1 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,000 It sounded like there's a lot of free people today. 2 00:00:15,500 --> 00:00:17,900 Powerful singing. Thank you for the worship. 3 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,000 Praise team. And now we continue to Worship 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,700 in the word. Amen, turn your Bibles to the 5 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,800 book of Nehemiah with me, please Nehemiah. 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:49,500 And chapter one. And as we turn there it is a 7 00:00:49,500 --> 00:00:55,900 habit of ours that once we complete a series a verse by 8 00:00:55,900 --> 00:01:00,800 verse study, we pause and we take the time to address certain 9 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:07,200 truths that that may require Clarity or application without 10 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,900 delay. Before we start and begin 11 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:13,800 another Series in a verse by verse study in another book, 12 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:16,800 what this does is it really gives us the opportunity. 13 00:01:17,700 --> 00:01:22,400 To be reminded of certain Concepts that may have become 14 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:27,400 dull to our understanding or blurred in our perception. 15 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,800 And that is what we are going to do today. 16 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:34,600 As we come to this book to consider a subject that is, 17 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:40,300 unfortunately under emphasized in many places today, Under 18 00:01:40,300 --> 00:01:45,300 emphasized by some and by others totally ignored from a preaching 19 00:01:45,300 --> 00:01:49,600 standpoint and yet at the same time, it is a scriptural three 20 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,000 theme. That is extremely important for 21 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,400 us to grasp. If we want to be flourishing in 22 00:01:56,400 --> 00:02:00,800 our faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ and what I am 23 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:06,200 alluding to what we will be looking into today is the call 24 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,500 for all men. Especially those who believe 25 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:14,300 that they are children of God. To fear the lord. 26 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:23,200 To fear the lord. What we will do together today 27 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:29,400 is to look at this because this subject is a vital importance. 28 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:33,100 It is a subject that is dear to my heart, for many reasons, and 29 00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:36,700 those reasons go beyond the fact that it is it is riddled 30 00:02:36,700 --> 00:02:40,600 throughout the scriptures. It is a call from beginning to 31 00:02:40,600 --> 00:02:41,800 end. In fact, the very first 32 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:44,600 reference to the fear of God is found in the first book in 33 00:02:44,600 --> 00:02:49,900 Genesis, and if one is mistaken to believe that such a concept 34 00:02:49,900 --> 00:02:53,400 only Fades as you read to the right, you are in for the shock 35 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:56,000 of your life. When you realize how stressed it 36 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,600 is in the final book of this divine library. 37 00:02:59,700 --> 00:03:02,900 And any honest student of the word of God who has looked at 38 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:07,300 the scriptures between Genesis and revelation will find it very 39 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:11,100 difficult to deny that it is sprinkled. 40 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:13,700 It is sprinkled in so many places. 41 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,700 And why is that? Because Psalm 19 verse 9, tells 42 00:03:18,700 --> 00:03:21,000 us something very important about the fear of the Lord. 43 00:03:21,300 --> 00:03:24,100 First, it says that the fear of the Lord is clean. 44 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:29,200 It is clean and not just the fact that it is clean but it 45 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:36,400 will endure forever. The fear of the Lord will endure 46 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:38,800 forever. What does that mean? 47 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:42,700 Well it means that it is relevant and applicable to all 48 00:03:42,700 --> 00:03:46,700 men. It is relevant and applicable in 49 00:03:46,700 --> 00:03:49,400 all ages. Whatever. 50 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:55,000 Dispensation you might know of the fear of the Lord was, and 51 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:58,800 still is relevant whatever. Covenant, the fear of the Lord 52 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:04,600 is relevant and here in 2022 As we sing and believe and preach 53 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:06,800 the grace of God. I want to tell you today, that 54 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:14,700 the fear of God is relevant It is important that verse alone, 55 00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:18,300 the fact that the fear of the Lord endures forever is enough 56 00:04:18,700 --> 00:04:22,000 to grip us. And to tell us just how 57 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,100 important it is to God and it should be to you. 58 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:30,800 And I And one place that may not be the go-to source in 59 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,400 understanding the fear of the Lord is the book of Nehemiah. 60 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:38,800 Is the book of Nehemiah that might be a surprise because 61 00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:42,300 usually the wisdom Literature Like Proverbs or the Hebrew, 62 00:04:42,300 --> 00:04:46,500 Hymnal The Book of Psalms is a priority in terms of 63 00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:48,900 understanding the principles of the fear of the Lord and 64 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:53,100 rightfully so. But I have to admit though this 65 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:56,200 has been a study of mine on a personal sense that has been so 66 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,200 dear. I've realized that whenever I 67 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:01,500 feel like I had a comprehensive understanding, there's yet 68 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:06,400 another layer to this. there is so much that is involved with 69 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,700 the fear of the Lord, not just in the fact that it is 70 00:05:08,700 --> 00:05:12,100 reference, but the blessings that are attached with it, the 71 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:16,700 glories that it produces the great honor that it gives to God 72 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,800 and as we come to Nehemiah, We are going to see some facets of 73 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,000 the fear of the Lord that prayerfully will make this 74 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:30,000 spiritual discipline, this attitude of the soul to be all 75 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,000 the more attractive and all the more desirable. 76 00:05:35,100 --> 00:05:39,000 And so I want us to consider at least three, not limited to 77 00:05:39,000 --> 00:05:43,700 these three but three insights about the fear of the Lord found 78 00:05:43,700 --> 00:05:48,500 in Nehemiah, nehemiah's, recorded life, and nehemiah's. 79 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:54,900 Ministry Nehemiah possess this fear Nehemiah, expected, this 80 00:05:54,900 --> 00:05:57,400 fear from those that were under his leadership. 81 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,600 So let's begin together. In Nehemiah chapter 1, verse 11. 82 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:10,600 and this is when Nehemiah, Four weeks has been broken before, 83 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:15,700 God, praying and seeking him because he has received the 84 00:06:15,700 --> 00:06:19,100 report of the ruins of Jerusalem while he was a cupbearer to the 85 00:06:19,100 --> 00:06:22,400 king. As an exile, his brother and 86 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,000 other servants came along. And when he had asked, what is 87 00:06:25,000 --> 00:06:28,900 going on in the holy city, they describe the shame that 88 00:06:28,900 --> 00:06:31,600 Jerusalem was experiencing because of their Broken Walls. 