"FEAR GOD"

Ecclesiastes 12.13

INTRODUCTION:

1. Turn in your Bible to Romans 3.18. When you find that verse please stand for the reading of God’s Word: "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

2. I am continually struck in my conversations with sinners by the fact that they do not fear God. But I remember in my own childhood, growing up in a home that was not a God-fearing home, that I most certainly did fear God. I remember when I began to fear God in some way.

3. We didn’t go to Church very often at all. When we infrequently went to Church during my childhood I had no sense that God was present in anything that was being done in the Churches we visited, or that anyone had any particularly reverent attitude toward God or the things of God.

4. But I do remember laughing and joking around with a good friend of mine one afternoon. He would make some nasty comment and look up with fake horror and say, "I repent! I repent!" Then we would both laugh. A minute or so later I would do the same thing, pretend to be scared, and look up and say "I repent! I repent!" Then we would laugh again. We did that all one afternoon.

5. I was probably 11 or 12 years old at the time, and when I went home that day I thought about what we’d done. My actions disturbed me. My friend and I had mocked God. We had laughed and joked about fearing God. But afterwards I knew that what we’d done was wrong, that there was nothing funny or amusing about fearing God. And I decided I would never do anything like that again.

6. O, I sinned, to be sure. I’ve done many things I am ashamed of, many things that are completely wrong. But I can’t remember ever mocking the fear of God in that way again. I can’t remember laughing in the face of God that way again.

7. Little did I realize at the time what that first little step toward fearing God would mean in God’s dealings with me, that would eventually lead to my conversion many years later. I want to see you converted.

8. Now, let me gently rebuke my flock, for a moment. Some of you who think you are converted need to be converted still. Who are you? I’m not as sure as I was last week. I stand before you a disappointed and somewhat disturbed pastor. You see, I wondered all week long, while preaching only 30 minutes from here, about the various moms and dads in our Church with lost kids. "Where are they?" I wondered. "There are people getting saved here, really converted. But the people I pastor, with unsaved kids, are not here."

9. And you lost people here today. Did any of your "Christian" friends try to get you to go with them downtown to hear the Gospel preached? I tried to stir up some people to take a lost friend, but no one showed up with a lost friend.

10. If you have a "friend" here at Calvary Road Baptist Church who claims to be converted, but he made no effort to get you under Gospel preaching this week, perhaps you need to reevaluate your friendships. It might be better for you to come and ask me who would be a better friend to you than the ones you currently call friends. You see, you need friends who care for your soul, not some fella you like to hang with.

11. Now look, you moms and dads, and "Christian" friends. Fearing God is vital to a sinner’s heart being prepared for conversion. But how likely is it that your unsaved children ever fear God if you do not fear God? And how likely is it that your unconverted friend will fear God if you do not fear God? The point I make? How many of you moved with fear this week to play the part of your brother’s keeper?

12. Now, I want to speak to the lost who are here today about fearing God. But understand something, Christian. My message is muted, my efforts are vain, my labor is stifled, unless you so fear God that you get off your blessed assurance and concern yourself with the lost condition of your child, or you friend, or your spouse. I speak these words of rebuke and exhortation to you because I love you, so listen carefully.

13. Some of you parents have undone months of preaching this last week by neglecting the opportunities you had to impress upon your children how important it is that they get saved, as measured by the lengths you are willing to go to get them under Gospel preaching.

14. Some of you "Christian" friends have undermined my efforts this past week. How so? You had a golden opportunity to get your unsaved friend under the Gospel, or an unsaved sibling under the Gospel, but you did nothing. Now try impressing that person with the urgency of getting converted.

15. My friends, when there are evangelistic services here you need to move heaven and earth to attend every service, and to get your lost loved ones here. And when I am preaching so close that you could inconvenience yourself and be in attendance, then you need to do that. Eight hopeful conversions in 9 days. Eight! God blessed wonderfully. But you were at home!

16. Turning my attention now to you who are lost. Understand, my friend, that it is God’s will that you fear Him. Understand, as well, that it is necessary for you to fear God. Not like so many these days who claim to be Christians but who do not fear Him. It’s important, however, that your fear of God be an instructed fear, a tutored fear, an informed and proper fear, because there is a kind of fear toward Him that God does not want and disapproves of.

17. If you are terrified by a wild beast you will flee by running away from the beast. But fearing God in that way is entirely wrong. Remember Adam and Eve hiding in the bushes after they ate the forbidden fruit and realized their nakedness? They exhibited the wrong kind of fear, which resulted in them fleeing from God.

18. The right kind of fear of God has the opposite effect. It will cause you to want to flee to God. But you can’t come to God, as a sinner, because God is a consuming fire and He forbids it. The proper fear of God, however, will motivate you to seek His Son, Jesus. You can come to Jesus, because He urges you to come. That’s the kind of fear of God you need to have.

