Has the Church Lost the Fear of God - David Wilkerson — From the Pulpit & Classic Sermons

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This week we have various speakers with the message, The Fear of God, Has the Church Lost It?

Trembling Before the Word and the Holiness of God

Tremble at your word, let us tremble this morning.

If ever there was a time that you and I fully embraced the heart of God and the will of God and the ways of God and the word of God, oh beloved it's now. There was a time in this country when I'm sure you would walk in the house of the Lord and if you were living in willful sin you would tremble.

In awe there was a reverence of God, there was a sense of God's holiness.

Has very little of the fear of God among today's Christians. I want to tell you God is no grandfather, he's not one who just ignores anything you do, like grandfathers do. What did we read in 1 Peter 1?

New Testament Teaching on Living in the Fear of God

Spend your entire life on earth. This is not Old Testament, this is New Testament, this is the Apostle Peter writing 30 years after the day of Pentecost. Spend your entire life on earth in fear. The same word.

I'm supposed to live my entire life on earth, 1 Peter 1 17, in fear. In fear of what?

In fear of God. But there was a trembling, there was a time in this country when you walked in the house of God and you knew if you were living in sin you were going to be confronted.

Paul speaks in Romans 11 about the severity and the goodness of God, in what connection? In his dealing with this ancient people. There's no fear in the church for God, the fear of God is absent from the church and that's why we take the horrendous liberties that we do.

For how shall we fear him if we have not known his severity, his judgments, his dealings, how far he will go even with his own ancient people who are yet the apple of his eye despite their fallenness.

Even in the church we've lost our sense of the holiness of God, you know. Charles Wesley gave us that lovely children's hymn, gentle Jesus. Meek and mild look upon the little child. But you know some people never get past gentle Jesus.

The Fear of the Lord as a Rejection of Evil

Has lost the fear of God, there's no fear of God left in the land. This is what the Bible says, the fear of the Lord and depart from evil. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. By mercy and truth and iniquity is purged and by the fear of the Lord men depart from their evil, from the fear of the Lord.

A reverent fear of God which brings freedom. And it's because many Christians do not have that reverent fear of God that they don't come into freedom.

Call it what you want, reverential awe, call it what you want. But there's such a thing as remember that God is not mocked, there's such a thing as looking at the majesty and holiness of God.

The Danger of a One-Sided View of God

Got a one-sided Christianity which always spoke about always be sure you're accepted before God. God loves you brother, don't don't be, remember God loves you just as you are, his love is unconditional.

It's all true but if you only look at that you've got one side of God and you've got a one-sided God and you'll see the end result of that in the way you live. The other is the fear that I may hurt God.

There is no awe, no sense of fear, no deep respect that he's a living God and a seeing and a knowing God. And we can't get away with our little gitchy goo and cutting corners as if he does not observe it.

It's a very different picture in the world of God. I believe that the church of Jesus Christ needs a new revelation of the majesty of God.

The remarkable thing is he lets it go on and he's silent and we assume that either he has condoned it or he's not seen it until the day comes.

Abraham, Sexual Sin, and the Fear of God

Genesis 20 verse 10 and Abraham said verse 11 because I thought surely there is no fear of God in this place and they will kill me because of my wine. There is no fear of God, these fellows are sexually you know polluted.

It's interesting that the first time the Holy Spirit uses the phrase the fear of God is in relation to sexual sin. As I meditated on it the Lord showed me that it is through sexual temptation more than in any other area that I test whether men especially fear me or not.

Accountability Before the Judgment of God

We're not like Paul who always lived in the conscious sense of the judge and the day of judgment that we shall be held accountable for every idle word that we speak and that what all that we have done in our bodies both good and bad will one day come before us when we stand before the judgment of God.

What's it going to be like and I've tried to imagine this. What is it going to be like when we stand before the throne every pastor every evangelist when I stand there everyone in this pulpit stands there and everyone who's ever taken the gospel to their lips and we stand before a holy Christ and the books are opened.

I can't I can't bear the thought that I would have preached for 20 years here in New York City from this pulpit and that to keep the money flowing or to keep the crowds coming and every seat filled that I should give a half gospel or dilute it so I won't offend you.

True Prophecy Versus a Convenient Gospel

In Jeremiah's day the false prophets had the biggest crowds. The true prophet could hardly get folks together. In Jeremiah's day the thing that was so heavy on his heart was the false prophets told the people what they wanted to hear and the people naturally flocked and when he would start to prophesy the true word of the Lord the people said would you get this guy to shut up could somebody take care of this guy we don't want to hear this anymore.

