THE FEAR OF THE LORD: THE FUEL OF FAITHFULNESS

A DEFINITION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

What does the phrase "the fear of the LORD" refer to?

When we think of fear, we associate the word with terror. Webster's Dictionary defines fear as

"a feeling of anxiety and agitation produced by the presence or nearness of danger, evil, pain, etc."

For many, this would describe the feeling you get when you see a snake, go to the doctor or dentist, or when you find yourself in a time of extreme danger. It is dread of the unknown.

A DEFINITION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

In our modern vernacular, the word fear, in the context in which it is used by Solomon, has been replaced with reverence, awe, great respect.

A DEFINITION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

What the writer of this book is saying is that we are to have a deep reverence and respect for the Lord. Literally, we are to be awed and humbled by His presence.

What, then, does it mean to fear the Lord?

When we truly fear the Lord, we will recognize that He is the Creator and we are the creatures. He is the Master and we are the servants. He is the Father and we are the children.

What, then, does it mean to fear the Lord?

This attitude will manifest itself in our having a respect for God, His word and in our having a desire to do what He tells us to in His Bible. We can relate this kind of fear to that which a child has for his parents.

What, then, does it mean to fear the Lord?

The fear of the Lord is a deep seated reverence for God that causes men to want to please Him at all costs.

The fear of the Lord is the true expression of real faith.

Is not Christianity commonly described by faith rather than by fear? In legal indictments it is said sometimes of a man that he, “not having the fear of God before his eyes,” did so and so. Why is the fear of God selected?

Fear is the fuel for love.

I thought the Bible taught that “perfect love drives out all fear” and that “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and sound mind” and what about all the verses that say “fear not”.‌

Fear is the fuel for love.

As the Bible, as it often does, puts before us a paradox. We are to fear and fear not. Perfect love drives out all the wrong kinds of fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear and we are not to fear because the Lord is not only with us but in us.

Fear is the fuel for love.

The fear spoke of here is a filial fear. it’s like the child’s fear of his father. Just think for a minute, what is a child’s fear of his father? I do not mean a naughty child, a child that is obstinate, but a young man who loves his father. It is reverential. It is awe-striking.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD: ITS DIVIDENDS

According to this book, the fear of the Lord will produce certain benefits in your life and mine. When we fear the Lord, we will find certain things to be true.

It Is The Beginning Of Wisdom

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 15:33 ESV

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

The best place to begin the search for true wisdom is in the fear of the Lord. True fear of the Lord is born out of a knowledge of how infinitely powerful, majestic and full of goodness God is. Before one can grow in the Lord, he must first learn to fear Him.)

It Motivates People To Holiness

Proverbs 3:7 ESV

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 16:6 ESV

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

These verse tell us that the fear of the Lord promotes holy living. The person who truly reverences and respects the Lord as he should will not do anything that brings disgrace, dishonor or pain to the heart of the Lord.

It Motivates People To Holiness

People who genuinely fear the Lord will flee from evil. The prospect of causing the Lord pain will be too great to bear! Job is a great example of what the fear of the Lord will produce in your life, Job 1:8

Job 1:8 ESV

And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”

Philippians 2:12 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Acts 5:5 ESV

When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Acts 5:11 ESV

And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

Acts 5:12 ESV

Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.

Acts 5:13 ESV

None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.

Acts 5:14 ESV

And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,

Acts 9:31 ESV

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

Luke 23:39 ESV

One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Luke 23:40 ESV

But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

Luke 23:41 ESV

And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”

Luke 23:42 ESV

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Luke 23:42 ESV

And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Romans 3:18 ESV

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

It Prolongs Life

Proverbs 10:27 ESV

The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short.

This is not a blanket promise because any number of things can happen along the road of life that can take us out of here in an instant.

It Prolongs Life

However, generally speaking, those who live in the fear of the Lord are more likely to live to a good old age than those who live for the flesh and the world.

It Prolongs Life

Approximately 60% of human illnesses can be traced directly or indirectly to fear, sorrow, envy, resentment, guilt, hatred, or to any number of emotional stresses.

It Produces A Sense Of Security

Proverbs 14:26 ESV

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.

When we are walking in the fear of the Lord, we can have confidence that God is on our side. Notice Romans 8:31,

Romans 8:31 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

The person who is walking in the fear of the Lord will have fewer feelings of insecurity, abandonment and fear. There will be far fewer times when salvation is doubted. The fear of the Lord produces a strong sense of security and close fellowship with the Father.

