WHAT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD?
A belief in our hearts about who God is and his character that prompts total voluntary surrender and recognizable action. (Julia’s definition)
Beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7)
A tester of the heart (Deut 8:2)
A requirement for the House of Israel, those who call him “My God” (Deut 10:12-13)
The LORD’s fear is IN thee, a spirit within us, a facet of the spirit of the LORD (Is 11:2-3)
A spiritual boundary – either you have it or you don’t, no in the middle of the river. (Josh 2:25)
Recognizable by others (Joseph – Gen 41:38, Joshua – Num 27:18 Daniel – Dan 4:18)
The opposite of fearing man and obeying man’s voice. (1 Sam 15:24)
A required dedicated choice to change and come out from among the heathen and be set apart. (2 Kings 17:34)
Clean – morally, ethically, physically & spiritually; Enduring forever (Ps 19:9)
The knowledge of the holy (Prov 9:10)
A fountain of life, Departing from the snares of death (Prov 14:27)
A posture of the heart (Jer 5:24)
HOW DO WE GET THE FEAR OF THE LORD?
Order: Must first:
Receive God’s words
Hide His commandments in your heart
Incline your ear to wisdom
Apply your heart to understanding
Criest after knowledge
Lift up your voice for understanding
Seek and search for understanding
THEN: you shall understand the Fear of the LORD! (Prov 2:5)
Obedience to all God’s commandments and statutes (Ps 111:10)
Walk in his ways (Deut 10:12-13)
Choice to fear him (Joshua 24:15, 1 Sam 12:14)
Love him, serve him with ALL your heart/mind/soul (no compromise allowed) (Deut 10:12-13)
Learn by doing – submitting to and obeying God’s word (Deut 14:23)
Write out a copy of the law (Deut 17:18)
Read God’s word daily (Deut 17:19)
Keep the words of the Law & to do them (Deut 17:19)
1) Hear 2) Learn 3) Choose heart attitude of FotL 4) Observe to do (Deut 31:12, Ps 34:11)
Gather the people together to hear and learn and fear the Lord together (Deut 31:12)
Serve the LORD with sincerity (heart attitude) and truth (mental state) (Josh 24:14)
Put away false gods, leave & cleave (Josh 24:14)
Fearing God over fearing man, listening to God and not man (1 Sam 15:24)
Not rebel against the word of the LORD (1 Sam 12:14)
Possible to fall on a geopolitical area (1 Sam 11:7)
Choose to obey God’s commandments, plain and simple. (Lev 19:32, Deut 6:2)
Love God with all our heart, soul, and might (Deut 6:5)
Teach God’s words diligently to our children (Deut 6:7)
Talk about God’s commandments when we sit, walk, at bedtime, and when we get up. (Deut 6:7)
Dare not despise all his reproofs (Prov 1:29)
What we do with our hands and what we chose to view with our eyes and how we decorate our homes and the places of authority we hold will be determined by the principles of God’s commandments (Deut 6:8-9)
Giving our tithes and first fruits as God commands (Deut 14:23)
Praise and glorify Him. (Ps 22:23)
Taught by the LORD, from the heart (Is 29:13
BENEFITS TO FEARING THE LORD
Love wisdom and instruction (Prov 1:7)
Thy days may be prolonged (Deut 6:2)
Protection from obeying God’s instructions, rhema and logos (Ex 9:20)
Brings unity to people (1 Sam 11:7)
Government authorities will follow God’s word (1 Sam 12:14)
Favor, Elevated to high positions, opportunity to speak into authorities lives and influence them. (1 Kings 18:3)
People know they can trust those who fear the LORD. (1 Kings 18:3)
Supernatural manifestations (**suggestive of Elijah’s spiritual translocations were commonly known – 1 Kings 18:12)
Access and influence with others who fear the Lord (2 Kings 4:1)
Our immediate family down to the 3rd generation will be blessed, receive mercy & righteousness, and spared unnecessary hardship (2 kings 4:1, Ps 103:17)
