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

by John Paul Bevere

we are the ones who determine the level of our intimacy with God. Let me say it in simpler terms: you determine how close you are with God, not God!

Fear the LORD, and you will gain knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:5)

we haven’t even begun to know God on an intimate level unless we fear Him—it’s the starting point.

holy fear, it’s impossible to know Him intimately. Thankfully, He has given us a path to know Him intimately, but will we take it? Remember that by the fear of the Lord we depart from evil or lawlessness

True intimacy is spawned from both parties knowing each other well, not just one.

I choose to pursue knowing Jesus as deeply as He has chosen to know me.

It’s possible to believe with all your heart in someone or something that isn’t true.

choose to believe the Word of God whether I understand it or not.

They profess the Lord Jesus but live contrary to His Word.

The consequence of

this teaching reduces “Lord” to merely a title rather than a position He holds in people’s lives.

if a word or phrase

is repeated twice in Scripture, it is not accidental. The writer is communicating emphasis.

Jesus is not referring to a small group of people but to a vast group who believe in the teachings of the Gospels. They call Him Lord, are emotionally invested, give voice to His message, and are active in Christian service. We would easily identify them as true Christians. So what’s the separating factor? How do they differ from authentic believers? Jesus tells us: “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:23 NKJV

The key statement is “practice lawlessness.” Again, lawless behavior does not adhere to the authority of God’s Word.

they habitually ignore, neglect, or disobey God’s Word—th...

They’ve never had a true relationship of intimacy with Him. Even though they call Him Master and Lord,

it’s only a title because they didn’t obey His commands.

The actions are not Christian service, speaking the message, or attending

church, for those who are turned away will have these qualities. Let me say it like this: you will certainly find these qualities in a true believer; in fact, a person cannot be a true believer without them. However, possessing these qualities doesn’t mean they are a genuine child of God. The deciding factor: are they obedient to His words?

He states that both groups hear His words, but the first group does them; the second

group does not do them—or we could say, the first group trembles at God’s Word (fears God) and the second group does not tremble at God’s Word (does not fear God).

Jesus makes it clear that these two groups are very similar in appearance. In the group lacking foundation, their belief in the doctrine of Christianity, fervently calling Him their Lord, and their active Christian service represent how they built their life, their house. The solid-foundation group had all the same qualities, except they obeye...

same teachings. They both look ...

worship and service. The difference is the foundation—the unseen. One group privately experiences intimacy with God; the other group doesn’t. Intimacy with God...

The evidence that someone is in relationship with Jesus is that they are empowered beyond their own ability to keep His Word. This empowerment is identified as His grace.

Am I trying to obey the words of Jesus in my own strength or am I relying on His grace, promises, and divine nature

to do so? How can I rely more on His ability, rather than my own?

will walk by faith in His ability. No longer will I depend on my ability

but will now cooperate with His empowerment.

These men and women will suddenly come to the terrible revelation of their foolishness in “using God,” instead of being “united with Him.” They used His Word for their self-serving purposes instead of experiencing the magnificent love revealed in obeying His Word.

Is it possible to be a member of the kingdom (to not hear the horrifying words “depart from Me”) but still have missed the opportunity to be intimate with God? The quick answer is yes.

“God

shares His secrets with those who fear Him.”

God is no different; He shares His secrets with intimate, close friends, and His close friends are those who embrace holy fear. The ESV reads: “The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him.”

God is not everyone’s friend. Let me restate it more specifically: God is not a friend to everyone who is in the church

We never know when God is testing us until we are on the other side of it.

Because he obeyed instantly, when it didn’t make sense, when he didn’t see a benefit, when it hurt, and he did it to completion.

God shares His secrets with close friends, and His close friends are those who embrace holy fear.

will seek to be a friend to God and choose to make nothing else a greater priority.

What fostered this closeness was Abraham’s holy fear, and it was made evident by his quick and complete obedience

command didn’t make sense, had no apparent benefit attached, and was painful to carry out, he trembled at God’s Word. Godly fear motivates us both to will and to do what God asks of us. It opens the door to intimacy with Him.

Lot was called righteous, but he was worldly. He represents the believer who, when forced into the corner, seeks first

to serve his or her own best interests, similar to the Corinthian church, similar to many in our Western church. This group of “righteous” men and women have a relationship with God that is not too different from my relationship with the president of the United States. I may benefit from his decisions and leadership, but I don’t know the inside scoop, his plans, his personal feelings, or his decisions before he makes them.

When we lack holy fear, we’ll inevitably seek to get as close to the world as possible without falling headlong into it. However, if this is our motive, it is only a matter of time before the world draws us in. We must remember we are called into the world to reach the lost, not to be part of them.