Your Fear Derives From...

[HAMel]

A hard lesson to grasp.

Our fear of God should not come from what we understand about Him, or from what we read about Him, or from what we are told about Him, or what we think about Him but rather..., our fear should be the result of what we don't understand about Him.

Our Lord's awesomeness is above anything we could even begin to remotely conceive in our feeble state. Coming to this awareness should generate genuine "fear" in all of us as being a Christian is serious business!

...no half-stepping, no soft shoe, no games, no hypocrisy, no ego trips, no holier-than-thou mentalities, no nonsense, no works trying to impress as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

 

[Darrell C]

A hard lesson to grasp.

Our fear of God should not come from what we understand about Him, or from what we read about Him, or from what we are told about Him, or what we think about Him but rather..., our fear should be the result of what we don't understand about Him.

Our Lord's awesomeness is above anything we could even begin to remotely conceive in our feeble state. Coming to this awareness should generate genuine "fear" in all of us as being a Christian is serious business!

...no half-stepping, no soft shoe, no games, no hypocrisy, no ego trips, no holier-than-thou mentalities, no nonsense, no works trying to impress as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

There are, I believe, many aspects to a sound fear of God. There is a battle between what God has revealed and taught man, and what man has learned and taught himself. God has given us His Word for the express purpose of knowledge concerning Himself, which is intended to counter man's natural inclinations due to his nature.

When we fear God there leaves little room for a haughty spirit and a reliance on self. It is when we place an emphasis on what we have learned that what God means to teach us is dampened.

God bless.

 

[righteousdude2]

A hard lesson to grasp.

Our fear of God should not come from what we understand about Him, or from what we read about Him, or from what we are told about Him, or what we think about Him but rather..., our fear should be the result of what we don't understand about Him.

Our Lord's awesomeness is above anything we could even begin to remotely conceive in our feeble state. Coming to this awareness should generate genuine "fear" in all of us as being a Christian is serious business!

...no half-stepping, no soft shoe, no games, no hypocrisy, no ego trips, no holier-than-thou mentalities, no nonsense, no works trying to impress as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

I agree with you words, especially the last paragraph. Sometimes I seriously wonder how the church can claim to fear (respect) God when I read the unkind, judgmental words they leave in response to their fellow brothers and sisters. Plus there is the growing racial divide, it's even in the church, and if we can't love each other, putting doctrinal, racial, gender and financial status and ideals aside, how can we claim to fear God?


There are definitely times on this forum that I wonder if any of us are truly ready for living together forever, when we can't respect difference here and now. We are here to be growing, but it is clear that many have stagnated in their own arrogance, pride, theology and political differences.

This OP is well said and challenging, however, snarky, sarcastic, vitoral and acrid tones in speaking to one another shows that there is no way we can love and respect our God whom we've not yet seen, when we spend post after post belittling those we can see.:tear:

 

[Darrell C]

This OP is well said and challenging, however, snarky, sarcastic, vitoral and acrid tones in speaking to one another shows that there is no way we can love and respect our God whom we've not yet seen, when we spend post after post belittling those we can see.:tear:

This is perhaps the greatest challenge to us in forum discussion: making it a point not to offend, not to get emotional, and not to think too highly of ourselves. But you make a great point: if we cannot show love to those openly professing faith in Christ...how can we say we love God?

But the difference may be a similarity, so to speak, because most of this is anonymous and our antagonists faceless and unknown. I know I have been guilty numerous times of speaking to others in a manner I would not if it were a face to face conversation, though I do admit I am pretty much as straightforward in my face to faces as I am online. I try to keep that in mind: "Would I speak to this person like this if they were in front of me?"


God bless.

 

[righteousdude2]

This is perhaps the greatest challenge to us in forum discussion: making it a point not to offend, not to get emotional, and not to think too highly of ourselves. But you make a great point: if we cannot show love to those openly professing faith in Christ...how can we say we love God?