89 00:06:32,100 --> 00:06:34,000 And this man was pricked to the heart. 90 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,200 And so he began a quest, a quest of great. 91 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,800 Are seeking the Lord that he would do something for the sake 92 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,700 of his glory, and the good of his people. 93 00:06:42,700 --> 00:06:46,000 Oh God, will you not do something with your holy city? 94 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,200 Will you not revive? Will you not restore? 95 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,500 And we come to this prayer in chapter one that is worthy 96 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:54,300 enough to study as a series and itself. 97 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,300 But there's one particular place that that is relevant to our 98 00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:00,300 subject today. And it's found in verse 11. 99 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:07,600 Look how Nehemiah praise here. Oh Lord, let your ear be 100 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:10,400 attentive to the prayer of your servant. 101 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:16,200 And to the prayer of your servants, who Delight to fear 102 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:20,800 your name. And give success to your servant 103 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,700 today and Grant him Mercy in the sight of this man. 104 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:28,200 Here's a passionate plea from Nehemiah. 105 00:07:29,800 --> 00:07:34,600 Forgot to do something about. His home City. 106 00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:39,900 And this desperate prayer alone is so rich with meaning, but 107 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:43,700 here's a meaning to consider in this verse Nehemiah shows that 108 00:07:43,700 --> 00:07:45,100 that he was not. The only one that was 109 00:07:45,100 --> 00:07:47,900 interceding. He was not the only one that was 110 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:50,900 shattered in his heart. He says here that there are 111 00:07:50,900 --> 00:07:53,900 other servants who are also unnamed Heroes. 112 00:07:54,100 --> 00:07:58,300 Like many people who love to pray for Ministries and pastors 113 00:07:58,300 --> 00:08:00,500 and others. And they are behind the scenes. 114 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:03,100 They are still part of the team. Are they not? 115 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:05,400 They're still instrumental, they not. 116 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:07,500 And here are these servants, who are in the background? 117 00:08:07,500 --> 00:08:10,600 We do not know who they are. All we know about them is that 118 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:14,600 they also were praying for God to Rend the heavens and come 119 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:17,800 down and shower mercy upon the people of Israel. 120 00:08:18,900 --> 00:08:21,700 But notice that we do not know the names of these prayer 121 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:24,200 warriors. We do know something about them, 122 00:08:24,500 --> 00:08:30,500 and what we know about them is so vital and very revealing They 123 00:08:30,500 --> 00:08:34,900 Delight to fear your name, other translations would say who 124 00:08:34,900 --> 00:08:40,200 desire to fear your name. What a thing to say about 125 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:45,200 anybody isn't it fascinating to Delight to fear, something 126 00:08:45,500 --> 00:08:49,800 sounds absurd. Almost who would desire to fear 127 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:51,600 something. If there's any relation From 128 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:57,700 Desire with fear, it is less a fear, not more of it. and yet, 129 00:08:57,700 --> 00:09:03,300 here we see that there is this yearning to be fearful of God. 130 00:09:04,300 --> 00:09:07,800 There is a desire, a longing for this fear to become more of a 131 00:09:07,800 --> 00:09:11,200 reality in their lives. They want to live under that 132 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,400 Banner. They want to know what it's like 133 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:16,000 to tremble before God. And before others, in the name 134 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:21,300 of God, and it's important to understand that there's a reason 135 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:24,600 for these servants and for Servants of God today to delight 136 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:30,900 and fearing him, Why would anybody want that kind of 137 00:09:30,900 --> 00:09:34,300 reality, that kind of Dimension to the relationship with God? 138 00:09:35,000 --> 00:09:37,200 Well, there are many places to point to buy may I give you one 139 00:09:37,200 --> 00:09:40,200 today in your Bibles. It's in the prophet, Isaiah's 140 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:44,000 words and Isaiah 33. I want you to see something that 141 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:48,100 is quite amazing. As it pertains to the fear of 142 00:09:48,100 --> 00:09:53,600 the Lord. And Isaiah 33 verse 6. 143 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:04,400 Notice what the man of God says. And he will be the stability of 144 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:07,600 your times. Being the Lord abundance of 145 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:12,900 Salvation, wisdom and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zions 146 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:17,700 treasure. The fear of the Lord is Zions 147 00:10:17,700 --> 00:10:21,100 treasure. What an incredible Declaration 148 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,000 of truth. But what is the connection 149 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,900 between this statement and the promises that are given before? 150 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:31,000 It is very simple. The fear of the Lord is the key 151 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:35,200 that unlocks, the blessings that were just mentioned in your life 152 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:39,300 and mine. It is the means by which we know 153 00:10:39,300 --> 00:10:43,700 the fullness of such Grace's. It is what gives us access to 154 00:10:43,700 --> 00:10:47,200 stability? Is what gives us access to an 155 00:10:47,200 --> 00:10:50,500 abundance of Salvation? Not just of your soul, a saving 156 00:10:50,500 --> 00:10:56,400 of many troubles, a saving of many errors salvation and so 157 00:10:56,400 --> 00:11:00,600 many ways. It is, it is what we need to 158 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:03,800 have wisdom as what we heard. So many times in our lives, it's 159 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:05,400 the beginning. The fear of the Lord is the 160 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,700 beginning of wisdom, you can't even have The elementary facets 161 00:11:08,700 --> 00:11:10,500 of wisdom without the fear of the Lord. 162 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:16,400 And knowledge. there's no wonder that those from Zion and and 163 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:20,700 nehemiah's time, delighted they longed for it because they 164 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:27,400 realized the jewels that were available through it And these 165 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,600 blessings are inseparable from the fear of God, I say, the so 166 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:34,100 many times whenever I teach on the subject, it's no wonder that 167 00:11:34,100 --> 00:11:37,100 Satan wants Christians to be afraid of the fear of the Lord. 168 00:11:40,300 --> 00:11:44,200 But it still begs the question. Are these incentives enough to 169 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:46,300 encourage anyone to be afraid of God? 170 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:48,100 And that's where many people are mistaken. 