Introductory Post – The Fear of the Lord Series
🧭 Introduction: Why Start Here?
Before we explore what the fear of the Lord truly is, we must soberly examine what happens when it’s gone. Scripture does not leave us wondering. The absence of reverence for God unleashes chaos—morally, spiritually, nationally, and eternally. The evidence of “no fear” in the world today is blatantly obvious everywhere we look. When there is no fear of God:
- People presume upon His mercy
- Shame and self-control disappear
- Sin becomes bold, unrestrained, and grotesque
- Divine judgment is mocked until it falls
The fear of the Lord is not optional. It is foundational and always brings judgement.
📉 1. No Fear, No Restraint – Sin Without Limits
Romans 3:18 (ESV):
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
Paul uses this final accusation in a sweeping description of human depravity. This line, drawn from Psalm 36:1, is the root of all other evils he lists: deceit, destruction, violence, and rebellion.
Psalm 36:1 (KJV):
“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.”
Where reverence for God is absent, there is no moral boundary. Fear restrains sin. Its absence invites it.
💥 2. No Fear, No Shame – Presumption Reigns
Jeremiah 2:19 (ESV):
“Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the Lord your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord God of hosts.”
Without fear, we presume we are fine. We redefine sin. We walk in rebellion and call it freedom—until God’s reproof crashes into our delusion.
⏳ 3. No Fear, No Urgency – Delay Becomes Defiance
Ecclesiastes 8:11–13 (ESV):
“Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil… it will not be well with the wicked… because he does not fear before God.”
When people see no immediate consequence for sin, they misinterpret God’s patience as approval. Holy fear would teach them that delay is mercy, not permission.
🔥 4. No Fear, No Control – Passion Unchecked
Romans 1:21–32 (ESV excerpt):
“Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him… Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity… they exchanged the truth about God for a lie… they were filled with all manner of unrighteousness…”
This is what a fearless heart looks like: ungrateful, unanchored, unclean. When reverence dies, corruption is celebrated.
⚖️ 5. No Fear, No Escape – Judgment Will Come
Hebrews 10:26–27, 31 (ESV):
“If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment… It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
The absence of fear causes men to mock God. The reality of judgment will prove them wrong.
🧍♂️ Biblical Case Study: Pharaoh – “Who is the Lord?”
Exodus 5:2 (ESV):
“But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and moreover, I will not let Israel go.’”
Pharaoh stands as Scripture’s most vivid picture of arrogant defiance. He hardened his heart against God’s voice, against God’s people, and against God’s prophet. He saw plagues, warnings, miracles, and mercy—yet still refused to fear. He lost his army. He lost his son. He lost his soul.
💎 The Gift of Fear – A Supernatural Work
Jeremiah 32:40 (ESV):
“I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”
The fear of the Lord is not manmade. It is Spirit-wrought. When God gives it, the soul is anchored in obedience and awe.
Isaiah 11:2–3 (ESV):
“And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him… the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.”
Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord. That same Spirit lives in us, calling us to holy reverence.
📘 What Real Conviction Looks Like – 2 Corinthians 7:11
2 Corinthians 7:11 (KJV):
“For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
2 Corinthians 7:11 (ESV):
“For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”
🧠 Paul’s Seven-Fold Anatomy of Holy Conviction
- Carefulness / Earnestness – A complete shift in tone and attitude. Conviction makes us take sin seriously.
- Clearing of Yourselves / Eagerness to Clear – A deep desire to confess and restore reputation and conscience.
- Indignation – A holy hatred for the sin once tolerated. “How could we have allowed that?”
- Fear – Reverent terror at having offended a holy God—not just guilt before men, but trembling before the Lord.
- Vehement Desire / Longing – A longing to make things right with God and with people.
- Zeal – Passion to defend righteousness, pursue holiness, and protect others from similar sin.
- Revenge / Readiness to Punish – A readiness to take corrective action—even severe if necessary.
Note: These are not emotions alone—these are the behavioral evidences of real, Holy Spirit-produced repentance.
🚨 Where Fear is Absent, Conviction is Shallow
Paul highlights “fear” in the middle of the list. Why? Because godly fear is often the missing link between feeling guilty and truly repenting.
🔻 Modern Symptoms of a Fearless Response:
- Laughing off sin (“Everybody struggles.”)
- Blaming others (“They made me do it.”)
- Delaying change (“I’ll work on that someday.”)
- Resisting correction (“Don’t judge me.”)
- Only changing externally to please people
❗ Lack of fear means lack of surrender. When people do not tremble before God, they are not yet broken by Him.
🔁 Contrasting Two Responses
| Response | Holy Spirit Conviction (2 Cor. 7:11) | Modern Fearless Religion |
|---|---|---|
| Attitude | Godly sorrow that leads to action | Surface apology without heart change |
| Focus | Offended God | Offended self or others |
| Emotion | Indignation and trembling | Annoyance or entitlement |
| Behavior | Immediate correction | Excuses and rationalization |
| Motivation | Reverence and awe | Reputation or damage control |
🛠️ Life Application & Teaching Points
- ✍️ Ask yourself: When the Holy Spirit convicts me, do I show fear or do I explain it away?
- 📚 Teach others: True repentance is not soft—it’s severe. Not about polishing appearances, but crucifying the old self.
- 🙏 Prayer: “Lord, let me not merely feel bad about my sin—let me fear You enough to forsake it.”
📣 Classroom Discussion Prompt
“Which of the seven evidences in 2 Corinthians 7:11 are most often missing in today’s churches—and what does that reveal about our view of God?”
🌍 Fear Endures in Heaven – Reverence Has No Expiration Date
Revelation 15:4 (ESV):
“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy.”
Revelation 19:5 (ESV):
“Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”
Even in eternity, the saints and angels bow in awe. Fear is not something we outgrow—it is something we grow into.
📊 Summary Table: What Happens When Fear is Absent
| Loss of Fear | Spiritual Result | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| No Restraint | Sin multiplies unchecked | Romans 3:18 |
| No Shame | Sin is redefined as freedom | Jeremiah 2:19 |
| No Urgency | Grace is presumed | Ecclesiastes 8:11 |
| No Control | Lust rules the heart | Romans 1:21–32 |
| No Escape | Judgment is inevitable | Hebrews 10:26–31 |
🛠 Life Application
- Ask God to give you the fear of the Lord—it’s a gift, not a personality trait.
- Let reverence restrain your words, your desires, and your steps.
- Refuse to redefine sin. Fear of God leads to fear of compromise.
- Measure your spiritual health not by how bold you feel, but by how humbled you are before God.
💬 Reflection Question
Is the fear of God present in your life—or have you redefined it as unnecessary or outdated?
📣 Shareable Quote
“The greatest danger in the world is not fear of the wrong thing—it’s the absence of the right fear.” — Barry Coker
Next in the Series: The Foundation of Fear: Where Wisdom Begins – Featuring Solomon and Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! I pray that we all ask for it. I think you’re right I don’t think it’s something we work up but as a response to understanding who God is crying out for the gift of repentance.
Amen John. Correct understanding is a gift