Fear Is The Key

The story is told of a man that was walking through a field one day when he came across an eagle egg lying on the path. He picked up the egg and placed it in the nest of a prairie chicken. As time passed the eggs in the nest all hatched, the chickens and the eaglet. The eaglet looked around at his brothers and sisters and noticed that he didn’t look like them, walk like them, talk like them, or fly like them, however he was there when they were all born so he just accepted the differences. One day, the eaglet and his brother were walking down the path and an eagle flew overhead. The eaglet asked, "What is that?" The chicken replied, "That’s an eagle. It is the most majestic bird in the sky. See how he soars high above the trees!" The little eaglet bowed his head and said, "I wish I could be an eagle when I grow up." The chicken replied, "Don’t even think about it, you are a chicken and you will always be a chicken."

We can listen to the world and fear man and live our lives out as a chicken, or we can put our trust in the Lord and soar like eagles.

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Fear of the Lord is the Key for a successful living. When someone fears the Lord, the Kingdom of heaven will be openned for him for the divine protection and provision in life.

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Martin Luther made this interesting observation in his Table Talk. God and the devil take opposite tactics in regard to fear. The Lord first allows us to become afraid, that he might relieve our fears and comfort us. The devil, on the other hand, first makes us feel secure in our pride and sins, that we might later be overwhelmed with fear and despair.

{Morgan, R. J. 2000. Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville}

We will discuss today the key that unlock God’s unlimited protection and provision to our lives. This key is taken from the single word - FEAR.

I. FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE KEY FOR HIS DIVINE PROTECTION (V.26)

A. PROTECTION for our EARTHLY Living (v.26a)

"In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence..."

B. PROTECTION for the our GODLY Living (v.26b)

"...and his children shall have a place of refuge."

II. FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE KEY FOR HIS DIVINE PROVISION (V.27)

A. PROVISION for our MATERIAL Needs (v.27a)

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life..."

B. PROVISION for our SPIRITUAL Needs (v.27b)

"...to depart from the snares of death."

CONCLUSION

Prov. 15:16-17 "Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

GOD BLESS!