Notes: ‘When the Bible refers to the “fear of the Lord,” it means having a deep respect, reverence and awe for God’s power and authority. Rather than causing someone to be afraid of God, a proper “fear of the Lord” leads one to love Him.’ * | Scripture references are taken from the ESV translation.
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Matthew 24:10-14 ‘And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.’

We see this rapid increase of lawlessness around us happening right now, just as Jesus foretold. It has me wondering: Who has the fear of the Lord these days?

Jesus has! Did you know that? The Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord rested upon Him and the fear of the Lord was His delight. Jesus willingly kept Himself in a place of submission, respect, and honor to God the Father.

Isaiah 11:1-3 ‘There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord… .’

Jesus himself confirms that He is the Isaiah 11 promise by proclaiming
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ (Is. 61:1,2 – Luke 4:18,19)

Jesus is the Messiah who lived and ministered as a man filled with the Spirit of God. He served God and people in perfect love. He is the fulfillment of the law and prophets. The wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord Jesus displayed in His ministry flowed not from His “own” divine resources, but from His reliance on the Spirit of the Lord who filled Him. Nothing pleased Jesus more than doing the will of His Father. *1 It satisfied Him deeply.
John 4:34 ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.’

This is how Jesus explains it in John 7:14-19.
‘About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” ‘

So back to the question:, who has the fear of the Lord these days, apart from Jesus? Do I? Do you? Here are two honest questions we can ask ourselvers in order to find the answer:

what satisfies my soul the most? Is it linked to desires of my flesh or is it linked to the desires and the will of God?
If the knowledge and the fear of the Lord is a working of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus relied on it, then what does this imply for me personally in my walk with God?

Let us come before God and present ourselves with the answers to Him. You can end your prayer with speaking out:
Father in heaven, I long for a deeper understanding of the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. I make my ear attentive to wisdom and I incline my heart to understanding; yes, God, I call out for insight and I raise my voice for understanding! Lead me to seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures. I receive Your words and treasure up Your commandments with me. (Proverbs 2:1-5). Holy Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, come rest upon me (Eph. 1:17). Work in me, both to will and to work for Your good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). Let my delight be in the fear of the Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!

Prov. 19:23 ‘The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Follow up:

Prayerfully read Proverbs 2
Pray with Upperroom song: Fear of God