Sermon Tone Analysis

DO YOU FEAR GOD?

 

DEUT.

10:12-22

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

            *Now**:  *Jerry Bridges, in his book The Joy of Fearing God, describes the healthy tension between loving and fearing God:

 

In the physical realm, there are two opposing forces called "centrifugal" and "centripetal."

Centrifugal force tends to pull away from a center of rotation, while centripetal force pulls toward the center.

A stone whirled about on the end of a string exerts centrifugal force on the string, while the string exerts centripetal force on the stone.

Take one force away and the other immediately disappears.

These two opposing forces can help us understand something of the fear of God.

The centrifugal force represents the attributes of God such as his holiness and sovereignty that cause us to bow in awe and humbleness before him.

They hold us reverently distant from the one who, by the simple power of his word, created the universe out of nothing.

The centripetal force represents the love of God.

It surrounds us with grace and mercy and draws us with cords of love into the Father's warm embrace.

To exercise proper fear of God we must understand and respond both these forces.

*Then**:  *In today's passage, Moses has been speaking to the people.

The Israelites had a problem understanding the tension between fearing and loving God.

The people of Israel were near the end of their long journey.

For almost 40 years, they had been wandering in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land.

Finally, they would have a land of their own, where they could settle and rest from their travels.

It had been a long journey.

Moses is preparing them for their departure and for their entry into the Land, telling them how they are to live their lives as God's covenant people.

*(Read Text)*  The Israelites had to learn to fear the Lord.

*Always:  *FEARING GOD REVEALS HIS LOVE AND GRACE

           

I.

*Fearing God produces a proper attitude in us*.

(vv.

12-13)

 

*Exp.

Fear (v.12, 20): *The word fear is used 435 times in the Old Testament.

In a few passages, the object of fear is a common circumstance or object.

Eighty percent of the passages that use the word have God as the object of fear.

The first thing to discuss is the meaning of the word fear.

Fear can be associated with terror.

This can be seen in instances Israel fearing the Canaanites (Deut.

7:19).

Fear in these verses literally means to stand in awe of.

Fear can also be associated with reverence and worship.

This is the situation in verse 12.

The nature of fear is dependent on the object of that fear.

When we fear someone or something that is evil, then our reaction is to tense up, become paralyzed, our heart races.

What happens when you fear someone who has your best interest at heart?

It becomes reverence.

With God, it becomes a feeling of awe in the presence of divine love and power.

It makes us want to surrender our will to God's will.

This kind of fear casts out fear of the negative kind.

I think that was the conclusion that David came to when he wrote in Psalm 23, “I shall fear no evil, because You are with me.”

 

*Exp.

A Proper Attitude: *Having fear or awe of God is not enough.

Notice that verses 12 and 13 lists five things that Moses expects from the Israelites: (1) they are to *fear* God, (2) they are to *walk* in his ways, (3) they are to *love *Him, (4) they are to *serve *the Lord, and (5) they are to *keep *the Lord's commandments.

As you read these words, you will observe that love is right in the middle of the rest.

This is a very significant thing.

Moses is most likely addressing the "Greatest Commandment" to love God.

By having the proper attitude of reverence and by loving him, we are able to walk in a close relationship with him.

*The closeness* of that relationship becomes evident in our service and obedience to His word.

* *

*Ill.

*Leonard Sweet provides an interesting example of this attitude from the history of our country:

 

One tribe of native Americans had a unique practice for training young braves.

On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, he was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone.

Until then he had never been away from the security of his family and tribe.

But on this night he was blindfolded and taken miles away.

When he took of the blindfold, he was in the middle of thick woods.

By himself.

All night long.

Every time a twig snapped, he probably visualized a wild animal ready to pounce.

Every time an animal howled, he imagined what more sinister sound it masked.

No doubt it was a terrifying night for many.

After what seemed like an eternity, the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest.

Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of a path.

Then, to his astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow.

It was the boy's father.

He had been there all night long.

God allows us to face the tests of life.

We may have earthly fears.

We may struggle with many things, but God is always present with us.

He is our refuge.

*In* *Psalm 91, the psalmist says, “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety, He will shield you with his wings, he will shelter you with his feathers.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”

Romans 8:38-39 reminds us nothing will be able to separate us from his loving protection.*

* *

            *App.

*1.

We are to have total dependence upon God.

In everything that we do, we are to draw close to Him.

In drawing close to Him, we know his perfect love.

We are to share that love with others by serving him and telling them about our relationship with Him.

            *App.

*2.

We are to study God's Word.

You cannot keep what you do not first know.

The more we read his Word the more he can reveal to us about his love.

*II.

**Fearing God produces a servant's heart**.*

*Do you know any stiff-necked people?*

*Exp.

Circumcise your heart (v.

16).

* We usually associate circumcision with the dedication of Jewish sons.

In this verse, it serves to remind us of the inward act of the heart.

It is not the external ritual, but the expression of the inward nature of the individual that is of vital importance to God.

He wanted them to peel back the layers from their heart so that they may have compassion for others.

We are to have complete love for God.

When we circumcise our hearts, we take an attitude toward God and others that is the opposite of being stubborn *(stiff-necked)*.

*Exp.

A servant's heart in action.

(v.

17-19).

*Verses 17 and 18 are very interesting.