FEAR...

You may have heard the saying, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Does that mean that we’re to shake in our boots if we want to be smart? Well, sort of, but there’s more!

English words often don’t take in the full meaning of the Hebrew word used. That is why some translators have used the words, “honor” “revere”, and even “worship”.

Browns-Driver-Briggs’ Hebrew definitions define the word as follows:

to fear, revere, be afraid, to stand in awe of, be awed, reverence, honour, respect, to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe.

That kind of fear we do not have of people, places, things or circumstances. We have that kind of fear only of God. And, there are definite benefits when we fear God. His promises are clear:

Goodness stored up for us…

How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You… Psalms 31:19a (NASB)

His protection

The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. Psalms 34:7 (NASB)

No Want

O fear the LORD, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want. Psalms 34:9 (NASB)

Compassion

Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. Psalms 103:13 (NASB)

Beginning of Wisdom

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever. Psalms 111:10 (NASB) (also Proverbs 9:10)

Beginning of Knowledge

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7 (NASB)

Prolonged Life

The fear of the LORD prolongs life, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. Proverbs 10:27 (NASB)

Confidence & refuge

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And his children will have refuge. Proverbs 14:26 (NASB)

Life

The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. Proverbs 19:23 (NASB)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

PLAN

Philippians 2:2 (NASB) make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

One Purpose – “You have been called for this purpose…die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 1:21-24) and since Jesus is our righteousness…we live for Him!!! We do what He asked…spread the Good News of the Gospel, that Christ died for our sins that we might be reconciled to God.

To reach that goal requires

Unity of Spirit - being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; Ephesians 4:3 - 4 (NASB)

To reach unity requires

Love for God and for each Other

³⁷And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸“This is the great and foremost commandment. ³⁹“The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37 - 39 (NASB)

Forgiveness

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 (NASB)

God has a plan for your life, a plan for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11), and He’s given you the Perfect Guide Book to fulfill that plan, His Word. Work the “plan.”

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

UNAWARE

2 Corinthians 1:8a (NASB) For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren,

How many of you like not knowing something, being out of the loop, or acting on something and then finding out that information was withheld from you?

I would venture to say that no one likes to be in those types of situations. And yet, lack of communication, whether perceived as positive or negative, is one of the biggest problems that confound us today.

A lack of communication causes

Hurt feelings

False assumptions

Inappropriate action

Disunity and division

Those of us that claim Christ as Savior are called to unity. We are to be about truth, compassion and doing the right thing.

Communicating with each other in love and TRUTH is the only way to go about that. Remember Peter’s response when Jesus told him that He was going to be killed and raised up on the third day?

Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” Matthew 16:22 (NASB)

Jesus didn’t ignore the remark. He confronted Peter in love and said,

“Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matthew 16:23 (NASB)

That kept Peter on the right track. That kept the relationship between Jesus and Peter honest and open, each knowing where the other stood.

Be honest with yourselves and others. Communicate your thoughts and feelings and LISTEN to the other person when they respond to you. We are all equal at the foot of the cross. Promote Unity. Promote Love.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

REJOICE

If your team wins the game, there is plenty of rejoicing. If you get a raise at work, you rejoice. It is interesting to note the types of things that cause us to rejoice. Look in the following passage at what causes the Apostle Paul to rejoice:

For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. 13 For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end; 14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus. 2 Corinthians 1:12 - 14 (KJV)

Do you find yourself rejoicing about the things of God? Do you celebrate and applaud when little children recite the entire first Psalm (or any other verse)? When someone accepts the Lord Jesus as their Savior, do you rejoice? How does that rejoicing compare to your favorite team winning the Super Bowl?

Why do I ask? Because the Bible says in Matthew 6:21 (KJV),

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

We as Christians should rejoice MORE over success in the Christians walk by ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ than we do over things of the world. We are called OUT of the world, to be separated from the world. Can people tell that about you?

• Rejoice in His love for you.
• Rejoice in the sacrifice that Christ made for you on the cross.
• Rejoice in the new day He has given you.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

HOW?

God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others. But how does God comfort us?

Well, I suppose if you are in need of a job, He could get you a job. Wouldn’t that comfort you from the worry of not having enough money to live on? Do you believe God is able to get you that job? It may not be in your timing, but He will cause you to succeed IF you look to Him for help, IF you trust Him.

Paul in verse 9 (below) gives us a clue. He says that he was burdened even to the point of fearing for his life and the reason…so that he would TRUST in God who has raised the dead.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; 9 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, 11 you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8 - 11 (NASB)

Notice that Paul speaks of God’s faithfulness here as eternal (verse 10):

God delivered him in the past

God will deliver him now

God will yet deliver him in the future

God IS able, always has been and always will be!

So what part do we play besides trusting? We need to immerse ourselves in His Word. Are you looking for answers? Look in the Bible. God has put so much in there about every topic under the sun. His word may not have your exact situation in it but it will address the PRINICPLES of the problem and solution in which you are involved.

The second way is to TALK TO HIM. We also call that prayer. Are you feeling depressed, like nothing is going right, and you don’t know what to do? Talk to God.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6 - 7 (NASB)

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD