FEAR YAHWEH OR MAN?

An excellent study from www.EliYah.com

HalleluYah!!!

• Deuteronomy 10:12 – And now, Israel, what doth YAHWEH thy Elohim require of thee, but to fear YAHWEH thy Elohim, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve YAHWEH thy Elohim with all thy heart and with all thy soul,

• Deuteronomy 10:13 – To keep the commandments of YAHWEH, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?

Notice the first thing Yahweh desires of us – To fear Him. Some might say that we need not fear Yahweh for He is love and a loving Elohim would never want to harm us or judge us. Start speaking of the need to fear Yahweh and some might even get offended. But scripture plainly teaches that one must fear Yahweh. In fact, it is foundational. In the above verse that it is the first thing listed and the other matters stem from that.

• Proverbs 1:7 – The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

For us to really receive wisdom and knowledge, we must first fear Yahweh. Fearing Yahweh means not fearing man.

• Deuteronomy 13:1 – If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,

• Deuteronomy 13:2 – And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other elohim, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;

• Deuteronomy 13:3 – Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for YAHWEH your Elohim proveth you, to know whether ye love YAHWEH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul.

• Deuteronomy 13:4 – Ye shall walk after YAHWEH your Elohim, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

Fear of man is rampant today and it is probably the number one reason why people do not receive the truth. I think whom we fear can be revealed by asking ourselves some honest questions… For instance… If everyone called the Heavenly Father “Yahweh,” who would

still insist on calling Him “the LORD” instead? Or if everyone kept Yahweh’s feast days, who would insist on rejecting those and keeping Christmas and Easter instead? The fear of what others will say about us is a very dangerous thing when it comes to seeking the truth and walking therein! The above verses in Deuteronomy 13 tell us that we should fear Yahweh, not man, when it comes to someone telling us to turn away from following Yahweh’s commandments.

Sadly, there are many who would teach that it is okay to disobey His Torah and that if you believe in keeping Yahweh’s commandments you are actually under “bondage.” Brethren, this is a test. It is a test that we must not fail for many false prophets are gone out into the world.

No matter what a prophet does, if he tries to turn us away from the commands of Yahweh, we should not listen to him… but fear Yahweh instead. When we fear Yahweh, we regard His words as more important than the words of men. When we fear Yahweh, we will want to love Him and depart from pride and evil:

• Proverbs 3:7 – Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear YAHWEH, and depart from evil.

It is when man gets wise in his own eyes that he strays from Yahweh’s will. We should instead seek Yahweh’s wisdom. For it seems to me that man outsmarts himself into a lack of fearing Yahweh. But fearing Yahweh and deciding to keep His commandments is the whole duty of man.

• Ecclesiastes 12:13 – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear Elohim, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Let no one tell you that this is no longer the duty of man. Some say it’s just our duty to have faith only. “Just believe” they say. But if we believe, we will fear Yahweh.

In fact, fearing Yahweh is a key part of the true glad tidings that should be preached to all nations:

• Revelation 14:6 – Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting evangel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people–

• Revelation 14:7 – saying with a loud voice, “Fear YAHWEH and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

This is a worthy message for this age for people do not see Him as one to be feared. But the true evangel calls upon men to fear Him. When we fear Yahweh, we are taught His ways because we are brought to repentance and taught to walk in the truth:

• Psalms 25:1 – Unto thee, O YAHWEH, do I lift up my soul.

• Psalms 25:2 – O my Elohim, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

• Psalms 25:12 – What man is he that feareth YAHWEH? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

When we do fear Yahweh, we are pitied as a Father pities His children:

• Psalms 103:13 – Like as a father pitieth his children, so YAHWEH pitieth them that fear him.

• Psalms 103:14 – For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

• Psalms 103:15 – As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

• Psalms 103:16 – For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

• Psalms 103:17 – But the mercy of YAHWEH is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;

• Psalms 103:18 – To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.

What awesome promises are granted to those who will fear Him! Mercy is given. Yahweh can then take pleasure in us.

• Psalms 147:11 – YAHWEH taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

I believe that this is a key scripture in understanding. Those who fear Yahweh will give thought to hoping in His mercy. Unless one does fear Yahweh, where would one see the need for His mercy? Unless there is a fear, we will go on believing our sin will go unpunished. Herein is the trouble today: Men are taught that they need not fear Yahweh because He accepts them no matter what. Men are taught that Yahweh will have mercy upon them that do not fear Him. But the truth is that Yahweh’s mercy is upon those that fear Him:

• Luke 1:49 – For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

• Luke 1:50 – And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

There will be a book of Remembrance.

