With reports of manipulation and abuse by well-known pastors and priests in our nation ever rising, how should we respond? It seems as though many Christian leaders are pursuing their own agendas rather than fearing the Lord and helping the Bride prepare for the return of Jesus Christ. What should we do? In the face of political strife and intense division within families, how should we respond?
Day 3: Fear the Lord
Through David, God teaches us, “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether” (ESV).
We don’t really love the words “fear” and “rules” but safety is found there. Covering is found there. Freedom is found there. Instead of wanting to please our church leaders or others of influence, our greatest desire must be to please our Lord. Jesus taught, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28, NKJV).
To fear the Lord more than we fear man means to hold God highest and care more about what He thinks than anyone else, and to truly live to please Him. Healthy fear comes when we have a heart filled with awe, respect, and reverence for the magnificent glory, perfection, holiness, kindness, and steadfastness of God. Don’t we long to be kept clean deep on the inside, free from fear and filled with securing faith - believing that God is keeping and leading us as we are keeping ourselves in Him (See Psalm 121 & Jude 1:20-21)? This deep, inner peace is possible - by fearing the LORD.
The fear of God is clean and it keeps us clean. It keeps us on the right path. It keeps us right before the Lord and helps us relate to Him, our leaders, and one another rightly.
To grow in the fear of the Lord, let’s compare two of Israel’s leaders, King Saul and King David. 1 Samuel 15 holds the story of God sending the Israelites into battle against their enemy, the Amalekites. Through the prophet Samuel, God instructed Saul and his army to destroy everything belonging to the enemy, including its king. But Saul disobeyed, allowing the king of Amalek to live, along with some of the best livestock. Samuel responds, “Now the Lord sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the Lord?” (Vs. 18-19).
Saul responds, “But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal” (v. 21).
After Samuel chastises King Saul, Saul finally gives the real reason for his disobedience. Look at this: "Then Saul said to Samuel, ‘I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice’” (v. 24). Instead of fearing God, Saul feared the people and this caused him to disobey the Lord. Notice Saul's sad ending, “And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel” (vs. 35).
Let’s now contrast King Saul to King David. In 2 Samuel chapter 6 we read the story of David and 30,000 of his choice men bringing the Ark of the Lord (the place where God’s presence dwelt) back to the City of David. They had just seen a man killed because they didn’t honor the ark and carry it the way God had required. Fear of the Lord was fresh in David’s mind, but it didn’t keep him away from God. It kept him pure before God and able to see Him rightly, so he could come near to God to honor and worship Him.
Scripture says, “So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet” (vs. 12b-15).
David was able to fear the Lord and also demonstrate a lavish, first love for Him. The story goes on to say, “Now as the ark of the Lord came into the City of David, Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart” (v. 16).
David’s own wife mocked him for his extravagant display of honor, appreciation and love for the Lord. Look at David’s response, “And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor” (v. 22).
Fear of the people kept Saul from fearing God. Fear of the Lord kept David clean. It will keep us clean. It will allow us to come close to God and not be consumed because of sin. It will help us live unto the Lord instead of man. Fearing God above all else will free us from the temptation to please people. This perspective and position will help us humble ourselves before the Lord and live only to please and honor Him.
Receive this promise: “The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning” (Psalm 25:14, AMPC).
Let's Pray
Father God,
Thank You for Your correction. We receive it with grattitude, because it shows You love us and we know that it is for our good.
Help us seek You first. Help us find You in Your Word and see You as You really are - set holy and set apart.
We agree with Psalm 89:8-9: "O Lord God of hosts, who is like You, O mighty Lord? Your faithfulness surrounds You [as an intrinsic, unchangeable part of Your very being]. You rule the swelling of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them" (AMP).
LORD, there is no one like You!
Forgive us for fearing people and putting more importance on what man thinks than what You think.
We want to be ready for Your return. We want to be clean and set apart, watching for You.
Help us, Your Church, Your bride, to fear You above all else.
Help us be like David, demonstrating our love with abandon and walking in our highest calling as we live fully unto You.
In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
(PS - See you here tomorrow for Day Four - "Renew Your Mind Daily & Practice Discernment")
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