There are many things in this Christian walk that we under value, under estimate, that we just don’t see how important they are in our lives. There is a long list, but these two, fear and faith, are becoming more and more apparent on how they affect my daily walk and growth in Christ.
Faith, the Just shall LIVE by Faith.
This verse is repeated in the scriptures. (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38)
And I have learned that not only am I saved by faith. But I am provided for by faith, I obey God by faith, I am taught by faith. I am protected by faith. And one day I will die by faith holding on to His promises. Faith should increase as we live each day. Faith must be feed and nurtured.
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
– Romans 10:17
Faith grows by moving beyond hope to faith. To often we think hope is faith, but the scriptures state that “faith is the substance (the stuff, the material reality) of things hoped for, the evidence (proof) of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
We are all given a measure of faith at our salvation, for we are saved by faith. We also naturally produce faith, for it is one of the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:22) But as with natural fruit we must nurture the vine to have a plentiful crop, we must also nurture, care for and respond to the Holy Spirit in our relationship with God the Father and the Son, Jesus.
Fear, the Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom
Again a verse that is repeated in the scriptures.(Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, 2:5, 9:10, 15:33, Job 28:28) But how many things would we do, or not do if we had more fear, respect, honor, and terror of God. Yes terror of His wrath, His displeasure with sin, disobedience, wickedness, this world system and the toys and ways of the devil. Even Jesus operated under the fear of the Lord. This is clear in the prophecy of Christ in Isaiah.
“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: But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”
–Isaiah 11:1-4
There are some things we only do by motivation, that motivation could be “the carrot or the stick”. Let us view respect and honor as the carrot. I know it is easier to look at love, grace and mercy as the carrot, but although I loved my earthly father, there where things I did out of respect for him, and others things I did out of fear (terror) of him. And I understand that many of us do not have a moral fatherly example to reflect on, but if you are in Christ you do have the perfect heavenly Father.
We need more wisdom, more obedience, self-sacrifice instead of self-gratification. More distain of sin, it’s odor (the stench of sin in our media, entertainments and society) and more disgust of the devil. Because we see this world and our lives with the devil’s influence and his eyes more than we do from God’s perspective, that is why holiness, and day-to-day, moment by moment obedience is so foreign to us. We simply do not want to be that “holy”, that respectful of God, that close to God.
It is interesting that in almost every testimony of a sinner coming into the presence of God, they were overwhelmed by their sense of sin and God’s awesome holiness. One day you will come face to face with the God, the one that the mountains flee from His face, and the elements melt before. How bold will you be then? We need to get back to the basics and learn that if we want greater victory, more of our lives Glorifying God, we must walk in His Fear. It is the beginning of doing the right things at the right time (wisdom).
Franklin Mayfield
Ministry Director,
trueGOD Television Networks
