God Is To Be Feared Series

INTRO.- His name is great. Not many people think of themselves of being great or their name as being great, but then there is 76 year old Silvio Berlusconi who was the 50th Prime Minister of Italy from 2008-2011. He actually served as Prime Minister three times. And he’s a very wealthy man. How wealthy? About 6 Billion dollars wealthy. He is quoted as saying:

At the launch of the 2006 campaign He said of himself:

- "I am the Jesus Christ of politics. I am a patient victim, I put up with everyone, I sacrifice myself for everyone."

- "The best political leader in Europe and in the world."

- "There is no-one on the world stage who can compete with me."

Berlusconi sounds like a great man. He speaks of himself as being great man, but is he really? No human is great who is great in his own eyes. He’d better remember Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

But there is someone who is great. 1 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.

God’s name is great in Israel. It was back then, when this was written and I think that God’s name is great in Israel today. And God’s name should be great or considered great in all the world and especially, here in America since He has blessed America with great abundance, peace and freedom.

God’s name is great because He is God, the one, true and living God, unlike man-made gods. When I speak of man-made gods and I am not particularly talking about idols made of stone or wood, etc. I’m talking about anything and everything that we make a god to ourselves. What? Money, material possessions, sports, hobbies, you name it and they have become gods to us.

ILL.- The world’s greatest worshipers of gods are said to be the Hindus. They have 330 million gods and goddesses, or 8 to every Hindu family. And India’s 450 million Hindus have roughly 75 million cows to worship. BUT THEY ARE NOT ALONE. We Americans are idol worshipers as well.

ILL.- Pastor/author James Emery White: WHAT IS YOUR GOD? "Whatever you love most, serve most, seek out most, give to the most, worship the most, and care about the most is your god. Your “god” can be your career, your bank account, the way you look, a particular position or degree, influence, power, or physical pleasure. It can even be something that is considered intrinsically good, yet you allow it to dominate your life more than God. Your “god” is whatever you allow to control you, to be the ultimate guide to decision making, the place of your supreme loyalty, and the source of your self-worth."

“Could it be that desire for a good thing has become a bad thing because that desire has become a ruling thing?” ― Paul Tripp (preacher, author)

1 In Judah God is known; his name is great in Israel.

There is only one true and living God who is great and He alone is to be feared. Our text tells us why we should fear Him.

PROP.- The Psalmist tells us why we must fear God.

1- We fear because God can be angered

2- We fear because God will judge everyone

I. WE FEAR BECAUSE GOD CAN BE ANGERED

7 You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? Who doesn’t get angry at times?

ILL.- A lady once came to preacher Billy Sunday and tried to rationalize her angry outbursts. "There's nothing wrong with losing my temper," she said. "I blow up, and then it's all over." "So does a shotgun," Sunday replied, "and look at the damage it leaves behind!"

Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Every human person gets angry. But we need to be quick to get over it even if it’s justified. In your anger do not sin. We do often sin when we get angry. We may say things that later we may regret or we may do things that we would not normally do. Anger controls like alcohol controls the drunk.

ILL.- One person said: When I was working in the credit department of a jewelry store, an irate customer said: “You have made me so think, I can’t mad straight.”

Often in anger people will use words they never normally use. Some people can speak well and mannerly, but if you make them mad enough they can cuss like a sailor. Anger controls. Anger gives the devil a foothold in our lives.

ILL.- Sam Rayburn from TX who became Speaker of the House in 1940, was considered a “whacker.” The way he used his gavel when presiding revealed his state of mind. A heavy thump meant anger; repeated hollow tappings indicated weary impatience.