Embracing the Fear of the Lord for Spiritual Growth

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound concept of the fear of the Lord, a topic that is both challenging and essential for our spiritual growth. As we stand on the cusp of a new year, it's crucial to reflect on the areas of our lives where we need Jesus to "take away" the burdens and sins that hinder our walk with Him. The fear of the Lord is not about being terrified of God but about having a deep reverence and respect for His holiness and authority. This reverence leads us to live lives that honor Him, aligning our actions with His will.

We examined the life of Jesus, particularly the period of His youth, where He grew in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man. This growth was rooted in His commitment to His Father's business, a commitment we are called to emulate. The fear of the Lord is foundational to wisdom, as it guides us to live skillfully in every area of life—mentally, physically, spiritually, and relationally.

The fear of the Lord is clean and enduring, meant to draw us closer to God rather than push us away. It is a principle that transcends both the Old and New Testaments, evident in the lives of biblical figures like Abraham, who demonstrated reverence through obedience. This fear is not about punishment but about living under God's protective covering, ensuring that our lives are aligned with His purposes.

As we embrace the fear of the Lord, we open ourselves to the many benefits it brings: satisfaction, protection from evil, divine secrets, and freedom from the snares of the enemy. It enhances our relationships, making us more attractive as the bride of Christ and fostering harmony with others. Ultimately, the fear of the Lord is about giving God the glory He deserves, living lives of genuine worship where our thoughts and desires bow to His will.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Fear of the Lord as a Foundation for Wisdom: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, guiding us to live skillfully in every area of life. It is not about being afraid but about having a deep respect for God's authority, which leads to wise and godly living. [01:01:54]

2. Jesus' Example of Reverence: Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God and man, demonstrating the importance of being about our Father's business. His life exemplifies how reverence for God leads to spiritual growth and alignment with His will. [01:00:54]

3. The Fear of the Lord is Clean and Enduring: This fear is meant to draw us closer to God, not push us away. It is a principle that endures through both the Old and New Testaments, ensuring that our lives are aligned with God's purposes. [01:13:53]

4. Benefits of Embracing the Fear of the Lord: Embracing this fear brings satisfaction, protection from evil, and divine secrets. It turns us away from the snares of the enemy and enhances our relationships, making us more attractive as the bride of Christ. [01:43:03]

5. Living Lives of Genuine Worship: Genuine worship involves bowing our thoughts and desires to God's will. As we increase in the fear of God, we offer our lives as living worship, giving Him the glory He deserves. [01:30:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [57:44] - The Challenge of the Season
- [58:35] - The Gift of Letting Go
- [59:40] - Jesus' Early Life
- [01:00:54] - About My Father's Business
- [01:01:54] - Growing in Wisdom and Favor
- [01:13:53] - The Fear of the Lord is Clean
- [01:14:31] - Reverence and Respect
- [01:16:16] - Ananias and Sapphira
- [01:20:14] - Saul's Transformation
- [01:21:37] - Mercy Shots
- [01:22:33] - Fear of God vs. Fear of Man
- [01:23:34] - The Fear of the Lord in Scripture
- [01:25:12] - Love and Fear in Balance
- [01:30:39] - Worship and Reverence
- [01:36:41] - Jesus' Teachings on Fear
- [01:39:38] - The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
- [01:43:03] - Delight in the Fear of the Lord

