GOD’S FEAR IN YOUR HEART
Not all Christians today who claim to be righteous are righteous. John wrote, “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous (1 John 3:7). We are made righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, but we must “follow after righteousness” (1 Timothy 6:11) by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit.
There are Christians today who have brought God down to their own level. They have a concept of God as an earthly Father — a “daddy God” — Who is loving and kind, Who overlooks their sins and weaknesses, and never punishes them when they do wrong.
It is true that God is loving. He is forgiving. He is merciful and long suffering. We have entered into a covenant relationship with Him where we no longer fear to come into His presence and can enter boldly into the throne of grace, whereby we cry out, “Abba, Father!” (Romans 8:15). But God is also a holy, pure, righteous, God of judgment and wrath.
He hates sin. He hates rebellion and disobedience and He does not overlook it. In His great love and mercy He forgives and pardons, just as He did Israel. He has provided full and free salvation through the blood of Jesus. Those who rebel, disobey God, and fail to repent and turn from their sin will be judged.
Do not be deceived! Every man must give an account of himself before God (Romans 14:12). Paul told the Romans that God will render to every man according to his deeds. He said: “…to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation” (Romans 2:7-8, NAS). GOD’S FEAR IN YOUR HEART
What has happened to the fear of God that once caused Christians to walk holy and upright before Him, crucifying the lusts of the flesh instead of playing the harlot with the world? What has happened to the fear of God that caused the saints to stay all night on their faces before God, repenting and crying out for God’s mercy for the sins of the people?
God wants to put His fear in our hearts. He has said, “I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me” (Jeremiah 32:40). This fear is not a fear that will cause you to live in dread of what God is going to do to you the minute you do something wrong.
It is a fear that will cause you to turn away from anything that might be displeasing to Him.
Satan wants to steal the fear of God out of your heart so that you will walk in disobedience and be defeated. Don’t let him do it!
Make this declaration:
Satan cannot steal the fear of God out of my heart. God is putting His fear in my heart. 1 Peter 4:1-7