Day 8 - June 20
The Fear of the Lord 

The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Acts 5:12-13

The early church walked in the tangible presence of God.  And though the people esteemed them, they also had healthy respect and fear of God. Have you ever wondered why?  The answer is found in the story immediately preceding this.

A man named Ananias--his wife, Sapphira, conniving in this with him--sold a piece of land, secretly kept part of the price for himself, and then brought the rest to the apostles and made an offering of it.

Peter said, "Ananias, how did Satan get you to lie to the Holy Spirit and secretly keep back part of the price of the field? Before you sold it, it was all yours, and after you sold it, the money was yours to do with as you wished. So what got into you to pull a trick like this? You didn't lie to men but to God."

Ananias, when he heard those words, fell down dead. That put the fear of God into everyone who heard of it.  Acts 5:1-6 ( The Message Bible)

We say we are longing for God’s presence in the church today as it was in the days of the apostles.  Is this possible?

Surely his salvation is near those who fear him that his glory may dwell in our land. Psalm 85:9 

Dwell here is the Hebrew word “shakan” which means to take up permanent residence.  Yes, we can experience not just a visitation of God, but God’s habitation in our land.  But first we must walk in the true fear of the Lord. 

Therefore, 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. For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29

The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: "Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?" He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil-- Isaiah 33:14-15

What is the true fear of the Lord?

To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13

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

If our longing really is to make this nation His resting place, if our hearts really desire to behold Him, to speak to God, as Moses did, to a friend, face to face, then our deepest desire will be that we might be holy, even as He is. (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.  Hebrews 12:14-15

It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

Today God is calling us to consecrate ourselves and separate ourselves from anything that can defile the purity of our spirit, soul and body.  As the world around us becomes darker, it is more important than ever that we walk as children of light.  God is longing for a church who is holy that the world may see Him.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life…Philippians 2:14-16

Prayer Focus and Practical Actions

1)       Ask the Lord to search your heart in a deep way today and reveal to you ways in which thoughts, words or actions are defiling you in your spirit, soul or body.  If we judge ourselves now, God will not have to judge us later. (1 Corinthians 11:31) Repent and ask God to cleanse you and remove any unrighteousness (I John 1:9). Commit today to never do anything that could bring a reproach to Christ or bring dishonour to His name.  (Nehemiah 5:9)

2)       “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” (Proverbs 9:10)  Ask the Lord to give you a greater measure of the fear of the Lord in your life.  Meditate on scriptures about the fear of the Lord (see below).  Let our determination be that like Jesus, we will “delight in the fear of the Lord”.  (Isaiah 11:3)

3)       I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show myself holy through you before their eyes. Ezekiel 36:23   Cry out to the Lord for a new measure of the fear of the Lord to be released to the body of Christ throughout our nation.  Our longing is that the name of our God will be feared in our whole nation, not mocked and dishonoured.  But this can happen only when the fear of the Lord is first in the church, His body. 

For Further Study

Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever." Ps 118:4

Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Ps 34:9-10

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death. Prov 14:27

The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Prov 15:33

The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear,

He is the one you are to dread, Isaiah 8:13

"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.

Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.

Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Rev 15:3-4

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."  1 Peter 1:14-16

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Eph 4:22-24

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9