Fear Of God (Topical Study)

I. EXORDIUM:

Illustration: Nov. 1 Fear Day, we don't celebrate it.

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE: General Poor

III. OBJECTIVES: To build/plant Fear of God (respect for God) in hearts of the people

IV. TEXT: Deuteronomy 6:13 Respect the LORD your God and serve only him. You must use only his name to make promises. (ERV)

V. THESIS:

Fear of God means to respect Him.

VI. TITLE: FEAR OF GOD (topical study)

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Background:

1. Writer - Moses

2. Deuteronomy - Greek word meaning - Second Law, last book of the Pentateuch (5 books of the law)

3. Time: Around 622 B.C.

4. Purpose: To remind God's people about God's laws.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Factors of Fear of God:

1. It's a command. (Deuteronomy 6:13)

Deuteronomy 6:13 Respect the LORD your God and serve only him. You must use only his name to make promises.

2. It's God's requirement. (Deuteronomy 10:12)

Deuteronomy 10:12 "Now, Israelites, listen! What does the LORD your God really want from you? The LORD your God wants you to respect him and do what he says. He wants you to love him and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

3. Shows our faithfulness to God (Joshua 24:14)

Joshua 24:14 Then Joshua said to the people, "Now you have heard the Lord's words. So you must respect the LORD and sincerely serve him. Throw away the false gods that your ancestors worshiped. That was something that happened a long time ago on the other side of the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Now you must serve only the LORD.

4. Whole Duty of man to God (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Now, what should we learn from everything that is written in this book? The most important thing a person can do is to respect God and obey his commands, because he knows about everything people do--even the secret things. He knows about all the good and all the bad, and he will judge people for everything they do.

5. Regarding God as Holy (Isaiah 8:13)

Isaiah 8:13 The LORD All-Powerful is the one you should fear. He is the one you should respect. He is the one who should frighten you.

6. It's Reverential Fear (1 Peter 1:17)

1 Peter 1:17 You pray to God and call him Father, but he will judge everyone the same way--by what they do. So while you are visiting here on earth, you should live with respect for God. (ERV)

1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to the work of each one, pass the time of your earthly residence in fear, (MKJV)

7. Proper respect for God (1 Peter 2:17)

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

IX. CONCLUSION:

Without Fear of God, there's no genuine respect for Him that will stop us from sinning.

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Challenge them to fear God with all their heart, soul and mind.