The Fear of The Lord

Do the Book of Ecclesiastes? The Book of Ecclesiastes in chapter number 12, me looking at 1 verse there. But they will be looking at several verses throughout this this evening.

Ecclesiastes chapter number 12 in verse 13.

He says, let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep his Commandments. For this is the whole duty of man want to speak to you this evening, on this thought, the fear of the Lord, the fear of the Lord. Once again, go to our Lord and time of prayer, Our Father Lord, I do pray that you would help us for to grasp the message to night, Lord, help us to have a clear understanding of what it means to fear. You are the we know that it is seen throughout all the scripture and father, we pray God, that's we would have a new sense of fear but also our country and yeah even entire world would once again have a fear of you Father we ask you Lord of again bless this time. Bless the time of our prayer and just a moment. I'll give you the praise and glory. We ask this in Jesus name, amen, I think you would all would have to mit's and agree with me that we are living in a crooked and perverse generation, right? You don't even have to turn on the TV to know that. All you have to do is go to Walmart at night and you will see that we are living in a crooked and perverse generation for sure. There's no denying that truth. But the question is this, why is that Why are we living in such crazy days or the answer is found? In Romans 3 chapter Romans Chapter 3, Verse 18, where it says there is no fear of God, Before Their Eyes, no fear of God before their eyes. That is the answer. That is a reason why we see the things that we're seeing today. Really unexplainable things that we're seeing today. Men simply do not fear the lord in our day. There was a time when our nation was very young and early America. That there was a sense of fear of God. Even to those who are not even Christian, there was still a sense of reverence and fear for gone, but we do not live in such days today.

So this is one topic that the Bible has a lot to say it is not that we do not fear God today in America because the bible really doesn't say a whole lot about it and all the opposite is true. The Bible says a whole lot about fearing the Lord so I want to take just a few moments this evening and think about this matter of fearing the Lord. And I understand that and I know that this message is not going to change our world. However, my prayer is that it changes me and it changes you. We may not be able to change the entire world but we can change our world by implementing the things of gods. Were the first thing I noticed with me this evening is this the fear of the Lord defined? What's the definition of the fear of the Lord? For the Bible tells us that Solomon who was the wisest man who ever lived 1st. Kings chapter 4, verse. 31 tells us that and so, when he says that the entire sum of life is to fear God, And it is recorded for us in scripture, then we ought to take note of that as being very important. And we ought to understand why just exactly what it is talking about when he says fear God. I say this because in truth we have a great misunderstanding concerning this matter of fear. Webster defines fear as an unpleasant often strong emotion, caused by anticipation, or awareness of danger. And we all at some point or another have felt that kind of fear and that is not pleasant at all. But this is not the idea of what Solomon is talking about. The word used for fear in this verse and most other verses in the Old Testament that are dealing with this subject. The word means to stand in awe of to reverence to honor into respect. And so when Solomon says, fear God, he's saying stand in all of him, honor him respect him. And so you see today that when I say that, we no longer live in a nation that fears God, it's quite clear that we no longer live in a nation that respects God, honors God. So that's what the word means to fear the lord. It is not mean that we cringe. Are we tremble? Every time we hear his name, But it does mean that we honor him and that we respect him and that we humbly reverence him. It means that we stand in awe of his greatness. Basically what this means is that when we are in the presence of the Lord, we will not treat him as if he is just some good buddy of ours.

We won't desire to if we could somehow just slap him on the back and hang out. It means that when we are aware of his presence, we will will react in all. And in reverence, I believe it might be helpful. For us to look at several Bible passages. How these individuals reacted when they were brought into the presence of the Lord, take her bowels and turn with me to Jobe chapter 42. Jobe chapter number 42.

Verse 1.

Job, 42 verse 1. says, then job answered the Lord and said, I know that you can do everything and that no purpose of yours can be withheld from you. You asked who is this who hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore, I have uttered. What? I did not understand things too. Wonderful for me, which I do not know. Listen, please, and let me speak. You said I will question you and you shall answer me. I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear but now my eyes. See you there for. I abhor myself and repent in dust and Ashes and then turn to Isaiah chapter 6. Isaiah chapter number 6.

We're familiar with this passage of scripture. Where the prophets, the great prophet Isaiah. Seize the Lord high and lifted up Isaiah chapter 6, verse 1.

Says, in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up and a train of his robe. Filled the temple above its stood seraphim. Each one had six wings with two. He covered his face and with two, he covered his feet and with two he flew and one Cried unto another and said, holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory and the post of the door, were shaken by the voice of him, who cried. And the house was filled with smoke. So I said, whoa, is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean, lips and dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for my eyes, have seen the king, the Lord of hosts. And then turn to Luke chapter 5. Luke chapter number 5. We see here in this chapter Simon Peter. Who is reluctant? To follow the lord, Jesus commands.

Luke Chapter 5, and verse number one.

So it was as the multitude pressed about him, that is Jesus to hear the word of God that he stood by the lake of the Nazareth and saw two, both standing by the lake but the fishermen had gone from them and we're washing their Nets, then he got into one of the boats which was Simon's and asked him to put out from the land, a little from the land and sat down and talked the multitude from the boat. When he had stopped speaking, he said to Simon Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a cash. But Simon answered and said to him Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless at your word, I will let down the net. And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their net was breaking. So they signal to their Partners in the other boat to come and help them and they came and feel the both the boats so that they began to sink when Simon Peter saw it. He fell down at Jesus. Knew you saying, depart from me for, I am a sinful man. Oh Lord for he and all who were with him, were astonished at the catch. A fish wish they had taken I've been turned to Acts chapter 9. Acts chapter number 9, we go from Simon Peter, who is just absolutely in awe. The very power. The presence of the Lord Jesus to the Apostle. Paul at this time it is Saul of Tarsus and Acts chapter number 9 and verse number one Then saw still breathing threats and murder against the Disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogue's of Damascus. So that if he found any, who were of the way with her men and women, he might bring them down to Jerusalem as he journeyed. He came near Damascus that suddenly a light Shone around him, from heaven, then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him. Saul Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, who are you? Lord. Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads. So, he trembled. He was trembling in astonished. He said Lord what do you want me to do then the Lord said to him arise and go into the City and you will be told what you must do. And then we'll finish up in the last book of the Bible, Revelation chapter 1. Revelation chapter 1, John The Beloved, the Apostle, John.

