The Awe of God: The Astounding Way a Healthy Fear of God Transforms Your Life

by John Paul Bevere

(Luke 12:1–2 NKJV)

hypocrisy. It’s the Greek word hupókrisis and is defined as “to give an impression of having certain purposes or motivations, while in reality having quite different ones.”

(Philippians 1:15–16).

(1 Corinthians 13:3).

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

Ponder: How do I gravitate toward pleasing others with the underlying motive of personal satisfaction, protection, or gain? Is this something I default to when under pressure? In what areas has it caused me to compromise my integrity?

For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ. —2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 AMPC

“He is the visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15).

Freedom is found in living according to the truth in our inward parts, while avoiding self-promotion or self-preservation.

“For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV).

Our efforts now focus on appearances, status, titles, popularity, acceptance, reputation, and so forth, for they cover our shortcomings.

Percieved shortcomings

This is not what will be revealed and examined at the judgment; rather it will be our actual image, which centers around our motives and intentions.

(1 Corinthians 4:5)

This was Ananias and Sapphira’s deadly trap. They were more interested in how they were perceived by those they saw as their rivals, friends, church members, and leaders.

The sins of some men are conspicuous (openly evident to all eyes), going before them to the judgment [seat] and proclaiming their sentence in advance; but the sins of others appear later [following the offender to the bar of judgment and coming into view there]. (1 Timothy 5:24 AMPC)

(1 Timothy 5:24 AMPC)

Here is the good news: we can repent of our dark motives, and God will not only forgive, but if we cry out to Him for holy fear and renew our mind through Scripture, we can be blessed with pure motives.

Passage: “For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.” (Luke 8:17) Point: Every human being has three images: a perceived image, a projected image, and an actual image. Ponder: What image do I gravitate toward? Do I live from a place of truth, or do I lie or make deceptive statements to protect my reputation? Am I honest and forthright with those I’m in relationship with? Prayer: I repent of putting more emphasis on my projected and perceived image rather than my actual image. I’ve compromised integrity and ask Your forgiveness. Purify my motives and intentions. May my focus center on Jesus and others, not myself.

The fear of death and judgment goes out of us as the true fear of God comes in, and that fear has no torment but is rather a light and easy yoke for the soul, one which rests us instead of exhausting us. —A. W. TOZER AND HARRY VERPLOEGH

So, in essence, what we do with the cross determines where we will spend eternity; however, the way we live as believers determines how we will live in the forever.

The best of this life is but a shadow of the eternal.

There will be communities to plan, cities to build, nations

For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. (2 Corinthians 5:10 AMPC)

As believers, our sins, which would have condemned us to hell, are eradicated by the blood of Jesus and are forever forgotten (Hebrews 8:12).

Holy fear keeps us alert to kingdom responsibilities, as well as any adverse motives or behaviors damaging the lives of those God loves.

His home has a name—Zion (Psalm 132:13–14)—and its material consists of living stones—all His saints (1 Peter 2:5), with Jesus being the chief cornerstone (Isaiah 28:16).

“Whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful” (1 Corinthians 3:10).

If we live to build for self-gain—the temporary—it’s considered combustible material.

If we live selflessly to build His eternal kingdom, it’s viewed as material that isn’t destroyed but purified.

“If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward” (v. 14).

But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames. (1 Corinthians 3:15)

Westerners often prepare for retirement. (I personally don’t subscribe to this mentality, as retirement speaks of retreating from an assignment—a definition of “evil” [kakós].

“Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Corinthians 5:11 NKJV).

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men. (2 Corinthians 5:10–11 NKJV)

The carnal person fears man, not God. The strong Christian fears God, not man. The weak Christian fears man too much, and God too little.

authentic holiness isn’t bondage; it’s true freedom.

Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10 GNT)

“Fearing people is a dangerous trap” (Proverbs 29:25)—a

Proverbs 29:25 tells us, “It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you” (GNT).

If we live with the consistent goal of pleasing Jesus, we will not slip over to being controlled by how others perceive us; instead, we’ll live in truth. This is an important aspect of true holiness.

God’s word is alive and working and is sharper than a double-edged sword. It cuts all the way into us, where the soul and the spirit are joined, to the center of our joints and bones. And it judges the thoughts and feelings in our hearts. Nothing in all the world can be hidden from God.

Everything is clear and lies open before him, and to him we must explain the way we have lived. (Hebrews 4:12–13 NCV)

Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe. (Isaiah 8:13–14)

Wherever the fear of God rules in the heart, it will appear both in works of charity and piety, and neither will excuse us from the other.

Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then . . . And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” (1 Peter 1:14, 17)

Any manner of conversion outside of this foundation is not authentic (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Galatians 6:14).

Once regeneration occurs, a divine nature is formed within us.

Yielding to this nature frees us from the dictates of our senses, and we are empowered to do so by His Spirit and G...

One of the strongest cravings we must deny and crucify is self-preservation. It’s the core motivation behind projecting ourselves to be perceived favorably by others—in other words, the fear of man.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way (path) which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14 NKJV)