Spirit of the Fear of God

The Spirit of the Fear of God This month we are focusing on the person of the Holy Spirit, so that we may understand how to be filled with Him.

In recent weeks, we have explored some important truths, including the reality that the true worshipper of Jesus Christ lives within us through the Holy Spirit, desiring to worship Jesus and Honour the Father through our lives.

This worship is cultivated through a lifestyle of gratitude, thanksgiving, and joyful praise. We have also learned that one way to be filled with the Holy Spirit is to join Him in His activities.

The Holy Spirit delights in glorifying Jesus, and when we participate in worship, we align ourselves with His heart and work. Today, we will look more closely on how the Holy Spirit cultivates in us — a Spirit of the fear of the Lord, as revealed in the Book of Isaiah.

As we seek to understand more we will discover how the Holy Spirit forms within us a reverent awe of God that leads to wisdom, obedience, and a deeper walk with Him. [Isaiah 11.1]There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding , The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.] This prophecy speaks of Jesus, the Branch from Jesse, who would come filled with the Spirit to teach us many things including the true fear of the Lord.”]

Jesus now delivers a short teaching on the fear of God.

[Luke 12.4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will show you whom you should fear :

Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! 6“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

7But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.] The Right Type of Fear The Lord wants us to have the right type of fear. Not a fearful view shaped by misunderstanding, of an always angry God who desires only judgment, but a true and Holy fear rooted in revelation.

Jesus Christ teaches us to fear God because of His supreme authority, awesomeness, splendour, and majesty.

All creation —

in heaven, on earth, and under the earth —

will bow before Him. The Epistle of James reminds us of this reality: “You believe that there is one God. You do well.

Even the demons believe—and tremble.

This shows that God has complete authority over all creation, over our lives, and over eternity itself. Yet at the same time, God’s authority is not separated from His lovingkindness. His care toward us produces trust, not abandonment.

He calls us into reverence, but also into confidence in His love. Jesus illustrates this by speaking about sparrows. Sparrows were very cheap birds, sold for almost nothing and often eaten by the poor.

Yet He says that not one of them i s forgotten before God.

This reveals that God notices and cares about even the smallest and seemingly insignificant parts of His creation. How much more, then, does He care for us. Christ is showing that we are not forgotten. We are known so personally that even the hairs of our head are numbered.

This means God knows us completely and watches over us with perfect awareness and love. So Christ teaches us not to live in fear like those who are abandoned. Instead, we are to fear God with reverence and awe, while resting in His love and care.

This is the Father’s lovingkindness toward us —

that we honour His majesty, yet live securely in His faithful and personal care that He has for us. Jesus Sends The Helper Christ taught His disciples and the people the fear of God, Now Christ is starting to reveal the Holy Spirit who will teach us the same, He tells us to not be afraid.

[John 14.25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled , neither let it be afraid . 28You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.] Here Christ is referring to His death, burial and resurrection and I AM coming back to you. Don’t fear or worry I am always with you.

The fear of the Lord is both a command and a condition of the heart produced by knowing God.

The Spirit of the Fear God After the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, the disciples began to live and work in partnership with the Holy Spirit.

He continued to teach them and form within them the true fear of the Lord, just as Jesus had taught them. The Holy Spirit did not only comfort and guide them, but also established in the early church a deep reverence for God’s holiness, authority, and presence. We can read together how the Holy Spirit demonstrated and produced this fear of the Lord among the believers in the early church. [Acts 5.1-10 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

4While it remained, was it not your own?

And after it was sold, was it not in your own control?

Why have you conceived this thing in your heart?

You have not lied to men but to God.” 5Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.

6And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. 7Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” 9Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord ?

Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last.

And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.

11So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.]

We Are Reminded The words of Jesus Christ remind us of this solemn truth: “But I will show you whom you should fear:

Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!”

(Gospel of Luke 12:5). This is a sobering verse. It teaches us that when we say we have the Holy Spirit, we are also saying that He produces in us a Spirit of the fear of God.

The Holy Spirit does not produce carelessness or casualness toward God, but a reverence and Holy awe.

Honour where honour is due. Scripture also says that great fear came upon all the church. This shows that the presence of the Holy Spirit produces in God’s people a deep reverence for His holiness, authority, and majesty.

The Holy Spirit works within us to form this Holy fear, producing in the Bride of Christ a heart that honors God, walks in humility before Him, and recognises His greatness. To Summarise The Holy Spirit when working in us produces: ● The Spirit of the fear of God ● Reverence toward God ● Deep respect for His Holiness ● A desire to obey Him ● A serious hatred towards sin ● A Desire to follow Him ● Awe of His majesty and authority The Holy Spirit doesn’t just comfort us — He also forms in us a heart that honors God in all humility.

A true fear of the Lord —

a reverent awe that leads us to obey and honor God.

Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.