Fear (Part 3)


Old Testament vs. New Testament “Fear of the Lord”


In the Old Testament the people of Israel had a different relationship with God than we do. Let’s not forget that only one or two people in a generation were anointed with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, their relationship with their God was more distant as it was mediated through the High Priest and/or the prophets. Their fear of the Lord was a more literal fear with the sense of His wrath and punishment posing a more immediate threat.

Ps 119:120
My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
There was an unvarnished fear that if His Law was not kept, His retribution was severe and swift.

After Christ’s work of atonement and specifically after the Day of Pentecost when God’s Spirit was made available to all who call upon His name, the nature of the relationship changes. God can be “known” in an experiential and intimate way.

In the New Testament dread, or fear of God in the lower sense, is removed; He is revealed as the loving and forgiving Father, who gives to men the Spirit of sonship.
Rom 8:15
For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,  Father."

2 Tim 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

We are invited even to come "with boldness unto the throne of grace," with confidence and assurance.
Heb 4:16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Heb 10:19-22
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

A sense of awe still remains that compels us to relationship with Him because the alternative is too awful to contemplate.
Matt 10:28-29
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Heb 10:31
It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

However, for those who live in right relationship with the Father, as a result of the sacrifice of the Son through the power of the Holy Spirit; no other fears should affect us.
Matt 8:26
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Matt 10:26-27
"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.

Luke 12:32
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Phil 1:27-28
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved — and that by God.
1 Peter 3:13-14
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."
The role of fear in Spiritual Warfare
Godly fear

·         The fear of the Lord keeps us dependent on God and keeps us pointed in the right direction.

·         The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin so that we can repent and receive forgiveness and thus move forward in right relationship with the Father

·         The fear of the Lord keeps us humble and puts our relationship with Him in perspective. He is God and we are not. He is ruler and we are His servants.
Un-godly fear

·         The enemy uses fear to get us off the path. He wants us to run and hide and turn away from God.

·         The enemy shames and confronts us with our sin in order to disqualify us from having a relationship with the Father.

·         The enemy seeks to exalt himself above God and thus makes us afraid of God so that we will be focused on ourselves rather than turning to God.

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