Sunday: Fear God
The purpose of the book of Revelation for our generation is to prepare a people to be ready for Jesus’ soon return and to unite with Him in giving His last-day message to the world. Revelation reveals the plans of God and unmasks the plans of Satan. It presents God’s final appeal, His urgent, eternal, universal message for all humanity.
Read the apostle John’s urgent end-time appeal in Revelation 14:7. (See also Genesis 22:12; Psalm 89:7; Proverbs 2:5; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Ephesians 5:21.) What specific instruction does he give us?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
The Greek New Testament word for “fear” in Revelation 14:7 is phobeo. It is used here not in the sense of being afraid of God but in the sense of reverence, awe, and respect. It conveys the thought of absolute loyalty to God and full surrender to His will. It is an attitude of mind that is God-centered rather than self-centered. It is the opposite of Lucifer’s attitude in Isaiah 14:13-14, when he says in his heart, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High“ (NKJV).
Instead, it is the attitude of Christ, who, though “being in the form of God … humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6, Philippians 2:8, NKJV).
The essence of the great controversy revolves around submission to God. Lucifer was self-centered. He refused to submit to any authority except his own. Rather than submit to the One upon the throne, Lucifer desired to rule from the throne. Put simply, to fear God is to place Him first in our thinking. It is to renounce our self-centeredness and pride and to live a life wholly for Him.
And it obviously must be important because it’s the first words out of the mouth of the first angel of the three.
Hence, we must take heed.
| What has been your own experience of fearing God? How would you explain to someone, in a positive way, why “the fear of God” is something good? |
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We are in a battle between God and Satan.
From my perspective, it is important to recognise that our fear and reverence for God should surpass any fear or reverence we may have for Satan. God is the ultimate authority and power, deserving of our love and respect, whereas Satan is a deceiver who promises much. He disguises himself as an angel of light, but he is dishonest, controlling, and punishes those who follow him. I have personal experience with this belief, as I share grandparenting duties with a spiritualist. Despite her belief that she is receiving wisdom and guidance from her practices, I have consistently witnessed God's protection over my family. In contrast, the manifestations and visitations she witnesses from the powers of darkness ultimately lead to disappointment and emptiness. An example of this occurred when the spiritualist grandmother desired to attend her grandchild's dedication at our Adventist Church. However, the powers she has been following made her so unwell that she was unable to attend, demonstrating their fear and threat towards any allegiance to God.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." - Proverbs 9:10
Your situation deserves the earnest prayer of anyone who reads your post. You have mine.
Richard, thank you for your kind words and for keeping this situation in your prayers.
Dear Lord, grant sister Fish the blessing from above in her determination to be faithful to you!
Thank you, brother Samojluk. May you be blessed.
The fear (reverence, holy awe) on of the Lord is, indeed, the gateway to wisdom.
I would not go as far as suggesting any "reverence" in relation to the devil, since we know he is a deceiver.
The fact that Satan punishes those who follow him may not be immediately apparent (although ultimate). What is certain is that he (at least seeks to) hurt[s] those who follow Jesus.
Thanks for sharing your post. The power of God breaks, with ease, the power of the devil. Let us continue to seek the Lord in prayer.
Hello Clyve, you bring up an important point about “reverence” because it implies a deep respect or honour. I agree, it’s not applicable to Satan. There is a difference between respecting the power of evil and honouring or revering evil itself.
People who see Satan as an angel of light may be misled by their own desires and emotions. I attended a Women's Conference about ten years ago. During this church meeting (not affiliated with the Adventist Church) a female pastor who was leading the worship suddenly called out an unintelligible name and then began singing in a provocative manner. Some women in the congregation started speaking in another language, while others fell back. As someone who was present, I was shocked to witness this display and felt that the sense of reverence that was once present in the congregation had suddenly dissipated.
What a blessing that your grandchildren have you to counter the evil influence in their life! Pray always, and may God bless you and your family. I too pray for you.
My first instinct is to protect my grandkids because they're so impressionable, but have refrained from expressing disagreement towards the other grandmother. She has had an experience where one of these entities attempted to strangle her, so I do worry about her. It is evident that Satan wants to exert dominance on her life. I appreciate your kind words, Jane, and your prayers. Thank you.
I will add the other grandmother to my prayers...Royce
Fear the love that is God.
Three questions concerning the "fear God".
1. What is the fear of the Lord?
Letting the Bible speak:
To fear God doesn't mean to be scared of Him, but it does mean to be in awe as we contemplate His absolute holiness, righteousness and justice! A biblical fear of God, for the believer, includes understanding how much God hates sin. To fear God is to find the balance between His great love for the sinner, and His great hatred against sin. Fearing God means having a reverence for Him that greatly impacts the way we live.
