The Fear of God

Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Christ is speaking here of the Father, not the devil. Note that Jesus is not saying that  death is a function of the devil as is commonly preached today  (This verse was spoken before Jesus’ resurrection and ascension.)

Revelation 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
This is spoken by was spoken by Christ quite some time after he had risen from the deah and ascended to be seated at the right hand of the father.  Despite the words of Christ preachers and evangelists the world over tell us that it is the devil and not Christ that has the power of death. I know a preacher who’s wife has been dying of cancer since last August and this Word of Faith preacher has steadfastly hour after hour day in and day out has spent an enormous amount of time and physical strength rebuking the devil for this sickness and disease that has struck his wife, and he is now rebuking devil over death.

To put this in perspective I greatly love this brother and his wife and the people in his Church and have been attending services there for the better part of a year. He is doing this because he has been taught to do this. But his situation is a bit more complicated than that he just found a biblical philosophy that he liked and became a servant of it.  A decade of so ago he was had been a bible believing Baptist and he discovered the baptism of the Holy Spirit along with healing and deliverance. He also has related that he was sick and dying and went to a faith hospital run by people associated with the Word of Faith teaching. He was terrified and they told him that only by right confession, and resisting the devil at the smallest sign of any symptom would he live. I believe that he was really healed – but after the healing that he was brought under the bondage of the man made traditions of these teachers and their ministries. So every day is an exhausting battle to live that centers around confessing specific verses for minutes if not hours,  and audibly rebuking devil for minutes and hours until he or his wife either feels relief or is too worn out to continue. Some will defend this lifestyle as “The Faith Walk” I no longer can.

The only walk we have been called to is one with Christ.  This is the worship of faith and this is the worship of healing above the person of Jesus Christ from whom both faith and healing flow. These patterns, these so-called immutable spiritual laws that our modern Faith Pharisees claim to see from Genesis to Revelation are like the waves on the troubles sea that toss to and fro all that are caught in their grasp. Far from steadfast their theories have changed time and again since the coming of the Faith Healing movement led by John Alexander Dowie in the 1880’s. The writings they use span two centuries and come from a number of denominations have invented that in their own words have little to do with Christ and his death on the cross.      

Paul the Apostle seems to have a decidedly different take sickness and death.

2 Corinthians 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

In view of  the faith movement’s obsession with sparring over every death of every believer it has become rather evident that first, they do not believe any of these scriptures cited above, but instead follow the traditions of men. 

And it is also evident that these preachers and their disciples have a deep-seated feeling that cannot be shaken by any verbal profession of promises, as they claim as their main stay.  And that regardless of what they recite, confess, and or profess, they know in their heart of hearts they and their disciples are not right with God. – So these people are sorely afraid of death. And only serving to further compound their problem they are afraid even to admit to their fear regarding God and the Devil.  They act in this way (and I mean act) not because they have had some grand change of heart, or have had some personal revelation from God in regard to fear.  No they do this for fear of the brethren. They are afraid that they will be deemed unspiritual; they fear will be seen as a babe and loose their all important esteem in the eyes of the in crowd.  And most importantly they did not come up with any of these ideas themselves they do this because they have been taught to do so. Because they have been taught that it is right and that anyone that is spiritual has no fear. And so we have churches, ministries and entire denominations that have banished the word “fear” from their lexicon and they along with their disciples pretend that they are the people of perfect love.      

Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Now I don’t know about you but I tend to consider Christ somewhat more of an authority than my church, my pastor, my bible school, and especially myself.  So that when my church, my pastor, my bible school or I myself says or teaches something that is in disagreement with the words or the life of Christ – I need to examine what has been said and in any disagreement I have decided to err on the Lord’s side.  Further it has come into my consciousness that preachers have been using Paul and the Apostles to disagree with what Christ taught and use the apostles over Christ.  So that when I hear my church, my pastor, my bible school or even I myself teach something using the apostles to discount or override something that Christ clearly says or what Christ is clearly demonstrating in his life – I need to stop and examine what has been said and in any disagreement I have decided to err on the Lord’s side. So when I look and read in three  verses from two gospels that Christ tells me that I need to fear God who has the power of Death and the power to cast us in hell for all eternity – I am simple enough to say yes Lord. 

