Fear God!

1. Read: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment,

2. Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

3. About the Text:

1) At the end of Solomon’s life, he came to this conclusion.

2) He had tried all the pleasures the world had to offer.

3) He had explored all the philosophies.

4) This was what he determined.

5) What does this mean?

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. To fear God we must recognize the great consequences of sin.

1) “And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’” (Exodus 20:20).

2) “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

3) “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

2. To fear God we must understand that God is the eternal judge of all things.

1) “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment,

2) Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

3) “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. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

4) “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48).

3. To fear God we must understand that unrighteousness will be punished eternally.

1) “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” (Matthew 10:28).

2) “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).

3) “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

1. To fear God we must study and learn His word.

1) “He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded” (Proverbs 13:13).

2) “Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent” (Acts 13:26).

3)

2. To fear God we must obey God’s teaching.

1) “And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes” (Deuteronomy 17:19).

2) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

3) “But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Acts 10:35).

3. To fear God we must practice God’s will every day.

1) “They have not been humbled, to this day, nor have they feared; they have not walked in My law or in My statutes that I set before you and your fathers.’” (Jeremiah 44:10).

2) “But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive” (Exodus 1:17).

3) “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 9:31).

1. To fear God we must worship Him according to His will.

1) “Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen up among us’; and, ‘God has visited His people.’” (Luke 7:16).

2) “saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.’” (Revelation 14:7).

3) “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24).

2. To fear God we must be the kind of church that God designed.

1) “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:42-43).

2) “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12).

3. To fear God we must teach the plan of salvation that God has given.

1) “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” (Philippians 2:12).

2) What has Jesus said?

3) Hear (Matthew 11:25), Believe (John 8:24), Repent (Luke 13:3,5), Confess (Matthew 10:32-33), Be Baptized (Mark 16:16).

1. What does it mean to fear God?

1) Emotionally

2) Behaviorally

3) Spiritually

2. Invitation