THE FEAR OF THE LORD

THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE

PROVERBS 1:7 NKJV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom
and instruction.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling;

SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?

JOSHUA 4:24 NKJV

"that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is
mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever."

MATTHEW 10:28 NKJV

"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather
fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

WAS IT A COMMAND?

DEUTERONOMY 10:12 NKJV

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord God require of you, but to fear the Lord
your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the Lord your God
with all your heart and with all your soul,

1 PETER 2:17 NKJV

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

WHY SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?

PSALM 76:7-12 NKJV

You, Yourself, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence When once
You are angry?
8 You caused judgement to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and
was still,
9 When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth.
Selah
10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath
You shall gird Yourself.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him
bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.
12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is terrible to the kings of
the earth.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:10-11 NKJV

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may
receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good
or bad.
11 Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we
are well known to God, and I trust are well known in your consciences.

SHOULD WE FEAR ANYTHING ELSE?

ISAIAH 8:12-13 NKJV

"Do not say, 'A conspiracy,' Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy,
Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.
13 The Lord of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let
Him be your dread.

LUKE 12:4-5 NKJV

"And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body,
and after that have no more that they can do.
5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has
killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!

WHEN SHOULD WE FEAR GOD?

DEUTERONOMY 4:10 NKJV

"especially concerning the day you stood before the Lord your God in Horeb,
when the Lord said to me, 'Gather the people to Me, and I will let them hear My
words, that they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and
that they may teach their children.'

1 PETER 1:17 NKJV

And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each
one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in
fear;

WHAT IS THE MAJOR PRACTICAL
BENEFIT OF THIS DOCTRINE?

PROVERBS 16:6 NKJV

In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the
Lord one departs from evil.

2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 NKJV

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

SOME OTHER PRACTICAL BENEFITS

PSALM 34:9 NKJV

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

LUKE 1:50 NKJV

And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

WERE PEOPLE CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THIS

EXODUS 18:21 NKJV

"Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God,
men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of
thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

ACTS 10:35 NKJV

"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by
Him.

HOW DO WE LEARN TO FEAR THE LORD?

PROVERBS 2:1-5 NKJV

My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to
understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for
understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,

ROMANS 11:19-22 NKJV

You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by
faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you
either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell,
severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise
you also will be cut off.

WHY DO SOME OF US NOT FEAR GOD?

ISAIAH 57:11 NKJV

"And of whom have you been afraid, or feared that you have lied And not
remembered Me, Nor taken it to your heart? Is it not because I have held My
peace from of old That you do not fear Me?

HAND IN HAND WITH FEAR:
FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

DEUTERONOMY 5:29 NKJV

'Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always
keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their
children forever!

ACTS 10:35 NKJV

"But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by
Him.

WHO WILL FEAR HIM

PSALM 33:8 NKJV

Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand
in awe of Him.

REVELATION 15:4 NKJV

Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are
holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgements
have been manifested."

DOES THIS FEAR HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GOSPEL?

REVELATION 14:6-7 NKJV

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting
gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth-- to every nation, tribe,
tongue, and people--
7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the
hour of His judgement has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the
sea and springs of water."

DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH SALVATION?

PSALM 85:9 NKJV

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, That glory may dwell in
our land.

PHILIPPIANS 2:12 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only,
but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling;

TO WHOM DOES GOD SHOW MERCY

PSALM 33:18 NKJV

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in
His mercy,

PSALM 103:11 NKJV

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward
those who fear Him;

PSALM 103:17 NKJV

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who
fear Him, And His righteousness to children's children,

PSALM 118:4 NKJV

Let those who fear the Lord now say, "His mercy endures forever."

PSALM 147:11 NKJV

The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His
mercy.

LUKE 1:50 NKJV

And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.

DID THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT
CHURCH FEAR GOD?

ACTS 2:43 NKJV

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through
the apostles.

ACTS 5:5,11 NKJV

5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So
great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these
things.

ACTS 9:31 NKJV

Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were
edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy
Spirit, they were multiplied.

ACTS 19:17 NKJV

This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear
fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.