Fear This! Part 2
Luke 12:4-5
Understanding God’s Wrath
God was
not wrathful when there was no sin. God’s wrath is not an essential aspect of
his character. Rather, God’s wrath is the product of God’s holiness and
justice.
The “Fear of The Lord” is a fear of this
holy and just God’s response to sin and unrepentant sinners.
I. Defining the “Fear
of the Lord”
·
The Hebrew and Greek
words for “fear” and “reverence” vary.
·
The "fear of the Lord" should include a place for "trembling.”
A proper
"fear of the Lord" would then
include...
·
Reverence and Awe
·
Being afraid to offend
God in any way.
·
A trembling and
quaking if one knows they have offended God and have not obtained forgiveness.
II. The Importance
of the "Fear of the Lord”
·
Hope springs from confidence
in a powerful God.
·
I sense truth when
I see God.
·
I rest in the power
of this great God!
·
My life is insecure
when I try to please men.
·
God is never changing.
·
Life becomes simple
when I follow God.
Without the "fear
of the Lord"...
·
We close ourselves to the
treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge!
·
We will flirt with
evil and be corrupted by it.
·
Our lives are likely to
be shortened by our refusal to heed God's word.
·
We will not come to know
the love of God that gives us assurance and confidence of our salvation.
·
When fallen into sin,
we will not be motivated to repent and turn to God!
·
We will not be motivated
to truly "work out our own salvation!”
III. Developing the "Fear
of the Lord”
·
The "fear of the Lord" comes through the Word of God!
·
The Word of God, properly used, will
maintain a proper balance between the Fear of God and the Love of
God.
·
Disciples who follow the Master will
find the course demanding requiring effort and dedication each
day.
IV. Wise People Still Fear God Jeremiah
5:22a
·
The fear of the wrath of
God eternally for unbelievers drives men to repentance at the
Cross.
·
The fear of losing the
presence of God through unrighteousness should drive believers to
repentance as well.
