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.