Daily Thunder Podcast

In this concluding message of our series on the awful fear of the Lord, we bring together the key truths we've explored and discover how holy fear transforms every aspect of Christian life. In this study, Nathan tackles several practical questions like: How can we increase our fear of the Lord? What do we do when we struggle to relate to God with fear? How does holy fear help us overcome persistent sin? And why is it impossible to live the Christian life without this foundational attribute? Whether you're battling sin, seeking deeper intimacy with God, or simply wanting...

This message puts the punctuation on the entire series. As the final episode, it brings the entire storyline in for a beautiful landing (pun intended). We follow Wilbur Wright to New York City and his final public flight. It is there that we are freshly stirred to remember that--since we never know when our last flight is going to be flown--we should fly every flight with all the gusto we possess, believing it may very well be our final one.

Throughout Christian history, the greatest longing of the believer has always been to go home to be with Jesus. As the Apostle Paul said, “to live is Christ, but to die is gain.” The world is unable to look at death as gain, but the Christian does. This message parallels the Homecoming welcome of the Wright brothers in Dayton, Ohio in 1909 with our future homecoming in Heaven. It’s a beautiful meditation that is sure to move and inspire.

Throughout Scripture, knowing God’s ways and fearing Him are inseparable. If you do not have a holy fear and live in humility, you will not understand or be able to walk in His ways. And yet, like the Israelites of old, it is possible to be close to God and yet never experience Him. The Psalmist wrote that God “made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel” (Psalm 103:7)—the Israelites saw God’s works but Moses knew His ways. In this study, Nathan explores that key difference, what it means to know the ways of Go...

The Wright Brothers built magnificent flying machines. Many of them were officially retired due to crashes in the early years of flight discovery. But there was one particular flyer that was not magnificent—it was tattered, ripped, re-stitched. It was built differently than all the others. Out of necessity, it was built out of broken and smashed pieces. And yet it was THIS tattered flying machine that was used to demonstrate to the world the miracle of flight. It sounds a bit like the Christian life, doesn’t it?

September 17, 1908 tragedy struck. At Ft. Myers, in Washington D.C., Orville Wright had broken seven aeronautical world records over the previous two weeks. He was on top of the world. And then a grief intruded into the Wright Brother’s storyline. But, as in every good story, grief is never the final chapter, it’s merely a difficult stretch along the way which works as a catalyst for even a greater triumph in the end.

In September 1908 all the pressure is on Orville Wright. In August, his older brother, Wilbur, amazed the world over in Le Mans, France, demonstrating the abilities of the Wright’s flying machine before a skeptical Europe. But now it’s Orville’s turn to show his stuff in front of skeptical America. On September 3, 1908 the pressure on Orville is nearly crushing. His task seems impossible. How can he somehow dazzle like Wilbur did in France? In many ways, we all experience this same unusual pressure when we realize that we are called to follow in the dazzling footsteps of Jesus...

After years of put-downs, ridicule, and mockery the day finally arrived for Wilbur and Orville Wright to show the world that they actually were flyers and not liars. In Le Mans, France on August 8, 1908, the stage was set for one of the most extraordinary public breakthroughs in history. There is an August 8, 1908 in every life that lives for Truth—when faith is made sight and the clouds roll back like a scroll. And, oh, is it a special day.

God has called Christians to a life of holiness, godliness, and righteousness—a life conformed to the image of Jesus Himself. Yet, for many of us, we dislike holiness and find obedience to be difficult. What is the solution to our desire for sin and our passivity toward obeying God? In this study, Nathan proposes that the fear of the Lord is the solution. If you are struggling with sin, succumbing to temptation, or stuck in disobedience, the fear of the Lord is the answer. Listen to the episode and discover why.

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Wilbur and Orville, even after discovering human-controlled flight on December 17, 1903, still traversed difficulty after difficulty in convincing everyone that they did indeed accomplish the feat. From December 1903 to August 1908, the Wrights were accused of being liars instead of flyers. Each of our lives has a segment like this-a stretch of particular difficulties that define us either as failures or phenoms. But, following this challenging stretch, the much-anticipated breakthrough awaits us all—the day that all the hard work pays off. But right before this big day is the bread and cheese moment. And that is the biggest test of al...

