The Fear of God

[00:00:00] This audio sermon is provided by AnabaptistSermons.com and may be freely copied and distributed. You may not sell or edit this sermon. Our prayer is that you would be blessed by this ministry. Christian greetings to each one. Those here and those from afar. Ponder the path. Isn't that what silence does to us sometimes? Gets us to ponder. Gets us to think about God. [00:00:31] I'd like to continue that vein of thinking. Thinking about God and our view of Him. I would like to share this morning on the fear of God. You know, throughout life we have dealt with different types of fears. There may be a fear of darkness, there may be a fear of dogs, or falling, or failure. But this fear, the one fear that we need to cultivate, is the fear that will also take away other fears. [00:01:01] And that is the fear of God. What is the fear of God? Something that we often use or talk about. But what does it mean? You know, are there consequences for a lack of the fear of God? Or are there blessings for fearing God? Well, something that comes to my mind, especially when we're talking about wisdom, is that the beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. Or I said that backwards there. [00:01:32] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. And it says the same thing in Job's Psalms and Proverbs say very similar. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But what is the fear of the Lord? It's kind of easy to say, but is it kind of a religious term or phrase that we use that's a little hard to explain? How is it fleshed out? You know, I was talking recently with one who was taking a course in a college, some religious-themed course, and he said they were asked to explain salvation without using the normal words, such as salvation or sanctification or those type of words. [00:02:22] And it made me think, are some of these things, do we really know what's behind it? Is it a part of our life or how is it? Well, I'm glad to say, well before I say that, I should say that I don't expect that we'll walk out of here or end this sermon with a comprehensive view of the fear of God. Because when we think of God, we can only understand so much. But I am glad that if we desire to understand, He will meet that need in the way that we can understand. [00:03:06] Proverbs 2, verses 3-5 My desire this morning is to allow the Scriptures to explain themselves. And I'm not sure that we can bring this down in a nutshell exactly, [00:03:36] because the fear of God is explained or is given definitions by the Scriptures in various different ways. And I'll not list them in order of importance because I don't know which one would be most important I'd like to begin with the fear of God is pure It says specifically in Psalms 19.9 The fear of the Lord is clean Enduring forever, the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether [00:04:13] I believe it has a purifying effect on our lives as we think of the fear of God. Well, we talked about it being the basis of wisdom. Job 28, 28 says, And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. And to depart from evil is understanding. Isn't it interesting as Peter and John spoke to the council there [00:04:45] that after they were done they marveled and they said when they saw the boldness of Peter and John they perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. I believe that the fear of God gives us a basis of wisdom that puts all knowledge, all understanding into perspective It also hates evil [00:05:16] Proverbs 8, 13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil And he lists four Pride, arrogancy, the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate You know, I believe when we have a proper view of God, there is a desire within us to put away evil. And it's very clear here, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. It also gives life. Proverbs 14, 27. [00:05:50] The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death. There is life in the fear of God. Proverbs 14, 26, In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. And I find it interesting that the above four are all attributes of God. Holiness, basis of wisdom, we could say as omniscient. [00:06:21] He's the creator. But let's continue on. And some of these, the next two are not necessarily specifically says the fear of the Lord is, but it's referred to in the same context, in the same thought. Proverbs 33, 8, let all the earth fear the Lord and let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. I think of reverence. We talked about being in silence. [00:06:54] This morning, in awe of Him, Proverbs 89, 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him. Reverence. Hebrews 12, 28 Wherefore, we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, Let us have grace, and whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. [00:07:33] There it is again, reverence and godly fear. And the following verse brings us to our next one. For our God is a consuming fire. I don't know what you think of when you read that verse. For our God is a consuming fire. As I read it, something within me trembles. It's interesting to me that he uses fire. And we use fire in our home to heat our home. [00:08:06] And there's something relaxing, there's something comforting and very warming about fire. But each one of us has a healthy respect for fire. because we know the consequences of an uncontrolled fire and the damage that it can do. I'm not an electrician, but there are times I've had to rewire things. And when I do that, for some reason I'm on pins and needles. Why? [00:08:38] I think we all understand electricity. We're all, we benefit from the use of electricity. Many ways that it makes our life easier. But it can kill you Same thing could be said about water We depend on water Our body is needed It can be