THE FEAR OF GOD

THE FEAR OF GOD

(Word of God to church by Pr. S. Visuvasam on 19 September 2010)

 

Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

-          Psalms 128:4

 

God gives a condition for all his blessings.  We need to fear God and live. Everyone has a doubt on what is that all about fearing God.

The fear that is said over here is not about the kind of fear we have towards men but the honor and respect we give to God and live in all godliness.

 

·        What should we do to fear God?

 

1. GIVE GOD WHAT HE ASKS

 

Take now thy son, thine only son Issac, whom thou lovest, and

get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon

 one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

-          Genisis 22:2

 

God gave many commands to Abraham.  He did not get counsel from anyone – not even from his wife but obeyed God explicitly.  When God asked him to sacrifice his only son, he did not question God on anything but obeyed him immediately and offered to sacrifice his son.  But God spared his son and then said,

 

Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:

for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son,

thine only son from me.

-          Genisis 22:12

 

            We need to be true in our tithe and offerings.  Giving to God what he asks is the fear of God. It is not just living a pious life but surrendering ourselves when he asks.

 

2. HATE EVIL OR SIN

 

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil

-          Proverbs 8:13

…by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

-          Proverbs 16:6

 

In this world there are many sins and evils being committed.  But to refrain from doing them and to hate them is fearing God.

God has got a way for us to live.  There could be many things that happen around us but we have to keep off from them.  God gives us grace to keep ourselves pure.

E.g. Fish in salty sea but without saltiness.

 

3. WALK RIGHTEOUSLY

 

He that walketh in his uprightness fearth the Lord….

-          Proverbs 14:2

 

We need to walk righteously and carefully.  Many times we take decisions in

haste and face troubles.   What we need to do is to wait patiently before God and not be perverse.  Our walk also talks about our character. 

 

How is our character before? 

It should be an exemplary life and a model for others.

 

4. NOT TO OPRESS OTHERS OR DO INJUSTICE

 

Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God:

for I am the Lord your God.

-          Leviticus  25:17

 

Whatever work we do, or say something we should put ourselves in other’s stead and then do or say.  If it is not going to offend or oppress others or be an injustice to them then we can go ahead.

When we live so, God will bless us.  This is called fearing God - living without oppressing others.

 

5. HONOR THE ELDERLY

 

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man,

 and fear thy God: I am the Lord.

-          Leviticus 19:32

 

We see here that we need to honor the elders.  This is called fearing God.  The value of elderly people is known only when they are no more.  When we fail to respect them then it shows we do not fear God.

            We have to do to them all that they require and honor them.  Only then it would be a blessing for us.

 

What are the blessings we receive when we fear God?

 

1. BE PRAISED

…but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

-          Proverbs 31:30

 

Everyone likes to be praised.  For us to be praised we need to fear God. When we fear God, praise will come in search of us; we do not have to go in search of it.

 

2. BE PROTECTED

…for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.

-          Ecclesiastes 7:18

 

When we fear God, he will protect us from all things that befall us.

 

3. RECEIVE WISDOM

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and

the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

-          Proverbs 9:10

 

God gives us his wisdom and knowledge.  It is a divine wisdom to know how to deal things and talk.

 

4. RECEIVE GREAT GRACE

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his

mercy toward them that fear him.

-          Psalms 103:11

 

His grace and mercy will be there only for those who fear God.

 

5. BE EDIFIED

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and

Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and

 in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

-          Acts 9:31

 

When we fear God we will be edified and grow more in him.

 

6. RICHES, HONOR AND LIFE

By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life.

-          Proverbs 22:4

 

God gives us riches, honor and life when we fear God.  This is the fulfillment of his word.

GOD BLESS YOU.