Faith p3 Fear God

With the previous two episodes we have gone over two aspects of faith. We first examined belief in what we hope for. We then discussed trust. These two elements are the very essence of faith. The next aspect we are going to discuss is the fear of God. So does God want us trembling in fear when we pray to Him? Should we be reluctant to even approach God with prayer? When we fall short of the glory of God like Romans tells us is God waiting to punish us?

The word fear is used in different ways in the bible.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Fear

FEAR - a feeling of reverence, awe, and respect, or an unpleasant emotion caused by a sense of danger. Fear may be directed toward God or humankind, and it may be either healthy or harmful.

In numerous places in the bible we are told to fear God. When a believer is told to fear God it is to reverence Him and be in a state of awe.

Understanding who God is and that He is involved in our lives should create humility a desire to please Him and is the proof of believing the evidence or assurance of God. We are also sure that we trust the living God to do what He says that He will do if we have that awe and respect of God.

Daniel 6:25–27 “Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end. He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

Here a king who was not a follower of the Living God commanded that the God of the Bible be feared due to the power that was displayed while Daniel was in the Lion’s den.

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Here having an awe of God is the beginning of knowledge.

So we are told to fear God and then we see other verses that tell us not to fear God

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: Be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; Yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

This is a verse of comfort. God says not to have the unpleasant emotion that is caused by a sense of danger because His is so much bigger than anything that can be in our life. The book of Romans also tells us that nothing separates us from the love of God.

It is because of the healthy fear of the Lord that we are able to not worry about dangers that we will face.

God is who He says that He is.

It takes both belief and trust in God to take comfort in verses like Psalm 37:23–24 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: And he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: For the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.”

Here is a promise from God to hold up a person when you allow Him to direct your steps. So God is not waiting to punish us. He promises to reveal Himself in a mighty way to those who trust Him with obedience (the pinnacle of trust).

It takes a fear of the Lord to have a beginning of knowledge which will allow you to let God direct your path.

If you allow God to direct your path then you will be blessed. Psalm 37:4 “Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

God will give you a new heart, direct you on what to desire, and then He will give you what you are desiring.

To have enough faith in God to allow Him to actively make changes in your life takes a serious belief in the living God. The changes that God is going to make is through your obedience. The Belief in God leads to a trust where you will go where you can’t see and do things that God has equipped you to do. An active faith in God will change your life and give you a fulfillment that you previously didn’t think was possible.