GOD’s plan: “Fear”
Sermon: GOD’s plan: “Fear”
What are you afraid of?
Fear is a strong motivator to do your best.
A 2005 Gallup Poll listed the top 10 things feared most by teenagers:
1. Terrorist attacks
2. Spiders
3. Death
4. Failure
5. War
6. Heights
7. Crime and violence
8. Being alone
9. The future
10. Nuclear war
The top ten phobias in a 2011 medical survey included
· snakes,
· heights,
· closed-in-spaces (like elevators),
· darkness
· storms
· flying 25 million are afraid of flying
· public speaking
Consider the following heroes of the bible who had to fight the demons of fear:
Peter who denied Jesus three times because of fear
Gideon was one of Israel’s first judges. However, he is often considered the poster boy for fear.
God found Gideon hiding in a winepress (Judges 6:11).
· He tested God three times by asking him to perform signs.
Moses: The courage to face the past
· Moses faced his fears by going back to Egypt. However, he had Aaron be the spokesperson due to his fears.
· But Moses is on the wall of faith for very good reasons. He stood up to his fears and trusted in the Lord.
Elijah with Jezebel
· This man of GOD was afraid of the Queen of Israel. Jezebel was evil …pure evil. She was feared more than the King Ahab. When Elijah heard that Jezebel was after him, he escaped to his cave and hid from her.
Everyone has fears.
Yet there was a place/time without fears; The Garden of Eden.
There was no fear until the fall of humanity. Genesis 3:1-13. Adam and Eve were afraid, so they hid. Fear was introduced in humans’ relationship with God after they disobeyed HIM.
What are you afraid of…should we fear the LORD?
We are to fear the LORD with all our heart.
Let’s look at the reaction of Biblical characters during their encounter with GOD:
• Abraham “fell on his face” (Gen. 17:3)
• Moses “hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God” (Ex. 3:6)
• Balaam “bowed his head and fell flat on his face” (Num.22:31)
• Joshua “fell on his face to the earth and worshiped” (Joshua 5:14)
• Isaiah felt that he was undone (Isaiah 6:5)
• Ezekiel fell on his face (Ezekiel 1:28)
• Daniel felt like a man who had been drained of all his strength (Dan. 10:8)
• The 3 disciples who saw Jesus transfiguration “fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.” (Matt. 17:6)
Saul of Tarsus fell to the ground and was left blind (Acts 9:4-9; 22:11)
To fear God is to be respectful and in awe of God’s majesty.
I like to compare the fear of GOD with the fear of our parents…we have a healthy fear of our parents to do what they ask of us and when we mess up, we can expect the consequences.
Lastly, what good things come to those who fear God?
You might be surprised that the Bible is full of promises specifically for those who fear the Lord.
• The Promise to provide what we need (Psalm 34:9-10)
• The Promise of protection (Psalm 33:18-19)
• The promise of purity (Psalm 103:12-13)
• The promise of prosperity (Psalm 128:1-4)
• The promise of a long-life Proverbs 10:27)
• The Promise of blessings to future generations (Psalm 103:17)
CONCLUSION:
Listen to the advice Jesus gave these people in Luke 12: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell.
In summary, Fear is a mixture of respect and reverence.
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