We need to have a proper fear of the Lord. This is not a fear as in dread. The correct fear of the Lord is to be in awe of the Lord to reverence Him.

The correct fear of God is mentioned a lot of times in the Bible especially in proverbs, and is associated with most, if not all, the attributes required by God for salvation.

Pro 1:7  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We have to learn to understand the fear of God. The fear of the Lord is linked with the knowledge of God.

Pro 2:1  My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,

Pro 2:2  So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;

Pro 2:3  Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding,

Pro 2:4  If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Pro 2:5  Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God.

Isa 29:13  Therefore the Lord said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths And honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men,

Pro 3:7  Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.

Fear the Lord and hate evil.

Pro 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.

The following verse is interesting. Knowledge of the holy. We must know God. Who He is and who Christ is.

Pro 9:10  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

If we fear God, we will have our days prolonged.

Pro 10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

Those who fear the Lord will tremble at the presence of God. Look at the display of His power, can the sea take over from the shore? God has set the boundary.

Jer 5:22  Do you not fear Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Will you not tremble at My presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, Yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.

Jer 33:9  Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’

We need to fear God, this fear is to be in awe of the great God and to reverence His very name. Those who fear God will tremble at the mighty power of our Creator. This fear will come from studying the Bible and believing and obeying God. The correct fear of God cannot be feigned, it will come as we put our whole life into God’s way of life.

There is an incorrect fear which will help to put us into the Lake of Fire. It is imperative that we understand this fear and overcome it if it grips us.

Rev 21:8  But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

This fear is tied in with some terrible sins and the end result is the Lake of Fire.

Fear is linked with lack of faith.

Mar 4:40  But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Fear is matched with wickedness and slothfulness. Read the parable of the talents in Matt. 25 v 14 to 30. Especially verses 25 and 26. This person did nothing with the talent God gave him. He feared to push ahead.

Mat 25:25  And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’

Mat 25:26  “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

Just as the Israelites feared to go into the Promised Land so a fearful person will fear to follow God to eternal life. Remember the firstfruits are those who follow Christ where ever He leads. If we have been fearful about obeying God we can repent.

Rev 14:4  These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.

There are two types of ‘fear of God.’

One fear is to stand in awe of our Creator. This fear will cause us to tremble at the very power of God as revealed in the Bible. The correct fear of God will help us to believe the Bible and obey God, regardless of the physical consequences. With the fear of God we will fear not what man can do.

The other fear is the exact opposite, this fear will keep us from entering God’s kingdom. This fear stops us from believing God’s word, it must be repented of.

We must not fear to fear God. If God be for us who can be against us? Fear not what man can do.

Stand in awe and revere the Great God. This is the correct fear of God.