2. What seems to be a key issue in this balance?
God's forgiveness brings the right fear of God. He mixes grace (forgiveness and cleansing for those who call upon His name) with justice, (the penalty for sin was borne by our Creator Himself upon the cross)
Without God’s mercy and forgiveness we could never approach the Holy God, we'd be consumed in an instance. Without the cross, there would only be a fearful looking for the judgement.
As we look at the natural consequences of sin, our hearts should swell with gratitude for the One Who has made full provision for our pardon, cleansing and deliverance from sin. Even the act of wiping out all sin, is an act of love. God will not tolerate the heartache and pain of sin forever.
3. Results of "fearing God" with godly fear.
a. Confidence in a loving, righteous God, we can count on to rightly deal with all. A refuge as well as a deliverer. Prov. 14:27-28
b. The ability to appreciate the holiness and beauty of God's law and covenantal grace (Ps. 112:1)
c. A reverential worship, knowing we are in the presence of the King of kings, and Lord of lords.
d. A hatred for sin, as an enemy.
e. A longing to point people to our awesome God, so they can find forgiveness, cleansing and holiness in Christ, and eternal life with Jesus forever.
To fear God with the right fear leads us to love HIM, and others.
Beautifully said, Ulrike, and spot on!
I had to look up the word "froward," as it's a bit archaic. We don't seem to have a word to replace it. It means: "difficult to deal with; contrary."
I'm glad God doesn't like it when people speak or act in that way, making trouble just to make trouble, or for some selfish, manipulative end.
Have a blessed day!
Not often cited: Luke 1:50. His mercy is sure from generation to generation toward those who fear him. (NEB) This ties nicely with Psalms 130:4.
The fear of God may also mean respecting God with the heart. It couldn't be different, because if God is love, and in love there is freedom, there shouldn't be much fear in the feelings towards God. If we only fear God, we do not know Him... He sent His Son to give the whole universe a new perspective. Jesus represents the love of God for us, which existed before we were even born. Fear, respect, and awareness may be at the start of this relationship, but as we go deeper into it, we realize His (infinite) love can be much more critical than solely a sense of awe at His presence. Thank God for His Revelation!
After reading Ulrike's explanation of fearing God I, like R.G., find it hard to come up with more contribution to today's lesson of fearing God than you have. The lesson has good information also on the wonderful opportunity of choosing to fear God rather than falling into the wiles of the devil.
God bless you, Ulrike. I will definitely use your explanation.
I deeply and truly love my wife Susan! I have known her for over 60 years. I hold her in awe and respect, but I also fear her. That is because, in the time that we have been married, I have made a few mistakes, probably not as many as she thinks I have, but to her that doesn't make a great difference. I must also say probably more mistakes than I think I have. And I, on occasion, have had to absent myself from her presence to avoid the righteous wrath she had toward me.
It has been wisely said that hell has no fury like a woman scorned, I could give you many examples of a good working definition for that expression. She is a very good friend; she is a good sounding board. She loves her LORD like very few people do, and she loves her neighbor as herself.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of understanding!"
Have a blessed week… Royce
“The purpose of the book of Revelation for our generation is to prepare a people to be ready for Jesus’ soon return and to unite with Him in giving His last-day message to the world.”
I respectfully disagree. For me, the purpose of Revelation, to all generations, has been the revelation of Jesus and the victory he obtained on my (and your) behalf at the cross. Judgement comes, effectively, one death at a time, and our most relevant message to the world has to be of that great, incomprehensible love for us. I think we tend to worry just a bit too much about this world’s end. An entire theology has been built around the 3 angels' messages, and rightly so, but the end of the world and judgement for me may predate the “The End”. “Fear,” when speaking of God, would be replaced in my translation to boundless gratitude to God. I need to speak words that others understand. “Fear” is a ubiquitous term used today, and is not in my vocabulary when it comes to sharing a message about the Son, the Father or Holy Spirit.
Karen, as you correctly pointed out, the message of God's love for us and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is the most relevant and important message that we can share.
Today is already the 19th of April where I live, also the anniversary of a tragedy where “76 Branch Davidians: 25 children, two pregnant women, and the Davidian leader, David Koresh died.”
https://record.adventistchurch.com/2023/04/17/waco-anniversary-calls-for-adventist-reflection/
What lessons can we learn from them for now?
What lessons can we learn? I was impressed by one statement at the end of the article, interestingly borrowed from Ellen White.
When contemplating the example of God's Son, it might help us to revere Him instead of fear Him. His Son left His heavenly position to live as a mere man among God’s chosen people. As the Son of God, having great authority Himself, trusted in the Father’s Love, and Righteousness, now He offers this based-on-trust/faith-relationship to us – John14:10-19.
