STUDY: Excerpts from the book, "The Seven Spirits Of God" by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc. D.D (Chapters 2,5&8).
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Excerpt from Chapter 8
THE SPIRIT OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD INSISTS ON REVERENCE
When this Spirit of reverence comes into a place, things change. He disciplines people and sets things in order. He does something big and everybody becomes quiet and humble in God’s presence. You’ve got to watch out for this Spirit! When Ananias and Sapphira misbehaved, He struck them dead and great fear came upon the people (Acts 5:1-11).
Any time the anointing of God’s Spirit is so strong and something spectacular like this happens, fear (holy awe, reverence) comes upon the people. That’s the Spirit of the fear of the Lord in action. He insists that you have reverence for God and for the things of God.
Some people come late for a church service and just walk around as if they own the whole place. They go from row to row, looking for a good seat while the message is going on, and distracting everybody in the process. Such people have no reverence!
If you’re like that, you’ve got to be careful. Next time you’re late for a service and the messageis on, find a seat quickly, because there’s a Spirit in that place Who doesn’t take kindly to anirreverent attitude.
Sometimes, in a meeting, a word of the Spirit is given and a call is made. At such times, there has to be reverence. For instance, the minister may say, “There’s a man here who’s being healed of arthritis. I want that man to come forward.” If a woman decides to come forward even when she heard clearly that the call was for a man, such a woman doesn’t have that Spirit of the fear of the Lord in her. I’ve seen people like that knocked down under the anointing of God’s Spirit!
Understand what I’m talking about. There’s a time when the Spirit of God comes into a place and He insists on absolute reverence.
They didn’t have such reverence in the early Corinthian church. Even though they were walking in the manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit, they lacked the Spirit of the fear of the Lord. They were scrambling for food meant for the Holy Communion (1 Corinthians 11:20-22). They were committing abominable sins (1 Corinthians 5:1)and there was so much envy, strife and division among them (1 Corinthians 3:3-4). They had no reverence for spiritual things.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION:
A-SCRIPTURE-A-WEEK
WEEKS 1
Psalms 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
WEEKS 2
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
WEEKS 3
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and He that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
WEEKS 4
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.