Biblical Fear
February
16th, 2003
Brett
Baker
Leviticus 26:36-39
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Introduction
Recently, news stories have described our nation as being in the “grips of fear”. Some go on to say that our economic woes are a result of our fears of war and the uncertainty of an economic recovery. One also said that, more than ever, people are seeking out medical professionals to give assurances and tools to cope with uncertainty. Even Mr. Greenspan said that there is just no way to know what the future holds with so much uncertainty.
But what answer does the Church have for the world? What are we to do with our fears? We must go to the Word of God and see what it teaches us about fear. First, in the Scriptures there is a fear that is presented as a positive attribute and then there is fear that is prohibited or inappropriate. And, the verses dealing with fear are not few and far between—the scriptures dealing with fear are plentiful. Whether we fear terrorists or hardship or heights or small-enclosed rooms or spiders & snakes, we must have our minds renewed by the Word.
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Testimony of God’s Word
God’s name is Fear Genesis 31:42, 53
We learn to fear the Lord Deuteronomy 31:13; Psalm 347-11; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Blessing comes from the fear of the Lord Deuteronomy 6:24
Fear of God is consistent with joy Psalm 2:11; Philippians 2:12-13
It is our delight to fear God Isaiah 11:3
David feared God
and did not fear men Psalm
3:5; Matthew
God prolongs the days of those who fear Him Proverbs 10:27; cf. Ephesians 6:1-3; Hebrews 2:14-15
It is arrogance to fear the creation Isaiah 51:12
The Son of God feared His Father Hebrews 5:7-8
Perfect love casts out the fear of judgment 1 John 4:17-19
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We Live Our Lives in Biblical Fear
1 Peter 1:17; 2:11 - 3:7
¨ When we learn to first fear God in all things, then we can learn how to dwell with each other and within those realms of authority that God has placed over us. When we start with learning to fear “The Fear of Isaac” then our lives will tend to line up properly and the various relationships we have with one another gradually fall into place.
¨ Our fear of God works its way out in many areas. No matter where God has us in life, whether a slave or a wife or a husband or children or just as a citizen, we submit to those authorities that God has established over us because we first of all fear Him.
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What Then Should We Do?
Leviticus 26:40-46
The problem isn’t fear. The problem is that we don’t know how to fear Biblically. Our concern shouldn’t be that the county is too afraid, but rather we aren’t afraid properly because that which we currently fear cannot compare with that which we should fear.
¨ Pray for God to grant His Church repentance. (2 Timothy 1:7)
¨ Teach your family to fear God in all realms of life.
¨ Pray that God would restore the saltiness of the Church
¨ Pray that God would grant our nation peace (Acts 9:31), that war would be averted, that our political leaders would fear God.