5.1 The Pouring of God’s Spirit
In these times of uncertainty, fear and apprehension there seems to be a foreboding that the world is running on its last legs, and that the Day of the Lord is close at hand.
But before the evil one is revealed, God has promised in Joel 2:28: Then afterward I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
The pouring out of the Spirit here means that the work of the Holy Spirit will come like a deluge, like a torrent of water to quench the spiritual thirst of all people. This is a prophecy of the end time harvest of God, as a multitude of believers will receive the Spirit and born-again experience, through the outpouring of the rivers of living water.
The end time harvest of souls is upon us and believers will experience the Spirit and salvation in a very special way. Don’t just take my word for it, it’s something that needs to be experienced in one’s life, if not, the only thing that matters in this life at all. This is the time of harvest spoken of in the Gospels when the angels of God shall gather His people into the kingdom of God.
This is also a time of God’s grace for mankind; For thus says the Lord God:
I Myself will search for My sheep and will seek them out. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness (Ezekiel 34:11-12).
Lastly, these are verses from scripture to edify all believers, and it’s the Lord Himself who says, guard your hearts and find wisdom in His ways:
Proverbs 4:20-23:
My child be attentive to My words. Incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight, keep them within your heart. For they are life for those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
Proverbs 23: 15-17:
My child, if your heart is wise, My heart too will be glad. My innermost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the Lord.
5.2 The Fear of the Lord
People in general certainly have many fears, chief among them is the fear of death. You may add in all the other phobias as fear, and the list goes on. But the bible says: God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but of power, love and a strong mind (2 Timothy 1:7); which also means that for those who have the Holy Spirit, they fear not!
But why are then people and believers alike, filled with fear? To cut to the chase, fear that causes consternation, panic, fright, trepidation and dread does not come from the Lord, but from your enemy, the devil. True believers should not fear anything, not even death; and with this comes a peace and knowing that when we surrender all to the Lord without any fear for our lives and of our loved ones and even of our future, this is when we can rest with God.
When we accept the Lord, we are also accepting His total control over our future and our life’s circumstances from thereon, which includes eventually how we will die in the Lord.
This is part of our belief and faith in God, as we can never know what tomorrow brings and with this understanding, why not let God take control over our lives’ circumstances and of our future?
Many however, are weary of committing their lives to God for fear of having to live austere life-styles, even bereft of any pleasures, and being at the beck and call of God always. This is far from the truth, for Jesus said: Give to Caesar the things that are Caesars’ and to God the things that are God’s (Mark 12:17).
Ponder over this scripture, for it has tremendous truths that will revolutionize your walk with God.
As physical beings, we are ruled by the elements of our physical world which include our carnal nature. We are but sinful flesh, let’s remove our masks, we certainly find fulfillment in the ways of our desires. The sins of the flesh are what preoccupies all religions because it’s a belief towards the carnal.
The way of God on the other hand is simple and undemanding. God, who has made us from the dust of the earth takes joy that such a people, the nation formed from common soil, seek and trust in Him. And this is how we give unto God the things that are God’s, by walking like Abraham did with God, by trusting Him totally.
Coming back, the scriptures speak many times of the fear of the Lord, which to most people suggests the quaking and fear the Israelites experienced when God thundered His anger at Mount Sinai. However, this fear of the Lord that I’m referring to and recorded many times in scripture, refers not to this ‘fear’ that we are more commonly acquainted with. This fear has got to do with God’s blessings in our lives and how to receive them through wisdom and understanding of His words.
The bible says: The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10).
Here, we are asked to seek understanding and knowledge of who the Holy One is (the Holy Spirit), from Whom comes wisdom and understanding on the things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). It will help your spiritual walk a great deal if you have more grasp of the scriptures associated with the Fear of the Lord. I have penned down some of these for your easy reading and where there needs further elaboration, I’ve made some comments.
As a father has compassion for his children, so the Lord has compassion for those who fear Him. For He knows how we were made, He remembers that we are dust (Psalm 103: 13-14).
There is an important truth in these verses which refer to our flesh. Many in the world in their zeal for God have committed very grave errors through the flesh. On most occasions these are the religious in every stripe, color or creed and their zeal is not from the Lord, but one borne out of their own flesh and religious beliefs, and ultimately from the devil himself.
God understands us well for He is our Creator. He knows that we are a frail people, made from the dust of the earth and unlike the angels who have been created from precious gems and metal (Ezekiel 28:13), He has therefore granted us more grace. For this is God’s truth: To whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded (Luke 12:48).
In comparison between the inhabitants of the earth and the angels of heaven, and in the case of our lot, much has not been given and less therefore, may be required too. God Himself says that He has compassion for those who fear Him for He remembers how we are made from the dust of the earth.
Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be a happy person and it shall go well with you (Psalm 128:1-2).
I have a confession to make, I try to walk in His ways with my understanding of Him and yet I know that I walk in the flesh, most of the time. It’s times like this, when I pen down my personal notes, thoughts and reflections on scripture as I understand them, that I believe the Lord has used me somewhat. There is very little I believe I do for the Lord and yet the Lord has blessed the works of my hands, not just from completing these missives, but also in all aspects of my unworthy life.
This confirms scripture that says: Come to Me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon yourself and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light (Matthew 11: 28-30).
I will make an everlasting covenant with them, never to draw back from doing good to them; and I will put the Fear of Me in their hearts so that they may not turn from Me. I will rejoice in doing good to them, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul (Jeremiah 32:40-41).
Turn my heart to your decrees, and not to selfish gain. Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; give me Life in Your ways. Confirm to Your servant Your promise, which is for those who fear You (Psalm 119: 36-38).
This fear of Me in the heart is the work of the Lord, so don’t expect to work and toil to receive it. God searches the hearts of His people who genuinely desire to know Him; and the Lord further explains to look not for worldly gains, rather turn your eyes to the Lord and receive His Life which is the promise of God for all believers!
My child if you accept My words and treasure up My commandments within you, making your ear attentive to wisdom, and inclining your heart to understanding. If you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver, and search for it as for hidden treasures – then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2: 1-5).
There are very few scriptures in the bible where the Lord addresses us directly as His children. However, a few of these verses are found in the book of Proverbs and Psalms. When I first understood the profound meaning behind these personal instructions from the Lord, I felt an immediate breakthrough in my spiritual walk with Him. These verses breathed life further to my understanding and knowledge of the Lord.
For instance, I’ve learned that the hidden treasure is the Holy Spirit and the joy of salvation is the gift from Him (I’ve made some comments on this earlier as a reference to Matthew 13:44).
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so that one may avoid the snares of death (Proverbs 14:27).
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor (Proverbs 15:33). The rewards for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life (Proverbs 22:4).
Lastly, set out below are the verses from the Lord that teaches us further on what this fear of the Lord means to Him, and He has recorded His simple and easy instructions as follows:
Come O children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Keep your tongue from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against evildoers. When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit (Psalm 34: 11-18).
The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech (twisted tongue) do I hate (Proverbs 8:13). These are very strong words used by God and it’s good to understand that the devil has such traits, and when you see people exhibiting such attributes too, it’s good to avoid them.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil (Proverbs 3: 5-7).
