James Smith preaches about the importance of the fear of God as a preservative against apostasy, highlighting how believers throughout history have found it to be a preventative to many sins. The fear of God acts as a watchman, guarding against temptations and sounding an alarm when evil approaches. A filial fear of God stems from a spiritual knowledge of Him as our Father, leading to a desire to please Him in all things and a deep longing to rest in His love. This fear not only causes believers to depart from evil for their own sake but also out of a desire to honor and glorify God in all they do.