The Wright Brothers headed back to Kitty Hawk, NC in 1907 for the expressed purpose of getting alone and remembering afresh how to fly. They hadn’t flown for two and a half years and they had become a bit rusty in the art. How often we need the same thing in our spiritual lives—a return to wilderness, the desert, the solitude in order to rekindle the heavenly fires in the soul.

When we have a proper (godly, holy) fear of the Lord, it brings forth freedom and life within the believer. It not only dispels all other fears from our lives, it also enables us to live victorious over sin and live in obedience to God and His Word. In this study, Nathan gives a refined definition of the “awful fear of the Lord” and explores how holy fear frees us in four key ways … which can radically change our lives.

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Rumor has it that everyone has a price. Supposedly, even the most virtuous man or woman, the most stouthearted, have their breaking point—the price point at which they are willing to compromise. However, those concocting such theories have never met Jesus Christ—a man who had no price and was totally and completely unpurchasable. This chapter in the Wright Brothers’ story tests them on this very theory. Will they compromise or will they stand firm. History will tell.

By 1905 the Wright Brothers had officially learned to fly. They had a testable and provable flying machine. But, even though human-controlled flight was a reality, less than 1% of Americans believed the accomplishment was real. The Wright Brothers spent the entire year of 1905 attempting to convince the American War Department that they had something important—something that would greatly benefit America. However, the American government shockingly rejected the invention. Meanwhile, the British and the French were more than enthusiastic to get their hands on this important tool.

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In Solomon’s introduction to the book of Proverbs, he gives three key purposes for the book but gives a central premise: the fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge. In this study, Nathan explores Proverbs 1:1–7 and expounds upon wisdom, discipline, understanding, and how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (and what that even means). In short, the fear of God is the beginning (starting place) of an intimate relationship with Him!

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The Wright Brother’s achieved flight on December 17, 1903 in Kitty Hawk, NC. The problem was, no one believed them. It wasn’t until nine months later (September 20, 1904), back in Dayton, Ohio that the brothers were able to demonstrate to the world that their Kitty Hawk claims of 1903 were actually true. But, outside their intimate team, there was only one witness there at Huffman Prairie on that day to actually behold the amazing feat. His name was Amos Root. Root was known as The Bee Man of Ohio. The Wright Brothers entrusted this humble eccentric man with the privilege of maki...

In the Wright Brother’s story of flight, wind was an essential ingredient. First it was the natural winds of Kitty Hawk—they learned to master the gusting winds, gain lift, and soar. But, then, in 1904, they needed to figure out how to fly even when there wasn’t any wind. And this challenge proved to be an even greater problem. Like Wilbur and Orville, we, too, must learn to “fly” when the first winds fail. We must gain a second wind.

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In Psalm 34, David invites his listeners to learn the fear of Yahweh. But far more than an intellectual pursuit, David reminds us that to fear of the Lord, it demands that our lives come into alignment (conformed) with the God that we stand in awe and tremble before. In other words, to fear God means to have His righteousness, holiness, purity, and life demonstrated in and through our own. In this message, Nathan walks through Psalm 34, and encourages us to not only learn, but to experience and live the fear of Yahweh.

In this special Daily Thunder, Eric and Nathan reflect upon their current series and mention that we are currently taking a three week break from Daily Thunder. We jump back into Spiritual Lessons from the Wright Brothers and the Awful Fear of the Lord on September 10.

Huffman Prairie represents a significant chapter in the Wright Brother’s story, but a “Huffman Prairie” chapter is certainly not unique to them. It’s a chapter that each of us must pass through. And how we pass through it defines whether or not we fulfill our high calling and actually fly.

The Wright Brothers accomplished something on December 17, 1903 that changed the course of history. And yet, no one believed them. Their hometown of Dayton didn’t pull together a big parade to welcome the boys home from Kitty Hawk—no one was in a celebratory mood. In fact, one in every hundred Daytonians believed the brothers had actually accomplished what they said that they had accomplished. Moments like this are not uncommon in the landscape of the Christian experience. Often the very things we are laboring overtime to see accomplished in our life by the Holy Spirit are not understood, beli...

