Bread From Heaven

Armor of God - Fear The Lord

Dear Heavenly Father,
Teach us to fear and reverence you as we should. Protect us from the evil one. Let us all learn something new from this study. Add to our knowledge and understanding of you. Give me the words you want me to write. Thank you for your Word.
In Jesus Christ’s name,
Amen

What is fear?

I Googled the definition of fear and this is the first definition I saw. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

This website mentions the following from a Bible Dictionary.
https://steppesoffaith-56895.medium.com/what-does-it-mean-to-fear-the-lord-79ef2...
“In the Greek language, fear has many different translations. Phobos, which is where “phobia” comes from, means dread or terror. But the translation eulabeia means caution, reverence, apprehension but “especially holy fear.” A slightly different version of eulabeia is eulabeomai, which means “to beware” and act with reverence produced by holy fear, which we see in Hebrews 11:7.
“By faith, Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household.”
The translation phobeo also means “reverential fear” as we see in Mark 6:20 and Ephesians 5:33. Notice the difference between phobos and phobeo. One word means terror, and the other means reverential fear.”

STATIC

A Dream of God's Wrath  (E) This is about a dream I had a few weeks ago. #2248289 by Marvelous Friend

STATIC

Surprise! God Didn't Know You!  (E) Written for no dialog contest #2249343 by Marvelous Friend

I wrote these two items previously and they go along with this study. If we have the proper reverential fear of God, we do not have to fear his wrath. Either way, it it wise to have a reverential fear of God and respect for him.

By the way, I wouldn't object if you were to write a review for those two things.😉

👑FEAR THE LORD!👑

“He who fears God has nothing else to fear.” Charles Spurgeon

When you fear God, you fear nothing else, but if you do not fear God, you fear everything else. (Oswald Chambers)

Proverbs 14:26-27

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

https://counselingoneanother.com/2019/05/28/22-benefits-of-fearing-god/
This link takes you to a list of benefits of fearing God.

What does it mean to Fear the Lord?

I have a few different thoughts on this. For one, if you are not saved by His grace and Believe in His only Begotten Son, the Bible says you are condemned.
John 3:16-18 ▼

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

What is this condemnation?

Why is someone condemned in God's eyes? It is when we are guilty of sin and reject God's ways.
John 3:19-20 ▼

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

What does it mean to be condemned?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/condemned
Being condemned means pronounced guilty and sentenced to punishmen, especially sentenced to death. It can also means declared to be reprehensible, wrong, or evil, and officially declared to be unfit for use.

https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/condemn.html
Here is the definition from a Bible dictionary. It basically means the same thing, but with implications of utter rejection from God.

Romans 6:20 ▼

For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

Guilty!

What is the penalty for being guilty?

Before we accept Christ as our savior, we are condemned to death under God's law. We have good reason to fear when we are not under the Grace of God by the blood of Christ in faith.
Romans 6:23 ▼

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In this situation we fear God's judgement because he has the power to take the life of your soul.
Matthew 10:28 ▼

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

In this situation, it is a fear like the Israelites would have had of their taskmasters.
Exodus 1:9-14 ▼

9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

This is the type of fear that makes the sinner want to flee from God's presence. This is the type of fear Adam and Eve had when they fled from him and hid in the garden.
Genesis 3:8-10 ▼

8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Some people hate the police because they are afraid of going to jail or getting into trouble with them. In reality, if you are doing nothing wrong, why should you fear them?

