We are approaching a season where we need more of God than what we have been experiencing. There are challenges coming to followers of Christ that we have never seen before and as it stands right now, many are not even prepared for.
The fear of the Lord is so necessary during this time because that is what gives us access to ALL of God. I’ll shed more on this later, but let’s take a look at what the fear of the Lord is not.
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What the Fear of the Lord Is NOT
● Natural fear
The fear of the Lord is not a natural fear. Although fear in general is not something that our Heavenly father gave us or taught us, some fear is natural and normal to the fallen man.
● Demonic fear
The fear of the Lord is not demonic fear which is fear that is caused by evil spirits. We know there is such a fear because God addressed it when he said He has not given us the spirit of fear in 2 Timothy 1:7.
This kind of fear is consuming, excessive, overbearing and it can take control of us in certain situations. Think about agoraphobia, which is the abnormal fear of being helpless in a situation where escape may be difficult which leads to the avoidance of open or public places. This is demonic. I think we can put most if not all phobias here honestly.
● Religious fear
The fear of the Lord is also not a religious fear. Some people fear their spiritual leaders which is a huge no no. I listened to the testimony of a minister of the Gospel who denounced Omega Psi Phi fraternity and he talked about this. God had been dealing with him about his membership in Omega Psi Phi for about 4 months.
It started with him asking God for clarity on the situation. Four months later in church after ministering he told the congregation that if anyone had a word from God for him to tell him. After church, a woman approached and told him that God is not pleased with his fraternity. She said God told her this months ago and it just so happened to be the same day the minister had prayed to God. She didn’t tell him for months because he’s a church leader and she was afraid he would receive it from her, a lay member. This is religious fear and it is dangerous.
● Fear of Man
Another dangerous thing that the fear of the Lord is not, is the fear of man. In fact, this is the opposite of the fear of the Lord. Fear of man is actually something that prevents us from doing a lot of things that God is calling us to do.
We don’t share Jesus and lead people to Christ like we should because we’re afraid the stranger in the grocery store will think something is wrong with us. There are some people who know they should leave their fraternity or sorority but they won’t renounce because they fear what people close to them will think or do. But notice, that by nature of us fearing man, it means we do not fear God and may in those areas be in complete disobedience of God.
● Not being afraid of God
Finally, the fear of the Lord is not being afraid of God. In Isaiah 11:2, the fear mentioned here is a holy fear. One of respect and reverence. God doesn’t want us afraid of him. God desires intimacy with us and who wants to be close to someone they’re afraid of??
This brings us right into exploring what the fear of the Lord actually is.
What is the Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is not the terror someone feels in response to danger or punishment, but a deep reverence, awe, and respect for God, His majesty, His holiness, and His authority. This type of fear and reverence means to respect greatly and to esteem. This reverential fear acknowledges God’s greatness and it causes the person experiencing it to respond with humble obedience, with worship, and with trust.
This fear is mentioned in Hebrews, 12:28-29, NKJV. It says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
The Greek word used that we translated into “godly fear” is the Greek word eulabeia (yoo-lab’-i-ah). That word means caution circumspection
The fear of the Lord involves us respecting the terrifying aspects of God as well because, make no mistake about it. God is not to be played with. Period.
In his book, The Awe of God, John Bevere made a list of what the fear of God looks like in practice. He said, “ To fear God
- Is to love what He lives and hate what he hates; not just dislike, but hate. What’s important to Him becomes important to us
- Is to hate injustice
- Is to hate sin
- Is to depart from evil in every sense, thought, word, and action
- Is to reframe from speaking deceitfully
- It will not say or put on an appearance that is untrue to one’s heart and thoughts. It keeps our outward behavior congruent with our inward thoughts, motives, and beliefs.
- Is to give him the praise, adoration, thanksgiving, and worship he deserves
- Is to walk in authentic humility before God and man
- To give him all that belongs to him
- To tremble before him in wonder and in awe
- To give his word and presence our full attention
- To obey him. It isn’t just a desire but an inward force that determines to carry out his will no matter the cost. We eagerly, willingly, and immediately obey even if it doesn’t make sense and we carry it out until completion
- Abstain from any form of complaining
- To respect, honor, and submit to his delegated authority
- It showed our intentions , thoughts, and actions
Benefits of the Fear of the Lord
In the beginning of this episode I spoke about how fearing the Lord gives us access to all of Him.
We . There are so many benefits to having a fear of the Lord and so many things connected to it.
Ensures God hears our prayers
The first benefit I want to highlight that comes from having the fear of the Lord is that it’s one of the things that ensures God hears our prayers. We see this in Hebrews 5:7, NKJV, “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.”
