FEARING GOD
---by John W. Yates II
A God before whom we need not have fear is not God.
Fear of God is necessary.
From the beginning to the end of the Bible we're told to fear the Lord.
Over and over again the Bible stories tell us of the appropriateness, the rightness, the need of fearing the Lord.
We can never fully appreciate the love of God unless we've learned the fear of God.
What it means to fear God.
First, it means to be in complete and total awe of God.
Secondly, it's to have deep reverence for God.
- The ancient Jewish tradition honored God so highly they wouldn't even speak God's name aloud.
- When you fear God you want to please God.
The sweeter side of fear.
Holy fear is a loving anxiety to please the one who loves you more than anyone else can ever love you.
To fear God is to stand in awe of God; to be afraid of God is to run away from him.
Moving from the fright of God to the fear of God allows us to begin to understand the love of God and feel a humble gratitude towards God.
Fearing God in the right way and loving God go hand in hand.
The right kind of holy fear will drive out the fear of other things and other people.
It's a long process to get to the place where you have no fear.
How do we learn the fear of the Lord?
The fear of God comes from God; God will put his fear into our hearts.
Reflect upon the character of God through reading the Scriptures.
Study the lives of believers; learn from others who have learned to know God.
Open your eyes to the wonders of creation.
Practice worship that recognizes the transcendence of Almighty God.
Conclusion
Our joy in God will be proportionate to our fear of God.
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