171 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,100 It is a great error to equate the fear of the Lord, as a 172 00:11:53,108 --> 00:11:58,400 synonymous term of being paralyzed by a dread of God. 173 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:02,000 I've having this morbid fear of God is not what the fear of the 174 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,800 Lord means. The sphere does not produce a 175 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,300 view of God, that makes him unapproachable. 176 00:12:09,400 --> 00:12:12,500 Or unpredictable, that is not the idea at all. 177 00:12:13,200 --> 00:12:16,700 I believe, one of the best leaps that we can make to coming that 178 00:12:16,700 --> 00:12:19,900 much closer to the most sound definition of the fear of the 179 00:12:19,900 --> 00:12:24,700 Lord, and the most applicable way of honoring it in our own 180 00:12:24,700 --> 00:12:28,100 lives. Is by realizing that, the fear 181 00:12:28,100 --> 00:12:31,100 of God is something that the Lord Jesus Christ himself 182 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:36,600 possessed and delighted in. Does that does that mess with 183 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:38,900 your understanding of the relationship between Christ and 184 00:12:38,900 --> 00:12:43,800 the father? Jesus, feared God. 185 00:12:45,100 --> 00:12:50,000 Jesus walked in the fear of the Lord. 186 00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:53,800 Where do we get that from the same book. 187 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,800 Isaiah chapter 11. Look at verse 1, as we are given 188 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,400 a prophecy about the Lord, Jesus Christ, A Prophecy of the 189 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:08,800 Messiah, who would walk on this earth and the manifold Ministry 190 00:13:08,800 --> 00:13:11,600 that he would have by the empowerment of the Holy Spirit 191 00:13:12,900 --> 00:13:15,900 and Isaiah 11:1. We read concerning Jesus. 192 00:13:16,700 --> 00:13:18,600 Unless you disagree that this is about the Lord. 193 00:13:19,500 --> 00:13:24,000 There shall come forth, a shoot from the stump of Jesse and a 194 00:13:24,008 --> 00:13:28,400 branch from his roots, shall bear fruit and the spirit of the 195 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:32,000 Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and 196 00:13:32,000 --> 00:13:34,900 understanding the spirit of counsel and might the spirit of 197 00:13:34,900 --> 00:13:38,200 knowledge and the fear of the Lord. 198 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:45,300 Look at verse 3 and his Delight shall be in the fear of the 199 00:13:45,300 --> 00:13:49,900 Lord. He shall not judge by what his 200 00:13:49,900 --> 00:13:52,900 eyes see or decide the Spirits by what his ears here. 201 00:13:54,300 --> 00:14:00,100 Jesus, feared God. While in the flesh, he 202 00:14:00,100 --> 00:14:03,600 perfected, the fear of the Lord, he walked in the fullness of it 203 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,800 because the spear the Sevenfold Ministry of the Holy Spirit was 204 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:12,500 given to Christ without measure. I love to use this text to ask 205 00:14:12,500 --> 00:14:14,500 people who objected the fear of the Lord. 206 00:14:16,100 --> 00:14:22,100 Do you desire to be like Jesus? Of course, I do, I love him. 207 00:14:22,100 --> 00:14:24,600 I want to walk in his ways. I want to be like him. 208 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:27,500 The, you know, what, I say following that, then you will 209 00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:32,500 Delight in the fear of God, because Jesus, did you will not 210 00:14:32,500 --> 00:14:35,900 deny it, you will not despise it, you will not try to argue it 211 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:39,100 away because of your personal perception of Jesus. 212 00:14:39,500 --> 00:14:42,400 You will Delight in the fear of the Lord. 213 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:47,300 If you want to be like Jesus. And go beyond that. 214 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:51,200 Now, go beyond that and consider the Dynamics. 215 00:14:51,200 --> 00:14:54,400 Consider the relationship that the Lord Jesus Christ, 216 00:14:54,700 --> 00:14:57,000 demonstrated through the gospels, and even in the 217 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:01,700 accounts of the Epistles, and ask yourself, how did Jesus 218 00:15:01,700 --> 00:15:07,100 relate to the father? Rick our from him and fear. 219 00:15:08,500 --> 00:15:13,800 Was he uneasy about serving him? Did he always longed to have his 220 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,400 way? But he always felt as, though, 221 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:18,200 there was a loaded gun pointed at his back. 222 00:15:19,400 --> 00:15:22,400 No, a thousand times. No. 223 00:15:23,500 --> 00:15:26,400 You go to the gospels, you go to the New Testament and you 224 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:32,100 collect all the data of the way. Jesus, pray to the father of how 225 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:36,300 he represented him, and how he spoke of him of the joy, and the 226 00:15:36,300 --> 00:15:39,900 steadfast commitment that he had to the cause that he was given 227 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,300 while being here on Earth, and you will come to this 228 00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:49,800 conclusion, no doubt that Christ Feared God. 229 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,600 And it was a revelation of the almighty that inspired an awe in 230 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:59,100 his soul. An attitude of great reverence 231 00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:07,100 and honor that he deserves. It's really an amazement with 232 00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:10,200 the fear of God does, is it awakens and amazement? 233 00:16:11,500 --> 00:16:16,300 As you behold and properly understand who God is all that 234 00:16:16,300 --> 00:16:20,700 he is and all that he is capable of doing it, stuns you? 235 00:16:23,700 --> 00:16:31,700 It brings awaiting ish to you. It destroys any habit of being 236 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:38,700 indifferent or casual with him. It inspires this reverence. 237 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,900 And the sense of being astonished by his manifold 238 00:16:43,900 --> 00:16:49,000 Beauty which includes everything from his Holiness to his 239 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:51,800 goodness, to his grace, to his judgments. 240 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:56,700 You read in Hebrews 5 and verse 7 and what you will see is that 241 00:16:56,700 --> 00:17:01,100 when Jesus was on the earth and he prayed it says that God heard 242 00:17:01,100 --> 00:17:06,400 him because of his reverence. And that is what it means to 243 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,000 fear him. It's a mixture that the sphere 244 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:14,200 is a mixture of a constant awareness of how otherworldly 245 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:18,400 God is from the rest of creation and that is mingled with the 246 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:22,599 knowledge that he will indeed. Hold men accountable for his 247 00:17:22,599 --> 00:17:26,900 actions and it is also included with the experience. 248 00:17:26,900 --> 00:17:32,200 The personal experience of his goodness that causes you to be 249 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,100 in dread of even the What of displeasing him or 250 00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:42,500 misrepresenting him in any way? The sphere of God, though it is. 251 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:48,100 It is obvious in the scriptures is so complex and how it applies 252 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:52,500 to us. But Jesus had it. 253 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,900 He walked in it and the greatest men of God who have done the 254 00:17:56,900 --> 00:18:00,400 greatest things for God, have a common denominator and it is 255 00:18:00,400 --> 00:18:05,000 this, they walked in the fear of the Lord Nehemiah was such a 256 00:18:05,008 --> 00:18:08,800 man. Nehemiah was that man and you 257 00:18:08,808 --> 00:18:11,300 see it play out in his life. So wonderfully. 258 00:18:12,100 --> 00:18:15,600 You see how it actually practically influences, the 259 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:18,600 different things that you. And I do on a day-to-day basis. 