In previous editions of the Revival Post, we began to elucidate and expound what the fear of God is, how it relates to revival, reasons why we must fear God and in the last edition, we looked at the operations of the fear of God- how do I know the fear of God is operational in me?, what are some of the things activated in me when I fear God and following through, we should be able to know by now if we indeed fear God.
To most persons, the answer may be in the negative but there is no need to fret, as in this edition, we will be examining how to develop the fear of God.
- Regard His servants.
Isaiah 50:10a
Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of His servant…
Luke 23:39-40
And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
Who fears a man of authority but has no regard for his messenger? Would that man be said to regard the authority?
The answer would be no! The fastest way to show our fear of God is to have regard for His authority.
Now, proving the authenticity of all servants of God is a matter that should be left to God to judge but if a man comes in the name of God, you respect and regard his office. You may not follow his teachings, his ways and his doctrines but you regard his person and his office. - Walking in His ways.
Psalms 128:1
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
Isaiah 55:8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Fearing God also means walking in His ways. To know the ways of God is to know His thoughts and the thoughts of God are imbedded in His Word. The Word of God is a sure way to knowing the ways of God which in turn brings you into the fear of God. - Delighting in His WORD.
Psalms 112:1
Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
A man that delights in God’s words, in God’s commandments is a man that fears God. As believers, we have to love to obey God, to see the statuses of God carried out. There should be no struggle in our hearts to want to obey as we hear.
“A man that
delights in God’s words, in God’s
commandments is a man that fears
God.”
This delight would also reflect in how often and how deep we go in the study of His word.
- Loving truth.
Deuteronomy 16:19
Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
The fear of God means we love truth no matter what! We stand for the truth in all circumstance. Men who fear God are men who cannot be compromised or bought, they are men of truth! Neither for fear of their lives or what can be taken from them will they change their truth. These are men who fear God! - Abstaining from evil by principle.
Job 1:8
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
A man that fears God lives his life on principles. He abstains from evil by principle and not by occasion. Whether the situation is in his favour or not, he stands by his principle and does not participate in evil deeds. - Unconditional regard for God
Job 1:8-11
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the
land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
Job 1:21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
Job 2:3
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”
—Oswald Chambers
Job was a man who feared God and after he lost all he had and owned and even was sick in his body, he did not curse God, he did not disregard God. He knew that the regard of God was not dependent on what he received from God or what was taken away from him.
This should be our attitude in relating with God daily. Our reverence of Him is not dependent on any factor other than the fact that HE IS GOD!!!
A man who thinks and acts this way is a man that fears God!
We fear circumstances so much
because we fear God so little.
—LeCrae