fear

Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 21 views
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

fear

D. The call to repentance (2:1–3). The shameful nation of Judah is called to prepare themselves like chaff for the judgment of God which will consume them like fire or blow them away like the wind.
Judah must do something before the terrible day of the Lord comes. The day of the Lord is not one of peace and prosperity but an expression of his wrath. The repetition of the warning gives ground to the exhortation to seek Yahweh. The godless have been accused of not seeking Yahweh (1:6) and the judgment will not pass them by. For the godly, however, the day of Yahweh is a day that should not be feared. God holds out an encouragement not for the people as a whole, but for the godly remnant, the “humble of the land” (lit. the poor of the earth). The humble are not poor with regard to material possessions, but are those who depend on God and walk in reliance on him. The pious remnant must continue to seek righteousness and humility. Election is not guaranteed by birth or by the sign of the covenant (circumcision). It is made evident by the fruits which belong to the life of faith.
FEAR OF THE LORD A religious expression conveying either devotional piety or the dread of punishment. The term “Lord” in this context refers to Yahweh.
Biblical Relevance
The act of fearing Yahweh is discussed throughout the Old Testament. The concept “fear of the Lord” occurs most prominently in the Old Testament’s Wisdom Literature, where it is described as both the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10) and the responsibility of all humanity (Eccl 12:13).
The “fear of the Lord” motif occurs in three distinct ways in the Old Testament:
1. As an expression of corporate Israelite religion—the religious system of worshiping Yahweh. Occurrences of the phrase “fear of the Lord” in the general sense of religious piety mostly appear in Wisdom texts. In this sense, “fear of the Lord” is an essential component of Israel’s theology (Perdue, Wisdom and Creation, 78–79). It essentially means faith in Yahweh.
2. As a description of personal piety—the act of worshiping and obeying Yahweh. In Deuteronomy 5:29, God declares to Moses His desire that the people would fear Him enough that they would obey His commandments. “Fear” can be expressed as (positive) obedience caused by reverence for Yahweh and/or (negative) obedience caused by the threat of divine punishment (Weinfeld, Deuteronomy 1–11, 325).
3. As an identification of a religious person, i.e., a worshiper of Yahweh. Joseph identifies himself as a God-fearer when he is reunited with his brothers (Gen 42:18). Jonah similarly identifies himself as a God-fearer when he is questioned by the sailors (Jonah 1:9; compare Pss 25:14; 33:18; 34:9).
Key Occurrences
Key occurrences of the phrase “fear of the Lord” in the Old Testament include:
• In Genesis 22, when Abraham sets out to obey God’s command to sacrifice Isaac and is stopped by the Angel of Yahweh, the angel says, “For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son” (Gen 22:12 NRSV). Here the fear of God is demonstrated through Abraham’s perfect moral obedience to Yahweh (Westermann, “Genesis 12–26,” 361–62).
• Deuteronomy 10:12–13 begins with the statement, “So now, O Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you?” The answer is five commands: to fear Yahweh, to walk in His ways, to love Yahweh, to serve Yahweh, and to keep His commandments. All of these are expressions of reverence to God. Fearing the Lord occurs first and summarizes the act of carrying out the other four expressions of obedience (Christensen, Deuteronomy 1:1–21:9, 201–06).
• Job is introduced as “perfect, just, one who feared God, and avoided evil” (Job 1:1). Later, when God discusses Job with “the Satan,” He refers to these same characteristics (Job 1:8). However, it is Job’s fear of God that Satan questions and attacks (Job 1:9). Satan argues that if God takes away Job’s wealth, Job will deny God. After this fails, God again acknowledges Job as a God-fearer (Job 2:3).
The New Testament also contains several references to the “fear of the Lord.” For instance, records that after Saul’s conversion, the entire church in Judaea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace, and “walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied” (ESV). The New Testament writings also mention a group of people known as the God-fearers, one of whom was Cornelius the centurion (). In the time of the New Testament, the term “God-fearers” referred to Gentiles who worshiped Yahweh and adhered to Jewish laws (Bruce, The Book of the Acts, 203).
I. Fears that should be overcome
A. Note: we pass over neurological fears.
1. Not that this is totally irrelevant for such a discussion.
a. We all have certain neurotic fears that stem from past experiences.
b. God can and has helped many people in this area:
(1) Through counselling.
(2) Through self-understanding.
