25th June 2017 - Learning To Reverence God
Summary
The sermon is characterized by extended periods of worship, praise, and singing hymns, focusing heavily on the glory of God, the sacrifice of Christ, and the assurance of salvation. The central theme revolves around acknowledging God's power, grace, and eternal faithfulness, leading to praise and worship.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
Opening prayer and worshipThe service begins with a prayer of humility, asking for God's power to work within the believers so that His glory may be revealed to the nations.
The assurance found in Christ's resurrectionThrough the song 'Because He Lives', the congregation celebrates that because Jesus conquered death, believers can face any future without fear.
Transition to prayer and reflectionAfter a period of intense praise, the speaker invites the congregation to bow their heads in prayer and reflect on God's eternal nature and mercy.
A prayer of praise and gratitudeThe speaker begins with a prayer acknowledging God's faithfulness, His omniscience, and the blessing of life and fellowship.
What does it mean to fear the Lord?Using Acts 9:31 and Deuteronomy 5:29, the speaker explains that fearing God is not being afraid of Him, but having a deep reverence for His greatness and obeying His word.Acts 9:31
The necessity of transparency and purityThe speaker encourages believers to be honest about their sins rather than covering them up, noting that true reverence leads to a life of purity and hatred for deception.
Encouraging one another to depart from sinThe speaker asks if church meetings focus on revering God and hating sin, noting that true fellowship involves encouraging others toward holiness.Malachi 4:2
The duty of man is to fear GodRespecting God leads to respecting His word and following His commandments as our primary responsibility.Ecclesiastes 12:3
The marks of a God-fearing personTrue reverence is evidenced by avoiding evil and controlling one's speech, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Nehemiah and the instructions in the Psalms.Acts 13:26
The connection between speech and wisdomA person who cannot control their tongue lacks true religious value, as excessive words often lead to sin and foolishness.Proverbs 10:10–19
Walking the highway of holinessThe upright man avoids evil and walks a sanctified path, whereas pride and a hot temper lead to destruction.Proverbs 16:17
The blessing of fearing GodLike the Egyptian midwives who feared God more than Pharaoh, those who respect divine authority receive God's blessing.
The power of the fear of the LordFearing God provides strong confidence and refuge, ensuring that we do not need to fear anything else in life. This spirit can be imparted to us through the Holy Spirit.
How David's fear of God declinedWhile David was a man of great reverence in his youth, the blessings of wealth and comfort in his later years caused his fear of God to diminish.
A call to live with reverence and humilityThe speaker encourages believers to seek a revival of the fear of God, which leads to true humility and repentance as seen in the life of Job.Philippians 2:12–13
