Fear-what are you afraid of? #19

Well we have talked about all kinds of fear that we need not fear! So as we end this topic today let us look at the only healthy fear there is...the fear of God.



The fear of God is a tricky subject. There is the fear of awe and reverence that we are to have of God but there is also a fear that we need to have that He is God, and He will judge those who have rejected His Son Jesus and allow them to go to hell. You see the tricky part of understanding God? For some this is hard to understand.



The best picture I can give of this is to look at our earthly dads. They love us so much. We should have a great respect for them but we also have a fear of them when the disciplined us and that fear was a trainer for us to obey what they told us to do! Of course with God these are greatly magnified!



So let's look at what God's Word says about fearing Him:



1 Samuel 12:20-25

20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself. 23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. 24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. 25 But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king.”



Psalm 89:7





7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,

and awesome above all who are around him



Proverbs 2:1-5



2 My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

2 making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

3 yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.



Proverbs 3:5-8



5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

7 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment to your bones.



2 Corinthians 7:1

7 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.



Matthew 10:28

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.



These verse pretty well sum up what God wants us to know about fearing Him...Trust Him, serve Him, be in His Word (which is how you learn of His great love and how to obey Him), turn away from evil.



God is a loving God, have a healthy fear of Him. He has done everything possible to bring us to Himself, the rest is up to us! To follow Jesus or not.



Fear nothing but our loving God! He is in control!



Tom