• Malachi 3:16 – Then they that feared YAHWEH spake often one to another: and YAHWEH hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared YAHWEH, and that thought upon his name.

And the promise…

• Malachi 3:17 – And they shall be mine, saith YAHWEH of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.

• Malachi 3:18 – Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth Elohim and him that serveth him not.

It will be discerned… that the ones who really do serve Yahweh are the ones who fear Him. Continuing…

• Malachi 4:1 – For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith YAHWEH of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

• Malachi 4:2 – But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

• Malachi 4:3 – And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith YAHWEH of hosts.

• Malachi 4:4 – Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

Few know Yahweh’s name, let alone fear His name. In that day it shall be known who fears Yahweh and keeps His commandments. In that day it shall be known who has remembered the law of Moses, the servant of Yahweh. In that day, it shall be known who Yahweh’s servants really are. Satan has muddied the waters, confused right and wrong, and deceived millions into thinking that Yahweh loves, therefore he won’t really judge the sinners. Brethren, this is quite simply “The LIE” which originated in the Garden of Eden.

• Genesis 3:4 – And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

And people believe it because they desire to sin as much as they think they can get away with. But the same Elohim who loves all mankind is coming back to judge those who do not fear Him and keep His commandments! For while they exalt the need to love, they fail to see that His commandments show us how to love Him! Yahushua first came as a Lamb… and many wish to portray him as seemingly weak, but a babe in a manger. But He will return as a LION. Let’s read the context of a frequently quoted psalm about Him:

• Psalms 110:1 – YAHWEH said unto my Master, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

• Psalms 110:2 – YAHWEH shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

• Psalms 110:3 – Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

The people were not willing in the first century, but in the age to come His people will be willing.

• Psalms 110:4 – YAHWEH hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

• Psalms 110:5 – YAHWEH at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.

• Psalms 110:6 – He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.

What a shock it will be to many! Yahushua will be a conquering warrior and His people will be His army which will prevail. Now there are some scriptures, which may appear on the surface to be saying we need not fear Yahweh. Let’s examine them:

• 2Timothy 1:3 – I thank YAHWEH, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Paul is writing to Timothy here:

• 2Timothy 1:4 – Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

• 2Timothy 1:5 – When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

• 2Timothy 1:6 – Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of YAHWEH, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

• 2Timothy 1:7 – For YAHWEH hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A commonly quoted scripture… do we not need to fear Yahweh? The next verse makes it very clear that what is at issue here is not the fear of Yahweh, but the fear of man:

• 2Timothy 1:8 – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Master, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the evangel according to the power of YAHWEH;

We shouldn’t be ashamed of the testimony of Yahushua the Messiah. This is derived from the fear of man, not a fear of Yahweh. Paul is in essence saying that we should fear Yahweh rather than man. After all, man’s opinion doesn’t count in the end, does it? Yahweh isn’t going to need their opinion on the Day of Judgment. In this age, people don’t keep certain commandments because they fear what their friends at work or at church might say or especially what their family might say. The important thing is not what others say, it’s what Yahweh says. What men will say about us isn’t going to matter in the end. Yahweh’s opinion is what counts, for it is the right opinion 100% of the time. Don’t fear potential separation and being labeled an outcast. Don’t fear what may happen if you keep the Sabbath or other commands. Better to lose your job than your soul! Better to lose the respect of men than to lose the respect of Yahweh!

• Mark 8:36 – For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Such is the reason we need to keep our minds on the things which are above, not on the things of this world.

• Colossians 3:2 – Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

• Colossians 3:3 – For ye are dead, and your life is hid with the Messiah in YAHWEH.

When we see His word telling us to do something, do our thoughts roam toward fearing what others will do/say? It ought not to be so. It ought to be fearing Yahweh, knowing that we need to walk in His love by keeping His word. The heart issues Yahweh sees. It is these little depths of the heart, the intent of our thoughts that will weigh heavily on the Day of Judgment. For it reveals who we are really serving… Yahweh or man.

• Jeremiah 17:5 – Thus saith YAHWEH; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from YAHWEH.

• Jeremiah 17:6 – For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

• Jeremiah 17:7 – Blessed is the man that trusteth in YAHWEH, and whose hope YAHWEH is.

• Jeremiah 17:8 – For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

• Jeremiah 17:9 – The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

Beware lest any man follow their own heart. For it is desperately wicked.

