FEAR OF THE LORD - (September 23, 2012)

When I sat in the presence of the Lord for His word to be revealed, he graciously spoke with me in a confirmed manner to give this message to the Church.  I heard a voice of Him saying, “Fear the Lord” and after that God eventually led me to prepare a message regarding His fear.  Though it might not be an encouraging message for the reader but a message which pinpoints the shortcomings and eventually lead to gain His blessings.

Thus this will be a message like that of a check list which enables us to check whether we really fear the Lord in the right way.  What does one mean when someone says Fear of the Lord? Do we really have the fear of the Lord?  We are now going to check all these with this message.  Proverbs 1:7 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

After preparing this message, I myself understood how far I need to struggle to prove I fear God.  I want you to hear this message more eagerly than a Promising message since this is the beginning of all the blessings which we will be receiving very soon.  When we rectify our faults when God corrects us and walk accordingly, the blessings we were eagerly expecting so far will come in hand very soon.

1.    DEPART FROM EVIL

Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way.
There are many incidences recorded in the Bible of how to fear God.  Only God alone can testify about us whether we fear Him greatly or not.  The word “Evil” here pinpoints the things which God hates in our lives.  And also “evil” is the thing which is not pleased in God’s sight.  So we need to hate things what God hates.  Proverbs 16:6 says, “By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.”

We are now living in the evil-natured world and we see evil things happening right before our own eyes.  We are supposed to stand against and oppose those evil things.  Once a man well known to me took charge as a president in a particular company.  He came to know of all the evil people working in that company.  He prayed to the Lord before taking any action and he was instructed by God of not to oppose them but to wait for His deeds.  So God wants us to have no part with evil men and if we do so we can be very sure that we do not have the fear of the Lord.

Likewise we should not have the Spirit of Compromising.  If someone does what is wrong in the sight of the Lord knowingly and God was very merciful to him and not accused him, it does not mean that we can also do the same thing.  God will give time for the person to realize his fault.  That person cannot end up saying what I do is right since God did not say any word against it.

We might not involve ourselves with big sins.  But when we allow small sins in our life it will create a big impact preventing God’s blessings to reach us.  In fact there is no small or big sin in the sight of God because He is sinless and perfectly Holy.  If we are very careful in our ways the blessings of the Lord will flow one by one in our lives.
Prayer:  Lord, there are many evil things happening around me.  Please let your gracious Hand be with me always and protect me.  I want to fear You more by hating what is evil in your sight.  Please help me to do so.  Thank You.

2.    OBEYING THE LORD

Genesis 22:12 – And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
We see about Abraham a person who was chosen by God from an unknown religion.  Abraham lived in a period where there was no Bible or other spiritual books to know about God unlike us.  He only believed God who wanted Abraham to lead a testimonial life.  When he was called by God to go to a different nation he submitted and left his home without knowing where he was going.  He took his entire family with him for the journey.  But God at this point did not say Abraham feared Him.  He asked Abraham to give Him his only son as a sacrifice.  Only then He acknowledged Abraham feared Him.

So when someone fears God he will definitely obey Him.  Perhaps you might be a regular churchgoer and God would have spoken many things with you for which you would not have obeyed entirely. You know for sure that God would like you to obey but yet you would have taken things for granted.  A delay in obedience is equivalent to disobedience.  So ask yourselves as to whether you have obeyed to God’s words fully.  It might be surprising to read this check list but God is expecting obedience for every word of His.
Prayer:  Dear Lord, I have forgotten many words of yours and have not obeyed.  Now I have realized my mistake and really want to obey all your words.  Please give good testimony about me.  Thank You.

3.    WALKING UPRIGHT

Proverbs 14:2 – He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
When Bible says upright walk it does not mean a calm and gentle walk as it is in the Tamil translation.  It does not also mean that walking speedily is wrong.  This refers to taking a sound decision after consulting God with patience.  Never do things in a hasty manner.  Some people say they will never sleep before they do a particular task.  It is good to finish a task at the right time but only to be done with the help of the Lord.

The verse also says, “He who is perverse in His ways despises Him.”  So we should not be like a person who despises God by taking decision on our own in a hasty manner but a person who hears the Word of the Lord and doing things according to the Will of the Lord.
Prayer:  Lord, I now understood that without having You before taking any decision might lead to destruction and I will end up despising You.  Lord I fear You and will walk according to your Will.  Kindly give a good testimony regarding me.  Thank You.

4.    HONORING OTHERS

Leviticus 19:32 – You shall rise before the gray-headed and honor the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the Lord.
As this verse suggests we need to honor the face of an elderly person.  It just simply means honoring others and God will definitely testify about you that you fear Him a lot.

