Sunday, March 8, 2015

Fear

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Proverbs 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
Fearing, or attempting to devalue, the fear of the Lord is not only foolish, but absolute sin. Fear does not preclude love, nor does love preclude fear.
We look at fear, anger and jealousy as negative attributes because in our imperfect flesh we don't manage them as well as we could. But just as God coming into our lives makes all thing new, His presence also affects these attributes.
To may people these days seek to change God's Word by removing these attributes and always presenting them in a negative light through some perversion of the Gospel and Grace. God addresses "changers" in Proverbs, also:
Proverbs 24:21-22 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
They say we shouldn't be motivated by fear, yet God says without fear, we can possess no true knowledge, wisdom, or confidence. God says fear prolongs our days. God says the fear of the Lord tendeth to life, itself.
They say God is not angry. God says:
Romans 1:16-18 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Follow these connected verses. The Gospel is first given a stated purpose, salvation. Next verse begins with "For," tying it to the orevious verse. Salvation is wrought by God's righteousness, not ours. Then the next verse also ties in with with "For." There we see the WRATH (anger) of God being against man's sin. Almost seems out of place until you see the connection. God wants us to know that we are accepted into His fold on His merit, but He also wants us to know that he abhors sin and his anger is kindled unto them that not only sin, but those who do so while holding the truth. The word translated "hold" in verse 18 is elsewhere translated as possessing. That's a definite nod to the saved.
Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
Don't fear fear.

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