Focus: The Spirit of Knowledge and the Fear of the Lord

Text: Isa.11:2

"And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him... the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord."

1. Knowledge.

The Holy Spirit has perfect knowledge. He knows and sees everything. Darkness is light to him. He comes into your life, bringing all that he is.

Paul says, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God" - 1Cor.2:10.

He helps us to know things. He floods our spirits with light. He reminds and reveals. He deepens and enlarges our knowledge of God. He opens up the Scriptures to us and sets fire in our souls by it. He is indeed the Spirit of light and illumination.

2. The FEAR of the LORD.

The Spirit makes us aware of the greatness, grandeur and glory of God. We become aware of the infinite, of the bigness and strangeness of God, of his utter holiness and transcendence.

Isaiah saw God's glory and said, "Woe is me! For I am undone..." Peter saw another side of Jesus and said, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

The Spirit makes us aware of a world beyond us and of a future of immense grandeur. Hallelujah!

Let us yield wholly to the Spirit and be open to the wonder that transforms into worship. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter