THE FEAR OF GOD

Heb 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

Fearing God sounds so negative to most folks. But I have found it to be the most positive of attitudes one can have. An experience early in my life caused me to have an appreciation for fearing the authority God placed over my life. My father gave me strict instructions concerning a route I was to travel with a friend to a youth meeting. I was not to detour from the specified route my father laid out. Because I feared my dad, I obeyed his instructions even though tempted to do otherwise by my companion. The detour would have been faster, but the path that Dad had given was safer. Consequently, I avoided a riotous and dangerous situation that could have cost my life and the life of my friend. Fear of the authority God put over my life was a good thing.

The only alternative to not fearing God is to fear man and that is never good. The fear of man leads to sin, ungodly alliances, and eternal damnation. The fear of God leads to salvation and obedience that produces good fruit and blessings. The book of Proverbs teaches that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. Liberal Pharisee-ism has stolen the key to knowledge from many today. In the name of liberality they circumvent the fear of God. It perverts the Gospel message and turns it into a religious experience rather than a conversion to Christ. It perverts the worship of our Lord by its carnal speech and music. It perverts the redemption of a soul into a “feel good about yourself” experience which is hollow and meaningless. Why? Because man by nature “will not have this man (Christ) to rule over us.” No fear of God.

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Not a creature was stirring, not even a RAT.

Pr 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

I think we give too much attention to what our enemies think than what the Lord thinks. I believe the Gospel has been watered down by pastors and evangelists because they are trying in there own power and way to reach the lost. While the endeavor of fulfilling the great commission is noble, modern preaching has compromised the message of salvation so much the lost end up in confusion and in more darkness after they have heard it.

I see a great need for pleasing God over making peace with our enemies. Our text promises that if we will be faithful to Him, He will take care of the rest. I believe we should enjoy our time in church, cherish our fellowship with brothers and sisters in the Lord and “have a good time” in God’s house, but when it turns into a fleshly party for the sake of entertaining the lost, COUNT ME OUT!

Until we get back to preaching the message of Christ with clarity and conviction, letting the “chips fall where they may,” we are not going to witness any “rats stirring.” Oh, the numbers may be down. We may not get to brag about the people who came to the altar. But when a soul gets under the conviction of the Holy Spirit of God, we will see our churches filled with men and women who truly love God.

“It easy to lead the church into apostasy, it’s not so easy to lead them out.”