THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Proverbs 1:7 says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

                              But fools despise wisdom and instruction."

Proverbs 9:10 says: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

                                And the knowledge of the Holy One is 
                                understanding."

The Bible uses the word fear at least 300 times in reference to God, so it must be vitally important for us to, not only have a Biblical understanding about what the fear of the Lord is, but in experience, if we are to fully walk in the ways of the Lord, we must personally be walking in the fear of the Lord.
Jesus, in the New Testament, speaking to His disciples, states: "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:27,28.
The fear of the Lord is demonstrated by personal holiness, as seen in the following passage from 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 7:1.
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness. What communion has light with darkness. What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
                          "I will live in them
                           And walk in them.
                           I will be their God,
                           and they shall be My people."

Therefore,
                          "Come out from among them
                           and be separate,
                           says the Lord.
                           Do not touch what is unclean,
                           and I will receive you."

                          "I will be a Father to you,
                           and you shall be My sons and
                                 daughters,
                           says the Lord Almighty."

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
(The verses in quotes above are highlighted by the apostle Paul, originally being stated in the Old Testament - Isaiah 52:11; Isaiah 43:6; Jeremiah 31:9).

Christian author and speaker, John Bevere, who is known for his uncompromising approach to God's Word, says concerning the Fear of The Lord: WHEN WE FEAR GOD
WE CHOOSE TO LOVE
WHAT HE LOVES 
AND HATE WHAT HE HATES.
john Bevere says that to fear God is to love Him so much that we are afraid to be away from Him. We love and value His presence above all. Out of reverence for Him, we choose to love what He loves and hate what He hates.
He goes on to say:
The fear of the Lord can be identified by one simple thing: OBEDIENCE. People who fear God....

             - Obey Him instantly
             - Obey Him even if it doesn't make sense
             - Obey Him even if it hurts
             - Obey Him even if they don't see the benefit
             - Obey Him to completion.

A prime example of this is seen in the life of Abraham in Genesis 22, the first book of the Bible.
Chapter 11 of Hebrews in the New Testament is called the Faith chapter, the "Hall Of Fame" citing many of the giants of the faith in the Old Testament,who, in spite of personal weaknesses and failings, shone through to accomplish great exploits for God.
Of the patriarch Abraham, it says: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would later receive as an inheritance. He went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs of the same promise, for he was looking for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith Sarah [Abraham's wife] also received the ability to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, who was as good as dead, sprang so many, a multitude as the stars of the sky and innumerable as the sand by the seashore.

Back to Genesis 22, where the Lord asks something of Abraham, which, in light of the above would have seemed to be bizarre. As a test of Abraham's obedience, God calls to him: "Abraham!"
And he said, "Here I am."
Then He said, "Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."
You can read the rest of the story in Genesis 22, and discover that Abraham passed the test as he obeyed instantly in every detail the instructions the Lord gave him.
When Abraham responded to God: "Here I am", the Hebrew word used by Abraham, Hineni, apparently means "Whatever you ask of me, I'll do it." It was much more than a mere acknowledgement of God calling him. It was an affirmation of Abraham's total obedience to the Lord. Although it did not make sense to Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, his son of promise, he obeyed the Lord's instructions explicitly. He was about to sacrifice his son on Mount Moriah, when the LORD called to him: "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, because now I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
Abraham then saw a ram caught in a thicket by his horns, and proceeded to sacrifice the ram. Verse 14 tells us: Abraham called the name of that place The LORD will provide [Jehovah Jireh], as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the Lord it will be provided."
Here are a few more of many wonderful verses about the fear of the LORD in the Bible:
 Proverbs 22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life.
Psalm 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
Psalm 145:19 He will fulfill the desires of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and save them.
Luke 1:50 AND HIS MERCY IS UPON GENERATION AFTER GENERATION TOWARD THOSE WHO FEAR HIM
Psalm 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindess toward those who fear Him.

If you would like to know about how to become a Christian, two of many websites I would recommend are: livingwaters.com and vision.org.au  The Vision website is that Vision Christian Media in Australia. Vision Christian Radio and Vision180, the youth Christian online station can be accessed here. God Bless

THE BIBLE

God's Indispensable Word To Man Part 3

Although the Bible is not set out as a scientific textbook, a large number of now accepted scientific facts, some only formulated in the last two hundred years, are clearly attested in the Bible. 
Some examples, cited by evangelist Ray Comfort of livingwaters.com and wayofthemaster.com in his excellent "The Evidence Bible" can be viewed online by googling Bible Facts The Evidence Bible. I will not reproduce them all here, but there is a fascinating list of clear evidences given for many now accepted scientific facts and principles in various scientific disciplines, including medicine and cosmology, provided by the all-knowing Creator God, and recorded by men of God, thousands of years ago for our understanding and benefit.
Such facts as: the Earth being round, and not flat
- the importance of washing hands and infected clothes after contact with sick or diseased persons,
- the importance of blood to our bodies - up to one hundred and twenty odd years ago, people were "bled" to seek to rid them of disease, resulting in many deaths,
- clear Scriptural support for a revolving earth etc.
Ray lists the Scriptural references for each of these facts and others.
Another classic book which makes for fascinating reading is a book called "None Of These Diseases" written by S.I. McMillen, a medical doctor, which has been recently been revised and has sold over one million copies worldwide. It is also a great source of discovery of how the Creator God recorded in the Bible many facts relating to our bodies and healthy living, which have only been confirmed in medicine and scientific endeavours in the last two hundred years.
There are are other websites listing many Biblically attested facts related to science and medicine, astronomy, chemistry, physics and biology.
In John 1:1. we read, concerning Jesus, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Verse 14 reads: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
Jesus said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me."
The Bible is not merely a history book, but a treasure chest of the revelation of God to man, and a storehouse of life-giving instruction from the heart of the Living God, that when received by the spiritually reborn child of God through inspiration of the Holy Spirit, has the power to transform the vilest of sinners from darkness to light. THERE IS NO OTHER BOOK THAT COMES ANYWHERE CLOSE TO ITS IMPACT ON MEN AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN WHO HAVE A CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND, AND A DESIRE TO KNOW THE LIVING GOD.
If you have read this blog and would like to know more about how to become a Christian, two websites I can recommend are: livingwaters.com and vision.org.au
God Bless!