Listener Favourite 2025 : The Fear of God, Part 2

Jeremiah 32:36-41
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In this episode, we’re diving into a discussion on “The Fear of God,” originally from the series “Soul Care: Four Friends for Your Soul.” Pastor Colin explores the surprising connection between fearing God and how it can be a friend to your soul. Discover the wisdom in seeing the fear of God and love of God not in opposition but as complementary forces that enrich your spiritual life.

Join us as we turn to the Book of Jeremiah, chapter 32, and explore the three powerful reasons why we should fear the Lord. Through biblical insights, Pastor Colin explains how the fear of God arises from glimpsing His glory, understanding the reality of judgment, and experiencing His love. This episode challenges the casual treatment of God’s name in today’s culture and urges believers to speak His name with reverence, reflecting their deep understanding of His nature.

100:00:00,200 –> 00:00:13,320To fear god is to love him , So that His frown would be your greatest dread and His smile200:00:13,320 –> 00:00:17,040would be your greatest delight.300:00:17,040 –> 00:00:21,160Welcome to Open The Bible With Pastor Colin Smith. I am David Pick, glad you could be400:00:21,160 –> 00:00:22,740with us today,500:00:22,740 –> 00:00:27,879Colin this message is called The Fear of God and it was originally from the series called600:00:28,020 –> 00:00:33,439Soul Care Four Friends for your Soul. That seems like a strange connection the fear of700:00:33,439 –> 00:00:35,360god being a friend for your soul.800:00:35,360 –> 00:00:38,619Yeah, I think some folks have the idea that’s something I’d want to get rid of get away900:00:38,619 –> 00:00:39,619from.1000:00:39,619 –> 00:00:45,200But The Bible says The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom so this is a friend1100:00:45,200 –> 00:00:46,200for the soul.1200:00:46,200 –> 00:00:50,180This is something I want to have more of so it’s not as if the fear of God and the love1300:00:50,180 –> 00:00:56,099of God are somehow fighting each other, they belong together and in the message today we1400:00:56,099 –> 00:01:00,660are going to see how they belong together and how actually they re-enforce one another1500:01:00,660 –> 00:01:02,540in a very wonderful way.1600:01:02,540 –> 00:01:07,160Well let’s get right into the message join us if you can, in The Book of Jeremiah chapter1700:01:07,160 –> 00:01:10,69932 as we continue the message, the fear of God.1800:01:10,699 –> 00:01:12,419Here’s Colin.1900:01:12,419 –> 00:01:18,139Why should we fear the Lord as we think about this awesome Day of Judgment?2000:01:18,139 –> 00:01:24,620Here’s the three answers that Thomas Manton gives to that question, number one Because2100:01:24,620 –> 00:01:34,160the judgment of God was once our due, think about that.2200:01:34,160 –> 00:01:36,300It was once our due.2300:01:36,300 –> 00:01:47,459Grace is not a right and if it were not for the sheer mercy of God poured out us in Jesus2400:01:47,459 –> 00:01:54,459Christ at immeasurable cost I would have been gone forever and whenever I think about the2500:01:54,459 –> 00:02:01,419judgment of God I cannot think about it without realising my total indebtedness for time and2600:02:01,419 –> 00:02:06,379for eternity to all the good that has come from Him and that’s going to lead as you2700:02:06,379 –> 00:02:11,460take that into your mind and heart to a sense of the awe of God to what the Bible describes2800:02:11,460 –> 00:02:13,460as the fear of the Lord.2900:02:13,460 –> 00:02:17,059That’s his first answer.3000:02:17,059 –> 00:02:28,940Second answer, we still deserve it even after Grace has made a change in our condition.3100:02:28,940 –> 00:02:34,080Why should we have the sense of the fear of the Lord when we think about the Day of