The Fear Of The Lord Real Conviction

III. Finally, Godly Fear Should be our main behavior.

"I'm thankful God is not like the weather. He is as stable as a rock fortress. I can deal with a difficult situation because I know He won't change. He always listens and is at my side to help me. While others may fail me, He never will. How grateful I am for God's immutable character!" Donna Morley

Jesus is our Example and He personally demonstrated “the fear of God”? It plainly directed His life in every word He spoke and everything He did. The “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom” and that means we should make it part of our life-style wherever God directs us.

Today’s generation needs a spiritual warning. And sometimes it takes frightening, graphic, pound-the-pulpit preaching to awaken people to truth. I’d rather be scared into Heaven than for someone to tickle my ears, pat my back, and “love” me into Hell! Jesus was shockingly graphic when He discussed Hell. His narrative of the Rich Man and Lazarus is filled with fright. He described it as a place of darkness, isolation, loneliness, despair, and unending torment. That he may bring me one drop of water.

There’s a graphic drama of Paul fearlessly talking about the fear of God in Acts 24. He was on trial for civil disobedience. Paul stood before the judgment seat of Governor Felix, the High Priest, and a prosecuting attorney. With the evidence presented the Governor called for a postponement of the proceedings. During the recess, Paul somehow held an audience with the Governor and his wife Drusilla. Here was the perfect opportunity for Paul to tell how good he was to and to praise Felix. But with Paul’s life in trouble, what do you think he discussed behind the bench with the Governor? Rather than try to plea bargain and strike a deal, Luke says Paul “talked on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, [and] Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave.” It is hard to believe that with his life in danger, Paul preached about the fear of God and it upset Felix! It is true that people who live without Christ in their heart are worried by fear. They will do their best not to consider death. They make every effort to drive out God from their minds because they do not want to think about one day facing Him. Pro 1:28-29 “They will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me. Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD.” Conclusion

One day we will be gathered before God’s Judgment Seat and we will receive the sentence for our earthly behavior. No one will escape this. No one will be AWOL. Some people say, “I understand and just before death I plan to make things right with God.” But the Bible says, “Today is the day of salvation.” PS 33:8: “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world reverence him.”

A Work In Progress. PRO 17:3 “The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart." One day, a couple, visiting in a small town, stopped in a quaint little shop to browse around. In the center of the store was a display of teacups. Some were small, some large, some were quite ornate, others were plain, but in the center was the most beautiful of all. The couple was overwhelmed by the dainty shape of the cup, the slight curve of the handle, the ornate and detailed painting and the delicate nature. They stared at it while they contemplated who could have made such a beautiful piece of work. As they stared, suddenly the teacup began to talk to them. "I wasn't always like this. If you had seen me in the beginning, you would not recognize me and you would never think I could ever look as I do now. But because my Master worked on me constantly, I appear before you as I am. "I started out as a piece of clay. Nothing special, I sat in a lump along with my other clay friends (you really couldn't tell us apart). He pulled me away from them it was painful. I cried because I was lonely. "He pulled me and rolled me. I screamed, 'Stop it! You're hurting me!' But He said, '*Not yet.*' He changed my shape and smoothed my form with his hands. I was happy when he was finished. I thought, 'Finally, that's over.' "But then he lifted me up and put me in an oven. It was so hot! I started yelling, 'Get me out of here! I don't want to do this!' I could see him watching me through the window and he said, '*Not yet.*' I wasn't sure if I'd make it through the oven, but I did. "When it was finished, he took me out to cool. Ahh, the air-felt good to me. I sat beside him and smiled. 'Finally, I can relax.' Then he picked me up again! 'Oh no!' I thought, 'what now!' He started painting me. I couldn't believe it. Totally changing my appearance. It smelled so bad! I kept fussing, 'Stop it, stop it!' But he didn't. I was covered in paint! I asked if he was finished, if he was satisfied with what he had done to me. He smiled and said, 'Not yet.' "And do you know what he did after that, even though I kept fussing the whole time? He put me back in the oven! He put me back, and this time it was even hotter! I cried. I begged. I pleaded, 'Please stop!' But he just kept smiling and said, 'Not yet.' "Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he pulled me out of the oven. I gasped for air. I was so thankful that it was over. He set me on a shelf and let me cool. Later he gently wiped me with a soft cloth until my surface was shiny and sparkled. When he lifted me again, I thought, 'Oh no, what now?' He placed me in front of a mirror so that I could see myself and I cried at the beauty that I beheld. I was perfect. I was clean. My form was graceful and elegant. My shape was unique. I noticed a bit of Him in my form. It was strong, but delicate. The detail of the painting was amazing. Even down to the smallest detail, He had made me beautiful. He had made me reflect Him. "I thanked Him for all He had done and I felt ashamed because I had questioned Him during my transformation. I had questioned my strength during my time in the oven. I had complained when He pulled me away from my friends. I fought Him while He tried to change my form and had refused to bend at His command. Now I beheld myself and I regretted fighting and doubting everything He had tried to do for me. "I wanted to do something for Him, but it looked as if he was finished with me. Surely, nothing more needed to be done. But I asked Him, 'Lord, are you done? Will you now leave me to sit on a shelf?' and He said, 'Not yet. I will not leave you; I will not forsake you. I will not give you more than you can bear. I will reward you for your patience; I will bless you for your persistence; I will shower you with gifts for your trust in me; I will honor you for your willingness to do my will. I will use you; yes, I will use you, repeatedly, to glorify me. Am I finished with you, Beloved? Not yet.'" "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." James 4:10. Now we pray in the name of Jesus “Use me Father. Mold me, hold me, shape me, bend me, and stretch me to be my absolute best. I know that I am not worthy, but I submit myself to you and kneel ready to be changed. Amen.”