(3) Through the Holy Spirit.
2. I do not feel this book is the place to tackle this subject.
a. Admittedly, some fears overlap with those that were born or nurtured from past traumas.
b. But as we truly come to terms with what follows it may be surprising how far we can come in overcoming many such fears.
B. The chief fear: the fear of man (Ps. 27:1).
1. Self-consciousness (John 5:44).
a. This comes from the fear of ‘what they will think’.
b. Peter and Barnabas gave in to this fear (Gal. 2:12–13).
c. This is what keeps many from witnessing to people.
(1) To the general public.
(2) To their friends.
d. This is what keeps many from taking a stand for what they know is right.
(1) If many join them, they are all right about this.
(2) But if they must stand alone—never.
e. This keeps many from worshipping in freedom.
(1) They are at home as long as they are in a company of those who enjoy liberty in worship.
(2) But they ‘freeze’ elsewhere.
2. Being ashamed (Mark 8:38).
a. This comes from fear of the ‘offence’.
b. This is what governed Peter when he denied knowing Jesus (Matt. 26:69–75).
(1) As long as Jesus was performing miracles and walking on water, Peter was all right.
(2) But when Jesus was arrested and things did not go ‘according to plan’, Peter caved in.
c. This fear obviously overlaps with the fear of self-consciousness.
3. Persecution (Matt. 13:21).
a. Persecution may be of two kinds:
(1) Verbal—what people say to us or about us.
(2) Non-verbal—what people do to us or behind our backs.
b. Persecution is the inevitable lot of the godly (2 Tim. 3:12).
(1) It may come from non-Christians, who make us suffer—whether at work or within the family.
(2) It may come from fellow Christians (very common).
C. Unbelief (Mark 6:6).
1. Fear that God will not keep his word (Ps. 12:6).
a. Financial problems (Phil. 4:19).
b. Leave us unvindicated (Rom. 12:19).
c. Blessing on evangelistic efforts (Acts 18:10).
d. Prophetic utterances (1 Thess. 5:20).
e. Using our gift (1 Cor. 12:11).
f. Fear of growing old.
2. Fear of the future (Matt. 6:34).
a. That we will be deserted (Heb. 13:5).
b. That we will miss God’s will (Phil. 1:6).
c. That our past sins will be found out (Ps. 103:10).
d. That we will fall into sin (1 Cor. 10:12).
e. That we will lose our good health (3 John 2).
II. Overcoming fear
A. Fearlessness: being at ease; like being ‘at home’.
1. Paul prayed for fearlessness in preaching. ‘Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should’ (Eph. 6:19–20).
a. This was not merely praying for courage.
(1) Courage and real fearlessness are not the same thing.
(2) Courage is needed when we are afraid—but we still press on.
b. Fearlessness is when there is no fear.
(1) Peter had this on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2).
(2) Stephen had this before the Sanhedrin (Acts 6–7).
2. Fearlessness is a special anointing whereby the presence of God enters our being.
a. In this case we are as relaxed before a thousand hostile people as if we were relaxed at home.
b. It is that which Paul wanted chiefly.
3. This is an anointing that is given for special times.
a. Obviously Paul didn’t have it at all times.
b. But when he had it he was calmly confident (Acts 27:24–25).
c. It is a sovereign anointing.
(1) It may be ‘emergency grace’.
(2) Sometimes it comes without any advanced notice.
d. If God gave it to us at all times we would not need this lesson!
B. Apart from the special anointing of God’s presence, is there that which we can do to reach a state of fearlessness? Yes.
1. Perfect love. ‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment’ (1 John 4:18).
a. This is an attainable state, otherwise John would not mock us by putting before us an unachievable goal.
b. However, how long we hold on to this lofty height is determined by our love.
(1) Many have experienced it for moments, then they lose it.
(2) Why? They discontinue walking in love.
2. How do we know we are not walking in perfect love? Answer: when we punish.
a. ‘Fear has to do with punishment’. When we punish it is because we are afraid:
(1) That God won’t take over soon enough.
(2) That someone who has hurt us isn’t going to get what is coming to him.
b. How do we punish?
(1) By threatening, ‘emotional blackmail’; making someone feel guilty.
(2) By judging—calling attention to another’s wrongs; by keeping a record of wrongs (1 Cor. 13:5).
(3) By telling another what we know about the one who hurt us.
