Luke 12:4-5 | Job 28:28 | Proverbs 8:13
Introduction:
The reasons for backsliding are many – no matter the number of excuses we can give, it all boils down to the lack of the fear of God and failure in knowing who we are called to be. Many pretend to be living a more devoted life than is the case. They neglect simple instructions of service and worship as commanded by God. They are absent from the hour of prayer, hoard their resources, allow secret sins to eat out their heart of devotion, yield to temptation and the fear of man, and have drifted with multitudes to do evil. The great commission is no longer on the “to do list” of many believers. Some are placing more emphasis on prosperity and spending more of their energy on creating wealth forgetting that the love of money is the root of all evil – 1 Timothy 6:10.
Worldliness promotes backsliding and many people are unaware that the world thrives on killing its own. Hence the warning of the Scriptures in Romans 12:2 | James 1:27 | 1 John 2:15-17.
In Psalm 19:9-11 – the Bible teaches amongst other benefits below that “the fear of the Lord is clean…” and we should desire this more than gold. Some of the benefits of the fear of God are stated below:
- Wisdom – Job 28:28 | Psalm 111:10 | Proverbs 9:10
- Knowledge – Proverbs 1:7 | Proverbs 2:5
- Righteousness (to hate evil) – Proverbs 8:13 | Proverbs 16:6
- Longevity – Proverbs 10:27
- Confidence – Proverbs 14:26
- Fountain of life – Proverbs 14:27
- Multiplication – Acts 9:32
If these are the benefits of the fear of the Lord; it means that the fear of the Lord is a good thing and not something to be afraid of. In a nutshell, the fear of God has something to do with Obedience to the Divine Will. Proverbs 28:1 makes it very clear.
In our study and discussion, we will delve into understanding the fear of God and how to keep ourselves walking in the fear of God.
Discussion:
- Based on the study and your walk as a believer, what would you explain the fear of God to mean to a child?
- Where is the place of accountability and submission to one another in understanding the fear of God?
- To fear God is to depart from evil and perversion – Explain.
- Many have derived their understanding of the fear of the Lord from the consequences of sin and judgement of God, is this ideal in understanding the loving God?
Prayer