Young Adults' Group

The Fear Of The Lord

by Pastor Mark
August 15, 2024

Our key focus in life

What should our key focus be as we search for wisdom? Our focus should be the fear of the Lord. The author of Proverbs made this statement, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7) The fear of the Lord should be practised consistently in our life, in our quest for wisdom. There is a need for us to understand the fear of the Lord more deeply.

Understanding the fear of the Lord

1. What is the fear of the Lord?

1. It is to have a healthy reverence for the Lord.
2. It is also to have a sense of awe for all that He is.

2. Consciousness of who God is

1. There is an understanding of the divine attributes of God.
2. There is also an appreciation of the great and glorious works that He has done.
3. Through our knowledge and consciousness of our awesome and holy God, we can develop the fear of the Lord.

The beginning of knowledge

1. There are many kinds of knowledge that we can gain in the world.
2. But where is the place of the fear of the Lord compared to all other knowledge?
3. The rightful place of the fear of the Lord is at the beginning.
4. It is to be at the top of the list of all the kinds of knowledge that we may pursue.
5. It is with the knowledge of the fear of the Lord that we can seek after greater knowledge and wisdom.

The process of learning

1. There must be initial knowledge and fear of the Lord.
2. This is what our faith should be based on and how we can grow further.
3. With a sense of reverence for the Lord, we submit ourselves humbly to learn from Him.
4. By learning from God, we will begin to attain greater enlightenment and depth.
5. We can hope for further growth in our knowledge, understanding and wisdom.

The problem of rejecting wisdom

1. The challenge is for us not to end up being a fool.
2. This is a person who denies the need for wisdom and instruction.
3. He despises the teaching of good instruction and the gaining of vital wisdom.
4. There is no fear of the Lord in this foolish person.
5. He stands in stark contrast to those who are truly wise.

A wise man fears the Lord

There are many “wise men” in this world with knowledge that has been learnt and acquired. But they can still end up being foolish. A true wise man is one who has the fear of the Lord in him. His knowledge of God is not just something that is theoretical but is personal and real to him, leading him to have the fear of God. This fear of the Lord is practised in how he would hear good instructions, grow in learning and receive wise counsel (Proverbs 1:5). The Lord would reveal Himself to him further with deeper truths, greater insights and godly wisdom. Let us be challenged to develop this true fear of the Lord in our relationship with Him and to grow in knowledge, understanding and wisdom for our life and ministry.

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