It Produces Life

Proverbs 14:27 ESV

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

When we walk in the fear of the Lord, we are stronger spiritually than we could be otherwise. The fear of the Lord is like a fountain that continually springs up with spiritual vitality and strength. This enables the Christian to walk cleaner and closer thus avoiding the temptations and traps of the devil.

It Makes All Of Life Better

Proverbs 15:16 ESV

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it.

This verse teaches us that it is better to have limited resources and be in the will of God than it is to have plenty and the trouble that comes along with it.

It Produces Satisfaction

Proverbs 19:23 ESV

The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

The person who lives in the fear of God will be a satisfied person. They will have one goal in live, pleasing the Lord, and it will have been met.

It Produces Satisfaction

When we must have other stuff to make us happy, we never will be! When we learn to be satisfied with the Lord and with the privilege of walking in His fear, we will be permanently satisfied. Nothing will matter but the smile of God and it will be upon our lives.

It Brings Great Blessings

Proverbs 22:4 ESV

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

The person who chooses to walk in the fear of the Lord can rest assured that this decision will bring great blessings into his life.

It Brings Great Blessings

There will be spiritual riches beyond belief, (peace, joy, hope, security, the promises of God, the presence of God, etc.). The fear of the Lord, produces the greatest possible life that any person can ever live. There is no better life upon this earth than a life lived in the will of the Lord!

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

To put it very simply, walking in the fear of the Lord is going to have to be your individual decision. No one can make you do, no one can do it for you.

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

The decision to live a life that is ordered around a holy, reverential respect for God is a decision that you must make for yourself. Al I can do is tell you that deciding to walk in the fear of the Lord will produce a better life down here and will result in a life greatly blessed by the Lord.

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

A decision to live outside the fear of the Lord, that is, living as you please and for yourself, will bring not the blessings of God, but His judgment to bear in your life. If you are saved, you will never be able to get away with sin, Rev. 3:19.

Revelation 3:19 ESV

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

A life lived in the fear of the Lord will tell on you. If you fear Him, then you will want to honor him in everything. He will come first and His will will be paramount in your life.

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

It is easy to see those who walk in the fear of the Lord. His House is a priority, prayer and the Scriptures are priorities, everything God says in His Word take priority and precedent over one's personal will and desires. The Lord's way becomes the only way.

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

By the same token, a life lived outside the fear of God is easy to pick out as well. The things of God will be secondary. Other matters will consistently be placed ahead of the Lord and His will and His work. This kind of life is usually filled with trouble and trial.

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

There is more heartache and disaster in a life lived outside the fear of the Lord. This is not the way God intended the Christian life to be lived!

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

Do you understand the fear of the Lord any better? I trust that you do and that you have allowed the Holy Spirit the opportunity to speak to your heart and that now, you will do what the Lord has told you to do.

A DECISION RELATED TO THE FEAR OF THE LORD

If you know that you are not walking in the fear of the Lord as you should, then I invite you to come to this altar and deal with that need. The Lord help us all to walk in a reverential awe of Him, His greatness and His glory. May His people always be a people who fear the Lord and prove it by living by His Word!

Proverbs 31:30 ESV

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Jeremiah 32:39 ESV

I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them.

2 Corinthians 5:11 ESV

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

Acts 19:17 ESV

And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

Psalm 147:11 ESV

but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 33:18 ESV

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

Psalm 25:14 ESV

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

Psalm 61:5 ESV

For you, O God, have heard my vows; you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Psalm 111:5 ESV

He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

Psalm 103:13 ESV

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Psalm 103:17 ESV

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,

Psalm 118:4 ESV

Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”

Psalm 85:9 ESV

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.

Psalm 115:13 ESV

he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great.

Psalm 31:19 ESV

Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Proverbs 28:14 ESV

Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Psalm 145:19 ESV

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

Proverbs 16:6 ESV

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

Proverbs 13:13 ESV

Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 22:4 ESV

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Psalm 130:4 ESV

But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

Ecclesiastes 8:12 ESV

Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him.

Luke 1:50 ESV

And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Isaiah 11:1 ESV

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

Isaiah 11:2 ESV

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 11:3 ESV

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,