The Fear Of God – Dr. Charles Stanley

[Music] fear of the Lord leads to life [Music] not just the beating of the heart to real-life the true life and I think about people who are trying to live out their lives and looking for happiness thinking but these looking that you're looking for this looking for that and the truth is the source of what they're looking for is the very person they keep shoving away four decades ago we started in touch ministries to lead people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ throughout the years we've seen God's greatness his love and his blessings in such awesome ways that we just want everyone to know him so let's open God's Word and seek Him together next on InTouch the fear of God the title of this message the fear of God now when you hear that you ask yourself the question will I want to be afraid of God oh it doesn't mean something else and when it's used in the scripture naturally we had to be afraid of God if we're living in sin he's a holy God a righteous God the fear of God now whether you're afraid or not depends on how you live in if you're living in sin you have a right to be absolutely afraid of God he says the soul that sinneth it shall die the wages of sin is death it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment you're living in sin you have a right to be afraid of a holy God the one true God Jehovah Yahweh Elohim His Son Jesus Christ the Lord you have a right to be afraid but is that what that means so I want you to turn if you will to the book of Deuteronomy and there's one verse I want you to read because it's so straightforward and says what we need to be reminded of often Deuteronomy chapter 13 and verse 4 says you shall follow the Lord your God and fear Him and you shall keep his Commandments listen to his voice serve him and cling to him now that's a big mouthful so let's read it again you shall follow the Lord your God and fear him and you shall keep his Commandments listen to his voice serve Him and cling to him that is his command so what do we mean by fearing God we mean simply this to reverence him to honor him to exalt him to lift him up to hold him in high regard to worship Him and to hold him in high esteem to obey Him to acknowledge him his worthiness to honor his position is creator and judge of all mankind when you know Jesus Christ as your Savior that's what it means to fear the Living God so it asks you this question do you fear God well I never thought about fearing God I thought he was the God of love he is the God of love well why should I be afraid of your not being afraid that's not what we mean we said to hold him in high regard the highest esteem to obey Him to exalt him to yield them surrender to Him do you have that kind of spirit toward Almighty God he says we are to fear him and he says in Psalm 33 verse 8 listen let all the earth fear the Lord let all the inhabitants of the earth of the world stand in awe of him and I think about the two thieves on the cross for the Jesus Jesus in the midst one on one side is casting terrible reflections upon Jesus and why don't you get us down and the other thief asking the question don't you even fear God so I would ask you this if it means to hold him in the highest esteem to honor him to obey Him to yield to him to surrender to him to follow him to worship Him to adore him do you fear God or is he just someone you talk about someone you pray to in case of an emergency someone you think about once in awhile someone you pray to when you get in trouble when you don't know what to do next one you are afraid who is this God the scripture says we had to fear the Living God and so with that in mind let's think about how the world thinks about God think about it for a moment he says we're to fear him but how does the world think about him so I want you to turn to Romans chapter 3 I want you to notice this is the way the world thinks in other words we talk about fearing God well the scripture says in Romans chapter 3 verse 10 there is none righteous no not one there is none who understands there is none who seeks after God all have turned aside together they have become useless there is none who does good there is not even one their throat is an open grave with their tongues they keep deceiving the poisons of the ass for the snakes is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness their feet of swiftest shed blood destruction and misery are in their path and the path of peace they have not known there is no fear of God before their eyes he has just described in this particular chapter that's the way the world is no fear of God in their eyes that means in their understanding as they view life and as they view the world no fear of God no honoring God and thank God is a problem to them because he gets in their way holy God does not tolerate sin holy God is not gonna make you living in sin feel comfortable I'll really enjoy yourself for the moment you may have some brief moments of happiness of joy but very brief because holy God hey it's sin he doesn't hate the sinner but he hates sin he hates sin because of what sin does to his children you may think sin is having a good time God sees sin as a detriment to his will and purpose and plan for your life so I want you to understand what it means to fear the Living God because one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God and people who are living in sin think well why why do I want God in my life to keep you from dying and being eternally separated from God and never being able to become the person God wanted you to be and because you're gonna miss heaven you don't fear God you're gonna miss heaven you don't know you don't fear God and you die in that state you're going to hell when you turn your back on God you are turning your back on your only hope the one who loves you cares for you and wants the best for you but he will not make you follow him not make you love him not make you obey Him the fear of God is a holy thought and so when you think about that and you think about what he says in his word it's appointed unto man once to die and after after this the judgment so you don't want God in your life let me ask you a question no matter what you believe you cannot avoid the judgment of holy God who loves you but is willing to give you in the free will if you choose not to love him if you choose to die without him will let you have what you want against his loving will how foolish the Bible says that God is holy and we're to walk holy before him you see there's no such thing as holiness yes there is I didn't say sinless I