Ps 112
God shall deliver you out of the hand of ALL your enemies (2 Kings 17:39)
God will terrorize our enemies instead of them terrorizing us (2 Chron 14:14)
Enemies are at peace with us because they know they are out-powered (2 Chron 17:10)
Understanding God’s secrets that are only given to His inner circle (Ps 25:14)
Getting to see His covenant & friendship in action. (Ps 25:14)
Receiving his special loving attention. (Ps 33:18)
Will dwell safely and be quiet from fear of evil (Prov 1:29)
Healing in your abdomen and bones (Prov 3:7-8)
Grows humility which leads to honor (Prov 15:33)
Riches, honor, and life (Prov 22:4)
Enemies will be terrified and hide (Is 2:10, 19)
Stability, strength of salvation, & treasure. (Is 33:6, Luke 6:45)
The LORD shall lift up a standard against the enemy. (Is 59:19)
Potential to turn away God’s judgment, personally and nationally (Jer 26;19)
The LORD will destroy their idols and images, removing the ruling authorities of our enemies (Ez 30;13)
Those who DO and TEACH the commandments will be called great in the Kingdom (Matt 5:17-20)
Your agape love will become HOT! (Matt 24:12)
When the whole are operating in fear of the Lord, God will give the church rest, comfort, and multiplication. (Acts 9:31)
Cornelius was the first gentile to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit because he feared the LORD (Acts 10:22, 44)
The strong delusion will be lifted off us (2 Thess 2:10-13; 1 Jn 1:8-9, 1 Jn 2:3-4)
Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him (1 John 3:22)
The Spirit will dwell in and abide in and we in Him (1 John 3:24)
We will love the LORD with all our hearts, mind, soul, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves (1 John 5:2)
WHO IS TO HAVE THE FEAR OF THE LORD?
You, your sons, and son’s sons. (Essentially, perpetually everyone in every generation to generation, with the men specifically highlighted). (Deut 6:2)
Israel and the seed of Israel (Deut 10:12-13, Ps 22:23)
Kings, which includes believers in Jesus Christ (Deut 17:19, Rev 1:6, 5:10)
House of Levi…the priesthood (Ps 135:20; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6
Men, women, children, and strangers within thy gates (Deut 31:12)
Those whom God has chosen as his peculiar treasure (Deut 14:2, 1 Peter 2:9)
All the earth! God desires to give the whole world His benefits (Ps 33:8)
WHY SHOULD WE FEAR THE LORD?
Because “I am the LORD” – WHO God is, which has never changed and never will (Lev 19:32)
That all people of the earth will know the mighty hand of God. (Josh 4:24)
Because we want the benefits, like prolonging our days and God-fearing national leaders (Deut 6;2; 1 Sam 12:14)
Because God commands us to do so. It’s requirement to receive blessings, not a suggestion. (Deut 6:2, 8:6, 10:12-13, Deut 28:1)
So the Lord may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest (Deut 14:29)
We can give reverential fear with blessings or terrified fear with curses – either way we will give God the respect He is due (Lev 26, Deut 28)
Depart from evil (Job 28;28, Prov 16:6)
God created everything, giving the oceans boundaries they are not allowed to cross. He gave us boundaries too. (Jer 5:22)
Protect us from becoming complacent when we’re surrounded by his goodness (Hosea 3:5)
It’s an efficient evangelism tool! (Jonah 1:16)
So you know you are in the faith. Paul warned those who have sinned that they better have repented and changed or else they will not be spared. (2 Cor 13)
Those who fear the LORD will be saved from hellfire (Mal 3:16)
Magnifies the name of the LORD Jesus (Acts 19:17)
WHEN?
All the days of your life, no vacations (Deut 6:2)
Forever (Joshua 4:24)
WHERE?
