Devotional | The Fear of the Lord
It is God’s love that delivers us from all varieties of tormenting fears.
‘There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.’ 1 John 4:18
There are 4 types of fear that involve torment:
Faces = people
Fences = obstacles
Foes = demonic forces
Failure = mistakes, not measuring up
Faces means a fear of man, peer pressure, rejection, being canceled, censored, or judged. This fear leads to disobedience and compromise.
‘The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.’ Proverbs 29:25
Fear of man is a trap that captures and controls your decisions. It causes us to compromise and disobey, while trusting the Lord brings safety, strength, and boldness. When we revere God (fear the Lord), we respect what He says above what man says, and we obey Him rather than man.
‘Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.’ John 12:42-43
When you are confident in your relationship with the Lord and what God has done for you as a new creation in Christ, you will not crave the praises and acceptance of men because you have it from God. That’s what the fear of God produces.
Fences mean fear of obstacles, hardships, afflictions, persecution, or difficulties. Life is tough, and we WILL have difficulties.
‘These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”’ John 16:33
‘Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”’ Acts 14:22
‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.’ Psalms 34:19
Foes means fear of spiritual enemies.
Even though we’re in physical bodies, our battle is not with flesh and blood, and God has given us spiritual weapons.
‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,’ 2 Corinthians 10:3-4
It is a spiritual battle between truth and lies, light and darkness.
‘Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.’ James 4:7-8a
We need to be aware that the devil is real and this battle is real, and we need the Lord to deliver us from all fears, even the fear of foes.
Failure means fear of mistakes
Many people do not fulfill God’s will for their lives because they fear failure. They are either dominated by past failures and plagued by guilt and shame, or they fear stepping out and making a mistake.
‘For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.’ Proverbs 24:16
As believers, we fall and get back up because we repent and are forgiven. The wicked do not. We all make mistakes. We all fail or fall or come short of the glory of God. We cannot fear failing, or we will not step out in faith. (Abraham, David, and Moses all failed, but got back up.)
God is bigger than our failures. God’s plan, His gifts, and calling are without repentance in our lives. We must be delivered from an unhealthy fear of failure. If God accepts us, who cares who rejects us? If God loves us, who cares who doesn’t love us? In other words, when God is for us (and HE IS), and we fear Him with a godly fear, we’re not only delivered from all other kinds of fear, but we aren’t defined or controlled by fear.
If God did not withhold His Son out of love for us, He will not withhold anything else for our good. Satan uses everything he can to separate us from the love of God, but we are more than conquerors, and we are promised that NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.
God is faithful to us whether we remain faithful or not. God loves us even when we don’t love Him. Everything Satan tries to do through various kinds of fear is to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, and he cannot do it.
When we truly walk in the fear of the Lord, we will have no other fear dominate us. When we fear God, we will fear no one or nothing else for the rest of our lives.
Learn more about what the Bible means by the fear of the Lord when you access the FREE booklet, The Fear of the Lord, available as either a digital download or a printed copy. Use code TFOL to get the free physical copy using this Link. Offer expires 6/12/2026.
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Discover the Wholesome Fear of the Lord through our USB Package
This resource is a guide for every believer to understand the different kinds of fear referenced in the Bible. ‘Blessed is every one who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.‘ Psalms 128:1-2 NKJV
The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom
There is an ungodly fear that causes you to run FROM GOD. There is a wholesome fear of the Lord that causes you to run FROM SIN and TOWARD GOD. Fearing God is to worship and honor Him above anyone or anything else.
Job is described by God as a man who feared Him and departed from evil. His fear of the Lord showed up in worship, reverence, honor, and obedience, even while suffering. Job’s fear of the Lord led him to worship during his crisis rather than run away from God.
This comprehensive package is perfect for individual study or group discussion, equipping you with foundational teaching from the Word of God to understand how and why the fear of the Lord is so important.
What’s Inside the USB Package:
- The printed booklet entitled The Fear of the Lord
- Study materials and workbooks for deeper understanding
- Brother Duane’s 15 video teachings that expand on the book’s key principles
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