Preaching the Word
The "First Principle" podcasts which are numbered # are a great tool for believers to go over the essentials of the Christian Faith.
The "Mysteries of God's Word" podcasts are an indepth study of Scripture.
The other podcasts are sermons that have been given, some verse by verse and others topical.
It is my passion to be true to God and His Word. To preach in such a way that people can easily see the LORD as our Creator and as our Redeemer. To understand that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever even as we live in a world that is continually changing. Salvation is and has always been through faith alone in the Messiah alone. His name is Jesus the Christ; there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Preaching the Word
Proverbs 1:7 - The Beginning of Knowledge - Famous Verses
When was the last time you heard a sermon about fearing God? In our modern Christian landscape, this biblical concept has fallen out of favor, replaced with gentler, more palatable messages about God's friendship and unconditional love. Yet Scripture is unequivocal – "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."
This episode marks the beginning of a special series exploring famous verses of Scripture, starting with Proverbs 1:7. We dive deep into what it truly means to fear God and why this reverence forms the essential foundation for all spiritual wisdom. Far from contradicting God's love, proper fear actually complements it, creating the balanced perspective necessary for spiritual growth.
Jesus himself taught his followers to fear God rather than those who could merely harm their bodies. This divine fear isn't about cowering in terror, but about recognizing God's holiness, power, and authority with appropriate awe and respect. When we embrace both the love and fear of God, we position ourselves to receive his instruction and discipline – the very things that fools despise to their own detriment.
Scripture repeatedly warns about the consequences of ignoring divine wisdom. Like respecting the blade of a skill saw prevents injury, properly fearing God protects us from spiritual harm. Through biblical examples and cross-references from Psalms, Proverbs, and the words of Jesus, we establish that godly fear remains essential for believers today – not as an outdated concept, but as the perpetual beginning point for true knowledge and transformation.
Join us as we challenge popular half-truths and rediscover this foundational biblical principle. Subscribe to continue this journey through famous Scripture verses, and share your thoughts on how understanding the fear of the Lord has impacted your faith journey.
Email: nathan@nathandietsche.com
Grace and peace be multiplied to you. Brothers and sisters, this is one of those weeks I'm taking a short break on the book of Daniel, but I wanted to put out an encouraging word for those who are tuning in every week. I will again pick up in Daniel, chapter 4, shortly, but today's podcast is going to begin what I hope will one day continue to be a series of podcasts that focus on famous verses in Scripture, and in that series I will examine those famous verses of Scripture and do my very best, with the gifts that the Lord has given me, to divide the Word of God for you. Today's verse is Proverbs 1.7.
Speaker 1:The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. The first half of this verse says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. You know, in recent decades the fear of the Lord has come under great scrutiny and many people have abandoned the very idea of fearing God. Many modern preachers teach only half-truths, proclaiming that God is our friend and he loves us unconditionally. They may even quote 1 John 4.18, teaching that God's love has driven out any need to fear God, while they lead many people astray. However, the scripture teaches us something quite different. The fear of the Lord goes hand in hand with our salvation and with a believer's sanctification. Jesus himself, who is our example of grace and truth in Scripture, told us in Matthew 8, 28, do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Therefore, according to Jesus, true love does not overcome the fear of the Lord, but rather true love overcomes the fear of those who might want to kill you physically, particularly for your faith. And who are those Men and demons? In Jesus' teaching, he shows us that the fear of the Lord is actually an element required for eternal salvation. Scripture itself also teaches us that someone who fears God is a person that listens to God's word and listens to God's discipline in their life. Job 5.17 says Job 5.17 says Job 28.28 reads the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding. And Proverbs 12.1 also reads Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. But he who hates reproof is stupid.
Speaker 1:There's no doubt that the most important biblical truth we can come to in our lives is that through faith in Jesus Christ we have peace with God. We can come to the throne of God through our faith in Jesus Christ, even calling the Father our Daddy. However, the very reason we can come to God through faith in Christ begins with a fear of the Lord. Until somebody receives the gospel of Jesus, which is the power of God unto salvation, they cannot come before God's throne as his child. It's only when we fear God as the one true God and we reject every other idol that we will accept his gospel as truth. We will accept his gospel as truth, the gospel that reveals our sinful nature and brings us to eternal life.
Speaker 1:Romans 1.16 says For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The overwhelming feeling of joy and peace for what Jesus Christ has done for us should be equaled by a reverent fear of his might and power to do so, and power to do so. Only when we both love and fear God will we truly surrender our lives to his direction, as we are abiding in his redemptive love. Indeed, it's only through God's power and might that he offers his love and forgiveness, and it is thus how God gives his children the knowledge of the truth and the power unto salvation.
Speaker 1:The second half of this verse says that fools despise wisdom and instruction despise wisdom and instruction. I had heard it once said that to fear God is like fearing the blade of a skill saw. Anyone who has used a skill saw knows that it has great power to cut through wood and any other material with the right blade, and it can quickly do so if properly used. However, if you don't have a proper fear for what the blade can do, you could cut your hand or even worse. While this analogy of a skill saw lacks in that the skill saw is a tool that we use to create something beautiful, and God is our Lord, who is worthy of all worship, we can see in the analogy that if we don't have a fear for the Lord God, or if we fail to listen to his word, there will be painful consequences and we will perish in our sin, and this has dramatic effects both in this life and in eternity to come.
Speaker 1:Some verses that teach and confirm this are Psalm 107.17, which reads Some were fools through their sinful ways and because of their iniquities, suffered affliction. Proverbs 13.18 reads Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. Proverbs 15.10 reads there is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof will die. Proverbs 15.32 and 33 read Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Thank you for joining me today. God bless you this week.