Restoring a Healthy Fear of God
VIRTUE OF FEARING THE LORD
The Barna Group reported that more than forty million Americans departed from the faith from the years 2000 to 2020. Half now profess to be non-Christians, Atheists, and agnostics. John contends that the answer to how we can return to God is simple: We must regain our fear of God. “Not all fear is bad,” shares John. There are destructive fears (ex. losing all your money) and there are constructive fears (ex. the fear of a third-degree burn causes you to put protective mitts on your hands when removing a pan from the oven). Constructive fears produce wisdom.
The Bible mentions about 365 times to “fear not” which references destructive fear, but there are almost 200 verses in the Bible that encourage you to “fear God.” When the virtue of fearing God is put above all else it can make your life better than what you have ever imagined. John shares four statements of truth about fear:
• We are human, and we will fear. It is important to understand that fear is not being scared of God and withdrawing from Him. It enhances our interaction with God. “Fearing God is very different than being afraid of God. Instead, it’s the key to developing the close, intimate relationship with God you were created for,” shares John.
• The awe and fear of God is way deeper, more beautiful, and more intimate than many dare imagine. As holy fear grows within us according to our increased comprehension of God’s glory; it purifies our motives, frees us from the fear of man, and produces true holiness in our life.
• The fear of God swallows up all destructive fears. Holy fear eliminates all other fears and anxieties, for it is backed by God’s promise of being kept safe.
• The fear of God is the beginning of everything good. Some of the benefits of holy fear as listed in the Bible include: (1) The fear of the Lord is clean; it produces true holiness in our lives; (2) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. It gives foresight and clear direction; (3) The fear of the Lord produces confidence, fearlessness, and security. It swallows up all other fears, including fear of man; and (4) The fear of the Lord gives us identity, makes us productive, and empower us to multiply.
GOD’S PRESENCE
John says, “To fear God is to reverence and be in complete awe of Him. This fear doesn’t drive us from God’s presence, but rather just the opposite. It includes reverent worship of Him but can also be defined as a gift of love and protection from our Creator, who deeply cares and longs for us.” You will never find God’s wonderful presence in an atmosphere where He’s not revered and held in awe. John shares two international stories from his years in ministry where he personally witnessed God’s presence:
• God's Presence Manifested in Brazil – In 1997, John was asked to speak at a national conference in the capital city of Brazil. The parking lot was packed for the event. He was eager to worship with thousands of believers. However, his excitement didn’t last long as he noticed the presence of God was missing from the atmosphere. John closed his eyes and asked the Holy Spirit, “Where is Your Presence?” When he opened his eyes, he noticed that most of the people in attendance were not engaged in worship, they were sitting with their hands in their pockets, fumbling through their pocketbooks, or wandering around the auditorium to purchase snacks at the concession stands. People were talking amongst themselves after praise and worship.
Then John heard the Spirit of God say, “I want you to directly confront this.” He walked up the podium and stared at the people. The atmosphere fell silent. He asked the people in attendance if they would like it if while you speak to someone, they ignore you or carry on a conversation with someone else. He said, “Do you think the King of the universe is going to manifest His presence or speak in a place where He is not honored and revered?” John spoke on the fear of the Lord for the next ninety minutes. Then he called people to repent if they lacked holy fear (75 percent of the people stood up). Immediately, the manifest presence of God filled the arena. John could hear sobs and weeping. He said, “The holy fear did not scare them away from God, it drew them in close.” Then he heard the Spirit of God say, “I’m going to manifest one more time.”
The sound of wind blew through the arena. They couldn’t feel it, but they could hear it. Those in attendance erupted in prayers and cries. John could not move or speak. The roar of the wind lasted almost ninety seconds. The loud rushing wind inside drew the security personnel and policemen to investigate the unexplained sound. The sound system did not register one bit of the sound. People were weeping, some passed out, some collapsed over the seat back in front of them. John turned the service back over to the leader and was escorted back to the car. When he got back to his hotel, he sat alone for hours worshipping the Lord. For more than twenty years afterward, numerous people still recall and confirm what took place at the event.
• God's Presence Manifested in Malaysia – In the late 1990’s John was ministering in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The service was packed with believers who had traveled all over the nation to attend the conference. At the end of the message many responded to a call to commit to ministry. Many stood in front of the stage for prayer. As John started down the stairs of the platform the presence of God unexpectedly manifested in the auditorium in a tangible way. It was marked by His love and joy. The people in front of him began smiling and laughing. The joy spread until everyone was affected by it. God chose to refresh His children. After a few minutes His presence lifted which left a stillness in the atmosphere. God’s presence manifested in a different way. His presence grew stronger and stronger. The people who had been laughing minutes earlier broke out almost simultaneously crying and weeping. “It increased to the point I didn’t think we could take any more,” shares John.