But the difference may be a similarity, so to speak, because most of this is anonymous and our antagonists faceless and unknown. I know I have been guilty numerous times of speaking to others in a manner I would not if it were a face to face conversation, though I do admit I am pretty much as straightforward in my face to faces as I am online. I try to keep that in mind: "Would I speak to this person like this if they were in front of me?"


God bless.

Thanks for the kudos, Darrell .... I didn't expect any, but hoped the truth of what you came upon, did serve to be a knock on the hearts of all who hide behind their keyboard, speaking things they'd dare not speak, in person. And if they are that way in person, to another calling themselves parts of the Family of God; I would think they need to reflect and ask to seek God, because the overall rudeness and acrid comments do not go far in being like Christ!

Shalom to to you! raying:

 

[go2church]

A hard lesson to grasp.

Our fear of God should not come from what we understand about Him, or from what we read about Him, or from what we are told about Him, or what we think about Him but rather..., our fear should be the result of what we don't understand about Him.

Our Lord's awesomeness is above anything we could even begin to remotely conceive in our feeble state. Coming to this awareness should generate genuine "fear" in all of us as being a Christian is serious business!

...no half-stepping, no soft shoe, no games, no hypocrisy, no ego trips, no holier-than-thou mentalities, no nonsense, no works trying to impress as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Could you explain the first paragraph. How exactly do we fear what we don't know? If we don't know it, how can doing anything much less fear. This seems to be counter to the reality that God revealed himself in Jesus precisely to be known.

 

[HAMel]

Could you explain the first paragraph. How exactly do we fear what we don't know? If we don't know it, how can doing anything much less fear. This seems to be counter to the reality that God revealed himself in Jesus precisely to be known.

go2church..., over the years I have come to respect anything under pressure. Boilers; hot water tanks; over inflated tires; people; rabid animals; etc. Anything under pressure can explode on you in a heart beat and I usually approach such situations with caution. Consider an over inflated balloon a child plays with. After a bit it pops.

For sure, our Lord is not under any pressure at all.

For those who consider themselves God's Right Hand Man with all insight(s) and understanding and knowledge and wisdom, have smugly elevated themselves to a point that when they fall..., there will be no safety net strong enough to save them.

The fact that we don't "know" and "understand" our Lord's awesomeness is reason enough to fear that unknown. Not that we are to cower in a corner someplace trembling with terror but rather, that fear which causes honor and respect from us for who He is. What we do know about Him, from His Word, is often so far over our heads we simply accept it and move along.

We are instructed to work out our own "salvation with fear and trembling". The "fear" in this matter is referring to, in my opinion, realizing and coming to grips with the promise of the final outcome should one reject Him. Just consider opening your eyes in Hell. Pop. There goes the balloon! Talk about stark terror at this point.

I fear God but know that He loves me. As a child I feared my parents which kept me in line and out of trouble, all the while I knew they loved me.

 

[Darrell C]

Thanks for the kudos, Darrell .... I didn't expect any, but hoped the truth of what you came upon, did serve to be a knock on the hearts of all who hide behind their keyboard, speaking things they'd dare not speak, in person. And if they are that way in person, to another calling themselves parts of the Family of God; I would think they need to reflect and ask to seek God, because the overall rudeness and acrid comments do not go far in being like Christ!

Shalom to to you! raying:

I look at it as the single greatest challenge every time I go to a new forum. Sometimes I do well, sometimes not. Here is the challenge: can we turn a hostile situation around...by maintaining self control?

And here's the thing to keep in mind:


Galatians 5:21-23

King James Version (KJV)

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.


I have become increasingly made aware that self control...is not optional for the Christian. It is a goad to my conscience when I fail to maintain self control. But it is not until we make it a point to develop self control that we begin doing that. At least for that is the case. Isn't the goal to be able to...talk to people? lol


As I said, it the single greatest challenge in forum discussion.

Peace.

God bless.

 

[Darrell C]

Could you explain the first paragraph. How exactly do we fear what we don't know? If we don't know it, how can doing anything much less fear. This seems to be counter to the reality that God revealed himself in Jesus precisely to be known.

