Very, very good, Audrey -- preach it!!! I have also often wondered why the American Church of today is so weak in the "fear of the Lord". Of course, God's children who try to please Him should not fear Him as being mean, etc.. However, I don't think the fear component of "fear of the Lord" is all bad. The Bible actually supports peace and security in the love of God for those who keep His commandments, BUT fear of punishment for those who break those same commands, per 1 John 4:18. The "fear of the Lord" incorporates both. Fear of God's power and ability to punish is a healthy and necessary disincentive for wrongdoers. One reason for so little fear of the Lord among American Christians may be because current generations are often raised by indulgent parents who don't enforce their commands. The children are left without respect for authority. Young people then don't think God really means what He says, either. I have run into Christians that seem to think that obeying the Word of God is "optional". Also, many American born-again Christians may not have had a thorough conversion experience, and were at that time not challenged to make Jesus "Lord" as well as Savior. They have many compromised, unconfessed, unsurrendered, unconsecrated areas of their lives [2 Cor. 7:1; Gal 5:24; Rev. 3:19]. They do not realize that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy but, rather, God rules as a benevolent but supreme King. Likewise, modern American preaching tends to be "soft on sin" and to push "greasy grace". Many pastors paint only the love side of God, and not His holiness, justice and wrath against sin. They need to preach much more on repentance, both before and after salvation. Many churches are also weak in promoting the Word of God. Small wonder a healthy fear of the Lord is missing. American churches and evangelists have also stopped talking about Hell. Without an incentive to stay on the straight and narrow road, many won't and don't. I think it is a very healthy thing for both sinners and saints to know the two alternatives when deciding whether or not to follow Jesus. Matthew 10:28 "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Fear is not all bad; it can be very good -- and keep us safe. 1 Cor. 9:27 KJV; 2 Peter 1:10 Col. 3:5-6 (spoken to believers:) "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience...." The "wrath of God" fosters a healthy fear of the Lord!!!! Ananias and Saphira lying to the Holy Spirit and consequently being struck dead -- "So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things." Acts 5:5b+11 That healthy fear kept the new Church pure and free of sin. Here is another example of a healthy fear of authority figures, which includes God: Romans 13:3-4 "For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Hebrews 10:31 "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!" If enough American believers pray 2 Chron. 7:14, the Lord will awaken and purify His Bride, and send a spiritual awakening and harvest of souls. That is God's promise and my personal endeavor.
Thank you, Audrey and team, for releasing this word today.
Really enjoy studying the fear of the Lord. 😊 ✝ ❤
Thank you so much for sharing this today. It was an answer to prayer for me. Happy New Year and May God continue to Bless and use you mightly ❤
Very, very good, Audrey -- preach it!!!
I have also often wondered why the American Church of today is so weak in the "fear of the Lord". Of course, God's children who try to please Him should not fear Him as being mean, etc.. However, I don't think the fear component of "fear of the Lord" is all bad. The Bible actually supports peace and security in the love of God for those who keep His commandments, BUT fear of punishment for those who break those same commands, per 1 John 4:18. The "fear of the Lord" incorporates both. Fear of God's power and ability to punish is a healthy and necessary disincentive for wrongdoers.
One reason for so little fear of the Lord among American Christians may be because current generations are often raised by indulgent parents who don't enforce their commands. The children are left without respect for authority. Young people then don't think God really means what He says, either. I have run into Christians that seem to think that obeying the Word of God is "optional".
Also, many American born-again Christians may not have had a thorough conversion experience, and were at that time not challenged to make Jesus "Lord" as well as Savior. They have many compromised, unconfessed, unsurrendered, unconsecrated areas of their lives [2 Cor. 7:1; Gal 5:24; Rev. 3:19]. They do not realize that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy but, rather, God rules as a benevolent but supreme King.
Likewise, modern American preaching tends to be "soft on sin" and to push "greasy grace". Many pastors paint only the love side of God, and not His holiness, justice and wrath against sin. They need to preach much more on repentance, both before and after salvation. Many churches are also weak in promoting the Word of God. Small wonder a healthy fear of the Lord is missing.
American churches and evangelists have also stopped talking about Hell. Without an incentive to stay on the straight and narrow road, many won't and don't. I think it is a very healthy thing for both sinners and saints to know the two alternatives when deciding whether or not to follow Jesus.
Matthew 10:28
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Fear is not all bad; it can be very good -- and keep us safe.
1 Cor. 9:27 KJV; 2 Peter 1:10
Col. 3:5-6 (spoken to believers:)
"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience...."
The "wrath of God" fosters a healthy fear of the Lord!!!!
Ananias and Saphira lying to the Holy Spirit and consequently being struck dead -- "So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things." Acts 5:5b+11
That healthy fear kept the new Church pure and free of sin.
Here is another example of a healthy fear of authority figures, which includes God:
Romans 13:3-4
"For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer."
Hebrews 10:31
"It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God!"
If enough American believers pray 2 Chron. 7:14, the Lord will awaken and purify His Bride, and send a spiritual awakening and harvest of souls. That is God's promise and my personal endeavor.
Thank you, Audrey and team, for releasing this word today.