Dt. 8:5-6 π Psa. 25:12 π Psa. 145:19 π Prov. 16:6 π Eccl. 12:13
There is a fear that is healthy to have, and is required of God. That is the fear of displeasing God by disobeying His statutes and commandments. This kind of fear will ultimately lead the Christian into an intimate relationship with Jesus that will cleanse the inner man of any resting place for evil fear to exist. We read in Eccl. 12:13 that to “fear God and keep His commandments…is the whole duty of man.”
Sometimes God chastens us to get us to seek Him and fear Him. “…So the Lord your God chastens you. Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God to walk in His ways and to fear Him.” ( Dt. 8:5-6; top ) Knowing that we are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling doesn’t mean we are to fearfully restrict our every move and action, nor to fulfill God’s commandments by our own strength. No amount of trying to be correct will make us correct and right – this is the pharisaical approach. But, by surrendering to the source of righteousness, we can be partakers of His nature; and Godly righteousness will produce a flow of goodness that automatically will do what God’s perfect character wants done.
God is the only one that is good, so obviously He is the only one from whom goodness can come. As the inner self-life completely dies, then only His Spirit controls within us, leaving us with an inner environment entirely unaffected by evil fears. Some neat things happen when we truly fear God; then all those things shall be added unto you, as “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him.” ( Psa. 145:19 ) “By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” ( Prov. 16:6; top )
“What man is he that fears the Lord? Him shall He [God] teach in the way that He [God] shall choose.” ( Psa. 25:12; top )
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