The Proof Series

The Proof

(of the Fear of the Lord)

Sermon 3 in Fear of the Lord series

Eccl. 12:13

Dale Rooks, a school crossing guard in Florida, tried everything to get cars to slow down through the school zone. But nothing worked…until he took a blow dryer and wrapped it in electrical tape, making it look like a radar gun.

Dale just points the thing at cars, and it’s incredible how quickly they hit the brakes.

"It’s almost comical," Dale says. "It’s amazing how well it works."

Citation: The Connection newsletter, ChristianityToday.com (9-8-04)

REVIEW: The fear of the Lord is to have an appropriate awe and respect for God’s holiness and power, and to hate evil as God hates it.

But how do we know if we really are living in the fear of the Lord? If we OBEY Him.

(From -Obedience – the Proof of Your Fear of the Lord June 4/5, 2005 Don Jaques)

13 Here is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is the duty of every person. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

We have examined the fear of the Lord the past few weeks. But it difficult to get a handle on it. How do I really know if I am living in the fear of the Lord or not. How can I tell how afraid of God I am? To what degree am I to fear him, and to what degree am I to love him. There is one air tight proof of the fear of the Lord being operational in your life. It will guarantee you will not be fooled thinking you fear him when you don’t. Strangely it is the same proof of Love for the Lord in your life. What is it? Obedience. In Eccl 12:13 the word of God declares... You can tell for sure if you fear him, if you do what he says. Let me use a story from the pages of sacred scripture to illustrate the truths we have been learning about the fear of the Lord. 1 Kings 12

I Jereboams Story 1 Kings 11-12

A. Prophet announces that he will be the next King 11:29-39

B. Flees for his life to Egypt 11:40

C. Becomes King of Israel

D. Fears he will lose the kingdom to Rehoboam 12:26–27

-he made up his future in fear

-but God gave him the kingdom

-When they go to worship they will return

E. Sins Horribly setting up idols because of fear of man

-his counselors advised

-he set up two golden calves (He forgot what happened the first time)

-Rationale -“It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem” (Covers his fear and makes it sound like he has their interests in mind”

“These are the gods who brought you out of Egypt” v28

II Jereboam’s Judgement

A. A Prophet sent to pronounce judgement 13:1

1. A Prophesy against the altar and pagan Priests v 2

-occurred 300 years later 2 kings 23:1-20

2. A Sign to prove the prophesy v3

-altar will split and ashes pour out

B. Jereboam tries to Stop the Prophet

1. Yells “seize him”

2. God paralyzes his arm

3. Altar cracked just like Prophet said

C. Jereboam fears God and cries for help v6

1. Prayer restores it

2. He offers meal at the Palace

-meal and gifts were often used in the treaty or covenant making process p370 Bible Background OT)

3. The man of God refused to make peace with Jereboam 8-10 (Obeys in Fear)

4. He feared God more than the disapproval of the king of Israel

There’s Always Obedience

Ron R. was discussing the fragility of many marriages with his girlfriend and posed the following question, “What if you wake up one morning and don’t love me anymore?”

She immediately responded, “There’s always obedience.”

Source unknown

III The Prophets Judgement 13:11-

A. A New Temptation (from inside the church-people of faith)

B. He refused again fearing God more than the disapproval of the Prophetv16

C. Temptation knocks again (Comes the third time in spiritual way) v18

-I’m a prophet .. An angel gave me this message from the Lord

John Bevere said he visited Jim Bakker in prison and Jim told him that his experience brought about a change of heart. He experienced Jesus as Master for the first time. He lost his family, ministry, everything he owned, and then found Jesus. He said, "John, this prison is not God’s judgement on my life but his mercy. I believe if I had continued on the path I was on, I would have ended up in hell!" He also said, “I always loved Jesus, yet he was not my Lord, and there are millions of Americans just like me”. Jim Bakker’s board encouraged him in greed and sin, and they were in the church. (page 82, The Fear of the Lord, John Bevere)