Is there a bad kind of fear of God?

Isaiah 8:12-14  do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.  13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread,  14 and he will be a sanctuary

Some people have a hard time with the idea of fearing God because they think if it as being like their fear of an impossible-to-please father who abused them or who was angry all the time. That would be an evil kind of fear of God. The wicked, lazy servant of Mt.25:25 who buried his talent in the ground because he was afraid of his master’s harshness had that kind of fear. Mark this: Anytime your fear pushes you toward laziness or disobedience that’s the wrong kind of fear
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Ex.20:20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." 

That verse mentions both kinds. Do not be afraid of the Lord, but do fear the Lord. The difference between the kind of fear a person has of his abusive father and proper fear of the Lord is very simple. The first fear is a fear that he might do something wrong. If you are afraid God will do something bad to you – something that isn’t ultimately in your best interests, that’s the wrong kind of fear. If you are afraid God will do what is best for you, and that it will really, really hurt – that’s the good kind of fear. All of our sin is the result of a lack of the good kind of fear. When we think, “I know this is wrong, but God will forgive me” what we are saying is, “The discipline, if there is any, won’t be any big deal.”

1 Cor.11:29-32 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.  30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.  31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.  32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

How severe does God’s discipline get? All the way to the point of making you deathly ill or even killing you. But that’s not even the worst part. As we saw in the last lesson, in some cases He will turn His face away from you. That’s something that is far worse than any sickness or death. If you are suffering but you know you have God’s approval and favor, you can endure it. But if you are suffering and you know that suffering is the result of God’s displeasure toward you; if He has turned His face away from you and you can sense His anger with you; nothing is more painful than that. As we saw last week, it is more terrifying than even the worst torture and pain the world could possibly inflict on you.

Luke 12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

So how do you know if you have the right kind of fear? The right kind of fear of God will drive you to seek God’s love. There is no escape from His rod anywhere in the universe except in His arms of love. Fear His displeasure, and let that fear drive you to seek His love. 

Remember the words of Isaiah: 

He is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary.