A King is Born
Is the fear of God good or bad?
When we experience God’s presence, a feeling of fear helps us gauge our relationship with Him. Does our fear come from shame and regret, compelling us to run and hide, or does our fear come from recognizing the awesomeness of God’s goodness and grace, compelling us to draw closer to Him?
When we feel shame in God’s presence, our fear causes us to avoid Him, focusing rather on our failures and sin, versus the solution He offers through repentance and forgiveness. An example of “bad” fear occurs when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Their fear through sin caused them to hide from God, ashamed by what they had done, trying to separate themselves from God’s goodness.
The Bible often talks about reverential fear of God. This type of fear comes when we connect with God and recognize His authority and power over all of creation. This “good” fear draws us closer to God, recognizing that all things are subject to His authority, and only He can offer the solution to overcoming our sin and problems. In Chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel, an Angel appears with a message to the shepherds. Here we see the angel speak against their fear, offering hope and peace, drawing them closer to God’s son, Jesus, who casts out all fear that prevents us from having a relationship with God.
Pastor Ward shares how you can connect with Jesus, accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, no longer fearing the presence of God, but in reverence of His awesome power and love, becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus.
When we experience God’s presence, a feeling of fear helps us gauge our relationship with Him. Does our fear come from shame and regret, compelling us to run and hide, or does our fear come from recognizing the awesomeness of God’s goodness and grace, compelling us to draw closer to Him?
When we feel shame in God’s presence, our fear causes us to avoid Him, focusing rather on our failures and sin, versus the solution He offers through repentance and forgiveness. An example of “bad” fear occurs when Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Their fear through sin caused them to hide from God, ashamed by what they had done, trying to separate themselves from God’s goodness.
The Bible often talks about reverential fear of God. This type of fear comes when we connect with God and recognize His authority and power over all of creation. This “good” fear draws us closer to God, recognizing that all things are subject to His authority, and only He can offer the solution to overcoming our sin and problems. In Chapter 2 of Luke’s Gospel, an Angel appears with a message to the shepherds. Here we see the angel speak against their fear, offering hope and peace, drawing them closer to God’s son, Jesus, who casts out all fear that prevents us from having a relationship with God.
Pastor Ward shares how you can connect with Jesus, accepting Him as your Lord and Savior, no longer fearing the presence of God, but in reverence of His awesome power and love, becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus.