I dont see any great move of the Spirit coming to the Earth until the fear of YHWH is restored to the Church. To fear him seems unheard of nowadays. That is the very reason sin has multiplied and increased in our day.
From songs to sermons it is missing. If one says we should fear God he is considered a lunatic. Yet Jesus Christ the wisest man who ever lived said:
28: And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt. 10:28
We are to fear God but not fear men.
1: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Its impossible to perfect holiness apart from the fear of the Lord.
Now notice Im not saying YHWH is not a God of love. He is. There is nothing greater than to know his love. And yet if one gets a steady diet of the love of YHWH and never hears anything about his fear it can ruin them spiritually.
They dont believe he is willing to punish them when they sin. They dont believe he will punish nations for sin.
Its time for the Preachers and Teachers to come back to the whole counsel of God.
I've heard it said that the "fear of the Lord" isn't being afraid or scared of God; it is just respect, honor, and reverence. But I say baloney! You are right, Michael. You should be scared!
Fear is one of the oldest tools of the church. Great fear spread throughout the infant church, when Ananias and Sapphira dropped dead at Peter's feet. Spreading fear was the reason for their deaths. Instilling fear in followers and prospective converts has been one of the main tactics ever since. Fear of hell, punishment, death. Fear to keep them in line. And be very careful, when it's time for taking communion. If you partake unworthily, you might get sick, and might even die!
What about Spirit-filled believers? Do they have reason to be afraid? Of course! They can't know for sure what their spiritual status will be when they die, so they have no way of knowing if their eternity will be a good one or a very bad one. And any one of them could be among those who will be surprised to hear "I never knew you: depart from me."
Of course, they will have no basis to complain: everyone deserves eternal death, anyway. Nobody deserves to be saved from it. Nobody deserves that unmerited favor.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty
I agree with you Michael. So many have lost the very fear of God. I've witnessed how people can almost be up in Jesus' face with attitudes, mockeries and disrespect to men of God and ministry in general. God is merciful and loving, they should be very thankful, but I also believe God has a limit on what He is taking from some people. If they do not allow that holy fear and reverence of God return in their lives, how can it be well with their souls in the end.
I too firmly believe that the fear of the Lord is missing in the church. Part of the problem is that church has become an incorporated Sunday show dependent upon contributors. Too many pastors are soft when it comes to the fear of God so as to not loose their incomes.
Yes, the institutional church needs the "Fear of God". And I promise you... there is a movement of John the Baptists who live in the wilderness who will rise up and declare "Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." The institutional church is in grave danger should she not repent of her spiritual gluttony and her bartering of the "souls of men". The Harlot institutions of this world will be brought down and revival with spread through homes around the globe.
Take heed....
Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Revival will not come under a banner of an institution. Revival will come from a burning passing for deeper relationship in the hearts of men who launch out for God and God alone.
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