THE JOY AND THE FEAR

Psalm 2:11-12

Psalm 2:11-12 TNIV - ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. ¹² Kiss his son, or he will be angry and you and your ways will be destroyed, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.  Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

INTRO:  Last week we looked at the Subject, “Kiss the Son.”  The sermon had to do with the second coming using Matthew 25 as well.

I want to preach from verse 12 again this morning, but adding verse 11 with it.  Like a said this Psalm is commonly called a Messianic Psalm.  What this means is that this is a Psalm written about Jesus under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by David.  How do we know that this was a prophetic Psalm concerning Jesus.  Well, for one thing – Paul declares it as such.

Acts 13:33 TNIV - he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: " 'You are my son; today I have become your father.'

What does the title of this sermon mean, the joy and the fear anyway.  Well, I will go further to explain it, but let me just say quickly that it has to do with how we are supposed to be serving the Lord.  We are to be joyful, but at the same time, there should be a fear involved as well.  Now I know that this can be an uncomfortable subject to speak on, and some of you may say, is there some New Testament precedent.  I believe I can honestly say, “Yes,” there is.

Philippians 2:12 TNIV - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…

Let’s begin looking at theses passages this morning.

1.  Our service to the Lord is to be through fear.

Verse 11a TNIV - Serve the LORD with fear…

A.           Barnes in his commentary defines the Hebrew word for fear here as, “With reverence, and with deep apprehensions of the consequences of not serving and obeying him. That is, serve him in not opposing, but in promoting his purpose of establishing a kingdom under the Messiah, with the deep apprehension that if you do not do it, he will arise and crush you in his wrath.

B.            Now you may say, “Pastor doesn’t this belief in serving the Lord with fear contradict Psalm 100:2 which says, “Serve the Lord with gladness.”

1.      My answer would be, “No.”

2.      You can both serve the Lord in fear as well as in gladness at the same time.

C.           Why should we serve the Lord in fear?

1.      Because if we don’t have this reverential fear for God’s Sovereignty and Presence, it can become a very dangerous thing.

2.      Why.

Hebrews 12:28-29 TNIV - ²⁸ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, ²⁹ for our "God is a consuming fire."

D.           Now before you begin to panic, be assured of this one thing:  The true believer, the elect are secure in Jesus Christ.  But we are to do some things as believers.

1.      We must first examine ourselves to see if we really are believers or not.

2 Corinthians 13:5 TNIV - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

2.      Our confidence is not in our ability to stand but in Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 TNIV - ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

3.      Realize that our security is in His keeping, not ours.

Jude 24 TNIV - To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—

2.  Our joy and celebration is to be with trembling.

Verse 11b TNIV - …celebrate his rule with trembling.

A.     There are two reasons why the fear of the Lord should not rob us of our joy of the Lord.

1.      The first reason is because the fear of the Lord drives us to Christ Jesus where there is hope, refuge, and safety.

2.      The other reason is because it is not the fear, but what we are fearing that brings the joy.  You see, if you truly fear the Lord, you probably will not have time to fear man, or fear things, or fear circumstances.  The fear of the Lord seems to have a way of purging other fears.  And only joy is found in His presence.

B.     You will notice that the TNIV says, “Celebrate His rule.”

1.      In the Hebrew this means, “To shout and spin around in a circle, in other words to dance.”

2.      It is not talking about making a public spectacle of yourself necessarily, but about getting lost in His rule, in His person, in His love.

3.      How many of you remember when you first fell in love, and you would take those love letters and just read them over and over again, or maybe write that person’s name on your spiral notebook, or daydream about them.

4.      That is how we should celebrate the Lord.  Not making some excuse for not being in His house or in His presence, but you can’t wait until you can arrive to church and fellowship with Him.  You think about Him all week.   You read His word as if it is a love letter to you.

5.      May we be like the Psalmist.

Psalm 122:1 TNIV - I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD."

3.  Our Love for the Lord must be expressive.

Verse 12a TNIV - Kiss his son…

A.     In the Middle East, both not as well as in ancient times a kiss was a way that respect was given to someone you highly honored.

1.      At the First Responders Prayer Service that was put together by the ministerial alliance, there was a lady that I didn’t recognize or know that walked up to me and said hello and planted a kiss on my cheek.  Now those who know me know this, I’m not a hugger, or a kisser, I don’t like showing public displays of affection too much, so it through me off.  Then I watched her.  She did this to all the Pastors present.  She was showing them respect.

2.      Church, how much more does the one who redeemed us, who became a curse for us in our place, the one who willingly gave His life for us – deserve our public displays of affection.

3.      I’m not talking about a spectacle or show, I’m talking about a heart that is so in love with Jesus that you just express it however you express love to Him.

4.      You see, we were designed and created to give worship and express love to Him.

5.      Sadly in our time, we have turned attending church for worship as either an inconvenience or a complete waste of time.  We think we need to rest at home or do other things, when we don’t realize that true rest comes from being in His presence.

4.  Our God gets jealous when we take the affection that was meant for Him and give it to others or something else.

Verse 12b TNIV - or he will be angry and you and your ways will be destroyed, for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

A.     Our God is a jealous God.

Exodus 34:14 TNIV - Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

B.     His anger begins to burn and can flare up in a moment when the affection designed for Him is given to another.

C.     What are some ways that this affection is transferred away from God?

1.      When we miss church and the worship of Him and the teaching of His word.  I do not care what excuse you may give me this morning – that is stealing affection away from the Lord.

2.      When you have bitterness in your heart toward another believer.  I do not care what you might have thought they or others have done to you, you are stealing affection away from the Lord.

3.      Lack of prayer for the leadership.  I don’t care what excuse you may give, if you are gossiping and complaining about the leaders and not taking that concern to the Lord – you are stealing affection away from Him.

4.      Placing that affection on someone dynamic instead of God.  They may be a mighty person of God, but that affection shouldn’t be given to them, but to God.

D.     Now what I’m about to say can be taking wrong, but please just listen first and let it seek deep down.

1.      In some cases, people may be going though difficulties for this very reason.  The affection that God deserves is given to others or things, or allowing strife and bitterness to creep up in your heart.  Give that affection completely to God.

2.      Now let me say that it doesn’t necessarily mean if you are going through a hard time that is the reason.  After all, we live in a fallen world, and it rains on the just and the unjust.  But it is good to examine yourselves.

5.  The only safe place from the wrath of God is in God.

Verse 12c TNIV - Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

A.     Everywhere outside of the hand and the care of God is a very dangerous place to be.

B.     He takes care and protects His own – the ones who Kiss the Son, or who proper affection to Him.

CONCL:  We must serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling.  Playing church is long over.  We must become the church.  Our safety, security, hope, joy, mercy, are found only in the Son – Jesus Christ.  Revere Him.  Honor Him.  Adore Him.  Love Him.  Put away those excuses that we all use and be completely restored today.