Judgment3200:02:34,080 –> 00:02:41,080because the reality is that we still deserve it, even as Christian believers.3300:02:41,080 –> 00:02:48,619Understand this, that the reason there is no condemnation for Christian believers is3400:02:48,619 –> 00:02:54,479not that we have become so pure, so holy, so righteous in our Christian lives that God3500:02:54,479 –> 00:02:58,440couldn’t possibly find anything in us that was worthy of condemnation.3600:02:58,440 –> 00:03:00,979That is not the case.3700:03:00,979 –> 00:03:05,000The reason that we are not condemned is not that we become so righteous that there’s3800:03:05,000 –> 00:03:07,360nothing in us that is worthy of condemnation.3900:03:07,539 –> 00:03:13,820The only reason that we will not be condemned is because in Jesus Christ God determines4000:03:13,820 –> 00:03:22,500not to press charges on his people because the charges have been brought against his4100:03:22,500 –> 00:03:24,279own son, Jesus Christ.4200:03:24,279 –> 00:03:25,740That’s the only reason.4300:03:25,740 –> 00:03:28,020So, here’s what Mantin’s saying.4400:03:28,020 –> 00:03:32,020Understand when you think about this, not only was it once your due, but if it were4500:03:32,199 –> 00:03:38,320not for Jesus Christ even standing at your best as a Christian, you would be completely4600:03:38,320 –> 00:03:40,539gone, you would have no hope.4700:03:40,539 –> 00:03:46,199As you think about this you begin to see the degree of your dependence upon grace and upon4800:03:46,199 –> 00:03:54,619Christ and you have a sense of awe and wonder that’s altogether different from so much4900:03:54,619 –> 00:04:01,339that is trite, even within the church of God.5000:04:01,339 –> 00:04:05,119And then he gives a third answer, he says, remember this, that we are still in the process5100:04:05,119 –> 00:04:06,539of being saved.5200:04:06,539 –> 00:04:13,139He says, I know, I quote here, I know that I shall be saved but it is a difficult thing5300:04:13,139 –> 00:04:14,320to save me.5400:04:14,320 –> 00:04:19,880In other words, what he’s getting at here is that a Christian is a person who not only5500:04:19,880 –> 00:04:24,339has an awareness of their past sins that have been forgiven, a Christian is a person who5600:04:24,339 –> 00:04:29,459has an awareness of the sins that remain, the sins against which I do battle, the sins5700:04:30,279 –> 00:04:36,000we are in daily need of being saved even now.5800:04:36,000 –> 00:04:39,380And if we have no sense of that, we have very little knowledge of ourselves and probably5900:04:39,380 –> 00:04:43,559very little knowledge of God.6000:04:43,559 –> 00:04:46,820So there is nothing of self-righteousness about the true Christian.6100:04:46,820 –> 00:04:52,000At our best, we hang on the mercy of God in Jesus Christ.6200:04:52,000 –> 00:04:57,660And as we think about the reality of that day, it will cause us to tremble because of6300:04:57,660 –> 00:05:06,440what we are, and to be amazed that the grace of God should embrace us still.6400:05:06,440 –> 00:05:09,980The fear of God, do you see what it arises from?6500:05:09,980 –> 00:05:17,640A glimpse of the splendor of his glory, a sense of the reality of his judgment, and6600:05:17,640 –> 00:05:24,559here’s the third strand, the wonder of his love.6700:05:24,559 –> 00:05:29,399Psalm 130 and verse 4.6800:05:29,399 –> 00:05:33,799Begins by saying, Lord, if you were to mark all of our iniquities, if you were to mark6900:05:33,799 –> 00:05:40,040up everything I’ve done wrong this week, this year, who could possibly stand?7000:05:40,040 –> 00:05:42,980Who could stand if you were to mark all our iniquities?7100:05:43,859 –> 00:05:49,179But then he says this, with you there is forgiveness.7200:05:49,179 –> 00:05:51,480Isn’t that an amen moment?7300:05:51,500 –> 00:05:55,339With you there is forgiveness.7400:05:55,420 –> 00:05:57,600And then