Acts 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
If this was written today we would read in this very where Peter and John came running out and started cursing and rebuking the devil – and they Peter would have gave his next sermon on fear being of the devil and how now the church has failed God and let the hedge go down and now everyone in the church is going to get sick and start dying. But Peter would have continued you guys are so lucky that John and I happened by in just a nick of time and were all going to join hands now and stand and confess some promises together and put that hedge back up.

Speaking of things to fear the one thing that the Word of Faith Movement fears is “Hedges” fallen or broken hedges are the cause according to them of all sickness and disease – the quote Job as saying; “That which I feared came upon me.” And they say by Job’s confession that satan was able to take him. Forgetting that in Job satan had to get permission from God before he could act.

So what is this legendary hedge in scripture – well in old Pentecost in the 1970’s we were taught it was the angel of the lord. But in the Charismatic movement the Word of Faith Movement tells us that it is our confession our words that make up this hedge – lets think about this for a moment. Can I save myself? Your answer should be no. Can I save you? Your answer should be no.  Our salvation comes from Christ along.  This is real important stuff.

Can I die for my sins? Your answer should be no.  Can I die for your sins? Your answer should be no. Christ alone died for your sins

   Can my words make a hedge around me? Can my words protect me from sickness and death? Only the Word of Faith Movement believes this.

My words are like the wind they have no substance or power no sooner are they spoken than they fade away. In order for my words to be a hedge I would have to speak or confess things like a mantra 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Then I would have up a wall of powerless substanceless words that cease from being as soon as I stop speaking.

The Word of Faith movement believers that by their much speaking that which is of no substance can of itself create substance.

Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: For they think (believe) that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
So how is confessing something 100 times 1000 times or all-night different from whether it is a verse or promise than praying like that – Jesus said this practice is heathen in origin and not to be named among his followers.   

But some people will say: But we are doing this with the word of God and that negates anything that Christ said because it’s the word. Its God’s word, and God hold his word above his name. And nobody can stand against the word of God, nobody, not even Jesus.

In case you haven’t noticed the people who are doing all this confessing are a little thin on signs wonders and diverse miracles, there a little thin on the audible voice of God speaking and bearing them witness and a mite bit thin on angels bodily appearing, and a mite thin on being caught up to heaven and being taught by God.

See there were people who spoke scripture in the bible day and night in the bible they kept it as frontlets before their eyes and other places – these people were the Sadducees, the Pharisees the Scribes, the Lawyers and these guys battered Christ daily with scripture trying to do one of two things either to trip him up or to try to manipulate and gain control of him. Those were the men of the letter, those were the men of the word.  And these people had a mantra the letter the letter the letter and the temple the temple the temple.

Those were men of long prayers, those were men of doctrine, those were men of the wisdom of the Talmud and the traditions of the great rabbis and Jesus heaped upon those men rebuke and condemnation.

The word of faith People’s mantra is the word the word the word and the church the church the church

Incidentally I counted it myself the Greek words that that are translated condemn and condemnation are the same words translated approve judge and test and discern and are used 175 times in the New Testament. And the word convict(ion) is used only once.    

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
This is a bad hedge verse because it has the FEAR word in it.  And this encampment of the angel of the Lord has a qualifier that he only does this for those that FEAR HIM.

Numbers 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and (They) shall encamp round about the tabernacle. 

Numbers 1:53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

Numbers 11:23-25 And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the LORD, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Have we not been taught that fear has no place in the Church?

Acts 9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the (Manifold) comfort of the Holy Ghost..

How can this be that someone could be edified walking in the fear of the Lord and the manifold comfort of the Holy Spirit at the same time?

Romans 3:17-18  And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Having no fear of God in this passage is not a compliment, it is a condemnation.

Romans 11:19-21  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

If we stand by faith are we then saved by that faith? Is faith the key that opens all doors and God must bow to it? Look at this verse; Paul tells us that God will reject those that stand by faith, and are high-minded. If God speared not the natural branches he will not spare even those who confess that they have been justification by faith if it is not mixed with fear. Scripture said God hateth the proud and God hateth the forward look and neither faith, or the word of their confession shall save either of them.

1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Paul came in weakness and in the fear of God with much trembling

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in fear of God.
How if the church is justified by faith, and if the church is seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus, and if the Church has been given exceeding precious promises can Paul tell us let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit and perfect our sanctification in fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:

Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Philippians 2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

1 Timothy 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

Fear who, Timothy? No that they might fear God.

Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

Hebrews 11:7  By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear,  -- and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Hebrews 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve well pleasing God with reverence and fear:

 

1 Peter 1:17  And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

 

1 Peter 2:17  Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

Isaiah 11:1-3 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
The servant is not above the master. If the Spirit of the the fear of the Lord rested upon Jesus and we are to be Jesus’ disciples; then that same spirit that rested on Christ should be in us or at very least resting on us.. And if it is not, we are none of His. If the spirit of the fear of Lord does not dwell in us it is because we are someone else’s disciple, and no doubt we have taken their haughty spirit, their spirit of pride, and their spirit of self-will.

Hebrews 5:7-8 (Christ) Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him (The Father) that was able to save him from death, and was heard (Of the father and Christ heard the Word that Proceedeth from the father on that matter) in that He (Christ) feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
The error of this day is so dire that the body of Christ is utterly perishing before my eyes and it is more than I can bear. The Church has become overrun with grievous wolves that preach themselves their ministries and their own self-serving, self-exalting, teachings and doctrines. Christ is the Corner stone of our faith, if and when we are saved we receive of his portion not our own portion or of some portion that supposedly belongs to the Church. Jesus is still the door the gate and the way the truth and the life, No man can come unto the father but by Christ. And those that would are thieves and robbers. So I take a plumb-line in my hand and hold it to Christ and a doctrine and see how it measures up to Christ.

Example; Give and it shall be given to you pressed down shaken together shall God give unto you.  –  and you shall receive 100 fold in this world and the world to come.

Current Doctrine: “Give to get. Play God like the stock market. Use God for success and your investment plan for personal wealth building.  

Christ now we take our plumb-bob and hold it to Christ and ask did Christ give? The answer is: Yes. What did Christ give 1) He first gave up his earthly inheritance as the first born in the house of Joseph. 2) He gave up houses and lands mother father sisters and brothers 3 He gave himself as a ransom for our salvation.

Did Christ receive 100 fold inheritances of the first born while he was yet alive – NO!   

Did Christ receive 100 fold mothers while he was yet alive  -- No! In scripture we can count three women that went to his tomb.

Did Christ receive 100 fold sisters and brothers for forsaking James and Joses and Simon and Judas and his sisters while he was yet alive (That is a minimum of 6 brothers and sisters) and At his death there were 11 disciples and 3 woman so the answer is No!

I don’t want to go tediously through this but the poison is so strong in the veins of those who have become charismatic crack addicts that with the least wiggle room they justify their dependence and continue in the life style.

Christ had a total of possessions of 1 garment he wore day in and day out for 3.5 years one pair of sandals, one cloak (As he allowed his disciples to have one and maybe a stave walking stick.  – where did he have 100 fold of fine clothes and garments houses and lands while he was in the land of the living. The truth is that all that he had was stolen and he died destitute in a borrowed grave. 

 Oh well Judas had the bag – where in scripture did Christ stay in hotels and inns, where in scripture did they eat in restaurants where in scripture did Christ in his disciples ride around in chariots? Where in Scripture did Christ rent the hippodrome for healing and revival services. Where in scripture did Christ take up tithes and offerings? The answer is all of these are unscriptural lies. Part of a long standing web of deceit where mens souls have been beguiled by the wicked one as eve was. And have traded their incorruptible treasure for the corruptible pleasures and wealth of this world.

So when did Christ received his 100 fold for all he gave? The bible clearly says he received it when he went to be seated at the right hand of the father. If we are receiving of his portion and the servant is not above the master then you may receive some random acts of kindness and grace here but the bulk is in the world to come.

Luke 6:20-38 (We might call this the law of being a disciple of Christ)

²⁰And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. ²¹Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. ²²Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. ²³Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Jesus is clearly equating his disciples with the prophets of old – he is saying that the cost of being his disciple is being poor, being hungry, great sorrow and weeping, being hated of men, being separated from their company, being reproached , having your name used as a slur word for evil – this is the price for the true Gospel.

²⁴But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. ²⁵Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. ²⁶Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Jesus clearly equates the tenants of the prosperity Gospel to being a false prophet woe unto you that are rich, woe are you that are filled with food, woe unto you that laugh and spend your time amusing yourselves, woe unto you when men speak well of you, when men invite you into their company and make your name a symbol of success and honor – this is the price for the false Gospel 

²⁷But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, ²⁸Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. ²⁹And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. ³⁰Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. ³¹And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. ³²For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. ³³And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. ³⁴And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

Let us pull out our plumb-line again – If we do good to them which to good to you what thank have ye?

