FEAR the Lord

Prayer: Understanding God’s Holiness

Heavenly Father,

You are holy, righteous, and perfect in all Your ways. Your holiness is beyond our understanding, and we stand in awe of Your glory. Forgive us, Lord, for the times we take Your holiness lightly — when we rely on our own strength or make promises we cannot keep.

Teach us, O God, to walk humbly before You. Help us to remember that without You, we can do nothing that pleases You. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, who alone satisfies Your holiness and makes us acceptable in Your sight.

When we see our own weakness and sin, remind us that Your grace is greater. Let the awareness of Your holiness lead us to repentance, reverence, and a deeper love for You.
Fill our hearts with the desire to live lives that honor You — not by our power, but through the Spirit of Christ living within us.

We bow before You in worship and surrender.

You alone are holy, and You alone are worthy of our praise.

In Jesus’ holy name we pray,

Amen.

JOSHUA 24:19 Then Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to serve the Lord, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression or your sins.

Many Christians know that we are called to be holy, yet few truly grasp what holiness means. To understand holiness, we must first understand who God is — God is holy. Holiness is not merely one of His attributes; it is the very essence of His being. It is what makes God, God.

Serving the Lord is not something we can do in our own strength. Our humility matters to God because it acknowledges our total dependence on Him. Without God, nothing we do can truly please Him. No promise, no effort, and no resolution to “be good” can meet His perfect standard of holiness.

That is why God gave His only Son, Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can satisfy the holiness of God, because He Himself is God — perfect, righteous, and without sin. Through Him alone, we are made acceptable before a holy God.

Throughout Scripture, those who encountered God personally — like Moses, Isaiah, and John — all fell down in awe and fear. Their reactions remind us that true holiness is overwhelming and beyond human comprehension. It exposes our sinfulness and our utter need for grace.

May we never take God’s holiness lightly. Instead, may it lead us to deeper reverence, humility, and gratitude for the gift of Jesus Christ — the One who makes it possible for us to stand before a holy God.

The proper response for everyone who comes before God is holy fear. That is what it means to revere His holiness — not a fear that drives us away, but one that humbles us and draws us nearer in worship. Fear is the right response to God’s holiness — the awe-filled recognition that He alone is worthy, and we live only by His grace.

GENESIS 3:10 …I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

When Adam fell into sin, when He saw God, he fell on his face and trembled before the Lord.

When Adam sinned, the purity and confidence he once had in God’s presence were replaced by fear, shame, and separation. When he heard the voice of the Lord, he could no longer stand before Him. He hid, trembling in guilt and fear.

EXODUS 3:6 …Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

When Moses encountered God in the burning bush, his natural response was fear and reverence. He hid his face, for he knew he was unworthy to look upon the Holy One.

JOB 40:4 “Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You…

When Job finally stood before God, all his questions, arguments, and complaints fell silent. In that moment, Job saw himself as he truly was — small, limited, and utterly dependent on God’s mercy. Standing in the light of God’s glory exposes our frailty and humbles the proud heart.

MATTHEW 17:6 …they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.

Even though the apostles had walked with Jesus, talked with Him, and seen His miracles, the direct presence and voice of God were overwhelming. They fell face down to the ground, filled with holy fear. When we truly encounter God, reverence and comfort coexist. We tremble before His power, yet rest in His mercy.

REVELATION 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man.

When John saw Jesus again — not as the humble Servant, but as the glorified Lord — he could not stand. John fell at His feet like a dead man. 

Fear that resists God’s presence.

LUKE 8:28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”... 31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into the abyss... 37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for they were gripped with great fear; and He got into a boat and returned.

Even the demons recognize the holiness and authority of Jesus. They know who He is — the Son of the Most High God. They know His power, His purity, and His authority to judge. That’s why they trembled before Him and begged not to be sent into the abyss.

When the people of the Gerasenes saw what Jesus had done, instead of rejoicing that He had delivered a man from bondage, they asked Him to leave. They were gripped with fear, but not the holy fear that leads to repentance. Their fear was the kind that resists God’s presence because it threatens their comfort and way of life.

Jesus came to cleanse their land, but they preferred to keep their unclean lifestyle. They valued their pigs — symbols of their livelihood and sin — more than the presence of the Holy One. They saw holiness as an interruption, not salvation.

