6/2/2026 weekly Bible message

6/2/2026 weekly Bible message

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SPEAKER_00 1:02

Good evening and welcome to the weekly podcast. I am your host, Mark McMark Williams, and this is where we open God's Word together for real life change. And today we're tackling a topic that is uncomfortable for many, but absolutely vital for every believer. It's called the forgotten fear, why we must fear God and why many churches no longer do. The Bible says in Proverbs 1, verse 7, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Yet in our casual, feel-good culture, this often gets softened into respect or pushed aside entirely. Today we'll explore what the Bible really means by fearing God. Why is it why why it's essential for wisdom, holiness, and blessing? And why so many churches today seem to have lost this holy awe. If you ever wonder why sin feels casual or worship feels lightweight, this episode's for you. Grab your Bible and let's dive in. So what does it mean to fear God? Let's start by clarifying the term. It's not terror that drives us away, but reverent awe that draws us closer in love and obedience. Some key verses we can go to are you know Proverbs nine verse ten. The fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the holy one is understanding. Proverbs one seven, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Ecclesiastes twelve verse thirteen. Now all has been heard, and here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. And Deuteronomy ten verse twelve and now Israel, what does the Lord your God ask you ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, and walk in obedience to him, and to love him, to serve your Lord your Lord, your God with all your heart and with all your soul. The fear of the Lord is revelant uh reverence and awe, a deep awareness of who God is, holy, powerful, and just, and a consuming fire, as it says in Hebrews twelve twenty nine. For unbelievers it includes you know dread of judgment, uh as it says in Luke twelve, verse five. For believers it's fibal fear like a child who loves their father and doesn't want to grieve him. It's not being scared of punishment. Well, you know, we're secure in Christ, as in Romans eight says in verse thirty-eight through thirty nine, but trembling at his majesty by running to his grace. It combines all of God's greatness with the hatred and sin, hatred of sin because he hates it. Proverbs eight thirteen, to fear the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Jesus himself taught this balance. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell, as in Matthew ten twenty eight. Yet he also said, Fear not to his followers because of God's care. So why should we fear God the you know blessings and necessity? And this is why the heart of the why built around the benefits and warnings. Um the first one is it's the foundation of true wisdom and knowledge. Without it, we are fools, building on sand, as in Proverbs 1.7 and Psalms 111, verse 10. Uh fearing God aligns with our thinking with reality. He is a creator, we are not. Uh it keeps us from sin, as in Exodus 2020, um, right after the Ten Commandments. Moses said to his people, Do not be afraid. God has come to test you. So the fear of God will be with you be with you to you keep from sinning. A healthy fear acts like a guardrail. It brings blessing, protection, and life. Proverbs 14, verse 26 through 27. In the fear in the fear of the Lord has one has one strong confidence, and his children have refuge. The fear of the Lord is the fountain of life, and the one may turn away from the snares of death. You know, in Psalms thirty-four, verse nine, fear of the Lord, you his whole people, for you who fear him like nothing. Um Proverbs 10, 27, the fear of the Lord prolongs life. Um it produces holiness and intimacy. Um in Hebrews 12, 28 through 29 calls us to worship God accept acceptably with reverence and awe. It drives obedience in 2 Corinthians 7 1 and a deep friendship with God. Um, in Psalms 25, 14, the Lord confides in those who fear Him. And um it is commanded and modeled by Jesus in Philippians 2 verse 12 through 13 urges us to work out work out your salvation with fear and trembling, because God is at work in us. Jesus lived in perfect fear of the Father, humble, obedient, and even to the cross. When we lose the fear of God, we lose the gravity that keeps us grounded. We drift into self-centering living. So let's get to another question. Why do so many churches today seem to lack the fear of God? A lot of churches today want to say that God is your buddy or your pal, he's your friend. But he is so much more. He is your Lord and Savior. We'll start in Romans 318. There is no fear of God before your eyes as a mark as a mark of ungodliness. Some common reasons observed in the modern Christianity is cultural pressure and to be rev uh relevant and comfortable. Many services feel like concerts or self-help talks rather than encounters with a holy God. Entertainment focused worship can dilute awe. The result worship lacks the reverence and awe, as of Hebrews of Hebrews twelve. Overemphasis on God's love without his holiness. Grace is preached, it's wonderful, but often without the context of sin seriousness or God's justice. This creates a casual buddy Jesus view instead of the biblical balance. Um people forget that the same God who is love is the same is the same also a consuming fire. Um prosperity and no consequences mindset. Some teachings suggest God won't discipline that sin or has no real cost for believers. In contrast, this with Hebrews twelve, five through eleven on fatherly discipline and the warning in Romans eleven twenty through twenty one. Do not become proud but fear. Biblical literacy and anti-authority culture shorten life span, shorten attention spans and distrust of authority, making make deep teaching on God's transcendence rare. Churches sometimes avoid hard topics to keep crowds happy, leading to shallow faith and to see a broader cultural shift towards self-focus over God's focus. The consequence in all this is casual sin, powerless worship, and no revival. Without fear of the fear of God, there is little hatred of evil, little pursuit of holiness, little urgency in evangelism. History shows revivals often begin when God's people regain holy fear. Friends, the fear of the Lord isn't optional. It's the starting line for a life of wisdom, freedom, and sin snares. From sin and stare sin snares, and intimate fellowship with the living God. In a world and in many churches that treat God lightly, let's choose re reverence. Let it drive us to hate what he hates, obey what he commands, and worship him as he deserves. The fear of the Lord is the fear of being away from him for eternity. If you've sense a lack of awe in your own heart or church, ask a Holy Spirit to restore it. Start by meditating on his holiness in Scripture. In Isaiah 6 or Revelation 4 through 5 are great places. Thank you for listening and please like and share and comment. Join us on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in person at Lifeline Church Peterstown or live stream on YouTube or Carla Bragg's Facebook page. We also have Lifeline Kids every Sunday morning. You can also join us on Wednesday evenings at 6 for men's and women's small groups and kids and youth also on Wednesdays. On Friday evenings, starting at 5 30 is celebrate recovery. On Sunday evenings at 6 is youth meeting. Don't forget and don't forget about Vacation Bible School coming up June the twenty-second through the twenty-sixth from six to eight. The kids have a blast at that. Thank you for listening and God blessed.