Fear of the Lord – Lift Up Your Eyes!

Rejoicing In The Fear Of The Lord

The saved will be rejoicing in the Fear of the Lord forever!

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! ²For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” ³Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” ⁴And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”
Revelation 19:1-5 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

“And to man He said,
‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”
Job 28:28 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord begins with, well, fearing the Lord.

⁴“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”
Luke 12:4-5 NKJV

²⁸Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹For our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 12:28-29 NKJV

Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Psalms 2:11 NKJV

My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
Psalms 119:120 NKJV

¹³Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
¹⁴For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is a choice.

⁸“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
²⁹Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord,
³⁰They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
³¹Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,
And be filled to the full with their own fancies.
³²For the turning away of the simple will slay them,
And the complacency of fools will destroy them;
³³But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Proverbs 1:28-33 NKJV

Jesus delighted in the Fear of the Lord.

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,
And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
²The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,
The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit of counsel and might,
The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
³His delight is in the fear of the Lord,
And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes,
Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
Isaiah 11:1-3 NKJV

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Hebrews 5:7 KJV

The Fear of the Lord is His treasure.

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation;
The fear of the Lord is His treasure.
Isaiah 33:6 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is protection and deliverance.

⁹Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!
²⁰You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
From the plots of man;
You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
From the strife of tongues.
Psalms 31:19-20 NKJV

¹⁸Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
¹⁹To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.
Psalms 33:18-19 NKJV

⁹Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹⁰The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Psalms 34:9-10 NKJV

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:26 NKJV

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble.
Proverbs 15:16 NKJV

The wicked don’t know anything of eternal value!

¹⁸But the path of the just is like the shining sun,
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
¹⁹The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
Proverbs 4:18-19 NKJV

God’s forgiveness leads to the Fear of the Lord.

³If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord causes changed behavior!

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
Proverbs 3:7 NKJV

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.”
Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
Proverbs 13:19 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:27 NKJV

The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell below.
Proverbs 15:24 NKJV

In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

The highway of the upright is to depart from evil;
He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Proverbs 16:17 NKJV

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are punished.
Proverbs 22:3 NKJV

1 THESSALONIANS 5:22

Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)

Abstain from every form of evil. (NKJV ESV BSB NASB)

Stay away from every kind of evil. (NLT HCSB)

Keep away from every kind of evil. (ISV)

Other translations: BibleGateway, BibleHub

The walk tells!

He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
Proverbs 14:2 NKJV

Have you chosen to Fear the Lord?

Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!

⁴But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³²“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Forgiveness Leads To The Fear Of The Lord

I have been meditating on this passage from Psalms 130.

³If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 NKJV

I notice that God isn’t looking for opportunities to condemn, but to bless. He is looking for faith.

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
Matthew 9:2 NKJV

³Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

⁵When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Mark 2:3-5 NKJV

God’s forgiveness leads us to the fear of the Lord. I am reminded of this verse.

We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19 NKJV

Fearing the Lord is where everything of eternal value begins.

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Matthew 10:28 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

Here is the passage in several translations. Be blessed!

³If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 NKJV

³If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 KJV

³
If You, Lord, should keep an account of our sins and treat us accordingly,
O Lord, who could stand [before you in judgment and claim innocence]?
⁴
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared and worshiped [with submissive wonder].
Psalm 130:3-4 AMP

³If You, Lord, should keep account of and treat [us according to our] sins, O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with You [just what man needs], that You may be reverently feared and worshiped.
Psalm 130:3-4 AMPC

³If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 ESV

O Yah, if You should watch crookednesses,
O יהוה, who would stand?
But with You there is forgiveness,
That You might be feared.
Tehillim (Psalms) 130:3-4 TS2009

³Lord, if you were to record iniquities,
Lord, who could remain standing?
⁴But with you there is forgiveness,
so that you may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 ISV

³If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 NASB

Thank you Father for forgiveness of sins!

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

God Wants You To Be Rich. Really, He Does!

These words of Jesus to the Laodicean church jumped out to me.

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich;”
Revelation 3:18a NKJV

God really does want His people to be rich! It makes Him happy!

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
Luke 12:32 NKJV

Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
“Let the Lord be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
Psalm 35:27 NKJV

If you ponder the inverse of this parable you will conclude it is possible to be rich toward God.

¹⁶Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. ¹⁷And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ ¹⁸So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. ¹⁹And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ ²⁰But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

²¹“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:16-21 NKJV

Note however that being rich in God’s eyes may or may not have anything to do with having lots of money while you’re here on this earth. The Laodicean church was wealthy in earthly money but were poor towards God!

