Last week the tension of maintaining a balance in our hearts between being “ROOTED AND GROUNDED IN LOVE” and “WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD” was addressed. Acts 9:31 clearly states this balance and Dr. Luke the author of Acts summarized how the early church expressed the life of God by, “WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD AND THE COMFORT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.”
It is important to drill a little deeper into this truth and what it practically means to actually “WALK IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD.” To be candid, in light of current events and the shaking that is taking place globally, I can not think of a more “kairos” or vital moment to address this theme.
I. Biblical Definitions – Old & New Testaments
a. The word “fear” translated into English from both the Hebrew (OT) and Greek (NT) mean essentially the same thing and are to be understood based upon the context where they are used.
i. OT – Fear = “denotes both a sense of terror or a sense of awe and worship” determined by the context.
1. “Fear” as terror – After Adam sinned he was afraid. Moses after he committed murder feared. Gideon feared his father’s household when he destroyed the family idol. This was not a reverential fear, but rather a fear of consequences that struck terror in their hearts .
2. “Fear” as reverence and worship – Deut 10:12-13 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” (Ref. Deut 5:29 & 33)
ii. NT – (Fear = phobos(n)) – Can mean “fright, alarm, terror”, but it can also mean “awe & reverence.” The reaction of the shepherds in the field when the angels appeared announcing the birth of Jesus was “fear.” The gospels tell us that the people were in “fear” of the Jewish leaders. The book of Hebrews tells us that people live their entire lives with the “fear of death.” (According to Hebrews 2:14-15, this fear is taken away in Jesus, because Jesus “destroyed him who had power over death ,that is the devil.”
1. The NT admonishes us to have a proper fear of God, understanding that “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Heb 2:13
2. Cornelius & “whoever” – Acts 10:22 “The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” Acts 10:34-35 “Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts me (whomever) from every nation who fear him and do what is right.”
II. Blessings, Promises, Favor - THE FEAR OF THE LORD
a. Ps 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.
b. Ps 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy,
c. Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
d. Ps 34:9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
e. Ps 85:9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in our land.
f. Ps 103:11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
g. Ps 103:13 As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
h. Ps 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children,
i. Ps 111:5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.
j. Ps 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
k. Ps 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.
l. Lu 1:50* And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
m. Heb 11:7* By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
III. GREAT GRACE, GREAT POWER, GREAT FEAR – Biblical Triad
a. Acts 4:33* “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.”
i. As the early church lived out Christianity and influenced the world, Acts tells us that GREAT POWER AND GREAT GRACE was upon them ALL.
ii. Acts 5:1-4 tells us that Satan enters the scene of the early church and influences two believers to misrepresent and intentionally try to deceive Peter and the early church. The consequences of their hypocrisy cost them their lives.
1. Ac 5:5* Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
2. Ac 5:11* So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
iii. A possible explanation for why the Lord took such drastic measures was to insure the foundation of the early church was free from hypocrisy.
1. 2Co 2:17* Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.
2. Acts 2:46-47 – “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
3. Sincerity is a foundation of Christianity. Because the early church lived their lives with such sincerity, they “enjoyed favor with all people.”
IV. What is our Responsibility?
a. Cry out to God for sincere hearts. Hearts that refuse to appear one way while living another way.
i. 1Ti 1:5* “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
b. Embrace 2 Corinthians 7:1, “perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Live our lives such that they really are separated unto the Lord, and pleasing in His sight.
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