Embracing Reverent Fear: Trusting God's Sovereignty
Summary
During this season of Lent, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the chaos and busyness, even when engaging in spiritual practices like fasting, reading scripture, and praying. However, amidst these activities, we can lose sight of the true essence of fear as described in the Bible. Many of us experience fear related to potential consequences, uncertainties, or personal challenges. Yet, Proverbs 1 and 9 remind us that true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. This fear is not about being scared or hiding from God; rather, it is a reverent and humble fear, acknowledging His holiness and our unworthiness.
True fear is recognizing God's sovereignty and submitting to His dominion and power. It is about understanding our position before God, who created and sustains all things, and who sent His Son to die in our place. Our worldly fears, rooted in selfishness and lack of trust, pale in comparison to the reverent fear of God. This fear leads us to trust in the Lord, acknowledging that everything we have and are is by Him and through Him.
As we approach the Lord's table, we are reminded of His perfect and divine love. We come humbly, acknowledging that our carnal fears are insignificant compared to the power and victory of our God. The only fear we hold is one of reverence, recognizing the grace that claims us as His own. Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread and wine, symbolizing His body and blood, and invited us to partake in remembrance of Him. He promises to provide all we need, and as we partake in communion, we do so with humility and reverence, allowing God to work through us for His glory.
Key Takeaways:
1. True fear of the Lord is rooted in reverence and humility, not in being scared or hiding from Him. It acknowledges His holiness and our unworthiness, leading us to a deeper understanding of His wisdom. [02:51]
2. Our worldly fears often stem from a lack of trust in God's sovereignty. By recognizing His dominion and power, we can shift our focus from selfish fears to a reverent fear that acknowledges His control over all things. [02:51]
3. The fear of the Lord is foundational to wisdom, as it positions us to receive His guidance and understanding. This fear is not about consequences or uncertainties but about trusting in His provision and sustenance. [05:33]
4. Approaching the Lord's table with humility reminds us of His perfect love and grace. Our carnal fears are insignificant compared to the power and victory of God, who claims us as His own. [05:33]
5. Communion is a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice and His promise to provide for us. As we partake, we do so with a reverent fear, allowing God to work through us for His glory and purpose. [05:33]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - The Chaos of Lent
- [01:15] - Understanding Fear
- [02:51] - Reverent Fear of the Lord
- [03:45] - Worldly vs. Godly Fear
- [04:30] - Trusting in God's Sovereignty
- [05:33] - The Lord's Table
- [06:15] - Jesus' Sacrifice
- [07:00] - Communion Invitation
- [07:45] - Prayer and Reflection
- [08:30] - Closing Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Proverbs 1:7
- Proverbs 9:10
Observation Questions:
1. What does Proverbs 1:7 say about the beginning of knowledge, and how does it relate to the concept of fear discussed in the sermon? [02:51]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between worldly fear and the fear of the Lord? [02:51]
3. What actions or attitudes are associated with reverent fear according to the sermon? [02:51]
4. How is the Lord's table used as a reminder of God's love and grace in the sermon? [05:33]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the fear of the Lord lead to wisdom, and why is this fear described as reverent and humble rather than scared or hiding? [02:51]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that worldly fears are rooted in a lack of trust in God's sovereignty? [02:51]
3. How does the act of communion serve as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and God's provision, according to the sermon? [05:33]
4. What does it mean to approach the Lord's table with humility, and how does this reflect our understanding of God's perfect love and grace? [05:33]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a personal fear you have. How can you shift your focus from this worldly fear to a reverent fear of the Lord? [02:51]
2. In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust in God's sovereignty, and how can you work on surrendering these areas to Him? [02:51]
3. How can you incorporate the practice of approaching God with humility and reverence in your daily spiritual life? [05:33]
4. Think about the last time you participated in communion. How did it impact your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice and God's provision for you? [05:33]
5. Identify a specific way you can remind yourself of God's perfect love and grace during times of fear or uncertainty. [05:33]
6. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to focus on the reverent fear of the Lord rather than worldly fears? [02:51]
7. What practical steps can you take this week to deepen your understanding of God's wisdom through the fear of the Lord? [02:51]
Devotional
Day 1: Reverent Fear as the Foundation of Wisdom
True fear of the Lord is rooted in reverence and humility, not in being scared or hiding from Him. It acknowledges His holiness and our unworthiness, leading us to a deeper understanding of His wisdom. This reverent fear is the beginning of wisdom, as it positions us to receive God's guidance and understanding. By recognizing our place before God, we open ourselves to His teachings and allow His wisdom to shape our lives. This fear is not about consequences or uncertainties but about trusting in His provision and sustenance. [02:51]
"The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor." (Proverbs 15:33, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to cultivate a deeper reverence for God, acknowledging His holiness and your unworthiness?