(4) By discrediting another person.
(5) By vindicating ourselves instead of letting God do it.
c. When we utterly refuse to punish we are approaching the fearlessness John promises.
(1) Peter exhorted the same thing. ‘Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?’ (1 Pet. 3:13).
(2) What, then, is doing good? ‘Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” ’ (1 Pet. 3:8–12).
3. Our model is Jesus. ‘To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps’ (1 Pet. 2:21).
a. Jesus was the perfect fearless man.
b. We begin to experience his fearlessness when we behave as he did. ‘When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly’ (1 Pet. 2:23).
c. A state of fearlessness becomes a conscious feeling of sheer joy.
(1) There is inner peace and calm.
(2) The fear of man subsides.
(3) God’s ungrieved Spirit begins to govern (Eph. 4:30).
(4) The special anointing (as above) comes on us.
4. There is an intimate connection between praying in faith and totally forgiving those who have hurt us.
a. Jesus said, ‘I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, “Go, throw yourself into the sea,” and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him’ (Mark 11:23).
b. We are to believe that we have received what we ask for (Mark 11:24).
c. But most people forget an attached condition: ‘And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins’ (Mark 11:25).
(1) Faith is the opposite of fear just as love is.
(2) In both cases it comes to the same thing: total forgiveness—refusing to punish the one who has hurt us.
5. It is surprising (perhaps it shoudn’t be) how our fears—virtually all of them—dissolve into nothing when we have hearts utterly devoid of bitterness.
C. None of us is perfect; and perfect, permanent fearlessness is what we will have when we are glorified (1 John 3:3).
1. But what is sadly underestimated is how much we can overcome fear—daily—by applying these principles.
2. God does not want us to be afraid.
a. ‘Fear not’ or its equivalent is found 366 times in the Bible.
b. (One for every day of the year and one for a leap year, according to Josif Tson.)
3. The above principles are beyond doubt the best ‘preventive medicine’ against psychopathology.
4. These principles of total forgiveness are the best remedy against the fears listed above; perfect love casts out fear:
a. That God will not keep his word.
b. Of the future.
5. Most people I know have a problem with bitterness—which always grieves the Spirit and therefore militates against simple trust in God (Eph. 4:30ff).
a. The way forward is perfect love.
b. The way forward is refusing to punish.
c. How do we know if we have totally forgiven either our enemies or those who have hurt us? (See Genesis 45.)
(1) Refuse to tell what you know about them.
(2) Don’t let them be afraid of you.
(3) Don’t let them be angry with themselves.
(4) Let them save face.
(5) Protect them from their greatest fear.
(6) Keep on forgiving after we’ve done it once; make it a total lifestyle (Gen. 50:21).
Conclusion
The more unbelief, the more fear; the more faith, the less fear. Perfect love drives out fear. When the fear of man is gone, many of the other fears go away as well. The more we fear God, the less we fear humans (). The fear of God is evident by our walking in the light (). This engenders an ever-increasing faith in his Word and his promises, and leads to the experience of his presence.
THE GODLY HUMILITY
James 4:8–10 (contd)
James concludes with the demand for a godly humility. All through the Bible, there runs the conviction that it is only the humble who can know the blessings of God. God will save the humble person (Job 22:29). A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but whoever is humble in spirit will obtain honour (Proverbs 29:23). God dwells on high, but he is also with whoever is of a humble and a contrite spirit (Isaiah 57:15). Those who fear the Lord will humble their souls in his sight, and the greater people are, the more they ought to humble themselves if they are to find favour in the sight of God (Sirach 2:17, 3:18). Jesus himself repeatedly declared that it was only those who humbled themselves who would be exalted (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11).
Only when people realize their own ignorance will they ask God’s guidance. Only when they realize their own poverty in the things that matter will they pray for the riches of God’s grace. Only when people realize their weakness in necessary things will they come to draw upon God’s strength. Only when they realize their own sin will they realize their need of a Saviour and of God’s forgiveness.
In life, there is one sin which can be said to be the basis of all others, and that is forgetting that we are creatures and that God is creator. When we realize our essential creatureliness, we realize our essential helplessness and go to the only source from which our helplessness can find assistance.
Such a dependence brings forth the only real independence, for then we face life not in our own strength but in God’s, and we are given victory. As long as we regard ourselves as independent of God, we are on the way to ultimate collapse and to defeat.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more