Fear God

How often do we see people that we love, who have professed faith in the Lord turning from the Lord to serve idols. We are grieved at the dishonor that is brought upon the name of the Lord and saddened to see the suffering which will certainly ensue. I think that the Sermon that we heard in our church this morning addressed the root causes of sin and how to climb out of it (or keep out of it to begin with for that matter).

The crux of the matter is the fear of the Lord. Proverbs chapter 2 gives us a game plan for how to obtain the Fear of the Lord. It tells us to :
Receive God’s word.
Treasure up his commands.
Give ear to His Wisdom.
Incline our hearts to understanding.
Call out for insight .
Raise our voice for understanding.
Seek it like silver.
Search for it like hidden treasure.
Pro 2:5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.

Throughout this passage there is a sense of fervor and urgency. We have no time to waste. Moments of temptation abound. If we are solely reactive toward sin in place of being proactive against sin then we will soon be overcome by sin and give in to the temptation.

Fear of the Lord is gained through receiving and treasuring God’s Word. Am I constantly taking hold mentally of God’s word and placing the highest value upon his commands? If I do not love what he has mandated that I do, then I will not understand the fear of the Lord or the knowledge of God.

Secondly I need to cry out for it. James wrote, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." And, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Wisdom is gained through asking fervently. It is obviously not an idle asking but rather an active one. Ask while you dig for the hidden treasure.

Finally, diligence is required in this labor of love for the Lord. Seeking it like silver, searching for it like hidden treasure. Treasures of any value don’t sit on the serfice for all to take. They require patient labor over a long period of time. So is our finding of wisdom. We will not just wake up some morning and realize that out of nowhere we are suddenly wise and have a perfect fear of the Lord. Do I have a passion for the fear of the Lord and a zeal to obey His law? Is it my all consuming drive to see Him honored and glorified?

If you find resistance in this pursuit realize that the world, the flesh, and the devil hate righteousness and can’t stand the fear of the Lord. But what does God say?

(Pro 1:7) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Pro 1:29) For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
(Pro 2:5) Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
(Pro 8:13) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
(Pro 9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(Pro 10:27) The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
(Pro 14:26) In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
(Pro 14:27) The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
(Pro 15:16) Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
(Pro 15:33) The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
(Pro 16:6) By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
(Pro 19:23) The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
(Pro 22:4) By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
(Pro 23:17) Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
(Pro 29:25) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

If the fear of the Lord is our way of life then Proverbs 2 tells us we will be delivered from the perverted man and the strange woman.

So…

Love God Hate Sin,

Nathan