260 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:23,000 How we think, how we decide how we plan Nehemiah is often a book 261 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:27,300 that Refer to in order to get a congregation all ready for some 262 00:18:27,300 --> 00:18:31,700 project and how Unity is necessary to get things done and 263 00:18:31,700 --> 00:18:35,500 wholehearted sacrifices needed to do great things for the 264 00:18:35,500 --> 00:18:36,900 kingdom. That's all right. 265 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:41,600 But have you ever considered that it's more than just people 266 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:45,500 who have this common goal who just want to see building 267 00:18:45,500 --> 00:18:49,200 projects completed? Can we not see together that if 268 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,400 we're going to do anything for the Lord, whether it's 269 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,200 practical, whether it's spiritual And oftentimes those 270 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:57,300 things merge that it's going to require what this leader had, 271 00:18:57,300 --> 00:19:00,500 and what he demanded of those who would serve along with him, 272 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,000 the fear of God. The fear of God. 273 00:19:07,000 --> 00:19:08,700 And I want to show you what the fear of God does. 274 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:10,900 I want to show you what it can do? 275 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:13,600 I'm going to show you what it can prevent. 276 00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:17,700 I want to show you that it is indeed a treasure to be sought 277 00:19:17,700 --> 00:19:20,900 after we come to Nehemiah chapter 5. 278 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:23,600 And this is not a comprehensive study. 279 00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,100 By the way, this is just to whet, our appetites a little 280 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:31,900 bit. And Nehemiah chapter 5. 281 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,200 Verse 6. Let's read a few verses to 282 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:36,400 understand what's Happening Here. 283 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,600 I was very angry when I heard the outcry. 284 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:45,600 And these words I took counsel with myself and I brought 285 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:49,100 charges against the Nobles and the officials I said to them. 286 00:19:49,100 --> 00:19:52,000 You are exacting interest each from his brother and I held a 287 00:19:52,008 --> 00:19:54,800 great assembly against them and said to them. 288 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,400 We as far as we are able have bought back, our Jewish 289 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,600 brothers, who have been sold to the nation's, but you even sell 290 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,200 your brothers, that they may be sold to us. 291 00:20:04,200 --> 00:20:09,600 They were silent and could not find a word to say what's Here, 292 00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:13,600 Nehemiah with a bunch of others, have returned from exile to the 293 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:17,400 promised land. The city is in Ruins, homes are 294 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,600 destroyed more. Importantly, the house of God is 295 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:24,200 in trouble and now, they are trying to build their way back 296 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,800 there, trying to restore what was destroyed. 297 00:20:27,300 --> 00:20:30,000 And in the process of this, while many are in poverty. 298 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:32,400 While many are Berta, while many only have the shirt on their own 299 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,600 backs, As they were trying to do this, for the kingdom of God, 300 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:39,200 there are also concerned about their personal well-being. 301 00:20:39,700 --> 00:20:42,500 And so, what you had people do is some were more wealthy than 302 00:20:42,500 --> 00:20:44,300 others. And those who were least 303 00:20:44,300 --> 00:20:50,100 fortunate were willing to serve fellow Israelites for pay or to 304 00:20:50,100 --> 00:20:52,900 get a loan and these other Israelites you had more in their 305 00:20:52,900 --> 00:20:56,900 name would give would land but it would exact interest. 306 00:20:57,900 --> 00:21:00,000 And if the interest could have paid, if they went into further 307 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:03,800 debt than these families would sell their children, to these 308 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,500 neighbors as slaves, to pay off any debt. 309 00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:11,800 And the reason why that is so important is that in Exodus God 310 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,900 prohibited the Israelites to charge interest when they borrow 311 00:21:15,900 --> 00:21:20,100 or lend to one another. And so that was to never be a 312 00:21:20,100 --> 00:21:22,900 practice. And yet, here we see that 313 00:21:22,900 --> 00:21:26,600 they're taking advantage of the destitution of people in order 314 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:30,000 for personal profit Nehemiah, hears about it. 315 00:21:30,100 --> 00:21:32,200 And he's losing his mind, he comes. 316 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:35,600 And he says, are you kidding me? We just got delivered from 317 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,100 slavery. And now, you want to exact 318 00:21:38,100 --> 00:21:41,000 interest and cause more slavery. Now, that we're back home. 319 00:21:43,100 --> 00:21:45,300 And I'll look what he says in the following verse. 320 00:21:45,500 --> 00:21:51,400 So I said in verse 9, The thing that you are doing is not good 321 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:54,400 ought. You not to walk in the fear of 322 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,800 our God, to prevent the taunts of the nations are enemies. 323 00:22:00,700 --> 00:22:02,800 You know what the fear of the Lord does when the Holy Spirit 324 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,000 inspires that within you, when you come to the word of God to 325 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,000 discover, who he is the person of Jesus Christ, the person of 326 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,100 the Holy Spirit, God, the father, as your soul is taught 327 00:22:13,100 --> 00:22:16,000 to Revere him and respect him and honor him. 328 00:22:18,500 --> 00:22:21,100 The fear of the Lord will protect your testimony. 329 00:22:23,300 --> 00:22:26,600 The fear of the Lord will protect your testimony and mind 330 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:30,300 notice here. That Nehemiah as a man who 331 00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:33,300 feared God, we will find that out in the next point. 332 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:38,000 He explicitly says, I didn't do certain things because of the 333 00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:42,700 fear of the Lord, as a man who fears God was constantly on 334 00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:47,400 guard. About how his conduct would be 335 00:22:47,400 --> 00:22:54,700 perceived by a watching Lost World. in order to not, give 336 00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:57,200 them another reason to scorn at the truth that we believe in, or 337 00:22:57,208 --> 00:23:01,400 to harden their hearts and further unbelief, Nehemiah as 338 00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:03,400 he's processing. What is happening with his own 339 00:23:03,400 --> 00:23:04,600 people? You know where his mind is 340 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,600 going? What are our enemies going to 341 00:23:07,600 --> 00:23:12,300 say about this? Look how you're treating one 342 00:23:12,300 --> 00:23:17,000 another as the people of God. And do you not consider how this 343 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:21,800 will ruin our testimony? Because a man who fears, God 344 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:26,400 cares about his testimony cares about the impact that his life 345 00:23:26,400 --> 00:23:28,700 and the lives of those, a he's connected to would make on a 346 00:23:28,700 --> 00:23:33,700 watching world. And we see here that Nehemiah 347 00:23:33,700 --> 00:23:39,100 wanted to prevent scandal. The Evangelical World on the 348 00:23:39,100 --> 00:23:41,200 past couple of years, has been rocked. 349 00:23:42,100 --> 00:23:45,500 By one scandal after another from Top leaders. 