notice what comes next.7500:05:57,619 –> 00:06:02,899You would think he’d say, with you there is forgiveness so that you will be loved.7600:06:02,899 –> 00:06:04,679That’s not what the psalmist says.7700:06:04,679 –> 00:06:06,140Psalm 130 verse 4.7800:06:06,140 –> 00:06:08,000Get this.7900:06:08,000 –> 00:06:15,440With you there is forgiveness that you may be feared.8000:06:15,440 –> 00:06:20,839So here is the grace of God, the mercy of God, the love of God leading into the fear8100:06:20,839 –> 00:06:25,220of God, which is why I’m saying the third strand is the knowledge of God’s love.8200:06:25,220 –> 00:06:29,760Do you see now why it is only a Christian believer who can come to the knowledge of8300:06:29,760 –> 00:06:30,880the fear of God.8400:06:30,880 –> 00:06:34,920Because only a Christian believer has come to see something of His glory and to meditate8500:06:34,980 –> 00:06:39,839on the awesome reality of His judgment and to experience the wonder of His love.8600:06:39,839 –> 00:06:46,019The world doesn’t know these things, but we do.8700:06:46,019 –> 00:06:50,679How does this work, the forgiveness that you may be feared?8800:06:50,679 –> 00:06:53,399Here’s what it’s like.8900:06:53,399 –> 00:06:58,820You come to know as a Christian believer the amazing love of God poured out to you in Jesus9000:06:58,820 –> 00:07:04,859Christ, forgiveness at immeasurable and unspeakable cost.9100:07:04,899 –> 00:07:08,899But as you experience the wonder of His love, you begin to feel within your heart,9200:07:08,899 –> 00:07:14,480how can I sin against love like this?9300:07:14,480 –> 00:07:21,299How can I grieve the heart of a father who loves me this much?9400:07:21,299 –> 00:07:28,899How can I wound the Son of God, who already has borne so many wounds for me?9500:07:29,779 –> 00:07:33,420You don’t sin so easily when your heart is filled with the knowledge of9600:07:33,420 –> 00:07:36,179the love of Christ.9700:07:36,179 –> 00:07:37,839Because it produces the fear of God.9800:07:37,839 –> 00:07:41,619With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.9900:07:44,040 –> 00:07:48,380I’ve adapted a definition of the fear of the Lord, or perhaps a description is a better10000:07:48,380 –> 00:07:53,579way of putting it, from John Brown, who wrote a massive commentary on 1 Peter, which includes10100:07:53,720 –> 00:07:57,399the words, fear God, in chapter 2 in verse 17.10200:07:57,399 –> 00:08:02,160And Brown’s got pages and pages but it boils down to this, let me put it to you in a sentence10300:08:02,160 –> 00:08:04,899as clearly as I can.10400:08:04,899 –> 00:08:15,279That to fear God is to love him so that his frown would be your greatest dread, and his10500:08:15,279 –> 00:08:17,679smile would be your greatest delight.10600:08:17,679 –> 00:08:19,980That’s what it is.10700:08:20,519 –> 00:08:27,739It’s so to love God that to bring displeasure to the Father who loves you like this would10800:08:27,739 –> 00:08:33,400be the thing you would dread the most, better than anything, than to grieve the heart of10900:08:33,400 –> 00:08:37,020my Father who loves me like this.11000:08:37,020 –> 00:08:44,859And oh what joy there is to live under his smile, to experience his pleasure.11100:08:44,900 –> 00:08:53,940That’s the heart of the person who fears the Lord, the fear of the Lord.11200:08:53,940 –> 00:08:58,719It’s in the heart of someone who has seen his glory, the splendor of his glory and the11300:08:58,719 –> 00:09:04,659reality of his judgment and the wonder of his love, glory, judgment, love.11400:09:04,659 –> 00:09:10,099Now do you see why in the Old Testament it speaks about the people of God will feed him11500:09:10,099 –> 00:09:12,619forever?11600:09:12,900 –> 00:09:16,940Because in heaven itself, what are we going to experience?11700:09:16,940 –> 00:09:23,299The splendor of his glory beautifully