ISAIAH 65:4 Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots.

In the Old Testament, God declared swine unclean. In the story of the Gerasenes, the people were keeping herds of pigs — animals considered unclean before the Lord. This detail is not accidental. It reveals a society that had grown comfortable living outside of God’s will.

Fear that draws you to the Lord.

LUKE 8:47 When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While Jesus was on His way to Jairus’ house, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve long years came near Him. According to the law, her condition made her unclean. She had every reason to stay away — fear of rejection, fear of shame, fear of breaking the law. But her fear did not stop her; instead, it drew her to Jesus.

This woman’s trembling was not just from anxiety — it was the trembling of holy fear mixed with faith. She knew she was unworthy, yet she believed that one touch of His garment could make her whole. And it did.

When Jesus turned and called her out, she came trembling and fell before Him — the same posture of those who encounter His holiness. Yet instead of rebuke, Jesus gave her peace: “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

There are always two possible responses to God’s holiness:

• We can fear and reject Him, like the people of the Gerasenes who asked Jesus to leave.

• Or we can fear and draw near to Him, like this woman who reached out in faith.

Holy fear draws us closer, because it recognizes that God alone has the power to cleanse and save. It is a fear rooted not in terror, but in awe, humility, and faith. The challenge for every believer is this: How do we keep our fear on fire? We do so by staying close to His Word, by remembering His holiness, and by never taking His grace for granted. True fear of the Lord keeps our hearts humble, our faith alive, and our lives surrendered.

The Early Christians.

ACTS 2:43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

In the early Church, when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers at Pentecost, the people lived in a constant sense of awe — a holy fear of God’s presence. This was not a fear of punishment, but a deep, reverent awareness that God was among them. The word “awe” here is translated from the Greek “phobos,” meaning fear. But it is a sacred fear — one that recognizes the greatness, holiness, and power of God.

1 PETER 1:14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

We are called to live holy lives because the God who called us is holy. This holiness is not about outward appearance or religious performance — it is about a heart that is continually aware of God’s presence. Every moment of our day should be marked by the awareness that God is here. He sees our thoughts, hears our words, and weighs our motives. This awareness produces humility, obedience, and gratitude. It reminds us that we belong to a holy Father who judges impartially and loves us completely.

ACTS 2:42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Devotion is to give one’s time, focus one’s effort, or commit one’s self entirely for, on or to a certain matter. In other words, you are set apart your time entirely to a certain matter. The word set apart means to be holy.

The early church shows us what it means to live a holy and devoted life. They devoted themselves — their time, their focus, and their hearts — to the things of God. The word devotion means to give oneself fully to something. It speaks of deliberate focus, unwavering commitment, and wholehearted surrender. When the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer, they were essentially setting themselves apart for God’s purposes.

To be “set apart” is what it means to be holy.
Holiness is not just about avoiding sin — it’s about belonging completely to God. It’s choosing to give our best time, our full attention, and our deepest affection to Him.

FAITHFULLY STAND ON GOD’S WORD.

PROVERBS 30:12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

This verse warns us about self-deception — when a person thinks they are right with God, yet their life shows otherwise. To truly live for God, we must set ourselves apart and stand faithfully on His Word. Ignorance of God’s truth leads to false confidence. When we do not know what God expects of us, we may fear Him wrongly or live in ways contrary to His will.

Many believe they are already Christians simply because they know about Jesus or once prayed a prayer. But Christianity is not just a means of transportation to heaven — it is transformation through submission to Christ. We must not only receive Jesus as our Savior but also as our Lord. True faith produces obedience, humility, and a desire to be cleansed daily by His Word.

ROMANS 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

Christianity is not just about believing in Jesus; it is about becoming like Him. God’s ultimate purpose for every believer is transformation — to be conformed to the image of His Son. Jesus perfectly pleased the Father in everything He did, and God desires that same likeness in us.

DEUTERONOMY 6:13 You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name.

God commands us to fear Him — not with a terror that causes us to hide, but with a reverence that causes us to obey. To fear the Lord is to recognize who He truly is: holy, righteous, powerful, and sovereign. It means taking His Word seriously and giving Him the honor He deserves. When we fear God rightly, we will worship Him wholeheartedly and serve Him faithfully.