didn't say perfect but holy we're still growing so when you find Christiaan that makes a mistake here there have sins against God and ask God to forgive them they're not perfect the only perfect person died on the cross rose again see that the father's right hand to make intercession but you and me God is holy therefore words of fearing we're to fear him in the right way so I want us to talk about while we should fear Him here's what God's Word says we read a few moments ago the reason we should fear him is because as he says in Deuteronomy because he requires it of us and you remember what he said he said it so clearly you shall follow the Lord your God and fear him you shall keep his Commandments listen to his voice serve Him and cling to him that's God's command for every single one of us so the question is why should we fear God because he commands it and secondly because the scripture says it's the beginning of knowledge look if you will in proverbs chapter 1 verse 7 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge there are lot of people who think they're smart and listen carefully you can have 25 degrees in 25 different subjects you can be an authority above all other authorities you may be knowledgeable about many things but if you do not fear God you are ignorant about the most important thing in life and that is your relationship to holy God and who he is God says it's the beginning of knowledge true genuine knowledge you may know some facts about many things but what life's all about is learning who God is it's the beginning of knowledge he says in proverbs chapter 9 verse 10 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom you want to be a wise person going to school won't make you wise you can have all kind of degrees that won't make you wise the scripture says the beginning of wisdom starts with fearing God wisdom knowing what to do when to do it how to do it not what to believe what not to believe a wise person is someone in his life God is dwelling through whose life God is living out the life that he's intended for that person to be God is a God of wisdom and if I should ask you do you want to be a wise person well sure I do well where do you start you start with Almighty God he's a god of wisdom and he gives his wisdom to those who willin to ask for it willing to surrender their life to Him willing to yield to him and this is why often Thomas people who appear not to have had much education and yet when you sit down and talk with them you think dear God where do they learn that and this and this and this and this and this because God gives wisdom to those who seek wisdom from God and I think about a few people that I've met in life most all of them have been grandmothers whose wisdom made me feel like a child whose years of obeying God yielding to him and watching him work a godly grandmother is one of the most powerful persons on the face of this earth a godly grandmother who's lived her life gone through all kinds of difficulty hardship trouble and trusting God still smiling and praying and thanking God for who he is the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom then of course he says in proverbs 16 verse 6 by the fear of the Lord one keeps himself away from evil listen to that the fear of the Lord is keeping yourself away from evil when you and I fear God we don't want sin in our life oh that may be something here in something there but you deal with it you repent of it you deal with it because God living within you is going to give you a desire for righteousness that is right living godly living and when the scripture says that wisdom fearing God keeps us from sin what's his purpose from keeping us from sin keeping us from wrecking our life ruining our life the wisdom of God is to help us in every single area of our life and if you have a big question in mind for example you trying to make a decision in your life important decision if you're smart at all you want not just the wisdom of man but you want the wisdom of holy God who sees the beginning and the end all at the same time who knows all the intricacies of everything that you're going to face at the same time the wisdom of God fearing God not being afraid but trusting him then the scripture says in proverbs 3 verse 7 and 8 he says this listen do not be wise in your own eyes fear the Lord and turn away from evil now watch this if you fear him you will turn away from evil it will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones that is when you honor God and fear him he says it does something to you health healing of your body and refreshment to your bones one of the wisest things you can do for yourself physically physically the part you know is to fear God to obey Him to honor him put in this body of what is pleasing to him put on this body what is pleasing to him and don't misuse this body in a way this is displeasing to him when you know Jesus Christ as your Savior your body is the temple of the Living God temple of a God who says we're to fear him and so to mistreat your body is to mistreat the house of God and I think about people who drink in carousing misuse their body and all toys and thinking you know what it's not hurting me it is hurting you and when you honor God with your body what does he say he says he'll bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones think about this God loves you enough to give you a physical body in which he himself dwells and he dwells in your body and all of the speak through you to love through you to care through you fifty for you to enjoy life and what does he say he brings healing to your body and refreshment to your bones it doesn't mean that if you obey God you can live to be a hundred it doesn't guarantee in a number of years but what he guarantees is this when you know Jesus Christ as your Savior it guarantees the body indwelt by the Living God who will have the best for you now watch this verse proverbs 14 26 in the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence my goodness is that true in the fear of the Lord those strong confidence when you are depending upon God living a godly life there's a sense of confidence confidence boldness what is it it's because God within you is living his life in you and 3 he's the one within you facing what you're facing assuring you that you will be able to get through it confidence boldness assurance the fear of God the reason you feel that is because you have God within you and because you're a believer and having God within you when you face the situation you're not facing it by yourself you're facing it with