In our quest for a deeper relationship with God and a desire to see revival in our churches and communities, we often overlook a crucial aspect of our faith: the fear of the Lord. This concept, far from being an outdated Old Testament idea, is a vital component of a healthy, vibrant Christian life.
The Bible is replete with examples of individuals encountering God and being overwhelmed by His presence. Moses, upon seeing the burning bush, was so afraid he couldn’t look directly at it. Isaiah, when given a vision of God’s throne room, cried out, “Woe is me!” Daniel, accustomed to angelic visitations, found himself utterly helpless when confronted with a vision of the glorified Christ.
Even in the New Testament, we see this pattern continue. Peter, James, and John, who walked and talked with Jesus daily, fell face-down in terror when they witnessed His transfiguration. The Apostle John, who had leaned on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper, fell as though dead when he encountered the risen Christ on Patmos.
These accounts challenge our modern, often overly casual approach to God. They remind us that while God is indeed our loving Father, He is also the almighty, holy Creator of the universe. This tension between God’s immanence (His closeness to us) and His transcendence (His otherness and majesty) is something we must learn to navigate.
Unfortunately, in recent years, there has been a trend in some Christian circles to emphasize God’s love and grace to the exclusion of His holiness and justice. This imbalance has led to what some call “hyper-grace” or “woke grace” – a distortion of biblical teaching that downplays the reality of sin and the need for repentance.
The consequences of losing the fear of the Lord are severe. Proverbs tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” and that it is “a fountain of life.” Without it, we are prone to foolishness, moral decline, and a lack of spiritual discernment. We may find ourselves justifying sin, misinterpreting God’s patience as approval, or falling into the trap of false teaching.
It’s crucial to understand that the biblical concept of fearing God is not about being terrified of Him. Rather, it’s a deep reverence and awe that leads to obedience and worship. It’s recognizing God for who He truly is and responding appropriately.
This fear of the Lord is closely tied to our understanding of God’s judgment. While it’s true that believers in Christ no longer face condemnation, the New Testament still speaks of a coming judgment. Jesus Himself warned His disciples to fear God who has the power to cast into hell (Luke 12:4-5). The author of Hebrews reminds us that “our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).
These are not popular teachings in many churches today. There’s a tendency to skip over the “hard” parts of Scripture or to reinterpret them in ways that fit our modern sensibilities. But in doing so, we rob ourselves and our fellow believers of the full counsel of God.
Recovering a biblical understanding of the fear of the Lord is essential if we truly want to see revival. Throughout history, great moves of God have been preceded by periods of deep, earnest prayer and fasting. People cried out to God, recognizing their own unworthiness and desperately seeking His intervention.
Interestingly, when revival does come, it often spreads to places where people haven’t “paid the price” in prayer and fasting. This is a testament to God’s mercy. However, without a foundation of reverence for God, these revivals tend to be short-lived.
So how do we cultivate this healthy fear of the Lord? It starts with immersing ourselves in Scripture, allowing God’s Word to shape our understanding of who He is. We need to meditate on both God’s love and His holiness, His mercy and His justice.
We should also be open to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. While it’s true that there is no condemnation for those in Christ, the Spirit still convicts believers of sin. This conviction is an act of grace, preserving us from the destructive consequences of sin and drawing us closer to God.
Practical steps might include examining our speech (are we prone to coarse joking or gossip?), our attitudes (do we struggle with pride or judgmentalism?), and our actions (are we living lives of integrity, even in small matters?). One believer shared how the Holy Spirit convicted her about taking an extra plastic bag at the grocery store – a small thing, perhaps, but an indication of a heart sensitive to God’s leading.
As we grow in the fear of the Lord, we’ll find that it doesn’t diminish our experience of God’s love. On the contrary, it enhances it. We’ll appreciate His grace more deeply when we understand the gravity of our sin. We’ll worship more fervently when we glimpse His majesty. And we’ll walk in greater wisdom and discernment as we navigate life’s challenges.
In conclusion, if we truly desire more of God’s presence and power in our lives and churches, we must be willing to surrender more fully to Him. This means embracing not just the comfortable aspects of our faith, but also the challenging ones. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and confront areas of compromise or disobedience.
The fear of the Lord is not a popular message, but it is a necessary one. As we recover this vital aspect of our faith, we position ourselves for genuine revival – not just emotional experiences, but deep, lasting transformation that impacts our communities and glorifies God.
May we have the courage to pray, like Isaiah, “Here am I, send me,” even as we recognize our own unworthiness before a holy God. And may we, like the disciples on the mount of transfiguration, fall on our faces in awe, only to be lifted up by the gentle touch of our Savior, who says, “Do not be afraid.”
