1. The Focus of Our Fear Minister Quiana Kee The Kingdom Advancement Center

2. Popular Fear Scripture For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7 Fear – deilia (G1167) timidity, fearfulness, cowardice In context, Paul is telling Timothy to not be timid or ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. Defining Fear Fear – yare’ (H3372) to fear, be afraid to revere, to reverence to stand in awe of, be awed to honor, to respect What is the context of this definition of fear?

4. Set The Stage 1 Samuel 15 God has brought Israel out of Egypt and into the promise land. The Prophet Samuel has anointed Saul as the first King of Israel. As a prophet, Samuel seeks the Lord on Saul’s behalf for instructions on leading the people of Israel.

5. 1 Samuel 15:2-3 God’s Instructions Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt. Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.”

6. 1 Samuel 15:2-3 Illustration of God’s Instructions What did Saul do? God Prophet Samuel King Saul Israelites Amalekites Livestock

7. 1 Samuel 15:7-9 The Attack And Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is east of Egypt. He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

8. 1 Samuel 15:7-9 Illustration of the Attack This was NOT that! God Prophet Samuel King Saul Israelites Amalekites King Agag Livestock The Best of the Livestock

9. What Does This Have To Do With Fear? King Saul did not: reverence stand in awe of honor respect The Word of the Lord! King Saul did not FEAR or YARE’ the Word of the Lord! So what was the focus of Saul’s fear? God gave King Saul specific instructions to follow through His Prophet Samuel.

10. The Aftermath of the Attack The Lord told Samuel what Saul had done. (1 Samuel 15:10-11) Samuel went to Saul. Saul thought he was all good because he "performed the commandment of the Lord." (1 Samuel 15:13) Really Saul?! But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (1 Samuel 15:14)

11. Why Saul, Why? 1 Samuel 15:20-21 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites, but the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal."

12. Did God Tell You To Do That? “So Samuel said: ‘Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.’” - (1 Samuel 15:22)

13. What Was The Focus of Saul’s Fear? Saul realized the error in his ways and responded: “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice." - (1 Samuel 15:24) What is Saul really saying?

14. 1 Samuel 15:24 Word Substitution “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because : I [reverenced] the people and obeyed their voice.” I [stood in awe of] the people and obeyed their voice.” I [honored] the people and obeyed their voice.” I [respected] the people and obeyed their voice.” The focus of Saul’s fear was on the people instead of the Lord.

15. The Focus Of Our Fear The focus of our fear, our reverence, our honor, our respect, our awe should be on our Lord first and foremost. When we fear, revere, honor and respect the words of man before the Word of God, we are turning our backs on God. Saul should have said: The Lord is on my side; I will not fear (yare’). What can man do to me? – Psalm 118:6 But God said - “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.”- 1 Samuel 15:11

16. What’s Behind Our Fear? What drives our fear, honor, respect and reverence for someone? KNOWLEDGE Knowledge about who they are Knowledge about what they have done Knowledge about what they are capable of doing “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7 “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, they would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.” – Proverbs 1:29-30

17. What Followed Saul’s Fear? What immediately followed after Saul focused his fear on the people? 1 Samuel 15:24: “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” Obedience followed his fear. The focus of his fear became the focus of his obedience.

18. Fear and Obedience: What does this look like in our lives? When we fear, revere, honor and respect thoughts of the enemy, our obedience follows. The enemy says – “You can’t do that job.” Your obedience – You don’t even apply for the job. The enemy says – “You aren’t good enough.” Your obedience – You don’t even try. The enemy says – “You have no authority in the Kingdom of God.” Your obedience – You don’t exercise your authority in the Kingdom of God.

19. Fear and Obedience: What did this look like for Jesus? How did Jesus respond to the enemy when he attempted to focus Jesus’ fear on his words? (Luke 4:1-13) “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus gave reverence to the Word – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” Jesus respected the Word – “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.” Jesus honored the Word – “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

20. Fear and Obedience: Can I Get A Witness…or Two? Deuteronomy 13:4: You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 1 Samuel 12:14: If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. In 1 Samuel 12:14, the Lord is speaking to Israel about their fear and obedience to the Lord as an example to King Saul. However, Israel did not focus their fear on the Lord.

21. How To Focus Your Fear On The Lord To obey someone, you need to fear them. To fear someone, you need to know them. To know someone, you need to have a relationship. Make it a personal relationship: 1.Discover what the Lord says about you. 2.Find out what the Lord says about your situation or circumstance. 3.Seek out what the Lord says about your future. When the enemy attempts to focus your fear on his words, you will be armed with the Word of God to focus your fear on the Lord. Fear – yare’ reverence stand in awe of honor respect

22. Focusing My Fear On The Lord Psalm 139 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. Ecclesiastes 12:13