And you see if you have no fear of God you have to invent a gospel of convenience. There's all kinds of phony people now of huge followings you just turn on some of the Christian television it's enough to make you sick and they got people writing checks all over the whole country for them and they're not even close but because of the biblical illiteracy among the people they don't know the genuine from the false because only through knowing God's word are we going to know what's true amen.

And this is what's happened in America and around the world you see man can't get away from that nagging sense and that's the Holy Spirit who says there's death and then there's judgment there's a day of standing before God to give an account and the Bible makes it very very clear there's a heaven and there is a hell and there is a day we're going to have to give an account and there is a hell and Jesus said there's a hell of fire and weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth a darkness that can be felt.

Preaching With Fear and Trembling

A lot of us share God's word here and there. Paul says how he preached. He says in 1 Corinthians 2 verse 3 when I came preaching to you I was with you in weakness and in fear and in trembling. Preaching with fear and trembling.

Where do we hear of that today? People who preach afraid lest they may say something God doesn't want them to say.

Repent or be damned. We'll thank God. Someone's still crying it out. Because that's the whole Bible from the heart of the God of love that you say. Wouldn't say those words. You liberal theologians shame on you sending people to hell just so you can have a job.

What you don't give from this book sir. God will require of you and their blood will be in your hands. You better start preaching truth or get out of the pulpit. You liberal theologians you're in for a terrible shock in the next moment you'll be in stunt of God not only with your own.

Soul to give account for but those you kept from truth. But today a whole lot of people are learning about grace who haven't learned about the fear of God. And you got to learn the fear of God before you can appreciate the grace of God otherwise you'll get a false grace.

Reverential Fear as Part of True Grace

The reverence for God is an essential component of the true grace of God. A grace of God that does not include a reverential fear of God is a false grace. Verse 17 honor all men love the brotherhood and fear God this is the true grace of God.

A grace of God which does not include the fear of God is a false grace.

If you don't contend and fall into a kind of a slip shot easy casualness you are almost guaranteeing your deception. I would hate to die in that condition because in whatever condition we end this life or in the Lord's coming in that condition we eternally remain.

There is no remedy there's a finality there's closure and there's no mercy.

Mercy has gone forever and I believe that many Christians are worshiping a false God God of their imagination. Who's a grandfather who just loves them do what they like.

The Fear of God and Divine Chastening

Better is a little a little with the fear of the Lord and gray treasure. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord and gray treasure and trouble they with trouble they with. And it will come let me tell you you're dealing with a holy God before the day of judgment sir.

And if you're saved you're dealing with a God that will chasten you so that you crawl in the school of God. Don't play the fool of God sir or his name if you touch it and carry it and think these things will never happen to you.

Money, Sexual Sin, and Neglect of God

Concerning integrity with money.

That's the reason why we have so many lovers of money in Christendom. That's the reason why we have so many divorces in western countries anyway in Christendom today. That's why. That's the reason why so many fine young believers are defeated by the lust of the eyes 365 days of the year.

That's why there are so many believers who are involved in internet pornography. You think they lack Bible knowledge. They got Bible knowledge oozing out of their ears but and their tongue especially but they haven't learned abc.

They haven't learned the fear of the Lord. But we have to confess it has not remained primary it's secondary at best it's been lost in the shuffle. Our car our home our family our job our career our vocation has pushed out the concern of God.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God.

And his righteousness. The thing that really impresses God is if all the the drums and the music are all going wonderfully and our singing is so beautiful and the parts go so well. But what about the holiness.

Perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God

That's the one thing God is looking for. Second corinthians 7 1. Since we have these wonderful promises let us cleanse ourselves from every filthiness not only of the outward things in the flesh but the inner things of the spirit thoughts attitudes motives as much as our words and actions.

And how do we do it. We perfect holiness not in the fear of man but in the fear of God. Those guys are perfecting holiness in the fear of man. They're afraid of being exposed in the meeting. That's not true holiness.

Here it says we perfect holiness in the fear of God. Corinthians chapter 2. Verse 12. My beloved. Just as you have always obeyed. Not as in my presence only but much more my absence. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

This is new testament. With fear and trembling i have to work out what God works within me. What God works inside me. I got to work out not casually but with fear and trembling. Oh that brings a solemn fear of the Lord in my heart.

And i persuade men. I say hey fellas. Remember this. You're going to stand before God. Don't think with all these justification gimmicks. You're going to stand there. Verse 21. Be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

The Fear of Christ and the Presence of God

Is there a place for that in your life. Fear of Christ. We think these are old testament verses. No Ephesians 5. We lack a consciousness of.

God actually as present and seeing and observing not only the things that we say and do but even the condition of our secret heart when it's silent. You got the picture what am i am i commending some kind of legalism and rob you of your charismatic freedom and bring you into some kind of constraint that God is always there seeing and knowing.

I'll tell you dear saints the greatest malady of the church today is the lack of the fear of God as God.