350 00:23:46,500 --> 00:23:49,900 And I can recall the podcast, and the interviews and the 351 00:23:49,908 --> 00:23:53,800 snippets on YouTube of leading Evangelical voices today, who 352 00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:58,100 are still producing such content to try to understand how this 353 00:23:58,100 --> 00:24:00,600 happened to try to get fee, logical reasons, how is it that 354 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:03,300 these men who have Minister for so long could come crashing 355 00:24:03,300 --> 00:24:06,700 down, how is it that these Grand Ministries can be, discovered 356 00:24:06,700 --> 00:24:10,400 for such great Scandal, moral failure, and then they go on to 357 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:13,000 discuss how we can prevent it. And they have all these ideas 358 00:24:13,300 --> 00:24:16,200 manage suggest, something to you, if somebody were to 359 00:24:16,300 --> 00:24:20,100 Interview Nehemiah today and say Pastor Nehemiah? 360 00:24:20,900 --> 00:24:24,000 Would you tell us how it is that as Believers in the Lord? 361 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:30,200 Jesus Christ. how can we prevent from the world mocking us and 362 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:34,200 despising us because of our obvious failures and our gross 363 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:38,800 in consistencies You know what, I believe he would say what he 364 00:24:38,800 --> 00:24:42,300 says here. The greatest prescription to 365 00:24:42,300 --> 00:24:44,700 prevent as he uses that word to prevent the taunts of the 366 00:24:44,700 --> 00:24:46,900 nation's is to walk in the fear of God. 367 00:24:49,500 --> 00:24:53,600 Walk in the fear of God. The fear of the Lord protects 368 00:24:53,600 --> 00:24:57,700 our testimonies. Not by hiding or concealing sin. 369 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:01,900 But by so suffocating it, that it doesn't even have the chance 370 00:25:01,900 --> 00:25:04,100 to live long enough to accuse us of anything. 371 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,000 The fear of the Lord is so powerful that it grips in by the 372 00:25:11,000 --> 00:25:16,400 throat, and kills it before, it is able to rise up and point us 373 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:23,900 and say, look at this Christian I want that and some might 374 00:25:23,900 --> 00:25:25,300 object and say brother, it can't be that. 375 00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:27,500 Simple. Sin is much more complex than 376 00:25:27,500 --> 00:25:30,500 that people's histories and their past must be considered 377 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:32,500 when we are trying to bring some kind of treatment to their 378 00:25:32,500 --> 00:25:36,000 behavior. And I don't want to paint a 379 00:25:36,008 --> 00:25:39,300 broad brush on every issue and say that there is a one solution 380 00:25:39,300 --> 00:25:42,400 to at all but I must ask this question at the same time. 381 00:25:43,300 --> 00:25:44,800 Would anybody in here? Honestly? 382 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:48,500 Make the immediate connection between these Israelites 383 00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:52,900 exacting interest and demanding payments from fellow brothers to 384 00:25:52,900 --> 00:25:54,700 the lack of fear of God in their lives. 385 00:25:55,900 --> 00:25:58,200 Think about it. If somebody were to bring that 386 00:25:58,200 --> 00:26:00,800 solution to us and say, you know, there are people who are 387 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:03,000 cheating others and they're doing this to each other's and 388 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:06,300 they're taking advantage of them and their poor condition with 389 00:26:06,300 --> 00:26:10,200 our minds immediately go to you. Don't fear God, that's why 390 00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:15,400 you're doing this. We must ReDiscover. 391 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,600 This is the case that I'm trying to make today we must ReDiscover 392 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:23,200 how the, absence of the fear of the Lord is often the reason for 393 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:27,500 the presence of so much Injustice iniquity and 394 00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:31,700 compromise. We must ReDiscover how the 395 00:26:31,700 --> 00:26:35,700 absence of the fear of the Lord is the reason for the presence 396 00:26:35,700 --> 00:26:42,400 of so much sin. That is tolerated and damaging 397 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,200 to the testimony of the kingdom of God. 398 00:26:45,300 --> 00:26:48,200 Proof proof. Okay proof, let's go to Psalm 399 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:51,100 34, let me show you. Just one example of how one 400 00:26:51,100 --> 00:26:54,500 component of life is related to the lack of the fear of the 401 00:26:54,500 --> 00:26:59,100 Lord. Psalm 34 I sought the Lord and 402 00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:01,600 he answered. That's where it comes from, 403 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:06,600 right? Let's go to Psalm 34 and verse 404 00:27:06,600 --> 00:27:12,400 11. Look what David wants to teach 405 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:16,100 us by the Spirit. Come Oh, children. 406 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:20,500 Listen to me. I will teach you the fear of the 407 00:27:20,500 --> 00:27:23,000 Lord, the fear of the Lord has taught. 408 00:27:24,100 --> 00:27:28,300 The fear of the Lord is learned. And what's the best way to know 409 00:27:28,300 --> 00:27:34,400 how to fear God know him? Know him, know him in his 410 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,200 entirety. Norman is completion. 411 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,500 No man his ways and his thoughts, know him in his 412 00:27:39,500 --> 00:27:43,400 Holiness. No, man, as love know him, I 413 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,400 will teach you the fear of the Lord. 414 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:50,500 What man is there, who desires life and loves many days that he 415 00:27:50,500 --> 00:27:53,000 may see good because that's what the fear of the Lord will do 0. 416 00:27:53,000 --> 00:27:57,500 Preserve your days. Now look what he says, keep your 417 00:27:57,500 --> 00:28:01,700 tongue from evil. And your lips from speaking 418 00:28:01,700 --> 00:28:05,600 deceit. You know what? 419 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:10,900 That teaches me. I learned from this that as we 420 00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:14,500 consider the flow of thought of David, that one of the main 421 00:28:14,500 --> 00:28:18,700 marks that a man can know that this reverential. 422 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:24,600 Awe of God, abides in his soul, is that it will affect his 423 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:30,700 speech. In other words, one of the 424 00:28:30,700 --> 00:28:35,800 initial influences of the fear of God being impressed in the 425 00:28:35,800 --> 00:28:38,900 deepest parts of the child of God. 426 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,700 It's recognized and how we use this tongue. 427 00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,900 If that is true, then we must all admit. 428 00:28:46,900 --> 00:28:48,700 That there is a great lack of fear of God today. 429 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:56,100 Right. Anyone who can lie, anyone who 430 00:28:56,100 --> 00:28:59,400 can take a reputation and rip it apart with their words. 431 00:28:59,400 --> 00:29:04,000 So easily, anyone who can lash somebody with their tongue with 432 00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:09,600 rage and heavy sharp language does not fear God. 433 00:29:11,400 --> 00:29:16,100 They don't. Because the fear of the Lord 434 00:29:16,100 --> 00:29:18,800 puts a restraint, the fear of the Lord, is the beginning of 435 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,700 wisdom, the fear of the Lord produces knowledge, and a person 436 00:29:21,700 --> 00:29:24,500 who fears the Lord understands the power of this thing. 437 00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:31,600 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking, deceit. 438 00:29:31,600 --> 00:29:36,100 Oh, I challenge you go home tonight and look up the first 439 00:29:36,100 --> 00:29:38,800 reference to the fear of God, and you will be brought to 440 00:29:39,000 --> 00:29:42,300 Abraham in Genesis and you'll realize that the fear of the 441 00:29:42,300 --> 00:29:47,200 Lord, and its first mention is related to sexual immorality. 