him because he's dwelling within you you face every single thing in life in the presence of holy God who loves you and who wants the best for you so to fear God is the wisest way to live then he says listen to this Psalm 145 verse 9 tene he will fulfill the desires of those who fear Him he will hear their cry and will save them now listen when you're living the kind of life that God wants you to live and you are following him and you're obeying him he says those desires of your heart God will answer watch this people people see God as as if he's this spiritual monster somewhere just waiting for somebody to sin he's an awesome God who loves us and when he says he fulfills the desires of those who fear Him you say well I have some desires that maybe don't fit God then you're not fearing him so it's not that you're gonna have this that this kind of desire that if you fear him you'll desire what he wants you to desire he says he will give us the desires of our heart trust in the Lord he'll give us the desires of our heart and I think many people who are faced in situations in circumstances in their life and wondering why it's not working out why is it why isn't that working out why don't I have what I need why where is God no this what are you fearing him are you living the kind of life that opens the door for God to answer your prayer then Psalm 34 verse 7 the angel of the lord encamps round about those who fear him listen to that the angel of the lord encamps around about those who fear him when you and I fear God we have his awesome divine protection now I would just make a suggestion to you you going through some difficult time well maybe you just happy as you can be this morning I want to give you a suggestion that will encourage your heart every single time you read it read Psalm 91 the whole song now if you have a Living Bible translation that's the clearest to understand Psalm 91 people don't understand the awesome power God and how willing he is to show himself he said he encamps around about us he protects us he gives us the desires of our heart and then for example in proverbs 19 23 the fear of the Lord leads to life not just the beating of the heart to real life the true life and I think about people who are trying to live out their lives and looking for happiness leaking of a piece looking but you're looking for this look into that and the truth is the source of what they're looking for is the very person they keep shoving away the fear of the Lord the fear of the Lord is the source of every blessing imaginable because you're honoring him you're listening to him you're obeying him you're looking to him you're expecting from him you're surrendering to him to disobey God is foolish did this obey God is expensive and the disobey God is a big disappointment and to disobey God is futile and to obey Him to fear him is awesome listen to this verse proverbs 10 27 the fear of the Lord prolongs life well how long I don't know the answer that I'll tell you this watch this a person who lives 40 years 50 years trusting God following him lives more life than a person who physically lives the seventh day without yard you may be down here but if you're without God you're not living you're sort of dwelling here but your dwelling here facing an awesome judgment of God who's giving you the opportunity who is willing to save you willing to help you willing to God you will it protect you and all these things we've just read the verses that's much more willing to do so much for you if you will trust surrender your life to him and let me say this to parents if you don't don't expect your children to you want your children do you want the best for your children are you listening grandmother granddaddy father mother you want the best for your children surrender your life to God fear Him and live before your children eight godly life that is the most powerful thing you can do for your family the most powerful and think about this fearing God is an element in your salvation nobody is ever saved who does not first yield themselves to holy God and so we are saved with the grace of God through the blood of Jesus of the Cross and from that moment on hes indwelling us he has the best life for us we may mess up at times he forgives us he doesn't change listen God doesn't have a change in mind about us he knows us perfectly and I would simply say to you the wisest decision you'll ever make is to fear the Living God to honor him obey Him he could salt him in your life lift him up worship Him and to trust him for your salvation and the moments you willing to believe what he said he's willing to change your life for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son Jesus that whosoever believes in Him confesses their sins renders their life to him will have everlasting life and I would simply say to you fearing God is an awesome thing fearing God is an awesome blessing fearing God is an awesome promise and all the things we've said there's so much more and simply ask you a question the eutherian is he first in your life before you go to bed at night do you talk to him when you wake up in the morning do you talk to him when you get in your automobile to go to work do you talk to him when you're working among people who do not trust him do not all love him do not believe in him do you talk to him about them do you fear the Living God have you surrendered your life to him most important decision you'll ever make and that's my prayer for you in Jesus name father thank you for your love your forgiveness your kindness and the multitude of blessings that you have in store for us teachers all how to fear you let us not forget what we've heard and enable us to trust you when everything around us looks like it's going wrong but we have you living on the inside of us fearing you can make us fearless of anything and everybody else and we praise you for that in Jesus name Amen if you've been blessed by today's program please visit us at intouch.org e [Music] in touch leading people worldwide into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and strengthening the local church this program is sponsored by in touch ministries and is made possible by the grace of God and your faithful prayers and gifts you

Channel: In Touch Ministries

Views: 130,601

Rating: 4.8976617 out of 5

Keywords: Charles F. Stanley, Charles Stanley, In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley, In Touch Ministries, Preaching, Bible teaching, Dr. Stanley, Intouch ministries, intouch

Id: ZyQgde1vN-0

Length: 27min 2sec (1622 seconds)

Published: Sun Dec 31 2017