If we do good to our pastor and church members -- what thank have we?

If we do good to our boss and co-workers that can take us out to dinner or come to our church for a feather in our hat – what thank have we?

If we give to someone and we say Lord I’m doing this for you to receive from you –what thank have we?

³⁵But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. ³⁶Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. ³⁷Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Love your enemies (Those that hate you)

Lend hoping for nothing in return this includes tithes offerings and gifts to God as well as to the poor.

Then great shall be your reward – the then some here but the bulk like Christ is in the life to come

³⁸Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

So in context now interpret this much abused verse.

Psalm 9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

Psalm 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

There is no fear of God in our worship because we worship a God after our own flesh, a patchwork God of attributes that we feel we would like to serve – none in this day have heard the audible voice of God, None have seen His shape nor had God attest them with Signs, wonders, and diverse miracles. We even dare to use the words of Paul to void the words of Christ and the words of the apostle John to void the words of Christ and the Prophets. This is an exceedingly sinful generation whose stench has reached up to heaven     

Their worship and offerings are loathsome before the Lord they worship with their lips but their hearts are far from me. They confess they quote they praise and worship but they do not delight in me – they only seek me for personal gain.

Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.

Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

The implication of this verse is that the Lord speaks with those who fear him. He fellowships and communes with those that fear Him. Those that fear Him receive the word that proceedeth. It the book of revelation it says that the overcomers will receive secret manna. For our faith Pharisees this verse can only mean that we receive secret teaching and doctrine so we can have bigger and wealthier ministries. The secret of the Lord is learning the ways of God. Israel saw Gods acts but Moses knew the ways of God.This is called “walked with God” in the OT Revelation 3:30 behold I stand at the door and knock – this is not a call to salvation Christ is in one of the seven churches it is a call to sup with him and he with you –the secret of the Lord is a sharing of himself with those – that truly fear him that is to fear and do. If there is no doing that is not the fear of God. In a parable one man hid his talent in a napkin – that was not fear – that was a no thank you and handing back what you were given. That was stubbornness, that was rebellion, the others worked in fear and created 30 60 and 100 fold.   

Psalm 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! According the current madness this “goodness” would be material wealth, physical power and earthly authority – This is the Gospel of greed, this is the Gospel of self-will, This is the Gospel of the flesh. It is the Gospel of wealth. It is the Gospel of success. It an irresistible pheromone to the carnal nature of man. It is the dead rotting bird that a dog loves to roll on and take up it’s scent. I weep at the corruption and the coming destruction of the Church. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; This Goodness is our inheritance in Christ Jesus – It is the testimony of Christ it what Christ and the Apostles walked in – who lived their lives wandering the earth seeking a city that was NOT made by hands whose builder and maker was God -- thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! This is the demonstration that is wrought in them – that which our eyes have seen that which our hands have handled . . . and the underlying factor of all of this is the fear of God. 

Psalm 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy

Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

This requires no confession – this is a statement of fact because the Lord’s eye is on those that fear Him. Scripture says He watches over his word, but He also watches over those that fear Him and protects them. I have found the Lord has been with me and watched over me before I was even saved. I have been of fire as a child, I drowned, I have nearly been killed almost a dozen times but the Lord has watched over me.

Psalm 34:9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

Why don’t people’s prayers get answered? Because they are arrogant, proud, demands of God – we have been taught by the servants of the Devil that were are to demand and command of God. There is no fear so we ask amiss There is no delighting ourselves in the Lord – we ask to consume upon our lusts and flesh. – my God shall provide all your needs according to his riches in Glory – this Fear of God is the underlying principal that has evaded this evil idolatrous lustful generation. 

Psalm 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom . . .

Psalm 115:11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

There is no help of God and God is not a shield to those that trust in themselves and in man. There is no help of God and God is not a shield to those that do no fear him even when they say with their lips they have perfect love and have nothing to fear – they lie and their hearts are far from Him.

Psalm 119:38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

Why are we not established in the Lord, why do we not experience his word – it is because we are not devoted we do not delight in the fear of God Instead we focus on smooth things – teaching that tell us how good we are and all that we deserve.