PROVERBS 14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life..

PSALM 22:23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him…

PSALM 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom..

PSALM 115:3 He will bless those who fear the Lord, The small together with the great.

God told us to fear Him — not with a fear that pushes us away, but with one that draws us nearer in reverence and obedience. This kind of fear does not bring torment; it brings life. It is a holy awe that makes us want to please God in everything we do. This is the fear that God desires — a fear rooted in love, reverence, and faith. A fear that keeps our hearts humble and our lives aligned with His will. It is the fear that gives us life, wisdom, and joy in His presence.

ROMANS 7

15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me... 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

This passage reveals the deep conflict between our sinful nature and our desire to do what is right. Even the apostle Paul, a man devoted to God, struggled with sin. This shows that on our own, we are powerless to overcome it. Sin lives within us, pulling us away from the life God desires. 

Though God does not love our sin, He loves us deeply. His love moved Him to send Jesus Christ — the only One who can set us free from this “body of death.” In Christ, we receive not only forgiveness but also the power to live victoriously over sin.

Our sinful nature reminds us of our need for grace. The more we realize our weakness, the more we cling to Christ. Freedom is not found in our willpower, but in His Spirit working within us.

ROMANS 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death... 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh… 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit

Through Jesus Christ, we are no longer condemned. Because of His sacrifice, we are no longer under judgment, and nothing can separate us from the love and blessings of God. In Him, we are forgiven, accepted, and set free from the power of sin and death. But this freedom calls for a choice — to live according to the Spirit, not according to the flesh. Those whose minds are set on the things of this world think only about how to make life better here on earth. Their hearts are focused on comfort, success, and self. Yet those who belong to Christ live with a different mindset — one that seeks to honor and please God above all.

To live in the Spirit is to trust God in everything, to live in His presence daily, and to think of what we can offer Him, not just what we can receive. When we pray, we do not seek the approval of people around us — our focus is on God alone. We come before Him with sincerity, knowing that He sees our hearts.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

When we study the Bible, we allow God Himself to speak into our lives. The Bible is not just a collection of words — it is the living Word of God, breathed out by Him. Through it, God teaches us what is true, corrects us when we are wrong, rebukes us when we go astray, and trains us to live in righteousness.

The more we open our hearts to God’s Word, the more we are shaped into the people He wants us to be. Scripture guides our thoughts, convicts our hearts, and strengthens our faith. It is through the Word that we learn what pleases God and how to walk in His ways.

When we let the Bible teach us, we don’t just gain knowledge — we are transformed. God Himself uses His Word to instruct, discipline, and lead us into a life that reflects His holiness and truth.

Take His word seriously.

• Hear

• Read

• Study

• Memorize

• Meditate

• Apply

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INTEGRATE YOURSELF IN THE BODY OF CHRIST.

ROMANS 12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

When we receive Christ, we are not just saved from sin; we are also saved into something — the body of Christ, the Church. God never intended for any believer to live in isolation. He places us in a spiritual family where we can grow, serve, encourage, and be encouraged. Each believer is like a part of the body — different in function but essential to the whole. Together, we reflect Christ to the world.

GALATIANS 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself...5 For each one will bear his own load...

When we belong to the body of Christ, our lives are intertwined. The strength or weakness of one affects the whole. That’s why our walk with God is not just a personal matter — it’s also a community responsibility. We are called to care for one another, helping those who are struggling, lifting them up in prayer, love, and encouragement. But at the same time, each believer is called to take personal responsibility for their own life, faith, and actions.

ACTS 2:44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

In this verse, we see a beautiful picture of genuine fellowship — believers united not just in faith, but in love, compassion, and daily life. They understood that belonging to the body of Christ meant sharing everything — their time, resources, and even their hearts. When they broke bread together, it wasn’t just about eating. It was a sacred reminder that Christ’s body was broken for all, and now, His life flows through each of us. Because of that, they could not ignore one another’s needs. They lived out the truth that what belongs to me also belongs to my family in Christ.

