One of the most important spiritual concepts found throughout the Bible is the “fear of the Lord.”
What is the “fear of the Lord?” What exactly does it mean?
Let’s turn to scripture together to see what the Bible has to say.
From the pen of Moses, we read:
“Now this is the commandment, the statutes and the judgments which the LORD your God has commanded me to teach you, that you might do them in the land where you are going over to possess it, so that you and your son and your grandson might fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.”
The above passage, which contains the directives to a burgeoning Jewish nation governed under Mosaic Law, connects the “fear of the Lord” with keeping all of God’s “statutes and His commandments.”
Put simply, “fearing” the Lord has a strong connection to an obedience to God’s will.
Those Israelites who obeyed God by “fearing” Him, walking in His ways, and finding delight in His commands, were declared “blessed.” (Ps. 112:1, 115:13, 128:1)
These blessings remain intact for those today who will cultivate a “fear of the Lord” in their daily lives. The Bible promises seven wonderful blessings to those who “fear the Lord,” “keep His commands,” and “walk in his ways.”
1. Deep Spiritual Knowledge
A God-fearing attitude is crucial for those who desire meaningful scriptural knowledge. This is because true spiritual knowledge is only granted to those who “fear” the Lord.
This is confirmed in Proverbs 1:7:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction”
Those who seek spiritual knowledge are the opposite of “fools,” who despise “instruction.” We do well to desire God’s instruction in our lives.
WISDOM KEY: If you desire to plumb the depths of the spiritual knowledge available to you through God’s Word, begin by humbling yourself before God with an attitude of deep reverence and holy fear. Your understanding of scripture is directly related to your understanding of your place before God.
2. Divine Wisdom
Knowledge is not the only spiritual door that can be unlocked through the “fear of the Lord.”
According to Psalm 111:10:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”
When we “fear” God, His divine and unfathomable wisdom becomes available to us. (Notice another reference to those who “do” God’s commands within the immediate context, thus connecting the “fear of the Lord” with an active state of obedience, “do.”)
In Job 28:28, we read:
“‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'”
Here, the scripture endorses the “fear of the Lord” as not just an act of wisdom, but even wisdom itself!
Later, in the book of Isaiah, we read:
“He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” (Isa. 33:6)
Here, we can clearly see that the “fear of the Lord” is the key that unlocks the door to God’s spiritual riches!
WISDOM KEY: Cultivate an attitude of Godly fear. When you do, you will hold the key that unlocks the door to God’s wondrous riches of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.
3. A Unique Weapon Against Sin
In Ex. 20:20, Moses attempts to calm the people after they experience the mighty presence of God at Mount Sinai.
Moses reassures them saying:
“Don’t be afraid… for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!”
The “fear of the Lord” plays a unique role in the Christ follower’s ongoing battle against their sin nature. Our ability to resist sin undoubtedly is connected to the new-found spiritual knowledge and divine wisdom that is available to those who fear God.
WISDOM KEY: If you are struggling with sin, examine your attitude towards heaven. Do you fear God enough to want to please him, even when no one is looking?
4. The Mercy of God
The greatest gift that God could ever give us is mercy. After all, the grave sins that humanity has committed against God, and His glorious name, are entirely unforgivable. Through arrogance, humanity as a whole has defied God’s will and purposes. For this reason, we all deserve the ultimate judgment.
However, through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, all men now have access to God’s complete forgiveness and infinite mercy!
How do you receive God’s rich mercy?
According to Luke 1:50, God’s mercy is reserved for “those who fear him from generation to generation.”
It is a wonderful promise: God’s mercy is extended to those who fear Him and keep His commandments.
WISDOM KEY: All who desire God’s mercy for their sins must first fear Him. Without a reverent attitude toward heaven and a repentant heart, men have no hope after this life.
5. Life
The book of Proverbs is filled with references on how those who “fear” the Lord have access to God’s life-giving power.
The fear of the Lord can prolong life…
“The fear of the LORD prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.”
It preserves and protects our life…
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.”
Finally, note that Proverbs also describes something else as a “fountain of life”…
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn aside from the snares of death.”
The door of divine wisdom stands wide open to those who “fear God and keep his commandments.”
WISDOM KEY: Those who desire to live life to its richest measure can begin by fearing the Lord.
6. Protection for You and Your Children
The Bible is clear that there are unseen spiritual blessings that will serve to protect you from your adversary. So too, the parent who models a life of godly fear and obedience to God’s Word will provide a hedge of protection around even his children.
“Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.”
WISDOM KEY: Your entire household will benefit from your commitment to a humility based upon the “fear” of the Lord.
7. Friendship with God
In Psalm 25, there is an amazing promise made to those who “fear” the Lord.
“The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”
The promise in this verse is two-fold.
First, the fear the Lord is crucial to obtaining friendship with God. If friendship with the God of eternity were not enough, this verse also promises that those who fear the Lord will be made to know God’s covenant.
