Chico Alliance Church
FEAR OF THE LORD
REVIEW
Nehemiah has rallied the once discouraged and despondent people of Jerusalem to join together in a difficult project against tremendous opposition. Because of Nehemiah's prayerful leadership, the once crumbled walls of Jerusalem were restored and its gates in place in just 52 days. Now Nehemiah prepares for phase two of his plans for the people of God in Jerusalem. Phase one focused on the rebuilding of the walls. Phase two turns to restoration of the worship. Before Nehemiah attempts to build an atmosphere for revival there are certain other items to be completed.
First--Nehemiah enlists workers
Gatekeepers, Singers, Levites, Governors
Not just any leaders, for the success of any movement depends on the character of those who will be in charge. Perhaps Nehemiah realizes that he will need some day to return to his job as cup bear to the king of Persia. Thus Nehemiah appoints leaders with particular qualities.
FIRST
One who is a "faithful man".
A FAITHFUL MAN
fervently and consistently carries out assigned responsibilities
no matter how small or how large
using his God-given resources to their full capacity.
...Without the need for continual controls or compliments
...In spite of the temptation for immediate temporal pleasure and fulfillment
...In spite of the trial of imminent temporal pain and failure.
SECOND
A good leader must "fear God more than many." He must have a proper perception of God that affects his every action.
I. DESCRIPTION
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Pro 9:10
THE FEAR OF THE LORD
The fear of the Lord is the soul's internal response to the balanced perception of the person, power and presence of God that prompts obedience and accountability to Him.
We fear who we perceive to have greater strength and authority or is outside of our control or understanding or has the ability to hurt us. We experience fear when a police car appears in our rear fear mirror. He may be a small, younger person. Yet it is the authority behind him we fear. We experience fear when we encounter a phenomenon of nature that is more powerful and outside our control. We experience fear when we face a person we perceive to be stronger or able to hurt us.
Some of the early Christian's were afraid,On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Joh 20:19
Yet later we find an entirely different attitude.
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. Act 4:31
What made the difference. They had gained a new perception of God. they had experience the all-powerful presence of the Holy Spirit working through them. The circumstances had not changed. The Jew were just as much a threat in not more so. Their perception had changed through the filling of the Holy Spirit. Near every reference containing a command not to be afraid, does so on the basis of a renewed perception concerning the situation.
** Abraham--Do not be afraid, I am with you; I will bless you and increase you.
Do not be afraid Abraham. I am your shield, your very great reward.
** Joshua -- Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into you hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.
** Elisha's servant -- Do not be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them. then the Lord opened the servants eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
** Israel --
Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Num 14:9
** The disciples when assigned to preach the Gospel
"So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Mat 10:26-31
Encouragement based on past perception
At that time I commanded Joshua: "You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings. The Lord will do the same to all the kingdoms over there where you are going. Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you." Deu 3:22
Disciples failed to perceive the power of God in a previous lesson on the hill that caused them two flunk the pop quiz on the sea.
because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not gained any insight from the loaves; their hearts were hardened. Mar 6:51-52
One of the greatest benefits of a proper fear of the Lord, or proper understanding of His person, power and presence is a freedom from fear of anything of lesser strength. The more we fear Him, the less we fear other things. If we fear man, circumstances, animals, elements, future, pain, death, then we have not come to a full understanding of the power of God.
As we come to know Him in all of His glory, we begin to change in our response to Him and our boldness in the world.
HIS PERSON
There is an internal response as we encounter and gain greater understanding of His person. His Holiness drives us to the cross in repentance for continual cleansing from our sinfulness. His justice drives us to examine our motives and let Him search our hearts to see if there be any wicked way in us. His discipline exhorts us lest we be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin and to heed the rod and the one who appointed it. Yet His love draws us to know Him more deeply and trust in that love to do what is His and my ultimate best even if I don't understand or like it now. His love draws me to please Him for all He has done for me.
HIS POWER
There is an internal response as we encounter His power. As I perceive and experience more of His majesty and power in the universe and in the minutiae of our world, I well up with awe and fear at the one who holds all things together by His simple word.
HIS PRESENCE
There is an internal response as I become aware of His eternal presence. As I realize that He is continually by my side. There is no where to hide from His presence. That perception produces one particular response and brings blessing as I walk with Him but I experience a who different response when I walk away from His truth. The fear of the Lord is the soul's response to a proper perception of God in all of His majesty.
BENEFITS
The more accurate and complete the perception, the greater the response and the greater the personal benefits that shower those who fear the Lord.
Prov 16:6 says by the feat of the Lord men depart from evil.
Prov 1:7; 9:10 declares the Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.
Prov 10:27; 14:27 relates that the fear of the Lord prolongs one's days and is the fountain of life.
Prov 22:4.Psalm 147:11 states that the Lord takes pleasure in them that have fear Him hope in His mercy.
Psalm 25:14 affirms that the secrets of the Lord are with them that fear Him.
Prov 19:23 advocates that the fear of the Lord tends to life and he that has it shall abide satisfied.
Psalm 34:9 adds that there is no want to them that fear the Lord.
Proverbs 14:26 discloses that in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and one's children shall have a place of refuge.
Proverbs 3:7-8 connects health to your body and nourishment to your bones to humility and the fear of the Lord.
Why does the fear of the Lord bring blessing? It is because it is learning to know God, it is getting close to Him, it is drawing near to Him with a proper perspective and His has promised to draw near to us. As I understand Him and His ways I discover a quality of life that can be reached in not other way than through a vital knowledge of Christ.