442 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,900 It connects to so many things and Nehemiah connects to the 443 00:29:52,900 --> 00:29:56,300 fact that they were taxing their own brother's, here it is 444 00:29:56,300 --> 00:29:59,800 connected to the fact that there is an unreserved evil in the 445 00:29:59,800 --> 00:30:02,900 tongue and the first mention it has to do with Abraham being 446 00:30:02,900 --> 00:30:05,700 afraid that they were going to take his wife as he was in a 447 00:30:05,708 --> 00:30:08,500 foreign land to take her for their sexual pleasure. 448 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:10,700 It is connected to almost everything. 449 00:30:12,500 --> 00:30:17,300 And it is so under emphasized. Barely mentioned today. 450 00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:23,500 But the fear of the Lord, it does something it pumps up this 451 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:28,500 this passion. I am concerned about my 452 00:30:28,500 --> 00:30:31,900 testimony. I'm concerned about what a 453 00:30:31,908 --> 00:30:34,900 watching world would save me, as I wear the badge, ambassador of 454 00:30:34,900 --> 00:30:39,800 Jesus Christ. But it's more than that as we 455 00:30:39,800 --> 00:30:42,600 come to the same chapter in Nehemiah and verse 14. 456 00:30:44,200 --> 00:30:49,800 And Nehemiah 5 14, we read of something else, concerning the 457 00:30:49,800 --> 00:30:56,200 fear of God. Nehemiah says in your, my 514 458 00:30:56,200 --> 00:31:01,300 moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their 459 00:31:01,300 --> 00:31:06,100 governor, in the land of Judah, from the 20th year to the 32nd 460 00:31:06,100 --> 00:31:10,500 year of artaxerxes the king 12 years, neither I nor my 461 00:31:10,500 --> 00:31:14,100 brother's ate, the food. Allowance of the governor, the 462 00:31:14,100 --> 00:31:17,500 former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the 463 00:31:17,500 --> 00:31:22,200 people and took from them, from their daily ration, 40 shekels 464 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:26,900 of silver, even their servants lorded, it over the people, but 465 00:31:26,900 --> 00:31:35,200 I did not do so, because of the fear of God, This is a really 466 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,300 interesting inclusion in the scriptures because in this part 467 00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:41,600 of this chapter, we get a personal testimony from Nehemiah 468 00:31:41,700 --> 00:31:43,700 about the account of his leadership. 469 00:31:44,500 --> 00:31:48,100 And what he's trying to do by the spirit is show us, show us 470 00:31:48,100 --> 00:31:52,300 the Integrity that he had show us the transparency, the 471 00:31:52,300 --> 00:31:56,100 generosity the Selfless, Love that he gave to others, even 472 00:31:56,100 --> 00:31:59,200 from a position of authority. And what is he doing here? 473 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:02,900 He's drawing a contrast. He was not the first governor 474 00:32:02,900 --> 00:32:05,000 over the people. There were Those who preceded 475 00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:06,900 him. And what are you saying, is that 476 00:32:06,900 --> 00:32:11,400 these Governors because of their position of authority demanded 477 00:32:11,400 --> 00:32:14,900 taxes from the people even though it would be a burden upon 478 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:18,200 them. They wanted to live in luxury, 479 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:22,100 they wanted to live in abundance and and they use the the right 480 00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:28,200 of a governor to ask for more and to demand for more as 481 00:32:28,200 --> 00:32:31,500 Nehemiah reflects about this. He thinks I did not do this. 482 00:32:32,000 --> 00:32:35,900 I did not even consider it. I thought about the poverty of 483 00:32:35,900 --> 00:32:39,800 the people, I thought about their struggle but these men, 484 00:32:39,800 --> 00:32:43,200 they abused their position. They had power and demanded 485 00:32:43,200 --> 00:32:46,100 payment that brought them profit at the expense of Burden. 486 00:32:46,300 --> 00:32:48,000 Even more than they were already burdened. 487 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:53,700 And you know what, um, I said. Though, they had such Authority 488 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:57,600 though, they had such ability. I didn't go there. 489 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:04,300 Because I feared God. This teaches us teaches us at 490 00:33:04,308 --> 00:33:07,000 least two things you ready for this. 491 00:33:07,100 --> 00:33:10,000 Number one, you know what, the fear of God will do the fear of 492 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:16,200 God when it is living in a man. Will provide. 493 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:20,600 A sense of discipline and strength. 494 00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:29,100 Where money has no, hold on him. When you talk about money, 495 00:33:29,100 --> 00:33:34,400 people work a little bit. But personal profit is never a 496 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:38,500 motivation for a man who fears God when he serves. 497 00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:45,200 God, there is no a luring power from anything to steer him to do 498 00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:47,800 that which is right or that, which is even wrong. 499 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:53,700 He is untouchable. He is not easily shaken. 500 00:33:54,200 --> 00:34:02,400 He's not moved by any bribe by any promotion, by any bonus, a 501 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:06,300 man who fears God does not even calculate in the equation of 502 00:34:06,300 --> 00:34:11,100 service to God what might come to him as profit or gain. 503 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,800 And that is very difficult for Satan to try. 504 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:23,600 To bring down when a man lives in such a standard. 505 00:34:24,199 --> 00:34:26,800 But secondly, you know what, I see from this as he reflects on 506 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:29,400 his stance as a governor in comparison to those, who 507 00:34:29,400 --> 00:34:34,100 preceded him, a man who fears God can hold a position of 508 00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:36,600 authority without corrupting his character. 509 00:34:39,900 --> 00:34:43,500 Think about it. It is possible to be a leader 510 00:34:43,500 --> 00:34:48,500 with much influence, and not abuse that power ever. 511 00:34:52,100 --> 00:34:56,500 The fear of God can make pastors with great influence. 512 00:34:56,500 --> 00:35:00,900 Humble ready for this? Can even make a politician 513 00:35:00,900 --> 00:35:04,400 radiate with humility. That's what it can do. 514 00:35:06,200 --> 00:35:08,500 Put a man in a position of authority, who lacks a fear of 515 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:12,000 God and you have just elected a curse. 516 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:17,300 But put a man in any position, whether it slowly or hi. 517 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,000 And just like, how any invitation for profit of game 518 00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:23,800 bounces, right off of them. So does the suggestion that you 519 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:27,700 are someone? Who can demand something of 520 00:35:27,700 --> 00:35:30,900 others because you have a title or a gift? 521 00:35:32,100 --> 00:35:35,200 The fear of God's silence is those Temptations? 522 00:35:36,400 --> 00:35:40,800 It puts them to death. Has no ability to live. 523 00:35:41,900 --> 00:35:46,000 And what nehemiah's account of his leadership shows us, is that 524 00:35:46,000 --> 00:35:49,200 a man who has this reverence for God? 525 00:35:50,000 --> 00:35:53,400 Does not think to himself as he plans or as he positions 526 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:55,700 himself, or as he makes decisions? 527 00:35:56,500 --> 00:35:59,700 What are my rights in this? What are my rights? 528 00:36:01,100 --> 00:36:04,600 He doesn't even think. How can I take advantage of this 529 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:06,700 position or situation for my benefit? 530 00:36:07,500 --> 00:36:10,300 Nothing of the sort. There is a dominating motivation 531 00:36:10,400 --> 00:36:14,100 there is a thought that swallows up all of that and it is this 532 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:20,200 what would my God have me do? What would my God have me doing 533 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:22,300 this situation? What is the wisest thing to do 534 00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:24,500 in this situation? That's why you have a man, like 535 00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:27,300 the Apostle Paul who did not take payment from the 536 00:36:27,300 --> 00:36:29,600 Corinthians because he assessed the situation. 