The blood covenant that God has established with mankind through His only Son, Jesus Christ, provides salvation to all who will partake.
WISDOM KEY: Through a righteous and holy fear of the Lord, we can gain friendship with God and come to an intimate knowledge of His covenant with man.
Conclusion
Fearing God is not passive. It is not something that you did once. It is active. Not static, but dynamic.
A righteous and holy “fear” of the Lord displays itself through a humble and reverent obedience to God’s will, purposes, and commands.
Scripture is clear that the eternal benefits of “fearing” the Lord far outweigh the temporal costs on this earth.
Brother Jerry
The message on 7benefits of fearing GOD is agreat blesding to me and I will teach mychurch.GOD bless you.
Bishop Kimani
It is wonderful message
Thanks for the message
Woow I’m So blessed
I am richly blessed with this message.
This is powerful topic, indeed the fear of the Lord is the key all believers.
Thanks for sharing man of God
LOVING BELOVED FRIENDS,
IT IS A BASIC PILLAR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
HIGH REGARDS.
God bless you for this deep revelation. This is one of the integral teaching that we need to learn as Christians. God bless you for allowing Him use you profoundly. Pastor Ezekiel Ndemo, Kenya.
This is vert great a mighty blessing to me
God bless you and increase you in Jésus name
It is a revelational truth that transforms lives.
I will teach it.
I am so blessed to know about the 7 benefits of fearing God.
Sopheak, Cambodia
This is expository. Thanks a million
I’m a not a pastor but a believer of my church
Thank you for giving the above teaching of 7 benefits of God’s fear.
May God bless u abundantly
May we all grow spiritually in his fear
Amen
This is very helpful information Thanks a lot.
I just ran accross this article. Having problems with completely understanding why I should fear my Lord. Now I understand completely.
I will pratice a daily , active fear of my Lord.
I am very blessed to find this message about amazing benefits for those who fear the lord. I also share with my sisters group from church to receive God’s blessings by single act of fearing God. Thank you. God bless you.
I’m blessed by this message of benefits of fearing God, will teach other disciples. GOD bless you mightly amen.
Wow is so beautiful inspiration of God word and also I’m decide to preach in my church as well. Thank you so much.
Waooo.very wonderful massage.iwas researching on the fear of the Lord and found this.God bless you pestorand l will preach this to the church I minister.
Yes, I’m blessed and highly favored about your amazing and inspiration teachings this is blessed me but all the CHRISTIANS in the whole world wild.
Thank you so much and GOD bless you wherever you are AMEN.
Amazing, it’s been hard in my walk thus far to truly understand what it means to “fear” God…. I think mostly because I didn’t have a Godly father figure to teach me… This took me to a beautful level of understanding.. thank you
Thanks so much for your teaching,I didn’t know what it means to fear God but after reading your teaching i now understand the benefits of fearing God.God bless u.
Thanks very much of this teaching.
Blessed. It. Has. Given me. An. Incite. In. God’s. Word be. Blessed
God is love,He is wonderful,He is great,He is a good God,He is a faithful God,He is able and His promises are always fulfilled.
I am blessed to have read this in my zeal to understand God and to be drawn closer to Him and LOVE and FEAR Hkm with my heart and with all that I have,withholding nothing.
Thank you for for this very informative script.
I am blessed with this message. I pray that God will help me to walk in his fear
Am blessed with seven benefit of showing fear to the lord.
God bless u
Pr please mention Book, Chapter and Verse. Because we easily to refer in Bible. This Message is useful to my Spiritual Life
All Glory honour praise and worship to God Almighty through our LORD JESUS Christ by the Power of the Holy Spirit of the Living GOD, researching for the benefits of fearing GOD and I found it.God bless you richly in Jesus Christ Name Amen
Thank you was an awesome teaching I have been seeking God know Him intimately and please Him and wanted to make Him Lord of every part of my life. I know I need to understand the Fear of the Lord. The Lord is so Good and loving He knows what we need thank You Lord
This message of seven amazing benefits for those who fear the LORD is indeed amazing, profound, biblical based, true and motivating, I have received many revelations while reading it again and again and I have leant that God wants us to obey him and trust him him in always and in everything, such more appreciations and God bless you abundantly.
Hello there,
Thank you for your teaching on the “Fear of God” – it’s a very important topic not only for us Christians but also for unbelievers as well.
I am one of a few coaches for our Disciple- Makers in our church and I send them a Newsletter every month. In January, this will be my newsletter for them!
I’ve searched the bible for scriptures on the fear of God and I ended up with 6 pages!
Thank you so much for this article….I do appreciate it!
The Lord Bless,
Rosemarie McKenna
Thank you for this great word!
Am Bless Pastor May God Continue To Use You Continousely In Jesus Name
Great word. The body of Christ needs this especially at a time like this. The Lord bless you for sharing this revelation.
Wow this is a great message, it has truly blessed me.
Thank you for sharing!