False Profession and the Final Judgment

He will say to me in that day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works and then will I profess unto them I never knew you I never knew you I never knew you.

Depart from me ye that work iniquity. Depart from me ye that work iniquity.

Depart from me.

You need to contend for the faith continually that is where the devil trips us up a false freedom where we think of God's love God's love God's love God's love. And you go through a whole year without ever hearing about the fear of God.

Reverence Before the Glorified Christ

We got so friendly with Jesus that we've lost our.

Reverence. And when I hear people singing you know put your hand in the hand of him that walked on the water. Forget it for the new son that's now. Shake hands with Jesus. Listen when you see Jesus you're not going up and say hey buddy I'm glad you died for me.

When you see Jesus you'll be almost paralyzed with fear unless you have a glorified body in a glorified mind. John the man who had walked with him and talked with him for three years says that when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead.

What do you think you and I are going to do.

The Fear of God and Personal Accountability

Well I'll tell you what God looks for. Is there a man who pierces me. Oh beloved. Because God says.

To this man will I look whatever it takes whatever it takes keep me on my knees the fear of God.

Said I thought many great things but the greatest thing that I've ever thought of the most awesome the most terrifying the most shattering thought I've ever had is my personal accountability to God. One day feet are like burnished brass his face is like the sun in its strength his eyes are living coals of fire his tongue is a sharp two-edged sword.

A man who fears God and hates sin with a passion. Oh no no no no the man who only wants his sins forgiven is trifling.

The Danger of Playing Games With God

With Christianity this is not the time to play games. It's extremely dangerous time to play games.

With God God should bring every work into judgment with every secret thing. And so I'm going right back back back to the foundation. Will you remind people of the goodness and the severity of God. The most precious thing we ever handle is the human soul.

The payette one day will go up in dust the cistern chapel will be blown to smithereens. That the soul of a man will live forever and ever and ever and ever either in eternal darkness or eternal bliss.

Heaven is impeccable joy there'll be no sorrow. Hell is eternal misery there's no joy there is only one way to heaven.

There are a million ways to hell I believe that and I'm sitting watching an R-rated movie.

I believe that and yet I carry grudges a vengeful spirit can't lay down the hurt.

Hearing and Obeying God's Personal Call

Now the question arises what is God telling you to stay away from. See this is this is where we move towards truth or we cover our own selves with a garment of religion.

You've heard a lot of things today alone in your mind. Just like Abraham heard one night in his bed God spoke to him give up your son. You've heard some things today. Nobody else heard. The person sitting next to you didn't hear it.

You're like Abraham read Genesis 22 where he spoke something only to you. Even Sarah sitting sleeping next to him didn't hear it. Person sitting next to you hasn't heard it. Your wife didn't hear it. Your husband didn't hear.

You heard something. Now God is testing you whether you'll obey that or not. Abraham obeyed God said to him Genesis 22 now I know that you fear me. This is a call to each one of us.

What is the Holy Spirit telling you right now to walk away from. See this is where you're going to make a choice. You're going to either cover sin with religion or you're going to throw off that garment and move towards a holy God and say Lord I'm I'm going where you're calling me.

Repentance, Obedience, and the New Covenant

Don't put off what God's called you to do. The more you put it off the greater chance that you'll make peace with it. If you have doubtful practices in your life put them away. If you have embraced sin believing erroneously today that there'll be no judgment for it flee that as quickly as you can.

Walk in what is right. The new covenant is a wonderful wonderful truth but it's only for the honest Christian. It is not a contract for dishonesty it is not a covering for willful rebellion folks against God.

There is no protection for Uzziah and there is no protection for the person who willfully embraces wrong. If you don't believe that then read Acts chapter 5 and see what happened to Ananias and Sapphira that was new covenant Christianity.

And they died by the hand of God. And folks the fear of the Lord is the beginning of God is wonderful loving just and kind but you cannot mock him. You cannot play games with the.

Honesty Before a Holy God and the Final Call

Holy God there has to be an honesty in the heart. What I'm giving to you now is the mercy of God who so loved you that he put you in a seat in this church this day and said today now is a time to make it right.

But my calling this morning is a watchman and I'm telling you now what I believe. The Holy Spirit is saying it's time to get right with God. He's saying I have wooed you so many times. This time I say to you in great love from the Lord and from his heart if you pay the price I'll open doors for you I'll speak through you and I'll use you again.

That could have never conceived but you see for a few this is the last call.

I say it in the spirit and with love so be careful. What you do with this sermon now sir.

You have been listening to the from the pulpit and classic sermon series this week you heard various speakers with the message the fear of God has the church lost it. Tune in next week for another powerful message from God's word on from the pulpit and classic sermons.