ULTIMATE POWER GOSPEL ASSEMBLY A.K.A. COVENANT OF POWER...
ULTIMATE POWER GOSPEL ASSEMBLY
A.K.A. COVENANT OF POWER EVANGELICAL MINISTRIES [COPEM]
…IGNITING THE FIRE OF APOSTOLIC SIGNS AND WONDERS
BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE
"WALKING IN THE FEAR OF THE LORD"
Study text: Acts 9:31
INTRODUCTION
- In writing about the early church, Luke recorded:
"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." (Acts 9:31). Note that they were "walking in the fear of the Lord"!
-. In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul told them:
"Therefore, 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;" (Phil 2:12)
- The concept of "fear and trembling" in connection with God is not a popular concept today
a. People prefer to hear about God's love, longsuffering and mercy
b. Sometimes, when we point out God's righteous indignation, holiness, and justice, people reply "My God is not like that!"
- Where there is no concept of "fear and trembling" as it relates to the Christian?
- Could this be why many Christians are apathetic in their service?
- Could it be we have forgotten whom we should fear if we are negligent in our service? Mat 10:28
- In this lesson, we hope to accomplish three things:
a. Define the "fear of the Lord"
b. Point out why the "fear of the Lord" is important to the Christian
c. Suggest how we can develop a healthy "fear of the Lord" without going to one extreme or the other
I. DEFINING THE "FEAR OF THE LORD"
- The Greek word is "PHOBOS", and it is used to describe: fear, dread, terror
- "being afraid to offend God in any way" . A trembling and quaking if one knows they have offended God and have not obtained forgiveness! - Heb 10:26-27, 30-31; 12:28-29
II. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE "FEAR OF THE LORD"
A. FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS, WE LEARN.
1. The "fear of the Lord" is the beginning of knowledge - Prov 1:7
2. The "fear of the Lord" will cause one to hate evil - Prov 8:13
3. The "fear of the Lord" will prolong life - Prov 10:27
4. The "fear of the Lord" provides strong confidence and is a fountain of life - Prov 14:26-27
5. The "fear of the Lord" prompts one to depart from evil - Prov 16:6
6. The "fear of the Lord" leads to a satisfying life, and spares one from much evil - Pr19:23
7. The "fear of the Lord" is the way to riches, honor, and life! - Prov 22:4
B. WITHOUT THE "FEAR OF THE LORD".
1. We close ourselves to the treasures of God's wisdom and knowledge!
2. We will flirt with evil and be corrupted by it
3. Our lives are likely to be shortened by our refusal to heed God's word (e.g., suffering sexually transmitted diseases because we did not heed His Word on sexual relationships)
4. We will not come to know the love of God that gives us assurance and confidence of our salvation
5. When fallen into sin, we will not be motivated to repent and turn to God!
6. We will not be motivated to truly "work out our own salvation"!
-Without the "fear of the Lord", we cannot please God (Is 66:1-2). Only the person who "trembles at His Word" has God's promise to receive His tender mercy! (Ps 103:17-18).
III. DEVELOPING THE "FEAR OF THE LORD"
A. THE "FEAR OF THE LORD" COMES THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD!
- Just as "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17), the same can be said for the "fear of the Lord"!
- Notice Deut 31:10-13, where the children of Israel were told to gather every seven years to read and hear the Word...
- The purpose? "...that they may learn to fear the Lord"! As one reads the Word of God, they should gain a healthy degree of the "fear of the Lord"
- Consider the words of Paul in Rom 2:4-11. Or how about the words of Peter in 2Pet 3:7-14
B. THE WORD OF GOD, PROPERLY USED, WILL MAINTAIN A PROPER BALANCE.
- It is important to emphasize, however, that to avoid extremes, we must read ALL of God's Word
- So we must be careful how we use the Word of God, but use it, we must!
CONCLUSION
- The Psalmist said... "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to
be had in reverence of all [them that are] about him." (Psalms 89:7).
- Why do we need to "fear the Lord"? So we will be sure to "work out our salvation with fear and trembling"!
- The warning is necessary, for as it is written in Hebrews: "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. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]." (Hebrews 4:1-2)