Jan 13, 2009
The Fear of the Lord
Posted on 12:21 AM by Kung-Li Deng
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" Proverb 9:10
This is one verse I have been taught since I was as little as 5-6 year old by my parents. This verse was taught, mentioned, admonished, reminded over and over again in kitchen table, living room, daily family pray time and, of course, numerous time-out sessions. It has kept me going through most of my school years. As in the Asian culture, "wisdom" sometimes equals to higher education and A+ grades. But this verse has been doing much more than just good grades for me: it keeps me stand in good ground when nobody else is looking over me but myself.
Agape is God's Love for His church (house)
As we are starting a new house church, a new "wineskin", for the Lord in 2009, "the fear of the Lord" suddenly comes to me as the most important founding aspect of a House of God. Today, a lot of God's houses do not preach or mention the fear of the Lord any more, simply regarding it to be the Old testament phrase or mentality. A lot of them are asking: " Isn't God all love? How can we mention the fear of God in His house, His church?" The answer is that Agape is God's love, especially His unconditional love for us as sinner but moreover, it refers to Christ's love for church, which is pure "For love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave It burns like blazing fire, like might flame" Song of Songs 8:6
Christ has a burning love for His bride to be pure and blameless!!
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of His House
In the book of Act, chapter 5 verse 11, the fear of the Lord was mentioned
11 “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”
After Ananias and his wife, Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit in front of Apostle Peter, they both fell down one after another at Peter’s feet and died. Does this really sound like in the New Testament era? By today’s common attitude in the church, this might have been too strict for most of churches. This “bad” publicity should have “scared” all congregation to flee the church. In the contrast, verse 14
14 “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believe in the Lord and were added to their number.”
It is very clear here that the fear of the Lord is a very healthy element, a necessary founding stone to His House.
Living in the fear of God is good for His church
In Act 9:31, the fear of God was mentioned again. This time, it was also associated with another wave of growing in His body
31 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
I think I found a magical piece, a missing piece, to complete the so called “church growth” puzzle: living in the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is “livable”, which means that it dwelt very well in every aspect of the Early churches: their house gathering, prayer, supper, conversation, even their spare time. A house church, though in every aspect should be kept simple and informal, needs to be pure and blameless in the eyes of God.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of His House
In the book of Act, chapter 5 verse 11, the fear of the Lord was mentioned
11 “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.”
After Ananias and his wife, Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit in front of Apostle Peter, they both fell down one after another at Peter’s feet and died. Does this really sound like in the New Testament era? By today’s common attitude in the church, this might have been too strict for most of churches. This “bad” publicity should have “scared” all congregation to flee the church. In the contrast, verse 14
14 “Nevertheless, more and more men and women believe in the Lord and were added to their number.”
It is very clear here that the fear of the Lord is a very healthy element, a necessary founding stone to His House.
Living in the fear of God is good for His church
In Act 9:31, the fear of God was mentioned again. This time, it was also associated with another wave of growing in His body
31 “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
I think I found a magical piece, a missing piece, to complete the so called “church growth” puzzle: living in the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is “livable”, which means that it dwelt very well in every aspect of the Early churches: their house gathering, prayer, supper, conversation, even their spare time. A house church, though in every aspect should be kept simple and informal, needs to be pure and blameless in the eyes of God.
The Fear of the Lord drives out all other fears
Remember that churches were still being persecuted in Act 9 and you can image that they could have lived in great fear of being put into prison, losing family, jobs and so on. However, the fear of the Lord was mentioned here. You can see a principle that is working here: the fear of God can drive out all other fears, such as fear of death, insecurity, losing health, financial crisis. If one can have a proper reverence for God for who He is, he or she will not be easily shaken by what is going on outside.
Agape House DOs and Don’ts
Ephesians 5:3-21 gives us a very clear picture of what NOT TO DO and what TO DO
Not to do: 3: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people
Not to do: 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving
Not to hear: 6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
The recommendation from Paul what to do with these people who do the Don’ts
7: Do not be partners with them
And what a blessing to follow God's step living as the children of the light:
To do: 9 Live as the children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and
10 find out what pleases the Lord
18.. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (fear of Christ)
The fear of Christ is mentioned again here for a church life.
Yes, we, as the children of God, should live a life of love (5:2) but this love is the AGAPE love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…..
Let use these words to encourage each other to live in the fear of the Lord!!
Agape House DOs and Don’ts
Ephesians 5:3-21 gives us a very clear picture of what NOT TO DO and what TO DO
Not to do: 3: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people
Not to do: 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving
Not to hear: 6: Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
The recommendation from Paul what to do with these people who do the Don’ts
7: Do not be partners with them
And what a blessing to follow God's step living as the children of the light:
To do: 9 Live as the children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and
10 find out what pleases the Lord
18.. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (fear of Christ)
The fear of Christ is mentioned again here for a church life.
Yes, we, as the children of God, should live a life of love (5:2) but this love is the AGAPE love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…..
Let use these words to encourage each other to live in the fear of the Lord!!
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