Our October session was the first of two sessions looking at something that should be central to our Christian faith – being completely in fear of the awe of God.
We started the night by talking about our own fears – what do you have a fear of?
Some unusual fears you might not have heard of!
Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: Fear of long words
Omphalophobia: Fear of belly buttons
Ablutophobia: Fear of washing oneself
Pogonophobia: fear of beards
Globophobia: Fear of balloons
We then spent the night focussing on a particular fear that is there to keep us on the right path – the fear of God.
We talked about how the fear of God is referred to many times throughout the bible and focussed on one example. It was the story of how Moses led God’s children out of Egypt into the Wilderness to meet with them. This meant they had to meet the ‘promiser’ before they reached the Promised Land.
What does having a Holy fear of God mean? It means having:
- A true knowledge of God.
- A pervasive awareness of God’s presence
- A growing gratitude for what God has done for us in Christ
- A strong sense of our responsibility to God
We discussed what needs to change in our lives to bring us closer to having a fear of God. Here’s a good starting point… James 4:8 “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Remember:
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.”
Proverbs 14:27 NIV
Sutton Village Church 