“…perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” – 2Corinthians 7:1c

DO YOU HAVE THE FEAR OF GOD IN YOUR HEART?

Introduction –

1.    Have them turn their Bibles to 2Corinthians 7:1

2.    <Title> How does that title strike you as you first hear it?

a.    Maybe negatively -- certainly there is a type of fear that we do not need, the type that dreads the object feared (like a snake) – 1John 4:16-18

b.    On the other hand, most all of us need a lot more awe; a lot more respect; a lot more reverence.  Of that I feel quite certain. 

c.     But the real issue is not what I think, or what you think.  The issue is what God says!  Tonight we're going to get into seeing what God says of how we should view Him.

3.    Time that most vividly shows my reverence to my dad growing up: popping coffee creamer on a person's car at the hotel we were staying at, since it was the last time I remember my dad's wrath, and after that I committed myself to never making him that mad.

4.    For certain, although I was probably physically stronger than my dad at 16, all he had to do was look at me and I would submit.

5.    My biggest sin during my adolescent years was doing things behind my parent's back—drugs, drinking, parties—and it was extra hard on me because I do have a tremendous respect, even healthy fear, for my dad.

6.    I think that one of the key reasons we are best friends today is that the good news of forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ brought me to initiate reconciliation between my dad and I.  

a.    Thus, all that I was doing secretly in my sin, all the ways I was not respecting him by being deceitful, was brought to light and confessed with brokenness and humility.

b.    God brought me to this point of absolute surrender to Him, which also freed me from the ways sin separated me from my dad.

7.    This depicts my beginning in the faith, but the heart is what God says is everyone's beginning, middle, and end!

a.    Since their Bibles and hearts are opened, read tonight's main passage: 2Cor. 7:1

b.    Last week we had an introduction to holiness, and this week we are going to look more in depth at the process of perfecting holiness out of reverence for God!

c.     The Greek word for "perfecting" here is epiteleō:

1.    Taking it upon oneself to execute an accomplishment to completion.

2.    Probably not a perfect definition, but it gives you a pretty good idea to say this verb corresponds well with our concept of maturing.

3.    As disciples of Jesus, we are maturing to be like Jesus!

d.    Overview outline—

                                                             i.       Relationship with God begins with fear.

                                                           ii.       Relationship with God is maintained in fear.

 

Main Points –

 

1.   Relationship with God begins with fear.

a.    The fear we are talking about is the human response to the presence of God.

b.    In the Bible we see many responses of people who encounter God:

                                                             i.       Exodus 3:6, when God made Himself known to Moses, it says Moses hid his face because he feared God!

                                                           ii.       Belshazzar, who was a prideful blasphemer of God, saw the writing on the wall, turned pale while his knees were knocking together (Daniel 5:6).

                                                         iii.       Although one of the most righteous people of his time, Isaiah was entirely humbled and broken when he saw God!

1.    "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5)

                                                         iv.       Ezekiel went down to the river "overwhelm" after receiving visions from God (Ezekiel 1:1; 3:15).

                                                           v.       Daniel fell down prostrate, while frightened and exhausted (Daniel 8:17, 27).

                                                         vi.       Job, humbled in speech said, "I am reduced to dust and ashes" (Job 30:19).

                                                       vii.       The soldiers at Jesus' tomb became like "dead men" when the tomb shook (Matthew 28:4)!

                                                     viii.       The apostle John, after seeing the glorified Christ, "fell at His feet as though dead" (Rev. 1:17).

c.     However, no one can see God face to face and live!

                                                             i.       Exodus 33:20 is where God says that to Moses.

                                                           ii.       In that context, Moses requested to see Him but there was a limit to what he could handle.

d.    God is awesome in His visible form, but even His name is awesome—Deuteronomy 28:58; Psalm 99:3

e.    We are not talking about the fear of punishment, rather reverence and awe that comes from a recognition and submission to the divine.

                                                             i.       Proverbs 1:7 "⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge"

                                                           ii.       How is the fear of the LORD the beginning?

2.   Relationship with God is maintained in fear

a.    Need to fear God

                                                            i.       (Pick a few to read and reference the others)

                                                         ii.       Use specific examples from what you have seen go on in the ministry to tie into the Scriptures below.

                                                      iii.      General References

1.    Deut. 10:12-17 -- "And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, [13] and to observe the LORD'S commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?   [14] To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. [16] Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer.   [17] For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes."

2.    Jeremiah 44:10 -- "To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your fathers."

3.    Isaiah 8:12-13 -- "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.  [13] The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread."

4.    Hebrews 10:26-31 -- "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,  [27] but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.  [28] Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.   [29] How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?   [30] For we know him who said, 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' and again, 'The Lord will judge his people.'  [31] It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

5.    Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'

a.    Deuteronomy 4:24

b.    Acceptable worship is with reverence because God is a consuming fire!

6.    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."

                                                       iv.      Fearing God's word

1.    Isaiah 66:5 -- "Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word."

2.    Examples – Nehemiah 8.

3.    John 12:48 -- "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day."

                                                           v.       Reverence for Christ

1.    Hebrews 1:1-4

2.    Colossians 3:22

                                                         vi.       The Need to Fear God By Respecting Relationships With Each Other

1.    Ephes. 5:21 -- "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."

2.    1 Cor. 16:15-16 -- "You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the. I urge you, brothers, [16] to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it."

b.   Healthy Fear Produces a Holy Life

1.    Philip. 2:12 -- "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." 

2.    2 Cor. 7:1 -- "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."

 

Practicals:

1.    Grow to know God deeper, where your heart is more reverent to Him

a.    How much do you fear God?

b.    All of us can grow in our reverence as much as all of us can grow deeper in our relationship with God.

c.     Are you maintaining a soft heart to God?

2.    Growing more mature spiritually will happen in holy fear of God—respecting how Holy He is!