Seen. Shaken. Surrendered. | Foundations VI

Anchor Verses:

Proverbs 9:10, 1 Kings 11:1–13, Isaiah 6:1–5

Focus Statement:

True wisdom begins with holy fear—a reverence that humbles us, awakens us, and draws us back to God. When we lose our awe, we lose our way. But when we return to Him in fear and faith, we find grace, restoration, and the life we were made for.

Introduction: Yirah (יראה)

• Yirah (יראה) = fear, awe, wonder, reverence
• Proverbs 9:10 — wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord
• Wisdom without reverence becomes arrogance
• This fear is not phobia, but trembling awe in response to God’s holiness

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Wisdom Without Worship Becomes Idolatry:

• 1 Kings 4:29–34 — Solomon’s wisdom was legendary
• 1 Kings 11:1–13 — But wisdom without submission led to idolatry
  • God will not allow continued stewardship of what we abuse or dishonor
• Proverbs 27:20 — Desire is never satisfied; untempered wisdom feeds pride
• Romans 1:21–27 — Rejection of God’s truth leads to moral collapse
• 1 Corinthians 5:5 — God sometimes uses loss to rescue our souls
• Key idea: It’s better to lose everything than lose God

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When People Encounter God, They Tremble:

• Encounters with God consistently lead to falling, trembling, or fear:
  • Exodus 3:5–6 – Moses hides his face
  • Joshua 5:13–15 – Joshua bows in reverence
  • Isaiah 6:1–5 – “Woe is me!”
  • Ezekiel 1:26–28 – Ezekiel falls facedown
  • Daniel 10:1–9 – Daniel collapses in weakness
  • Matthew 17:1–6 – Disciples fall face down in terror
  • Acts 9:1–5 – Saul is knocked down by glory
  • Revelation 1:12–17 – John falls “as though dead”

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God Desires Hearts That Fear and Revere Him:

• Malachi 1:6–7 — God rebukes dishonoring, empty offerings
• Deuteronomy 5:29 — God longs for people to always fear and obey Him
• Isaiah 29:13 (cf. Matthew 15) — Lips honor, but hearts are far
• Jesus rebukes religious leaders: they look right, but lead others astray
• Key idea: You can “honor” God with your mouth and still be far from Him
• The true marker of salvation isn’t the prayer you prayed, but the heart you surrendered

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Walking it Out:

• Hebrews 12:5–6 – Conviction is proof of God’s love, not rejection
• God doesn’t correct to control you—He corrects to restore you
• Fear of the Lord draws us near, not away
• 2 Corinthians 7:10 – Godly sorrow leads to repentance and life, not regret
• Romans 2:4 – God’s kindness is meant to turn hearts, not excuse sin
• How to Respond:
  • Don’t resist conviction – It’s the Spirit inviting you into deeper freedom
  • Return to awe – Ask God to restore your yirah
  • Rebuild through surrender – God tears down idols to rebuild on truth
  • Remain in grace – Repentance is a rhythm, not a one-time event

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