Embracing the Right Fear: Trusting God in Uncertainty
Summary
The sermon begins with the speaker expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share the Word of God and introduces the concept of embracing the right kind of fear. The speaker acknowledges that fear is a normal human emotion that can paralyze us, but it is healthy to embrace the right kind of fear. The speaker then transitions to the importance of fearing and obeying God, stating that it is the duty of all mankind. They emphasize that God will judge every deed, including hidden things, whether they are good or evil. The speaker encourages listeners to turn to Jesus in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and the storms of life.
The speaker then discusses the power of Jesus to calm the storms in one's life, drawing a parallel to Jesus calming the storms on the sea. They share a story where Jesus cast a demon into a herd of pigs, and the people were more afraid of Jesus than the demons. The speaker explores the fear of Jesus' power in our lives and how it can lead to rejecting him in order to avoid experiencing loss or lack of security. They emphasize that following Jesus leads to freedom but also requires letting go of control.
The speaker then emphasizes the importance of loving Jesus and loving others, even in the face of fear and uncertainty. They encourage the congregation to embrace the right kind of fear - the fear of God - by obeying Him and trusting in His provision. The speaker prays for God to continue speaking into their lives, building and growing their faith, and enabling them to be faithful and obedient in sharing God with the world.
The speaker then discusses the concept of fearing God and receiving His love. They acknowledge that some people view God as a judgmental and angry figure, which creates a barrier to receiving His love. However, they emphasize that both a healthy fear of God and receiving His love are necessary. They explain that while God can be angry at disobedience, He is also loving, merciful, kind, and gentle. The speaker encourages the audience to respect and embrace both aspects of God's character.
The sermon concludes with the speaker emphasizing the importance of fearing the Lord as the beginning of wisdom and understanding. They reference Psalm 111:10, which states that the fear of the Lord leads to wisdom and those who follow His commands have good understanding. The concept of fear is equated with following and obeying God's precepts. The sermon also highlights humility as a form of fearing the Lord, mentioning the Beatitudes and how humility leads to riches, honor, and life. The story of Abraham being tested by God to sacrifice his son is used as an example of fearing God through obedience.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing the right kind of fear, the fear of God, is a healthy and necessary part of our spiritual journey. This fear is not about being terrified, but about respecting and obeying God's commands. It is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. [44:52]
- Turning to Jesus in the midst of fear, uncertainty, and the storms of life is crucial. Jesus has the power to calm our storms, but following Him requires letting go of control and trusting in His provision. [39:38]
- Loving Jesus and others, even in the face of fear and uncertainty, is a key aspect of our Christian walk. This love is an expression of our obedience to God and our trust in His provision. [49:33]
- Fearing God and receiving His love are not mutually exclusive. While God can be angry at disobedience, He is also loving, merciful, kind, and gentle. We should respect and embrace both aspects of God's character. [43:18]
- Humility is a form of fearing the Lord. The Beatitudes teach us that humility leads to riches, honor, and life. The story of Abraham being tested by God to sacrifice his son is a powerful example of fearing God through obedience. [48:12]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 1:7 (NIV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
2. Psalm 111:10 (NIV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise."
3. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NIV): "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Proverbs 1:7, what is the beginning of knowledge? How does this relate to the concept of fearing the Lord?
2. In Psalm 111:10, what is the relationship between fearing the Lord and wisdom? How does following His precepts contribute to understanding?
3. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 mentions fearing God and keeping His commandments. What does this passage say about the duty of mankind and the judgment of deeds?
4. The sermon mentioned that fear can paralyze us but also that embracing the right kind of fear is healthy. What examples did the speaker give to illustrate this point? [36:42]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the fear of the Lord lead to wisdom and understanding according to the passages in Proverbs and Psalms? What does this imply about the nature of true wisdom?
