In the book of Acts there is a man named Saul who was going from town to town causing Christians to suffer. He was being evil, while he was deceived in thinking he was doing good.
In his zealousness for the Law he hated Christians because through their faith in Christ and promotion of the gospel many of the Jews were being brought out of the Old Covenant system of righteousness into grace righteousness made possible by Jesus.
One day, while Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute more Christians, Jesus revealed himself to Saul asking Saul why he was persecuting Him. Saul was made to realize the evil he had been doing and he repented and was born again and renamed Paul. This brought about a time of peace to the church since their greatest enemy was now made a friend. Paul’s experience of a real work of the fear of God caused him to love the ones he had before been mean to. As a result it had an impact on the church.
Acts 9:31 The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.
There is something stated in this passage I want us to take particular notice of. It says that the church became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord!
The word fear in the Hebrew is used in two ways. It is used when someone is afraid of something. That is a general use.
But it is used in a different way when it is applied to God. When it is directed towards God it means reverence, respect, awe, piety.
The fear of the Lord does not mean I get more serious about keeping the law. That is not what is at the heart of it.
The fear of the Lord is relational. I desire to be like that which I admire and respect. When in relationship to God through Christ I have Christ revealed to me more and more by the work of the Spirit I find I long to be more like Him.
About The Author
- Tim Atchley
- Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
- I currently serve as Senior Pastor of Harvest Church in Knoxville, Tn. I was sent out from Trinity Chapel of Knoxville in 1993 accompanied by my wife Sheila our four children Sarah, Hannah, Josiah & Isaac and a handful of bold, brave and committed believers determined to plant our first church. Pioneering is hard work but well worth the journey. That is why we desire to make disciples of Christ who will, like us, also embrace the call to plant churches.
