I. Why Fear God

A. Point A Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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

Ps 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments

B. Commanded Pr 24:21 son, fear you the LORD and the king Ps 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

C. Pleases God Ps 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

D. Enduring Ps 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever

E. Necessary for worship Ps 5:7 in your fear will I worship toward your holy temple.

II. Negative Consequences of Failing to Fear

A. Short Term Pr 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear comes 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

B. Long Term Pr 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

III. Positive Consequences of Fully Fearing

A. The Whole Shebang Pr 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.

B. Safety Pr 1:33 But whoso listens unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

C. Life Pr 19:23 The fear of the LORD tends to life: and he that has it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

D. Confidence Pr 14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

E. Intimacy Ps 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

F. Oversight Ps 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

G. Safety Ps 34:7 The angel of the LORD encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.

H. No Lack Ps 34:9 O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

I. Victory Ps 60:4 You have given a banner to them that fear you, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah.

J. Heritage Ps 61:5 O God, have heard my vows: you have given me the heritage of those that fear your name.

K. Salvation Ps 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

L. Steak Ps 111:5 He has given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

M. Blessing Ps 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

N. Mercy Lu 1:50 his mercy is on them that fear him Ps 103:11,13,17 great is his mercy toward them that fear him...pities them

O. Fulfilled Promises Ps 119:38 Stablish your word unto your servant, who is devoted to your fear.

P. Fulfilled Desires Ps 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.

IV. How to Develop a Fruitful Fear

A. Hunt the Word Pr 2:5 {seek} Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

B. Humbly learn Pr 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.

C. Dependence Ps 31:19 great goodness, you have laid up for them that fear you...trust in you before the sons of men

Pr 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Ps 55:19 God shall hear, and afflict them...Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God.

D. Keep Away Ps 34:1-18 Come, you children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Pr 3:7 Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pr 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.

Pr 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

E. Keep it in front Ps 36:1 wicked...there is no fear of God before his eyes.

F. Observe Ps 40:3 put a new song in my mouth, praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Ps 67:7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

G. Single-minded Ps 86:11 Teach me your way, O LORD; I will walk in your truth: unite my heart to fear your name.

H. Know God Ps 90:11 Who knows the power of your anger? even according to your fear, so is your wrath.

I. Worship Ps 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

J. Fellowship Ps 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear you, and of them that keep your precepts.

K. Shake, Rattle and Roll Ps 119:120 My flesh trembles for fear of you; and I am afraid of your judgments.

L. No Envy Pr 23:17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the LORD all the day long.

V. Motivational Commands for New Testament Believers to Fear God

A.      Fear appropriately Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Gehenna = burning garbage pit I Cor 3)

B.      Fear God Alone Lu 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom you shall fear: Fear him, which after he has killed has power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

C. Church Growth Ac 5:11 And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

D. Daily Tremble Ac 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 Ghost, were multiplied.

E. Stand Ro 11:20 because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (1Cor 10)

F. Perfect Holiness 2Co 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.

G. Basis of Body Life Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

H. Work Eph 6:5 be obedient to masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ

I. Basis of Salvation (justification, sanctification, glorification) Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

J. Motivation for Godliness 1Ti 5:20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

K. Motivation for Reward Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

L. Motivation for Obedience Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape punishment, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Heb 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongs to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Heb 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: 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 speaks from heaven:

M. Motivation for Sanctification 1Pe 1:17 if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

N. Fear vs. Honor 1Pe 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

O. No Fear Jude 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Is fear of God something New Testament believers should do? How do you reconcile fear with a God who loves and forgives?

2. If a person doesn’t fear God, what could you conclude about their lives?

3. T or F: Fear of God = “reverential trust.” Why would such an attitude develop? What are the consequences?

4. Why is fear of God absent in modern Christianity? What are the consequences of its absence?

5. How would you help someone develop a biblical fear of God?

6. Is fear a more effective motivator for you than desire/love? Is that true in other areas of your life?

7. What do you fear with respect to your relationship with God? How does that affect your Quiet Time?