HoHum:
C.S. Lewis’ book, the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, contains some powerful quotes that are a good reminder of the nature of God and how we relate to him. In the story, Aslan, the great lion, portrays Jesus. Part of a conversation between Susan (one of the 4 children in the story) and Mr. Beaver: Mr. Beaver says, “Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion.” “Oh,” says Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.” “Safe?” says Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” The Lord of Scripture is not “safe,” but he is good (“Those who fear him” vs. 7 and “Fear the Lord” vs. 9 contrasted to “Taste and see that the LORD is good” vs. 8).
We find this same situation illustrated by Lewis again in The story of Jill and the Silver Chair. Jill, this little girl who's the central character, develops a relationship with Aslan, the lion of Narnia who is the Lord. And the most tender, precious, close relationship of love that you could imagine develops between this little girl and Aslan. But first Jill had to learn to fear the lion. So, she meets him in the beginning at a stream where he's standing. He's huge and menacing and awesome. "Are you thirsty?" asked the lion. "I'm dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the lion. "May I…could I…Would you mind going away while I do?" asked Jill. The lion answered this with only a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at his motionless bulk she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move away for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not, not, not to do anything to me" Jill asked," if I come?" "I make no promises," said the lion. Jill was so thirsty that by now without noticing it she'd come a step nearer. "Do you…do you eat little girls?" "I have swallowed up girls and boys, women, men, kings, emperors, cities, and realms," said the lion. And he didn't say this as if it were boasting nor as if it were sorry nor as if he were angry; he just said it. "I dare not come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the lion. "Oh dear,” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." "There is no other stream," said the lion.
Thesis: Three questions today. 1) What is the fear of God? 2) Why should we fear God? 3) How can we encourage the fear of the Lord in our lives and the lives of others?
For instances:
What is the fear of God?
If we study each reference in OT to fear we find that "fear" means fear. Many try to downplay this but fear still contains a sense of being afraid. This understanding of fear is never to be absent from the Christian’s heart-never. Now part of my relationship to God involves my fear of God. In fact, Biblically speaking all believers fear God and all nonbelievers do not fear God. But there is a lot more than this.
What is the fear of God? Several things:
1. Biblically speaking the fear of the Lord brings wisdom “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;” Psalms 111:10, NIV. If we want to know the meaning and purpose of life and how everything functions and works-if you want wisdom and knowledge, the Bible says, "you need the fear of the Lord." Those who fear God are going to be much smarter and wiser, especially with the application of knowledge, than those who do not.
2. “and if you look for it (wisdom) as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:4, 5, NIV. What is the fear of the Lord? It is the knowledge of God. When we say "fear of God," we are not talking simply about being scared; but we are actually talking about knowing God, and fear is a consequence of that.
3. Fearing God is a respect for the power of God's Word. Why do some people not pay much attention to the Bible and what the Bible has to say? “Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.” Psalms 33:8, 9, NIV. Talking about God, the Creator of the universe. If remove God-In the beginning God created- we are now on a road of moral and intellectual darkness. Accompanying this is a disrespect for the word of God. God spoke and it was done. The material, physical universe is the product of the creative breath of God and so is man and woman. By the way, so is the written Word of God. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” 2 Timothy 3:16, NIV. The fear of God or lack thereof tells a lot about our understanding of the Bible.
4. “To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Proverbs 8:13, NIV. When we fear God, we hate what He hates. We hate sin. What do we see in our culture? We see a great toleration of sin. We see also a redefinition of sin-things that God says are wrong, people are saying that it is okay. Lack of a fear of God
5. “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.” Proverbs 14:27. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to avoid the traps of death. Everlasting, eternal, wonderful life and all of its blessings, is really rooted in the fear of the Lord. So, that is why the fear of the Lord is sometimes a statement just simply indicating a believer in contrast to a nonbeliever. Those who fear God have a concern about sin and the effects of sin, death
6. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17, 18, NIV. When we have fear in the Lord, we find hope in the Lord. We do not envy what the world is offering. “For this world in its present form is passing away.” 1 Corinthians 7:31, NIV. We know that what God has promised will come true. We fear God more than we fear the world
"Why should we fear God?"
1. “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” Proverbs 14:26, NIV. The fear of the Lord protects us. In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence. If we really fear the Lord, there is a refuge there. "He hideth my soul." “The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” Proverbs 19:23, NIV. The Lord is protecting us and giving us a confidence that is beyond this world. “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Psalms 34:7.
2. “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Psalms 34:8-10, NIV.
They will not lack any good from the Lord. God is going to provide for all of our needs and deliver us from all our troubles. But wait a minute, what about the bad things? Isn't it possible, my friends, to have something happen in our lives (or not happen that we expected) that we would regard as "bad" and God would regard as "good"? Oh yes. The thing that causes one to have the fear of God and trust in the Lord is that everything-no matter whether it is my perspective of how bad or good it is-everything God does or God allows, is good or at least turns it into something good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28, NIV.
3. Why should we fear God? He delivers and protect us. God provides for our needs. Lastly fearing God promises future salvation. That is why we should fear the Lord. “Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honored his name.” “But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall.” Malachi 3:16; 4:2, NIV. This is talking about the future blessings of the Lord caused by the Messiah. For whom is all of this done? Whose names are written in the scroll of the remembrance of God? Who are those who will find total, complete, absolute, perfect healing from the Messiah Himself forever and ever? It is for those who fear God.
How can we encourage the fear of the Lord in our lives and the lives of others?
1. Reflect upon the total character of God. In our day many want to reflect upon the love of God and that is part of God. However, God is also holy and righteous. “The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry... The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.” Nahum 1:2-6, NIV. Leave out God’s complete nature and this messes up the gospel. Believe that sin is not that big of a deal or worse that God is such a loving God that He would never send anyone to hell
2. Practice the worship of God. Vital that we participate in the weekly corporate worship of Almighty God. To kneel before God together in silence, to sing his praise, to participate in the Lord’s Supper, to sit under God's holy Word. “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere” Psalms 84:10, NIV. May our worship not be so casual as to lose all sense of the transcendence, the holiness, the power, the greatness of Almighty God. A God before whom we have no fear is not God. It's just an idol that we've made. “Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.” Psalms 2:11.
3. How can we encourage the fear of God? Well, finally, parental training. “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.” Psalms 34:11, NIV. Parents, teach the children the fear of the Lord. If we want to protect our children, if you want to prepare our children, if we want to provide for our children, teach them the fear of God. Instruct them in the fear of God. Teach them the whole nature of God. If we don’t, I doubt that our children will walk with Christ in this culture.