• Jeremiah 17:10 – I YAHWEH search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

• Proverbs 28:26 – He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

So what about all those who say, “Well, I’ll just follow my heart”? We ought to fear Yahweh and walk wisely instead! Indeed, that is the beginning of wisdom. Let’s examine another scripture:

• Hebrews 2:11 – For both He who sets apart and those who are being set apart are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

• Hebrews 2:12 – saying: “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”

• Hebrews 2:13 – And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And again: “Here am I and the children whom YAHWEH has given Me.”

• Hebrews 2:14 – Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

• Hebrews 2:15 – and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

This type of fear is speaking of a fear of death. If we fear Yahweh, why should we fear death? For if we fear Yahweh, we will receive the mercy He promises to those who fear Him and we will be given eternal life.

• Philippians 1:21 – For to me to live is the Messiah, and to die is gain.

Those who have a fear of death are subject to bondage according to the book of Hebrews. But in Yahushua we have life, not death.

• Romans 8:12 – Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

• Romans 8:13 – For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

• Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of YAHWEH, they are the sons of YAHWEH.

• Romans 8:15 – For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

• Romans 8:16 – The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of YAHWEH:

We must not live after the flesh. If we are in Yahushua and walking as He walked, we have no reason to fear death and eternal damnation because we are adopted children of Yahweh. We can believe His word when He says He has mercy on those who truly repent and accept Yahushua. But it starts with fearing Yahweh enough to consider that He is supreme and has the power to bring judgment upon us unless we repent. Now let’s examine one more area of scripture:

• 1John 4:12 – No one has seen YAHWEH at any time. If we love one another, YAHWEH abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

• 1John 4:13 – By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

• 1John 4:14 – And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

• 1John 4:15 – Whoever confesses that Yahushua is the Son of YAHWEH, YAHWEH abides in him, and he in YAHWEH.

• 1John 4:16 – And we have known and believed the love that YAHWEH has for us. YAHWEH is love, and he who abides in love abides in YAHWEH, and YAHWEH in him.

• 1John 4:17 – Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

“as He is, so are we in this world.” When this is the case, then we have no reason to fear death for we have received mercy.

• 1John 4:18 – There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

How do we reconcile this scripture with the others that tell us to fear Yahweh and love Him? Now here is the key question. How do we love Yahweh?

• Deuteronomy 7:9 – Know therefore that YAHWEH thy Elohim, he is Elohim, the faithful El, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

• John 14:15 – If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Perfect love casts out fear. The more we love Him, the less we need to fear judgment. Yahushua wasn’t fearing that Yahweh would judge Him for being wicked and send Him to the lake of fire for He had perfected love for His Father and for His fellow man. Now if we died with Him and He lives in us, we also need not fear such a thing. This is where many get confused. See, in order to receive Yahushua we must first repent.

• Acts 2:38 – Then Kepha said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahushua the Messiah for the forgiveness of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This means to make a decision to turn away from sin and begin walking that direction. It does not mean that we are instantly walking in perfect obedience, but that our true desire from the heart is to do just that. Yahweh is willing to give mercy and grace to those who are willing to do this… and receive Yahushua His Son. But we will not even care to repent or bear the fruits worthy of repentance unless we do fear Yahweh.

I’ve heard it said this way once: Most of us love the water. Water gives us life and cleanses us. Without it we would die. But water is also to be feared if we don’t obey the rules of the water, yes? We can swim in the water, but if we break the rules of the water… it can bring death. It has the power to give life, and also death… Even so with Yahweh. Yahweh gives us life, and has the power to give us eternal death and damnation. So let’s heed His rules! Shall we? In this, we demonstrate our love for Him.

• 1John 4:19 – We love Him because He first loved us.

• 1John 4:20 – If someone says, “I love YAHWEH,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love YAHWEH whom he has not seen?

Many claim to love Him today. But not all who claim to love Him actually do. Some choose to love man more. Therefore they SHOULD fear.

• 1John 5:1 – Whoever believes that Yahushua is the Messiah is born of YAHWEH, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

• 1John 5:2 – By this we know that we love the children of YAHWEH, when we love YAHWEH and keep His commandments.

• 1John 5:3 – For this is the love of YAHWEH, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.