unveiled.11800:09:23,299 –> 00:09:28,659And heaven will remain a happy and holy place forever and forever.11900:09:28,659 –> 00:09:29,659Why?12000:09:29,659 –> 00:09:36,460Because the judgment of God will continue forever and forever upon sinners in hell.12100:09:36,460 –> 00:09:42,859And His love will be unveiled, and we shall see it in its fullness.12200:09:42,859 –> 00:09:47,260So that the people of God will find joy in Him as never before.12300:09:47,260 –> 00:09:59,239Casting our crowns before Him in worship and love and praise, glory, judgment, love expressed12400:09:59,239 –> 00:10:02,700out of the very heart of God.12500:10:02,700 –> 00:10:08,580And His people loving Him as they fear Him and fearing Him as they love Him forever and12600:10:08,580 –> 00:10:12,820forever and forever and forever.12700:10:12,820 –> 00:10:18,780Friends, we’re looking at heaven, let me bring you right back down to earth and just12800:10:18,780 –> 00:10:21,960see the contrast.12900:10:21,960 –> 00:10:32,179We’re living today in what I’m going to describe as the OMG culture.13000:10:32,179 –> 00:10:37,320And you know what I’m saying, we’re awash with reality TV shows, whether it be Fix It13100:10:37,320 –> 00:10:43,719Upper houses, I really enjoy some of these by the way, or whoever’s losing the most weight13200:10:43,719 –> 00:10:44,679or whatever these things are.13300:10:44,679 –> 00:10:46,799They have a certain formula and you know what’s coming.13400:10:46,799 –> 00:10:54,099At the end there’s going to be the reveal and at the reveal people are surprised and13500:10:54,099 –> 00:11:00,219delighted at something that has happened either to them or to their home or whatever the particular13600:11:00,299 –> 00:11:03,539show that we’re thinking about is.13700:11:03,539 –> 00:11:08,140And you know if you watch any of these shows and I’ve tipped my head as to which ones I13800:11:08,140 –> 00:11:14,500particularly enjoy on The Home and Garden channel or whatever that is you know what’s13900:11:14,500 –> 00:11:15,500going to happen.14000:11:15,500 –> 00:11:23,479If you’re a Christian, it’ll always touch you in some way, grieve you, that almost universally14100:11:23,599 –> 00:11:31,640the characteristic way of expressing surprise is for someone to shriek out and articulate14200:11:31,640 –> 00:11:40,359the letters G-O-D in a way that shows that the person knows absolutely nothing of the14300:11:40,359 –> 00:11:47,020glory or the judgement or the love of the one of whom they speak.14400:11:47,799 –> 00:11:48,359OMG!14500:11:48,359 –> 00:11:56,200All over the internet, all over our culture, and if you think about this for a moment,14600:11:56,200 –> 00:12:03,599the Jews had such a fear of the Lord, such a sense of the exalted glory and judgement14700:12:03,599 –> 00:12:10,580and love of God that they would not even speak His name!14800:12:10,580 –> 00:12:16,820And we rewash in a culture that has so lost the knowledge of who God is, that it’s14900:12:16,820 –> 00:12:24,320become the characteristic way of shrieking.15000:12:24,320 –> 00:12:30,820And I want to give you this challenge, young and old, if you are a Christian, I want you15100:12:30,820 –> 00:12:43,179to resolve with me today that anytime you ever speak or write the name of God or of15200:12:44,099 –> 00:12:51,520Christ that you as a Christian will speak that name in a way that would make it quite15300:12:51,520 –> 00:13:00,340evident that you know something of his glory, something of his judgement and something of15400:13:00,340 –> 00:13:01,340his love.15500:13:01,340 –> 00:13:05,719Because I’ll tell you folks, we’re living in a culture where the knowledge of God is15600:13:05,719 –> 00:13:11,619fast erased and in such a culture what is desperately needed is a community of people15700:13:11,619 –> 00:13:17,520who at least can speak about the name of God in a way that shows