OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - MONDAY - 14/10/2013 - FEARING GOD BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

FEARING GOD

MEMORY VERSE

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

Exodus 1:17

READ

Hebrews 11:6-7

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

MESSAGE

Another characteristic of a divine midwife is the fear of God.

Exodus 1:17 says,

But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

To be God-fearing goes beyond merely believing that God exists.

James 2:19 says,

Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Hebrews 11:6 says if you come to God, you must believe that He exists. But if that starting point of faith is where you stopped then what is the difference between you and the devil? The demons believe that God exists because He created them, but can we say they fear Him in that sense? Can you fear God and break His commandment without even feeling it? I doubt it.

The fear of God which starts with believing in His existence has different dimensions. If you fear somebody, you will take his word very seriously. You will not want to offend him at all. If you fear somebody, you will hold the fellow in high esteem. There is always something that you can point at that you did or did not do because of the fear you have for the fellow. In Exodus 1:17, the midwives Shiphrah and Puah refused to obey the decree of the Egyptian king because they feared God. They were ready to get into trouble because they feared God. In Genesis 39:7-12, Joseph persistently resisted the temptation to sleep with his master's wife because he feared God. In Daniel 1:8-16, Daniel and his friends refused to eat food sacrificed to idols because they feared God. Do you fear God? What has the fear of God made you to do or not to do? You say you fear God yet you manipulate figures, attendance and doctor your reports. You claim to fear God yet you easily allow the contraband of lust and immorality to defile His temple- your body! You gang up or rebel against God's servant and you claim to fear God. Do you really fear God? If you claim you do, prove it by your works, words, attitude to Him, His servants and His work.

KEY POINT

Those who fear God are known by the level of their obedience to God's Word.