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Standalone Sermons

May 08, 2022 | Rev. Dr. K. Rick Baker

Essential Motherhood

Proverbs 1:7

Full Service

Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, BUT a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Prov. 31:30

The key essential for excellence in motherhood is...the fear of the LORD. (25-27X) the fear of God 84/ fear of God 86/ fear the Lord 186/ fear God 134/= >500x in some form!

The front of the line that shapes a mother’s teaching, which grows from the biblical worldview she is living.

Combat the drift from fear to friend. (used a handful of times—3 of which referred to Abraham as God’s friend)

Fear of the LORD; what is it?
- Shrinking back
- Drawing close
- Awe (1 Kgs. 3:28)
- Reverence (Lev. 19:3)
- The controlling principle of applied living that is wise and not foolish (Prov. 1:7,8)
- Absolute dependence on God
- True worship/true religion (Crenshaw)
- Not buddy, familiar, friendly, although it is the fruit of a deep and abiding relationship

What does fear of the LORD prevent/produce?

- Prevents sin (Ex. 20:20; Prov. 1:10f)
To protect your children from the enticement to sin

- Produces wisdom/discipline (Prov. 1:7,8)
To be capable of sizing up a situation and responding in a way that leads to a good end—what is right and just and fair, to think critically and not naively or ignorantly.

To respect wise counsel from those ahead in life.

- Teaches faith in God...
To run to God and not away from Him—those running from God find themselves engulfed in terror—“they ambush their own lives” (Prov. 1:18)

The fear of the Lord counters the current cultural addictions to safety, and who/what can give it, and satisfaction, who/what can provide it.

For safety (security)

Life will lure your children to become convinced to look for who/what can guarantee their safety—since God doesn’t, I must! At best they will minimize risk in worship/service.

To seek God and not human solutions or guarantees...
Otherwise, safety, not character, becomes the sole concern/goal.

It’s not that prayer doesn’t work, it was never intended to overrule God’s purposes—rather, to connect us to His heart, in His purposes.

We will be protected only from that which interferes with God’s purposes. (Crabb, Connecting, 121)

For satisfaction (significance)

Life will lure your children to find joy outside of God and convince them that there are good things available to them that God doesn’t provide. At best they will minimize discomfort, cost, effort in worship/service.

To prioritize God’s pleasure over my own (temporary) satisfaction...
Otherwise, satisfaction, not transformation, becomes the sole concern.

They will decide to make their own changes (people, places) by digging their own more “dependable” cisterns—“broken cisterns” that don’t hold water. (Jer. 2:13)

Wanting to be his own authority, and despising wisdom and discipline, the first thing a fool rejects is the FEAR OF THE LORD.

Here’s what characterized the early church—the not-so-secret of their success and effectiveness...It
(the church) was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers living in the fear of the Lord. (Acts 9:31)

If your children fear the Lord, they will fear nothing else!

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