Monday, October 24, 2011

Fear of the Lord

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Isaiah 33:6
And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure.

Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea 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.

AS much as we might not want to believe these verses, they are truth. It is healthy to fear the Lord. After all, He is the Creator of all.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

So, how do we reconcile the above verse with all the others telling us to fear?

The answer is SIN. Although as Christians, Jesus sacrifice paid for our sins, we are still in this world with the consequences of sin. Sin is separation from God. We fear God, and need to fear God, because the world we live in is full of sin and the deeds and temptations of sin.

The first place fear, being afraid, is counted in the Bible is after the fall. Adam was afraid of God because Adam had lost his right standing - righteousness- with God.

Genesis 3:10
And (Adam) he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

A healthy dose of the fear of the Lord helps keep us from going toward sin. The closer we walk with the Lord, the more this fear of the Lord will move into the holy of understanding.

1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Revere God, walk in His love, and rejoice for HE overcame the world.

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