The Benefits of Fearing the Lord (Part 2)
July 2/3, 2005
Don Jaques
MAIN IDEA: Those who fear the Lord are blessed with God’s protection.
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:
Two weeks ago…blessings of WISDOM and an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
This week: GOD’S PROTECTION.
PROTECTION:
LENGTHENED LIFE
Prov. 10:27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
Prov. 14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.
Remember – Proverbs describe life the way it tends to be – they are not prescriptive for every situation. Solomon observed the way life goes and with God’s help penned these wise sayings. One can always cite exceptions to these principles – but the wisdom can be trusted nevertheless.
For example – Christian musicians Keith Green and Rich Mullins both died young – in the prime of their lives – while living lives totally sold out to God.
Nevertheless, God’s wisdom shows that people who live in the fear of the Lord can be expected to live a lengthened life.
It is interesting that not only is this found in scripture, but modern science is proving this to be true as well.
Technicianonline.com – Nov 2004 –
Religious people live longer and healthier lives than their non-religious counterparts, according to several studies released by Duke University Medical Center recently….
Koenig’s research has found that religious people spend less time in the hospital, are healthier, recover faster and avoid depression or recover from it quickly.
Research also shows that people of faith are less likely to use addictive substances.
One of the largest studies to date on the subject by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley produced similar results in a 28-year study of 5,000 people aged 21 to 65 years old.
The study found that people who attended religious services at least once a week had a 23 percent lower risk of dying over the study period than people who attended less frequently.
So… people who fear the Lord will deal with stress better than others – our priorities are lined up. We know what is really important – we have an eternal perspective on the troubles we endure, and we can laugh at the days to come because we know the end of the story (and we win!)
People who fear the Lord understand that their body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and will be spared the health consequences of substance abuse, which cuts life spans short.
The fear of the Lord leads to the blessing of a longer life.
AVOID EVIL
A second way the fear of the Lord brings protection to our lives is by keeping us from evil and the consequences of it in our lives.
Prov. 16:6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil.
ILLUS: Learning to drive my instructor told me to put a yellow “turtle” under the car without the wheels hitting it. Being inexperienced I ended up hitting the turtle with the passenger side wheels. Clunk!
With more experience in driving I can now navigate around those things and avoid the CLUNKS!
In my walk with the Lord, I’ve learned there are ways to avoid spiritual CLUNKS. When I fear the Lord my awareness of sinful areas in my life begins to heighten. And when this awareness grows – I am more prone to avoid those situations where I may be tempted. And when I avoid evil in this way – I am spared all the complicated consequences of evil in my life – most importantly the distance it places between me and my loving Creator.
REFUGE FOR CHILDREN
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!
Prov. 14:26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
Peter tells us that the devil is like a roaring lion prowling around looking for someone to devour. You want to keep the lion away from your home and your children? Fear the Lord.
If you fear the Lord your house turns into a secure fortress, with the gates up against the approach of the enemy.
We parents worry about the effects of the world upon our children. There are many things to fear and the dangers are real.
But here God’s word teaches us there is a way to give our children a refuge from the onslaught of evil. Fear the Lord. Make your home a sanctuary where God is honored above all else. And not only you – but your children as well, will be protected from evil and blessed by the Lord.
DELIVERANCE FROM POWERFUL ENEMIES
Psa. 33:16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength.
Psa. 33:17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
Psa. 33:18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,
Psa. 33:19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
Have you got enemies? People who hate you because you are a disciple of Christ? Where do you go for protection? Purchase a handgun? Get a first class security system? Hire a bodyguard?
God’s word says that even armies and the strength of horses are vain to bring deliverance from those who would persecute you. The best way to find protection is to fear the Lord. The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love…
How does he keep his eye on us? Well Psalm 34:7 tells us…
Psa. 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
When we live our lives under the fear of the Lord, we are promised more than a lifeguard – who is rather distant, trying to keep his eyes on lots of things all at once – possibly distracted.
We’re promised that he actually sends his angels to encamp around those who fear him!
In 2 Kings 6 we are given a real life example of this…
2Kings 6:8-17 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel. After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”
The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God. Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.
This enraged the king of Aram. He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Will you not tell me which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?”
“None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.”
“Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
When things looked bad – Elisha wasn’t worried and upset because God gave him the ability to see clearly the spiritual reality that his physical enemies would be able to do NOTHING against him that was not ordained of the Lord – because he lived in the fear of the Lord – and his angels were encamped around him.
Next time you’re afraid – trade in that fear of man for a fear of the Lord, and trade in that anxiety for the peace and contentment that you are protected by the mighty hand of the Lord.
CONCLUSION
So we’re promised some incredible blessings when we fear the Lord and live in obedience to His ways.
• Longer life
• Avoiding evil
• Refuge for our children
• Deliverance from powerful enemies.
Our problem is we are too distracted by everything in our lives. What we need is to live by the teachings of Psalm 86:11…
Psa. 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.
The only way we’ll really be able to fear His name is when we have an undivided heart – one that has set its course upon Holiness and pleasing God only.
God is making an incredible offer. Trade in your meaningless and broken toys for riches that will last for eternity. Trade the life you try to control – but really can’t – for the life that is on course because it is controlled by God and His desires.
Lord – give me an undivided heart.
