Holy Fear, By King Burke

King Burke and Seannah Burke on their wedding day!

What is “Holy Fear?”

“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,”– 1 John 5:3

The fear of the Lord is to love God so much that you actively obey and keep His commands out of love for him.

” But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” – Luke 12:5

When we fear God we will also have a healthy fear of his Omnipotent power to destroy those whom he pleases

How did Jesus Fear God?

I believe Christ possessed 8 key characteristics that displayed his Fear of God.
Jesus was:

1. Prayerful
2. Urgent
3. Zealous
4. Wholehearted
5. In Awe
6. Prudent
7. Detailed
8. Open

1.Prayerful

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.”-Hebrews 5:7

Jesus’ prayer life was incredibly powerful because he feared God.
How often do we pray like Jesus prayed when he was on earth?
The Greek word for reverent submission is “eulabeia,” meaning: caution, circumspection, discretion.
Jesus was the creator of the universe, yet he still prayed to the Father with caution and discretion!! That’s intense.
We will be heard the same way Jesus was heard when we have prayers that are surrendered and speak to God with respect.

2.Urgent

“For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” -2 Corinthians 6:2

Anything Jesus said or did was done and preached with urgency because he understood God’s favor and salvation.
Anyone who truly fears the Lord will have an urgent response to the message by their actions.
A disciple does not have an arrogant and entitled view of their walk with God, but rather one of holy fear.
A disciple understands that although our father is loving, he will discipline us if we do not act when he calls us to.
A healthy fear of God is shown by responding urgently to the message (the word/teaching/direction). Because you know that your lack of urgency will hurt yourself and others.

3.Zealous

“When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear into both of them, right through the Israelite man and into the woman’s stomach. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped;” -Numbers 25:7-8

Phinehas the priest was so indignant about the word of God that he had no hesitation to kill his fellow Israelite – whom he most likely knew.
There was no sentimentality because Phinehas was filled with zeal for the Lord’s word.
Jesus was not sentimental because he feared God’s word more than the acceptance of men.
When we are zealous for the Lord, our zeal will lead to serving and protecting God’s people by whatever means necessary.
When we have a healthy fear of God our zeal will lead us to protect God’s people. Also, it’ll help us protect the word of God from false prophets.

4.Wholehearted

“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.”-Joshua 14:7-8

Caleb gave his whole heart to the Lord as a result of his conviction.
We only find the motivation to give our whole hearts when our hope is in Christ’s promises.
When I find myself not giving my whole heart, it is usually because I lack conviction about what I believe according to the word.
We know that Jesus served with his whole heart because he was in Love with God and people.
When you love someone you want to give them all you have.
In the same way, when we have a healthy fear of God, we obey out of respect for him and want to give him our best.

5.Awe

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,”-Hebrews 12:28

Jesus was in awe of God all the days of his life! This is because he was grateful.
An ungrateful disciple will not be able to see the incredible. Impossible miracles that God is doing in their life every day.
When we are pure in heart, only then will we be able to “see God” (Matt 5:8) in all that he’s doing.
Being in awe of God is only achieved as a result of having a soft heart that reveres God.
Those who truly fear God will be in awe of God and walk in his ways because they understand there is no other way.

6.Prudent

“He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.” They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.”-Luke22:10-13
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”-Proverbs 14:8

Prudence is my favorite quality of fearing God because it is such a beneficial character trait to possess.
We see in Luke 22:10-13 that Jesus had everything already prepared for them!
We might think that Jesus magically got everything ready because he was Jesus, but that is exactly what a lazy minded person wants to think.
Jesus got everything prepared ahead of time because he was diligent in his life and had prudent behavior.
A prudent Christian prepares ahead of time to avoid negative consequences in the future. That is a healthy fear of God.
Prudent disciples care about other people more than anyone else because they consider how their actions may hurt others if they do not act.
A prudent heart causes you to consider your steps before you take them
Someone who acts prudently do so because they have a healthy fear of God’s discipline.
They truly believe that God will do what he says, so they do not “test God”

7.Detailed

“Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.” -Acts 21:19
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.1 Samuel 15:22

Jesus fulfilled the Law – he was totally and completely obedient to God’s Word.
When God told Christ to do something, he completely OBEYED.
I cannot make excuses as to why I do not obey.
Partial obedience is complete rebellion
Paul had the heart to explain all he did in detail because he was imitating Christ and also was open to discipling.
Of my 6 years as a Christian, I do not believe I “came to my senses” until this year with an understanding of why I did not have the heart to obey God’s word completely
When we do not completely obey it’s because we arrogantly think we know better.
Christ, although he was the creator of the universe still completely obeyed God the Father.

8.Open

“Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”-Matthew 26:38
“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”-Matthew 26:38

Jesus was completely open about his weakness in this situation.
Although he was God, he still got open with the brothers about his suffering.
If we are to be in the light with God, we must be open with men.
In verse 39, Jesus was honest about his heart with God as well. He was vulnerable yet surrendered.

This “Holiday Quiet Times” series was written for the month of December 2020. Brothers and sisters from the Phoenix and Tucson churches contributed these various daily devotionals. You can download the PDF packet here: “2020 Holiday Quiet Times.“