The Fear Of The Lord Helps Us Turn Away From Evil Series

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.