19. There’s another thing you need to understand about this fear of God. In a sense, a sinner must simply choose to fear God. This brings me to our text for this morning, Ecclesiastes 12.13. Please turn to that verse. Shall we stand and read that verse? "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

20. "Fear God." That’s a command. That’s a directive. That’s an order. But you may not think it’s possible to "fear God" because you are somewhat unfamiliar with how the human mind and emotions work with such things as this.

21. Proverbs 16.3 tells us, "Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established." Which means, if you will do right toward God you’ll start thinking right toward God. Decide to fear God, obey this directive, and you’ll start feeling fearful toward God. Most people do not fear God because they never arrive at the right decision, which is to choose to fear God.

22. But you are certainly unpersuaded about the importance and the necessity of fearing God. So, my sermon this morning will deal with the reasons why you should fear God. I will present to you 7 reasons why you should fear God, after Brother Isenberger comes and leads us in a song.

INTRODUCTION:

Seven reasons why you should fear God.

1A. The First Reason You Should Fear God? FEARING GOD ACKNOWLEDGES HIS NATURE

1B. People who do not fear God only betray their ignorance of God. They only show their utter lack of awareness of God’s person, of God’s nature, of God’s attributes.

2B. In Genesis 31 we are given insight into the convictions of two men with regard to God’s nature, and whether or not He should be feared.

1C. In Genesis 31.42 we read that Jacob, in conversation with his uncle Laban, refers to God as "the fear of Isaac," his own father. That description alone shows us the attitudes toward God of both Isaac and his son Jacob.

2C. Because those two men had experienced encounters with God, because they had seen Him work in their own lives, appreciated His majesty and might, they feared Him. Those who do not fear God are only those who have had no dealings with Him.

3B. Were these men wrong for fearing God? Or did they have insight that most men do not have? My friends, even the pagan and idol-worshiping sailors of the boat the prophet Jonah was on had enough of an appreciation of God’s majesty and might, knowing that God was awesome and omnipotent, that we are told "then were the men exceedingly afraid" of God, Jonah 1.10.

4B. If you consider God’s immensity, if you consider God’s power, if you consider God’s majesty and glory, if you consider God’s holiness, if you consider these and other attributes of God, then you will see the sensibility and the intelligence of fearing Him.

2A. Next, Fear God Because FEARING GOD IS THE GATEWAY TO SPIRITUAL TRUTH

1B. Proverbs 1.7 declares to us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge," or understanding. So, Solomon is pointing out to us that until you know to fear God you don’t know much that’s really worth knowing. O, you may be good in math. You may be an expert in physics or literature. But if you don’t know enough to fear God you don’t know anything that will serve you well in eternity.

2B. Psalm 111.10 and Proverbs 9.10 both declare to us that "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." If wisdom is knowing the appropriate use of truth, then God’s Word points out that until you fear God what you know about the implementation of truth really isn’t worth anything. It won’t help you much.

3B. So you see, with regard to gaining insight into spiritual truths, spiritual realities, eternal verities, the starting point is to fear God. And does this not make perfect sense since God is the First Cause, since God is most important, since God is central to all existence and meaning?

4B. How very absurd, then, are these religions of the east and these religions of the so-called New Age. My friend, if it doesn’t begin with God it’s so much foolishness. And the fear of God is the beginning of understanding and of wisdom. You know nothing and you are a fool if you haven’t the sense to fear God.

5B. Recognize, there are things you will never know until you fear God, because Psalm 25.14 declares to us, "the secret of the LORD is with them that fear him."

3A. Third, Fear God Because FEARING GOD PREVENTS STUPID AND PROVOCATIVE SINS

1B. When David transported the ark of the covenant on a cart they were disobeying God’s instructions for moving the ark. They did not fear God and therefore did not make the effort to obey Him. But once Uzzah touched the ark and God killed him David became very afraid that day, wondering how he would move the ark, First Chronicles 13.12. So, it was fear that kept David from sinning stupidly in that way again.

2B. Remember the midwives during the days of Moses? Ordered by Pharaoh to kill the Jewish boys being born, but they refused because they feared God, Exodus chapter 1. Their fear of God kept them from the sin of murder.

3B. There are things I have contemplated doing that I did not do . . . because I fear God. And the same is true of anyone who fears God, even if they are not saved. Had Nadab and Abihu feared God they would not have offered strange fire and been killed by God. Had king Saul feared God he would have obeyed God and the kingdom would not have been taken from him. Had king Uzziah feared God he would not have provoked God and suffered a lifetime of isolation with leprosy.

4B. You should fear God because there are some sins, some really stupid and provocative sins, that you will commit unless you fear God, and only the fear of God will keep you from certain sins.

4A. Fourth, Fear God Because DUTY DEMANDS YOU TO FEAR GOD

1B. What is "duty?" "Duty" is a binding moral obligation. It’s simply the right thing to do. And to not do your duty is just plain wrong. It’s just right to honor your mother. It’s just right to honor your father. It’s just right to honor the king.

2B. Duty is what used to distinguish the British Empire from all other countries in the world. The Empire had a core of people who were committed to doing their duty, to doing what the right thing a man ought to do for his country was.

