1.0 God’s Promise
The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) comes with His Promises – no single aspect of the Christian life carries with it greater of God’s Promise of Blessings than to the Individual Believer and the Church who walks in the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God), will experience Sevenfold Blessings:
First, God’s Wisdom
There is a difference between Intellect (acquisition of Knowledge) and God’s Wisdom (Divine Insight & Application) – an Individual can be brainy but if he denies the Existence of God, he is a fool – Psalm 14:1 “The fool that said in his heart, there is no God.” God’s Wisdom comes to an Individual Believer or the Church, who has Reverential Fear of Him (God):
- Job 28:28 “Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom.”
- Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom: a good understanding has all they that do His Commandments.’
An Individual Believer or Church who walks in Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) is Wise because God directs his steps – Psalm 37:23 “the steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way.” It is difficult to be obedient to God’s Word, if the Individual Believer does not have the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) – Hebrews 3:6 “Christ (is) as a Son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” – Hebrews 3:6 is God’s conditional Promise – its fulfilment is based on the Individual Believer’s respond – if the Individual Believer holds fast to God’s Word that comes to him, if he has ear to hear what God’s Spirit is saying to him, then God’s Promise will be fulfilled
Second, God’s Cleanses
Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) is like a disinfectant – Psalm 19:9 “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:…..” – keeping the Individual Believer morally and spiritually clean; an Individual Believer who does not have Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) tends to become defiled more easily. The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) does not only disinfect (clean); but it endures forever (Psalm 19:9b) – it keeps the Individual Believer not only from defilement but also keeps him from making stupid mistakes; that he tends to make, if he is not walking in the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God).
Third, God’s Guidance & Prosperity
The Individual Believer who walks in Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) will be guided by God and he will prosper in God – Psalm 25:12-14 “Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teaches in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his Descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them his Covenant.”
- God Provides Guidance – “He teaches in the way He chooses.”
- God Offers true Prosperity – “He (Individual) himself shall dwell in prosperity.” – The prosperity is more than financial but the total well-being.
- God’s Provides for his Descendants – “His Descendants shall inherit the earth.”
- God Reveals His Secret to him – “The Secret of the LORD is with him.” (Deuteronomy 29;29).
- God Reveals His (God’s) Covenant to him – “He will show them His {God’s} Covenant.”
Our Lord Jesus assured the Individual Believer and the Church that “No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for Him and the Gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30). But God’s Blessings are always in association with the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God); and not out of self-interest.
Fourth, Long Life
God’s Assurance that the Individual Believer who walks in the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) will have long, satisfying, and fruitful life – Proverbs 10:27 “The fear of the LORD prolongs days; but the years of the Wicked will be shortened.” Rebellion with disobedience can shorten the Individual Believer’s life on the Earth – Proverbs 10:27b “But the years of theWwicked will be shortened.” Individual Believer who does not walk in the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) tend to be careless in “Discerning the Lord’s Body” to his disadvantage – 1Corinthians 11:29-30 “For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgement go himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason, many are weak and sick among you and many died prematurely.” Every time Believers gathered to partake of the Lord’s Table, it is vitally important that we truly Discern the Lord’s Body. But what does it mean to Discern the Lord’s Body? A study of the Corinthians Epistle reveals that there is a twofold aspect of the Lord’s Body, that is: (1) Christ’s Physical Body; (2) Christ’s Spiritual Body, the Church.
1. Discerning Christ’s Physical Body
When Jesus took bread and said to His Disciples, “Take, eat, this is My body broken for you……” (Matthew 26:26b):
- Jesus is referring to His Physical Body that was to be crucified.
- Christ in His Physical Body bore our sins – 1Peter 2:24a “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree (Cross)…….”
- Christ, in His Physical Body bare our sicknesses, our diseases and death and it is by His strips we are healed (1Peter 2:24b; Isaiah 53:5).
In Discerning Christ’s Physical Body, we discern that Jesus took our sins, our sicknesses and our diseases and our spiritual death – there is forgiveness, healings, health and wholeness and life in the Body of Jesus, broken for us.
2. Discerning Christ’s Spiritual Body
The second aspect of Discerning Christ’s Body has to do with the Church – the Body of Christ:
- Apostle Paul reminds us that the Church is a “Many-Members-Body” (1Corinthians 10:17).
- The relationship is the main emphasis – In the Corinthians Church there was criticism, backbiting, strife, personality clashes, divisions, party-spirit (taking-sides in disputes), etc.
- How can the Corinthians Church truly discern Christ’s Body in Christ’s Members with such rife carnality?
How many Believers failed to discern these two aspects of Christ’s Body (His Physical Body & Spiritual Body – the Church). How many of us see the Lord’s Table (Communion) as a memorial service? Individually, we need to examine ourselves, making sure that there are no unresolved conflicts with any members of the Body of Christ. There must be love, forgiveness and acceptance of one another as we gather to partake of the Communion. The theme: “one-another” is mentioned 75 times in God’s Word (Scripture). Individually, we can receive healing, strength, and Divine life, from Christ’s Body and shed Blood – this is what it means “to Discern the Lord’s Body!”
Fifth, God’s Confidence
The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) delivers the Individual Believer from all kinds of fears that torment him – Proverbs 14:26-27 “In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.” The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God):
- Is our Strong Confidence, in God, in adverse situations.
- Is a Place of Refuge, for our Descendants.
- Is a Fountain of Life.
- Prevents untimely accident & death – “Turn away from the snares of death.”
Sixth, Life & Satisfaction
The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) gives “life & satisfaction” – Proverbs 19:23 “the fear of the LORD leads to life and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.” This does not mean that the Individual Believer has trouble-free-life. It is in the face of “trouble,” that the Individual Believer find life and satisfaction. Because God gives him the ability and stamina to go through the problems without the devastation on his life. God will enable the Individual Believer to walk through trouble and not fear it. One of the Society’s problems is depression, arising out of fear; God will gives the Individual Believer, His (God’s) Perfect Peace, if he stays his mind in God – Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” God’s Assurance that the Individual Believer who walks in the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) will not be touched by evil – Proverbs 19:23 “the fear of the LORD leads to life and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited with evil.”
Seventh, Future Secured
The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) gives the Individual Believer and the Church a Secured Future:
- Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”
- Proverbs 23:17-18 “Let not thine heart envy Sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.”
The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God), is always associated with the spirit of humility, resulting in riches, honour, and life – Proverbs 22:4 “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” And also, the Individual Believer’s expectation would be fulfilled – Proverbs 23:18b “And thine expectation shall not be cut off.” Jesus’ submission & obedience, is God’s Assurance to us.
Summary
We should remember God’s Seven-fold Promises ({1} God’s Wisdom; {2} God’s Cleanses; {3} God’s Guidance & Prosperity; {4} Long Life; {5} God’s Confidence; {6} Life & Satisfaction; {7} Futured Secured) are the result of the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God). The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) should be taught, and should be the essential Character of the Church of Jesus Christ:
Teaches – The Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) can be taught – Psalm 34:11 “Come….I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” The Leaders of the Church need to study and explain both the concept and the application of the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) to their people (Psalm 78:1-7). The Principles in Psalm 78:1-7 applies to the home, the Church, and is Intergenerational.
Warns – The Individual Believer or the Church who refuses the Reverential Fear of the LORD (God) will be at a disadvantage, as God’s warns: “I (God) also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon Me, but I will not answer; they shall seek Me early, but they shall not find Me; for that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD; they would none of My counsel; they despised all My reproof. Therefore, shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them. But whoso hearkened unto Me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” (Proverbs 1:26-33, KJV)