Worship is not complicated. Live a life that honors God and you will constantly be in a state of worship. I think we’ve covered that pretty well. However, I want to talk about one thing that motivates us (if it hasn’t yet, it should) to live such a life.
Fear is an amazing motivator. It can cause people to be crippled or run at a seemingly super human rate. But can fear be a motivator of a holy life? Absolutely.
Luke 12:4 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. 5But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. ◙ Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? ◙ And not one of them is forgotten before God. 7Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
FEAR – φοβέω phobeÿ fob-eh'-o
From G5401 ; to frighten, that is, (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy to be in awe of, that is, revere:—be (+ sore) afraid, fear (exceedingly), reverence.
I’ve heard this definition preached numerous times and it is always diminished to the latter; reverence. But that’s a cop-out. If the meaning of the verse was to revere than it would have been translated revere. However, it is translated fear in every translation I own.
Some of you who are reading this right now are going, we’re not supposed to be afraid of God. He’s loving and peaceful. Do you forget the avenging, killing and annihilation of the Old Testament? Do you forget His justice? Do you forget His righteousness? Do you separate the God of the OT from the God of the NT? Hebrews 13:8 “8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” ESV
When we see the vastness of God’s power and ability (to even cast into hell) it ought to bring about a sense of fear. Just as the fear of man can convince us to deny our Father, the fear of God has the power to convince us to deny the lusts of our flesh. Fear God.
Food for thought: what is the fruit of the fear of man vs. the fear of God. Feel free to list some observations.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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3 comments:
To fear God is far more fruitful in any given day,any given moment. God is so awesome with a great sense of humor. He only gave us ten laws to obey,to follow for our own good. He gave Adam,and Eve one single rule,and they couldn't even handle it,now look at what happen to us. Now I know he gave us ten. How many is a ten to the thousand rules,and laws given by man? There's so so many that no matter how much we want to think we know it all,guess what?? you can still end up in jail,prison,or get some kind of punishment because we missed it. Trust me,it happen to me. Even lawyers or people who suppose to represent us in the laws of man can,and will turn on us at some point through out our trials,our hardships,and storms of life,and guess who will be the only face you'll see? Guess whose truth will set us free? I hope your answer is God.......
Fearing God is far more fruitful because he sent his only son to die for our salvation.He forgives us when we are truly sorry,and repent of our sins. To fear God is amazing for it actually motivates us to love,to obey,to worship,and to recognise that he is the power and the glory forever.
Now,the fear of man? There should be none.at all...One of Gods great gift is our mind. Our humanly battle is always all in the head I always say. We so think we can think anything we want because no one can see our mind,but yes someone does see every thought that we allow in our mind,and believe me,ones we even think about breaking any of the ten commandments,or disobeying God,we must act really fast to fix our mind,and not to act or rely on our own understanding no matter what we think. The only fruit out of mans fear is having a deeper love and relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ...Amen.
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I would like to hear about the union of fear and great joy. Such as in Matt 28 when the woman were told to go tell the discipiles the the Lord has risen.
We often think of fear and joy being oposed to each other, but they do not seem to be.
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