THE FEAR OF THE LORD HELPS US TURN AWAY FROM EVIL
Ptr. Joel Bernardino – October 13, 2025
Introduction:
Have you ever known someone who learned to stay away from doing wrong —
not because they were afraid of punishment,
but because they didn’t want to hurt the person who truly loved them?
For example, imagine a son who stopped rebelling —
not because he was afraid of his father’s discipline,
but because he didn’t want to disappoint a father who was kind, patient, and loving.
That’s what the fear of the Lord really is.
- It’s not a fear like in a horror movie — it’s a holy reverence.
- It’s a deep respect that comes from love, the kind of heart that says:
- “I don’t want to sin, because I don’t want to hurt the Lord who has loved and saved me.”
Proverbs 16:6b says, “Through the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.”
- In other words, when we fear the Lord, we learn to turn away from sin —
- not out of fear of judgment, but out of love for the One who redeemed us.
The fear of the Lord is not an ordinary kind of fear.
- It is reverence, honor, and deep respect for the holiness of God.
- It is the very heart of true obedience.
And according to the Bible, it is also the beginning of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”
Note: Living in the fear of the Lord is a life that honors, obeys, and loves the Lord above all else and is the first step toward developing our faith and walking in wisdom.
1. The Fear of the Lord Begins with Truly Knowing God
This is when we understand who God is—His holiness, power, and love—we learn to revere Him.
You cannot truly fear or respect a God you do not know!
- That’s why the fear of the Lord begins with knowing who God really is.
- When you get to know the Lord, your heart naturally learns to honor Him.
Note: The more you know God, the more you’ll develop respect for Him — and the less you’ll want to disobey Him.
When you recognize God’s holiness……
- You will see how bad sin really is.
- You cannot stay sinning at the same time you respect God.
- You will start desiring purity because you don’t want to offend God.
When you recognize God’s power…
- You will understand that nothing is hidden from Him.
- You will begin to walk carefully, knowing He sees every thought, word, and action.
When you recognize God’s love…
- Your motivation for obedience is not out of fear of punishment, but out of love.
- You will obey because of gratitude and love for Him.
Note: The fear of the Lord increases as you gain a deeper understanding of His holiness, power, and love.
That’s where true reverence begins — not in trembling before an angry Judge, but in humbling yourself before a holy and loving Father.
Job 28:28, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”
When you truly know who God is, you gain wisdom — the kind that helps you turn away from sin and walk in righteousness.
Illustration:
During my childhood, I remember going into a neighbor's backyard to gather guavas from their property. An elderly woman yelled, "What are you doing there?
I was not afraid of the old woman, but I knew she had power over that place, so I immediately stopped.
It’s the same with us.
- When we understand that God has all authority, we obey Him with great respect
- We recognize that He is Lord over heaven and earth.
- We come to obey Him out of love rather than fear; after all, He is our loving Father.
- Our obedience becomes our expression of honor to Him.
Note: Take the time to learn about God through His Word so that you may develop a deep respect for Him.
2. The Fear of the Lord Teaches Us to Hate Sin
Proverbs 8:13, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
When you truly fear the Lord, you cannot stay comfortable with sin.
- You can’t enjoy the very thing that breaks the heart of God.
- The fear of the Lord transforms your attitude toward sin.
- It changes how you see it, how you talk about it, and how you deal with it.
Before doing anything…
- Ask yourself, “Will this please the Lord?”
- Always ask that question to be your daily guide in decisions, in speech, and even in your thoughts.
When a person doesn’t fear God, sin looks small, tolerable, or even fun.
- Only when the fear of the Lord fills your heart, sin becomes offensive.
- You begin to see it not as something to play with, but as something that separates you from the One you love the most.
Guard your heart, your eyes, your words, and your actions!
- A person who fears God doesn’t just avoid sin outwardly — they guard their inner life.
- When we guard our hearts, we want to honor Him from the inside out.
That’s why Proverbs 8:13 says, “to fear the Lord is to hate evil.”
- You don’t just try to avoid sin — you learn to despise it.
- You hate pride because it challenges God’s authority.
- You hate arrogance because it forgets who God is.
- You hate corrupt behavior and perverse speech because they dishonor the name of the Lord.
Note: Your hatred of sin will grow as you become more aware of God's holiness.
As you experience His love more, you will become more and more hateful of anything that hurts His feelings.
Illustration:
I remember when I was still working at a research company.
Every day, I would see some employees finding ways to cheat the time-in system.
One day, a few of them approached me and said,
“Come on, just do the same. No one will notice. It’s just a small thing.”
I looked at them and said,
“Maybe no one else will see it… but the Lord does.”
That’s the fear of the Lord.
It’s not about being afraid of getting caught —
it’s about being aware that God is always watching,
and choosing to do what is right because you honor Him.
The fear of the Lord is not about being afraid of getting caught — it’s about being afraid to grieve God!
- It’s not fear of exposure, but fear of breaking the heart of the One who loves you most.
- When you fear the Lord, His presence becomes real to you — even when no one else is around.