that we know him and that15800:13:17,520 –> 00:13:19,479we fear him and that we love him.15900:13:19,479 –> 00:13:21,719Isn’t that needed among us today?16000:13:21,719 –> 00:13:26,580It’s desperately needed and it’s going to be desperately needed in high schools and16100:13:26,580 –> 00:13:27,919middle schools.16200:13:27,919 –> 00:13:32,760This is one place where something different can be seen in you.16300:13:32,760 –> 00:13:35,059Don’t miss that opportunity.16400:13:35,059 –> 00:13:38,419You’re someone who fears God and loves God.16500:13:38,419 –> 00:13:40,719Loves God and fears God.16600:13:42,580 –> 00:13:46,520You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith and a message called the16700:13:46,520 –> 00:13:47,979Fear of God.16800:13:47,979 –> 00:13:51,380One of the most requested messages that we’ve had.16900:13:51,380 –> 00:13:56,820We’ve bundled it together with other popular messages under the title listener favourites.17000:13:56,820 –> 00:14:00,940Don’t forget if you ever miss one of the series you can always catch up or go back and listen17100:14:00,940 –> 00:14:01,940again online.17200:14:01,940 –> 00:14:07,820At our web-site OpenTheBible.org.uk or find us as a podcast.17300:14:07,820 –> 00:14:10,099Those are on all the main podcast sites.17400:14:10,099 –> 00:14:15,659Search for Open the Bible UK and subscribe if you want to receive regular reminders.17500:14:15,659 –> 00:14:18,619There’s also a link to the podcast on our web-site.17600:14:18,619 –> 00:14:24,520For all this month we’re talking about Colin’s book Fly Through the Bible, and associated17700:14:24,520 –> 00:14:28,380Bible study materials for individuals and small groups.17800:14:28,380 –> 00:14:32,739And I’ll be talking to Open The Bible’s executive director John Martin later in the17900:14:32,739 –> 00:14:36,219program about Fly Through the Bible so I hope you’ll stay with us.18000:14:36,359 –> 00:14:39,140We’re in Jeremiah, chapter 32 now.18100:14:39,140 –> 00:14:42,799As we continue the message The Fear of God, here’s Colin.18200:14:42,799 –> 00:14:49,219Now, let me just wrap up here in these last moments by saying this, that the fear of the18300:14:49,219 –> 00:14:51,380Lord will bring wonderful blessing into your life.18400:14:51,380 –> 00:14:53,460The more you have of it, the better it will be.18500:14:53,460 –> 00:14:57,599The fear of God is a wonderful friend for your soul.18600:14:57,599 –> 00:15:01,719In the book of Proverbs we read these words, blessed is the one who fears the Lord always.18700:15:01,719 –> 00:15:04,419You’re going to be blessed.18800:15:04,419 –> 00:15:06,640How are you going to be blessed?18900:15:06,640 –> 00:15:11,219Because you’re going to make wiser decisions, because you know the fear of the Lord is the19000:15:11,219 –> 00:15:12,559beginning of what?19100:15:12,559 –> 00:15:13,559Wisdom.19200:15:13,559 –> 00:15:14,919You’re going to make better decisions.19300:15:14,919 –> 00:15:17,580The more you know of the fear of the Lord the better decisions you’re going to make19400:15:17,580 –> 00:15:21,960in your life, because God carries weight and therefore you won’t simply be going on your19500:15:21,960 –> 00:15:23,500own personal impulse.19600:15:23,500 –> 00:15:26,080You’d be much wiser.19700:15:26,080 –> 00:15:28,799The fear of the Lord will keep you from sinning.19800:15:28,799 –> 00:15:33,179That’s in Exodus 20, in verse 20 and it’s also right here in Jeremiah, chapter 32.19900:15:34,179 –> 00:15:38,179A sense of this God and He’s being present with you right now and one day you’re going20000:15:38,179 –> 00:15:40,760to stand before Him and nothing can ever be hidden from Him.20100:15:40,760 –> 00:15:42,559That’s going to help keep you from sinning.20200:15:42,559 –> 00:15:44,919It’s going to strengthen you against temptation.20300:15:44,919 –> 00:15:48,880Fear God more you’ll sin