537 00:36:29,700 --> 00:36:33,300 And he realized if I take payment, people will use this as 538 00:36:33,300 --> 00:36:36,000 an excuse that I am bleeding people for their money. 539 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:39,600 He said that in the same chapter, he says pastors should 540 00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:43,000 be paid. But if they serve in the gospel, 541 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:46,200 their payment should come from the gospel and yet he still says 542 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:48,300 but I did not exercise that right. 543 00:36:48,300 --> 00:36:51,400 Why Paul? Because he feared God and he 544 00:36:51,400 --> 00:36:54,200 didn't consider, what are my rights in this situation? 545 00:36:54,300 --> 00:36:57,900 He considered his testimony God's glory, the gospel above 546 00:36:57,900 --> 00:37:02,900 all o, that we would have leaders who fear God, the great 547 00:37:02,900 --> 00:37:05,500 blessings that would flow from their position instead of the 548 00:37:05,500 --> 00:37:09,500 great burdens. No, a man who fears God Lives by 549 00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:13,000 a higher standard higher than money higher than praise higher 550 00:37:13,000 --> 00:37:16,900 than power. One that directs him to do that, 551 00:37:16,900 --> 00:37:19,500 which is right. You see the fear of the Lord 552 00:37:19,500 --> 00:37:21,200 does not just eliminate the negative. 553 00:37:21,200 --> 00:37:23,200 The fear of the Lord is the breeding ground for 554 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:27,500 righteousness to excel. I remember hearing this from 555 00:37:27,500 --> 00:37:29,600 somebody was doing an internship at a church and don't worry you 556 00:37:29,600 --> 00:37:33,500 don't know about this church. And they wanted to have an event 557 00:37:34,200 --> 00:37:36,500 and wanting to have that event that we're trying to bring some 558 00:37:36,500 --> 00:37:40,400 Christian band. And when they had reached out to 559 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:44,800 have an invitation to be with them for that event, this 560 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:49,200 Christian band, this young cool band, I guess sent back a 561 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:52,500 request and the request was a list of Demands that they would 562 00:37:52,500 --> 00:37:54,100 need from the church or they were going to host them. 563 00:37:54,100 --> 00:37:56,300 You know what the demands were along the lines of. 564 00:37:56,300 --> 00:38:01,500 We want these brand of chips in the Green Room, And we want blue 565 00:38:01,500 --> 00:38:05,700 and red M&M's. No other color. 566 00:38:09,400 --> 00:38:11,700 Can I tell you what that tells me of that Christian band that 567 00:38:11,700 --> 00:38:13,700 was played on radio stations and what not? 568 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:18,300 They don't fear God. Do they sing about him? 569 00:38:18,800 --> 00:38:22,900 Older full-time Ministry? How ridiculous would it be if 570 00:38:22,900 --> 00:38:25,100 the Apostle Paul asks, for a brand of chips when he would 571 00:38:25,100 --> 00:38:31,100 visit Jerusalem for a season? I remember when I was speaking 572 00:38:31,100 --> 00:38:35,200 at a conference, I won't point. And as I was ready to share the 573 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:36,700 worship band played for a long time. 574 00:38:36,700 --> 00:38:39,600 Talented group people were so excited for the worship team, 575 00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:42,200 and the moment, the word of God was open that entire worship. 576 00:38:42,200 --> 00:38:45,800 Team got up, went to the back of the room and were laughing and 577 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:49,100 joking throughout the entire service only to come back on the 578 00:38:49,100 --> 00:38:50,700 stage. When I was there time to sing 579 00:38:50,700 --> 00:38:56,600 after the message, they don't fear God. 580 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:04,100 I don't care what kind of songs, they wrote about him, the fear 581 00:39:04,100 --> 00:39:08,700 of the Lord. It does something to your 582 00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:14,300 standard and decisions and how you present yourself and how you 583 00:39:14,300 --> 00:39:19,200 Minister for his glory. Lastly, this come to the third 584 00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:20,800 point before we break bread, shall we? 585 00:39:23,900 --> 00:39:41,900 And Nehemiah 7 verse 2. I gave my brother Han and I, and 586 00:39:41,900 --> 00:39:45,300 hananiah the governor of the castle charged over Jerusalem 587 00:39:45,300 --> 00:39:48,900 for. He was a more faithful and 588 00:39:48,900 --> 00:39:53,900 God-fearing man than many, I love it. 589 00:39:55,000 --> 00:40:00,100 I love it. Here is nehemiah's, a leader. 590 00:40:01,700 --> 00:40:05,100 A supernatural acceleration and building those walls was 591 00:40:05,100 --> 00:40:09,800 accomplished and he is not just about fireworks success. 592 00:40:09,800 --> 00:40:12,000 He wants to see sustainable success. 593 00:40:12,000 --> 00:40:14,700 And so he positions the right man and the right posts. 594 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:19,200 And here we are told that there are 22 men and mind that he had 595 00:40:19,200 --> 00:40:21,100 for a specific charge over Jerusalem. 596 00:40:21,100 --> 00:40:24,800 And one of them was actually his blood brother Han and I not the 597 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:27,100 first time that he was mentioned in this text, he's actually 598 00:40:27,100 --> 00:40:29,900 mentioned in the first three verses of chapter 1 of Nehemiah. 599 00:40:30,300 --> 00:40:34,100 He was the one who came to his brother with the concern in his 600 00:40:34,100 --> 00:40:38,400 heart for Jerusalem he was on who is burdened by the 601 00:40:38,400 --> 00:40:42,900 destitution and from chapter 12 this chapter that was true that 602 00:40:42,900 --> 00:40:45,400 remained with him. It was in seasonal this 603 00:40:45,600 --> 00:40:49,100 Something deep in his soul, he really cared about God's glory 604 00:40:49,100 --> 00:40:53,100 and God's people. And some would charge Nehemiah 605 00:40:53,100 --> 00:40:56,100 of nepotism right. Giving favorable positions to 606 00:40:56,100 --> 00:41:01,400 relatives just because their relative not so And we see here 607 00:41:01,400 --> 00:41:04,400 that there was not just Hannan, I there was hananiah and he is 608 00:41:04,400 --> 00:41:08,000 the focus of our last Point here and an eye has highlighted for 609 00:41:08,000 --> 00:41:10,600 two qualities that are married together. 610 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:16,900 Hananiah was elected as a, as a leader, over the people to 611 00:41:16,900 --> 00:41:20,000 certain extent because of these two qualities. 612 00:41:20,300 --> 00:41:26,100 He was a faithful man and he feared god listen more than many 613 00:41:27,900 --> 00:41:32,400 More than many. What this shows us is that 614 00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,100 faithfulness to God in service to him. 615 00:41:36,600 --> 00:41:40,900 Is deeply connected to that? Reverence you have for the Lord, 616 00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:46,700 the greater, the fear of God in someone, the greater the quality 617 00:41:46,700 --> 00:41:51,700 of their service for God. It's very difficult to believe 618 00:41:51,700 --> 00:41:58,400 how anybody can be sloppy. Unconcerned careless with 619 00:41:58,400 --> 00:42:01,700 whatever Ministry that they've been given and believe at the 620 00:42:01,700 --> 00:42:06,100 same time that they have a reverence for God. 621 00:42:08,400 --> 00:42:12,400 Hananiah was promoted here which means he was faithful and he 622 00:42:12,400 --> 00:42:15,200 feared God when he was in a much lower position. 623 00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:21,400 Because a man who is steams, the Lord does not consider it. 624 00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:25,500 A small thing to serve God in any capacity because of that 625 00:42:25,500 --> 00:42:29,300 personal growing, knowledge of the beauty of his Holiness is 626 00:42:29,300 --> 00:42:33,200 enough as a motivation to serve with a steadfastness regardless 627 00:42:33,200 --> 00:42:37,000 of the troubles or Temptations along the way read Nehemiah 628 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:39,500 realized that as they're building, this wall, there is 629 00:42:39,500 --> 00:42:42,700 great conflict. Different means that Satan was 630 00:42:42,700 --> 00:42:46,200 trying to bring this people down and yet still a man like 631 00:42:46,200 --> 00:42:51,500 hananiah Constant. He was trustworthy. 