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Watch Online Sermons 2025 » John Bevere » John Bevere - Did You Know That God Hates This?

John Bevere - Did You Know That God Hates This?


John Bevere - Did You Know That God Hates This?
TOPICS: The Awe of Go

Well, let me tell you, a child molester can be kind and patient while he’s ruining someone’s life. Okay, you’ve gotten through Chapter 3, and I’ve given you kind of an outline of the definition of the fear of the Lord. I think, by reading this, you see that the fear of the Lord is not just to revere God; there is so much more to it. It’s like saying that the love of God is limited to just kindness and patience. Well, let me tell you, a child molester can be kind and patient while he’s ruining someone’s life. The fear of the Lord is so much deeper than just reverence, just as the love of God is so much deeper than just patience or kindness. They are both part of it, but it’s not the full scope.

So, let’s define the fear of the Lord. Let me read two scriptures that will show you that it’s more than reverence. In Hebrews 12:28–29, it says that the acceptable way to serve God is through reverence and godly fear, so it’s more than reverence. If you look at Philippians 2:12, it says, «Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.» So, we see reverence and fear, and these are two Greek words in Hebrews chapter 12 and Philippians chapter 2. So, let me rattle off some definitions of the fear of the Lord. When we fear God, we stand in complete awe of Him; we esteem, respect, honor, venerate, and adore Him above everything and everyone else. When we fear God, we actually love what He loves and hate what He hates. Now let me say this really quickly: we don’t dislike what He hates; we actually hate what He hates.

Now let me show you what a legalist would do. A legalist would say, «I fear God; that’s why I hate those sinners over there.» That person doesn’t fear God at all because God loves those sinners enough to die for them. What He hates is the sin that is unmaking them. So we love what He loves, and we hate what He hates. You’re going to find that there are things that God actually hates, and that’s a strong word, but you’ll see that when you fear God, you embrace that. So, what’s important to Him becomes important to me, and what is not so important to Him is not so important to me. To fear God is to hate all manner of evil, sin, and injustice, not only in our motives but in our thoughts, words, and actions. To fear God is to give everything back to Him. To fear God is to tremble before Him in wonder and awe; it is to give His word and presence our full attention. The fear of God is to obey Him.

Now, this is the outward evidence of somebody who truly fears God. We’ll obey God if we fear God; we’ll obey Him immediately, even if we don’t see a benefit, even if we don’t understand the «why» behind what He asks us to do, and even if it hurts. We obey to completion. The fear of the Lord shuns all forms of complaining, murmuring, and grumbling. Here’s what I love the most: scripture shows that a person who walks in the fear of the Lord has tremendous joy, happiness, and gladness. If you want more happiness and joy in your life, let me tell you, embrace holy fear; don’t shun it; don’t run away from it. It’s actually what will give you joy in your heart and the strength you need for everyday life.