There are basically seven things
about God that should stimulate every believer to have the rightful fear of Him
in us and which will cause us to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth for
the Father is seeking such to worship Him. Now, the seven reasons why we should
fear God are as follows:
His Sovereignty/ Majesty
Because
of God’s sovereignty or His majesty it is imperative that we fear Him, for as
He declared to the prophet Jeremiah saying; "Do you not fear Me? Says the
Lord! Will you not tremble at My presence; who have placed the sand as a bound
of the sea, by a perpetual decree that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its
waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; though they roar, yet they
cannot pass over it” (Jeremiah 5:22)
But
this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; they have revolted and
departed, they do not say in their heart, let us now fear the Lord our God, who
gives rain, both the former and the latter in its season, He reserves for us
the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned these things
away, and your sins have withheld good things from you."
Holding
God in high esteem and honor is His rightful due as was declared to the prophet
Jeremiah saying; “For Inasmuch as there is none like you, O Lord (You are
great, and Your name is great in might), who would not fear You, O King of the
nations? For this is your rightful due, for among all the wise men of the
nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like you? (Jeremiah 10:6-7).
To
openly demonstrate one's fear of the One and only true God, who created the
heavens, the earth, the seas, and springs of water, God has appointed specific
days and times so that His people can come together to reverence His name, and
give Him glory and honor. For according to the Psalmist David; “Among the gods
there is none like You, O Lord; nor are there any works like Your works. All
nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall
glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are
God” (Psalms 86:8-10).
He
also wrote; "who in the heavens can be likened to the Lord? God is greatly
to be praised in the assembly of the saints and to be held in reverence by all
those who are around Him" (Psalms 89:6-7).
The
assembly of the saints is not left for them to decide, for themselves when to
come and appear before the Lord because, the Lord has ordained specific times for
His people to appear before Him because He spoke to Moses saying:;“The feasts
of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My
feasts.” And, “These are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you
shall proclaim at their appointed times” (Leviticus
23:2, 4).
Therefore,
it is not left for one to decide for themselves when he/she should appear
before the Sovereign Lord to pay respect, reverence and adoration to Him as the Sovereign God ; for thus says the Lord;
"You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the
Lord" (Leviticus 19:30, 26:2).
Again
the Lord said, "Surely My Sabbaths (plural) you shall keep for it is a sign
between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the
Lord who sanctifies you" (Exodus 31:1`3).
Apart
from the weekly Sabbath, the Lord has ordained three times or seasons in the
year, when His people should appear before Him as the sovereign Lord God. For thus
says the Lord. "Three times a year all your males shall
appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses: at the Feast of
Unleavened Bread, at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and at the Feast of
Tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed. Every man
shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which
He has given you (Exodus 23:14-17, 34:18-24, Deuteronomy
16:16-17).
One
thing we should all take into consideration is the fact that there is a
protocol as to when and how to appear before the throne of grace. It is not
because Jesus Christ is the only Mediator between God and man that one should
presume that they can have audience with the Father without an appointment and furthermore,
the appointed times have been preordained by the Lord Himself who said; “These
are the feasts of the LORD, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their
appointed times” Leviticus 23:1-4).
And
so, when one decides to have fellowship with the Father on a day He has not
appointed this is what is being said to them; “When you come to appear before
Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts? Bring no more
futile sacrifices; Incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the
Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies --- I cannot endure iniquity and the
sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They
are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out
your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; Even though you make many prayers, I
will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.” (Isaiah
1:12-15).
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To be continued, stay tuned
With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph
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