10 | To Fear or Not to Fear, That is the Question

Oct 15, 2023 • Ritchie Johnson

1 Samuel 11-12 | To Fear or Not to Fear, That is the Question

Slides:

Theme: The right kind of fear depends on your remembrance or your forgetfulness.

Acts 1:8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Lessons from Saul’s school for leadership:

• We are to deflect glory to God.

• Repay evil with good.

Romans 12:17-19, 21

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath [of God,] for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. ... 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

God’s people can’t afford to be “presence amnesiacs.”

We often get the leaders we deserve.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but [wanting] to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

How to develop the fear of the Lord that leads to life: Remember the Word.

Deuteronomy 17:19-20

"It shall be with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, by carefully observing all the words of this law and these statutes, 20 that his heart may not be lifted up above his countrymen and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, to the right or the left, so that he and his sons may continue long in his kingdom in the midst of Israel.

How to develop the fear of the Lord that leads to life: Remember the awesome things God has done!

Deuteronomy 10:20-21

"You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. 21 "He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.