I see David intreating his son in the same way - encouraging him to accept his words as they are based on his love for him. “So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding. Yes, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding, if though seekest her as silver and searchest for he as for hid treasure, then shalt though understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.” – Prov.2:1-5
The lesson writer suggests that: “the essence of the great controversy revolves around submission to God.” I consider God's Love to elevate man by the creative power of the Spirit of Truth indwelling us – Gal.4:6; Rom.8:16; Rom.8:14; Gal.3:26. All His Love aims to instill in us is to develop a trusting relationship with Him.
He draws us to Himself by His Love - no other earthly reasoning will suffice as we decide to follow Him by faith. Like David intreated his son to allow his love for him to be the motivation to accept his words, so it is with us. We are able to love our heavenly Father because He instilled His love in us first; now our eyes are opening to trust our heavenly Father. What do we have to fear when we love Him? 1John4:18.
Your words are so beautiful and inspiring. They have touched my very soul. As I was reading your words, I was reminded of Matthew 5:43-45 that shows we should love our enemies, and Jesus showed me this love was in Him from the beginning, when He has loved us, even when we were His enemies. He always had a heart to give His life as a true sacrifice, taking on the suffering and death that we deserve so that we can come back to Him and have this same kind of love through the Spirit He brings to us, since this is who He is, and is in the Father, that it will be in us also. There is great joy in having this love within. In this, instead of suffering from the pain they shoot at us, love comes up to desire salvation for their souls. I find enemies are suffering from the lack of love. What they need most is to be loved.
Dear Celeste – you write that “enemies are suffering from the lack of love. What they need most is to be loved.” Yes, I believe as well that the very core of all humanity's suffering is the separation from our heavenly Father. He now calls upon us to allow Him to facilitate His 'Ministry of Healing' through us.
When following Jesus’ Sprit of Truth, the love of God in us gives us the strength to replace our response of ‘an eye for an eye’ with His response of ‘love your brother as you have been loved’. May all who seek to please the Father make ‘being changed into His Image' their life's greatest purpose.
Thank you, Brigitte, for your lovely reply.
Laughing can be a fearing-God-o-meter. What we laugh at and think is funny. What we don't laugh at and don't think is funny.
Consider sitcom TV shows through the decades (I'm American so I'm recalling American shows). Hasn't the humor become more questionable? Ok, I'm going to say "sinful". Children increasingly acting rudely towards adults and each other. Adults being caught in situations - through promiscuity or lying or other immoral ways - that are presented as being funny. Swearing frequently. The things the live or canned audience laughs at are often cringe-making. Also the reality shows, people laugh at fights and boasting and abuse of the body and other sinful situations. Late night TV, I'm thinking of one host who was raised Catholic who has regular segments with stereotypes of a white-bearded "God" with rolling blue eyes projected on the ceiling, booming out silly advice in a "God-voice",... and another regular segment with a confessional booth where he confesses ridiculous "sins" through the little screen to get an audience laugh. There are so many examples of laughing at sin and mocking God, just on TV.
We are to learn to fear God in our family dynamic from the time we are born. Moses passed on the instruction, "Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father..." (Lev. 19:3). A child trusts a parent who regularly meets his/her needs, and who in turn fears/respects "Someone". I saw this exemplified when I taught in Thailand in a rural northern border town....kids bowed to me in respect as I entered the classroom, and I in turn bowed to the elderly or to the school superintendent to show respect for age and authority. There was a chain of respect that gave stability. Actually, I never saw children sent to the principal's office as happens here. I recently recognized that the words "discipline" and "disciple" are related....meaning "teaching". Parents discipline - or teach - kids how adults behave and how they can get themselves to behave in the same ways, teach them limits, teach them good habits to establish for a lifetime. Just so, God teaches us how He behaves, about limits and habits. Has God met my needs well enough that I can trust Him to discipline/disciple me? If I laugh at things that challenge the boundaries He has so lovingly set for me, and ridicule His guidelines, I mock His authority over my life. Part of showing Him my highest respect is maintaining awe over His boundaries and discipline.
God hates sin because it separates us from Him and distorts the truth. For me, "fearing God" includes fearing to laugh off what God hates. A pure heart wants to "snatch others out of the fire...hating even the garment stained by the flesh" (Jude 1:23). Scripture tells us that fools mock sin’s guilt (Proverbs 14:9). A Christian laughs (Ps. 126:2) and has joy in the heart (Prov. 17:22), but only at the things God laughs at and joys over. Part of growing in grace, as I'm experiencing it, is recognizing how my sense of humor is changing. James says it so well:
This is what the author of the lesson wrote.
"Do you know the question?" I asked myself.
Is God still first in my life? Upon reflection, I can simply say that God no longer has 100% preeminence in my life. From discussions with other brethren, I have realized that they also have the same problems, where the desire to accumulate wealth is more than the desire to spend time with God...
May God help me. May God help us to put Him first in everything...
There is a song which says, "Not I but Christ"...
Many times it's I and my family, then God is second or third...