HOLY FEAR?
Question: What do you see when you hear preachers on TV, radio, tapes or video's?
Examine EVERYBODY!
TV & radio personalities, your preacher, and even YOURSELF!
Do you sense a Holy fear and trembling in the handling of Holy things?
Or
Do you sense a confident and even most of the time arrogant,
flamboyant preaching that has everybody in a kind of hoopla state of adrenaline,
where everybody is saying, "He's really preaching it!" "Tell it like it is" "Come on"
Where is the Fear? Trembling? Humility?
The reason I ask such a thing is that it appears that many are being caught up in a spirit that removes us from a child-like faith to an arrogant so-called "bold faith." I know we are to have boldness & confidence towards God but it's not to take precedence every time we grab a microphone or we're in the spotlight. Much preaching today is causing people to do backflips and handsprings, NOT causing people to fall down and cry holy, holy, holy! When's the last time you've seen one of these personalities fall on their knees in humbleness and cry out to God,
"Lord give me wisdom that I might lead and guide your people,
I'm not worthy, but use me to fulfill your will."
It seems like we kind of evolved into super, superior saints where we don't have to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God! We just show up, tell them how it's done, impress the flock with our inticing words and eloquent, dynamic preaching; and don't even let God confirm His Word anymore with signs following because we got it all figured out, you say this, you say it like this, and everybody goes home happy. But where is the sick being healed? The devil's being cast out? The binding up of the brokenhearted? The hearts of the fathers turned back towards their children? God providing and supplying the needs of His children?
Paul said in 1 Cor 2:1-5
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
David's attitude was that of a servant! He did service! And Jesus said, "and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant." David didn't walk around like he was some big shot, "I've killed some lions and I've slayed some bears, let me go down to that battle and get the show started!" No, David came to the camp of Israel to serve his brothers, and then when a cause arose, he saw the need, but before and after he had a servant's heart!
Heb 12:28-29
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Heb 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
The whole point is that we need to return to a spirit of humility, child-like faith! You don't ever graduate from humility! And there are many preachers out there that are not humble anymore! Every time they get behind the pulpit, they're flamboyant and arrogant! No fear , no trembling ministering the Holy things of God They're like Saul! That's what this spirit is like! When Saul was little in his own eyes, Then God highly exalted him!
Brother or Sister, if that's you if you're like Saul, Repent! Immediately! Stay humble!
You're not right with God just because He doesn't judge you right away!
Consider the following Scriptures when examining examples and pray for our leaders, because anyone can be led away with that spirit like Saul, even you and me:
Ps 2:10-12
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Jer 2:19
Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Jer 5:21-31
21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Mal 2:5-7
5 My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.
6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.
7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Mal 1:6
A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?
