We are not wise. Neither do we have a good understanding. If I may, lets get right into what I feel the Spirit is trying to say here. We love, quoting Acts 2:38 and it’s a true foundation for the beginning of our journey in the Spirit.

“Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,” Acts 2:38.

I have to stop and say, that this Book, is all about the actions of the Apostles; in other words, how they acted and operated. One good brother here, has called it, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. That speaks.

We have been quick to cite this verse, and quick to claim the very promise in the verse below it. But somehow, here is where we stopped. Other things were taught and demonstrated also. I am in no way attempting to take away our precious belief in the pouring out of His Spirit on the day of Pentecost. A formula was presented by Apostle Peter; it’s been in force and operated ever since. But what about Acts 2:43; how many of us could quote that, without looking it up? Picking only the verses we want to hear, has cost us.

“Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles,” Acts 2:43.

The formula; then the promise of, “as many as the Lord our God shall call,” Acts 3:39b. Oh, how we loved that, and we still do; that we could have what they had; all of it. Next, came the adding of 3,000 souls, in one day. They all continued in the faith and were visiting one another, breaking bread, from house to house. Does anyone here remember when, that was exactly what we did too. Some of the greatest fellowship, was in one another’s homes; it was wonderful.

But with all of this the early group had together, something intense happened, in verse 43. “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.” Being truly baptized in the Holy Ghost, brings a reverent fear of the God of all creation; the One that is above everything and everyone. In Psalm 147:11, it says, “the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him.” Proverbs 1:29, “For they that hated knowledge, did not choose the fear of the Lord.” Again in Acts 9:31, “The churches were edified, walking in the fear of the Lord.” It brought edification.

What about, “godly fear,” as in Hebrews 12:28, “whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear”? I pray I don’t sound critical or too harsh, but many, have talked of Holiness, ever since I was a small boy, and a long time before. Somebody missed the part about cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, in order to be “Perfecting Holiness.”

And again someone stopped there, because the complete verse says, “perfecting holiness, IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD.” Without the fear of the Lord, we have no holiness. That’s blunt, but that is the true word.

A spirit of fear, and the fear of the Lord, is not the same thing. I know about that spirit of fear. It stalked my path from the time I came into this world.

There was a time, when I had to claim that promise of “a sound mine.” People have lost their fear of Him. If they hadn’t, they definitely would not be doing the things they are doing in God’s house, and among His people.

Once, we would not dare, offend the Holy Spirit. There will be no revival for us, if there is no fear of the Lord.

“I will put my fear in their hearts,” Jeremiah 32:40.

~ Robert Blackburn

Robert Blackburn