Out of the Depths, Part 3

Fear is “that sense of uneasiness or uncertainty that we experience in the face of perceived danger.” Fear meets us in countless ways, but not all in the same ways. Over and over again, the Psalms encourage us not to be fear-free, but to fear the Lord. People who fear the Lord above all are able to put all of their other fears in perspective.

Stand in Your Love
Bethel Music

Battle Belongs
Phil Wickham

That’s the Power
Hillsong Worship

Tremble
Mosaic MSC

Fear
Uneasiness or uncertainty in the face of potential danger.

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Psalm 55:4-8
My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”

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Psalm 55:16-19
But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, because they do not change and do not fear God.

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The fear of God is not to be afraid of Him, it is to be in awe of Him and to be in allegiance to Him acknowledging His loving authority over you.

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Psalm 25:12-14
Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him will He instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

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Max Lucado, Fearless
“Fear corrodes our confidence in God’s goodness.”

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Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

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1. We think more about God than we think about ourselves or others.

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Psalm 112:1
Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!

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Psalm 112:4
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.

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Psalm 112:6-8
For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

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2. We love God more than we love the world.

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1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

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3. We walk in the confidence and realization of the love of God for us.

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1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, perfect love casts out all fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

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Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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