In the land where you possess (Deut 6:1)
In your house, where you walk, in your places of influence – everywhere! (Deut 6:7-10)
Where God, not man, chooses to place His name (Deut 14:23)
In the courts (2 Chron 19:9)
CHARACTERISTICS OF SOMEONE WHO HAS FEAR OF THE LORD
They will love wisdom & instruction (Prov 1:7)
It’s something they DO, produces visible actions (Ex 9:20, Jonah 1:9)
They will be healthy. (Ex 15:26)
They will rise up before the hoary head (Lev 19:32)
They will honor the face of the old man (Lev 19:32)
Fear their God (Lev 19:32)
It will go well with them and they will increase mightily (Deut 6:3)
They will serve God and swear by His name (Deut 6:13)
They will do that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD (Deut 6:18)
They will cast out all their enemies from before them (Deut 6:19, 2 Kings 17:39)
They will give tithes and firstfruit offerings (Deut 14:23)
Their heart will not be lifted up above their brethren (Deut 17:20)
They will not allow their political situation to prevent them from wholeheartedly fearing the Lord (2 Kings 17:28, Daniel 1:8)
They will be wealthy, and not just in finances (2 Chron 14:14)
The eye of the LORD will be upon them (Ps 33:18)
Carry God’s glory in a way that authorities will see and fear (Ps 102:15)
They will bless the LORD (Ps 135:20)
They will present themselves to the LORD with worship birthed from holiness, approaching Hiim with honor and reverential fear instead of disrespectful casualness. (Ps 96:9)
Hate evil, pride, arrogancy, the evil way, & the froward mouth (Prov 8:13)
A strong confidence, his children shall have a place of refuge. (Prov 14:26)
Shall abide satisified, not be visited with evil (Prov 19:23)
Seek out fellowship & conversation with one another, meditating upon His name (Mal 3:16)
Loving righteousness, hating iniquity, living with an increased anointing with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Heb 1:9)
No mental health issues (James 1:22, 2 Thess 2:11)
We will love the LORD with all our hearts, mind, soul, and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves (1 John 5:2)
They will NOT:
o Serve other gods (Deut 6:14)
o Tempt God by complaining, questioning His power or protection (Ex 17:7, Deut 9:22, Matt 4:7, Luke 4:12)
o Forget God that brought them out of bondage (Deut 6:12)
o Fear man, people pleasing, trying to fit in (1 Sam 15:24, 2 Kings 17:33)
o Blame others &/or the devil, making excuses, and failing to take responsibility for your own choices (1 Sam 15:24)
o Compromise (1 Sam 15:24, 2 Kings 17:33)
o Be double-minded (2 Kings 17:33)
o Perform religious rituals with an outward show of obedience according to man’s standards but not from the heart or following God’s standards. (2 Kings 17:32, Isaiah 29:13)
o Iniquity is present (2 Chron 19:7)
o Behavior & attitude is influenced by someone’s position or wealth (2 Chron 19:7)
o Take bribes (2 Chron 19:7)
Blessings that will overtake them:
o Blessed wherever they are, in the prison or palace, city or country (Deut 28:3
o Children, crops, & cattle blessed (Deut 28:4)
o Baskets & kneading bowls (Deut 28:5)
o Arrivals & Departures (Deut 28:6)
o The enemies that rise up will be scattered in 7 directions (Deut 28:7)
o Their buying & selling & bank accounts will be blessed (Deut 28:8)
o Everything they set their hand to shall be blessed (Deut 28:8)
o Influential in society & others will revere you (Deut 28:10)
o Plenteous in goods, in children, in cattle, and in the ground (Deut 28:11)
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILING TO FEAR THE LORD:
God’s anger will be kindled against thee and destroy thee from off the face of the earth (Deut 6:15, 8:20)
Have tormentors sent upon you (Matt 18:35)
Blessings will end up destroying you while those who fear God enjoy them (Numbers 11:33)
Fellowshipping with those who have no part in the LORD will cause our children to cease from fearing the LORD. (Josh 22:25)
Beasts will multiply in the land and kill people (2 Kings 17:25, Lev 26:22)
Your wealth will be taken away from you and you will lose your battles (2 Chron 14:14)
You will live in dread & terror (2 Chron 14:14)
The years of the wicked shall be shortened (Prov 10:27)
Any wealth will always bring trouble (Prov 15:16)
God’s enemies are those whose iniquities have separated them from the LORD! (Is 59:19)