“Wow!” It’s a word that expresses astonishment or admiration or to excite someone greatly. Yet that state of awe and wonder should be how stand before God and His Word. In this study, we examine what it means to have “holy fear” (reverence marked by awe and a tremble) in light of awe, wonder, and living with a “wow” before who our God is and the authority of His Word. By examining Isaiah 40, we will behold and be led into worship of the Everlasting God—for He is worthy and worthy to be praised. Let’s us stand in awe of Him!

The Christian life is all about faith. But, what many Christians don’t realize is that it is not just the presence of faith that causes the Christian to triumph. It’s the testing of that faith; the proving of that faith as genuine that showcases the power of heavenly triumph. December 17, 1903 was a day of triumph. It was the first day of human controlled flight. And that triumph only lasted twelve short seconds. But those twelve seconds were the first twelve seconds of the trillion seconds of triumphant flight to follow. Often the first breakthrough in the living out...

When we think of the Wright Brothers, we think of two extraordinary men that pulled off an impossible feat all by their lonesome. And that is correct . . . sort of. There was actually a third person involved in this amazing accomplishment, but he is rarely ever discussed and, still to this day, is relatively unknown. His name was Charlie Taylor. It was Charlie that built the first plane engine. And without that miracle engine, human controlled flight simply would not have taken place. In the work of salvation, the Father and the Son get a good deal of our focus...

I’ve been defining the “fear of the Lord” as having reverence for God mixed with tremble and awe. Over the past few studies we’ve looked at the idea of “tremble” and defined “reverence,” but what does it mean to stand in awe of God? In this study, we explore the idea of wonder, what it means to be lost in the wonder and greatness of our God, and seven ways we can do so.

The Wright Brothers were not dashing, debonaire men. They were not highly educated nor were they confident with the lady folk. They were simple men. And the adjective used to describe them more than any other was “humility.” The other leading aeronautical geniuses at the time were highly financed, highly educated, and highly snooty. Samuel Langley, the director of the Smithsonian Institute had one goal: to beat the Wright Brothers. Langley had everything needed for success. He had loads of money, loads of intelligence, and loads of scientific helpers. But, the one thing he lacked was humility. And that cost...

The extraordinary work and discoveries of the Wright Brothers have changed the world over this past century. But one of their most understated achievements was the record they left behind them in both journal entries, drawings, and photography. Because of their record keeping, we are able to literally open a time capsule and smell the air they smelled and stick our toes in the sand that they traversed. Remembrance is a key function of the healthy Christian life. If we chronicled God’s working in our lives the way the Wright Brothers chronicled their discoveries, we would be Christian’s ri...

To live with a holy fear of God requires that we revere Him. But what is reverence and how do we live before God with a deep humility, respect, and honor? In this study, Nathan explores the biblical concept of reverence, what it means to “hallow” (keep and honor as holy) God’s name, and explains how taking God’s name in vain is far more than swearing. If you desire to grow deeper in your relationship and intimacy with Christ Jesus, then we as Christians must live with holy reverence before Him and His Word.

The Church today is missing its cowboy bravado—it’s willingness to hop on the back of a bucking bull and ride it. Instead there is a passivity, a reticence, and a self-preservation that is controlling the actions of a high percentage of believers today. Wilbur and Orville Wright had cowboy bravado, and, as a result, learned to ride the bucking Wind—something all the experts believed was an impossibility in their day. For the strength of heaven to return to the Church, the cowboy bravado must once again return, too.

Our ancient enemy, the devil, has been around for the past 6,000 years working over the people of this earth with his devious tactics, schemes, and assaults. But, though we can readily admit that he is really good at his evil craft, we must remember that Satan was not just defeated 2,000 years ago at the Cross, but his methods of malevolence have been completely exposed in and through the Word of God. The Apostle Paul says, “We are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices.” In this study of the Wright Brothers, the devil’s tactics are powerfully exposed along with an...

