100 BIBLE LESSONS - ALBAN DOUGLAS - LESSON # 6 - FEAR OF THE LORD

                                               100 BIBLE LESSONS - ALBAN DOUGLAS
                                             LESSON # 6 - FEAR OF THE LORD

                                        I - MEANING OF FEAR OF THE LORD

    Fear of the Lord means piety. It is used to express our religious duty toward God. Fear of God is required from each of us. It is one of the purposes of creation. Deuteronomy 6:13 "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve Him."


                                       II -  THINGS THAT WE ARE NOT TO FEAR

     We are not to fear idols or other gods.
We are not to fear man. Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man bringeth a snare." We are to fear the Lord only.
We are not to fear earthly calamities for they signify the near return of our Savior.
The true believer does not fear future punishments.
We are not to fear "fear". 1 Peter 5:7 "Casting all your cares upon Him..."
Only one fear remains and that is a holy fear of the Lord God Himself.


                                     III - THE FEAR OF GOD IS COMMANDED

     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."
1 Peter 2:17 "Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God.Honor the king."
The earthly disciples set up a noble example in this matter. Acts 9:31 "And walking in the fear of the Lord....
were multiplied."
Cornelius was a man who feared God. Acts 10:2 "A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house," Is it any wonder that God sent Cornelius the Gospel?
2 Corinthians 7:1, the fear of God teaches us to live circumspect lives, "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." This godly fear becomes a powerful motivating force in our lives.


                                   IV - DESCRIPTION OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD

1. It is a hatred of evil. Proverbs 8:13 "The fear of  the Lord is to hate evil."
2. It is wisdom. Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
3. It is a treasure. Proverbs 15:16 "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith."
4. It is a fountain of life. Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life."
5. It is clean. Psalm 19:9 "The fear of the Lord is clean." It is sanctifying.
6. It endures forever. Psalm 19:9 "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever."
7. It is godly.  Hebrews 12:28 "Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear." There is difference between reverence and fear.


                                 V -  WHAT MOTIVES CAUSE US TO FEAR GOD?

1. The holiness of God causes us to fear Him.  Revelation 15:4 "Who shall not fear Thee O Lord and glorify
Thy Name. For Thou only art holy."
2. The greatness of God causes us to fear Him.  Deuteronomy 10:12-17 "And now Israel, what doth the Lord Thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God.....for the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty and a terrible."
3. The goodness of God causes us to fear Him.  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."
4. The forgiveness of God causes us to fear Him.  Psalm 130:4 "But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared."
5. The wondrous works of God cause us to fear Him.  Joshua 4:23-24 Joshua reviews these works.
6. Coming judgments cause us to fear the Lord.  Revelation 14:7 "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come."


                              VI -  THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS NECESSARY

1. It is necessary to worship.  Psalm 5:7 "In Thy fear will I worship."
2. It is necessary in service.  Psalm 2:11 "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling."
3. It is necessary to keep us from sin.  Exodus 20:20 "Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not."
4. It is necessary to good government.  2 Samuel 23:3 "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of the God." This is lacking in governments today.
5. It is necessary for administration of justice.  It is necessary for the perfecting of holiness in our Christian lives.  2 Corinthians 7:1


                           VII -  RESULTS OF FEARING THE LORD

1. It brings pleasure to the Lord.  Psalm 147:11 "The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear Him, in those that hope in His mercy." Let's bring much pleasure to the Lord.
2. It causes the Lord's pity to increase upon the child of God.  Psalm 103:13 "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him."
3. It brings acceptance with God.  Acts 10:35 "But in every nation, he that feareth Him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with Him."       
4. It brings the mercy of God.  Psalm 103:17 "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him." 
5. It brings blessings.  Psalm 112:1 "Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord."
6. It brings confidence.  Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence."
7. It brings separation from evil.  Proverbs 16:6 "By the fear of the Lord men depart from evil."
8. It brings Christian fellowship.  Malachi 3:16 "Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it."
9. It supersedes the fear of man.  Isaiah 8:12-13 "....neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Sanctify the Lord of Hosts Himself ; and let Him be your fear."
10. It brings answered prayer.  Psalm 145:19 "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry and will save them."
11. It brings long life.  Proverbs 10:27 "The fear of the Lord prolongeth days."


                          CONCLUSION

     Let us pray that God will teach us to fear Him.  Psalm 86:11 "Teach me Thy way, O Lord; I will walk in Thy truth: Unite my heart to fear Thy name."




                       SOURCED FROM 100 BIBLE LESSONS - ALBAN DOUGLAS