HalleluYah! This is the key brethren, love Yahweh, keep His commandments and we will have no reason to fear death and eternal damnation. But let’s not get out of balance either direction. Yahweh’s mercy is available to those who fear Him, confess their sins and truly desire from the heart to walk uprightly. The problem today is people don’t have any fear of

Yahweh when they have sinned. Neither is there enough fear of Yahweh within men to cease from sin. Rather, when they sin… they do not care because they think they have no reason to fear. But we must fear Yahweh and keep His commandments… else we really don’t love Him at all. I do believe that this is lacking today brethren!! Fear of Yahweh! If a person truly fears Yahweh, then they would be careful about doing anything to offend Him. Would one who fears Yahweh say: “I know this is wrong, but He has mercy on me and so He doesn’t mind if I (insert falsehood/sin here)?” Would one who fears Yahweh say: “But that’s what grace is for” to justify sin? This is not love and this is not fear of Yahweh. Indeed, it is out of a lack of fear toward Yahweh and a gigantic fear toward man that causes millions to not accept any doctrine that is scriptural and not mainstream. It is out of a lack of fear toward Yahweh and a fear of man that many will not walk the narrow path that results in persecution, ridicule and mockery. But we should expect the persecution. The most righteous man who ever lived walked this earth about 2000 years ago… and they hung him on a tree! Yahushua said we aren’t to fear man, we are to fear Yahweh!

• Matthew 10:27 – What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

• Matthew 10:28 – And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

• Isaiah 66:5 – Hear the word of YAHWEH, ye that tremble at his word; your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let YAHWEH be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

How many tremble at His word today? Many seek “the relationship with Yahweh” and most sermons today have to do with “Your relationship with ‘God’.” People get deceived into thinking they have the relationship because they are given the ear tickles every week. Every week they’ll hear how much Yahweh loves them and that they are His children… and ignore the fact that most people in attendance need to repent! But it is sin that separates man from Yahweh. We hear the boasting of men… that they do not care that they have sinned because they believe it is all ‘under the blood’ and they boast that they are ‘saved’ and that Yahweh doesn’t care if we do this or that. This is the wrong attitude! They think Yahweh is this vending machine… up goes the prayer and out comes the forgiveness. Or worse yet, put the tithe in the pot and out comes His forgiveness! Brethren, he seeks a sincere heart of repentance in each of us. For that is the evidence of our love for Him. Sin repulses Yahweh! When we stop sinning, we will be hated.

• Matthew 10:22 – And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

But we must endure to the end.

• 1Corinthians 10:12 – Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

• Luke 21:36 – Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

We know not the future, what it will hold and if we will stand! But we can know and believe that Yahweh will look upon the poor and contrite ones who tremble at His word when it convicts them of their sins. Indeed if we have no sin, and have repented of our sins we need not tremble… but if we have sin… fear Yahweh and repent for your sin was not of love. Indeed, we all have sin… for unless we have perfect knowledge of righteousness we may unknowingly be walking in some kind of wrong thing. Consider for a moment… If we really fear Yahweh and know that His eyes are beholding our actions and thoughts at all times, would we sin? Would we sin if we really feared Yahweh like we should? What would change in our lives? I once spoke with a person that was having a struggle with a particular sin in her life. So I asked her what might happen if Yahushua the Messiah suddenly appeared to her as He is described in Revelation:

• Revelation 1:12 – Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

• Revelation 1:13 – and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

• Revelation 1:14 – His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

• Revelation 1:15 – His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

• Revelation 1:16 – He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

• Revelation 1:17 – And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.

So I asked her if Yahushua appeared like this to her and said “STOP THAT SIN NOW.” Would she stop? She said, “yes.” What if He came during that very minute that the sin was being committed? Just because we do not see Him doesn’t mean that His appearance isn’t equally as awesome to behold. So often… we sin because we need more of a fear of Yahweh in our lives. We take advantage of His mercy and grace. We lack the fear we need to depart from evil.

• Job 28:28 – And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of YAHWEH, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Therefore, let us love and fear Yahweh… and turn away from evil.

• 1John 3:4 – Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law.

And let us not be deceived into thinking that Yahweh’s definition of right and wrong is somehow abolished or changed. That was the other deception at Eden… “Hath Elohim said… ?” Yahushua wants to live in you and give you the power to be an overcomer. We know He kept the Torah and we know that He is:

• Hebrews 13:8 – Yahushua the Messiah is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

• Psalms 111:10 – The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Therefore, let’s seek to have His life and example in us. Let’s seek to have the book of remembrance written about us. Let’s seek the beginning of wisdom. Let’s seek His mercy. But let’s flee from the “license to sin” doctrine. Let’s flee from the fear of man. But remember to seek wisdom, beginning with a fear of Yahweh, and a love for Him. For only then can we have the righteousness in us and power in us to be overcomers… and ultimately… eternal children of the Most High. May Yahweh bless you and have mercy on us all!