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 9:10 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
2. Luke 2:52 - "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."
3. Psalm 19:9 - "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest is the true meaning of the "fear of the Lord"? How does it differ from being afraid of God? [01:01:54]
2. How did Jesus' life, particularly during His youth, exemplify the concept of growing in wisdom and favor with God and man? [01:00:54]
3. According to the sermon, what are some of the benefits of embracing the fear of the Lord? [01:43:03]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between the fear of the Lord and genuine worship? [01:30:39]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the fear of the Lord serve as a foundation for wisdom, and why is it considered essential for living skillfully in every area of life? [01:01:54]
2. In what ways does Jesus' commitment to His Father's business serve as a model for our own spiritual growth and alignment with God's will? [01:00:54]
3. Why is the fear of the Lord described as "clean and enduring," and how does this principle apply to both the Old and New Testaments? [01:13:53]
4. What does it mean to live a life of genuine worship, and how does the fear of the Lord contribute to this lifestyle? [01:30:39]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a specific area of your life where you feel burdened or hindered. How can embracing the fear of the Lord help you address this issue? [57:44]
2. Consider how you can grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man, as Jesus did. What practical steps can you take to achieve this growth in the coming year? [01:00:54]
3. Identify a situation where you might be tempted to act out of fear of man rather than fear of God. How can you shift your perspective to prioritize reverence for God? [01:23:34]
4. Think about a relationship in your life that could benefit from the principles of the fear of the Lord. How can you apply these principles to enhance that relationship? [01:43:03]
5. What specific actions can you take to ensure that your thoughts and desires align with God's will, thereby living a life of genuine worship? [01:30:39]
6. How can you cultivate a deeper respect for God's authority in your daily decisions and actions? What changes might you need to make to live under God's protective covering? [01:13:53]
7. Reflect on a time when you experienced the benefits of the fear of the Lord, such as protection or satisfaction. How can you build on that experience to deepen your relationship with God? [01:43:03]

Devotional

Day 1: Reverence as the Path to Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, guiding us to live skillfully in every area of life. It is not about being afraid but about having a deep respect for God's authority, which leads to wise and godly living. This reverence is foundational, shaping our decisions and actions in alignment with God's will. As we cultivate this fear, we are equipped to navigate life's complexities with discernment and grace, ensuring that our lives reflect the wisdom that comes from above. [01:01:54]

Proverbs 9:10 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."

Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to seek God's wisdom today, and how can you cultivate a deeper reverence for His authority in that area?


Day 2: Emulating Jesus' Commitment
Jesus grew in wisdom and favor with God and man, demonstrating the importance of being about our Father's business. His life exemplifies how reverence for God leads to spiritual growth and alignment with His will. By focusing on His Father's work, Jesus showed us the path to maturity and favor, both with God and others. As we strive to emulate His example, we are called to prioritize our spiritual commitments and align our lives with God's purposes, fostering growth and favor in our own lives. [01:00:54]

Luke 2:52 (ESV): "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to align your daily activities with God's purposes, following Jesus' example of commitment to His Father's business?


Day 3: The Enduring Nature of Godly Fear
The fear of the Lord is clean and enduring, meant to draw us closer to God rather than push us away. It is a principle that transcends both the Old and New Testaments, evident in the lives of biblical figures like Abraham, who demonstrated reverence through obedience. This fear is not about punishment but about living under God's protective covering, ensuring that our lives are aligned with His purposes. Embracing this fear leads to a deeper relationship with God, characterized by trust and obedience. [01:13:53]

Psalm 19:9 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of God's enduring presence in your life, and what steps can you take to live under His protective covering today?


Day 4: The Benefits of Godly Fear
Embracing the fear of the Lord brings satisfaction, protection from evil, and divine secrets. It turns us away from the snares of the enemy and enhances our relationships, making us more attractive as the bride of Christ. This fear enriches our lives, providing a sense of fulfillment and security that comes from living in alignment with God's will. As we delight in this fear, we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, marked by peace, joy, and relational harmony. [01:43:03]

Psalm 25:14 (ESV): "The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need God's protection and guidance, and how can embracing the fear of the Lord help you find satisfaction and security in that area?


Day 5: Worship as a Lifestyle
Genuine worship involves bowing our thoughts and desires to God's will. As we increase in the fear of God, we offer our lives as living worship, giving Him the glory He deserves. This lifestyle of worship is not confined to a specific time or place but permeates every aspect of our lives, transforming our thoughts, actions, and relationships. By living in reverence and awe of God, we become vessels of His glory, reflecting His love and grace to the world around us. [01:30:39]

Romans 12:1 (ESV): "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate acts of worship into your daily routine, ensuring that your life reflects God's glory in every aspect?

