The following is from Acts 17:11 Ministries titled "Fear of God." What if the Church in America today had a "God's burning presence in our lives..."
Is there a "burning presence of God in your life?"
Ps 19:9 (NIV) The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.
Mike Yaconelli: "We have defanged the tiger of truth. We have tamed the lion... The tragedy of modern faith is that we no longer are capable of being terrified."
Acts 5:13 (NIV) No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people.
Mike Yaconelli: "I would like to suggest that the Church become a place of terror again; a place where God continually has to tell us, "Fear not"; a place where our relationship with God is not a simple belief or a doctrine or theology, it is God's burning presence in our lives. I am suggesting that the tame God of relevance be replaced by the God whose very presence shatters our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within. The Church needs to become a gloriously dangerous place where nothing is safe in God's presence except us. Nothing--including our plans, our agendas, our priorities, our politics, our money, our security, our comfort, our possessions, our needs.
"Our world is... longing to see people whose God is big and holy and frightening and gentle and tender... and ours; a God whose love frightens us into His strong and powerful arms where He longs to whisper those terrifying words, 'I love you.'"
Read the rest of the article at:
http://www.acts17-11.com/fear.html
Reverence and respect for our holy God - I want this back in my life. Dear God, give me the fear of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of Jesus' friend and disciple, John, who leaned on Jesus' at the Last Supper, yet who fell down in His presence on the Isle of Patmos. We rest in His love, yet we tremble in awe of Holy God.
ReplyDelete