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FEAR THE LORD ABOVE ALL ELSE

August 03, 2003

Motives are Important

1 Corinthians 4:5

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels [or motives, NET] of the hearts : and then shall every man have praise of God.

god shall judge our secrets

Romans 2:16

In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

The highest motivation in life

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God , and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Jesus commands us to fear him

Luke 12:4-5

4 And I [Jesus Christ] say unto you my friends [“his disciples,” v.1], Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell [gehenna]; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

What about the motive of love?

John 14:15,21,24

15 If ye love me [Jesus Christ], keep my commandments.

21 He that hath [esteems or regards] my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me…

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings [no fear of God]: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Fearing god is keeping his commandments

Deuteronomy 13:4

Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

perfect love casts out fear

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

What is perfect love?

1 John 2:5

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected [“…perfecting holiness in the fear of God,” 2Cor.7:1]: hereby know we that we are in him.

Boldness in the day of judgment

1 John 4:17

17 Herein is our love made perfect [the fear of God], that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

If you do evil be afraid

Romans 13:4

For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

perfect love casts out Fear of shame

1 John 2:28

And now, little children, abide in him [by keeping his word, perfected love, v.5]; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming [in his presence].

the fear of the lord is foundational

Proverbs 9:10

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

The fear of the lord is taught

Psalm 34:11

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

How?

Deuteronomy 4:10

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Fear him for the great things he as done for you

1 Samuel 12:24

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Be afraid of his judgments

Psalm 119:120

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.

Fearing people leads us to disobeying God

1 Samuel 15:24

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Satan talked eve out fearing god

Genesis 3:4

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

The fear of God keeps us from sinning

Exodus 20:20

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

Fear motivates one 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.

God’s mercy is toward them that fear him

Psalm 103:11

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

God’s eye is on them that fear him

Psalm 33:18

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

the lord dwells with them that fear Him

Psalm 34:7

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

The lord is pleased with them that fear him

Psalm 147:11

The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

the early church walked in the fear of the lord

Acts 9:31

Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied.

Let us have Grace with godly fear

Hebrews 12:28

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: