Fear of the Lord
Deer Creek Community Study- Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 4 viewsAim: A proverbial look at Fear of the Lord
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Starting Topical Studies
Starting Topical Studies
Thus far we have be expository studying Proverbs, chapter by chapter vs. by verse. We will now change to a series of topical looks, or I call them proverbial looks at some of the big theme items in the book.
Our start today is
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
It brings knowledge and instruction
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
It brings wisdom and understanding
The more time we look at biblical wisdom the increased growing, or possibility to grow in godly wisdom. ‘
This afternoon I will bring just a few points, but backed of course by lots of scriptures. I will ask for you, or one at a time, to do some page flipping, bible reading.
Point One: Assessing/Understanding the fear of the Lord.
Point Two: Appreciating the fear of the Lord.
Point Three: Advancing, developing the fear of the Lord.
Assessing/Understanding fear of the Lord.
Assessing/Understanding fear of the Lord.
Defining the word
Hebrew word yara’
In O.T. has a 3-fold range of meanings
Dread, Terror
29 “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them.
To stand in awe (Someone turn Ps65:8)
First let me read
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
Now
8 They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.
Q- Why are those who dwell in the ends of the earth to stand in awe?
To revere, to respect
13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.
One version (NET) says fear, reverence the Lord Your God.
Q: How can you revere the Lord today?
Have someone turn to EXO20:18-20
18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”
They trembled, they stood away, they were afraid
Moses told them (encouraged them)God wanted them to know to fear the Lord so that He would remain with them so they may not sin
The proper kind of fear is one that causes you to STAND IN AWE, to REVERE and RESPECT the Lord God almighty
Now may we look at the fear of the Lord and the life of the Christian?
Have someone turn to Mt10:28 (the what)
28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
another what
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
How about the why (have someone turn to Heb10:26-31 and someone else to Heb12:28-29)
26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Now the other passage
28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
The results (have some turn to Act9:31)
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
So to sum this up
Fear Got not man
Be fearful of aposty, and serve with godly fear
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling
As exampled by the early church who walked in fear of the Lord
When we have a good assessment, understanding with role of fear of the Lord for the Christian today, then we can appreciate the value of the fear of the Lord.
Appreciating the Fear of the Lord
Appreciating the Fear of the Lord
Q: What does it mean to appreciate something?
(V) to recognize the full worth of something or someone
So, if you understand, you recognize the fear of the Lord, lets see some Proverbial things we can learn.
You will hate evil (Pro8:13)
13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverted mouth, I hate.
It will give strong confidence (Pro14:26-27)
26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. 27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.
Since you hate evil, now you will promptly depart, or keep away from evil (Pro16:6)
6 By lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for, And by the fear of the Lord one keeps away from evil.
Be spared from evil, have a satisfying life (Pro19:23)
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.
And even find enjoyment (Pro22:4)
4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.
Sounds like some good benefits when you assess, understand and now appreciating the fear of the Lord.
I would be remiss if I did not talk about the other side of the coin, those who do not, or have no fear of the Lord.
Deprived of God’s treasure of wisdom and knowledge. Will be spiritually blinded and the gospel will sound like foolishness to them
They will flirt and be easily corrupted by evil. If it feels good do it.
Life could be shortened by life choices that are contrary to Gods word which is to protect you.
Miss out on the love of God that is available to all come to Him through Jesus Christ and will not have salvation.
Q: uncomfortable question here. Without salvation offered through Jesus Christ what is the end result?
Even if may know the consequences of sin will not be motivated to repent from sin.
Without believe, without repentance one is not willing to work out their salvation with fear and trembling for they have no fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord should be something that man seeks after, a godly trait we all need. It should be highly regarded. Then from there it can be advanced/developed.
Advancing/Developing the fear of the Lord
Advancing/Developing the fear of the Lord
Q: what does it mean to advance something? Or to develop something?
Q: How do you think you can advance/develop the fear of the Lord?
Can advance by the word that brings faith.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Well the same can be true for the fear of the Lord (have everyone turn to Deu31:10-13)
10 Then Moses commanded them, saying, “At the end of every seven years, at the time of the year of remission of debts, at the Feast of Booths, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place which He will choose, you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing. 12 “Assemble the people, the men and the women and children and the alien who is in your town, so that they may hear and learn and fear the Lord your God, and be careful to observe all the words of this law. 13 “Their children, who have not known, will hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as you live on the land which you are about to cross the Jordan to possess.”
So, every 7-years they were to gather to hear the word of the Lord; the purpose was to learn to fear the Lord.
A person who reads the word, should have a reverential fear of the Lord that they would want to advance, to develop
Have everyone turn to (Rom2:4-11)
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
If still have time we can look at the words of Peter together (have everyone turn to 2Pt3:7-14)
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
Are we through the word of God allowing God to advance, to develop a healthy fear of the Lord? You will need to ask yourself that question.
Maybe the answer to that last question is yes, well, we need to be devoted to maintaining a healthy fear of the Lord
Avoid extremes
Not just God’s love passages
May not have a healthy fear of the Lord then
It may lead to permissiveness of ungodly behavior because your focus is on grace and not thinking about God’s justice
Not only God’s judgment, wrath passages
People may miss out on God’s lovingkindness
This was often used in days gone by known as hellfire and brimstone messages that tried to scare the hell out of people. This can cause a psychosis of terror and will forget of God’s grace, and compassion.
Be careful how you use the Word of God but use it you must, In context, in it’s entirely.
One more scripture and we will close. To those who have a healthy, balanced fear of the Lord.
31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.