Has a vision.

On the Risen Christ, Revelation chapter 1, verse 10.

He said I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day. And I heard behind me a loud voice. As of a trumpet saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first, and the last. And what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches, which are in Asia to Ephesus to Smyrna to program. Mr. Tire Tyra to Sardis to Philadelphia today, I'll just see you. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with Megan having turn, I saw seven, golden lamp stands, and in the midst of the seven, lamp stands one, like the son of man clothes with a garment, down to the feeding, girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were like white wool. As white as snow and his eyes like a flame of fire. His feet were like fine brass as it if you find in a furnace.

And his voice, as a sound of many Waters, he had in his right hand, Seven Stars out of his mouth, went a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me saying to me, do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, and so here, you see, John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos, he sees the vision of Christ and he falls at his feet as as if he was dead. There's many other verses that I could read, but you get the point that the fear, the lord speaks of our eyes and our reverence of him. The bottom line is this, when we are walking in the fear of the Lord, we will find ourselves in all of his greatness and of his power. We will think much of him and in doing so, we will think very little of ourselves. He will have a preeminence in our hearts. He will have the preeminence in our lives until the question to us. This evening is, does this describe the way you see God? Do you see him high and lifted up? Do you see him and all of his glory one who is Holy? Without spot or blemish. Do you live in the fear of the Lord? You say, brother Wade? Is there a way that you can tell if you are are not will absolutely How do you know that you're living in the fear of the Lord? Your actions will prove it. Your actions will prove it, whether or not you fear the lord. So that's the definition of noticed. Secondly, the fear of the Lord is described

Solomon seems to tell us that the fear of the Lord is demonstrated in a life that keeps the Commandments of God. Solomon, says fear God, and keep his Commandments. And other words, you and I proved what we think of the Lord, by the way, we live our lives, bottom line. I missed two is shown to us in the word of God. There are several passages in the Bible that deal with this matter of fearing the Lord. They teach us the truth that we do that. What we do? Proves what we think of God And there is something that we must understand is that you will live know better. You will live no higher than the level at which you honour and reverence God. if you see the Lord as being, Lofty and glorious, and Majestic, and holy. If you see him as the god of judgment, if you see him as being one who hates sin, then you will live like that because you believe that, and because you believe that you're going to live like that, but if on the other hand, you have the idea that God just Winks at seeing, it doesn't really take it seriously.

That he might not really you think? Well, he really won't judge the world, then you will live a much lower life. As far as your sin goes, you will live a life of sin. So it is true. Your life will tell the world. What you think of God Proverbs 14 to towels, as he that walks in his uprightness fears, the Lord, but he that is perverse in his ways despises the Lord. Proverbs 3:7 says, be not wise in your own eyes, fear, the lord, and depart from Evil. So, knowing, and having the sense of Awesomeness and the sense of reverence and honor of the Lord, it helps you and motivates you to depart from that which the Lord hates. Proverbs 14-27 says the fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life to depart from the snares of death. Proverbs 16, 6s by Mercy, and Truth. Iniquity is purged. And by the fear of the Lord men, depart from Evil Jesus. Put it this way, if you love me. Keep my Commandments. He just said it much more concisely, but if you love me, you're going to show me that you love me. How how you obeying my word Until the Bible and the Lord Jesus equates, a fearing the Lord with doing what he says. So don't tell me or anyone else that you have a fear of God that you reverence him and you think of his a locking us and is holding us when you live like the devil. You cannot say that and do not say that you love God. When you do not obey God's word, bottom line, Again, just as simply as I can put it, the Bible teaches us that we approve of our fear of the Lord by ordering our lives in a manner that shows. Love that shows respect that shows reverence for him above all other things.

Again, I ask you this evening. Does this describe the way? What you live your life? Does your lifestyle say, just in the way you live, I love the Lord. It should. Notice lastly. The fear of the Lord is not only defined and described, but the fear of the Lord is demanded. Is demanded. King, Solomon closes. The Book of Ecclesiastes. He tells us that fearing the Lord and keeping his Commandments is the whole duty of man.

Council is that all we really need to worry about in life. Is fearing. God respecting him. Honoring him having a reference of God. and if we can handle that, then we can handle anything else. You teach your children? More than anything else. You fear God. You reverence God, you honor God. And if they do that than anything else, they do will be a piece of cake.

So what Psalm is trying to say and what the scriptures are saying, especially like Proverbs 14 2 and chapter 16 verse 60 chest at the fear, the Lord will motivate you to live a clean life. A life that is pleasing to the Lord. A life that honors him. Analyze that. But he can bless with his power. That ought to be our desire. He wants you to live a life that he can use. He wants you to live a life that he can bless. He wants you to walk in awe of him. He wants our hearts to be filled, be so filled with respect to the Lord. That we would rather die. Then dishonor him.

That is the essence of fearing, the Lord. Do you tonight Wednesday? Night crowd. Is their brother waiting for your tough tonight. Hey, this is preaching to me to write Do you fear God? Do you honor him? Do your reverence him? Well, how does your life look? Because that's the proof. All right? I pray that say help as we

Go on and our Christian walk. That we would certainly have the desire to please. The Lord. We have sir.