WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:16.000 Have you ever noticed that in the Bible there are certain themes that, well if properly understood can be really life-giving and healing and liberating, but if misunderstood can be very destructive? 00:00:17.519 --> 00:00:23.500 I think that's the case when it comes to our theme today, which is the fear of God. 00:00:23.500 --> 00:00:36.460 Nehemiah urged those around him who were exploiting an economic crisis for their own personal advantage to start walking in the fear of God. 00:00:37.899 --> 00:00:44.400 Proverbs 9 verse 10 says that fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom. So what does that mean? 00:00:45.760 --> 00:00:48.439 Well first let's look at what it doesn't mean. 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:55.799 Let's think about how the term fear of God might be so damaging when it's misunderstood. 00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:06.359 Perhaps one of the most damaging misunderstandings is when people decide to dismiss the credibility of Christian truth claims, 00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:11.799 on the basis that if God is to be feared, then God can't be loving. 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:19.739 With that distorted idea, a fearful God means a cruel and unkind God. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:24.799 A God who has disdain for people or for certain types of people. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:29.640 A God who has more to do with condemnation than salvation. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:30.640 A God who has more to do with condemnation than salvation. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:34.120 But that's not the God we meet in the Bible. 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:38.420 Jesus said he came not to condemn but to save. 00:01:38.900 --> 00:01:41.200 And 1 John tells us that God is love. 00:01:41.579 --> 00:01:45.540 That there is no fear in love and that perfect love drives out all fear. 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.000 So whatever the fear of God does mean, 00:01:49.480 --> 00:01:57.379 it can only be properly understood through the lens of the conviction that God is first and last love. 00:01:57.379 --> 00:02:05.719 Another profound misunderstanding is that to fear God means to be scared of God. 00:02:06.619 --> 00:02:11.079 Tragically, you can always tell when someone lives their life with that sort of belief. 00:02:12.359 --> 00:02:16.180 There's usually something quite brittle and insecure about their faith. 00:02:17.259 --> 00:02:20.979 And indeed, that can find its way into the way they relate to other people. 00:02:20.979 --> 00:02:31.919 A.W. Tozer was right when he said that what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. 00:02:33.500 --> 00:02:39.000 If we're scared of God, then our life and our character will probably reflect that. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:45.039 That's because if you're scared of something, you generally try to run away from it. 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:51.740 And since it's quite difficult to run away from God, you'll find you're always on the run. 00:02:53.860 --> 00:02:57.740 But again, that's not the God we meet in the Bible. 00:02:58.020 --> 00:02:59.280 The very opposite, in fact. 00:03:00.159 --> 00:03:03.080 God continually sends angels with the message, 00:03:03.080 --> 00:03:04.740 Do not be afraid. 00:03:06.120 --> 00:03:11.460 He's the God who in Jesus comes to us to draw us near, not scare us off or drive us away. 00:03:12.740 --> 00:03:17.580 And Romans chapter 8 tells us that nothing can ever separate us from the love of God. 00:03:18.980 --> 00:03:24.020 So what does the Bible mean when it talks so positively about fearing God 00:03:24.020 --> 00:03:27.740 as something that's important and that we should all do? 00:03:27.740 --> 00:03:39.580 I think godly fear is important because it's what keeps us alert to God's awesomeness and God's holy otherness. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:47.240 Lose sight of that and we're in danger of becoming all too casual about our relationship with God. 00:03:48.100 --> 00:03:52.480 Of course, Christian faith is all about a personal relationship with God, 00:03:52.620 --> 00:03:55.320 but that's not something to be taken lightly. 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:01.000 And yet, how easy it is to take it all too lightly. 00:04:02.459 --> 00:04:10.299 In the story of Nehemiah, we see believers who are actively engaged in the project of restoring the wall 00:04:10.299 --> 00:04:12.519 and following the will of God. 00:04:12.799 --> 00:04:16.360 We see these very people take their eye off the ball spiritually. 00:04:17.360 --> 00:04:23.159 A food crisis is happening and those with assets and a shrewd business mind 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:26.720 begin to profit from those who don't have such resources. