The Fear of God

The last couple of weeks in Sunday School, we have been studying the Command of Christ- Honor your Parents.

This is a command that all of us should be following on a daily basis, but I know I, for one, fail miserably more often than not.

This Sunday, the lesson was specifically about Respecting Authority, and the different fears we have that evoke respect for our many different authorities.  And I must say, it was quite an eye-opener for me.

The teacher shared three fears that govern our motives for respect-

1. The Fear of Punishment

2. The Fear of Causing Shame

3. The Fear of Losing Intimacy

Fear #1, the Fear of Punishment, is what everyone should have. It is how the chain of command works in our everyday lives.  For instance- a child will do what their mother says because they’re afraid of the punishment that their dad will give them.  An employee will do what the manager says to do because they are afraid of the punishment of losing their job. So in a sense, the Fear of Punishment makes the world go around, you might say.

Fear #2, the Fear of Causing Shame motivates Godly actions.  People will change their whole demeanor to keep from bringing shame to their parents, their friends, their boss, or themselves. This is a Fear that we all will have at some point in our lives.

Fear #3, the Fear of Losing Intimacy. You might be saying, ‘Hey, I don’t have a significant other, so I don’t need to worry about that!’, but this Fear goes beyond human relationships.

May I ask you a question?

Do you profess to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

If you do, then guess what?

*DRUM ROLL PLEASE*

You have a Significant Other! His name is Jesus Christ! And He loved you so much, He died on the cross and arose from the grave just to prove how much He loved you! If that doesn’t call for an intimate relationship, I don’t know what will.

*Now back to the Fear*

All three fears are ways that we relate to authority and can be applied in our everyday lives.

For example- We don’t speed because we’re afraid of the punishment of a speeding ticket; we don’t drink, smoke, cuss, etc. because we are afraid of the shame that it would bring our parents or grandparents if we did; we save ourselves for our husband or wife so that we may have an intimate relationship with them.

But how do we relate to Jesus, the Lover of our Souls?

King David said in Psalm 86:11- “Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.”

This should be the cry of our hearts as well.  If for no other reason than because “The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23)

But is it enough to Fear God with just a Fear of Punishment? Certainly, we should do or not do certain things, such as the Ten Commandments state. But do we obey simply because we fear the consequences?

Or should we fear Him solely based on the fact that we might cause Him shame? I mean, come on, there are just some things you shouldn’t do when you are a Christian.  Christian by definition means ‘Little Jesus’.  You bear HIS name.  Shouldn’t you at least act like it?

May I submit to you that both of these are good fears to have. They are motivating, driving forces that cause us to do what is right, but I believe that we need to have the Fear of losing an intimate relationship with Christ as our driving force behind why we do what we do!

Hebrews 12:28-29 says “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.”

(Side note- The term ‘Godly Fear’ used in this passage is the Greek word- Eulábeia – which means “fear of reverence”.)

I would submit to you, that if God is not a ‘consuming fire’ in your life, you are probably not living in a close and intimate relationship with Him.  The only thing really to compare this too is an engaged or newlywed couple-

A man and woman in love can hardly bare to be separated for more than a few moments usually, ask them to go apart for a few days, and you would think you had asked them to take a walk to the guillotine! Their love for each other consumes them! They think about each other constantly.  They are continually considering the others feelings, and trying not to do anything to hurt the other. And this only scrapes the surface of their love and devotion for each other! 

If a man and a woman, both mere mortals, can have that kind of love and reverence for each other- how much more should we have this same love, reverence, and devotion towards a Holy, righteous God?

Living in a close and intimate relationship with Christ will cause you to do things differently.  If you do not have this close relationship with Christ, I would challenge you to pick up your love letter (yes, I’m talking about the Bible ), and see what He has to say to you.

I have another question for you-How would you rate your Fear of God?

Ask yourself these questions-

Do I have a continual awareness that God is watching 

EVERYTHING I say, do, and think?

Do I bow before the LORD in honor of HIS Holiness?

Do I stand up to honor HIS Holiness when I sing hymns of praise?

Have I bowed the knee to Jesus to proclaim that HE IS LORD (this goes beyond the basic “Jesus, come into my heart and save me from my sins”. This is recognizing Christ as the sole Ruler of your life, and living your life in accordance with His Will on a daily basis)?

Do I take care of my body as a temple of the LORD?

