SCRIPTURE

Acts 9:31 (NLT) The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.

INTRODUCTION

In these last days we need to hear more about fear of the Lord, as the coming of our Lord Jesus is drawing near. Bible says when the Son of man comes will He find faith on this Earth. If you don’t have the fear of the Lord you will slowly tend to drift away from your faith and your relationship with your Saviour Jesus Christ. But when you have the fear of God, as the scripture says you will have peace, you will become stronger, you will be encouraged by the Holy Spirit and you will experience the Church of Jesus Christ growing leaps and bounds.

In simple terms, fear of the Lord is a deep seated reverence you have for your God, which causes you to want to please God at all costs. It is an awesome respect for God, understanding His greatness and His power. The disciples feared God, when they saw the powerful act of God, when Jesus stopped the storm.

Mark 4:41 (KJV) And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Illustration: A child knows very well that parents can hurt them if they are disobedient. They also know that disobedience hurts parents and so they love and respect parents and do not want to hurt them. This love and respect the child has for their parents is similar to the love and respect you have for your God, when you have fear of God.

Oswald Chambers said “The remarkable thing about fearing God is that, when you fear God, you fear nothing else; whereas, if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”

A. EXAMPLES

1. No fear of God

Disobeying God’s Commandment – In Leviticus 10:1 we read that Nadab and Abihu, with no fear of God, they disobeyed the Lord by burning before Him the wrong kind of fire, different to what God had commanded them.
Speaking lies before God – In Act 5:1-3 we read Ananias and Saphhira sold their property and brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With no fear of God they allowed Satan to fill their hearts and they lied to the Holy Spirit.

2. Fear of God

Called to be the head – In Exodus 3:9-10 we read that God heard the cry of the people of Israel and seen their suffering in the hands of the Egyptians. God choose Moses who feared God and he obeyed God to lead God’s people out of Egypt.
Blessings of God – In Genesis 15:5-6 we read about Abram who feared God and was obedient to Him. God told him, ‘ look into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have’. Abram believed the Lord and it was counted to him for righteousness.

Illustration: Edgar Harrell was one of the 300 survivors of USS Indianapolis, that sunk by enemy contact in World War II. These men who survived were stranded in the water for five days. Many had only a life vest and were facing thirst, hunger, injuries, dehydration and fear of sharks. They all came face to face with fear.
Edgar testified that those days in the midst of the ocean, clearly there were no atheists in the water. The pride that deceives men into thinking that there is no God, or they don’t need God was gone. When a man is confronted with death, it is the face of Almighty God he seeks and a sense of fear of God comes into their lives.

B. BLESSINGS

1. Receive wisdom

Proverbs 15:33 (NLT) Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom;

You will receive wisdom, when you fear of God. If you reject God, you cut yourself off from your only source of wisdom. You may think you are wise in your own eyes, but you are foolish if you do not fear the Lord. Wisdom is knowledge being applied the right way.

In James 3:17 we read about the Wisdom from God, which is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, good fruits, impartial and sincere. You need the wisdom of God to deal with life’s problems. You may have number of coping mechanisms, when you are faced with life’s problem, but they will never provide you with the wisdom that is needed to please God and bear fruit in every good work.

2. Brings Holy living

Proverbs 16:6 (NLT) ..by fearing the LORD, people avoid evil.

By fearing God you avoid evil, which in turn draws you closer to God and leads you to holiness. When you truly respect and fear the Lord, you will not do anything that brings disgrace or dishonor to God. Hurting or causing pain to your Lord will be too hard for you.

Job is a great example as God himself is testifying of Job.

Job 1:8 (NLT) Job 1:8 Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed My servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

If you’ve received Christ, His blood has washed all your sins. You will not continue or attempt to sin, because of your love, respect and fear of God.

Apostle Paul is saying

Romans 6:1 (NLT) Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of His wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

The more you avoid evil/sin the more your life becomes holy. Without holiness you will not be able to see God.

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

3. Lengthens your life

Proverbs 10:27 (NLT) Fear of the LORD lengthens one’s life

With fear of God in your life, you are likely to live up to a good old age than those who live for their carnal desires. Studies show that more than 50% of human illnesses can be traced directly or indirectly to hatred, sorrow, envy, resentment, guilt, forgiveness, emotional stress, etc. Adding to this alcohol and tobacco can cause cancer, and immorality can cause venereal diseases and AIDS which will reduce your life span.

But with fear of God, you will enjoy peace, wisdom, happiness and experience good health and length of days.

4. Brings Confidence, Satisfaction and Safety

Proverbs 14:26 (KJV) In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence

Proverbs 19:23 (NLT) Fear of the LORD leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm

With fear of the Lord, you will have tremendous confidence that God is on your side and He will never leave you nor forsake you. You will be able to solve any problem with confidence. With the confidence in God you will be able to get through tough and hard times.

Romans 8:31 (NLT) If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

You will never feel insecure, abandoned, lonely, and fearful. You will have a sense of security and closer fellowship with your God the Father and be fully satisfied. All your needs will be met.

Like job you will have God’s protection around you and your will feel safe and secure. In Job 1:10 we read Job had a security fence around him and the enemy could not touch him.

God has limitless power and He definitely cares about you. You don’t have to fear, because the One who holds your future, your Awesome God.

5. Brings Blessings

Proverbs 22:4 (NLT) … fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life

Fear of the Lord will bring great blessings to your life. There is no better life upon this earth than a life lived with respect, love and fear of God.

There are plenty of promises in the bible for you. Some of the promises are

1. You will have prosperous Christian life

Psalms 25:12-13 (NLT) Who are those who fear the LORD? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land.

2. Lord becomes your good friend

Psalms 25:14 (NLT) The LORD is a friend to those who fear Him. He teaches them His covenant.

3. You will feel secure

Proverbs 14:26 (NLT) Those who fear the LORD are secure;

4. You will lack nothing

Psalm 34:9 (NLT) … for those who fear Him will have all they need

5. God answers your prayers

Psalm 145:19 (NLT) He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.

CONCLUSION

Walking in the fear of the Lord is your personal decision. A life with full respect for God is a decision you must make. But if you have the fear of God

you will want to honour God in everything.
your priority will be God,
you will talk to God in prayer
you will read and meditate on Scriptures and
God’s will and God’s desires will take precedent in your life, than your personal agenda/will and desires.
What do you think your God requires of you

Deuteronomy 10:12 (NLT) … what does the LORD your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the LORD your God, and live in a way that pleases Him, and love Him and serve Him with all your heart and soul.

Illustration: A young teenage girl driving her car on the main road and suddenly spots her dad’s car in her rear view mirror. Seeing her dad she gets excited and with great respect for her dad, she puts on a best behaviour. She uses her blinkers, stops when the traffic lights turn orange, and keeps both hands on the wheel.

This incident of her dad following her teaches her lots of things

that her dad cares enough to follow her
that she’s safe
that her dad’s presence isn’t to develop her good habits for this trip alone, but to obey the law and stay safe until she gets home.
She is driving on her own, but not completely on her own.
This is how our Heavenly Father is, you can see Him always in your rear view mirror. You will experience His care and His love.

Fearing the Lord means that you respect, you reverence, you trust, you love and you obey your Almighty God.