In April we studied serving God as a value. This month we will pay special attention to cultivation of fear of the Lord in our life.
Fear of God, fear of disappointing Him and lose closeness of relationship with Him – is one of the highest values of the Kingdom of God, and of our God’s Embassy church. When the fear of God is not strong, we begin to have human fears. Being held captive by such fears,we then become unable tofollow God and His calling. Our developmentcomes to a halt. Many of us are paralyzed by fear. Everyone has something to worry about. But it is important to understand that the fear of God overcomes any human fear.
Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”.
The fear of God releases us from different problems. If we fear God, we have nothing to fear. In this sermon I will name the main human fears that people may experience in their lifetime and cite passages that tell us about the fear of God, which can help us to defeat human fears.
The basic human fears:
1. Fear of failure. It is not unnatural, but if we are afraid of failure, we cannot achieve anything worthwhile in life.
Proverbs 3:21-26: “My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared”.
2. Fear of shame. People are afraid to be disgraced, disappointed or to lose authority.
Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion”.
Psalm 55:22 “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken”.
3. Fear of rejection. It is the fear of not being accepted.The fear of beingrejected by somebody.
Psalm 27:10 “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me”.
Isaiah 49:15-17 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your children hasten back, and those who laid you waste depart from you.“
4. Fear of causing harm. We are afraid to hurt someone or something. Because of this fear we take no action and do nothing.
1 John 4:17-18 “This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love”.
5. Fear of success. We are afraid to start a new project that will stand out us from the crowd, we derogate our merits. We do not want to change the familiar, ordinary and simple waysof life or enter into a zone of increased responsibility.
Psalm 34:7,8 “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him”.
1 Corinthians 12:31 “Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way”.
1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize”.
6. Fear of the future. A man is afraid of his fate, whether he will succeed or not.
Proverbs 14:26 “Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge”.
Isaiah 33:6 “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure”.
7. Fear of poverty. Many people who are afraid of poverty become slaves of work and vanity.
Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want”.
Psalm 34:9, 10 “O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing”.
8. Fear of public opinion. Most people are overly concerned about what others think of them.
Proverbs 29:25-27 “The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but justice for man comes from the LORD”.
Psalm 56:3,4 “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”
9. Fear of diseases. Often even healthy people have fear of being sick.
Exodus 15:26 “He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”
10.Fear of losing love. We areprone to be afraid that someonedoes not love us any more.
Romans 8:35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”.
11.Fear of old age. We are afraid to become lonely, helpless and a burden to others.
Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life”.
Psalm 92:13, 14 «Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green”.
12.Fear of death. People are afraid of painful death. They worry about what will happen to their children without them. They are concerned that they do not have enough time to do all that they have planned, neither do they consider themselves ready to enter Eternity.
Proverbs 14:27 “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death”.
Psalm 37:27 “Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever”.
We may have many reasons to be afraid of something, worry about something. But I want to strengthen your faith in the fact that the fear of God releases you from all fears! To overcome human fears we need to live in the fear of God with a sincere and deep devotion, humility, reverence and absolute trust in His Word.
Bless you!
With love and prayers for your victory and courage to spread the Kingdom of God, Senior Pastor of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations”
Sunday Adelaja
For a deeper studying of this topic the following literature is recommended:
“Understanding God”, “Fear of God”, – by Sunday Adelaja.
www.godembassy.org mail@godembassy.org
Translated by Yevheniya Pustova
Edited by Kizito Leacock
