For those who could not open the PDF this morning, here is what Pastor John read concerning the Fear of the Lord 🙏 1. What is “the fear of the Lord”? The fear of the Lord is not panic that God will hit you. The fear of the Lord is the violent, sobering awareness that: - He is God. - You are not. - He sees everything. - He will judge everything. - And you will answer to Him. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10 KJV) Translation: you’re not even wise until you fear Him. You’re just talented, loud, and deceived. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” (Proverbs 8:13 KJV) If you don’t hate sin — especially your own — you do not fear God. Period. Stop telling people you “have a relationship with God.” Demons have a relationship with God. They just don’t repent (James 2:19 KJV). 2. Why does the modern church avoid the fear of God? Because the fear of God kills pride, entitlement, spiritual celebrity culture, and casual sin. People want God as Father and Savior, but not as Lord and Judge. But Scripture does not apologize for the fear of God. It commands it. “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11 KJV) Look at that: rejoice — with trembling. Joy is not supposed to cancel reverence. Real joy and real trembling can live in the same body. 3. God is not “your little buddy” We’ve turned Yahweh into a brand. We talk to Him like He’s our assistant. The Bible does not present Him like that. “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29 KJV) Fire does not adjust to you. You adjust to fire. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31 KJV) Fearful. That’s New Testament. After the Cross. Written to believers. God did not soften after Calvary. Grace removed the barrier to approach Him, not the responsibility to fear Him. 4. What does it look like when a person FEARS God? 1. They obey quickly. Delayed obedience is disobedience dressed up as “I’m praying about it.”