OUTLINE:

Jesus’ Personal Encouragement
Jn 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled [e.g., live without fear in your life]; believe in God, believe also in Me.”

The Knowledge of the Holy, by A. W. Tozer.
Love and faith are at home in the mystery of the Godhead. Let reason kneel in reverence outside.

The Knowledge of the Holy, by A. W. Tozer.
[A disciple] may compare Scripture with Scripture until he has discovered the true meaning of the text. But right there his authority ends. He must never sit in judgment upon what is written. He dare not bring the meaning of the Word before the bar of his reason.

The Knowledge of the Holy, by A. W. Tozer.
He dare not commend or condemn the Word as reasonable or unreasonable, scientific or unscientific. After the meaning is discovered, that meaning judges him; never does he judge it.

It’s Strange, Isn’t It?
It’s strange to think that we defend those things in our lives that stand opposed to God’s will; and yet, we do so vehemently!

Misdirected Fear
God uses godly fear for good while the KoD uses a counterfeit version for evil. We are to resist such things, to “rebuke” fear in our lives (aka allow the Word and the Spirit to shine light into darkness).

Extinguishing Fear
Our job is to show up, while it’s the Word and the Spirit’s job to complete its evaluation. Ungodly fear must be revealed for what it is by means of the Light; for Light extinguishes darkness.

1Jn 1:4-5
These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

Identification Requires Light
Whenever we think about identifying truth, we must think about “light”.
(Ps 27:1-7; 119:97-105; Jn 8:12)

Ps 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my
life; Whom shall I dread?

Ps 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Jn 8:12
Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Identification Requires Light
Whenever we think about identifying truth, we must think about “light”.
(Ps 27:1-7; 119:97-105; Jn 8:12)

Walking In the Light
Standing/walking in the Light means we cannot be fooled or deceived by darkness.
(Eph 5:6-17)

“foolish” - from aphron
[a = "without" + phren = "inner perspective as it regulates behavior”] – means to lack perspective because of short-sightedness, i.e. lacking the “big- picture" perspective needed to act prudently.

“understand” - from suniemi
means to arrive at a summary or final understanding (complete with life- applications); is closely connected with discerning and doing the preferred-will of God.

It Is Wise To Fear the Lord
When Solomon lays out the structural outline of his wisdom/proverbs, his conclusions are founded/understood implicitly as a function of fearing the Lord. (e.g. Pr)

So, You Say You Fear the Lord, Huh?
The why, pray tell, are you AFRAID...
- To give up ungodly TV/movies/music/media (all of it)?
- To give up “fellowshipping” with unbelievers?
- To give up dating (Ugh!), or even flirting?
- Of finding work and spending money to glorify God?
- Of telling family members they are destined for Hell?

Josh 24:15
But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Typical American “Living Room”
Who, exactly, are we living for in our so-called “living rooms”???
​