The early church prospered and walked in the fear of the Lord. In Acts 9:31 it says “and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit they were multiplied”. We long to see new people coming to know Christ and finding salvation. The Lord spoke to us earlier this year about the need for the fear of the Lord to be restored within the body of Christ at this time. I have never heard a word preached on the fear of the Lord and didn’t understand truly what it meant. I knew that fear in this context is not about being afraid of the Lord but didn’t understand that it is an attitude of complete reverence in response to the revelation of God and then responding by living in submissiveness towards Him. Being obedient to Him. Being holy for he is Holy. Job 28:28 says that “Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom”. We are constantly asking God for wisdom and this is one of the keys to discovering Godly wisdom.
The Bible has much to say about the fear of the Lord when you look in to scripture. Psalm 25:12 “Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses”. v 14 “The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him: and He will show them His covenant”. Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.” Proverbs 14:26 “In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence.” Proverbs 19:23 “The fear of the Lord leads to life; And He who has it will abide in satisfaction, He will not be visited with evil” Malachi 3:16 “fear of the Lord and who meditate on His name”.
Proverbs tells us how to discover the fear of the Lord Proverbs 2 1-5 “My son if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding, yes, if you cry out for discernment and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God”.
Jesus understood the fear of the Lord. In Isaiah 11 2-3 it said about Jesus “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him, Spirit of wisdom and understanding, Spirit of Counsel and Power, the Spirit of Knowledge and the fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.” If Jesus walked in the fear of the Lord and we are called to be like him then we too should walk in the fear of the Lord.
We prayed a simple prayer that we discovered had been written when researching this topic and I encourage you to pray this prayer. “Oh God my Father, I come to you through Jesus Christ my saviour. You have put in my heart a desire for the fear of the Lord. I am asking you from now on to lead me, to teach me and to impart to me this wonderful treasure of yours – the fear of the Lord. In Jesus name. Amen”.
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