“Lord Jesus, we, as Your church have not understood that through us the fear of God must descend upon the world. Forgive us for our apathy and lack of passion for You. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
As the early continued persistently in the doctrine of God taught by the Apostles, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers, changes began to take place. People within the body of Christ and those outside were in fear. This was not the fear that frightened them but it was the fear of God that came on people.
This was prophesied. Jeremiah 33:8-9 I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me. (9) Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’
God pardons and cleanses His people of all their sins. This is honourable before the nations and they tremble for all that God does for His people.
We see this work of God taking place in Egypt as the Lord delivered His people from the hand of Pharaoh. Exodus 11:3 And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh’s servants and in the sight of the people.
Apostle Paul gives us the significance of what the Lord had done through Moses. Romans 9:17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I HAVE RAISED YOU UP, THAT I MAY SHOW MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MAY BE DECLARED IN ALL THE EARTH.”
As the Lord was doing His great work in the early church, His name was declared to all the earth.
We, as His church, must keep this truth continually in mind. The Lord is always manifesting Himself through His church, to the world. We are either bridges for the world to cross over and come to fellowship with Jesus Christ or we become blocks and hurdles, preventing people from coming to faith in Jesus. There is no third option. We must decide. Will we be bridges or blocks?
Acts 5:11-13 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. (12) And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. (13) Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
A great fear of God descended upon His church and on people outside. Many signs and wonders were done among the people. This should have caused everyone to flock to the church. This was not the case. People saw that this was not just about signs and wonders but this was about reckoning with the God of heaven and earth. Everyone did not dare to join the church but the church was esteemed highly.
Is it how it is today?
As His church returns to Him, with brokenness and repentance, the same impact that the early church had will take place again.
We see the same effect in Ephesus. Acts 19:17-20 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. (18) And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. (19) Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. (20) So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.
This is the work of the Lord. Psalms 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.
Noah prepared the ark because he lived in godly fear and thereby he condemned the world. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
We see a preview of those who had victory over the Beast and all his works, singing this song of Moses, with harps.
Revelation 15:3-4 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! (4) Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”
The church walks in the fear of God and manifests His judgments. Through His church, the fear of God comes on the nations