Sermon - Benefits of Fearing the Lord! Pastor Gino Bryant

Understanding the fear of the Lord is essential for a life that honors God and walks in His blessing. Sometimes, to truly grasp the value of fearing God, it helps to see what life looks like when that fear is absent. King David, a man after God’s own heart, recognized his own tendency to stray and prayed, “Unite my heart to fear your name.” This is a prayer we all need, because our hearts can be wild and prone to wander. When we fear the Lord, we are attentive to His ways, seeking to please Him in our decisions, and we become recipients of His covenant faithfulness and protection.

Fearing God is not about being terrified, but about standing in awe of His power, His holiness, and His mercy. It means recognizing that every part of our life—our opportunities, our challenges, even our very breath—is a gift from Him, and we are called to steward it well. When we lose this reverence, we open ourselves up to the enemy’s influence, sometimes through seemingly small compromises. The spiritual realm is real, and our choices have consequences beyond what we see. Just as eating forbidden fruit in a parable brings the owner’s demand for payment, dabbling in sin gives the enemy a foothold, even if our souls are secure in Christ.

A life without the fear of the Lord is marked by disregard for God’s word, a seared conscience, and a willingness to harm others without remorse. But even among those who love God, the fear of the Lord can exist in degrees. We may be careful in some areas but careless in others. The call is to perfect our fear of God, letting it shape every part of our lives.

The benefits of fearing the Lord are many: strength to turn from evil, the beginning of true wisdom and knowledge, prolonged life, contentment, healing, provision, and even the secrets of the Lord revealed to us. God takes pleasure in those who fear Him, writing a book of remembrance for those who honor His name. We become His special treasure, His jewels, when we walk in reverence and awe. Fearing the Lord doesn’t guarantee an easy life, but it does mean God is present, involved, and faithful to reward those who seek Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The fear of the Lord is a unifying force for our hearts, drawing us away from the wildness of our own desires and aligning us with God’s truth. Like David, we must continually ask God to unite our hearts to fear His name, recognizing our tendency to drift and our need for His steadying hand. This reverence is not a one-time achievement but a daily pursuit that keeps us close to God’s heart. [01:05]
• 2. Our choices in the visible world have real consequences in the spiritual realm. Engaging in things that dishonor God, even out of ignorance or curiosity, can open doors to spiritual bondage and warfare. The fear of the Lord acts as a safeguard, keeping us from the snares of the enemy and ensuring that God’s angels are encamped around us. [06:09]
• 3. Fearing God is not about terror but about awe, honor, and stewardship. It means recognizing that every aspect of our lives is a gift from God, and we are accountable for how we handle it. This perspective transforms our daily decisions, making us mindful of God’s presence and the weight of our actions, even in the smallest things. [03:23]
• 4. The absence of the fear of the Lord leads to a hardened conscience and a disregard for both God and others. When we see the alternative—a life where nothing is sacred and consequences are ignored—it should deepen our appreciation for the boundaries and blessings that come from revering God. The fear of the Lord is not restrictive; it is protective and life-giving. [14:10]
• 5. The fear of the Lord brings tangible blessings: wisdom, contentment, healing, provision, and intimacy with God. It is the foundation for a life that pleases God and receives His favor. As we perfect our reverence for Him, we become His special treasure, and He writes a book of remembrance for those who honor Him in word and deed. [21:46]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:30] - Understanding the Absence of the Fear of the Lord
• [01:05] - David’s Prayer: Unite My Heart
• [02:17] - The Blessings of Fearing God
• [03:23] - Stewardship and Reverence in Daily Life
• [04:34] - The Dangers of Spiritual Compromise
• [05:37] - The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
• [06:09] - The Second Heaven and Spiritual Consequences
• [07:23] - Open Heavens and Obstacles in Prayer
• [09:13] - The Pilgrim’s Progress Analogy
• [12:23] - Sin, Consequences, and the Power of Christ
• [14:10] - The Alternative: Life Without the Fear of God
• [15:59] - Degrees of Reverence and Areas of Compromise
• [17:00] - The Benefits of Fearing the Lord
• [21:46] - God’s Pleasure and the Book of Remembrance
• [23:00] - Becoming God’s Special Treasure
• [25:28] - Applying Wisdom and Assessing Readiness
• [27:05] - God’s Covenant and Faithfulness
• [28:16] - Prayer for a Perfected Fear of the Lord

Bible Reading

Psalm 86:11 (NKJV) — > Teach me Your way, O Lord;
> I will walk in Your truth;
> Unite my heart to fear Your name.

Proverbs 16:6 (NKJV) — > In mercy and truth
> Atonement is provided for iniquity;
> And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

Malachi 3:16-17 (NKJV) — > Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another,
> And the Lord listened and heard them;
> So a book of remembrance was written before Him
> For those who fear the Lord
> And who meditate on His name.
> “They shall be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts,
> “On the day that I make them My jewels.
> And I will spare them
> As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

Observation Questions

1. In Psalm 86:11, what does David specifically ask God to do for his heart?
2. According to Proverbs 16:6, what is the result of fearing the Lord?
3. In Malachi 3:16-17, what does God do for those who fear Him and talk with each other about Him?
4. The sermon described what life looks like when the fear of the Lord is missing. What are some of the behaviors or attitudes mentioned that show a lack of the fear of God? [[14:10]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think David prays for God to “unite his heart” to fear God’s name, instead of just asking for more knowledge or strength? What does this reveal about the nature of our hearts? [[01:05]]
2. The sermon says that fearing God is not about being terrified, but about awe, honor, and stewardship. How does this understanding change the way someone might approach their daily decisions? [[03:23]]
3. The message talks about “degrees” of the fear of the Lord in a believer’s life. What might it look like for someone to fear God in one area but not another? Why is it important to “perfect” our fear of God? [[15:59]]
4. According to Malachi 3:16-17, what does it mean to be God’s “special treasure” or “jewel”? How is this connected to fearing the Lord? [[23:00]]

Application Questions

1. David prayed, “Unite my heart to fear Your name.” Are there areas in your life where your heart feels divided or prone to wander away from God? What would it look like to ask God to unite your heart this week? [[01:05]]
2. The sermon warns that small compromises can open doors to spiritual bondage. Can you think of a “small” area where you’ve been careless or made excuses? What step could you take to close that door and walk in the fear of the Lord? [[06:09]]
3. The message says that fearing God means recognizing every part of our life as a gift and stewarding it well. Is there a specific opportunity, challenge, or resource in your life that you need to handle differently because of this perspective? [[03:23]]
4. The absence of the fear of the Lord leads to a hardened conscience and disregard for others. Have you noticed any attitudes or actions in yourself that reflect this? How can you invite God to soften your heart and renew your reverence for Him? [[14:10]]
5. The sermon lists several blessings that come from fearing the Lord: wisdom, contentment, healing, provision, and intimacy with God. Which of these blessings do you most desire right now, and how might growing in the fear of the Lord help you receive it? [[21:46]]
6. The message encourages us to let the fear of the Lord shape every part of our lives, not just some areas. Is there a part of your life where you’ve been “careful” to honor God, and another where you’ve been “careless”? What would it look like to bring both under God’s guidance? [[15:59]]
7. Malachi 3:16-17 says God writes a book of remembrance for those who fear Him. If God wrote a page about your life this week, what would you want it to say? What is one thing you can do this week to honor God’s name in word or deed? [[23:00]]