less.20400:15:48,880 –> 00:15:51,359And you’ll be motivated with regards to evangelism.20500:15:51,359 –> 00:15:55,380It’s since we know the fear of the Lord that we seek to persuade others, that the Church20600:15:55,380 –> 00:15:59,599gets moved with regards to the gospel being brought to others.20700:15:59,599 –> 00:16:04,320Because we’re the ones who have a sense of the awesome reality of the day that lies20800:16:04,320 –> 00:16:06,820ahead of every person.20900:16:06,820 –> 00:16:12,580So, there are multiple ways in which blessing is just going to flow into your life more21000:16:12,580 –> 00:16:13,580and more.21100:16:13,580 –> 00:16:19,700The more that you’re able to move away from trivial, low level views of God to something21200:16:19,700 –> 00:16:24,619that really shaped by what was revealed in the Bible, the splendor of God’s glory,21300:16:24,619 –> 00:16:29,400the reality of His judgment and the wonder of His love.21400:16:29,400 –> 00:16:34,020And I want you to notice too that this is something that is wonderfully promised.21500:16:34,020 –> 00:16:41,460Verse 40, I will put the fear of me in their hearts.21600:16:41,460 –> 00:16:44,719Well, notice what God says here to His people.21700:16:44,719 –> 00:16:50,239I’m going to put this in your hearts so that you won’t turn against me.21800:16:50,239 –> 00:16:54,780It’s a wonderful promise, it’s part of the promise of a new heart that runs all the way21900:16:54,780 –> 00:16:57,219through these Old Testament prophecies.22000:16:57,559 –> 00:17:00,780I’m going to put this in you.22100:17:00,780 –> 00:17:06,060Oh boy, you read stories in the New Testament about how God did that in the life of the22200:17:06,060 –> 00:17:07,280early church.22300:17:07,280 –> 00:17:09,020There are two stories in particular.22400:17:09,020 –> 00:17:13,020One is a story of judgment, one is a story of grace.22500:17:13,020 –> 00:17:16,479The story of judgment is in Acts chapter five.22600:17:16,479 –> 00:17:20,880Two people, Ananias and Sapphira, they got some property, they sell it, they decide that22700:17:20,880 –> 00:17:24,099they’re going to give money to the church.22800:17:24,099 –> 00:17:28,660They were under no obligation to do that, but they chose to do it.22900:17:28,660 –> 00:17:32,000They could’ve given all of the money to the church, they could’ve given some of the23000:17:32,000 –> 00:17:35,819money to the church, they could’ve given none of the money to the church.23100:17:35,819 –> 00:17:39,500What they chose to do is to give some of the money to the church and here’s the deal,23200:17:39,500 –> 00:17:40,900they then lied about it.23300:17:40,900 –> 00:17:43,660Why in the world did they do that?23400:17:43,660 –> 00:17:47,020They liked to the apostles about the gift.23500:17:47,020 –> 00:17:50,699They said this is all that we got.23600:17:51,420 –> 00:17:58,939And you know the story of Ananias and Sapphira that before the day was done, Ananias, stone23700:17:58,959 –> 00:18:00,040dead.23800:18:00,040 –> 00:18:04,579Sapphira, stone dead.23900:18:04,579 –> 00:18:12,260And the bible tells us that great fear came upon the whole church.24000:18:12,260 –> 00:18:13,380And all who heard these things.24100:18:13,380 –> 00:18:16,900Well, you can imagine that, can’t you?24200:18:17,000 –> 00:18:24,900These people lied to the apostles and they’re dead?24300:18:24,900 –> 00:18:31,359Now you would think that that would be the end of church growth, wouldn’t you?24400:18:31,359 –> 00:18:37,040Seriously, because it says all the community knew about this, I mean it went right round.24500:18:37,040 –> 00:18:43,319Better not touch that church, tell a lie in that church, you’re dead!24600:18:43,319 –> 00:18:45,319Better not go there.24700:18:45,660 –> 00:18:50,160Here’s the remarkable thing, that the Acts of the Apostles record three verses later,24800:18:50,180 –> 