Beloved “Believers,” how is it that we routinely sing praises, give praises before others at church together but mostly apart from church our lives are void of true praise? I believe the LORD is revealing to this right now living multinational grouping that refers to itself as church, that she has lost the genuine fear (Awe) of the LORD; she has left her first Love. We sing the songs. We voice rote praises. We talk the churchy talk. We throw the LORD’S name around so casually in nearly every phrase of our prayers that it has become just another thoughtless pronoun; and we’re learning a lot lately about thoughtless pronouns, right?!
The average Christian in America today has a total misconstruction of the words and actions of Worship. The majority of church attendees today judge worship on how they were entertained by the praise band, which seems to think they are groups in a concert. Most often, the “audience” is instructed to stand while musicians and vocalists perform a time-consuming list of repetitive songs one or two lines of unbiblical construction. Then as a concluding add to the gig, a smooth talking, suave rock-star of a preacher speaks itching words that people avoiding any sense of conviction by the Word and the Spirit of Truth will walk away believing that they have done their duty, while unknowingly have spent an hour worship self and the entertainers.
I know, most persons reading this will argue that I am wrong in my assessment of the church in the USA. But I am pretty certain that the most important Person, my LORD Jesus Christ is the One doing the assessing. We have lost, misplaced, and forgotten the fear of the LORD.
What does it Mean to “Fear the LORD”?
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:7-10)
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’ (Revelation 2:1-7)
What do you think about when you hear the phrase: “the fear of the LORD”? What does it mean to you?
If what first comes to your mind is of God’s anger or all-consuming fire—I need to increase your understanding of your conception. The “fear of the LORD” appears over 70 times in the Old Testament.
In the Hebrew, “fear” is yārēʾ (pronounced: Yah-rah). The expression “fear of the LORD” is transliterated: yārēʾ ʾt-yhwh (pronounced: yah-rah eth Yah-wah). Listen, we are to “yah-rah Yah-wah”; we are to “fear Yahweh.” “Yahweh” is the personal, covenant name of the LORD. The “fear of the LORD” means giving God your inclusive awareness.
“Teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.” (Psalm 86:11)
According to the Psalmist, a united heart leads to the fear of the LORD.
God should have our unwavering attention in that He does not become a small part of our lives; perhaps only on Sundays. No way. We give Him the attention that He is the exemplary meaning and purpose of our lives. And we put Him at the center.
We don’t try to balance God amongst all our other priorities, no He is the center—and everything else can find its course or place around Him! He takes priority! And our families benefit when we do our part to lead them into a God-centered vision of life.
The “fear of the LORD” means giving God your matchless Awe.
“For the LORD Most High, is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.” (Psalm 47:2)
“Awesome” is the same Hebrew word used for “fear.”
Awe is the highest form of worship from the perspective of the Hebrew Bible. God wants to captivate us in such a way that is far more insightful than our mere intellectual influence. Many treatments of the fear of the LORD are tapping into the emotions of the human mind. However, that which captures our awe tends to capture our hearts. So, when we see God for Who He really is, we will be in awe of Him and more likely to adore Him; fear the LORD.
He is Worthy of Worship because He is Father, Creator, Savior, Sustainer,
Almighty Father, Master and Lord, King of all kings, Redeemer, Wonderful, Counselor, Comforter, Friend, Savior, and Source of our life without end!
God is worthy of our Awe; He is worthy of our spiritual worship!
The “fear of the LORD” means giving God your unsurpassed loyalty.
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 10:12)
Deuteronomy exhorts its listeners to have a total commitment to God, involving “all your heart and soul.” Fearing God leads to loyalty and obedience. This is literally walking in the Spirit. Our God gets our allegiance, more than our allegiance to any person, country, job, or whatever; obedience to Him takes superiority over all else. Who can be more important to obey than the God of the universe?
Often times, our problem is that we give our earthly fears so much more weight than they deserve. We give more significance to the bigness of our circumstance than we do to the bigness of our God.
“We fear circumstances so much because we fear God so little.” (Unknown)
Fearing God comes right down to your having the right mind-set of gratitude before Him, of simply Who He is!
God wants to live in fellowship with us and guide us, but we have to have the right point of view about it all; especially about Who He is!
What about you? Do not rush to answer! Do you have a proper fear of the LORD; do you?
The way you live your life will reveal the truth better than your words. Ask God to bring back, or to give you, the right fear of the LORD!
I am nothing; Christ is everything! I must decrease: He must increase! I am not brain-washed; I am heart-washed in the blood of the Lamb!
Do not ask God to give you an experience so as to prove His love and nearness to you; He is your experience. Embrace Him. Fear the LORD! Pray On!
