Embracing Reverence: The True Fear of the Lord
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the concept of the fear of the Lord, not as a terrifying fear, but as a deep reverence and awe for God. I began by expressing my gratitude for the opportunity to share God's word and prayed for the hearts of the listeners to be open and ready to receive and live out God's message. I then introduced the title of my message, "The Fear of the Lord," and explained how our fears often stem from unhealthy experiences that establish lies we believe and live by. However, I emphasized that these fears, while real and valid, are not the truth and are often self-centered, designed to protect ourselves.
I continued by discussing the importance of growth in our spiritual journey, from knowing about God to knowing Him intimately, which initiates a reverence for Him. I pointed out that this reverence should be evident in our lives, affecting how we act at work or school. I also highlighted the danger of moving back and forth between commitments, likening it to a limbo dance. I stressed the importance of maintaining our commitment to God, even when it comes with a price, and the danger of compromise in the Kingdom of Heaven. I concluded by discussing the fear of the Lord as an action, something we live out day to day, and how it initiates worship.
Key takeaways from this sermon include:
- The fear of the Lord is not about being terrified of God, but about holding Him in reverence and taking Him seriously ([01:19:07]).
- Our spiritual growth should be evident in our lives, affecting how we act in different situations ([01:15:28]).
- Maintaining our commitment to God is crucial, even when it comes with a price ([01:18:32]).
- Compromise is dangerous in the Kingdom of Heaven; when we commit, it should be 100 percent ([01:18:32]).
- The fear of the Lord initiates worship and puts us in recognition of our place in God's place ([01:20:36]).
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. This fear is not about being terrified, but about holding God in reverence and taking Him seriously. This reverence initiates worship and is lived out in our day-to-day lives. ([01:19:07])
2. We must seek God's guidance before making any major decisions in our lives. This includes before starting a job, a relationship, or a business. This is the way to avoid creating our own plans and strategies that may not align with God's will. ([01:49:06])
3. The fear of the Lord causes us to honor people. This includes our church leaders, our family, and everyone around us. We are called to love because everyone is made in the image of God. ([01:50:28])
4. We must be committed to maintaining our "yes" to God, even when it becomes difficult. This commitment is crucial in our spiritual journey, as any step back can lead to significant spiritual setbacks. ([01:17:14])
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Proverbs 1
2. Psalms 89
3. 1 Samuel 30 (David inquiring of the Lord)
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In Proverbs 1, what does it mean when it says "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"?
2. How does David demonstrate seeking God's guidance before making decisions in 1 Samuel 30?
3. In Psalms 89, how is the fear of the Lord depicted?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fear of the Lord lead to wisdom and knowledge according to Proverbs 1?
2. What can we learn from David's example in 1 Samuel 30 about seeking God's guidance?
3. How does Psalms 89 describe the reverence we should have for God?
Application Questions:
1. How can we apply the principle of seeking God's guidance before making decisions in our own lives?
2. How can we cultivate a fear of the Lord in our daily lives as described in Proverbs 1 and Psalms 89?
3. How can we show honor to people around us as a reflection of our fear of the Lord?
Devotional
Day 1: Commitment to God Requires No Compromise
In our walk with God, we are often faced with situations that test our commitment to Him. These situations may tempt us to compromise our faith, our values, and our obedience to God's word. However, the Bible teaches us that our commitment to God should be unwavering and without compromise.
Daniel 3:16-18 - "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you felt tempted to compromise your commitment to God. How did you handle it and what could you do differently next time to ensure your commitment remains 100 percent?
Day 2: The Fear of the Lord Initiates Wisdom and Worship
The fear of the Lord is not about being afraid of God, but rather about having a deep reverence and awe for Him. This fear initiates wisdom and worship, as we recognize God's greatness and our need for His guidance.
Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
Reflection: Can you recall a moment when you truly felt the fear of the Lord, not in terror, but in reverence? How did this experience influence your worship and understanding of God's wisdom?
Day 3: Let the Word of God Guide Your Path, Not Your Feelings
Our feelings can often lead us astray, but the Word of God is a reliable guide that never changes. It provides us with the wisdom and direction we need to navigate through life's challenges.
Psalm 119:105 - "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Reflection: Think about a time when you made a decision based on your feelings rather than the Word of God. What was the outcome and how could you have used God's Word to guide your decision-making process?
Day 4: Seek God's Guidance Before Making Decisions
Before making any decision, it is important to seek God's guidance. His wisdom surpasses our own, and He can guide us to make the right choices.
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: Can you think of a recent decision you made without seeking God's guidance? How might the outcome have been different if you had sought His wisdom first?
Day 5: The Fear of the Lord Causes You to Honor People
When we fear the Lord, we recognize the inherent value and dignity of all people, as they are made in God's image. This causes us to treat others with honor and respect.
1 Peter 2:17 - "Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent interaction with someone where you could have shown more honor or respect. How can the fear of the Lord help you to honor others more in your daily interactions?
Quotes
1. "In the spiritual realm, when you commit to something and then you take one step back, to you it might be physically one step back but spiritually for some people it's five, six, ten steps back. We can't afford to do that. It might be just a little bit of compromise but in the Kingdom of Heaven, compromise is not something we deal with." - 01:18:32
2. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This does not mean you're walking around and you're terrified, it means holding him in reverence and taking him seriously. And I believe we can cultivate a fear of God that is, and we can do that through a personal relationship with him." - 01:19:07
3. "Before you do anything, you seek his face. Before you take a job, before you get into a relationship, before you follow the butterflies in your belly, before you begin a career, before you begin a business, you seek God and then he leads you and he reveals to you." - 01:49:06
4. "The fear of the Lord causes you to honor people. This one's not common in the American and the Western culture. I love you guys, but sometimes I'm like wow, you honor your church leaders, you honor your family, you honor everyone. In this culture, it's very typical you just write people off." - 01:50:28
5. "We must graduate from knowing about God to knowing him as our God intimately which then now initiates a reverence for him. And so that's the fear that I'm talking about today. It initiates an awe like wow, you are God and then it makes at least how we live our lives." - 01:15:28
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