used in many different ways Cooling But someone who doesn't have a measure of fear of water is very foolish Because that also can kill [00:09:12] Psalms 90 verse 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? Even according to thy fear so is thy wrath So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom What are we saying by this fear? I don't know how to explain it other than a fear itself A recognition of the consequences of sin And here in this verse there is also a response [00:09:46] So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. You know, we may think of fear of God in the sense of fear as I'm talking about. That should definitely be felt in those ungodly who have sin in their hearts and face the judgment. But I'd like for us to turn to Luke 12 and see what Jesus says. [00:10:17] And as we read this, let's look especially to whom he is saying these words or to whom he is speaking. Luke the 12th chapter, beginning in verse 1. In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hid that shall not be known. [00:10:55] Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light, and that which ye have spoken in the air in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you, my friends, be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear. Fear him which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell. Yea, I say unto you, fear him. [00:11:35] He's talking here to his disciples, friends. And to whom shall we fear? To who has the power to cast into hell? You know, I believe this fear needs to be pressed on each and every believer as well. The fear of one who punishes evil. And that's why I don't see the one saved always saved as a doctrinal thing. [00:12:06] because by removing that fear of doing wrong, I believe, is not what I read here in this scripture. It's the same word, the fear, is the same word as Peter used when he said in 1 Peter 2.17, Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. We see here honor and love given to men, but fear given to God. You know, I believe within a reverential fear, there needs to be a measure of being afraid to do wrong. [00:12:46] And I believe in Ecclesiastes 12, 13, he brings it again in perspective. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. and the following verse 14, for God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. We see in this context, judgment is in the picture with fearing God. [00:13:19] And I think, well, it feels good to talk about the love of God. And we can never exhaust that subject, but in the same vein, we also need to know that he is a just God and that he will pour out his wrath on the day of vengeance or on the day of judgment against sin. Well, are there consequences to those who fear God? Romans 3 talks about a people who had no fear of God in chapter 3 verses beginning in verse 10 through 18. [00:13:57] As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one. There is none that understandeth. There is none that seeketh after God. Here we see a lack of seeking after God, a diminishing interest in spiritual things. They are all gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable. There is none that doeth good, no not one. Becoming unprofitable, living for themselves, doing those things that are harmful. [00:14:31] The following verse, 13 Their throat is an open sepulcher With their tongues they have used deceit The poison of asps is under their lips Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness Here we see their speech is deplorable, is deceitful, it's hurtful, full of vanity How does it come? Lack of the fear of God They are miserable. It says here, I'm sorry, I'm jumping ahead. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Murderers, a lack of appreciating the sanctity of life. Destruction and misery are in their ways. [00:15:20] They are miserable and involved in those things that are hurtful to themselves or destructive. We can think of many things, drugs, smoking, things that hurt our own bodies. And the way of peace have they not known? There's conflict. Why? There is no fear of God before their eyes. You know, these are effects in this life, not consideration to the effects or not in consideration of the judgment. [00:15:57] Well, the opposite side of that is that God blesses those who fear him. In Psalms 147, 11, the Lord taketh pleasure to them in them that fear him in whose in those who hope in his mercy. That's precious to me, that to think of God, our Lord, taking pleasure in those that see Him, that fear Him, see Him in a right way [00:16:28] He extends His mercy, for as high as the heaven is above the earth, so great is His mercy to them that fear Him And even in the New Testament, in Luke 1.50 and his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. We can find acceptance in here in Acts 10.35 But in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him and he gives life. [00:17:04] Proverbs 19.23 The fear of the Lord tendeth to life and he that hath it shall abide satisfied. He shall not be visited with evil. I know I'm reading a lot here, but I don't think we can explain it any better or say it any better than what the Scripture says. He gives life. He gives satisfaction when there is fear of Him. Now as we talk about fear of God, we've talked about while the Bible defines it, [00:17:39] We've mentioned a bit of some consequences of those that fear Him. And we've looked at the blessing of fearing God. I believe each one of us wants to be a God-fearing people. But does it have any form? Is it a belief or something that is abstract or is it just an idea? My mind went to the example that Joseph showed in Potiphar's house. [00:18:12] Doing his best for Potiphar, because of his good work ethic, he was promoted. And during that time, Potiphar's wife came and tempted him with immorality. And what was Joseph's response? How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? It seemed the foremost thought in his mind was God. I see no reference in referring to what Potiphar would do if he would find out. [00:18:44] I don't see any fear of reputation. I see a fear of God. And that fear of God directly affected his decision. Now can we ask ourselves, what is foremost in our minds as we face decisions or temptations? Our thoughts of God, the first thing that comes up, what about God? It can be as little as where we go or what we do. [00:19:16] What about God? How I do this certain thing, do I consider how God would see it? What will it do to my relationship with Him? You know, a proper respect of God affects the way I dress, the way I act. Why? Because I am His ambassador. I'm a representative of Him. In order to please Him, I want to be like Him. [00:19:48] I think of the example of Noah. Hebrews 11, 7 says, By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. How did Noah's fear of God affect him? Did it have any form? [00:20:19] It moved him to take steps in saving his house. And it moved him to do things that were directly opposite of society. I mean, I don't think we can quite imagine how foolish this would have looked in that day. but his fear of God created in him a desire to see his family saved, himself as well and he moved in a direction, he made choices because of the fear of God [00:20:56] I don't think today is any different I believe the true fear of God will cause us at times to take a path or to take a direction that is directly opposite of society and even our peers at times. And it may be, or I should say, that it should move us to action because of the fear of God in order to save lives, to be involved in evangelism. [00:21:31] I think the fear of God also motivates obedience. In Deuteronomy 10, verse 12, Moses says, And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee but to fear God? Fear the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul To keep the commandments of the Lord and his statutes which I command thee this day for thy good [00:22:03] The fear of God motivates obedience And it's interesting to see in the New Testament It brings it to a real practical level of our everyday calling or employer, employee, not employer, employee position. Colossians 3.22 says, Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service as men pleasers, [00:22:35] but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And you will find that in two other places as well. In Ephesians 6, 5 and 1 Peter 2, 18, very similar words, fear of God and obedience. You know, I don't see this as motivated by a desire to be promoted or motivated as a desire to increase a paycheck, but motivated by a desire to be obedient because of the fear of God. [00:23:07] Leonard Wood once visited the king of France and the king so enjoyed their visit that he says come back for lunch tomorrow so Leonard the following day went to the cathedral or the palace sorry and the king meeting him on in the hall meeting him in one of the halls kind of was surprised and says why Mr. Wood I didn't expect to see you today And Mr. Wood said, why, did you not invite me to lunch or to dinner today? [00:23:43] Yes, said the king, but you did not answer my invitation. And then he uttered these words, a king's invitation is never to be answered, it is to be obeyed. And I find value in that statement as I think of or in reference to our heavenly king. that condition of respect do I lightly regard or disregard or is there is my heart yielded surrendered fully to my king I see another form that the fear of God has I like to read in the NIV in Isaiah 66 verse 2 God is speaking here and he says this is the one I esteem [00:24:34] He who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word Ephesians also 521 submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God does the fear of God have form in our everyday relationships I think it does you know the other night a brother shared of a struggle because of an influence from his background that that seemed to be always so right and I'd like to add with that [00:25:13] that I think all of us have a carnal nature that seems that seeks to promote itself myself my ideas my plans and my desires but when we see God we understand God I believe we have the fear of God, there's a desire to put that I away and to glorify God, Him in humility and have a broken or a humble and a contrite spirit. [00:25:53] I'd like to close with the words of Joshua that he used when they were building that memorial after they had passed over Jordan. They had asked each of the men from the tribes of Israel to gather twelve stones and make an altar. That altar was to, so if the children would ask, what is this? What are the stones for? That they would say that or that they could recall the times of where God led them through the Red Sea on dry land and he led them through the Jordan on dry land. [00:26:35] And he says in Joshua 4.24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that ye might fear the Lord your God forever. May that be our challenge or our inspiration as we think of the fear of God having form. in a way that all people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, and that we would fear God. [00:27:12] Let's come before him in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you for today. We thank you for the way that you show us yourselves. And Lord, we come before you only because we just acknowledge that we cannot comprehend your greatness. We cannot comprehend your love, nor the consequences of judgment. But Lord, we look to you to teach us from day to day to fear you with our whole hearts. [00:27:52] May it be something that we can flesh out in our everyday lives that others too would see and fear you. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.