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:34.280 These are people who, in many ways, are very faithful and who are in a relationship with God. 00:04:35.160 --> 00:04:39.240 But they've started to get just a bit too casual about it. 00:04:40.120 --> 00:04:44.840 Their moral conscience has become relaxed and they've managed to persuade themselves 00:04:44.839 --> 00:04:49.339 that their business practice is quite acceptable because it's quite normal. 00:04:50.659 --> 00:04:53.359 Well, it might be normal. 00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:55.399 It might be what everyone else does. 00:04:56.339 --> 00:04:58.159 But it's not what God desires. 00:04:59.679 --> 00:05:02.500 Their fear of God has been eroded. 00:05:02.500 --> 00:05:09.459 And they've become all too casual about connecting their faith with their lifestyle. 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:16.540 Two and a half thousand years might separate us from them, but the challenge remains. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:20.779 God continues to call us into a relationship with him. 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:24.379 With that honour comes responsibility. 00:05:24.379 --> 00:05:29.420 It's a loving relationship, but it's not a cosy one. 00:05:30.540 --> 00:05:33.719 When we start getting casual in our relationship with God, 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:39.139 we'll find ourselves getting lazy in the way we apply scrutiny in making decisions. 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:45.240 We'll start to lose accountability in our lifestyle and integrity in our character. 00:05:46.319 --> 00:05:53.300 We've become too ready to accommodate habits that will stop us flourishing as the human beings 00:05:53.300 --> 00:05:54.639 that God wants us to be. 00:05:56.259 --> 00:06:00.520 Growing as a disciple of Jesus is a process that lasts a lifetime. 00:06:01.900 --> 00:06:06.080 With eternity will come perfection, but we're not there yet. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:13.500 And so throughout this life, we have an ongoing daily calling to keep on growing 00:06:13.500 --> 00:06:19.580 ever deeper and ever closer in our relationship with God, being transformed bit by bit. 00:06:19.579 --> 00:06:31.120 I used to think that with spiritual maturity, temptation leaves us alone or somehow gets less. 00:06:31.500 --> 00:06:32.979 But that's not how it works. 00:06:33.599 --> 00:06:35.740 You can't outgrow temptation. 00:06:36.439 --> 00:06:39.579 Not in this life, no matter how godly and mature you become. 00:06:40.139 --> 00:06:41.899 And it's dangerous to think you can. 00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:48.719 Remember, Jesus himself was tested and tempted right up to the final moment of his death on 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:49.200 the cross. 00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:57.120 We don't grow out of temptation, but we can grow more effective at resisting it. 00:06:58.280 --> 00:07:04.440 And that's where growing in godly fear is such an important part of growing in loving God. 00:07:05.500 --> 00:07:09.960 When you fear God because you love God, you're empowered. 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:15.800 Empowered to stand firm against temptation and empowered to walk in freedom. 00:07:15.800 --> 00:07:22.860 And so it is that Proverbs 9 verse 10 says that the fear of God is the beginning of all wisdom. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:26.079 Think of it like this. 00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:31.420 The fear of bombs is the beginning of wisdom about bombs. 00:07:32.360 --> 00:07:39.360 Someone might know everything there is to know about bombs, except for the fact that they're dangerous. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:43.800 In which case such knowledge is rendered completely useless. 00:07:45.199 --> 00:07:49.900 Imagine you called out the bomb disposal expert and they said to you quite casually, 00:07:50.220 --> 00:07:55.139 I'll just chuck this thing in the back of the car and take it home and work on it tonight. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:08:03.599 Remember, to fear God is not to fear God or to think that God is in any way unloving. 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:12.139 It is to know God's power, God's holiness, and so to love God all the more for that. 00:08:13.979 --> 00:08:22.219 Remember, the art of discipleship can be understood as learning how to carry a full cup with a steady hand. 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:25.000 Let's pray. 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:36.200 Lord, thank you that in Jesus you reach out to us, calling us into a living, loving relationship with you. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:41.139 Forgive us for whenever we've taken that casually or lightly. 00:08:42.540 --> 00:08:48.360 May we always be aware of your holiness and the grace upon which we depend. 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:55.240 May we grow in you each and every day. 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:57.740 Amen.