The Fear Of The Lord

07/08 August 2021 | PRAYER & PRAISE SERVICES

Rev Benjamin Lau

Scripture Passage: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 (NIV)

WATCH | SERMON (VIDEO)

READ | SERMON NOTES

Summary | To walk in the fear of the Lord, we need to guard our steps by checking our hearts, draw near to Him to listen intentionally to Him, serve with the right motives, and keep our vows.

What does it mean to fear the Lord? It is when we are in such awe and reverence that we submit ourselves fully to God. There are four ways in which we can do this.

1. By Guarding our Steps (v.1a)

Guarding our steps means to take care and pay close attention to the condition of our hearts and our walk with God. Ask ourselves honestly – are we spiritually dry? Are we walking right with God? Are we spending sufficient time communing with our Lord?

2. By Listening to Him (v.1b)

The act of intentionally listening to God will help us to take a step back and pause and surrender ourselves to Him – to hear what He wants to say to us and not just what we want to hear. To discern the voice of God, we must regularly read His word. We have a God who is a living God and wants to speak to us – we just need to open our hearts.

3. Serving Him with the Right Motives (v.1c)

When we serve God, it should be for His glory, not ours. It is natural to want the recognition of people, but this is not the right motive for serving. We can go through the motion of doing good works outwardly without obeying Him. To God, it is better to obey than to sacrifice. If we fear the Lord, we will be serious with our intentions and how we live our lives – we will come to Him with openness and humility.

4. By Keeping our Vows (v.2-6)

Have we kept our marriage vows, our church membership vows, or other personal promises to God? Keeping our vows is important in the eyes of God. If we truly fear the Lord, we do not make rash or empty vows and we will have the courage to fulfil and honour them. But if we don’t think we can fulfil it, then we should not make them.

Choose to fear God. Even when we fail to keep our promises, God does. He is an ever-faithful God and it is because of this that we can and should worship Him with awe and reverence. At the end of the day, we serve who we fear. “If you fear God you serve Him. If you fear man you serve man. You must choose.” (John Bevere). Will you choose to walk in a holy and reverent fear of the Lord?

(Sermon Notes by Desley Khew)

PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What does the fear of the Lord means to you?

2. If you were to do a spiritual check up on your life today, how would you described your current relationship with the Lord?

3. When was the last time you listened to God? Share a time in your life when you heard God speak to you.

4. Share a time where you made a vow or promise to God? And have you kept to your vows?