1 CORINTHIANS 11

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

In this verse, Paul reminds the believers of the sacredness of the Lord’s Supper. When Jesus broke the bread and said, “This is My body, which is for you,” He was expressing the depth of His love — a love that gives, sacrifices, and redeems. Every time we partake of the bread, we remember not only His death but also our worth in His eyes. We are reminded that we are deeply valued, because the Son of God gave Himself for us. The breaking of the bread shows us that Christ’s body was broken so ours could be made whole — spiritually, emotionally, and even in our relationships within the body of believers. It’s a moment of gratitude and reflection.

1 CORINTHIANS 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood…

Through His blood, we have entered into a new covenant relationship — not based on human ties or natural family bonds, but on the precious blood of Jesus Christ. That makes us blood-related in the truest and holiest sense. Because of this divine relationship, we are no longer just individuals following God separately; we are a family, joined together by the same blood that saved us. And in a true family, love also means accountability. Within the body of Christ, we are corrected, rebuked, and disciplined when necessary — not to condemn, but to restore and help one another grow in holiness.

1 CORINTHIANS 5:1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father’s wife. 2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. 3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present...5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

When Paul addressed the sin in the Corinthian church, his concern was not to shame or destroy the person but to restore him. The believers were tolerating sin instead of mourning over it. True love for a brother or sister in Christ does not stay silent when sin is destroying their life.

If we truly understand that we belong to one body, then when one part sins, the whole body feels the pain. Our response should be grief, not arrogance — restoration, not rejection. Sometimes, God allows a believer to experience the painful consequences of sin (“delivered to Satan for the destruction of his flesh”) so that their spirit may be saved. It is a severe mercy — a discipline driven by love.

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RESOLVE TO DEPEND ON GOD IN PRAYER.

LUKE 11:2 And He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread.

When the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray,” they were not asking for a formula—they were asking for guidance on how to live. And Jesus, in His wisdom, began with the foundation of prayer: God first.

“Father, hallowed be Your name.”
Jesus teaches us that every prayer starts with acknowledging who God is—holy, set apart, worthy of honor. When we remember His holiness, our worries shrink because our eyes shift from our problems to His greatness.

“Your kingdom come.”
Before asking for anything, we align our hearts to His will. It is not our kingdom or our agenda—we invite His reign into our lives. We are saying, “Lord, have Your way in me.”

“Give us each day our daily bread.”
Jesus did not teach us to pray for tomorrow’s bread or next month’s security. Why? Because God wants us to learn daily dependence. Most people are full of anxiety because their minds live in the future—thinking five steps ahead, worrying about what has not yet happened. Jesus reminds us that life is lived one day at a time.

When we pray this way, we acknowledge that every day we wake up, every meal we eat, every moment we live—is a gift from God. We are not in control; He is.

Praying daily bread is not just about provision—it’s about trust. We will never fully enjoy our lives until we let God lead. When we depend on Him daily, we learn to walk in peace.

MARK 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Jesus modeled a life of total dependence on the Father. Even though He was the Son of God, He consistently sought the Father in prayer. He did not begin His day with busyness, with plans, or with people—but with God. Jesus’ priority was not the demands of the crowd, the pressures of ministry, or the needs of people. His first priority was intimacy with the Father. Before He faced the day, He first sought the One who holds the day. If Jesus Himself needed time alone with the Father, how much more do we?

Resolve to depend on God daily. Seek Him first. When we begin with God, everything else finds its rightful place.

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EXALT GOD ALWAYS.

ACTS 2:47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The early church was marked by genuine worship. They continually exalted God—not because of circumstances, but because of who He is. Their praise was not limited to a gathering or a place; it was their lifestyle.

Because they lived in the fear of the Lord—a deep reverence and honor toward God—their worship was real, not forced. The fear of God leads to obedience, to purity, and to worship that flows from a heart that knows God’s worth.

REVELATION 19:5 And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you His bond-servants, you who fear Him, the small and the great.”

In this verse, God Himself calls His people to worship. This is not merely an invitation—it is a command. Those who fear the Lord, those who recognize His holiness and authority, respond with praise. Regardless of our status—“the small and the great”—every follower of Christ is called to exalt Him.

ROMANS 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

Worship is not limited to songs or church gatherings. True worship is a life surrendered to God. Paul urges believers to offer their bodies—not as a dead sacrifice, but as a living one. This means that every decision, every action, and every part of our life becomes an offering to God. To exalt the Lord is not only to lift our voices in praise—it is to live in a way that honors Him.

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