The Fear Of The Lord Is...

2023.10.22.Sermon Notes. The Fear of the LORD is… (Vital to every believer)

William Akehurst, HSWC

SCRIPTURES: Psalms 19:9, 1 John 4:16, Proverbs 1:7, Job 28:23-28, Proverbs 3:5-7, 2 Samuel 12:13, Psalms 25:14, Psalms 27:1, Psalms 33:18, Psalms 36:1, Psalms 103:17-18, Psalms 111:10, Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 14:26, Proverbs 14:27, Proverbs 15:16, Proverbs 15:33, Proverbs 16:6, Isaiah 33:5-6, Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Psalms 143:8-12

BIG IDEA: Do we really understand what The Fear of the LORD truly means? JESUS was a “friend of sinners”, and HE told us to call upon the Almighty as Abba, FATHER. So what is The Fear of The LORD?

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

What is The Fear of THE LORD?

I’ve said many times, that I don’t think we really understand the meaning of “the Fear of THE LORD”, especially in our culture.

Many people say that GOD doesn’t really want us to fear HIM, but that HE only wants us to revere or have reverence for HIM. And while we do need to respect and love HIM, there is something more to it than that.

“We need to understand and realize that one day, we are going to be face to face with the”

all powerful, all knowing, all seeing, all hearing, ever present, and “eternal self-existing…GOD – who has no beginning, and no end. It is not just that HE created reality; HE IS reality.” ~Rabbi Schneider (~RS)

HE IS ‘I AM’

And one day, “we will actually stand before the ONE with no boundaries, no limits, no constraints.

And when we do, we will without a doubt know exactly what it means to have the “Fear of THE LORD”. So let’s not wait until then to humble ourselves.” ~RS

Psalms 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever:

the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

“…GOD balances the need for us to fear HIM by generously imparting the revelation that HE is compassionate and by nature, a GOD full of Love and Lovingkindness.

When we fear HIM and put ourselves in proper alignment with HIM, FATHER comes to us and immeasurably pours out HIS grace, mercy and love upon us.” ~RS

1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

“We are called upon to fear the LORD.

Understanding this…”the fear of the LORD” is the catalyst that releases the depths of GOD’s love that HE wants to impart into our lives.

There are different elements that are all part of the same relationship with HIM.

Fearing GOD and receiving HIS entire blessings are connected and interdependent.

We need to have both aspects working continually in our lives to experience FATHER at HIS Fullness.” ~RS

“Let us not forsake the fear of the LORD.

It truly is the beginning of wisdom and our relationship with GOD.

Yes, we are brought into the love of GOD, but we need to be convicted of our sin.” ~RS

When Nathan rebukes David for his sin with Bathsheba, David’s response is that he had sinned against GOD.

2 Samuel 12:13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” Nathan replied, “Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

“We need to understand that without GOD’s love and forgiveness, we are destined to an eternity apart from HIM. There is a healthy and beautiful balance to our relationship with FATHER. It is like a fine diamond in which there are many different facets.” ~RS

Let’s look further at what it is to have the “Fear of the LORD”

Job 28:23-28 (KJV)

23 God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

24 For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

25 To make the weight for the winds; and he weigheth the waters by measure.

26 When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

27 Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

GOD told mankind. Behold…Look, Listen, Take Heed…The Fear of the LORD is wisdom, and departing from evil is understanding.

We see the same in…Proverbs 3:5-7. We are very familiar with vs 5-6, but if we read one more verse, it gives us a better understanding.

Proverbs 3:5-7