We are on a mission to explore the true treasure of God in all of our lives and Isaiah 33:6 tells us the fear of God is the key to the treasure of God.
The fear of the Lord is the awe filled awakening of the human heart to the overwhelming majesty of our creator God.
Unhealthy experiences with earthly authority easily taint our perspective on the beauty and the power of the fear of the Lord.
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear… NIV
Many times, this verse is misquoted. Perfect love doesn’t cast out “all fear”. “All” is not in the Greek language. Perfect love doesn’t cast out the fear of the Lord, but it does drive out lesser fears in our lives.
Imagine that you and your friend are crossing a bridge on train tracks and you get midway when your friend decides it’s a good idea to jump in. You’re standing there wanting to jump in but afraid of jumping from that height. Suddenly a train rounds the corner and you realize there is no way to make it off the bridge before the train gets to you, so you jump. You didn’t need prayer to get past your fear. The greater fear simply did its work and had its way because it existed in your heart.
This is all about perspective. Growing in the fear of the Lord positions all other fears in their place as lesser fears. The fear of man, the fear of failure, the fear of a shaky economy, the fear of the wrong person elected to office are all lesser fears than the fear of God.
Isaiah 8:12-13 Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (NIV)
There was a lot to fear in Isaiah’s day. The nation of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms after the time of Solomon and was now experiencing a season of war from the Assyrian nation, who was looking to expand its power.
The king of Judah, Uzziah, who had brought the kingdom peace for 50 years, was dead, and a new rule was underway that was not built on the fear of God.
In the midst of these very real concerns God tells Isaiah, “do not fear what they fear... Let the Lord of host be your fear.” God desires for the fear of the Lord to be so established in your heart that other fears pale in comparison.
If you are constantly living in the wrong kind of fear, the fear of God is not in a preeminent place in your heart.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. NKJV
The fear of God produces a sound mind. If you live in the wrong kind of fear your mind produces something other than a mindset of power and peace.
God’s plan is for all the earth to experience the greater fear of the Lord making room for a confidence that faces every enemy certainty of God’s power!
Numbers 2:1-2 “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side. ESV
In this scripture, God asks for every house, every camp, to arrange their homes facing towards the tent of meeting. This was the visitable place where the Shekinah glory of God would fall and remain visible to all people.
Our lives should always face an encounter with God! Everything in our lives should be arranged towards experiencing God. Learning to live with a deep awareness of this unconquerable King will address our fears and insecurities on the deepest level!
The fear of the Lord is the awe filled awakening of the human heart to the overwhelming majesty of our creator God.
Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! ESV
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Rehearse verses daily embracing a deeper revelation of the treasure of fearing the Lord.
Today Lord we choose to position ourselves in the fear of the Lord. We ask you, Holy Spirit, to help us grow in the knowledge of God and to understand the fear of the Lord - the awe filled awakening of the human heart to the overwhelming majesty of our creator God.
Isaiah 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Isaiah 8:12-13 Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (NIV)
Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! ESV
Proverbs 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. ESV
Psalm 115:13-14 he will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike. 14 May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children. NIV
Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. ESV
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life… ESV
Proverbs 3:7-8 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. NIV
Psalm 145:19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. ESV
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. NIV
Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. NIV
Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. NIV
Psalm 19:9-10 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. NIV
TRUE TREASURE: GREATER FEAR
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: Our pursuit of God has, in many ways, been reduced to the pursuit of asking God to give us worldly treasure. The Kingdom of God is a sacrificial Kingdom that is built on the sacrifice of Jesus and the continued sacrifice of God’s sons and daughters.
Isaiah 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Kingdom Treasure is found in a deeper pursuit of the things that truly matter. This true treasure of God’s Kingdom is central to the understanding that we are blessed to be a blessing!
We want to start our group meetings making room for conversation that brings confirmation that God is speaking to us all as we discuss what we are hearing from the Lord as a family:
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
2. In your own words describe what the Bible means by “the fear of the Lord” and the treasure you believe it leads to.
Understanding fear: There are so many unhealthy perspectives from authority that it tends to contaminate the beauty of the fear of the Lord. An unhealthy experience with authority can affect our ability to identify with this important truth of fearing the Lord.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. Describe your experience with parental authority growing up and how you believe it has helped or hurt you identify with this idea of fearing the Lord correctly.
The fear of the Lord is the awe filled awakening of the human heart to the overwhelming majesty of our creator God.
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. NIV
The Fear of the Lord is a greater fear than all lesser fears and needs to be an atmosphere that is central to our hearts, our homes and our lives.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Rehearse these verses daily embracing a deeper revelation of the treasure of fearing the Lord.
PRAYER YOU CAN PRAY TOGETHER:
Today, Lord, we choose to position ourselves in the fear of the Lord. We ask you, Holy Spirit, to help us grow in the knowledge of God and to understand the fear of the Lord - the awe filled awakening of the human heart to the overwhelming majesty of our creator God.
Below are several verses we will be reflecting on during this time of understanding the fear of the Lord.
Isaiah 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and
knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
Isaiah 8:12-13 Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. 13 But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (NIV)
Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! ESV
Proverbs 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. ESV
Psalm 115:13-14 he will bless those who fear the LORD— small and great alike. 14 May the LORD cause you to flourish, both you and your children. NIV
Proverbs 14:26-27 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. ESV
Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life… ESV
Proverbs 3:7-8 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. NIV
Psalm 145:19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. ESV
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. NIV
Psalm 33:8 Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him. NIV
Acts 9:31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. NIV
Psalm 19:9-10 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. NIV