To Fear The Lord

2 Corinthians 5:10-13 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.


1 Corinthians 2:4-5 - My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power

Application:

· I will appear before the judgment seat of Christ accounting for all I have done with my life
· Do I put up a superficial front? Am I more concerned with money, popularity and self-importance than a true, deep relationship with Christ?
· Does the Holy Spirit work in my heart? Or do I rest on intellectual and oratorical ability?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conscious Of God

1 Peter 2:13-14,17-19 - Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right…Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.

Romans 12:10 - Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Proverbs 24:21-22 - Fear the LORD and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?

Conclusions:

• Brotherly love is love within the family of God
• Only a mind renewed by the Holy Spirit could possibly honor others above themselves
• Submission to civil authority is commanded
• To obey God is to fear Him and honor our king
• The king is a terror to the wicked
• Authority established among men depends on God for its existence
• Indirectly, when one disobeys a human ruler he disobeys God, who ordained the system of human government
• When Peter wrote, the emperor was the godless, brutal Nero, who ruled from A.D. 54 to 68
• Of course, obedience to the emperor must never be in violation of the law of God

Application:

• Are you devoted to others within the family of God? Do you honor others above yourself?
• Do you fear the Lord and those who rule over you?
• Do you submit yourself to every authority instituted among men?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Impartially

1 Peter 1:17 - Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

Acts 10:34-35 - Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.

James 2:1 - My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism.

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Conclusions:

• God does not favor an individual because of his station in life, his nationality or his material possessions
• God does respect an individual’s character and judge his work
• This respect is evident because God accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right
• Cornelius in Acts 10 already worshipped the true God, but this was not enough: He lacked faith in Christ
• God does not show favoritism—nor should believers
• Proverbs 1:7 is the theme of Proverbs
• Fear of the Lord is a loving reverence for God that includes submission to His lordship and to the commands of His word
• God is our King, but even as we stand in awe of Him we can rejoice
• Fools are those who hate knowledge and correction of any kind, who are quick to quarrel and give full vent to their anger, who are complacent and who trust in themselves rather than in God

Application:

• Do you fear God and do what is right?
• Do you show favoritism?
• Do you submit to the Lord's lordship and His commands? Do you rejoice in awe of Him?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible