Fear God

God is Love. Fear Him?

Wait. Hold on a second...Does the Word NOT declare "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."? Yup. That would be John 3:16-17. Fear Him.

OK. Does the Word NOT declare "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."? Did Jesus not die, or rather lay down His life for us? No greater love? Yup. John 15:13. Fear Him.

If God is a God of Love, and the Word declares that Love is the greatest of all. "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." {1 Corinthians 13:13} Then why do you keep saying Fear Him? If God is Love and He did all these things, and He tells us we can become His Children, to quote one of your favorite Chapters,

Romans 8:

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Then we become His Children and He becomes our Daddy, WHY in the world do we need to Fear Him?

Good question. Let me ask you this. You have an Earthly Father? An Earthly Daddy? Ever fall asleep in your Father's arms? When you are growing up, you come to know, just flat out know, that your Daddy loves you and has your back. My Daddy loves me. He bought me a Bike for my Birthday. He takes me to the corner store and buys me Ice Cream. He teaches me cool stuff. When I find myself in front of something that may be trying to scare me, I have no fear, because Daddy is standing right there behind me. He has got my back.

So, one day, your Daddy says, "Don't do that again." Or "Don't ever do this." Well, we start thinking, {The Enemy whispers in our ear} But that was fun. This? This looks fun too. Maybe I can try it. Maybe, just maybe, one more time will not hurt anything. Besides, if I am careful, Daddy will never know. So you do it.

Then Daddy comes home. What happens? You start feeling guilty. You start to FEAR him finding out. Or what if someone sees you do it and says "I'm going to tell your Daddy?" You instantly start to fear. Why? Is this not the same Daddy that loves you? Is this not the same Daddy that bought you that Bike, or Ice Cream. Is it not the same Daddy that was standing behind you in your trial or tribulation? Of course it is. Does he love you? Of course he does. So why are you afraid?

You are afraid because of your disobedience. Not because of his condemnation. You are afraid because of what you did. Not because of his judgement. You do not fear him because he is all powerful and always there for you. You love him because of those things. But you are afraid because you will disappoint him. You will make him angry at you for what YOU did.

You see, fear is not always terror. The Word does not tell us that we should be terrified of God. It tells us we should fear Him.

Joshua 4:

15 And the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying,

16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.

17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.

18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.

19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.

20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.

21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?

22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.

23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:

24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever.

Then in....

Proverbs 1:

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

Does your Mother and Father hate you? Do they wish harm on you? No. They love you. They tell you things you should not do out of love and for your own good. "Don't touch the hot stove." Don't play in the street." "Beware of strangers." "Do not do drugs." ETC. You Heavenly Father tells you things you should not do as well. "Have no other gods before Him. Do not commit Idolatry. Honor your Mother and Father. Do not Murder. Do not commit Adultery. Do not Steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not Covet."

Just like your Mother and Father tell you the things you should not do, your Heavenly Father tells you things you should not do, not to make your life more difficult, but for your own good. To protect you. To actually make your life more simple and more joyous. Do not fear getting caught Stealing, and the consequences of such? Don't Steal. Do not fear hurting your loved one, and possibly ending your Marriage? Don't cheat. Don't want to get burned? Don't touch the hot stove. ETC.

Proverbs 9:

1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

"The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of Wisdom." Fear, can also be used here as another word for Reverence or Worship. Wisdom begins when we recognize who God actually is. His power and His Majesty. It is not telling us that we should fear a scarey God, but rather fear disobedience. We should become humble and learn from Him the ways that are best for us instead of attempting to go our own way. Doing things the way we would chose to do them. The Wisdom of God is far superior than the wisdom of man.

Proverbs 14:

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Job puts it this way...

Job 28:

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

In....

Ecclesiastes 12:

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Again, the Word is telling us that we should not look at God in ways of terror. Trembling in His presence. But rather fear our disobedience. That "God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." In other words? Your Daddy knows what you have done. If you have be a faithful Child, or a disobedient one. Fear His Judgement on what YOU have done.

Jesus Himself told us these things.

Luke 12:

1 In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Again, is Jesus telling us that we should fear God because He is a scary God? No. He is telling us, to fear His Judgement on us, on what we have done. He loves us. We are precious to Him. Jesus went on to say this.

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

8 Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

9 But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

10 And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.

11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:

12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

"But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." Have you ever thought about that. Jesus never lies. He never exaggerates. He always stated the Truth and nothing but. "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered" "Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them." {Psalm 139:16} God knows you better than you know yourself. He created you. You are the way you are because God said so. It really is this simple. You have Blonde Hair and Blue Eyes, Brown Hair and Brown Eyes, you are Black, White, Tall, Short, ETC, because God wrote them in a Book and Fashioned you after what He wrote.

However, also remember this...

Hebrews 12:

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

When the Word tells us, when Jesus tells us, to Fear God, they are telling us that we should fear disobedience. We should fear His Judgement. Not that God is a scary God. A Tyrant. Something we should tremble before. Rather that we fear disappointing Him. Fear His final Judgement. For His final Judgement depends on our choices and our actions. Do not want God to be angry? Be obedient. Do as He says. Want Salvation? Do what He says. Be the good Child, He will be your Daddy.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!