You Will Serve Who You Fear

 

Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

·        The church does not understand the fear of the Lord, but it is a significant part of a victorious life.

·        The man who fears God:

·        begins to know Him and understand His ways (Proverbs 9:10)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

·        is led in the ways of God and blessed by Him (Psalms 25:12-13)

What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.  His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth.

·        will have his days prolonged by God (Proverbs 10:27)

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

·        will have strong confidence and a place of refuge in God (Proverbs 14:26)

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

·        will perfect holiness as he walks with the Lord (2 Corinthians 7:1)

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

·        is protected by the angels of the Lord (Psalm 34:7)

The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

·        will want for nothing, because God will be his source (Psalm 34:9)

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

·        will be covered by the mercy of the Lord (Psalm 103:11)

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

·        will have the strength to depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6)

By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

·        Those who do not fear God:

·        become familiar with His Spirit, His Word and His church

·        lose the proper perspective of God

·        behave irreverently around the things of God and His house

·        lose the lifestyle distinctives that should mark God’s children

·        lose respect for the man of God and the saints of God

·        eventually fall into ungodly behavior, because the “fence of fear” is gone

·        FEAR OF GOD:  More than just respecting Him, it is giving Him the place of glory, honor, reverence, thanksgiving, praise and preeminence He deserves.  Notice it is what HE deserves, not what we THINK He deserves.  We fear God when we esteem His desires above our own desires.

·        FEAR OF MAN:  To fear man is to stand in anxiety or awe, cowering before mortal men.  Those who fear man live on the run, hiding from harm or reproach, constantly avoiding rejection and confrontation, so busy safeguarding themselves that they are ineffective in their service to God.

·        If you do not walk in the fear of the Lord, you are walking in the fear of man.  (no other option!)

·        The fear of man brings a snare, a trap which takes away our power to do right.  (Proverbs 29:25)

·        A person who fears man will offend the One he cannot see in order not to offend the one he can.

·        Those who fear man constantly seek to preserve and protect themselves in times of hardship.

·        The fear of the Lord is a necessary part of the Apostolic church.  (Acts 5:11)

Leviticus 10:3  Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.

 

NKJV  “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.”

·        God often withholds His glory to test and prepare us.  Will we serve Him even when He is silent?

·        In Exodus 15, the Israelites were excited when God blessed them and performed miracles.  They sang, danced and shouted when God buried their enemies in the Red Sea. But just a few days later when God’s power wasn’t apparent and food was scarce, they complained against God (v. 22).

·        In Exodus 19-20, Moses brought the people to Mount Sinai to consecrate them to God.  When the people saw God’s glory, they pulled back in terror – not in the fear of God, but in fear of their own lives.  When God came down, they realized that they loved themselves more than they loved His presence.  They told Moses (v.19), “You speak with us, but let not God speak with us!”

·        Notice the paradox:  Moses drew near while the people drew back.  Moses feared God, therefore he was unafraid.  The people did not fear God, therefore they were afraid.  The fear of the Lord draws you like a magnet to God’s presence; the fear of man causes you to withdraw from God’s glory.

·        When we are bound by the fear of man we will feel more comfortable in the presence of men, even in church when we are supposed to be in the presence of God.  Why?  His presence convicts us!

·        The fear of the Lord is NOT just an OT concept!

 

Hebrews 12:18-19, 22a   For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:  But ye are come unto mount Sion …

 

Hebrews 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

 

Hebrews 12:28-29  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire.

·        Grace is not given just to cover up our sin, but to empower us to serve God acceptably!

·        The fear of God and of judgment keeps us from sinning willfully.

 

Hebrews 10:26-31  For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,  But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.  He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:  Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

·        At Mount Sinai, God instructed both Moses and Aaron to come up to the mountain (Exodus 19:24).  Moses went, but for some reason Aaron came back to the camp early (32:1).  Aaron returned to the camp because he was more comfortable in the presence of the people than in the presence of God!

·        Are we more comfortable just going to church, fellowshipping with other Christians and keeping busy with ministry than being with the Lord.  Do we avoid being alone in His presence, surrounding ourselves with people and activity, hoping this will hide our emptiness?

·        It was when God was quiet (Moses had not returned) that the people made them a golden calf.  It is in the desert when God is not displaying His power that our true nature comes out!  The children of Israel made an idol out of God’s blessings!  Do we do the same?  (“Bless me and I’ll serve You!”)

·        God seeks for men like Joshua, who wanted to be as close to God’s presence as possible.  He stayed by the mountain for forty days while Moses was with God (32:17).

·        God’s question to you:

 

Isaiah 57:11  And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

 

NKJV  “Is it not because I have held My peace from of old that you do not fear Me?”

·        You will serve who you fear!  Does God have to continually impress you so you will fear Him, or can you simply return the love He gives to you?  Do you esteem His desires above your own?