00:18:59,380Acts 5 and verse 14, more than ever, believers were added to the Lord.24900:18:59,380 –> 00:19:01,439You know why?25000:19:01,439 –> 00:19:04,660Because out in the whole community, people began to think, my goodness, if there’s a25100:19:04,660 –> 00:19:09,839God who has power like that, I better think about getting right with Him.25200:19:09,839 –> 00:19:12,160Wouldn’t you think that?25300:19:12,459 –> 00:19:16,959If there really is a God of awesome power, hadn’t I better get right with Him?25400:19:16,979 –> 00:19:21,939And the fear of the Lord actually led to a whole movement in which people were brought25500:19:21,939 –> 00:19:24,199to faith and repentance.25600:19:24,199 –> 00:19:31,859I’ll put my fear in your heart, and it’s gonna bring transformation.25700:19:31,859 –> 00:19:36,619The other is a wonderful story of grace, Saul of Tarsus, and he’s killing Christians, and25800:19:36,619 –> 00:19:38,619he’s running this campaign against them.25900:19:38,619 –> 00:19:40,599And then he’s marvelously converted.26000:19:40,939 –> 00:19:44,599And of course Christians find it very hard to believe that this has actually happened,26100:19:44,599 –> 00:19:49,420but in the end, they hear him genuinely preaching the gospel, defending the Christ that he used26200:19:49,420 –> 00:19:50,500to hate.26300:19:50,500 –> 00:19:55,900And we are told at the end of Acts, in Chapter 9, after that amazing story of God’s grace,26400:19:55,900 –> 00:20:01,640that the church was walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Spirit,26500:20:01,640 –> 00:20:02,640and it multiplied.26600:20:02,640 –> 00:20:05,540You see what’s happening there?26700:20:05,540 –> 00:20:07,859People are in awe of God.26800:20:08,819 –> 00:20:15,739If God can save Saul of Tarsus, there’s no limit to what he can do.26900:20:15,739 –> 00:20:22,479And suddenly there’s a new sense of how great and how glorious God is, and the spiritual27000:20:22,479 –> 00:20:28,780temperature’s gone up, and people are being drawn to the knowledge of this God for whom27100:20:28,780 –> 00:20:31,180nothing is impossible.27200:20:32,160 –> 00:20:37,780I will put my fear in their hearts.27300:20:37,780 –> 00:20:46,459Lord, put more of this fear of you in our hearts, this fear of you, this awe of you27400:20:46,459 –> 00:20:53,260that arises from a knowledge of the splendor of Your glory, that arises from the knowledge27500:20:53,260 –> 00:20:58,560of You, reality of Your judgment and the wonder of Your love.27600:20:58,619 –> 00:21:03,180And let me leave you with this as just the last note, and it’s simply this.27700:21:03,180 –> 00:21:08,239There’s a prayer that you can use this week to Earth everything that we’ve been learning27800:21:08,239 –> 00:21:15,719from the Bible, and it’s in Psalm 86 and verse 11 where David prays these words.27900:21:15,719 –> 00:21:19,640Lord, unite my heart to fear Your name.28000:21:19,640 –> 00:21:21,420Isn’t that a great prayer?28100:21:21,420 –> 00:21:26,140And you can say, now, Lord, you promised to put the fear of you into the hearts of your28200:21:26,140 –> 00:21:27,280people.28300:21:27,280 –> 00:21:32,780And this is what I want more of, unite my heart to fear Your name.28400:21:32,780 –> 00:21:34,760Let me never take you lightly.28500:21:34,760 –> 00:21:36,819Sin against you easily.28600:21:36,819 –> 00:21:40,760Let me take in your glory, your judgment and your love.28700:21:40,760 –> 00:21:42,400This heart, it needs uniting.28800:21:42,400 –> 00:21:44,640I’m pulled in all directions.28900:21:44,640 –> 00:21:47,380This heart’s all over the place.29000:21:47,380 –> 00:21:54,040Now, make my heart one, and make it one in this, to fear Your name because I’m seeing29100:21:54,040 –> 00:21:56,099something of Your glory.29200:21:56,719 –> 00:22:02,800And I felt something of the reality of Your judgment, and I am experiencing