Pick up a newspaper and what do you see? We see bad news, crime, drugs, violence, murder and plots of terrorism. This world helps us to develop FEAR.

Years ago I had my car stolen, and I became paranoid Every time I heard a noise, I ran and looked out the window to see if anyone was bothering my car.

We all have some kind of FEAR. Perhaps it’s the fear of crime, getting mugged, getting old and dying, or financial failure of not being able to provide for our family. Perhaps it’s the fear of snakes, spiders or some wild animal. Public speaking can put fear in a person along with a loss of a job and death of a mate.

What is FEAR? Webster's dictionary defines Fear as: "A feeling of alarm or disquiet caused by the expectation of danger, pain, disaster, or the like; terror; dread; apprehension. To be afraid or frightened of or terrified." The second definition of Fear is: "Extreme reverence or awe, as toward a supreme power."

Why do we go to church? The answer is salvation, our being saved spiritually and physically. In other words, to save our hides.

When I was being called I came to a point where I realized I knew to much. I had to either get in or get out! When God calls us, we must evaluate God's way of life verses the result of the world's way and that God could BURN us up in HELL and we would become ashes under the feet of Jesus Christ and the Saints (Malachi 4:3, Matthew 10:28). This also can put FEAR into us.

Let’s look at three areas of the Fear of the Lord.

Much of the book of Proverbs deals with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. A couple of examples are: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline" (Proverbs 1:7).

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10.)

The Fear of the Lord is to Hate evil (Proverbs 8:13), it is a fountain of Life (Proverbs 14:27), and it’s clean and enduring forever (Psalms 19:19).

Strong's Concordance gives a definition of FEAR as: Fear or Revere.

Webster's dictionary defines Revere as: to regard with awe, great respect or devotion. Synonyms are: worship, venerate, adore, sanctify and idolize.

To FEAR GOD properly we need to have an attitude of reverence and respect toward God.

Deuteronomy 10:12 says: "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, {13} And to observe the LORD'S commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?" God was advising the His people to FEAR him, and walk in his ways. Fear has to be learned. We all have had to learn the proper fear and respect for snakes and wild animals. We all have heard of true stories from the past of someone in a zoo who was feeding the animals and the animal grabbed them and mangled them in some way. Our children need to learn to have the proper fear about the dangers around the home, that stoves are hot and that they must not play with electrical outlets.

Spiritually, we need to learn to have the proper fear of God.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, concluded his wise sayings in the book of Ecclesiastes with the following: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. {14} For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV). Notice that his conclusion is to fear God and keep His commandments. The first four of the Ten Commandments pertains to our relationship with God and the last six pertain to our relationship with our fellow man. We must fear and respect God and we also must OBEY Him by keeping His Commandments.

Let’s notice what Psalm 128 says: "Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. {2} When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. {3} Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. {4} Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD. {5} The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. {6} Yes, may you see your children's children. Peace be upon Israel!" (Psalms 128 NKJV.)

Fearing God results in many blessings, which would include the following: God hears our cry (our prayers) (Nehemiah 1:11), He gives us prolonged days (Proverbs 10:27), riches and honor (Proverbs 22:4), forgiveness and salvation (Isaiah 33:6). God takes pleasure in those who fear him (Psalms 147:11).

In conclusion: How could we love God, if we feared him to the point of being afraid and terrorized by him? Thankfully, we need not to tremble and shake in absolute FEAR of God. WHY? Because GOD IS OUR FRIEND. The scriptures indicate that at Passover time, Jesus called us his friends (John 15:14).

Let us FEAR God as we are commanded by showing him the proper respect, reverence and honor at all times. After all, Fearing God has good results!