Young Adults' Group

The Fear Of The Lord

by Pastor Mark
February 18, 2016

Understanding godly fear

The fear of God is something that we should seek to understand and to practise in our life. All of us should have a proper fear of the Lord.

We see the fear of God in Noah as he sought to live by faith, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear,” (Heb 11:7) The phrase “moved with godly fear” comes from one Greek word “eulabeomai” …a verb which means to be “reverent, pious, god fearing.”

There was a sense of devoutness that Noah had for God in his fear of Him. He was reverential towards God and was moved with godly fear by His warning of the coming flood to prepare an ark and to save His household. Let us be challenged to cultivate this sense of devoutness and godly fear in our lives.

The example of the Lord Jesus

The author of Hebrews also used a similar Greek word “eulabeia” which is the noun form of “eulabeomai” in describing the Lord Jesus, “Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,” (Heb 5:7)

The prayers of Jesus were described by the author and how they were heard by God because of His godly fear. The Lord Jesus exemplified this devoutness and godly fear. It was part of His life and was very much reflected in the way He prayed. That is why His prayers were answered. Let us be challenged to have this same devoutness and godly fear in our lives as we pray to God.

The need for the fear of the Lord

The author also emphasized the need for a fear of the Lord, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” (Heb 4:1) The word “fear” in Greek is “phobeo” where you get the English word “phobia”. It means to have a sense of reverence…rather than to have a sense of terror.

There should not be any presumption on our part concerning the subject of entering into the rest of Heaven. Instead, we need to have a sense of the fear of the Lord to be in us so that we may ensure our spiritual rest. If not, we may fall short of it. Let us be challenged to have a proper fear of the Lord.

Fear of the Lord’s judgment

There is also a fear that truly reflects terror, “But a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” (Heb 10:27) The word “phoberos” is an adjective that is used to describe terror. It is with actual fear…a frightening expectation that we should approach the Lord’s judgment. It should not be taken lightly but seriously.

The author emphasised this further, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb 10:31) This is indeed a fearful declaration that all should take heed. Let us be challenged to practice the fear of the Lord as we learn to relate to our God with godly fear and to heed His serious warning of the judgment to come.

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