3B. There was a time when the United States Military Academy placed great value on duty. The motto of the Military Academy at West Point is "duty, honor, country." So, the concept of duty is unarguably important to everyone except barbarians.

4B. The concept of duty is important to God, as well. That’s why, in our text, wise old Solomon urges the fear of God as the whole duty of man. If honoring your mom is an important and valuable duty, if honoring your father is an important and valuable duty, if honoring the flag and honoring the king is an important and valuable duty, then how important is that duty upon which all other duties are founded . . . the fear of God?

5B. What folly it is to be patriotic but not fear God. What an insult to God it is to salute the flag but to refuse to honor Him? What’s so wrong with sinners that they feel compelled to fulfill so many obligations, to properly recognize so many duties, while refusing the fundamental and foundational duty to fear God?

6B. My friend, you ought to fear God because it’s right. You ought to fear god because it’s the proper thing to do. You ought to fear God because it’s your duty to fear God.

5A. Fifth, Fear God Because YOU ARE COMMANDED TO FEAR GOD

1B. You are commanded to fear God in our text. Solomon was writing under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He communicated in a perfect way the will of God on this subject. "Fear God." That this command has been issued shows us that you are responsible to obey. Fear God because He commands you to obey Him, or die trying.

2B. And this fear of God is not limited only to those who are unconverted, as I mentioned earlier. First Peter 2.17 is very clear on this matter, with Peter writing "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear god. Honour the king." This was written to Christians. So God wants everyone to fear Him. It’s His right. It’s what is due Him. To fear God is proper. And it’s what He commands and demands from His creatures.

6A. Sixth, Fear God Because GOD’S PUNISHMENT EVOKES FEAR

1B. You may not fear God because He is God. You may not fear God so that you will have insight to profound spiritual truths. You may not fear God to keep from committing stupid sins that will provoke God. Duty may not move you to fear Him, nor His command sway you. But have you considered what He’s going to do to you? What about His punishment?

2B. Remember the maniac of Gadara? The demon possessed man who had many, many demons in him? When Jesus asked the name of the demon who spoke through the man he said, "my name is legion: for we are many." Those demons feared no mere man, but they were terrified of the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen to what the demon said when Jesus approached: "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not." The demons were afraid because they know the lake of fire awaits them.

3B. How about you? Do you know what awaits you? Do you have any idea what’s going to happen to you someday? You will die and then go to Hell. And that causes many to fear Hell. But that’s a misplaced fear. There is nothing to fear of Hell. What’s to fear is the one who will cast you into Hell.

4B. Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. I read from Matthew 10.28: "and fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Fearing other men is also a misplaced fear. All a human being can do is kill your body. But who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell? God. So, fear God.

5B. You don’t fear God? You’re not concerned about the fires of Hell? Burning flesh and perpetual darkness don’t rattle you at all? I’m not suggesting that you fear Hell. I am pointing out the necessity of fearing the one who will cast you into hell if you don’t get saved. So, you’d better fear God, because,

7A. Finally, FEARING GOD IS PREPARATION FOR SAVING GRACE

1B. Let me read several verses to you and then explain to you the implications:

Psalm 34.7: "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them..."

Psalm 66.16: "Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul."

Psalm 85.9: "Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him."

Psalm 115.11: "Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD."

Psalm 119.79: "Let those that fear thee turn unto me."

Psalm 145.19: "He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them."

2B. If you do not fear God you will not flee to Jesus for salvation. If you do not fear God you will not seek safe refuge in Jesus. In short, fear of God is what the Puritans called an evangelical grace. It’s a grace that leads a sinner to Christ.

3B. And these verses that I’ve just read establish several facts for your consideration:

1C. First, deliverance comes to those who fear God.

2C. Second, Gospel preaching is primarily for those who fear God. Until you fear God you will reject the Gospel, so why preach the Gospel to those with no fear of God?

3C. Third, if you fear God you are never very far away from being converted.

CONCLUSION:

1. You need to fear God, my friend. You need to decide to fear God. If you do not decide to fear God it is almost certain you will never be converted, because God frightens but few sinners. Most sinners have to decide to fear God or they will never fear God.

2. But you have to fear God rightly, for there is a kind of fear that produces wrong actions, such as when Adam and Eve hid from God. So, be instructed, be challenged, to fear God and flee to Christ.

3. Perhaps there will come a day in our Church when your parents will fear God enough to work hard on Saturday nights to get sinners into Church on Sunday. And how that will convince you of your need to fear God.

4. And the same is true of you unconverted people with "Christian" friends. Maybe your friends will fear God enough someday to work hard on Saturday nights in our Church outreach, and that will help to convince you of your need for this evangelical grace called the fear of God.

5. If that is not the case, I fear that you unconverted people will never fear God rightly, and therefore will not flee to Christ for safe refuge from the wrath of God.

6. After prayer and reflection on this great need of fearing God rightly you may be quietly dismissed from the auditorium. If you would like to speak to me after we are dismissed please wait in the conference room until I can speak to you. Shall we now bow for prayer?