something29300:22:02,800 –> 00:22:05,939of the wonder of Your love.29400:22:06,619 –> 00:22:16,319Make my heart one, Lord Jesus for Your sake, amen.29500:22:16,680 –> 00:22:20,800You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, and a message called29600:22:20,819 –> 00:22:25,479The Fear of God, all about three benefits of the fear of God.29700:22:25,959 –> 00:22:29,619And if you’ve missed any of the message, or if you want to go back and listen again,29800:22:29,619 –> 00:22:35,339you can do that online at our website openthebible.org.uk.29900:22:36,219 –> 00:22:41,219I’m with Open the Bible’s Executive Director, John Martin, with some news about Colin’s30000:22:41,219 –> 00:22:43,900book, Fly Through the Bible.30100:22:43,900 –> 00:22:48,319Well David, I know that you’re a pilot, your aeroplane features in the trailer we film30200:22:48,319 –> 00:22:49,859for Fly Through the Bible.30300:22:49,859 –> 00:22:54,339You’ll know, when you’re up in an aeroplane, the view from above is majestic.30400:22:54,359 –> 00:22:56,760And that’s what it’s like to fly through the Bible.30500:22:57,500 –> 00:23:02,760Written by Colin Smith, Fly Through the Bible takes you on a high-altitude journey through30600:23:02,780 –> 00:23:04,060the Bible story.30700:23:04,060 –> 00:23:06,900What can people expect from this study course?30800:23:06,900 –> 00:23:12,599On this journey, you will meet 5 people from the Old Testament, explore 5 events from the30900:23:12,599 –> 00:23:17,640life of Jesus, and discover 5 gifts that God gives to every Christian.31000:23:18,400 –> 00:23:23,479It’s a journey you can discover by yourself, with others in your church, or with a friend.31100:23:24,380 –> 00:23:28,500Each chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion.31200:23:28,500 –> 00:23:31,819The book is designed to be short, simple and sharable.31300:23:31,819 –> 00:23:35,199So the book is one way to take the journey – what else is there?31400:23:35,199 –> 00:23:38,540There’s other free resources on our website too.31500:23:38,540 –> 00:23:43,380You’ll find short videos of Colin taking you through each chapter, you can download31600:23:43,380 –> 00:23:49,839a free small-group guide if you want to go deeper, or take the shortest journey by downloading31700:23:49,839 –> 00:23:53,020Fly – our free interactive app.31800:23:53,099 –> 00:23:57,020So this course would suit somebody who’s quite new to studying the Bible.31900:23:57,180 –> 00:24:01,400Even if you’ve never opened the Bible, this short flight will introduce you to God’s32000:24:01,420 –> 00:24:06,560Word, and leave you marvelling at how the big picture landscape of God’s story fits32100:24:06,560 –> 00:24:07,560together.32200:24:07,560 –> 00:24:15,280Full details of Fly Through the Bible are on our website open-the-bible.org.uk32300:24:15,280 –> 00:24:20,880And this month, and next, we’re offering the book, Fly Through the Bible, as our thank32400:24:21,739 –> 00:24:24,400you gift if you’re able to begin a new direct debit to the32500:24:24,400 –> 00:24:30,640work of Open the Bible in the amount of £5 per month, or more, or a one-off gift of £5032600:24:30,640 –> 00:24:31,819or more.32700:24:31,819 –> 00:24:35,280Full terms and conditions of this offer, and, to give online32800:24:35,280 –> 00:24:40,099come to our website openthebible.org.uk32900:24:40,099 –> 00:24:44,560For Open the Bible, for pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us33000:24:44,560 –> 00:24:45,819again next time.33100:24:50,900 –> 00:24:58,800When asked, how can I inherit eternal life?33200:24:58,800 –> 00:25:02,560Jesus said, you must be good, like God.33300:25:02,560 –> 00:25:03,959Well how is that possible?33400:25:03,959 –> 00:25:06,920Find out next time on Open the Bible.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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