The Everlasting Gospel: Fear God -- Olu Talabi -- November 8, 2020
https://rlcf.church/media/sermons/everlasting-gospel-fear-god River of Life Christian Fellowship 1306 N Lincoln Avenue Loveland, Colorado - 80537, USA
Summary
The speaker emphasizes that while love for God is important, the equally vital aspect is the 'fear of God.' He draws from scripture to show that this reverence is necessary for understanding God's mysteries and for God to guide one's path. Ultimately, the fear of God is presented as a necessary component of a full walk with Christ, mirroring the life of Jesus.
Outline
The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.
The Holy Spirit reveals the things of GodJesus promised the Spirit of truth to take the things of Christ and reveal them to us, without whom our understanding of God remains incomplete.John 16:14–15
Human bias towards pleasant aspects of GodHuman nature causes us to gravitate toward pleasant aspects like God's love while pushing aside concepts like the fear of God.
Faith and works, love and fearJust as faith and works are two sides of the same coin, the love we have for God and the fear we must have for Him are complementary aspects of our relationship with Him.
Jesus walked with the fear of GodOur goal as believers is to walk as Jesus walked, and a vital aspect of His earthly life was the healthy fear He had for His Father.
Promises tied to the fear of GodScripture promises that the secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him and that He will teach them the way they should choose.
The Spirit engendered fear in ChristIsaiah prophesied that one of the works of the Holy Spirit on the man Jesus was to engender a delight in the fear of the Lord.Isaiah 11:2–3
Perishing for lack of knowledgeHosea warns that people perish for a lack of knowledge of who God is, making our ongoing growth in knowing Him essential.
The fear of God and love are two sides of the same coinBoth loving God and fearing God lead to the exact same outcome: hating evil and turning away from anything that displeases or saddens His heart.Psalm 97:10
Serving God with reverence and godly fearBelievers are urged to have grace to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear because our God is a consuming fire.
The fear of God replaces the fear of manAs a believer's reverence for God increases, intimidation by human beings decreases because they stand before the Lord rather than fearing people.
The everlasting gospel commands us to fear GodRevelation 14 depicts an angel preaching the everlasting gospel with the message to fear God, give Him glory, and worship Him as judgment approaches.Revelation 14:6–7
The whole duty of manSolomon concludes in Ecclesiastes that the end of all human endeavor and knowledge is simply to fear God and keep His commandments.Ecclesiastes 12:13
God puts His fear in our heartsAs part of the new covenant promises in Jeremiah, God declares that He will put His fear in the hearts of His people so that they will not depart from Him.
Job was blameless and feared GodGod testified that there was no one on earth like Job, a man who was upright, blameless, feared God, and turned away from evil.
Job's continuous care for his childrenJob regularly offered sacrifices early in the morning on behalf of his children just in case they had inadvertently sinned or cursed God in their hearts.
The fear of the Lord is wisdomJob explicitly states that the fear of the Lord is wisdom, aligning with the truth that Christ has become our wisdom.Job 28:28
Job guarded his eyes, relationships, and wealthJob carefully guarded his interactions with the opposite sex, his treatment of others, and his heart against trusting in his wealth or secret enticements.
