The Other Kind of Fear
Key Scriptures: Isaiah 8:11-13
This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: “Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.
Lesson One: We fear God with awesome dread.
• The things of God that produce awe in us can also be unsettling
• Awe and dread are the natural responses of sin to holiness (imperfect to the perfect)
Isaiah 8:13, The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.
Mark 4:35-41, That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Lesson Two: We fear God with astonished devotion.
• We fear God by honoring, revering, cherishing him.
Philippians 2:12, Therefore beloved, work out your salvation with what? Fear and trembling.
1 Peter 1:17, Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Lesson Three: We should fear God because of who he is.
• The greatness of God reduces us to an overpowering sense that nothing we could ever confront in this world is like him
Psalm 89:5-8, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Jeremiah 10:6-7, No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.
Lesson Four: We should fear God because of what he has done.
• God spoke the universe into existence
Psalm 33:6-9, By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. He gathers the waters of the sea into jars; he puts the deep into storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.
Lesson Five: We should fear God because of what he is doing.
• We should stand in awe of a holy God who actively forgives
Psalm 66:5, Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for all mankind!
Psalm 130:3-4, If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you…
PROMISES IN SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD
Provision. Psalm 34:9-10 reads, Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Protection. Psalm 33:18, But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.
Prolonged days. Proverbs 10:27, The fear of the Lord prolongs days, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
Prosperity. Psalm 128:1-4, Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord.
Perpetuity. Deuteronomy 5:29, Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!
Psalm 103:17, But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
Purity. Psalm 103:12-13, As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him.
2 Corinthians 7:1, Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
ADDITIONAL PROMISES
Compassion. Psalm 103:13, As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.
Divine instruction. Psalm 25:12, Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
Friendship and covenant. Psalm 25:14, The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
Fulfilled desires. Psalm 145:19, He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.
Knowledge. Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Love. Psalm 103:11, For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.
Mercy. Psalm 85:9, Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
Luke 1:50, His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
Praise. Proverbs 31:30, Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Weapon against sin. Exodus 20:20, Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.
Wisdom. Proverbs 9:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.