The Fear of the Lord and The Cross
Pastor Curtis Hutchinson
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
1. The FEAR OF THE LORD spoken of in God’s Word is always tied to a Faith that is in Christ and His work at Calvary, OR we are trapped within the alternative which is the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25).
Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
There is only one place spiritually to find this promised strong confidence, and place of refuge, and it is “In Christ”, which undeniably speaks of one trusting in the work of Christ on the Cross, for there, was every believer baptized into Him through Faith.
Romans 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Let us TODAY be FOUND trusting in Christ’s Redemptive work at Calvary and nothing else, as there alone will we find the strong confidence and that promised place of refuge in Him.
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
2. The FEAR OF THE LORD is the proper biblical estimation of God’s worth, which can only be seen as one looks to the Cross of Christ where God has given the greatest Revelation of Himself.
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
Jesus Christ is our Fountain of Life (John 14:6) through that Fountain and Life flow of His own blood which He shed for us at the Cross, and there alone does man depart from the snares of death, therefore the FEAR OF THE LORD is a holding fast to the finished work of Christ at Calvary as our only object of Faith.
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
3. The FEAR OF THE LORD is that which perfects Holiness, which again points us to the Cross of Christ and His finished work alone, for there and there alone is Righteousness granted for our initial status of Righteous In Christ, and for the possibility of bearing the fruits of His Righteousness of which is the EXCLUSIVE AVENUE of Holiness.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF GOD.
RIGHTEOUSNESS is the only fruit which is unto HOLINESS
Romans 6:19-22
[19] I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to RIGHTEOUSNESS UNTO HOLINESS.
[20] For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
[21] What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
[22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your FRUIT UNTO HOLINESS, and the end everlasting life.
Let us TODAY put away everything that has played a part in our having been lured away by our own flesh to those things that have only become a distraction from our hearts striving for the Gospel (Philippians 1:27), and come back to the Cross, for there alone will we experience the fruits of Righteousness which is unto Holiness being perfected by the Fear of The Lord!
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
4. To hate evil is to love Righteousness, OR our hatred of evil is only a hatred of evil that happens to us and is all around us, but the Fear of The Lord reveals to us our own evil hearts and what Jesus did to deliver us!
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
The FEAR OF THE LORD is the proper biblical estimation of God’s worth, which can only be seen as one looks to the Cross of Christ where God has given the greatest Revelation of Himself.
Let us TODAY be found trusting only in, and boasting only of WHO Christ is and WHAT Christ has done for us at the Cross, where He through THAT work, became our everything for all Eternity!
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
5. The FEAR OF THE LORD is one of the expressions of the Holy Spirit through faith in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which He imparts and adds to the Believer’s life.
Isaiah 11:2
And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the FEAR OF THE LORD;
Proverbs 1:29
For that they HATED KNOWLEDGE, and DID NOT CHOOSE THE FEAR OF THE LORD:
Let us TODAY remember that the Fear of The Lord is tied to learning Christ, and learning Christ is tied to the denial of self, taking up our Cross to be able to be His Disciples (Luke 9:23, 14:27). Disciple, defined, The meaning of the word disciple is to be a learner, yet there is no learning from the Teacher/Holy Spirit without Faith in the Cross of Christ. Learning what the Bible says is not the same as the Holy Spirit imparting the knowledge of Christ into our hearts, so that we can be found being led by Him in the paths of Righteousness (Psalm 23:3). If we deny Him, He will deny us, but if we maintain our faith in His Cross (Suffer with Him, we will reign with Him - 2 Timothy 2:12), we will find that He has obligated Himself to take care of us (Romans 8:32) who trust in His Son’s Righteous work.
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
6. To be satisfied in the Lord is not a personality issue, but rather a Faith issue. Those whose Faith is in the work of Christ on the Cross, will experience the Life that flows out of His death, and that Life is the abundance of satisfaction.
He who HAS THE FEAR OF THE LORD also will not be visited with evil, which refers to being overseen by evil or giving attendance to evil. This is only possible through faith in what Christ did for us to overcome ALL evil. His Cross!
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall ABIDE SATISFIED; he shall not be visited with evil.
Let us TODAY return to the place where we can see the proper Biblical estimation of God’s worth and proper value to us as we see His Work of Redemption in Christ Jesus for us.
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
7. The Fear of The Lord is His Treasure, therefore we understand that when we reject His knowledge, whether for initial Salvation OR for daily growth (2 Peter 3:18), we are rejecting His Treasure.
Isaiah 33:5-6
5 The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment and righteousness.
6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS HIS TREASURE.
Proverbs 1:29
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:
Let us TODAY once again give thanks to our faithful God for what He did in Christ on the Cross for us, for through THAT Faith, will we find Him adding to our faith the Knowledge and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ through which we grow and continue in the Fear of The Lord.
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
8. Mercy and Truth are EXCLUSIVELY benefits of faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ, and NOT just for the initial Born Again experience, but DAILY for the fruit of The Holy Spirit as well.
There is only one Faith that God honors, and that is the Faith of the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us at Calvary (Galatians 2:20). This is the only avenue provided to man to depart from evil. The knowledge of, and Faith in the Cross of Jesus Christ is the Fear of The Lord.
Proverbs 16:6
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Let us TODAY look back to the Cross where our faithful Lord first kindled His fire in our hearts, for there we will SEE His Mercy and Truth purging our iniquities and the fear of the Lord allowing us to depart from the evil that so easily chokes the life out of us!
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
9. The Fear of The Lord instructs the Believer of Wisdom, and that Wisdom always leads the Believer to the Cross, for there alone is humility recognized by God and honored by Him with the impartation of His Wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8
6 Howbeit we speak WISDOM among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the WISDOM of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have CRUCIFIED the Lord of glory.
Let us TODAY be found rejoicing in God’s Righteous cause through which He has offered all of humanity His Wisdom in the Cross of His Son. He longs to honor us with His Fear of The Lord!
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
10. The Fear of the Lord doesn’t just happen in some lives and not others, for there is a process which God honors as he finds the broken heart seeking to understand and make its boast in Him alone.
Proverbs 2:1-5
[1] My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
[2] So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
[3] Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
[4] If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
[5] THEN WILL YOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
Not one of God’s Children have ever been able to skip to the benefits of verse 5 without being found on the path of what is found in verses 1-4.
Let us TODAY be found crying out to our faithful Lord for His Words of Truth to fill our hearts, and to bring us His Wisdom so that we will understand and, may this treasure hunt be understood as a far greater FIND than silver or gold. THEN we will understand the Fear of The Lord and find the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
The Fear of The Lord and The Cross
11. The Fear of The Lord is God’s Wisdom through which the Knowledge of Christ and His Cross comes and delivers us from evil.
The Fear of the Lord is the Wisdom of Christ and Him Crucified, and through THAT Faith alone does God, who is Holy allow, us to understand and boast in Him!
Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil IS UNDERSTANDING.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy IS UNDERSTANDING.
Let us TODAY be found in the Wisdom of God, for there alone do we find the knowledge of what Christ did on His Cross to deliver us from evil and death, and to teach us of our Holy God!