Sermon Central
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Resolve A Better Relationship With God Series
Contributed by Mark Jones on Jan 11, 2014 (message contributor)
Summary: Last week we introduced RESOLVE. This week we begin with the most important resolution, a stronger relationship with God. This is part 1 of 3 parts. Here is the outline. The second part contains numerous Scriptures on the Fear of God from the ESV.
When you think of God, what action verb comes to mind?
The phrase “Thank the Lord” or “Thank God” appears approximately 8 times in Scripture. The phrase “Love the Lord” or “Love God” appears approximately 18 times in Scripture. The phrase “Serve the Lord” or “Serve God” appears approximately 29 times in Scripture. The phrase “Seek the Lord” or “Seek God” appears approximately 33 times in Scripture. The phrase “Praise the Lord” or “Praise God” appears approximately 43 times in Scripture. However, the phrase “Fear the Lord” or “Fear God” appears approximately 47 times in Scripture and “Fear of the Lord” or “Fear of God” appears an additional 30 times.
According to the facts above, what action verb seems to be most important?
“Fear” is to revere or to be humbled by awesome power.
Why should we “fear” God? Deuteronomy 6; Variety of Proverbs
1. Because God commands it.
2. Because God is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14; Joshua 24:19
3. It is for our good always.
4. It is the beginning of wisdom. Job 28:28, Psalm 111:10
5. It will bring us blessing from God. Psalm 115:13
6. Our church may grow. Acts 9:31
How should we “fear” God?
1. By learning God’s commands. Deuteronomy 17:19-20
2. By doing God’s commands.
What happens when we don’t “fear” God?
We make foolish decisions and our lives become a mess. i.e. wrong relationships, poor financial decisions, laziness, etc.
If we don't fear God, we can't serve Him or truly love Him.
Perhaps today we should RESOLVE to fear God.
Scriptures handed out:
Individuals and the “Fear of the Lord”:
What God said of Abraham with Isaac: (Genesis 22:12 ESV) He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."
Jethro’s instructions to Moses: (Exodus 18:21 ESV) Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Moses’ instructions to Israel: (Deuteronomy 6:2, 24 ESV) that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long… And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.
(Deuteronomy 10:20 ESV) You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear.
(Deuteronomy 17:19-20 ESV) And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.
(Deuteronomy 31:12 ESV) Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law, and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."
Joshua’s instructions to Israel: (Joshua 24:14 ESV) "Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
Samuel’s instructions to Israel: (1 Samuel 12:14, 24 ESV) If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well… Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.
(Jonah 1:8-16 ESV) Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them. Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the LORD, "O LORD, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O LORD, have done as it pleased you." So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.
