Overview

This sermon explored what it truly means to fear the Lord by contrasting two kinds of fear: trembling at God’s presence and trembling at His Word. Using passages from Isaiah, Philippians, Proverbs, Esther, and the Gospels, the message emphasized that genuine fear of God produces wholehearted obedience rather than selective obedience based on convenience or personal benefit. The sermon outlined five traits of someone who truly fears the Lord: they obey immediately, obey even when God’s instructions do not make sense, obey even without personal gain, obey through pain and suffering, and obey fully to completion. Through examples like Esther, Jesus, Philip, and the blind man in John 9, the message highlighted that reverence for God requires trust beyond human understanding and steadfast faithfulness even when obedience is difficult, costly, or uncomfortable. Ultimately, the sermon called believers to develop unwavering obedience rooted in love, reverence, and holy fear of God rather than emotion or circumstance.

Notes

• 2 categories of fear tremble in His presence or tremble at His Word

>[!Bible Verse] Isaiah 66:3 ESV >“He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man; >he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck; >he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood; >he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol\. >These have chosen their own ways, >and their soul delights in their abominations

• they were being selective about what they wanted to obey.
• Bless in verse means ‘look, see, regard, etc.’
• God is basically saying this is the type of person that I pay attention to

>[!Bible Verse] Philippians 2:12 ESV >Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

• The fear of the Lord gives you the ability to obey in His presence, but also when you don’t think He is looking.
• It is easy to obey God when we are at a conference, in church, or a prayer has been answered.
• It’s harder to obey God when someone has betrayed us, a prayer goes unanswered, or when His presence feels distant.

Traits of Someone Sho Truly Fears the Lord

1. The person who trembles at Gods Word will obey God immediately

>[!Bible Verse] Luke 10:1 ESV >After this the Lord appointed seventy\-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go\.

• By putting other things before the Word of the Lord, missed out.

>[!Bible Verse] Luke 14:24 ESV >For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet\.’”

2. To tremble at God’s Word is to Obey even when it doesn’t make sense.

>[!Bible Verse] John 9:6-7 ESV >Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva\. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” \(which means Sent\)\. So he went and washed and came back seeing\.

>[!Bible Verse] John 2:7 ESV >Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water\.” And they filled them up to the brim\.

>[!Bible Verse] Acts 27:31 ESV >Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved\.”

>[!Bible Verse] Acts 8:26 ESV >Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza\.” This is a desert place\.

• Non of these things make sense to us, but yet when we Fear God we obey.

>[!Bible Verse] Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV >Trust in the LORD with all your heart, >and do not lean on your own understanding\. >In all your ways acknowledge him, >and he will make straight your paths\.

• There are times when God will give us instructions that don’t make sense

3. Is to tremble at God’s Word we will Obey even when there is no personal benefit.

• You almost have to give a benefit for people to Obey God

>[!Bible Verse] Psalm 19:11 ESV >Moreover, by them is your servant warned; >in keeping them there is great reward\.

• If we Obey God, there is great reward.
• Queen Esther is the perfect example of this in action.

>[!Bible Verse] Esther 4:14 ESV >For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish\. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

>[!Bible Verse] Esther 4:16 ESV >“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day\. I and my young women will also fast as you do\. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish\.”

• She had everything to lose, and still chose to Obey.

4. Obey God even if it’s painful

>[!Bible Verse] Philippians 2:8 ESV >And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross\.

>[!Bible Verse] Luke 22:42 ESV >saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me\. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done\.”

>[!Bible Verse] 1 Peter 4:1 ESV >Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin

• False religion will seek out suffering to obese the gods
• What gave Jesus the ability to obey God

>[!Bible Verse] Hebrews 5:7 ESV >In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence\.

• Even Jesus had the Fear of the Lord
• We need to arm ourselves for suffering
• A lot of Christian’s are not armed for suffering. They react instead of act.
• We as Christians need to have resolve, and Obey no matter what, because we Love him and with have Holy Fear

5. The one who tremble’s God’s Word obeys to completion.

>[!Bible Verse] 1 Samuel 15:23 ESV >For rebellion is as the sin of divination, >and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry\. >Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, >he has also rejected you from being king\.”

• almost complete obedience is not obedience.

>[!Bible Verse] Luke 17:10 ESV >So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty\.’”

>[!Bible Verse] Deuteronomy 4:10 ESV >how on the day that you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, the LORD said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so\.’

>[!Bible Verse] Psalm 31:11 ESV >Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, >especially to my neighbors, >and an object of dread to my acquaintances; >those who see me in the street flee from me\.

>[!Bible Verse] Philippians 2:12 ESV >Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

>[!Bible Verse] Matthew 4:20 ESV >Immediately they left their nets and followed him\.

Reflection