December 15-17, 2001
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Monday
Nov.5, 2001 – during PCN prayer meeting: “Teach my children the fear of God”
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Nov.13,
2001 Pastor Vincent asked me to minister the fear of God, on 15 & 16 Nov.
§
Friday
Nov.14, I sought the Lord for instruction on what and how to minister the fear
of God. -A gate opened up, bright light came through, and a figure stood at the
open door and said (as I was trembling and shaking in fear): “My
Presence is fearsome”…
The Fruit
of the Spirit is Love, Peace, Joy – how can the Lord cause fear? – there is a
time for everything (Eccl.): the fear of God springs forth joy and gladness
of heart. If fear causes outward and temporary grief, remember that those who
sow in tears will reap with gladness…
Jesus was
there when the world was created – He was not known until John wrote about it.
Then He was ever-present during the OT times, but not revealed. Then He was a
helpless baby, and a young man through a process of growing up. Then He was
hanging dead on a cross, and buried in a tomb! Then He was glorified, yet,
walking, eating and drinking with His disciples. Then He was taken up in the
clouds, and proclaimed that He will come back. Since then, He is none of all
the above – He is at a new state, which is also going to change at the time of
His Coming (NB: History is not cyclical, but linear!). Where/What is
He now?
Revel. 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He
who sat on him [was] called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He
judges and makes war. 12 His eyes [were] like a flame of fire, and on
His head [were] many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except
Himself. 13 He [was] clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is
called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them
with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness
and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on [His] robe and on His thigh a name
written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Now,
Jesus is a Mighty and Fearsome King in His Authority, and His Presence brings
terror!
Revel 1:17 (NKJV) And 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.
ü
AT
THE END OF TIME:
Mala 4:5 (NKJV) Behold, I will send you Elijah
the prophet
Before the coming of the great and
dreadful day of the Lord.
ü Jesus in the days of His flesh, was meek and attractive, but He is also Holy! – Holiness causes fear! Spring 1992 – an angel came into my bedroom – I was like dead, stuck against the wall!
Luke 2:8 (NKJV) Now there were in the same
country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by
night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10
Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 "For
there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.
Luke 24:4 (NKJV) And it happened, as they were
greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining
garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed [their] faces to the
earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the
dead?
ü
Proskuneo:
Matt 4:9 (NKJV) And he said to Him, "All
these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me." 10
Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, `You
shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "
{
(GNT) tovte levgei aujtw'/ oJ jIhsou'": u{page, satana': gevgraptai gavr: kuvrion toVn
qeovn sou proskunhvsei" kaiV aujtw'/ movnw/ latreuvsei". }
4352
proskuneo {pros-koo-neh'-o} from 4314 and a probable derivative of 2965
(meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); AV - worship 60; 60
1)
to kiss the hand to one, in token of reverence
2)
To fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression
of profound reverence
3)
in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one), whether in order to
express respect or to make supplication
ü
THE
DISCIPLES OF JESUS, His closest friends – were they afraid of Him in the flesh?
Luke 5:7 So they signaled to [their] partners
in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the
boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw [it], he fell down at
Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O
Lord!" 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the
catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also [were] James and John, the
sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do
not be afraid. From now on you will catch men."
Matt 17:1 (NKJV) Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John
his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was
transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became
as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking
with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for
us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You,
one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud,
saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear
Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard [it], they fell on their faces
and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise,
and do not be afraid." 8
When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Mark 5:15 (NKJV) Then they came to Jesus, and
saw the one [who] [had] [been] demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and
clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those
who saw it told them how it happened to him [who] [had] [been] demon-possessed,
and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their
region.
Mark 10:32 (NKJV) Now they were on the road,
going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And
as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside
again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:
Luke 8:24 (NKJV) And they came to Him and awoke
Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and
rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a
calm. 25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they
were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this
be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!"
Luke 9:45 (NKJV) But they did not understand
this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and
they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
ü
JESUS,
Himself, knew the fear of God, and He was perfected in it:
Isai 11:1 (NKJV) There shall come forth a Rod
from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The 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. 3 His 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;
Hebr 5:7 (NKJV) who, in the days of His flesh,
when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears
to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly
fear, 8 though He was a Son, [yet] He learned obedience by the things
which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of
eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
ü
During
the CHURCH AGE, at the time of the ACTS, people knew the fear of God:
Acts 5:1 But a certain man named Ananias, with
Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
…5
Then Ananias, hearing these
words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon
all those who heard these things…11 So great fear came upon all
the church and upon all who heard these things.
Hebr 10:26 (NKJV) For if we sin willfully after
we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a
sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment,
and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28
Anyone who has rejected Moses' law dies without mercy on the
testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you
suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot,
counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing,
and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, "Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will
judge His people." 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands
of the living God.
1Cor 11:27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or
drinks [this] cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an
unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not
discerning the Lord's body. 30 For this reason many [are] weak and sick
among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we
would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by
the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
Acts 9:31 (NKJV) Then the churches throughout
all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking
in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they
were multiplied.
Acts 19:15 (NKJV) And the evil spirit answered
and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" 16 Then
the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and
prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear
fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 18
And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds.
ü
THE
GREATEST COMMANDMENT:
Deut 6:1 “Now this [is] the commandment, [and]
[these] [are] the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded
to teach you, that you may observe [them] in the land which you are crossing
over to possess, 2 "that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all
His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son
and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be
prolonged.
3 "Therefore hear, O
Israel, and be careful to observe [it], that it may be well with you,
and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised
you--`a land flowing with milk and honey.'
4 "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord [is] one! 5 "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“that your days may be prolonged” & “it may be well with
you”
Prov 10:27 The fear of the Lord prolongs
days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
Deut 10:12"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, 13 "[and] to keep the commandments of the
Lord and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
Prov 22:4 (NKJV) By humility [and] the fear
of the Lord [Are] riches and honor and life.
Psal 112:1 (NKJV) Praise the Lord! Blessed
[is] the man [who] fears the Lord, [Who] delights greatly in His
commandments. 2 His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the
upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches [will] [be] in his
house, …
Prov 14:26 (NKJV) In the fear of the Lord
[there] [is] strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge. 27
The fear of the Lord [is] a fountain of life, To turn [one] away
from the snares of death.
Psal 33:18 (NKJV) Behold, the eye of the
Lord [is] on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, 19 To
deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine.
q
If you fear the Lord, you will not fear death,
the devil, his demons, and all his evil plans!
Prov 19:23 (NKJV) The fear of the Lord [leads]
to life, And [he] [who] [has] [it] will abide in satisfaction; He will
not be visited with evil.
Psal 34:7 (NKJV) The angel of the Lord
encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Prov 1:20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She
raises her voice in the open squares. … 28 "Then they will call on me, but
I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29
Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30
They would have none of my counsel [And] despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore
they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their
own fancies. … 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be
secure, without fear of evil."
q
Note: “Therefore they shall eat
the fruit of their own way” – If evil begets you, it is because it
feels at home when it comes near you…
But if goodness abounds in you and overflows out of you, then, as evil
comes near, it is swept away by your overflowing goodness! If you are filled to
the brim by the attributes of God’s nature, which is Light, then evil, which is
darkness, how can it withstand the presence of Light? Will darkness put out
light? The overflowing Light sweeps away the Darkness, and shines in the dark!
On the contrary: “And be filled to the full with their own fancies”
– if you are full of darkness, then darkness takes over completely…
Prov 16:6 (NKJV) In mercy and truth Atonement
is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord [one] departs from
evil. 7 When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies
to be at peace with him.
2Chr 17:9 (NKJV) So they taught in Judah, and [had] the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. 10 And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that [were] around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11 Also [some] of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats.
ü
BUT:
Jere 5:21 (NKJV) `Hear this now, O foolish people, Without
understanding, Who have eyes and see not, And who have ears and hear not: 22
Do you not fear Me?' says the Lord. `Will you not tremble at My presence,
Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree,
that it cannot pass beyond it?
And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though
they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. 23 But this people has a defiant and
rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. 24 They do not say in their
heart, "Let us now fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain, both the former
and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the
harvest."
Deut 28:58 (NKJV) "If you do not
carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this
book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE LORD YOUR GOD,
59 "then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants
extraordinary plagues--great and prolonged plagues--and serious and prolonged
sicknesses. 60 "Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of
Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
ü
CONCLUSION:
Deut 8:6 (NKJV) "Therefore you shall keep
the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear
Him.
Isai 8:13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; [Let] Him [be]
your fear, And [let] Him [be] your dread. 14 He will be as a sanctuary,
But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As
a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them
shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken."
Eccl 12:1 (NKJV) Remember now your Creator in
the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near
when you say, "I have no pleasure in them":
… 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as
it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 "Vanity of
vanities," says the Preacher, "All [is] vanity."
… 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the
whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
Prov 2:1 (NKJV) My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
[And] apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
[And] lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And
search for her as [for] hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the
fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.
q
Understanding
the fear of the Lord entails the renewing of our minds from the concepts of
this world, which we bring with us into the Kingdom of God. In the world, Fear
is a bad, negative concept, which causes the opposite of Love. Because God is
Love, we cannot think of God as being Fear. But that is the vocabulary of the
world!
q
In the
vocabulary of the Kingdom of God, we need the concept of Godly Fear, in
order to understand better Godly Love. One without the other is
inadequate descriptor of God’s character and nature. According to the Bible, God’s
Love is an expression of God that manifests His Holiness through fearful
chastening both of the world, and of His children, that He chastises with an
iron rod, for the purpose of giving them an opportunity to escape eternal
damnation in the fires of hell, and enjoy everlasting life.
George E. Markakis