introduction 1. what is the meaning of “fear of the lord”?

INTRODUCTION
What does the Bible mean to “Fear the Lord”? When I preach, I always use the illustration that when I was a
young, I feared my father. I knew my father loved me and I loved my father, but I also feared my father because I
knew that if I disobeyed him, he would punish me. Having a fear towards our heavenly Father is somewhat similar,
but there is much more to it. Therefore, this morning let’s look at what God’s Word teaches about Fearing the Lord.
1. WHAT IS THE MEANING OF “FEAR OF THE LORD”?
a. Fear of the Lord is having a feeling of reverence (respect) towards God, combined with awe
(admiration) and fear of the punishment of disobedience. - ISBE
i. Fear of the Lord is to hate ____________. - Proverbs 8:13
ii. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of _______________. – Psalms 111:10
iii. Fear of the Lord is a _____________ to those who have it. – Isaiah 33:6
iv. Fear of the Lord is ______________ life. - Proverbs 14:27
v. Fear of the Lord is _______________. – Psalms 19:9
2. WHAT “FEAR OF THE LORD” DOES NOT MEAN!
a. The fear of the Lord does not mean you go about your daily life worried and afraid that God is
going to strike you down!
3. WHY SHOULD WE FEAR THE LORD?
a. We should fear the Lord because God _____________________ us.
i. 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.
(Deuteronomy 13:4)
b. We should fear the Lord because that is a characteristic of being a ____________________.
i. 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.
(2 Corinthians 7:1)
4. WHAT CAN CAUSE US FEAR THE LORD?
a. God’s _______________ can cause us to fear Him. – Revelation 15:4
b. God’s _______________ can cause us to fear Him. – Deuteronomy 10:12-17
c. God’s _______________ can cause us to fear Him. – Psalms 130:4
d. God’s _______________ can cause us to fear Him. – Revelation 17:7
e. The great things He has done for __________can cause us to fear Him!
Harvest Free Will Baptist Church
www.harvestbakersfield.com
Pastor Kurt Lindgren
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5. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF FEARING THE LORD?
a. When you fear the Lord, it makes God ______________.
i. The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
(Psalms 147:11)
b. When you fear the Lord, it causes God to show ____________ (compassion, love) towards you.
i. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
(Psalms 103:13)
c. When you fear the Lord, God will have ______________ on you.
i. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear
him… (Psalms 103:17)
d. When you fear the Lord, it will _______________ you. (make you happy)
i. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth
greatly in his commandments. (Psalms 112:1)
e. When you fear the Lord, it gives you ____________________.
i. In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of
refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
f. When you fear the Lord, it separates you from ________________.
i. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from
evil. (Proverbs 16:6)
g. When you fear the Lord, God will answer your _________________.
i. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save
them. (Psalms 145:19)
6. WHY IS FEARING THE LORD NECESSARY?
a. When you fear the Lord, it will keep you from ______________.
i. 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. (Exodus 20:20)
b. Why is there so much sin and violence in the world today?
i. There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18)
7. LORD, TEACH US TO FEAR YOU…
a. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
(Psalms 86:11)
Harvest Free Will Baptist Church
www.harvestbakersfield.com
Pastor Kurt Lindgren
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