¹⁴“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: ¹⁵“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. ¹⁶So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. ¹⁷Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— ¹⁸I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. ²⁰Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

²²“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Revelation 3:14-22 NKJV

On the other hand, the Smyrna church was poor in earthly money but wealthy in God’s eyes.

⁸“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

¹¹“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’ ”
Revelation 2:8-11 NKJV

So how does one become rich towards God? This is an example of how beneficial it is to read daily the Proverb corresponding to the day of the month, because I was able to immediately turn to Proverbs 8. This chapter is about wisdom.

¹Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?

¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

¹⁷I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
¹⁸Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
²⁰I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
²¹That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
Proverbs 8:1, 10-11, 17-21 NKJV

Therefore eternal wealth begins with wisdom. And where does wisdom start?

¹⁰“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
¹¹For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
¹²If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
Proverbs 9:10-12 NKJV

I have a bunch of posts on the topic: Fear of the Lord

There is excellent reason to want to be rich towards God — it keeps your heart where it needs to be! Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven!

¹⁹“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Everything Starts With The Fear Of The Lord

The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

The wicked don’t know anything of eternal value!

The Fear of the Lord causes changed behavior!

In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:27 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is hating evil!

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

The walk tells!

He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.
Proverbs 14:2 NKJV

Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Our God is a Consuming Fire – The Fear of the Lord

Many people say that The Fear of the Lord is not being afraid of God, but having reverence for Him. I suppose they’re right about not being afraid of God, as John discusses.

¹⁷Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹We love Him because He first loved us.
1 John 4:17-19 NKJV

However, speaking for me, being afraid of God was an excellent place to start! Consider these words of Jesus.

That is serious. Indeed, fear Him who can cast into hell!

At judgment day, the unsaved may be engulfed in fire as they are judged, before being thrown into the lake of fire, the second death.

⁹“I watched till thrones were put in place,
And the Ancient of Days was seated;
His garment was white as snow,
And the hair of His head was like pure wool.
His throne was a fiery flame,
Its wheels a burning fire;
¹⁰A fiery stream issued
And came forth from before Him.
A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
The court was seated,
And the books were opened.”
Daniel 7:9-10 NKJV

The NIV paints quite a picture in the same passage.

⁹“As I looked,

“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
    the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels were all ablaze.
¹⁰A river of fire was flowing,
    coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books were opened.
Daniel 7:9-10 NIV

Here is a well-known passage from Hebrews.

(ToDo: Study the Greek of the end of Hebrews 10:28 re compare/contrast reverence and godly fear. )

I don’t want to go to hell and be in torment forever and ever so I have been studying God’s Word to find out how to get and stay on God’s good side. My current understanding is God created everything for Himself.

¹⁵He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. ¹⁷And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. ¹⁸And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Colossians 1:15-18 NKJV

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36 NKJV

After sin entered His creation, God has only two classifications: His servants, and those who are not His servants.

Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
Malachi 3:18 NKJV

Fortunately, God is Good, and He wants everyone to make it into the servant class.

Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:11 KJV

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ²for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.“
John 3:16 NKJV

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Revelation 22:17 NKJV

As I have been abiding in Jesus, I am becoming perfected in His love. The being afraid of God has decreased, as the reverence, awe and love for Him has increased. I so look forward to seeing Him face to face!

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;
I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
Psalms 17:15 NKJV

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ²In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ³And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. ⁴They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. ⁵There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
Revelation 22:1-5 NKJV

Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Proverbs 9 – Most Important Bible Chapter?

Proverbs 9 has been standing out the past few months as having vital information. It’s more than just a warm-up for the “fun” chapters of Proverbs, those with short, wise sayings. It has critical teachings of its own.

Judged Individually

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
Proverbs 9:12 NASB

I can’t send anyone to heaven, and I can’t send anyone to hell. But it’s completely up to me where I spend forever and ever.

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning

You can’t learn anything from someone that doesn’t know anything. If someone does not operate in the fear of YHWH, they know nothing of eternal value.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 BSB

The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.
Proverbs 9:13 BSB

You Can Not Help Some People

⁷“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
⁸Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”
Proverbs 9:7-9 NKJV

Do what you can, then shake the dust off your feet.

Which Invitation Will You Accept?

Both Wisdom and Folly are calling out.

(Wisdom) cries out from the highest places of the city,
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
“Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.”

A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
“Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18 NKJV

Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

How Do I Know If I Fear The Lord?

I woke up this morning thinking about the last part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

²⁴“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
Matthew 7:24-27 NKJV

It was confirmation of something I was thinking about from the Plague of Hail in Egypt. How do I know if I fear the Lord?

