NLDC BACKSTAGE: APRIL 2008
Stand in Awe God!
It amazes me that God can be so many different things for people; Father, Friend, Lover, and the list keeps going. Sometimes, however, I think we get too comfortable with God. In embracing God in more intimate roles, we forget that He is King. The title “king” comes with a certain amount of fear and respect, let alone when we speak of the King of kings.
The Bible says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Now, there are a couple of different definitions of fear. One is a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger. This is to be afraid of something; to be afraid of God. Here is the essential difference: to fear God is to run to Him, to be afraid of God is to run away from him.
Fear is also extreme reverence or awe. I don’t believe that anyone could know God well and think this first definition is what is meant by fearing the Lord, especially since God tells people over and over again in the Bible to “fear not” when He Himself or an angel of the Lord appears to someone. We are then left with the second definition.
So what does it really mean to fear God?
• To fear God is to stand in awe of Him. - Awe is an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration; produced by that which is grand, or extremely powerful.
• To fear God is to have reverence for Him. -Reverence is a feeling of profound awe and respect and often love or an act showing respect.
• To fear God is to live your life in such a way that you can’t stand the thought of dishonoring, displeasing, disappointing, or disobeying Him.
We are told all throughout the Bible to fear the Lord, both in statements (see Ecclesiastes 5:4-7) and in stories (see the story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-5)
As we go about our lives and worship God for being all that He is, may we remember that He is awe-inspiring and worthy of reverence. May we learn to fear the Lord.
Testimonies from the Road
My team was staying with a family that had an uncle in the hospital. The Doctors didn't think that he would make it through the night. My team went in and prayed for the man, and didn't see any change.
The next day however he was conscious, and able to communicate. His daughter had the amazing opportunity to lead him in the salvation prayer that day, as well as being able to see his family one last time. The next day he completely relapsed, and the day after that he went home to be with his newly found Savior. I was so honored to be able to pray for this man who was given one last chance to accept Christ!
~ Mark Farrow
My team and I met a pastor who told us the story of a friend whom the previous week had a heart attack. The man flat lined and they weren't able to revive him. The doctors left him to go get the paperwork, and returned 30 minutes later to find him alive and perfectly well with no signs of brain damage!
However our Sunday morning drama didn’t feel all that hard hitting when we ministered but we still gave a salvation altar call. Afterward a couple from the church told us that it had been their father who had died a week previously and came back to life. They then shared that both parents received Christ from the NLDC altar call that morning! God raised him from the dead to bring him into the kingdom!
~Jonathan Harrell
