lessons

30-Aug-2025: What Does It Mean To Fear God?

Opening Prayer

The Fear of the Lord:

The fear of the Lord is not something to dread; it’s a treasure.

Isaiah 33:6

“The fear of the Lord is His treasure.”

Let those eight words settle in your spirit: The fear of the Lord is His treasure. This isn’t a curse, it’s not a burden — it’s something precious, something God shares with His people. When you reject this message, you’re not just tuning me out — you’re rejecting a gift from God.

The Neglect of Scripture Is a Spiritual Problem:

A Call to Search the Scriptures: Jesus said: “Search the Scriptures.” (John 5:39) Yet many Christians barely open their Bibles. A few rushed minutes a day — or none at all. If that’s you, you’re not naturally lazy — you’re spiritually lazy. You can run a business, raise a family, keep a spotless house, or excel at work — but when it comes to Scripture, you drop the ball. That’s not by chance. That’s spiritual warfare.
Spiritual Laziness Is a Strategy of Satan: This neglect isn’t neutral—it’s engineered. The enemy is working overtime to keep you from the one thing that can transform your life: God’s Word.

So let me ask you honestly:

Have you let the devil deceive you into thinking the Bible is boring or too hard to understand?
Are you allowing spiritual laziness to rob you of God’s treasure?
If so, repent. Not out of guilt, but because you’re missing out on life, love, and freedom found in God’s Word.

Misconceptions About the Fear of the Lord: What It’s Not.

It’s not natural fear, like panic before an accident.
It’s not demonic fear, the tormenting spirit mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:7. That fear has torment (1 John 4:18), and it’s from the enemy, not from God.
It’s not fear of man — in fact, The Fear of The Lord delivers us from the fear of man.

Psalm 146:3-4

Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you. When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end.

Psalm 146:3-7

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them — he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free,” - (NIV)

What the Fear of the Lord Is: A deep reverence and awe for God’s Holiness.
A hatred for evil and sin:
- Proverbs 8:13:
  
  To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
A desire to obey, honor, and please the Lord. A continual awareness of God’s presence and majesty.
- Psalm 19:9:
  
  “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.”
- Proverbs 23:17:
  
  “Continue all day long in the fear of the Lord.”
So this is not outdated. It’s not just the Old Testament. It’s not irrelevant. The fear of the Lord: Endures forever, is for every hour of the day and brings wisdom, protection, and intimacy with God .

Scripture is packed with promises tied to the fear of the Lord:

Proverbs 1:7

It’s the beginning of knowledge.

Psalm 25:14

The Lord confides in those who fear Him.

Proverbs 14:27

It’s a fountain of life.

Proverbs 10:27

It adds length to life.

Proverbs 19:23

It leads to life, rest, and peace.

The fear of the Lord is not terror — it’s transformation.
The fear of the Lord is not ordinary fear — it’s a special, holy fear, a spiritual awe that comes from encountering God in His glory, majesty, and holiness.
Moses Trembled Before God: Even Moses — God’s intimate friend — trembled at Mount Sinai: “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.” (Hebrews 12:21)
If Moses, a man so close to God, trembled in God’s presence, how much more should we?
This kind of fear isn’t harmful — it’s healthy, cleansing, and holy. It restores perspective. It reminds us who God is and who we are before Him.
Reverence, Awe, and Submission: Today, “reverence” has been watered down to external behavior — quietness in a church building or stiff formality.
But true reverence is a spiritual response to revelation.
You cannot have reverence without revelation. If we walk with pride, self-importance, or arrogance, we are not walking in the fear of the Lord.
When God reveals Himself, the right response is:
- Awe – a Holy recognition of His Greatness.
- Reverence – a response to His Majesty and Holiness.
- Submission – a yielded heart that honors God above self.
What You Fear Is Your God: “The Fear of Isaac” (Genesis 31:42,53) Jacob referred to God as “the Fear of Isaac.” In other words, what Isaac feared was his God.

That principle still applies today. Whatever you fear most reveals what you worship:

If you fear people’s opinions, then people are your god.
If you fear poverty, then money is your god.
If you fear sickness, then health is your god.
If you fear failure, then success is your god.
But if you fear The Lord, then He is your God.

Jesus and the Fear of the Lord: Even Jesus — the sinless Son of God — walked in the fear of The Lord:

Isaiah 11:1–3

The Sevenfold Spirit of God. “The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him… the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. His delight is in the fear of the LORD…”

This sevenfold anointing reveals the fullness of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life. And the final, crowning manifestation is: the fear of the Lord.
If Jesus delighted in the fear of the Lord, how can we claim we don’t need it?
To reject the fear of the Lord is to exalt ourselves above Jesus. That’s not just error — that’s arrogance.
We must follow His example in every way — including the way He walked in holy reverence and obedience to the Father.