²⁰He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. ²¹But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field.
Exodus 9:20-21 NKJV

It is pretty simple. Have I acted on what I have learned from the Word of God? Had I been a servant of Pharaoh would my servants and livestock been safe or killed? I show whether or not I fear the Lord by what I do with the information He gives me.

James writes that we should be doers and not hearers only, deceiving ourselves!

²²But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
James 1:22-25 NKJV

Thankfully I can say yes, I have changed my behavior based on the Word.

By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the fear of the LORD one keeps away from evil.
Proverbs 16:6 NASB

Oh, I’m not perfect yet, and won’t be while I’m still in this body. But I am making progress!

⁵But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, ⁶to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, ⁷to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. ⁸For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
2 Peter 1:5-9 NKJV

¹²Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 NKJV

⁸If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1:8-10 NKJV

God is not done with me yet. 🙂

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6 NASB

¹ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of everything permanent.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.
Psalms 111:10 NKJV

There is no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the LORD.
Proverbs 21:30 NASB

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Rejoice With Trembling – The Fear of the Lord

This paragraph of Jesus’ got me thinking. Notice He says both ‘do not fear’ and ‘fear.’

²⁷“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. ²⁸And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.²⁹Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. ³⁰But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Matthew 10:27-31 NKJV

How I can both fear and not fear God at the same time is beyond my mind’s ability to understand. But my spirit is starting to understand, I think.

¹³These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:13-14 NKJV

The apostle John knew Jesus while He was on earth, yet when John saw Jesus in His glory he fell as one dead. Since Jesus said, “Do not be afraid,” John must have felt fear at the sight of Him.

¹²Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. ¹⁴His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; ¹⁵His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; ¹⁶He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. ¹⁷And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.”
Revelation 1:12-17 NKJV

The apostle John also wrote this.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18 BSB

So was John not perfected in love, or is there something about seeing God’s awesome power and glory that will always make us aware of how much higher He is than we are? I think it is the latter. Job was blameless and upright, and feared God and shunned evil. Yet he definitely feared Him who could destroy him in hell.

For destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
Job 31:23 NKJV

The word tremble occurs often in Scripture.

¹²Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV

⁵Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
Ephesians 6:5-8 NKJV

My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
Psalms 119:120 NKJV

Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
²For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.”
Isaiah 66:1-2 NKJV

For my current understanding, this verse describes The Fear of the Lord.

Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
Psalms 2:11 NKJV

C. S. Lewis description of the allegorical Messiah figure, the lion Aslan, is close to my understanding of The Fear of the Lord. God isn’t safe, but He is good!

“Is—is he a man?” asked Lucy.
“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor–Beyond–the–Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
C. S. Lewis. “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

The Fear of the Lord – 6

I keep my topical notebook handy while doing Bible study, and The Fear of the Lord is one of the topics whose references I have been tracking. Now that I finished reading the Bible, this list is complete – except for Scriptures I may have missed, and Scriptures whose application to The Fear of the Lord need meditation to see.

The topic at the top of each page is The Fear of YHWH, as I have been primarily using my restored-names TS2009 Bible.

The Fear of the Lord gets your name written in a very special book, a book of remembrance.

¹⁶Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
And the Lord listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the Lord
And who meditate on His name.

¹⁷“They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
“On the day that I make them My jewels.
And I will spare them
As a man spares his own son who serves him.”
¹⁸Then you shall again discern
Between the righteous and the wicked,
Between one who serves God
And one who does not serve Him.
Malachi 3:16-18 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord brings rejoicing and victory. If you don’t know what a calf does when it is released from a stall, you should read this post: Leaping Like Calves From the Stall. I grew up around cattle, and a just-released calf usually expresses pure joy.

²“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. ³You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing,” says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 4:2-3 NASB

The Fear of the Lord keeps one from sinning.

And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”
Exodus 20:20 NKJV

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV

If you’re not changing for the better, you may not have The Fear of the Lord.

¹⁸He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me,
For there were many against me.
¹⁹God will hear, and afflict them,
Even He who abides from of old. Selah
Because they do not change,
Therefore they do not fear God.
Psalms 55:18-19 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord brings His mercy.

“And His mercy is on those who fear Him
From generation to generation.”
Luke 1:50 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord comes from hearing His Word.

^{9 “}Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren, ¹⁰especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb, when the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.’”
Deuteronomy 4:9-10 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord comes from writing and reading His Word.

¹⁸“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. ¹⁹And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, ²⁰that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord brings obedience.