Do my parents feel as if I honor them?

Do I respect government authority in their position as ministers appointed by God for my good?

Do I spend the LORD’S Day honoring HIM?

Do I deflect praise to the LORD?

                                                                          

This is by no means a list of guidelines or rules, or an exhaustive list of what you should be doing.   But it is a great spiritual check-up.   

I know many times I fall short in the everyday things, such as eating too much junk food from time to time, or getting a sarcastic tone in my voice when talking to my parents.  This really helped open my eyes to help me see that it’s the little things that matter (“…thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things…” Matt. 25:21b).

  

In closing, I think King Solomon said it the best-

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13

So, with this stitch in time God has so graciously given you, with what fear will you live?

Your Fellow Laborer and Sister in the Faith,

-Kristin

Greater Yes

Whisnant’s- Greater Yes

It starts with a desire, planted deep within your heart
You pray in faith, and wait for God to move
Time passes and you wonder
Did He hear me when I called?
Should I even have prayed that prayer at all

Chorus:
You never pray a prayer, your Father will not answer
He can´t ignore His child´s earnest request
While you´re waiting and believing
for what you thought was best
Trust God if He says no.... You´re still Blessed
There must be a greater yes

Verse 2:
There comes a time when child-like faith
Must graduate to trust
Trials come and you´re convinced you´re on your own
But the teacher´s often silent
While you’re in the hardest test
But He´ll answer when It´s time with what is best

Bridge:
Sometimes God will answer - just like we prayed
Then other times what´s on HIs mind
Is a better plan, another way, a greater yes.

God's Timing

When the time was right-

The sea parted, 

The walls fell down, 

The lions went hungry, 

The sun stood still, 

The star appeared, 

The waves were calmed, 

The stone was rolled away, 

The Lord ascended...

And when the time is right, The King of Kings will return.

God is never early

and He's never late- 

He's always right on time and 

His plans for you are good.

This was printed on our church bulletin this morning.

It was as if God was once again saying-  

"I am in control. 

"I know what's going on. 

"You don't have to worry. 

"Everything will work out in the right time."

As if that wasn't enough, the sermon today was a wonderful one on receiving the blessings of God.  According to Deuteronomy 28:1, there are two things that you must do to receive the blessings of God- TRUST and OBEY. 

Christ has really been driving this home to me lately.  Trust His Word, and Obey what He says. It is such a simple concept, so why is it so hard to do it? 

I remember the words of Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 

As a Follower of Christ, I know that I am not supposed to worry about the future.  But as a human being, that's all I seem to do.  Christ wants me to live in peace.  I can't do that if I'm living in the human realm of worry and fear.  I MUST rise above that, and seek to live FOR Him.  I can't keep putting my human reasoning ahead of what I know Christ wants for me.


I shall leave you with the words of an old hymn-

When we walk with the Lord, in the light of His Word, 

what a glory He sheds on our way, 

while we do His good will, He abides with us still,

and with all who will TRUST and OBEY.

TRUST and OBEY, for there's NO other way, 

to be happy in Jesus, but to TRUST and OBEY!

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, 

But His smile quickly drives it away; 

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,

can abide while we TRUST and OBEY.

Not a burden we bear, Not a sorrow we share. 

but our toil He doth richly repay; 

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, 

but is blessed if we TRUST and OBEY.

But we never can prove the delights of His love 

until all on the altar we lay; 

For the favor He shows, and the love He bestows, 

Are for them who will TRUST and OBEY.

Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet, 

or we'll walk by His side in the way. 

What He says we will do, Where He sends we will go; 

NEVER FEAR, ONLY TRUST and OBEY.

 

Disappointed

Slightly Disappointed, but yet at peace
Christ can see the Forest, I only see the trees
What does my life hold? How should I know?
I’m trusting in my Savior, and He has said ‘No’.
Or has He? Truth will reveal itself later,
Could it be, that He has something greater?
Slightly Disappointed, but yet at peace
Christ can see the Forest, I only see the trees

This is an original poem that the Lord gave me today.

It came out of the disappointment of finding out that 

I wouldn't be able to go to a music conference/class 

I have been wanting to go to for several years.

These are the words that the Lord spoke to my heart. 

Yes, I am still disappointed, 

but I know that He has me in His Will, 

and as the poem says, He can see the Forest!  

So I will trust Him!