UNGERS BIBLE DICTIONARY: "LOVE AND FEAR MUST COEXIST IN ORDER THAT EITHER PASSION BE HEALTHY!"

• Roosevelt - 4 Freedoms - 1941 - asked for a freedom from fear, and started greatest fears ever!
• I John 4:18 - Perfect love casts out fear - Rom 3:11 - condemns - no fear of God in their eyes -
• We must face conflict - and resolve with wisdom - Proverbs, God's wisdom - will help us.

But we must not be lazy in our Bible Study, nor seek an easy way out - Study!  Fear!

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE - PROV 1:7

(Vine) - Hebrew - means a practical piety that comprehends virtues of a godly character.

WHAT IS FEAR?  COMMON DEFINITION IS AN EMOTION OF AN APPROACHING DANGER

• There are false fears - and terrors that cause us to panic- lose control and crash.
• Prov 29:25 - Fear of man - snare - Jesus said in Matt 10:29 fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in Hell.
• We must not panic - and see fear as a drive that makes us meet a greater danger - Amos 5:19.

THE BIBLE SAYS IT IS THE FEAR OF THE LORD THAT IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEGE - LOOK UP!  RIGHT KIND!

• The highest type - dreads to displease God, desires His favor, respects, submits to His will - obeys.
• The lower type - afraid of His punishment of sin - both now and in the future, fearing penalty.
• But absence of fear is not courage, for "fools rush in where angels fear to tread" -- Shakespeare

THIS RIGHT KIND OF FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEGE - AND IS NEEDED TODAY - PROV 1:7B

• We have gone amiss in removing fear from our teaching - our churches, our prisons and courts.
• We do not like pain - but today it has a purpose - it protects you from harm.  Its loss is a curse.
• Fear is a primary motivational force - OUR STUDENTS ARE NOT MOTIVATED TODAY!  -- Here is why.

There is a place in the human heart for fear - and its absence deforms you - so watch out!

THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS TO HATE EVIL - PROV 8:13

Here is a terrible shock to the liberal - fear and hate - two things they fear and hate the most!

HERE IS A PLAIN STATEMENT TO DEFINE THE FEAR OF THE LORD: IT IS TO HATE EVIL!  FACE IT!

• The Psalmist tells the purpose of hate - Ps 139:21,22 - "I hate them with perfect hatred."
• The Hebrew word means the idea of ugliness - I count as ugly and dislike those who do not like God.
• We are to call evil - ugly!  For if we do not, we soon sympathize, admire, then embrace it!

WHAT IS THE EVIL THAT IS CALLED UGLY, THAT WE ARE TO HATE, FLEE, CHASE FROM US, AND MORTIFY?

• Prov 8:13 - Pride and arrogance - when a man thinks himself to be someone!  Difference between self-confidence and love.
• "The Evil Way" - I Cor 6:9-10 covers it all!  Do you hate these things?  In yourself? Others?
• "The Froward Mouth" - Rom 3:13-14 mouth full of cursing and bitterness - 19 mouths stopped!

IS THERE ANYTHING FOR US TO FEAR TODAY?  IS THERE A NEW MODERN LIST OF EVILS TO REPLACE BIBLE ONES?

• Some fear pollution, population, nuclear war - others fear crime, riots, Communist control, and the kids.
• With mass-media, men today are led to fear life more than death - and so pick a way to cop-out.
• This will climax when men's hearts will fail the because of fear - Luke 21:25,26 (not God)

It is true - fear of man - snare Prov 29:25 - but trust in the Lord shall be safe!

WHO SHALL FEAR GOD TODAY???

When we read Psalms - Ps 2:11,12 - we are told plainly "serve the Lord with fear - kiss Son!"

THE UNSAVED SINNER WHO TRIES TO EXCUSE HIS WICKEDNESS SHOULD FEAR GOD

• God is not mocked - whatsoever a man sow - he shall  reap!  Gal 6:7 -  Flesh - corruption
• Quickly  - (playboy paralyzed at neck), thrill-seeker - brain burned out at 11, with 70 to go!
• Heb 12:29 God a consuming fire - 10:31 fearful thing to fall into the hands of living God.

THE CHRISTIAN ALSO HAS MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE SCHOOLMASTER OF FEAR

• Acts 2:43 great fear came on early church, 9:31 Paul's friends walked in fear of the Lord.
• We need to cleanse ourselves, perfecting holiness in the fear of God - II Cor 7:1
• If we pass the time of your sojourning here in fear - I Pet 1:17 for there are many dangers.

THOSE WHO LEARN THE LESSONS OF FEAR NOW HAVE A PRECIOUS, JOYFUL TIME TO LOOK FORWARD TO

• Jesus, when He passed his disciples in the night, said "fear not."  Only Jesus can give this.
• In the new birth - we have spirit to overcome fear - I Tim 1:7 and lead in Sonship - Rom 8:15
• Then with the passing of pain, tears, sorrow, and death - and so will FEAR - Rev 21:4

But until that time, we had better let fear have its perfect work in God's plan.

PROPER FEAR, LIKE GODLY SORROW, CAN LEAD US TO JESUS CHRIST IF WE LET IT.

• Knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men- II Cor 5:11 - get saved or face Hell.
• If you prefer love - II Cor 5:14 - constrained by the Love of Christ - gets some results!
• We are living in the last days - if you will not fear God - you will fear much!