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Saturday, July 10, 2010

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Isaiah 6:1-8
Psalm 93:1-2, 5
Matthew 10:24-33

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"I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of His garment filling the temple." —Isaiah 6:1

Before Isaiah was called to be a prophet, he had a life-changing experience of God's holiness and glory. This awe of God's presence, the fear of the Lord, is not only the beginning of wisdom (Ps 111:10), but also of ministry. Ezekiel also experienced the fear of the Lord profoundly before he became a prophet (Ez 1:1ff). Before Jesus' public ministry, He heard the Father's voice from the sky and experienced the Spirit descending on Him (Mt 3:16-17).

At the Church's beginning, "a reverent fear overtook them all, for many wonders and signs were performed by the apostles" (Acts 2:43). Peter experienced the fear of the Lord early in his relationship with the Lord and "fell at the knees of Jesus saying, 'Leave me, Lord. I am a sinful man' " (Lk 5:8). On the road to Damascus, Paul saw a sudden flash of light, fell to the ground, and was blind for three days (Acts 9:3ff). This began his Christian life and ministry.

We also need to deeply experience the fear of the Lord in some way to have a strong foundation for our ministry. We should ask for the Lord to manifest His presence to us in a new and much deeper way. We should praise and thank the Lord for His love and presence that we are already experiencing. May we make "steady progress in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31).

Prayer:  Father, may I experience Your presence so strongly it overshadows every aspect of my life.

Promise:  "Every hair of your head has been counted; so do not be afraid of anything." —Mt 10:30-31

Praise:  Ann experienced an extended time of seeing God's glory when she turned herself over to Him in a new resolve.

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Evangelization on audio AV 58-3 or video V-58.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 29, 2009

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