So he took a yoke of oxen and cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, “Whoever does not go out with Saul and Samuel to battle, so it shall be done to his oxen.”

And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.
1 Samuel 11:7 NKJV

¹²Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord.
Haggai 1:12 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord brings blessing and safety.

^{14 “}If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. ¹⁵However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
1 Samuel 12:14-15 NKJV

^{24 “}Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. ²⁵But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”
1 Samuel 12:24-25 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is just judgment.

⁵Then he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, ⁶and said to the judges, “Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord, who is with you in the judgment. ⁷Now therefore, let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”

⁸Moreover in Jerusalem, for the judgment of the Lord and for controversies, Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the chief fathers of Israel, when they returned to Jerusalem. ⁹And he commanded them, saying, “Thus you shall act in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a loyal heart: ¹⁰Whatever case comes to you from your brethren who dwell in their cities, whether of bloodshed or offenses against law or commandment, against statutes or ordinances, you shall warn them, lest they trespass against the Lord and wrath come upon you and your brethren. Do this, and you will not be guilty. ¹¹And take notice: Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the Lord; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king’s matters; also the Levites will be officials before you. Behave courageously, and the Lord will be with the good.”
2 Chronicles 19:5-11 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is HIS Treasure!

Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times,
And the strength of salvation;
The fear of the Lord is His treasure.
Isaiah 33:6 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord gives fellowship and unity among believers.

¹⁷Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:17-21 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is a gift from God.

“‘And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.‘”
Jeremiah 32:40 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is critical for priests. Read the whole chapter: Malachi 2.

⁵“My covenant was with him, one of life and peace,
And I gave them to him that he might fear Me;
So he feared Me
And was reverent before My name.
⁶The law of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips.
He walked with Me in peace and equity,
And turned many away from iniquity.”
Malachi 2:5-6 NKJV

Lack of The Fear of the Lord bring judgment.

“And I will come near you for judgment;
I will be a swift witness
Against sorcerers,
Against adulterers,
Against perjurers,
Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans,
And against those who turn away an alien—
Because they do not fear Me,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 3:5 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord brings rewards.

¹⁵Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” ¹⁶And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, ¹⁷saying:

“We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty,
The One who is and who was and who is to come,
Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.
¹⁸The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come,
And the time of the dead, that they should be judged,
And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints,
And those who fear Your name, small and great,
And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”
Revelation 11:15-18 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is part of the salvation message.

⁶Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— ⁷saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is natural for the saved in heaven.

²And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. ³They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
Lord God Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
O King of the saints!
⁴Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
For all nations shall come and worship before You,
For Your judgments have been manifested.”
Revelation 15:2-4 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

The Fear of the Lord – 5

This is the 5th post on the topic: Fear of the Lord

The Fear of the Lord is provision.

The Fear of the Lord is instruction and revelation.

¹²Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
¹³He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
Psalms 25:12-14 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord make the Father smile.

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
In those who hope in His mercy.
Psalms 147:11 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is a banner of deliverance!

⁴You have given a banner to those who fear You,
That it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah
⁵That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
Psalms 60:4-5 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord brings His salvation near.

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
Psalms 85:9 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is a heart made whole.

Teach me Your way, O Lord;
I will walk in Your truth;
Unite my heart to fear Your name.
Psalm 86:11 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is great blessing, and everlasting right standing with God.

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
Who delights greatly in His commandments.
²His descendants will be mighty on earth;
The generation of the upright will be blessed.
³Wealth and riches will be in his house,
And his righteousness endures forever.
Psalm 112:1-3 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is a choice.

Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
Psalm 119:38 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord is fellowship.

I am a companion of all who fear You,
And of those who keep Your precepts.
Psalm 119:63 NKJV

Those who fear You will be glad when they see me,
Because I have hoped in Your word.
Psalm 119:74 NKJV

Let those who fear You turn to me,
Those who know Your testimonies.
Psalm 119:79 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord helps us ponder our ways.

My flesh trembles for fear of You,
And I am afraid of Your judgments.
Psalm 119:120 NKJV

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.“
Matthew 10:28 NKJV

Forgiveness brings the Fear of the Lord.

³If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 NKJV

The Fear of the Lord gives the privilege of worship.

¹⁹Bless the Lord, O house of Israel!
Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron!
²⁰Bless the Lord, O house of Levi!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
²¹Blessed be the Lord out of Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!
Psalm 135:19-21 NKJV

Are you following God's plan for your life? 
   You should.
      Your plan sucks.
      It really, really sucks.
      Suckage Maximus.

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.