- That awareness keeps you from falling into sin, because you know: God is watching, God is listening, and God is near.
Remember:
- Hatred of sin is not legalism — it’s love.
- It’s the natural response of someone who loves God deeply and respects His holiness.
3. The Fear of the Lord Protects and Guides Us
Proverbs 14:27, “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.”
The fear of the Lord doesn’t imprison us — it protects us.
- It’s not meant to restrict our lives, but to preserve them.
- It is like a spiritual compass that keeps us from danger and directs us toward life.
When you have the fear of the Lord in your heart, it’s as if God places a spiritual alarm system inside you.
- Whenever temptation draws near or danger approaches, that alarm goes off — it’s the Holy
- There is a divine conviction.
- The Holy Spirit is whispering,
“My child, don’t go there.”
“That path will hurt you.”
“Turn back before it’s too late.”
Note: Listen carefully to the Holy Spirit’s promptings.
When you sense that gentle conviction — don’t ignore it. That’s God’s way of guiding and guarding you.
The fear of the Lord intensifies your spiritual sensitivity so that you don’t easily fall into traps the enemy sets before you.
- The world says, “Follow your heart.”
- But the fear of the Lord teaches us, “Guard your heart.”
- Because the heart can be deceived — but God’s Word and Spirit will never lead you astray.
Note: Stay humble and dependent on God’s wisdom.
The moment we think we know better, we stop fearing the Lord — and that’s when trouble begins.
When you walk in the fear of the Lord, you become more aware of His presence, more sensitive to His voice, and more cautious with your decisions.
- You begin to ask before you act, “Lord, is this the right thing to do?”
- And that question alone has saved many people from heartbreak, failure, and sin.
Illustration:
One evening, a father was driving down a dark and empty road.
Suddenly, a warning light blinked on his dashboard — “Engine Overheat.”
He immediately stopped the car.
Because he paid attention to the warning, he avoided a serious breakdown.
That’s what the fear of the Lord does in our spiritual life.
It’s like a warning light in our heart.
When we’re about to go too far, compromise, or disobey God, the Spirit alerts us.
If we listen, that conviction can save us from destruction.
Ignoring it, however, can lead to spiritual damage.
Note: The fear of the Lord doesn’t limit or restrict you — it protects you.
It keeps you on the path of life.
The fear of the Lord is God’s loving safeguard, designed to keep your life whole, your faith strong, and your steps steady.
4. The Fear of the Lord Produces True Worship and Obedience
A person who genuinely fears the Lord lives for God every day of the week rather than just attending church on Sundays.
- Worship is not only about lifting our hands on Sunday; it’s about how we live from Monday to Saturday.
- Remember that worship is not limited to church.
- Every act of obedience — big or small — is an act of worship before God.
Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding.”
Note: Let the fear of the Lord be visible in your decisions.
Whether at work, at home, or in your relationships, ask yourself: “Will this honor God?”
The Bible connects fearing the Lord with obeying the Lord.
- In other words, real wisdom is revealed through obedience.
- It’s not how much you know about God that shows your wisdom — it’s how much you follow what He says.
Note: Obedience is the proof of genuine fear of the Lord.
The more you honor God with your life, the more genuine and powerful your worship becomes.
Many people think worship ends when the service ends.
- Those who fear the Lord teach us that worship continues when we leave the church building.\
- It continues in how we treat people, how we handle money, how we make decisions, and how we respond when no one is watching.
- When you have the fear of the Lord, obedience becomes natural — not forced, not out of guilt, but out of love and reverence.
- You don’t obey because you have to; you obey because you want to honor God.
Illustration:
A pastor advised a young man in his church who consistently found himself in trouble.
“You should always pray to God, son.”
The young man asked, “Why, Pastor?”
The pastor smiled and said,
“So you’ll always remember how good God is — and so you won’t do anything that would hurt Him.”
That’s what true worship looks like.
It’s more than songs, clapping, or raising hands.
It’s the kind of life that says, “Lord, I don’t want to hurt You. I want to honor You.”
That’s worship in its purest form — obedience that flows from love and reverence.
True worship is seen in everyday obedience —
when you choose to do what’s right even when no one is watching,
when you forgive even when it’s hard,
when you give even when it costs you something,
and when you stay faithful even when no one applauds.
CLOSE
Let’s be reminded of this:
“Through the fear of the Lord, evil is avoided.” (Proverbs 16:6b)
If we genuinely love and revere the Lord,
We will avoid the things He doesn't want to see in us.
The fear of the Lord is not a fear that keeps us away from God
The fear of the Lord draws us closer to Him.
Take note of this:
The fear of the Lord begins with truly knowing God.
The fear of the Lord teaches us to hate sin.
The fear of the Lord protects and guides us.
The fear of the Lord produces true worship and obedience.
Illustration
A pastor was asked by a young boy,
“Pastor, are you afraid of God?”
The pastor smiled and said:
“I am not afraid that He will punish me, but I am afraid of losing His presence in my life.”
Brothers and sisters, that is the true fear of the Lord —
the fear of losing the presence of God who is our life.