2. The sermon discussed the power of Jesus to calm the storms in our lives. How does this metaphor help us understand the role of Jesus in our times of fear and uncertainty? [38:19]
3. The speaker mentioned that some people view God as judgmental and angry, creating a barrier to receiving His love. How can we reconcile the fear of God with His loving and merciful nature? [41:51]
4. The story of Abraham being tested by God to sacrifice his son was used as an example of fearing God through obedience. What does this story teach us about the relationship between fear, obedience, and faith? [47:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when fear paralyzed you. How can embracing the right kind of fear, the fear of God, help you move forward in similar situations in the future? [36:42]
2. In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to let go of control and trust in Jesus' provision? How can you take a step towards surrendering control to Him this week? [39:38]
3. The sermon emphasized loving Jesus and others even in the face of fear and uncertainty. Identify one person you can show love to this week despite any fears or uncertainties you may have. [52:10]
4. How can you cultivate a healthy fear of God while also receiving His love? What practical steps can you take to balance these aspects of your relationship with God? [41:51]
5. The speaker mentioned that humility is a form of fearing the Lord. What is one area in your life where you can practice humility this week? How can this lead to greater wisdom and understanding? [46:26]
6. Think about a current storm or uncertainty in your life. How can you turn to Jesus and trust in His power to calm this storm? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate this trust? [38:19]
7. The sermon concluded with the importance of fearing the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. How can you incorporate this principle into your daily decision-making and actions? [49:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Fear of God
The fear of God is not about terror, but about respect and obedience. It is a healthy and necessary part of our spiritual journey. This fear is the beginning of wisdom and understanding. [44:52]
Proverbs 14:27 - "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death."
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of the fear of God. How does this fear manifest in your daily life and decisions?
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Day 2: Trusting Jesus Amidst the Storm
In the midst of fear, uncertainty, and the storms of life, turning to Jesus is crucial. He has the power to calm our storms, but following Him requires letting go of control and trusting in His provision. [39:38]
Mark 4:39 - "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm."
Reflection: What storms are you currently facing in your life? How can you let go of control and trust Jesus to calm these storms?
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Day 3: Loving in the Face of Fear
Even in the face of fear and uncertainty, we are called to love Jesus and others. This love is an expression of our obedience to God and our trust in His provision. [49:33]
1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
Reflection: How can you express love to Jesus and others today, even amidst fear and uncertainty?
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Day 4: Embracing God's Love and Wrath
Fearing God and receiving His love are not mutually exclusive. While God can be angry at disobedience, He is also loving, merciful, kind, and gentle. We should respect and embrace both aspects of God's character. [43:18]
Nahum 1:7 - "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."
Reflection: How can you better embrace both the love and the wrath of God in your life?
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Day 5: Humility as a Form of Fear
Humility is a form of fearing the Lord. The Beatitudes teach us that humility leads to riches, honor, and life. The story of Abraham being tested by God to sacrifice his son is a powerful example of fearing God through obedience. [48:12]
Proverbs 22:4 - "Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility today as a form of fearing the Lord?
Quotes
"Fear can paralyze us right like when we are scared we can be like absolutely froze completely paralyzed and when it's taken to an unhealthy place in the context of the faith it can paralyze us to make us not do anything and God doesn't want that." [36:42]
"Fear God and keep his commands for this is the duty of all mankind... God will bring every deed into judgment including every hidden thing whether it is good or evil." [49:01]
"Maybe you can be afraid of a diagnosis, maybe you can be afraid of the future, maybe you can be afraid of what's the next step in your life right, maybe you have all of these uncertainties in Jesus, these are an opportunity for you to build your faith and to love Jesus and to love others all the more." [52:58]
"If God can calm the storms of the sea Jesus calmed the storms of the sea like he did in scripture he can calm the storms in your life also and the people this is crazy right but the people were not as afraid as the Demons of the Demons as they were of Jesus because of the power that he had." [39:01]
"There's Freedom when we follow Jesus and that's so good but there's also loss of control if if we really follow Jesus we're saying that you know what Jesus I'm going to follow you and I'm going to trust you with my life instead of trying to control my life right and that's so much easier said than done right that can be hard but there's truth to it right." [39:38]
"We need a healthy fear of God but then we also need to receive his love. It's not one or the other...we need to respect the two and I think that they can coexist." [41:51]
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...fear can equal follow...when we follow Jesus, we are obeying, we are doing what Jesus wants us to do." [43:18]
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and all who follow his commands have good understanding." [45:38]
"Humility is the fear of the Lord, and its wages are riches and honor and life." [46:26]
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