The mighty voice of the Lord is powerful and thunderous … and so is His voice through His Word. Too many in our modern day treat the Bible casually or passively, but as Christians, we must humble ourselves, bend our knee, and tremble beneath His Word. In this study, we discuss the mighty-authoritative voice of God’s Word, why we can believe and stand firm upon it, and what it means to tremble before His Word (with some help from Charles Spurgeon). Let us be the people to whom God intently gazes—people who are humble, contrite in spirit, and who tre...

The Apostle Paul submits a challenge to the psyche of every believer when he describes the idea of becoming a “fool for Christ’s sake.” After all, the reason we as believers “believe” in Christ in the first place is because such an action is deemed the wisest and most reasonable conclusion to the dilemma of Sin and Death. So, to choose wisdom only to become a “fool” in the world’s eyes poses a unique psychological hurdle to the young believer. But, the path of Christ’s Fool is the path of power, it’s the path of profound impact. Wil...

As humans we have a proclivity towards the easiest route, the most comfortable way. We will purposely avoid difficulty, pain, and suffering and steer clear of inconvenience. And in so doing we are missing out on the best life has to offer us. For it is through these various trials that we exponentially grow and strengthen. These difficulties are our best friends and they work to build in us the necessary character, strength, and fortitude to change the world. Wilbur and Orville embraced this philosophy, packed up their belongings, and headed out to Kitty Hawk, NC. And there, amidst...

The voice of our God is described as powerful, mighty, and thunderously loud. It is compared to the roar of a lion, the clap of thunder, and the sound of a waterfall. In short, the voice of the Lord produces a tremble within our lives. In this study, Nathan explores the different descriptions of God’s voice and what our proper response should be toward His voice should be as believers.

Too many of us live life from task to task, from paycheck to paycheck, and from duty to duty, instead of taking in the wonder, the beauty, and the awe of living? Wilbur and Orville Wright specialized in drinking in the beauty of God’s creation about them—they were avid bird-watchers. And in learning to lift their heads out of their tasks, paychecks, and mundane duties—they saw things that no one else saw and had ideas that no one else had ever had.

In 1899 there were two diametrically-opposed approaches to solving the mystery of flight. The most common and popular view involved the absence of wind—it was believed that a total calm was necessary for flight. And the second involved embracing the wind—believing a gust of wind to be a benefit and not a hindrance to flight. Interestingly enough, these same two approaches exist today in Christianity. The most common and popular view today is that suffering, challenge, difficulty, and inconvenience must be avoided at all cost for an effective Christian life to be lived. And, course, there is the oppo...

As we dive more into what it means to live with a holy fear, there are two key aspects we need to discuss: tremble and awe. In this message, Nathan talks about the importance of trembling before the Lord, what that means, and gives several biblical examples of people throughout Scripture who trembled. If we are going to properly understand the fear of God, this concept is absolutely crucial to not only understand, but begin to prayerfully live out.

God designed mighty oak trees to grow out of small acorns. The same is true in our lives. Our small decisions in life are the acorns that form the basis of our growth, our direction, and our trajectory. The Wright Brothers laid the foundation of their lives in humble, hidden, hard work in a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. This “acorn” grew up to be a mighty oak tree of impact in the world. God’s Kingdom pattern is just like this—take the little you have and invest it well—for if you are faithful with little, then God will e...

It’s an interesting question to ponder—would Wilbur Wright have been able to invent the airplane without the help of Orville? Of course, it can’t be proved, but most would say, “No. Wilbur could have never pulled off the feat on his own!” For the mystery of controlled flight to be solved, Wilbur needed Orville and Orville needed Wilbur. The same is true in our spiritual lives. God designed us to do big things—impossible things. But to accomplish these big and impossible things, we need Orvilles in our life—people that challenge us, test us, and speak frankly...

If we are going to properly understand the "Fear of Lord," we must discuss the difference between different kinds of fear. In this message, Nathan talks about four kinds of fear, how one of them can be good, two are always bad, and one (the Fear of the Lord) is commanded. The profound reality is that of the two main fears of God, one causes you to run from God whereas the other draws you to Him.