632 00:42:51,500 --> 00:42:54,100 He was reliable. He was consistent. 633 00:42:54,100 --> 00:42:57,100 Why why why? Because he feared God. 634 00:42:57,900 --> 00:43:00,100 That's why God was his motivation. 635 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:04,100 God was the only audience that he was living for. 636 00:43:05,300 --> 00:43:08,000 And the fear of God is so powerful that it even encourages 637 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:11,900 such faithful service in the most menial of tasks. 638 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:16,600 Does it matter? Because the fear of the Lord 639 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,300 also positions, a man or a woman to be promoted. 640 00:43:20,700 --> 00:43:24,500 To be promoted not for position, not for title, but for greater 641 00:43:24,500 --> 00:43:29,200 influence of God sees fit. and this was Hannah nice case 642 00:43:29,900 --> 00:43:34,900 because there is nothing more promising to the success and to 643 00:43:34,900 --> 00:43:38,200 the safety of a Ministry than when you put a God-fearing man 644 00:43:38,200 --> 00:43:44,400 or woman to supervise it That's what we look for here and BC. 645 00:43:47,000 --> 00:43:50,100 That's what the leadership constantly prays for, as we long 646 00:43:50,100 --> 00:43:52,400 to see more Elders, raised up more deacons raised up, do you 647 00:43:52,408 --> 00:43:56,600 know what we're looking for? Not your position in society. 648 00:43:56,600 --> 00:44:01,000 Not what kind of money you make? Not even how much scripture 649 00:44:01,000 --> 00:44:05,500 knowledge you have. Do you tremble before God. 650 00:44:07,300 --> 00:44:13,200 Do you fear Him? What struck me about the quality 651 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:17,700 of hananiah is that he was not just faithful or God-fearing, 652 00:44:17,700 --> 00:44:23,800 it's specific more than many. More than many do you believe 653 00:44:23,800 --> 00:44:25,300 that the fear of God is observable? 654 00:44:25,900 --> 00:44:26,800 Yeah, of course. It is. 655 00:44:27,100 --> 00:44:29,300 Is it measurable? Absolutely. 656 00:44:29,500 --> 00:44:31,600 And the fact that this is brought up, is not to encourage 657 00:44:31,600 --> 00:44:33,600 a competition of Holiness, among one another. 658 00:44:34,100 --> 00:44:35,500 Oh, she's more God-fearing than there. 659 00:44:35,700 --> 00:44:36,900 Oh, look at her, she's more. He's more. 660 00:44:36,900 --> 00:44:39,100 Now, that's not why this verse is here. 661 00:44:40,100 --> 00:44:43,400 This is more about hananiah than it, is about anybody else who 662 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:46,200 observed hananiah or compared hananiah. 663 00:44:47,300 --> 00:44:51,900 The idea is this this man had a conviction that he was willing 664 00:44:51,900 --> 00:44:54,600 to walk in the fear of God, even if nobody else wanted to. 665 00:44:57,400 --> 00:45:01,100 Even if nobody else wanted to believe it or ask God for it or 666 00:45:01,100 --> 00:45:04,500 to walk into or to grow in it and Anaya was a man who is 667 00:45:04,500 --> 00:45:09,200 convinced let let the others be casual with the things of God. 668 00:45:11,000 --> 00:45:15,400 Let others not consider how their decisions how their social 669 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:19,600 media post. Heather treatment of the 670 00:45:19,600 --> 00:45:22,900 ministry. Will it potentially affect their 671 00:45:22,900 --> 00:45:24,800 witness, to the world? Let him do it. 672 00:45:26,900 --> 00:45:31,200 I will fear God. I will walk in his ways. 673 00:45:32,000 --> 00:45:36,900 I will delight and trembling before him I will continue to be 674 00:45:36,900 --> 00:45:40,900 on a quest to removing the layers of the flesh that would 675 00:45:40,900 --> 00:45:44,900 just make his Holiness and his glories all the more known so 676 00:45:44,900 --> 00:45:49,100 that my soul can be in constant astonishment of just how amazing 677 00:45:49,100 --> 00:45:52,800 he is. If your friends want to remain 678 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:55,500 spiritual skeletons, let them remain spiritual skeletons. 679 00:45:56,900 --> 00:46:00,000 But you fear God? You fear the lord. 680 00:46:02,200 --> 00:46:07,200 I want to tell you today. it is my conviction that this is a 681 00:46:11,500 --> 00:46:13,100 There needs to be a Revival of this. 682 00:46:15,000 --> 00:46:18,200 There needs to be a Revival of this, and God will bring it as 683 00:46:18,200 --> 00:46:20,500 we preach it. And as we pray for Lee, live it 684 00:46:20,500 --> 00:46:24,100 out. My message is done. 685 00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:28,000 But I want to show you one more verse as we break bread, and it 686 00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:29,400 has to do with the fear of the Lord. 687 00:46:30,000 --> 00:46:36,800 And it's found in Psalm 130 as we prepare our hearts to come, 688 00:46:42,600 --> 00:46:46,100 To reflect on the mercy of Jesus Christ to reflect on the grace 689 00:46:46,100 --> 00:46:50,500 of God. Consider how it relates to the 690 00:46:50,500 --> 00:46:54,800 fear of God. Psalm 130 verse 3. 691 00:46:54,800 --> 00:46:58,100 If You O Lord should Mark iniquities O Lord who could 692 00:46:58,100 --> 00:47:03,300 stand answer? No one verse 4 but with you 693 00:47:03,300 --> 00:47:06,800 there is forgiveness that you may be feared. 694 00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:12,300 Wait with you, there is forgiveness. 695 00:47:13,200 --> 00:47:18,400 So that I may fear. Yeah, so that you and I would 696 00:47:18,400 --> 00:47:22,200 fear. How does that connect? 697 00:47:22,200 --> 00:47:25,200 Here's how it connects, when you realize the the payment for 698 00:47:25,200 --> 00:47:31,700 forgiveness. when you realize the display of God's Wrath and 699 00:47:31,700 --> 00:47:35,000 Justice that was poured out in order to make forgiveness 700 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:39,700 available, when you, when you come that much closer to the 701 00:47:39,700 --> 00:47:42,000 foot of the cross, and you consider all the implications 702 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:44,400 that made this sacrifice necessary. 703 00:47:46,100 --> 00:47:52,000 You cannot help but fear Him. This is how holy God is. 704 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:58,500 He is so holy that he is willing to crush his beloved Son. 705 00:48:00,100 --> 00:48:03,700 This is how. Loving, he is. 706 00:48:05,100 --> 00:48:12,000 He's willing to do this for me. You see, the gospel does not 707 00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:16,700 eliminate the fear of God. It intensifies it. 708 00:48:19,700 --> 00:48:24,200 And it is a delight. Would we tremble? 709 00:48:24,200 --> 00:48:27,900 Today's, we come before the bread and the cup, they consider 710 00:48:28,700 --> 00:48:31,200 what need to be done for forgiveness, to be made known in 711 00:48:31,207 --> 00:48:36,000 your life and mine. Lord, we thank you. 712 00:48:47,300 --> 00:48:50,000 We realized that it is a strong message today. 713 00:48:53,400 --> 00:48:55,900 But a much-needed one to be reminded of. 714 00:49:01,800 --> 00:49:03,700 Oh Lord, we Delight to fear your name. 715 00:49:07,400 --> 00:49:13,000 You are brilliant. You Are, Holy. 716 00:49:16,100 --> 00:49:19,600 You are worthy. Of our reverence. 717 00:49:23,200 --> 00:49:29,800 We look to calvary's hill now. And we consider the Blackness of 718 00:49:29,800 --> 00:49:34,100 that sky. And the trembling Earth beneath 719 00:49:34,100 --> 00:49:39,400 our feet. And the sinless Savior hanging. 720 00:49:41,400 --> 00:49:47,400 With bruises and blood. And dry spit on his face. 721 00:49:50,900 --> 00:50:01,000 And we tremble. Unite our hearts to fear your 722 00:50:01,000 --> 00:50:06,800 name. Help us believe that the fear of 723 00:50:06,800 --> 00:50:08,900 the Lord will draw us closer to you. 724 00:50:11,900 --> 00:50:15,100 Your word says that the secrets of the Lord belong to those who 725 00:50:15,100 --> 00:50:20,200 fear Him. The fear of the Lord is a 726 00:50:20,200 --> 00:50:28,000 Fountain of Life. We love you, Lord. 727 00:50:30,600 --> 00:50:34,800 In our hearts, we bow before you, holy is your name. 728 00:50:35,800 --> 00:50:42,100 Holy holy, holy is the Lord. Matchless, and power and 729 00:50:42,100 --> 00:50:50,200 Majesty. May the success of this ministry 730 00:50:50,200 --> 00:50:57,200 of this family of God. Be connected to a shared fear of 731 00:50:57,200 --> 00:50:59,700 you. We bless you now. 732 00:51:00,800 --> 00:51:03,100 In Jesus name, amen.