Conditions to Receive the Fear of the Lord:

The fear of the Lord isn’t automatic. It doesn’t come by accident.
There are conditions we must meet. It is not just a feeling or a theological concept it’s a spiritual atmosphere we enter through humility, hunger, and obedience.
Here lies the truth we must carry in our hearts:
- The fear of the Lord is God’s treasure.
- He gives it to those who seek Him, honor Him, and humble themselves before Him.

The Fear of the Lord - A Treasure to Seek

The fear of the Lord must be taught: Psalm 34:11:

“Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”

It is not automatic. It requires listening, humility, and openness to the Holy Spirit. It’s Manifested in Our Speech. The first evidence of fearing God is in how we use our tongue (Psalm 34).
Check your speech: is it arrogant, bitter, impatient — or reverent, careful, and life-giving?

We must choose it:

Proverbs 1:29:

“They did not choose the fear of the Lord.”
It’s a choice. God won’t force it upon us. But to reject it brings consequences.

It cannot coexist with evil or pride:

Proverbs 3:7:

“Fear the Lord and depart from evil.” If we cling to pride or sin, we disqualify ourselves from truly walking in the fear of the Lord.

It’s the gateway to wisdom:

Job 28:28:

“Behold, the fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.”
Wisdom isn’t cleverness. It’s rooted in Holy Reverence and a deep respect for God’s Authority.

God shares secrets with those who fear Him.

Psalm 25:14:

“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him.”

The fear of the Lord leads to intimacy with God, not distance. It Strengthens Marriages and Families.

Ephesians 5:21:

“Submitting to one another in the fear of God.”
A Godly marriage thrives on mutual submission under God’s authority.

It Prolongs Life and Gives Peace:

Proverbs 10:27:

“The fear of the Lord prolongs days.”
Proverbs 19:23:

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, satisfaction, and protection.”

The Holy Spirit Imparts It:

Isaiah 11:2–3:

Jesus Himself delighted in the fear of the Lord.
It’s a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, not something we produce on our own.

There Are Conditions to Receive It:

Proverbs 2:1–5:

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding — indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Let’s ask ourselves a few questions:

Many Christians are spiritually malnourished because they’ve rejected the fear of the Lord and neglected His Word. Don’t let that be you.

Have You Ever Considered the Price Jesus Paid?
Have you ever paused to truly consider the price that Jesus paid when He went to the Cross for you and for me?
It cost Him everything. He gave all He had — His dignity, His blood, His life.
He was buried in a borrowed robe and laid in a borrowed tomb.
On His way to that tomb, He poured out the very last drop of His lifeblood.
Why? What did He see in us that made such a sacrifice worth it?
Jesus saw treasure and that treasure is you and me.

Jesus tells two short but powerful parables in:

Matthew 13:44–46:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

These parables give us a glimpse into the heart of God. Just as the man in the story gave up everything to obtain the treasure in the field, Jesus gave up everything to redeem us — His treasure.
The word redeem means “to purchase back,” “to regain possession,” or “to buy something at a cost.” That’s what Jesus did. The world — the field — was full of thorns, sin, and brokenness. But buried within it was something of great value: you and me. God’s people.
To legally and righteously claim that treasure, Jesus had to pay the full price. And the cost was His very life. Imagine that man from the parable. He stumbles across a hidden chest in a dusty, unremarkable field. Curious, he digs deeper and uncovers riches beyond imagination — gold, silver, and precious stones. But to make that treasure his, he can’t just take it. He has to buy the whole field. And it’s not cheap. It will cost him everything.
He goes home and tells his wife, “We’re selling everything — our house, our land, our furniture, even our clothes. We’re buying that field.” She doesn’t understand, but he knows what he saw. And when the sale is final, when the deed is his, he shows her the treasure that was buried all along.
That’s what Jesus did. He saw us buried in the dirt of the world — overlooked, unseen, lost. And He said, “I’ll pay the price.” He didn’t just want the world; He wanted the treasure in it.
He paid with His life, shedding His blood — the most valuable substance in all of existence. He died with nothing so we could have everything.

Why is this so important? Because if you’re in Christ, you are that treasure. God has invested the very blood of His Son in you. You are priceless to Him.

Now, as redeemed people, we are called to carry this message. We are the bearers of hope. We must proclaim God’s Word with zeal, joy, and confidence, knowing that His Glory will be revealed through us. We must also obey His Commands.

John 14:15-16

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God.