The Benefits of Fearing the Lord
June 18/19, 2005
Don Jaques
MAIN IDEA: Fearing the Lord is not just good for us after we die – it is for our good in the here and now.
AIM: Those who hear this message will be motivated to live in the fear of the Lord because of the many promises God makes to those who will do so.
INTRO:
“What’s in it for me?” Ever asked that question? When the telemarketer calls that question is one of the first that comes to my mind. I’m not going to buy it (whatever it is) if I don’t think the payoff is worth the price – or even better that I’m getting the better part of the deal.
Up to this point in this series on Understanding the Fear of the Lord, we’ve been looking at what God requires of us. It’s been some strong medicine. And though we’ve looked at verses like Deut 5:29 (Deut. 5:29 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!) in which we learn that fearing the Lord is for our good – we haven’t really talked in specific terms about what that good is. That’s what we’re going to do today. When it comes to fearing the Lord (even though we should do it “just because He says to”) there are some major benefits that come into our lives. If you ask, “What’s in it for me?” the answer is “more than you’ll ever have to give up to get it!”
Let’s get to it!
1. WISDOM
Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
There is a simple rule to life that goes like this. Fools never prosper. People who are fools make bad decisions constantly. Bad relationship decisions. Bad financial decisions. Bad career decisions. Bad spiritual decisions. And they always find themselves in trouble.
On the other hand you’ve got wise people. Wise people are people who make wise decisions. Wise relationship decisions. Wise financial decisions. Wise career decisions. Wise spiritual decisions. Wise people find themselves, more often than not, avoiding trouble that plagues so many others.
What kind of person do you want to be? Funny thing is noone WANTS to be a fool. But so many people are – because they don’t start at the right place.
You can have lots of knowledge – go to college, ace tests, you can be an expert in some sort of skill – and yet still lack wisdom – for if you want true wisdom it starts right here – with the fear of the Lord.
Why is this? Because when you begin with a relationship with your creator that is one of awe and respect, you begin to have a life that aligns with God’s purposes in the world. As you live under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit you will begin to think more like God, you’ll begin to react to situations and people more and more like God – and when you do this, you’re guaranteed to be making wise decisions.
2. INTIMACY WITH GOD
As I’ve been saying since the beginning of this series The fear of the Lord is the key to an intimate relationship with Him. But let me show you exactly where this comes from and what it means.
Psa. 25:12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
Psa. 25:14 The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
God tells His secrets to those who fear him.
He confides in those who esteem him properly. And he gives them instruction in the way chosen for them.
It can be hard to know God’s will or why he is doing certain things in our lives. But if we fear Him we are promised He will not leave us out in the cold forever. He will give instruction. He will confide.
When I’m going through a difficult time – stress, difficult situations – I want to talk to someone with whom I know the information will be safe. I CONFIDE in someone close to me.
When we fear the Lord – he knows he can trust us with information about what he is doing. He will give insights.
ILLUS: Just this week meeting with Terry felt impressed with guidance about a new teaching series. Then last night had more input from God.
Guess what? I prayed and fasted on Monday. God is good all the time.
Psa. 147:10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of a man;
Psa. 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
The Lord delights in those who fear him.
What does it mean to delight in something.
ILLUS: Tues night – grumpy Dad getting ready had to leave fast.
Came home after the graduation ceremony and went in to Bethany’s room. Something about it – we had a simple little conversation – but everything had been made new. I just sat there stroking her face with my hand and we looked into each other’s eyes and smiled. That was delight!
She could have just about asked for anything at that moment and gotten it!
God says he feels that way about those who fear Him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Psa. 103:8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
Psa. 103:9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
Psa. 103:10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Psa. 103:11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
Psa. 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa. 103:13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
The Lord has compassion and great love for those who fear Him.
Though the Lord is Holy and Mighty – he is also compassionate and gracious. When he finds people who fear Him he removes his hand of judgment from them and instead deals with them with compassion.
ILLUS: Background – Jeremiah the prophet is given a word of Judgement to come upon Jerusalem. He is immediately seized by the religious leaders and they begin clamoring for his death because he is speaking against their home. But not everyone wanted him dead. We pick up the story in Jer. 26:17:
Jer. 26:17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people,
Jer. 26:18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the LORD Almighty says: “‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’
Jer. 26:19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek his favor? And did not the LORD relent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them?
Did you hear that? God had sentenced Hezekiah to disaster because of the sin in the nation under his rule. But when Hezekiah turned and “feared the Lord” and “Sought His favor” – the Lord God relented and did not bring the judgment upon them.
When we fear the Lord it brings out the Father’s compassion and puts to rest his anger and judgment – allowing there to be a closeness in our relationship.
ILLUS: Teaching the middle school choir. The kids don’t always behave very well. But there are some students who have an attitude of respect (and then still disobey) and there are others who have this chip on their shoulder and show disrespect in their attitude. Which students do you think bring out compassion in me? I’m much more likely to be firm with the students who are disrespectful – and I have a shorter fuse with them.
But with the students who are respectful my compassion for them as middle school students in a difficult transition of their life comes out.
When we fear the Lord it brings out in God these same feelings.
CONCLUSION:
“So what’s in it for you?”
• Wisdom.
o The ability to begin thinking and acting in ways that won’t bring you embarrassment or shame in the future.
• An intimate relationship with God
o God reveals his secrets to you.
o He will delight in you.
o
His relationship with you will be marked with love and compassion, rather than judgment and discipline.
What do you think? Is it worth the price? The price of giving God the honor and reverence He is due – and of living a life in which evil is hated.
PS – this is not all that is promised! Next week we’ll look at his promises of protection and provision for those who fear him.
