Post 5 – The Fear of the Lord Series
📜 Introduction: God Doesn’t Suggest Fear—He Requires It
The fear of the Lord is not a spiritual suggestion or personality trait. It is a divine expectation. God doesn’t ask us to revere Him—He commands it. From the garden to the law, from the prophets to Jesus, from the apostles to the Revelation, one thing is clear: God expects to be feared.
But not with paralyzing dread. He desires a fear that moves us to love Him deeply, obey Him sincerely, and honor Him above all else. It is a fear that anchors our souls in holiness and humility.
👤 Case Study: Joseph – Integrity in Secret Places
Genesis 39:7–9 (ESV):
“And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, ‘Lie with me.’ But he refused and said… ‘How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?’”
Joseph was far from home. Unjustly enslaved. No parents watching. No pastor nearby. But what governed his decisions? The fear of God. He didn’t say, “What if Potiphar finds out?” He said, “How could I do this against God?”
That’s what reverence does—it keeps you pure when no one else would blame you for compromise.
Genesis 42:18 (ESV):
“On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God.’”
When Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers years later, he assured them not by position—but by piety. He could be trusted because he feared God. That fear was the foundation of his leadership, mercy, and trustworthiness.
🔑 What Does God Require of Us?
Deuteronomy 10:12–13 (ESV):
“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord…”
Fear of God isn’t isolated from love—it is the starting point of love. We don’t separate reverence from relationship—we let reverence define it. The more we stand in awe of God, the more seriously we walk with Him.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV):
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Fear is not a side note to the Christian life. It is the whole duty. It governs our hearts. It restrains our words. It redirects our steps. God isn’t looking for casual followers—He’s seeking consecrated, reverent worshipers.
🔗 New Testament Affirmation
1 Peter 1:17 (ESV):
“And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially… conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”
Peter makes it clear: we’re still exiles. Still called to reverence. And still judged—not condemned, but assessed—by a holy Father who looks for sincerity. Reverence marks the true child of God.
Hebrews 12:28 (ESV):
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
Gratitude doesn’t cancel fear—it fuels it. Grace doesn’t eliminate reverence—it deepens it. If we are truly thankful for unshakable salvation, we will respond not with laziness, but with trembling honor.
🌌 Eternal Expectation – Reverence in Glory
Revelation 14:7 (ESV):
“Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth…”
Even in the final message to the world, God’s expectation is unchanged: fear Me. Not fear of damnation, but fear of holy majesty. Worship without reverence is noise. Worship with fear is glory.
📖 Summary Table – God’s Expectation of Holy Fear
| God’s Requirement | Scripture | Fruit It Produces |
|---|---|---|
| Fear the Lord and walk in His ways | Deut. 10:12–13 | Love, obedience, service |
| Fear God and keep His commandments | Ecclesiastes 12:13 | Wise living, obedience |
| Live with fear during exile | 1 Peter 1:17 | Holy conduct |
| Worship with reverence and awe | Hebrews 12:28 | Gratitude-driven obedience |
| Fear God and glorify Him | Revelation 14:7 | True worship and eternal purpose |
🧠 Memory Aid: Fear Forms Foundations
If you want to build your life God’s way, lay down reverence as the foundation. Fear of the Lord will shape:
- Your private integrity
- Your public decisions
- Your lasting legacy
🛠 Life Application
- Ask God to deepen your reverence—especially when no one else is looking.
- Let the fear of the Lord reshape how you respond to temptation.
- Lead your home, workplace, or ministry with integrity rooted in awe.
- Remember: the people who can be trusted most are the ones who fear God most.
💬 Reflection Question
Would the people around you say, “I trust them—because they fear God”?
📣 Shareable Quote
“Reverence doesn’t just keep you from sin—it keeps you on course for purpose.” — Barry Coker
Next in the Series: The Fallout of Forgetting Fear – What Happens When We No Longer Reverence God – Featuring King Saul, who lost his crown when he lost his awe.
