“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” Heb 12:28
Reverence and the fear of the Lord are deeply connected. The fear of the Lord isn’t about being afraid of God in a harmful sense, but about having a profound respect for His holiness. It’s a recognition of His authority, majesty, and righteousness. In Scripture, fear and reverence are often linked, as they lead us to honour God properly. Without this holy fear, our relationship with God can become too casual, losing the depth and awe that allow us to experience His fullness.
Isaiah, when he saw the Lord seated on His throne, exclaimed, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5). In that moment, Isaiah wasn’t terrified of punishment but overwhelmed by the holiness of God. This kind of awe, the fear of the Lord, purifies us and drives us towards holiness. 2 Cor 7:1 urges us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” This fear isn’t burdensome; it’s the key to unlocking a deeper relationship with God.
Jesus Himself delighted in the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 11:3 shows that even the Son of God honoured the Father with a reverence that pleased Him. The book of Hebrews adds that Jesus was heard because of His godly fear. His prayers were effective not just because of His words, but because they were offered in reverence.
“who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,” Heb 5:7. This is a powerful reminder that when we pray, it’s not only about what we say, but how we approach God—with the deep respect He deserves.
When we talk about anointing, reverence plays a key role. Heb 1:9 says, “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You more than Your companions.” The anointing flows when we honour God’s holiness and pursue righteousness. Phil 2:12 calls us to “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling,” a posture of reverence that allows us to grow in holiness and receive more of God’s presence. Those who know God fear not being in His presence.
Many believers don’t experience the fullness of God’s power because they lack this foundation. They might love Jesus, but without a true fear of Him, they miss out on the deeper aspects of His presence and anointing. This is why reverence and fear are essential—they create the environment where God can move powerfully in our lives.
The fear of the Lord should be a delight for all believers. It deepens our communion with God, opens the door to His anointing, and allows us to experience His manifest presence in a life-changing way. Without this reverence, no matter how much God desires to be close to us, we won’t fully experience the power of His presence.
Psalm 89:7 reminds us: “God is greatly feared in the assembly of the saints and held in reverence by all those around Him.” It’s in this atmosphere of holy reverence that God’s power is released and lives are changed.
The fear of the Lord isn’t just a respect we show from a distance; it’s a pathway to intimacy, anointing, and transformation. Where God is honoured, His presence dwells. If we want to experience more of Him, we must start with reverence, leading us to a deeper understanding of His holiness, power, and love.
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Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk