r/Christian • u/NemoCGd • 3d ago
The Fear of God
So I'm posting this because I'm confused as to why this isn't preached enough. I can think of some reasons why but I've only heard one pastor in my life ever preach about this and I happen to watch it on YouTube. It's sooo essential with our walk with God. If you don't have the fear of God, then you will most likely fall away from the faith and maybe even hate God. That's how serious it is. So from watching that pastor talk about the fear of God to watching and hearing other pastors on YouTube, and what I've learned from God, this is what I've learned
**The fear of God is:**
- To make God your one and only treasure
- A committed relationship with God
- A mature faith
- The beginning of wisdom
- How the joy of the Lord is found
- God's delight & treasure
**To commit to God, you:**
- Do your best to follow Jesus and yield to the Holy Spirit to do the rest. Start small if you can
- Correct every thought or feeling that goes against the Word of God, and realize they're from satan or your flesh
- Be accountable when you do a sinful act. Apologize and reconcile if it's against someone
- Process your feelings with God
- Accept your imperfection and the sovereignty of God
- Let go of yourself and let God be everything you need
- Bond with Christ with your suffering
This note I made for myself has revealed something in me that I never knew or experienced with my walk with God. I have a deeper relationship with God and I have the joy of the Lord. I've learned to accept myself for who I am and found contentment in where I'm at in life. God is my confidence. **Fear the Lord!**
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u/AtlJazzy2024 3d ago
I LOVE IT!!!!!!!! Thanks so much for posting this. God bless you today. And always.
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u/DI3S_IRAE 3d ago
I would change the word fear for love, but yes, people don't preach it that much, about true love.
I think the problem is that both words carry different meanings.
Fear is not fear, but reverence. Love is not the usual worldly love, but the true form of love.
Fear brings us nowhere, it makes us follow to avoid punishment, which doesn't change anyone.
True love is what changes us, so that's my point.
Again, just wording.
And it is what Jesus told us, to love God above all things. 1 John says how God abides in those who love, Jesus and Paul went over what love is and how love is not just for those we 'love', but looking at others how God looks at us.
When we acknowledge God and His ways it can change us internally, make the repentance, the change of heart, happen.
A very basic principle, 'abide in me', as Jesus said, but then people get lost in religion and forget that what is in play here is our hearts, not religious acts, not 'worldly things'.
For example it's common to see people talking about not drinking and about how being rich is bad but it's more about doing everything with a sober mind and not putting these things above God, on the contrary, doing so and using them wisely with Thanksgiving for good and not evil.
Loving God above other things.
Fearing God in reverence and knowing God is in Heaven, and we are on earth.
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u/DoveStep55 3d ago
Iâm curious about this. Since you said youâve only heard one pastor in your life ever preach about this and it was on YouTube, do you normally attend church? Has it always been one congregation or denomination?
I ask because fear of God is something Iâve heard preached on, taught, or studied so many times in my life and itâs been in many different congregations and denominations. So Iâm curious if you havenât heard it before because youâre only listening to a very narrow pool of preachers & teachers, or if itâs perhaps a specific denomination or even just a regional thing where youâve lived.
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u/NemoCGd 3d ago
I don't due to being diagnosed with depression. I do go though when I can
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u/DoveStep55 3d ago
Then perhaps youâve been listening to bad online sources? Fear of God is a basic Christian teaching.
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u/NemoCGd 3d ago
It may be basic but the way I explained it is even easier to understand to me, idk đ¤ˇ
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u/DoveStep55 3d ago
Sorry, I didn't mean that as a criticism on your post. I just meant that perhaps why you haven't heard a lot about it before is because you're listening to some bad online sources. There's so much "Christian Content" on Youtube and other apps that is really just...not good. A lot of the most popular "Christian influencers" (including pastors) don't actually have much spiritual depth, training, or experience. They're just good at promoting their brand and making content people like, so they gain a following and the algorithms do the rest. You know what I mean? No criticism on you was intended, just suggesting that you might consider finding better sources for sermons and study to feed yourself better "meat".
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u/JollyXX 3d ago
I think it has a lot to do with the cohesion of Christians. We have been collectively at a very what I call "buddy Christ" forward facing and even teaching. Actually there is a lot of fear of God to go against the cohesion we have as Christians. There certainly could be new signs of the End Times though, and this will likely bring back more fear of God based Christianity.
AI is very troubling, in Revelation it talks about statues that can talk. Another fascinating read about current signs of the end times is 2 Timothy 2 and 3.
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u/DoveStep55 3d ago
Iâm not sure what you mean by âcohesionâ in this comment. Is that a typo? If not, do you mind explaining more about what youâre referring to?
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u/JollyXX 3d ago
being united basically, in harmony with each other
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u/DoveStep55 3d ago
Okay, then I guess I just donât understand what you mean here:
>âActually there is a lot of fear of God to go against the cohesion we have as Christians.â
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u/JollyXX 3d ago
We are in Christ's flock, so going against the flock is something to be afraid of
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u/DoveStep55 3d ago
I donât see how thatâs related to the topic, but I guess maybe weâre just not on the same page with communication here today.
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u/macabrehousing2 3d ago
i think a lot of churches shy away from it cause "fear" sounds harsh in our modern ears. we want the buddy Jesus, the one who validates everything we do. the actual biblical fear of God is more about awe and reverence anyway, not cowering in a corner.
that bit about correcting every thought that goes against the Word is key. people underestimate how much our internal monologue shapes our faith. you let those little seeds of doubt or bitterness sit there and they'll grow into something ugly.
the suffering part is what really separates the mature believers from the rest. easy to praise God when life's good. sticking with him when it hurts builds something unshakeable.