Once I happened to meet a friend of mine who is well advanced in years while I was in America.  A young boy came next to him and called him by name.  Later they said this is the culture of the Americans.  But I do not think this is acceptable in the sight of God.  We need to honor a person for the position God has kept them in and also for the advancement of his age.

The Lord is expecting respect not only with the family members but also with others.  It is very common among families nowadays not respecting the in laws.  But the Lord is expecting respect for every person for their advancement of age and position.  This is the key for you to receive the blessings.  Perhaps some people might be younger at age but God would have kept them in a good position.  God is expecting to honor them and respect them too.  If you do not honor your parents or in-laws or any people who deserve it and if they end their life with despair then that would not be a blessing for you.
Prayer:  Dear Lord, perhaps I might not have honored others or my family as you would have told us.  Kindly forgive my sins.  I now decide to honor everyone who deserves it.  Thank you.

5.    HELPING OTHERS

Leviticus 19:14 – You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 25:17 – Therefore you shall not oppress one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the Lord your God.
Some people might not have a heart to help others.  They will simply say with a hardened heart as how they suffered to get a particular thing others should also suffer for the same.  God’s children should not be like that.

I know a General Manager of IOB bank who helped many youngsters to get placed in his bank till he died.  I believe God would have blessed his generations in an abundant manner.  We should also be like him helping others as much as possible.

James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”  When we fail to do a certain thing knowing that we can do it is a sin.  Perhaps we might think we will do it later and then forget it.  What does this verse refer to when it says we should not put a stumbling block?  We need to do good always.  We might face some trouble for doing good but God knows the intentions of each heart and He will reward accordingly.  God will question us if we do not help others as much as we can afford.  If we fail to help a person whom God sends to us then God will help that person some other way but He will accuse us for not helping him.
Prayer:  Lord, please use me to help others.  I now come to know that it is the fear of the Lord to do so.  Kindly enable me to help many people.  Thank You.

6.    DOING GOD’S WILL IN MONEY

Leviticus 25:36 – Take no usury or interest from him; but fear your God, that your brother may live with you.
We normally do not give much importance regarding money issues.  God expects us not to take interest from any person and it is considered sin in His sight.  Perhaps you might say I have put certain amount in a bank which gives me interest periodically.  I do not say that is wrong since this interest is from the government.  We need to follow the instruction of God regarding money issues and should seem blameless in God’s sight.

The moment we receive money we should not seek to spend it off quickly.  You need to set aside some portion of money for God.  Some money should go for the saving purpose also.  God has given us wisdom to act wisely.  Like ant which saves food for the summer we need also to save at the right time.
I heard many people say they have no money for her daughter’s marriage.  I would ask them what they did till their daughter attain her marriageable age.  If they would have started saving a 100 bugs a month at the time of her birth they would have saved some considerable amount of money at the time of her marriage.  This is what is called God-expecting prudence.  Being God’s child we need to walk with wisdom.  Some people have the habit of buying whatever they see and waste the money.  If the Lord has given you good income then okay but you should not spend it unnecessarily.  We need to earn money in a right way and spend it in the right way and thus fear God and walk according to it.
Prayer:  Lord it is your money that you are giving us.  Please give me Your wisdom to use it properly.  Thank You.

7.    TREAT OTHERS LOVINGLY

Leviticus 25:43 – You shall not rule over him with rigor, but you shall fear your God.
From this verse it is understood that we need to treat others lovingly and it is the outcome of the fear of the Lord.  When you approach others with love there would not be any root of hatredness and evil thoughts.  Do not lead others harshly just because you have authority.

Parents have all authority over their children but yet they should not use it to treat the children in a harsh way.  At the same time parents need to be strict on their children too in order to correct them but only with love.  Likewise masters or managers have all authority over their servants or workers but God wants to them to treat with love.
Prayer:  Lord, I come to know that I need to treat others with love even though I have authority.  I decide to do as you say.  Thank you.

8.    HOLY TALK

Psalm 36:3 - The words of his mouth is wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.
We can clearly see from the talk of someone whether he walk Holy with God or not.  God expects even our talks to be holy.  We are not supposed to be talkative and sometimes we need to stop talking unnecessarily.  There is a proverb which says staying in the wilderness is far better than to stay with a quarrelsome woman.

So let your talk be holy and limited.  People who listen to our talk should not be led to sin but should be drawn to holiness.
Prayer:  Lord, I have come to know that even mere talking can lead to unholiness.  I now decide to talk necessary words.  Thank You for making me walk in fear of you.