Today we are starting a new series that...

... hopefully will be sobering and enlightening about the fear of the Lord and our response to that fear. Isaiah 33:5-6 (NIV) “The LORD is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. 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.” As we look all around us here in the United States, I think we can agree that we see very little of what we would call the Fear of the Lord. But let me be honest. When we look through the church, it is difficult to see those who truly have a genuine fear of the Lord. I guess we need to start with us (the church) if we will deal with this situation. 1 Peter 4:17-18 (NKJV) “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" 

“If the righteous one is scarcely saved.” Just that statement in verse 18 should be enough to sober us up about the fear of the Lord. Our relationship to Him is of such importance that we should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. What Isaiah is saying in our text is that holy fear is the key to God’s sure foundation in our lives. In that godly fear we find the treasures of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. Sounds very important. The fear of the Lord along with the love of God sets us up to have a sure foundation to live in a depraved world. Hopefully we will learn in this series we cannot truly love God until we fear Him; nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him. I love asking people what their definition of the fear of the Lord is. Most of the time their answers reflect their relationship with the Lord or maybe their lack of it. What would your answer be? How do you see God? Is your fear of Him and your love for Him your sure foundation? Does your fear of the Lord assure you of salvation and provide wisdom and knowledge?

It is important how we see God the Son…Jesus Christ. 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 hope we can all see a distinction in this verse. Yes, we are to revere Him but we are to also to have godly fear. We must capture a glimpse of the greatness and the glory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Whom we serve. How we approach Him will say much about how we fear Him. Sadly, we have made God in our own image. 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? Jesus is greatly to be feared.