This week we continue sharing about the fear of the Lord.

This message has a way of making us uncomfortable. That is my job sometimes. There is a great promise for those who have the fear of the Lord. Isaiah 33:5-6 (NIV) “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.” The more I look into this subject of the fear of the Lord the more I realize God wants us to understand how serious it is for us. The fear of the Lord can be defined as a continual awareness that you are in the presence of a holy, just, and almighty God, and that every motive, thought, word, and action is open before Him and will be judged by Him. I hear people say, Pastor Rick, the fear of the Lord is just an Old Testament thing. Really?

The Word says Psalm 89:7 (NKJV) “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.” I am afraid that in the church we are serving a Jesus Who is not depicted in scriptures. We have made Him into the image of God that we want Him to be. We have no fear or reverence for Him. Romans 1:22-23 (NKJV) ^“Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man…” Is the Jesus you serve the Jesus of the Bible or is He the Jesus you have created Who winks at your sin and lets you live anyway you want with no consequences? Romans 1:18-25 (NKJV) tells us of a dangerous downward spiral of those who know the Lord. You may call it losing your fear of the Lord. You may call it backsliding or falling away from the Lord. Maybe drifting away from the Lord. Whatever you want to call it but hear this, it says although they knew God v. 21:

A. Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God.

B. Although they knew God, they were not thankful.

C. Although they knew God, they became futile in their thoughts about Who God was.

D. Although they knew God, their foolish hearts were darkened. 

E. Although they knew God, in professing to be wise, they became fools.

F. Although they knew God, they changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man.

G. Although they knew God, they exchanged the truth of God for a lie.                                                        

H. Although they knew God, they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

Let’s rap up this word by saying what Hebrews 10:26-31 (NKJV) says “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The book of Romans and Hebrews are New Testament books.