Isaiah 8:11-17 (NKJV)
11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
12 "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.
14 He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken."
16 Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.
11 For the Lord spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
12 "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.
14 He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken."
16 Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.
Three Kinds of Fear 1. Natural Fear 2. Sinful Fear 3. Godly Fear
Natural Fear
· A fear that is instinctive,
· we all have felt it motivates us to act to preserve our lives
· it is not sinful but natural
Sinful Fear
· May prevent us from doing the will of God such as
· not admitting our guilt (peter denied the Lord)
· it may come as a sudden attack
1 Kings 19:1-4 (NKJV)
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."
3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
It May Become A Habitual Thing; Or I Can Become As A Slave To The Devil To Certain Kind Of Fear.
Hebrews 2:15 (NKJV)
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
· On 366 occasions in the Bible where God say: “fear Not”.
Godly Fear
· The scriptures sometimes link his kind of fear with trembling. This emotion is like the emotions in natural or sinful fear.
Philippians 2:12 (NKJV)
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
· The difference is the source and motivation.
· The fear of the Lord depends on a right understanding of
God’s character.
God’s character.
· If you think of God as unjust, unmerciful, or even tyrannical you might be frighten of Him. If this is the case, your fear becomes sinful fear and not godly fear.
· It is a corrective fear when we are tempted to de deviate from the will of God.
· A right attitude toward God results in our seeking for a holy intimacy.
James 2:23 (NKJV)
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
Deuteronomy 34:10 (NKJV)
10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
Deuteronomy 34:10 (NKJV)
10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
What Is A Right Attitude Toward God?
· We cannot bring God to our level but we must ascend to His. He is not one of our buddies
Retain A Sense Of Awe And Wonder.
· We must retain a sense of awe and wonder in our relationship with Him.
Hebrews 12:28-29 (NKJV)
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV)
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Proverbs 8:13 (NKJV)
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.
· When we fail or fall we are not to wallow around in the mire but pick ourselves up and trust God.
Micah 7:8 (NKJV)
8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.
8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.
· The fear of the Lord will cause us to avoid sin when we see it looming ahead
Proverbs 16:6 (NKJV)
6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
6 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.
· There some particular temptations that is defeated when we turn and run
1 Corinthians 6:18 (NKJV)
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV)
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
2 Timothy 2:22 (NKJV)
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV)
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
2 Timothy 2:22 (NKJV)
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
An Effective Prayer Life Is Necessary
· The fear of “God saturates many of the recorded prayers of the bible.
Daniel
Daniel 9:4 (NKJV)
4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,
Daniel 9:7 (NKJV)
7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day--to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.
4 And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,
Daniel 9:7 (NKJV)
7 O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day--to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.
Jesus
John 17:1 (NKJV)
1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
John 17:11 (NKJV)
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
John 17:25 (NKJV)
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
Hebrews 5:7 (NKJV)
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You,
John 17:11 (NKJV)
11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
John 17:25 (NKJV)
25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.
Hebrews 5:7 (NKJV)
7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
There Is No More Effective Motivation Than The Fear Of The Lord And Serving Him Together With The Scriptures.
Deuteronomy 6:13 (NKJV)
13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
Deuteronomy 10:12 (NKJV)
12 "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Joshua 24:14 (NKJV)
14 "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!
13 You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.
Deuteronomy 10:12 (NKJV)
12 "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
Joshua 24:14 (NKJV)
14 "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!
Motivated By The Fear Of The Lord
· Noah, thought to be crazy, was motivated to obey God from “Holy Fear” to build an ark.
Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV)
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
· Do you find you are reluctant to speak to people about Christ?
· Paul was but he overcame by holy fear on the road to Damascus
2 Corinthians 5:11 (NKJV)
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
The Fear Of The Lord Can Make Holiness Pure
· We can, but the fear of God make Pure the holiness we exhibit.
2 Corinthians 7:1 (NKJV)
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
· To make Holiness perfect does not mean sinless perfection
1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
· Paul meant perfect in the sense of coming to full growth or maturity. Jesus was the only man to walk a perfect life
1 Peter 2:22 (NKJV)
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
22 "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth";
· This means that we live in Christ’s promised victory, and we display the fruit of the Spirit. A failure is the exception rather than the rule.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Holiness, What Is It?
· Trying to cleanse ourselves is the negative side of perfect holiness; becoming like Christ Jesus in our character is the positive.
· To reach this level we need the fear of the Lord. It creates within us a longing to be God-like, and a motivation and faith to make it happen.
Isaiah 8:12-13 (NKJV)
12 "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.
12 "Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.
Definition of Conspiracy: an agreement to perform together an illegal wrongful or subversive act.
Conspiracy That Torment
· The bible calls a conspiracy those fears and torment that are in the world; we are not to fear what the world fears. (Sickness, Unemployment, Violence, War, Etc).
· When we are confronted with two types of fear, we must choose the fear of God.
· It was a fearful thing for Abraham to lift a knife to slay his son, yet the fear of God delivered him.
Genesis 22:12 (NKJV)
12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
How Do We Get The Fear Of God?
· The fear of God and the knowledge of God go to together.
Proverbs 2:5 (NKJV)
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.
Get To Know Jesus Better
· The spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord – and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 11:2-3 (NKJV)
2 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 of the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
2 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 of the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight is in the fear of the Lord, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears;
· What kind of knowledge does the Holy Spirit bring?
· The more we have of His knowledge the more we shall know of the fear of the Lord.
Ephesians 1:17 (NKJV)
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
· The work of the Holy Spirit does not happen automatically, those who experience the fear of the Lord are those who deeply desire it.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NKJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
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