The Fear of God!

A time of worship, with various folk praying, giving a word of exhortation and encouragement (Ann), Bible reading (Wendy L), and testimony. 

We continued looking at Haggai. The people of God released from captivity (Babylon) by a saviour (Cyrus), returned to their land, but put self before the Lord and his work. They suffered hardship. Then the Lord spoke through Haggai – the hardship was judgement. Repent! They did so, and lived now with godly fear. 

We looked at the fear of God. A God who is loving. 1 John 4:8,16. John 3:16. Gal.2:20. Why should we fear a loving God?

There are lots of paradoxes in the Bible. God is One – but 3 persons. Christ is 100% God – but 100% man. Likewise, God is love, but is also called ‘the Fear of Isaac’ (Gen.31:42 and 53). He expelled Adam and Eve from Eden, slew thousands of firstborn in Egypt, destroyed thousands of Israelites in the wilderness, brought Babylon against Judah with a massacre resulting – always because of stubborn disobedience. Is it always Old Testament times? Read about Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5, and the judgements of Revelation. 

I want to worship, serve, and relate to the real God. The Bible tells me about him, and he is not the wishy washy God of liberal theologians. He is to be feared, in the sense of respected with awe. Then we will walk in his ways, pleasing him, and finding that He is a God of love who gives us abundant life, and who daily loads us with benefits.

Our next meeting is the prayer meeting on Tuesday. Note – Tuesday this week.

Next Sunday we meet in Frettenham.