Acts 9:31
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
To fear the Lord
1.To fear out of reverence, awe, and devotion – Acts 2:43, 10:2, 13:26
2. To fear due to God’s displeasure and discipline – Acts 5:5&11, 16:26, 19:17 (Hebrews 12:7-10)
Questions to consider:
Do I walk in absolute devotion and awe of who God is? Do I love Him and love serving Him?
Do I walk in respect of His justice and discipline? Do I live my life understanding that He will never bless disobedience in the life of His children?
The fear of God brings temporal and eternal benefits:
- “The secret of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant” (Ps. 25:14).
- “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them” (Ps. 34:7).
- “The Lord has compassion on those who fear Him” (Ps. 103:13).
- “The Lord favors those who fear Him” (Ps. 147:11).
- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7; 9:10).
- “The fear of the Lord prolongs life” (Prov. 10:27).
- “The fear of the Lord leads to life, that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil” (Prov. 19:23).
- “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor and life” (Prov. 22:4).
- As David says to the Lord, “How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You” (Ps. 31:19).
Clearly, fearing God is to your great advantage.
Daryl Wingerd
The Importance of Fearing the God You Love, Christian Communicators Worldwide, www.CCWtoday.org. Used by Permission.