Reverence - Then Vanishing Virtue
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we
receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may
serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
I. The Definition
of Reverence
DEFINITION: Fear mingled with respect and esteem; veneration.
Our Text:
A. The
Admonition - let us have grace, (that
which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of
speech)
B. The
Acceptance - whereby we may serve God acceptably
C. The
Attitude - with reverence and godly fear:
II. The Disappearance
of Reverence
Years ago, the slogan NO FEAR became
popular. You saw it on T-shirts, bumper stickers.
It became a brand in 1989. It is the
name brand of Travis Pastrana, an energy drink, X-Games, Extreme Cage fighting,
etc.
It reflected an attitude of irreverence,
wild living, no boundaries, no limits, no rules and fearlessness.
Somehow, over the years, the ability to respect and
demonstrate reverence has disappeared.
Nobody has any manners or decency anymore.
People are VULGAR:
lacking sophistication or good taste;
unrefined
A word many people have never heard:
·
PROPRIETY:
the state or quality of conforming to
conventionally accepted standards of behavior or morals
The modern manifestations of this fact are rampant:
·
Parents cannot get their children to mind them.
·
People cursing in public.
·
Displaying profanity and vulgar bumper stickers
on their car.
·
Wearing shirts and hats with profanity.
·
People rioting in the streets, burning
buildings, cars, throwing rocks and bricks at police officers.
·
People getting shot by police for failing to
submit to commands or do what they are told to do.
·
Police being shot just for being police.
·
Hats on and talking, laughing and playing during
the National Anthem.
·
Wearing shorts and T-shirts to funerals.
II. The
Demonstration of Reverence
A. Toward
God
·
Psalms
89:7 God is greatly to be feared in
the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are
about him.
·
Psalms
111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
The Bible is filled with examples of God’s desire for His
people to demonstrate reverence toward Him.
·
Exodus
19:10 – approaching the mountain; threat of death; wash their clothes
·
Exodus 29:35
– God had the priests put bells on the hem of their garments for the Holy of
Holies
·
II Samuel
6:3 – Uzzah was killed for touching the ark of the covenant
B. Toward
the Sanctuary
·
Leviticus
19:30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and
reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD.
·
JOHN
2:14-17 Jesus’ zeal for the house of God prompted him to make a scourge and
drive them out
·
1 Timothy
3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou
mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is
the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
The house of God is not a place where you come in wearing a
hat, drinking coffee, talking during the service.
Getting up and going out, laying on your phone, whispering,
talking, laughing, playing, sleeping, etc.
Running and playing in the church, on the platform, throwing
trash on the floor, tearing up the song books, ripping the upholstery on the
pews,
Notice the dress code for Ruth Chris Steakhouse
·
No Hats or caps
·
Athletic wear or sleeveless shirts
·
Sweatshirts or sweatpants
·
T-shirts with offensive graphics or language
Notice the dress
code for Jury Duty:
·
Jurors are expected to dress in a manner that is
respectful to the formality of the court proceedings.
·
Denim jeans, shorts, tee shirts, athletic wear,
and hats are not appropriate
C. Towards
Husband
·
Ephesians
5:33 Nevertheless let every one of
you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.
·
I Peter
3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted
in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even
as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye
do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
D. Towards
Parents
·
Hebrews
12:9 Furthermore we have had fathers
of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much
rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
·
Ephesians
6:2 Honour thy father and mother;
(which is the first commandment with promise;)
·
Exodus
21:17 And he that curseth his father,
or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
·
Proverbs
20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his
mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
E. Towards
Employer
·
Luke
20:13 Then said the lord of the
vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will
reverence him when they see him.
·
Ephesians
6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
·
Col. 3:22 Servants,
obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as
menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
F.
Towards the Pastor
·
I Thess.
5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and
are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
·
1 Timothy
5:17 Let the elders that rule well be
counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and
doctrine.
