Courtship with 20/20 Vision Part 2 - Walking in the Fear of the Lord

"The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of KNOWLEDGE,

fools despise wisdom and instruction."
Proverb 1:7

 

 In this blog I am speaking to believers. The word is clear, let judgment begin in the house of the Lord. (1 Pet 4:17)

 

As believers we should walk in the fear of the Lord. The word "fear" for the believer is not being afraid of God. The Fear of the Lord for a believer is having reverence for who God is and what He has done for you. Walking in the fear of the Lord is honoring him and being in such awe of who He is you want to please Him in every area of your life.

 

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Heb 12: 28-29

I like to think of the word Character. Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Other words used to describe character is a person's personality, deposition, nature, temperament, makeup or mentality. Character can also be used to describe how you live when no one is looking. A believer's character is measured by how much they fear (honor & reverence) the Lord. When you walk in the Fear of the Lord, your life in public and in secret reflects what the Word of God says.

 

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10: 28

 

EVERYTHING we do must begin with the Fear of the Lord. We are called to work out our soul and salvation with fear and trembling. The important thing about courtship is to know who your God is and serve Him with all of your heart, all of your mind and all of your soul. We all must have a fear of offending God. Luke 10:27 “So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, ’and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

 

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,

but now much more in my absence, work out your

own salvation with fear and trembling;" Phil 2:12

 

A unknown author wrote:

"Believers are not to be scared of God.

We have no reason to be scared of Him.

We have His promise that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39). We have His promise that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Fearing God means having such a reverence for Him that it has a great impact on the way we live our lives. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshipping Him in awe."

 

Proverbs talks to us about the importance of us fearing the Lord.

• The "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of knowledge Prov 1:7
• The "fear of the Lord" will cause one to hate evil Prov8:13
• The "fear of the Lord" will prolong life Prov 10:27
• The "fear of the Lord" provides strong confidence and is a fountain of life Prov 14:26-27
• The "fear of the Lord" prompts one to depart from evil Prov 16:6 
• The "fear of the Lord" leads to a satisfying life, and spares one from much evil Prov 19:23
• The "fear of the Lord" is the way to riches, honor, and life! Prov 22:4

 

When we do not walk in the “Fear of the Lord” several things happen:

• We close ourselves to the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge!
• We will flirt with evil and be corrupted by it
• Our lives are likely to be shortened by our refusal to heed God's word (e.g., suffering sexually transmitted diseases because we did not heed His Word on sexual relationships)
• We will not come to know the fullness of God's love that gives us assurance and confidence of our salvation
• When fallen into sin, we will not be motivated to repent and turn to God!
• We will not be motivated to truly "work out our own salvation"!
•  

Without the "fear of the Lord", we cannot please God (Is 66:1-2). Only the person who "trembles at His Word" has God's promise to receive His tender mercy! (Ps 103:17-18)

 

Please keep in mind Courtship is where marriage is prayerfully considered. Men if you looking for a good GODLY

wife watch her walk and how she reverences God. Women if you are looking for a good GODLY man watch how he honors the Lord and loves him above all else. WHY???? Because wives are told by the word to reverence their husband and husbands are told to Love their wife as Christ Loved the Church. If a woman is not reverencing God she will not reverence you and if a man does not Love Christ enough to be faithful to His word he will not love to the point of being completely faithful to you.

 

It is very important that we enter into courtship fearing God so that we do not forfeit God’s plans for our life and our marriage. The fear of the Lord produces reverence and the heart that longs to know what the Father is thinking about courtship.

 

Scripture about the fear of the Lord:

 

Ecc 12:13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.   

 

Ps 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!   

 

Ps 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.   

 

Acts 10:35 But in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.   

 

Let everything you do begin with the FEAR OF THE LORD... IT'S WISDOM!