Let me use the example of parents with their children. When a good parent is teaching their child, they will set rules with clear boundaries. “If you don't follow these rules, this is the consequence. (time-out, spanking, loss of privileges, etc...) The Bible is God's rule book. He has set healthy boundaries so we can pursue a healthy relationship with Him. He loves us like a Father loves their children.
Romans 8:10-15 ▼

10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

God did not go and make up a bunch of rules to oppress us like the Egyptian taskmaster's. He made a list of rules for us to follow with our best interests in mind. He is a loving God with good intentions towards us.
Jeremiah 29:11 ▼

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Because we are God's children and in a relationship with him, we fear him because we reverence him. We love him and we don't want to offend him. We want to defend him. We don't want him to be angry or upset with us because we don't want anything to get in the way of our relationship with him.
Proverbs 16:6-7 ▼

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

The Fear of Man

Some fears are healthy. Having healthy, beneficial fear is not a sin. Fear becomes sin when it prevents us from doing the will of God.
Revelation 21:8 ▼

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

When we fear what man can do to us more than God, this prevents us from doing God's will and is a sin. The fear of man is a snare to us. It causes our hearts to be troubled. We can become paralyzed by our fears.

Fear can be a good thing when it is productive and protective bringing wisdom. It can become unhealthy if it begins interfering with normal activities. The fear of the Lord is a healthy fear to have because it brings us closer to God.
Proverbs 29:25 ▼

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.

Life is of a far better quality with love and the fear of the Lord. It is of a far less quality with trouble and fear. The greatest riches and the finest dinner doesn't make trouble and hatred any easier to deal with. Being in the right relationship with God and with others is worth so much more than any earthly treasure.
Proverbs 15:16-17 ▼

16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Depending on how strongly we love and fear God, this can determine our ability to separate ourselves from sin and to step out into faith in Christ. We are influenced by who and what we love.
1 John 4:15-19 ▼

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
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.
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.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.

When fear comes, we should turn away from the earthly things we find refuge in, such as: comfort, power, control, or approval. We should take refuge in God alone. When we have a healthy fear of the Lord, fleeing to him in obedience, love, praise, worship, honor, and service will automatically follow.

You must chose your fear. Fear man, and reap a snare to your soul. Fear God, and reap all His benefits such as wisdom, eternal life, and so much more. Fear God or the things of this world.
Psalm 130:3-5 ▼

3 If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.

When you choose to fear God, he delivers you from all other fears.
▼

4 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Fear  (18+) This is hard to describe. It comes from a phrase I heard. Don't be afraid. #2248519 by Dorianne

Conclusion

I wanted to include fear of the Lord in the Armor of God series to make a point. We must choose who we are going to be afraid of before the spiritual battle even begins. We will act upon what we fear. We can choose to be afraid of God and obey him, or we can choose to fear other things; man, discomfort, pain, suffering, Satan, etc... The Bible only tells us to Beware of Satan, not to fear him. However, it tells us several times to Fear God.
Joshua 1:7-9 ▼

7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

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

Fearing the Lord is to be consumed by your love for God, fueled by your faith in Jesus Christ, and characterized by your obedience to God. True wisdom is to fear God, submit our lives to Him, be in constant communication with the Lord, and study the Word of God. We need to seek to understand life from God's perspective.
Psalm 128:1-2 ▼

1 Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways.
2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.

Resources ▼

https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-daily-bible-verse/understanding-the-f...

https://www.kevinhalloran.net/the-fear-of-god-definition-bible-verses-quotes-son...

https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/what-does-it-mean-to-fear-the-lord/

https://jamedders.com/what-it-means-to-fear-the-lord/

https://calvarychapel.com/posts/the-blessings-that-come-when-we-fear-the-lord

https://lifehopeandtruth.com/change/christian-conversion/godly-fear/

https://howtopraythescriptures.com/devotion/the-beginning-of-knowledge/

https://gloriadeitomah.com/the-fear-of-the-lord-2

http://raynoah.com/2016/11/29/fear-god-fear-nothing/

https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/who-is-god/fear-of-the-lord/

https://westernblacktown.wordpress.com/2018/05/14/psalm-34-fear-of-the-lord/

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/The-Fear-Of-The-Lord

https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Fear-Of-Man

https://stillfaith.com/topics/fear/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Ecclesiastes-12-13_Inspirational_Image/

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Psalms-91-11_Inspirational_Image/

https://mikejeshurun.wordpress.com/2016/06/24/he-shall-give-his-angels-charge-ov...

Jesus is my permanent anchor!