Day 2: Shifting from Worldly to Godly Fear
Our worldly fears often stem from a lack of trust in God's sovereignty. By recognizing His dominion and power, we can shift our focus from selfish fears to a reverent fear that acknowledges His control over all things. This shift allows us to trust in the Lord, knowing that everything we have and are is by Him and through Him. Our worldly fears, rooted in selfishness and lack of trust, pale in comparison to the reverent fear of God. [02:51]
"Say to those who have an anxious heart, 'Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.'" (Isaiah 35:4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific fear you have today. How can you actively choose to trust in God's sovereignty over this fear?
Day 3: Wisdom Through Trust in God's Provision
The fear of the Lord is foundational to wisdom, as it positions us to receive His guidance and understanding. This fear is not about consequences or uncertainties but about trusting in His provision and sustenance. When we trust in God's provision, we acknowledge that He is the source of all we need. This trust allows us to live with confidence, knowing that God will guide us and provide for us in every situation. [05:33]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust in God's provision? How can you begin to surrender this area to Him today?
Day 4: Humility at the Lord's Table
Approaching the Lord's table with humility reminds us of His perfect love and grace. Our carnal fears are insignificant compared to the power and victory of God, who claims us as His own. As we partake in communion, we do so with humility and reverence, allowing God to work through us for His glory. This act of remembrance is a powerful reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and His promise to provide for us. [05:33]
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
Reflection: As you prepare for communion, how can you approach the Lord's table with a heart of humility and gratitude for His grace?
Day 5: Communion as a Reminder of Jesus' Sacrifice
Communion is a time to remember Jesus' sacrifice and His promise to provide for us. As we partake, we do so with a reverent fear, allowing God to work through us for His glory and purpose. This sacred act is a reminder of the grace that claims us as His own and the love that was demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice. By participating in communion, we acknowledge our dependence on God and His provision for our lives. [05:33]
"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.'" (Luke 22:19, ESV)
Reflection: How can you make the act of communion a more meaningful and intentional time of remembrance and gratitude for Jesus' sacrifice in your life?
Quotes
"Sometimes we can be fasting, sometimes we can be reading God's words, sometimes we can be praying, but we can also find ourselves sort of lost in that space as we kind of get wrapped up in all the things that we're going through." [00:00:28] (17 seconds)
"Me tonight as I was praying and reading scripture was this understanding of what fear really looks like so many of us have fear of something that might happen to us fear of a consequence because of something that we've done a fear of not knowing a fear of a of a disease of a problem." [00:00:46] (23 seconds)
"You see, we have to fear him before we receive the wisdom. And this isn't a fear like we're afraid or we have to be scared or hide ourself from him. This is a reverent fear. This is a humble fear. This is a fear that we come before him of a person whose sandals we are unworthy to bind, of a place where we're going." [00:01:32] (23 seconds)
"And so when we understand what fear really is, we recognize it comes from a reverence. In a fear of our world, in the chaos and difficulties of our lives, is really a human fear, a selfish fear." [00:02:05] (20 seconds)
"And truly what we're saying is, I don't trust the sovereign God that he has me. And so we hide behind a fear that we can manufacture and manifest on our own. Instead of acknowledging that true fear comes from bowing at the feet of grace." [00:02:25] (26 seconds)
"True fear comes from acknowledging that we are insufficient. True fear says, I'm not going to speak, I'm just going to loosen my lips and allow the Spirit to speak through me. True fear is acknowledging who God is and submitting to his dominion and his sovereignty and his power over us." [00:02:51] (24 seconds)
"True fear is acknowledging our position before God. That he is the one who came and died in our place. That he's the one that created and sustains all things. That he's the one that created and sustains all things." [00:03:15] (14 seconds)
"But rather our fear is trusting in the Lord and acknowledging that all that we have and all that we are are by him and through him." [00:03:28] (12 seconds)
"Acknowledging that whatever we're afraid of in our carnal sense pairs a comparison to the power and victory of our god, the only fear that we have tonight as we come and we sing and we lift our voices is a fear of reverence of acknowledging." [00:04:13] (23 seconds)
"Before he was betrayed, he took the bread, Jesus did, and he gave thanks to his Father in heaven. He broke and he gave his disciples saying, take, eat, this is my body broken for you. Whenever you eat this bread, do this in remembrance of me." [00:05:00] (14 seconds)
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