A good question. I can think of one fear that many believers have: whether or not they are saved.

But I agree, God has made an effort from the beginning for man to have knowledge of Himself, that is His intention for all men, that they know Him, and is promised in the New Covenant:


Hebrews 8:10-11

King James Version (KJV)

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.


Going back to the fear of uncertainty pertaining to salvation, this is best addressed by the very effort God has put forth for us to know Him better, that is, the Word of God.


God bless.

 

[go2church]

Could you explain the first paragraph. How exactly do we fear what we don't know? If we don't know it, how can doing anything much less fear. This seems to be counter to the reality that God revealed himself in Jesus precisely to be known.

go2church..., over the years I have come to respect anything under pressure. Boilers; hot water tanks; over inflated tires; people; rabid animals; etc. Anything under pressure can explode on you in a heart beat and I usually approach such situations with caution. Consider an over inflated balloon a child plays with. After a bit it pops.

For sure, our Lord is not under any pressure at all.

For those who consider themselves God's Right Hand Man with all insight(s) and understanding and knowledge and wisdom, have smugly elevated themselves to a point that when they fall..., there will be no safety net strong enough to save them.

The fact that we don't "know" and "understand" our Lord's awesomeness is reason enough to fear that unknown. Not that we are to cower in a corner someplace trembling with terror but rather, that fear which causes honor and respect from us for who He is. What we do know about Him, from His Word, is often so far over our heads we simply accept it and move along.

We are instructed to work out our own "salvation with fear and trembling". The "fear" in this matter is referring to, in my opinion, realizing and coming to grips with the promise of the final outcome should one reject Him. Just consider opening your eyes in Hell. Pop. There goes the balloon! Talk about stark terror at this point.

I fear God but know that He loves me. As a child I feared my parents which kept me in line and out of trouble, all the while I knew they loved me.

I appreciate your time trying to explain it to me. I guess I'm stuck on the whole fear the unknown thing in relationship to God when there is Jesus. The revelation of God sent to save the world not condemn it, sent to remove fear. Perhaps fear is not precise enough a word to communicate what your trying to say.

 

[HAMel]

go2chruch, this "fear" equates to reverence of God. Respect of and for God. To justify our praising of the Lord.

It's common to hear others speak of "their ministry". "I" doo's dis' and "I" does dat' and "my" ministry is..., when in fact these folks should be thankful they are taking their next breath. If anyone has any kind of "ministry" at all they should be reverencing the Lord with "fear" considering He has called them. Not because they are so good the Lord needs them but because they were chosen for His good pleasure.

On our best days we are but dirty rags. Dirty rags translates to "fear".

 

[Darrell C]

go2chruch, this "fear" equates to reverence of God. Respect of and for God. To justify our praising of the Lord.

It's common to hear others speak of "their ministry". "I" doo's dis' and "I" does dat' and "my" ministry is..., when in fact these folks should be thankful they are taking their next breath. If anyone has any kind of "ministry" at all they should be reverencing the Lord with "fear" considering He has called them. Not because they are so good the Lord needs them but because they were chosen for His good pleasure.

On our best days we are but dirty rags. Dirty rags translates to "fear".

I would agree that fear of the Lord includes "reverence" and "reverential awe" as many like to define it, but I do not see it as limited to reverence, but actual fear. It would, I believe, look something like this:


Revelation 1:17

King James Version (KJV)

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:


While John had nothing to fear in the practical sense, it does show John had a proper understanding of Who he stood before.


God bless.

 

[Yeshua1]

I appreciate your time trying to explain it to me. I guess I'm stuck on the whole fear the unknown thing in relationship to God when there is Jesus. The revelation of God sent to save the world not condemn it, sent to remove fear. Perhaps fear is not precise enough a word to communicate what your trying to say.

Peter shows to us that he had a healthy fear of being near jesus, as he was well aware of his sinfulness before a perfect saviour!

EVERY time men and women in the bible were made really aware of the real presense of god, Holy fear came upon them, see John when he faced the risen christ!