FEAR OF GOD

Introduce yourself

PJ, Colorado Springs, Downtown Groups Coordinator, ORU 2015, working on MDiv @ Midwestern Seminary, Lab named Odin

Pick up where we left off last week: the steps of a righteous man are ORDERED - established/prepared - by the Lord.

how many of you are scared of God?

Who is God?

The creator of the universe: existed before time, matter, and space[Gen 1:1]

God is good[

Every good and perfect gift comes from him

Is not mad at you

Has plans for you: good not evil, a future and a hope

God wants to help you live this life[Heb. 4:15-16]

The one who fears God follows God

Fear of God: my reverence for God and knowing that He is in charge of my life

Proverbs 9:10–12 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

This is what we gain when we submit our lives to God

God will teach us how to thrive so we have to come to Him for guidance

The one who fears God desires a listening heart

Look at how Solomon is asking God for help to govern his people:

1 Kings 3:9–12 (ESV)

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

This was the key to his success; an understanding heart

the heart is the inner man or your will

Understanding: Shema - to hear; listen and obey

Shema: to hear; listen and obey

God didn’t force this on him because God allows us to choose

Once we leave the kingdom of darkness to light we are faced with choosing between Gods will and our own

Remember that His will leads to life and peace

The Believer’s Battle: My will vs His will

Most of our battles as believers is not against the devil but rather us projecting our will against God’s!

God will not provide for something that he didn’t establish for your life

“Im not paying that bill if its not my will.”

Sometimes we take “steps of faith” when He never told us to leave and then it blows up in our face

This is why we lay down our lives so that we can receive grace to do His work

Even doing homework for seminary this week! I had to submit my desires and ask God to help me do something that He desires! Pray it through!

The one who fears God chooses God

My salvation is my submission

Salvation is a moment and sanctification covers my lifetime

Which means we will have a lifetime of laying down areas of our lives

I cant only have Jesus as my savior not my Lord

So now how?

Romans 6:1–7 (ESV)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.

When the believer submits themselves in baptism the are raised TO WALK in the newness of life

We are resurrected in the power of Christ over sin and are no longer a slave to it

Darkness is broken and we now live under His authority

Ay but, “Low-key I don’t always feel like I am free from sin’s power”

Romans 7:4–6 (ESV)

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Romans 7:8–9 (ESV)

But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

There it is, the believers battle of the mind!

Sometimes we don’t choose to acknowledge God and then we give place for the enemy to do his thing in our lives

Our Father is trying to teach us how to live and we just keep acting like our former selves

Romans 8:5–8 (ESV)

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

To please God, I have to choose

The power that ruled you is broken

You are no longer ruled by the body or an ungodly soul

The Spirit of God is now your residing ruler

You have to ask for grace to overcome

Putting off the old man and putting on the new in the moment

You have to participate in your sanctification

God is not going to be Lord over a field if your heart unless you give Him permission to

We are not plagued by darkness, we aren’t participating in our walk

In the moment, I choose you...

I choose you in

managing my money, protecting my sexuality, honoring authority, showing mercy, following your lead

Is He your Lord?

What changes do you need to make in the light?

You may ask for grace before the situation!

I want to give you an opportunity to choose God

If you have not been baptized and want the power of sin to be broken meet the team on your left

[wave stage right]

Transition | Pray | Response time