Their own wickedness shall correct them, their backslidings shall reprove them, it will be an evil thing and bitter to forsake the LORD by not having his fear IN them. (Jer 2:19)
Your iniquities have turned away these things. Your sins withhold good things from you (Jer 5:25)
Body & mind ravaged by diseases of Egypt (Deut 7:15, Deut 28:60, 2 Thess 2:11)
God’s curses upon those who disobey God’s commandments as listed in Lev 26 and Deut 28
o Anxiety, phobias, fear of all types (Lev 26:16, 17, 36-37)
o Autoimmune / wasting / inflammation diseases (Lev 26:16, Deut 28:22)
o Sensation of burning / fever (Lev 26:16, Deu 28:22)
o Eyesight (spiritual & literal) consumed (Lev 26:16)
o Sorrow of heart (uncircumcised, covered heart) (Lev 26:16, Lam 3:65)
o Seed shall be sown in vain, not producing a harvest (Lev 26:16, Deut 28:38-40)
o God will oppose you (Lev 26:17)
o Be slain before your enemies (Lev 26:17)
o Those who hate you will rule over you (Lev 26:17)
o Pride of power will be broken (Lev 26:19)
o Heaven as iron, earth as brass (Lev 26:19, Deut 28:23)
o Land & trees shall not yield increase (Lev 26:20)
o Seven times more plagues according to your sins (Lev 26:21)
o Beasts will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle, make you few in number, your highways desolate (Lev 26:22)
o Punish you & chastise you seven times for your sins (Lev 26:24, 28)
o A sword upon those that quarrel with God’s covenant (Lev 26:25)
o Pestilence upon those gathered in cities (Lev 26:25)
o Staff of bread broken (Famine), eat but always hungry (Lev 26:26)
o Eating flesh of your children (Lev 26:29)
o Destroy high places, cutting down your images (Lev 26:30)
o Cities wasted, Sanctuaries desolated, not receive our prayers (Lev 26:31)
o Pine away in their iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers (Lev 26:39)
o Wherever you are – city or country (Deut 28:16)
o Your finances & provision (Deut 28:17)
o Infertility (Deut 28:18)
o Your children, your crops, your animals (Deut 28:18)
o Your arrivals and departures (Deut 28:19)
o People will curse, vex, & rebuke you for everything you try (Deut 28:20)
o Pestilence will cleave to you (Deut 28:21)
o Smite with the sword (war), dehydration, mildew (Deut 28:22)
o No rain; dust storms (Deut 28:24)
o Scattered among the Kingdoms of the earth (Deut 28:25)
o Dead body left out in the open without proper burial (Deut 28:26)
o Boils, tumors, hemorrhoids, scabs, itch that cannot be healed (Deut 28:27)
o Mental health disorders, spiritual and physical blindness, Confusion of heart. (Deut 28:28)
o Groping around trying to find your way but never prospering, constantly being spoiled, & oppressed (Deut 28:29)
o Another person sleeping with your fiancé or spouse (Deut 28:30)
o Bankruptcy (Deut 28:30)
o Building houses & planting vineyards but not getting to own or enjoy them (Duet 28:30)
o Resources that can produce provision will be destroyed in front of you with no recourse (Deut 28:31)
o Children will go into foster care / adoption (Deut 28:32)
o Pain in the knees, legs. (Deut 28:35)
o Wounds that won’t heal all over the body (Deut 28:35)
o Brought into slavery & idolatry in other nations (Deut 28:36)
o Not enjoy your children, be sent into captivity (Deut 28:41)
o Stranger in your land will grow in influence & authority while you are humbled (Deut 28:43)
o Strangers will lend to you with interest, making you the tail (Deut 28:44)
WHO the curses land on:
o Makes any idol & puts it in a secret place (Deut 27:15)
o Treats his parents with contempt & dishonor (Deut 27:16)
o Moves his neighbours boundary marker (Deut 27:17)
o Causes the blind, physically & spiritually, to wander out of the way (Deut 27:18)
o Perverts justice due to the stranger, fatherless, & widow (Deut 27:19)
o He that lieth with his father’s wife or mother-in-law (Deut 27:20, 23)
o Those practicing bestiality (Deut 27:21)
o Incest (Deut 27:22)
o Those who attack their neighbor secretly (Deut 27:24)
o Takes a reward to slay an innocent person (Deut 27:25)
o Those who disagree with God’s law and do not put them into practice. (Deut 27:26)
What’s the GOOD NEWS?
Lev 26:40 – If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.
Romans 3:21-26 – 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Galatians 3:13 – Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
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