When you think of God, what action verb comes to mind?
The phrase “Thank the Lord” or “Thank God” appears approximately 8 times in Scripture. The phrase “Love the Lord” or “Love God” appears approximately 18 times in Scripture. The phrase “Serve the Lord” or “Serve God” appears approximately 29 times in Scripture. The phrase “Seek the Lord” or “Seek God” appears approximately 33 times in Scripture. The phrase “Praise the Lord” or “Praise God” appears approximately 43 times in Scripture. However, the phrase “Fear the Lord” or “Fear God” appears approximately 47 times in Scripture and “Fear of the Lord” or “Fear of God” appears an additional 30 times.
According to the facts above, what action verb seems to be most important?
“Fear” is to revere or to be humbled by awesome power.
Why should we “fear” God? Deuteronomy 6; Variety of Proverbs
1. Because God commands it.
2. Because God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14; Joshua 24:19
3. It is for our good always.
4. It is the beginning of wisdom. Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10
5. It will bring us blessing from God. Psalm 115:13
6. Our church may grow. Acts 9:31
How should we “fear” God?
1. By learning God’s commands. Deuteronomy 17:19-20
2. By doing God’s commands.
What happens when we don’t “fear” God?
We make foolish decisions and our lives become a mess. i.e. wrong relationships, poor financial decisions, laziness, etc.
If we don't fear God, we can't serve Him or truly love Him.
Perhaps today we should RESOLVE to fear God.
Scriptures handed out:
Individuals and the “Fear of the Lord”:
What God said of Abraham with Isaac: (Genesis 22:12 ESV) He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
Jethro’s instructions to Moses: (Exodus 18:21 ESV) Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Moses’ instructions to Israel: (Deuteronomy 6:2, 24 ESV) that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long… And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.
(Deuteronomy 10:20 ESV) You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.
(Deuteronomy 17:19-20 ESV) And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
(Deuteronomy 31:12 ESV) Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."
Joshua’s instructions to Israel: (Joshua 24:14 ESV) "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
Samuel’s instructions to Israel: (1 Samuel 12:14, 24 ESV) If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well… Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
(Jonah 1:8-16 ESV) Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the LORD, "O LORD, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you." So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
Writings about “Fear of the Lord”:
(Psalms 34:9 ESV) Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack!
(Psa 111:10 ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
(Psalms 115:11 ESV) You, who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
(Psalms 115:13 ESV) He will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.
(Pro 1:7 ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Proverbs 3:7 ESV) Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
(Pro 1:29-31 ESV) Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
(Pro 2:1-5 ESV) My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
(Pro 8:13 ESV) The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
(Pro 9:10 ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
(Pro 10:27 ESV) The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.
(Pro 14:26 ESV) In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.
(Pro 14:27 ESV) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
(Pro 15:16 ESV) Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it.
(Pro 15:33 ESV) The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.
(Pro 16:6 ESV) By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
(Pro 19:23 ESV) The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
(Pro 22:4 ESV) The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life.
(Pro 23:17 ESV) Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV) The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
“Fear of the Lord” and the Church:
(Act 9:31 ESV) So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
(Acts 13:16 ESV) So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen.
(Acts 13:26 ESV) "Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.
(2Co 5:11 ESV) Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
(1 Peter 2:17 ESV) Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
(Revelation 14:7 ESV) And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."
Jesus and the “Fear of the Lord”:
(Isa 11:1-4 ESV) There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
What happens when we don’t “Fear God”?
Our lives are headed for disaster. We do not act on wisdom, but on foolish desires. We lust, envy, commit idolatry, etc. We get into wrong relationships, make poor financial choices, and become lazy and unhealthy.
