I have been writing a series on the Seven Spirits of the Lord. Isaiah 11:2 shows the Seven Spirits which prophesied the fullness of the Holy Spirit that would be upon Jesus. This is also a prophetic promise for those in our day who are willing to be filled of the Holy Spirit.
“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 of the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2).
The Spirit of the Lord is the Holy Spirit. The other Spirits listed in this verse are describing the fullness of the Holy Spirit, with three streams flowing from each side. The attributes from each side are placed together in one Spirit to bring the balanced outpouring and fullness of the Holy Spirit. Wisdom goes with understanding, counsel goes with might, and for this message, knowledge goes with the fear of the Lord.
It is this fullness of the Holy Spirit we should press into for our lives. “…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19).
You think your stack of books can teach you everything, but there are some things only the Holy Spirit can teach you. Jesus promised, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things…” (John 14:26).
If you want a fuller knowledge of God, you need to have a greater filling of the Holy Spirit. Let this desire burn in your heart, “…be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
The Spirit of “Knowledge” and the “Fear of the Lord” go together because without having the proper fear of God, we are unable to even begin to understand the knowledge of God. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge…” (Proverbs 1:7).
To gain worldly wisdom requires much effort, but to gain heavenly wisdom requires much submission. “…put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:10).
If you have a living faith, it will not flatline with the knowledge of God. “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him… increasing in the knowledge of God” (Colossians 1:10).
The more knowledge you have of God, the more you will fear Him. “that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:24).
We must fear the Lord before He can teach us. “Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses” (Psalm 25:12).
When you fear God, you will come to know God. “Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5).
If you know God, it will show. “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Don’t let religion hinder your faith. “For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).
The more you know in advance, the less you will suffer the consequences afterward. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” (Hosea 4:6).
Fearing the Lord acknowledges His power over you. Knowing the Lord realizes His great love for you. With God, fear and love go together. “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him…” (Deuteronomy 10:12).
The unbeliever does not fear God but turns their back on Him. God said, “…you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear of Me is not in you…” (Jeremiah 2:19).
Fear men less, and fear God more. Jesus taught, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
The problem today is people water down the idea of fearing the Lord by trying to lessen what the word fear really means. Fear means fear. “My flesh trembles for fear of You, and I am afraid of Your judgments” (Psalm 119:120).
Fear of the Lord is the key that unlocks the secrets of heaven. “The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him…” (Psalm 25:14).
You cannot be holy apart from fear of the Lord. “…by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil” (Proverbs 16:6).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
All Scripture is quoted from the New King James Version. Please use the version you prefer to review the verses shown here. The best version is the one you read. An even better version is the one you live.
Thank you so much good stuff
Your welcome, thank you for the encouragement!
Dear Paul, you write like one who really fears no one but the Lord. You say it the way it is and as the Scripture has said it. I was really blessed by the illustrative teaching. I never got the true picture of the Spirit of the Lord with the three streams that flow from each side which go hand in hand.
The Holy Spirit has just opened my eyes to the key I have been looking for. I pray that as we go on this journey we will get to focus on what really matters to God. I got some of them from your exposition. Namely; Mercy, The Knowledge of God which can never happen without the fear of the Lord and Obedience to His commands which is also impossible without the proper fear of the Lord.
God bless your soul and prosper you and your Ministry as you continue to dwell in His holy fear. In Jesus’s Name, we pray. Amen.
Dear Chioma, you have blessed me so much with your message! I am so encouraged by your words. This blog I wrote some time ago is so special to me and I long to gather some of that topic together into a book someday. I have a few other books lined up first, but that is one I am truly longing to complete, Lord willing.
That is so wonderful that you have the Holy Spirit opening your eyes to the truths of Scripture! There is so much we can gain. There is so much for us to learn. I pray that your eyes will be opened further and your heart would be made full by all that the Holy Spirit will reveal to you.
Perhaps someday you might check out the book that I just published a week ago called, “The Promise of the Holy Spirit.” You can preview it online at Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1734909706
Blessings to you always,
Paul
Thank you for your thorough exam of fear. It is essential as the Word proclaims and seeing it in all the perspectives helps so much.
Apologies on such a late reply. Thank you so much for your kind words! This is such an encouragement to me.
Thank you for encouraging me about the fear of the lord, we need to be reminded
You are most welcome, this is a favorite topic of mine in discussing the seven Spirits of God.
I was reading Hebrews 12:28 and wanted to find out more about worshipping God with holy fear and awe. Your writings have been so helpful thank you.
Thank you, Jane. This is an area that I think many Christians do not grow in because they do not understand the great value of holy fear. We need to rightly look to God, with holy fear, that we can then rightly relate with God from where we are standing.
God shall Increase you more for your obedient in doing this,thank you.
Thank you so much!
I desire to live in holy spirit guideliness
Prayers that the Lord would give you this desire of your heart.
Hi Paul! I am currently studying about the fear of the Lord and i must say, I thank God that I came across your blog post. I am so overjoyed because it has unlocked another dimension of understanding for me which I never saw or noticed before. May you increase in the fear of Him who called you and may He truly bless you and increase you in the knowledge and understanding of Him.
Hello, and thank you so much for your kind words and blessings! I pray the Lord will open up your eyes to understand deeper truths and revelations. If you ever get a chance, check out my book, you can google my name on amazon. My hope is to someday write a book focused on the Seven Spirits of the Lord. Blessings always!
Dear Paul, may GOD Bless you, you have really helped me by this teachings.
Hi Keziah, thank you for your kind words, God’s best to you, may He use you mightily!
Thank you for these teachings on the seven attributes of the Holy Spirit. I have been blessed and have used them in my prayer time. God bless you.
You are most welcome, and thank you so much for the kind words. God’s best for you!
Hello, how could one apply fear of the Lord with combatting the spirit of fear in 2 Timothy 1:7?
Hello, I think that when we have the proper fear of the Lord, then we will gain knowledge from the Lord. In Proverbs 1:7 it says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” I think as we gain knowledge and wisdom, we can realize and act upon the truth that the Lord does not give us a spirit of fear, and standing in this truth we can rebuke the lies that the Devil is throwing at us.
This has really blessed me! Thank you.
Thank you, praying His great favor over your life!
I am an evangelist and was really blessed reading this , great knowledge and understanding of the word of God . I know it came from the throne of Yahweh
May the Lord pour out His abundant grace over your ministry! The Evangelist is such a needed function in the church in our day. Thank you for your kind words. We serve a mighty God!