Frighthttp://www.reigningimmortal.com/fright/en-US2012-02-16T22:03:15ZSquarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Fright, Part IVhttp://www.reigningimmortal.com/fright/2010/6/1/fright-part-iv.htmlWinston Waldemayer III2010-06-01T10:23:29ZWorldly fear is rooted in selfishness. It is the root of hate and arrogance. We all fall into times when we do not understand certain things. Sometimes when we don't understand things, we tend to respond with fear. This is a selfish fear of not fitting in, not being accepted, losing control, feeling insecure, or when our independence is challenged. We fear the loss of something.

We must be careful as Christians to not act out worldly fear because the end result is not terror but instead leads to anger, hate, arrogance, jealousy, violence, and strife.

Godly fear is rooted in selflessness. It is understanding our place and that He is above us. He is smarter than we are. He understands more than we do. He is limitless. All things are within His control whether He acts on things or not, is strictly up to Him. Again, He will intervene if it suits His will but He will never violate our free will. He will allow Satan to run this world and play the liar and destroyer for a time, unless of course you are a Christian in His hands. For us, He protects, helps, and becomes our sole support.

It is up to us to reverence God. To stand in awe of Him. We respect His power and what He is capable of. We know that His wrath is not for us, but in humility, we show Him fear anyway. It is a gesture of a humble heart before God. Yet, make no mistake, His wrath is more terrible and horrible than anything we could possibly dream up.

 Job 31:23

23 For I dreaded destruction from God,
       and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.

 

 

]]>Fright, Part IIIhttp://www.reigningimmortal.com/fright/2010/1/7/fright-part-iii.htmlWinston Waldemayer III2010-01-07T09:59:25ZRebellion is a curse. Rebellion has nothing to do with wisdom and it is void of common sense. It happens to us all at some point (especially during the adolescent years). However, we all must grow out of it at some point. As it is written, "When I was child, I talked as a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

It is not a smart thing to treat God with contempt. People think that because God doesn't strike people down with lightning every time they speak against Him means that maybe God should not be feared or believed, but understand this: The only thing that keeps His wrath at bay is what Jesus did on the cross. Do we take His Mercy for granted?

It was not that way in the Old Testament. God needed to deal with people, nations, and tribes in such a way and administer justice with speed and finality in order to establish the testimony of His awesome might throughout the ages. Keeping our ancestors in check until the time of mercy when Jesus set what was wrong... right, and made peace between God and mankind.

God doesn't want to back you into a corner and batter you into submission nor does He wish to punish you for each action until you are forced to love Him and honor Him. Instead, God, in his forbearance suffers us in hopes that we may choose Him out of free will. Love that is forced is not love. Learn fear and get wisdom. Revere Him as the King and God He is. You will be amazed at how quickly God shows up on your behalf and how He will change your life. Blessed be He.

 

Deuteronomy 6:24

24 The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today.

]]>Fright, Part IIhttp://www.reigningimmortal.com/fright/2009/4/18/fright-part-ii.htmlWinston Waldemayer III2009-04-18T03:12:13ZScripture says that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. That is so true. Even though we have been freed from the curse and wrath of God through faith in Jesus Christ, we must honor God with our fear and awe of Him. If you have read my posts entitled Worm then it is probably already apparent that humility plays a huge role in the development of our fear. We are to be truly afraid of Him, not because of what He will do to us but instead because of what He is capable of.

He is God and is to be treated as such. It is a great respect for His power. Thanks be to Jesus Christ (and ultimately God Himself) for the gift that He gives to us freely that totally brings us into peace and mercy which protects us from His wrath and the wrath to come in the last days. Trust this one thing, one day the entire world will fear Him and the fear will be so intense that it can not be compared to anything else the world has ever experienced. He will wake up the world to who He is so violently and abruptly that very few will be able to stand.

However, though these times may be difficult for even us, we are assured that He will deliver us just as He promises in His word. Be very afraid of the Almighty God for He is supreme above all other things. We must submit our lives to Him just as He gave His life for us.

Psalm 89:6-8

6 For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD ?
Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?

7 In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;
he is more awesome than all who surround him.

8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?
You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

 

]]>Fright, Part Ihttp://www.reigningimmortal.com/fright/2008/11/2/fright-part-i.htmlWinston Waldemayer III2008-11-02T16:12:46ZThere are two types of fear. Godly fear and earthly fear. Earthly fear is the fear of punishment or loss. So, what is different about godly fear? Now, that Jesus has secured our righteousness and our salvation we have no need to look at God as a judge and executioner.Those who believe in Christ are not to be afraid of God's punishment or His wrath.

Instead, Godly fear means to show God reverence and honor. He is God and there is no other. We have heard of His might and read stories of His great wrath towards injustice and wickedness so we know what He is capable of. However, once we know God exists and really believe that in our heart, the next step is to understand who He is. Once we understand God's nature through the teachings of the bible, we must seek to be like Him.

We serve Him and revere Him as King. We humble ourselves to His will and make ourselves servants to God's Kingship. My fear, (which I believe is the definition of godly fear), is to be without Him. I want to please God. I want His presence in my life. I want to be a part of His future kingdom. I fear His absence in my life and I am afraid of not pleasing Him. It is sort of funny but the outward expression of our fear looks the same as earthly fear but the reasons behind the expression is so different.

Psalm 128:1-4

1 Blessed are all who fear the LORD,
who walk in his ways.

2 You will eat the fruit of your labor;
blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your sons will be like olive shoots
around your table.

4 Thus is the man blessed
who fears the LORD.

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