Quotes

"Jesus increased in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and man. So throughout that silent 12 to 20 something year old he was growing in wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to live life skillfully in every single area in your life relationally in business in spiritually with God. You don't only have knowledge because a lot of people know a lot of things but a lot of people ain't wise. The Bible differentiates a wise person has the ability to apply that knowledge and live skillfully in every area." [01:01:54] (39 seconds)


"The fear of the Lord is clean enduring enduring enduring Old Testament New Testament we see the fear of the Lord today we see and experience the fear of the Lord some of us might not even know what it is but oh we experience it but the Bible said it should endure forever we should never try to take that away." [01:10:22] (28 seconds)


"Ananias and Sapphira were two people that were church people. Church. Church. Not business, man. Church. And they sold a piece of property. And it said that they sold it and they brought some. Someone say some. Some of the proceeds to the church. But then they told the church. They told Peter. This is all of it. Peter said, is that all of it? He said, yes, this is all of it. And the scripture said what? Consequence happened. In the New Testament." [01:16:16] (39 seconds)


"Paul like I told you he's the one that got struck blind so he what he wrote he's not reading from bible bible college he didn't study the fear of the Lord like we're doing he fell into the hands of a living God he actually writes that in Hebrews 10 verse 31 he says it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God prior to that if you read it it's like he he's talking about he's in context like the church christians are sinning willfully like willfully is what it says he said there's no more forgiveness for that you take that up with the word." [01:35:16] (48 seconds)


"Jesus himself had the spirit of the fear of the Lord in him. And this was the next verse is what rocked me and confirmed to me because I, you know, I get nervous coming up here and tell you guys about the fear of God right after Christmas. But you know what? This what happened to me because I was reading and studying about the fear of God in a coffee shop and God gave me a sign." [01:39:38] (28 seconds)


"Jesus had a keen sensitivity to the fear of God. fear of God which attract the help is that you guys's desire do you want to delight in the fear of the Lord I do too and I was messed up by the scripture where I kept saying it saying it his delight is in the fear of the Lord I'm so confused he delights I delight in this coffee I'm at the coffee shop I delight in this water that is purified my first inclination is not to delight in fearing God is that anybody's here you wake up in the morning so I'm just saying it sorry I'm going somewhere I'm saying it to myself and the lady right by me she's like looking at me and I'm like oh I'm sorry I'm reading the scripture she said oh I thought you were singing a song I thought you were rapping maybe or something I said no no no no I said do you read the Bible she was like oh no I said man can I share this one scripture I'm always like inception right." [01:41:23] (68 seconds)


"Proverbs 19 23 the fear of the Lord leads to life and he who has it will abide in satisfaction someone say satisfaction guarantee anybody discontent in your life well guess what those that fear the Lord he promises you will be satisfied I'll bring satisfaction and it also says this it said and he will not be visited by evil anybody ever just the ungodly fear where you like man I hope nothing bad happens that would mess up this whole all that's going on I used to have that it was it's called a foreboding spirit evil forebodings where it's like you have a fear of something bad's gotta happen it's going too good who says that's not from the Bible the Bible doesn't say when things go good watch out now it says those who fear the Lord will not be visited by evil grab that if that's you just grab that say man I'll take the fear of the Lord." [01:43:03] (67 seconds)


"There's an interesting scripture where it said Jesus responded. He said, why do you seek me? Don't you know that I must be about my father's business? Someone say must. Anybody got a must in your spirit? Anybody feel like in 2025, I must be about my father's business. I must stop playing games. I must stop doing my own thing. I must be about my father's business. Because who knows that the father got great business. He got." [01:00:54] (34 seconds)


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Transcript
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