II. DEMONSTRATION
Peter responded to the Demonstration of Christ's power. Jesus balanced with an exhortation to not be afraid for from then on they would be fishers of men.
POWER OVER DISEASE
Filled with fear at the healing of a man paralyzed.
POWER OVER DEATH
At the Healing of dead boy they were willed with fear and praised God.
POWER OVER DEMONS
Gerasenes asked Hesus to leave them because they were overcome with fear. (No personal relationship)
Without a personal relationship with Christ there is reason to be OVERCOME with fear.
POWER OVER NATURE
Jailer, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household (if they believe).
Each of these examples experienced a renewed or enlightened perception of God that surpassed their previously dulled perception and caused them to respond. We must allow God to reveal Himself to us in a real way, in His way. We must provide the soul with the necessary perceptions of God that will draw it to respond in awe, astonishment, respect, fear, honor, of God that transcends any response to any person or event.
Realize the absoluteness of His holiness
Realize the majesty of His power and greatness
Realize the depth of His goodness
Realize the closeness of His presence
Only as we come to this balance realization of God, will we lean to fear Him and enjoy the benefits of a fitting fear of the Lord. Just can we develop a greater "fear of the Lord?" How do we learn to fear the Lord?
III. DEVELOPMENT OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD
A. We develop our fear of the Lord through HIS WORD
"Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to fear Me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children." Deu 4:10
Deu 6:1-2 Deu 17:19-20 Deu 31:10-13
A proper fear of the Lord CANNOT be develop apart from the Word of God. His Word gives life. His Word instructs us and informs us. It is the only source for a proper balance view of not only God, but ourselves, Satan and the world in which we must live.
B. We develop our fear of the Lord through MEDITATION
How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame ? How long will you love delusions and seek false gods (gods of our own perception)? Selah Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself; the Lord will hear when I call to him. Tremble, and do not sin; when you are on your beds, meditate in your hearts and be silent. Selah. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord. Psa 4:5
We cannot expect a renewed mind if we allow more time for the world's view than that of God's. Memorization and meditation will begin to cleanse out the old tapes and restructure our perceptions so that we will begin to experience a proper fear of the Lord.
C. We develop our fear of the Lord through DISCIPLINE
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the Lord fell on the people, and they turned out as one man. 1Sa 11:6-7
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Listen! The Lord is calling to the city - and to fear your name is wisdom - "Heed the rod and the One who appointed it. Mic 6:8-9
D. We develop our fear of the Lord through CONSISTENT GIVING
Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always. Deu 14:22-23
But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. "Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Gen 22:12
We need to continually remind ourselves that God is God. This can be done by giving what He asks of us. Not only do we do so because He is compelling, but we do it because He is compassionate.
E. We develop our fear of the Lord through PRAISE & WORSHIP
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. Psa 40:3-4
For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God." Jos 4:23-24
In praise and worship we rehearse God's power and person, His presence. As we proclaim the wonder of His Person, presence, and power, our perception is once again drawn more toward the truth. Worship is the response of the heart to the revelation of God.
If we desire God's benefits, we must maintain a proper relationship with Him. We must learn to fear the Lord--
To see Him in His majesty and glory
To sense and acknowledge His continual presence
To know Him as a person in all of His perfections.
We must resist the tendency of the Israelites to fear God yet continue to hang on to those things which are not God.
Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies." They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did. 2Ki 17:39-41
The Lord declares, "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear Me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" Determine to be like Hanaiah and be counted among those who fear God more than many.
Search out His Word.
Meditate on His Person.
Recognize and respond to His discipline.
Establish a regular habit of giving and sacrifice.
Participate in worship and praise with other believers.
2. By Enrolling the people
God knows the importance of unity and family. He puts it in the heart of Nehemiah to remind them of their heritage and the promises and their part in the Covenant by enrolling them as families. This was the final step to prepare for gathering the people for spiritual renewal at the Watergate revivals and Phase Two of "OPERATION RESTORATION".
COMMUNION
This celebration and remembrance of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us that we might be declared righteous before God's court ought to be cause for rejoicing. By participating we are declaring our identification with the one who gave Himself and that we have freely chose to no longer live for ourselves but for the one who gave Himself that we might really live. Instructions regarding it are provided to the church in I Corinthians 11.
There we find six aspects to the celebration.
1--Fellowship
2--Anticipation of His return
3--Testimony, proclamation
4--Health and healing
5--Examination
6--Remembrance
As we come this morning may we reflect on an exhortation given to the Israelites:
"Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. Jos 24:14
The fear of the Lord and faithful service go hand in hand.
Let us strive to deepen our fellowship
Let us anticipate His coming with excitement rather than shame.
Let us declare our allegiance by our obedience
Let us expect His touch in our life
Let us examine our lives for faithfulness, and fear of the Lord.
Expect His discipline for unworthy participation
Let us remember the awesomeness of His sacrifice on our behalf.
People like Nehemiah, Joshua, Abraham, Peter, Mary, Elizabeth, Deborah, Noah, Sarah determined to walk by faith in fear of the Lord, serving Hm with all faithfulness. Each testifies that what God promised, He is able also to perform.
Let us also run with patience the race set before us, laying aside every encumbrance anc sin that so easily trips us up -- most of all, looking to Jesus the greatest witness of them all, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, so that we will not grow weary or lose heart, but run so as to leave a testimony of a life of faithfulness in the fear of the Lord. Heb 12