Wisdom
The next benefit is wisdom. Psalms 111:10, CSB says The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his instructions have good insight. I want to read it in the AMP version as well which says, “The [reverent] fear of the LORD is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the LORD; His praise endures forever.
The goodness of God
Psalm 31:19 says, “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you.”
Happiness and power
Psalms 112:1-2 says, “Happy is the person who fears the Lord, taking great delight in his commands. His descendants will be powerful in the land…”
Provokes the Mercy of God
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.” – Malachi 3:16-17 NLT
Guidance
The fear of the Lord ushers in guidance from God. Psalm 25:12, NLT says “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.” This is what every human being should want—to be led by God on the path they should follow. Who knew that fearing God is what gets us there?
Prosperity and God’s Secrets
“Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses. He himself shall dwell in prosperity, And his descendants shall inherit the earth. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant.” Psalms 25:12-14, NKJV. God confides in those who fear Him. He tells us his secrets! Do you know what that means?? It means you sit in the counsel of the true and living God. The AMP version says it this way, “The secret [of the wise counsel] of the Lord is for those who fear Him, And He will let them know His covenant and reveal to them [through His word] its [deep, inner] meaning.”
Supernatural protection from angels and the Lord of the Angel Armies
Psalms 34:7 tells us that The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
Faithful love and compassion
We see this in Psalm 103:11, 13, CSB. It says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his faithful love toward those who fear him. As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him
Provision
Psalm 34:9, CSB says, “You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord, for those who fear him lack nothing.”
Lengthens your life
Proverbs 10:27 tells us that The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Proverbs 14:27 takes it even further by showing us that …
Confidence and refuge
Proverbs 14:26. This shows that having the fear of the Lord has implications for your children. This is a generational blessing.
Good sleep
Proverbs 19:23 tells us that, “The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”
Wealth and honor
Proverbs 22:4, CSB God’s word tells us that Humility, the fear of the Lord, results in wealth, honor, and life.”
All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man.
How to Cultivate the Fear of the Lord
We’ve dived into what the fear of the lord is not, what it is, and the benefits of it. We have a good idea of what it is and why we need it!… but how do we show it? How do we actually revere God and fear him??
Honestly, a good amount of this is going to come to you naturally, but if you find yourself getting in your head about it, here are some things you can do to begin to cultivate the fear of the Lord.
Decide
I think a great first step is to just decide that you will fear the Lord and choose to treat God with respect and reverence. In Proverbs 1:28-29, NJKV God says, “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” We have to make the decision to fear God.
Ask God to teach you
Another thing I recommend if you are trying to cultivate a fear of God is to pray and ask God to teach you how. The fear of the Lord is a heart posture. It isn’t something that can be faked. 1 Chronicles 28:9, CSB lets us know that “…the Lord searches every heart and understands the intention of every thought.” And if we ask God with the right intentions, He has promised to teach us.
In Psalms 34:11, NKJV God’s word tells us “Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Now this was King David talking in Psalms but do you think if you ask God, your Father to teach you how to revere Him that He will ignore you? Of course not!
But even more, God actually provides instructions in His Word. “My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.” 1 Proverbs 2:1-5 NKJV
Give up your own wisdom and renounce evil
The last thing I recommend is to give up your own wisdom and renounce evil. God’s word tells us in Proverbs 3:7, NKJV, “Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
So now we’ve seen it—The fear of the Lord is crucial for the believing Christian.
And the fear of the Lord isn’t about running from God in terror…
It’s about standing before Him in awe.
It’s the kind of fear that draws us closer, not pushes us away.
It’s the reverence that says,
“God, You’re holy. You’re mighty. And I want to honor You with my life.”
Proverbs says it’s the beginning of wisdom.
Isaiah says it’s what Jesus Himself delighted in.
And Ecclesiastes tells us—it’s our very purpose.
So if you’ve ever thought fearing God meant living in dread,
Let this be your reminder:
It’s not fear that paralyzes,
It’s fear that realigns—
That humbles us, centers us, and sets our hearts on the One who is worthy of it all.
So let’s walk in that fear.
Let’s love what He loves, hate what He hates,
And live in a way that says, “God, I honor You with everything I am.”
If this teaching blessed you, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more truth from God’s Word.
And remember—true fear of the Lord doesn’t distance you…
It anchors you.
Until next time—walk in wisdom, walk in reverence, and walk in Him.
Want More?
If you enjoyed this episode, then you may also enjoy the episode of the show about the fear of success and how it hinders purpose or this episode detailing what to expect when operating in your purpose.
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