1. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation

2. God is gracious in all He does! Eph. 1:3-14, James 1:12-18, esp. 1:17. God is gracious in all He does! Eph. 1:3-14, James 1:12-18, esp. 1:17. Even “fearing the LORD” is a blessing! Ps. 112, esp. 112:1, Ps. 128, esp. 128:1, 4, Prov. 28:14 & 31:30, Eccl. 7:18. Even “fearing the LORD” is a blessing! Ps. 112, esp. 112:1, Ps. 128, esp. 128:1, 4, Prov. 28:14 & 31:30, Eccl. 7:18. The LORD commanded His people “for their good always” to observe all Moses’ statues and “to fear the LORD our God” as well as to “walk in His ways” and “to love Him and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Dt. 6:24 & 10:12-13, 20. The LORD commanded His people “for their good always” to observe all Moses’ statues and “to fear the LORD our God” as well as to “walk in His ways” and “to love Him and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” Dt. 6:24 & 10:12-13, 20.

3. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation Jesus commands us to fear the LORD as well as to love Him! Mt. 10, esp. 10:28 & 10:31/Lk. 12, esp. 12:4-5, 7 & Mt. 22:34-40., esp. 22:37/Mk. 12:13-17, esp. 12:30 (= Dt. 6:5 & Lev. 19:18) & Lk. 10:25-37, esp. 10:27-28. Cf. Acts 2:43, 9:31, I Pet. 2:17, II Cor. 4:13-5:10, Phil. 3:23-23, II Thess. 1:5-2:2, Rev. 11:18, 14:7, 15:4, 19:5. Jesus commands us to fear the LORD as well as to love Him! Mt. 10, esp. 10:28 & 10:31/Lk. 12, esp. 12:4-5, 7 & Mt. 22:34-40., esp. 22:37/Mk. 12:13-17, esp. 12:30 (= Dt. 6:5 & Lev. 19:18) & Lk. 10:25-37, esp. 10:27-28. Cf. Acts 2:43, 9:31, I Pet. 2:17, II Cor. 4:13-5:10, Phil. 3:23-23, II Thess. 1:5-2:2, Rev. 11:18, 14:7, 15:4, 19:5.

4. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation Fearing the LORD (Hebrew yare, Greek , or  &  ) means soberly and humbly recognizing the LORD’s all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving reality in contrast to all creation, including people – especially including us – so that we hold Him in awe, wonder and respectful fear. Fearing the LORD (Hebrew yare, Greek , or  &  ) means soberly and humbly recognizing the LORD’s all-powerful, all-knowing and all-loving reality in contrast to all creation, including people – especially including us – so that we hold Him in awe, wonder and respectful fear.

5. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation God’s people were also commanded to “fear” or hold in awe and reverence (1) the LORD in Dt. 6:24 & 10:12-13, (2) parents in Lev. 19, esp. 19:3, (3) the sanctuary of the LORD in Lev. 19:30 & 26:2. God’s people were also commanded to “fear” or hold in awe and reverence (1) the LORD in Dt. 6:24 & 10:12-13, (2) parents in Lev. 19, esp. 19:3, (3) the sanctuary of the LORD in Lev. 19:30 & 26:2.

6. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation God’s people today are commanded to fear the LORD since He controls nature, governments and the afterlife. Mt. 10, esp. 10:28 & 31/Lk. 12, esp. 12:4-5, 7, Rom. 11:20, II Cor. 5:10-11, 7:1, Phil. 2:12-13, I Pet. 1:17, 3:2 & 15, Jude 1:23, Rom. 13:1, 3-4, Col. 3:22 vs. Rom. 3:9-18, esp. 3:18/Ps. 36:1. Cf. Lk. 1:50. God’s people today are commanded to fear the LORD since He controls nature, governments and the afterlife. Mt. 10, esp. 10:28 & 31/Lk. 12, esp. 12:4-5, 7, Rom. 11:20, II Cor. 5:10-11, 7:1, Phil. 2:12-13, I Pet. 1:17, 3:2 & 15, Jude 1:23, Rom. 13:1, 3-4, Col. 3:22 vs. Rom. 3:9-18, esp. 3:18/Ps. 36:1. Cf. Lk. 1:50.

7. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation God’s people today are also commanded to fear or hold in awe and reverence… (1) ruling authorities in Rom. 13:7, (2) husbands in Eph. 5:33, and (3) supervisors (or masters) in Eph. 6:5 & I Pet. 2:18. God’s people today are also commanded to fear or hold in awe and reverence… (1) ruling authorities in Rom. 13:7, (2) husbands in Eph. 5:33, and (3) supervisors (or masters) in Eph. 6:5 & I Pet. 2:18.

8. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation Fearing the LORD is the start of all wisdom and knowledge, and it starts with an open mind, grows as we listen with other believers to His word, grows as we use His providence to serve His purposes, and produces leaders who are such God-fearing people. Fearing the LORD is the start of all wisdom and knowledge, and it starts with an open mind, grows as we listen with other believers to His word, grows as we use His providence to serve His purposes, and produces leaders who are such God-fearing people. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary found joyful fear in Jesus’ resurrection! Mt. 28, esp. 28:8. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary found joyful fear in Jesus’ resurrection! Mt. 28, esp. 28:8.

9. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since…  He created it all through Jesus.  He created us to work and prosper.  He created us for eternal life if we live for Him. Are you in awe of Him or anxious about life?

10. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created it all through Jesus.  Those who fear the LORD are provided with what we need even in a broken world. Ps. 34, esp. 34:7-11, 67:6-7, 85:8-13, 111:2-6, 145:17-20, 145:14-20, 147:7-11, Prov. 10:27, 14:27-28, 19:23, 22:4, Eccl. 8:12-13. Cf. James 1:17 & I Tim. 6:17-19

11. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created it all through Jesus.  The LORD created nature so that it was “very good,” and He “cursed” it with death, illness and decay in response to human sin. Gen. 1-3, esp. 1:1, 4, 10b, 12b, 18b, 1:21b, 25b, 31 vs. 2:16-17, 3:4-7, 8, 10, 14-15, 16, 3:17-19, 22-24.

12. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created it all through Jesus.  Even righteous Job only suffered when the LORD permitted Satan to test him! Job 1-2, esp. 1:1, 8-10, 12, 2:3, 6, 9, I Cor. 10:13-14. Cf. James 1:2-4, 12, I Pet. 1:6-7 & 4:19.

13. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created it all through Jesus.  Everything was created through Jesus, reconciled through Jesus, and is held together by His word. Jn. 1:1-14, esp. 1:1-4, 14, 18, Col. 1:13-20, Eph. 1:3-14, esp. 1:10, 19-23, Heb. 1:1-3.

14. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created it all through Jesus.  Christians celebrate God’s creation as good – including our bodies! – when used as He teaches us. James 1:17-18, I Tim. 4:1-5, esp. 4:3-5 & 6:17, I Thess. 4:1-12, esp. 4:3-7 & I Cor. 6:18-20.

15. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created it all through Jesus.  Jesus now has all authority on heaven and earth, and He will judge everyone. Mt. 28:28-20, Jn. 5:22, 25-29 & 12:44-48, esp. 12:48, Acts 10:34-48, esp. 10:39-43 & 17:22-31, esp. 17:30-31, I Cor. 15, esp. 15:20, 15:23-26, II Cor. 4:13-5:11, esp. 5:10-11.

16. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created us to work and prosper.  The LORD created nature so that it was “very good,” including work for people in His garden. Gen. 2:15-3:24, esp. 2:15-17, 3:17-19.  Jesus trained under His carpenter step-father and worked as a carpenter, probably seventeen years, from age 13-30. Mt. 13:55 & Mk. 6:3.

17. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created us to work and prosper.  Jesus promises that those who seek the LORD’s rule and His righteousness will be provided what we need. Mt. 6:25-34, esp. 6:33-34/Lk. 12:22-31, esp. 12:31-34, Phil. 4:11-13, II Cor. 9:8-11, I Tim. 6:6-8, 17-19.

18. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created us to work and prosper.  Christians are commanded to work so we can provide for ourselves, our families, and for others. Eph. 4:28, Acts 20:35, I Tim. 5, esp. 5:4, 8, 16, 6:6-10 & 17-19.

19. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since He created us to work and prosper.  Christians are therefore free from unlimited fear of those for whom we work as subordinates or supervisors. Eph. 5:21, 5-9, Col. 3:17, 22-4:1. Cf. I Pet 2:13, 18-25.

20. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of death since He created us for eternal life if we live for Him.  Jesus now has all authority on heaven and earth, and He will judge everyone. Mt. 28:28- 20, Jn. 5:22, 25-29 & 12:44-48, esp. 12:48, Acts 10:34-48, esp. 10:39-43 & 17:22-31, esp. 17:30-31, I Cor. 15, esp. 15:20, 15:23-26, II Cor. 4:13-5:11, esp. 5:10-11.

21. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of death since He created us for eternal life if we live for Him.  The LORD promises to transform His creation so we will have an eternal, spiritual home. Jn. 3:16-21, &10:10, I Cor. 15, esp. 15:20-24, 15:35-48, 50-58, II Cor. 4:13-5:11, esp. 4:16-5:5, II Pet. 3:9-14.  Jesus victory over death frees us from fear of death! Heb. 2:14-18.

22. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of death since He created us for eternal life if we live for Him.  Jesus’ voice will bring us forth into a resurrection of all the dead, and salvation to all who fear the LORD. Jn. 5:25-30, esp. 5:28-29 & 11:25, I Cor. 15, esp. 15:19, 15:20-24, 26-28, 30-32, 49-50, II Cor. 4:13-5:11, esp. 5:10-11.

23. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of death since He created us for eternal life if we live for Him.  Even when the LORD permits people to harm us, those who fear the LORD need not fear people’s persecution as the final word. Mt. 6:10-12/Lk. 6:22-23, Mt. 10, esp. 10:28 & 31/Lk. 12, esp. 12:4-5, 7, I Pet. 3:14-17, 4:12-19.

24. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of death since He created us for eternal life if we live for Him.  Jesus’ return at the time of the resurrection will unite dead and living people who fear the LORD. I Thess. 4:13-18, II Thess. 1:5-10.

25. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation Fearing the LORD provides freedom from unlimited fear of the LORD’s natural creation since…  He created it all through Jesus.  He created us to work and prosper.  He created us for eternal life if we live for Him.

26. The Grace of Fearing the LORD of Creation  Fearing the LORD frees from all other fears.  Choose your fear.