Scripture mentions “bearing fruit.” Of course we’re not talking about apples and oranges, but results. More specifically results that come from the way we live. Colossians 1:9-12 reads, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.  And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully  giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Hear Paul was talking to the leaders of the Church at Corinth and explaining how he was praying that there would be results from every good work they did.

What is a “good work” and what does it's fruit look like? Matthew 3:8 says that we should “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” This is saying that the sin that we abandon as we live closer to God is not only abandoned, but that the bad results of that sin are replaced by good results from our strengthened  relationship with God. In other words, stopping sin is not enough, we are to produce positive, godly results.

Matthew  7:16 says “ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” This indicates that not only are the results to be visible to us, but that they should be significant enough that the world around recognizes them. For example, we should not just pray for someone (which of course is a good thing), but perhaps we should pray WITH someone.

Of course we are not to be showy or egotistical about the fruit that we produce. James 3:16-17 tells us, “ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Mercy and good fruit, the results of our closeness to the Lord. I pray that your fruit is plentiful and full of flavor. In Jesus name.

Today I’d like us to try to answer the question:

• What does it mean to “fear God?”
  
  

How is “fear” used in Scripture?

• Hebrew 3372 yare
  
  
  • Be fearful, terrified 300
    
    
  • Revere 5 – Translated “reverence”
    
    
  • Lev 19:30 Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the LORD.
    
    
• Greek 5401 phobus  - (think phobia)
  
  
  • Be fearful, dread 43
    
    
  • Misc 3
    
    

So fear means fear.

Fearing God means being afraid of Hm.

OT

• Lev 19:14 - Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD.
  
  
• Lev 25:17 - Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God. I am the LORD your God.
  
  
• Lev 25:36 -  Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you.
  
  
• Lev 25:43-43 - Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves.  Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.
  
  

It seems like God is saying over and over – “Don’t do bad stuff, instead be afraid of me.”

These commands are not simply because God wanted to be terrifying, He had a use for them.

• Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
  
  
• Ecc 12:13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
  
  

What do you see as a reason that the OT people should fear God?

The Law?

 

 

NT

Fear of God or of His Wrath?

How many of us have heard someone say that they were baptized because they were afraid that they would go to hell? Is that fearing God?

Romans 1:18 - The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Romans 2:8 - But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him.

Matt 10:28 - Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

God’s wrath is real!

What type of relationship does God want to have with us?

Close – Personal

What about “abba” (daddy). Isn’t that how God wants us to see him?

Romans 8:15 - For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Gal 4:4-6 - But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.  Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

Confident

1 Tim 2:7 - For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

1 Thess 5:9 - For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

How do we get to that relationship?

Mark 12:20-30 - One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

So  are we to love God,  not fear Him?

1 John 4:16-18 - And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.  In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

John 3:16-17 - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

1 John 4:8  Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Perfect love casts out fear.

Romans 5:8-9 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!

He loved us enough to show us a way to become fearless!

Gospel  of fear vs  gospel of grace

Duet 6:5 - 5  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Ahab – Human love for one another

John 13:34 - A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

Mark 12:20-30 - One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Agape – Willing to give our lives

1 John  4:18 - …perfect love drives out fear…     

Romans 12:2 tells us  “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

In looking at an analogy of transformation, that of a caterpillar turning into a butterfly, we can draw several parallels between the Scripture in Romans 2 and the analogy. First, as the caterpillar contains all it needs to be transformed into a butterfly, we to are created complete only waiting for the power of God, through the Holy Spirit to perform the transformation.  Secondly there is intentionality required. As the caterpillar needs to spin a cocoon, we need to seek God so that the transformation can begin. Third, transformation is a process. As the caterpillar needs to go through a process  to become a butterfly, we too  go through a process of transformation.  2 Cor 3:18 tells us, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Finally we can't do it on our own. As the caterpillar needs the power of God to complete its transformation, so we too, needs God power to transform to His likeness.

As I worked out today I thoughts about my arms, my chest, and my legs. I thought about how I needed to use them if I wanted to keep them strong. I also pondered  the fact that I need to do more than just use them, I needed to exercise them. The difference between those two is the purpose for which they are done. I use my muscles to live, I exercise them to remain alive. The same is true of our spiritual muscularity. We use it to live, but exercise it to stay alive. Love, Hope, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control are what we call the “fruit of the Spirit.” (Gal 5:22) These are not fruit that we produce, but fruit that the Holy Spirit produces through us as we exercise our spirituality and godliness.  We are to Love to even our enemies (Matt 5:44), be patient in our Hope (Romans 5:5), practice Peace with each other (Mark  9:50), be Patient with each other (Eph 4:2),  be Kind to each other  (Eph 4:32), do Good to all men  (Gal 6:10), be Faithful unto death (Rev 2:10), and be strong in Self Control (Pro 25:28). But here us is the key; as our muscles let us live by staying strong, and give us life by growing stronger, so too do our Spiritual muscles behave the same way. Consider 2 Pet 1:4-8, 4  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s exercise our faith.

Genesis 1:1 says th“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” There are many that deny this fact by talking about other “scientific” solutions as to how the world came to be. On one hand Conservative Christians believe that God spoke the earth into existence. At the other end of the spectrum some say that there was a giant interstellar  explosion,  called the “big bang.” What is the truth? Is it either of these or something else. Genesis states that God created everything in six days beginning with the heavens and the earth on day one. If we agree on that, doesn’t either option work, or can both work? Could God have spoken the earth into existence (Psalm 33:8-9) using a “big bang?” There are things that we don't know because as God says,  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Someday we will understand how God did it, but regardless of your stance, we can all find commonality in the fact that no matter how He did it, “In the beginning God…”

The recent events in that we have seen in the news are great examples of conflict. Our world is filled with conflict. In a 1969 song, John Lennon made a statement that is just as relevant today as it was 45 years ago, and probably will be still be in another 45 years; “All we are saying, is give peace a chance.”

The problem with conflict is that, in the human mind, it requires retaliation.  Conflict breeds conflict. But as Christians we are required to rise above conflict and strive for peace. The Apostle Paul commands us saying, “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

Looking deeper into the context surrounding that statement we read, “18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  19  Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:  “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:18-21)

It’s not enough that we don’t retaliate, we are to promote peace, and we are to do so by showing charity to those that would participate in conflict against us. We are to be the example. This isn’t an easy command to obey but with prayer and love conflict can be reduced. In Jesus name.