:39, Proverbs 31:30.

DO THIS IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Hebrew 12:28,29, Psalm 5:7, 2 Cor 7:1, Leviticus 25:36, 25:17, Col 3:22, Ephesians 5:21, 2 Chronicles 19:9