1 Samuel 12:24, The Fear of the LORD

1 Samuel, please, chapter 12. Very nice to be here at La Crosse again as I think of happy times here in the past years in the gospel. 1 Samuel, chapter 12, reading in verse 24.

Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things He has done for you. Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart, for consider how great things He has done for you. I've never been asked, and I likely never will be asked, to speak at a high school graduation commencement.

I've often thought of that man as he stands and gives the address to the amount of seniors that have graduated and they're going to be sent forth into the world. I have sat many times thinking, I just wish I had the opportunity to be that man, and of course, bring in the gospel. This verse has been speaking to me a great deal, and I trust that just for a few minutes, dear brethren, I would like to convey some things that have spoken to my own soul.

I see five different statements that are very, very applicable, and we're going to take those five and seek to try and be an encouragement. Only fear the Lord, number one, and that seems to be a priority as far as Samuel is concerned. If we wish to have read the previous section of Samuel, chapter 12 in particular, there was the nation that had gone astray.

They admitted they had gone astray. There was an awareness that they have fallen far short. Now, it seems like they have come again to the pinnacle of errors, the pinnacle of their own sins by asking a king.

In fact, Samuel, they admit that. We have asked of a king, and Samuel says, you have come to, of all things, as if to throw up his hands, of all things you have asked the most wayward request, and that is asking of a king. Immediately you can't help but think he's setting God aside and asking a king, a man to guide.

Samuel reminds them that in spite of all that you've done, in spite of everything that has gone wrong, in spite of the pathway that you have taken in the wrong particular way, you have taken corners that have not been accordance to the word of God. He says, only fear the Lord. It seems like that at the last resort.

There is one thing, dear people, Samuel could address, only fear the Lord, only fear the Lord. I can see that this is a priority as far as life is concerned, fearing God's, the fear of the Lord. That's exactly, and you would agree with me, that's exactly what's wrong in 2023 as far as the world is concerned.

The fear of God is missing. No fear of God before their eyes, Romans would tell us, and how true it is. I can just come to my mind, the fear of the Lord when I was in school, I remember, strange what you remember, but I remember walking home from, or getting out of practice, and the boys, I was with the boys, and we run down and play a game of pool and so on, and come on, Al, light up a cigarette.

I've never seen you smoke, Al. And I can still remember those two boys kind of challenging me to light up a cigarette. You know what my thought was? What if my dad runs by? What if my dad drives by? I wanted to find the biggest oak tree and stand behind so that I wouldn't be seen.

There was something there that was holding, there was the fear, and I'm wondering if that isn't what is missing in this sick, sick world, and that is only fear of the Lord. How important is it, brethren? Well, Solomon makes no apologies. Solomon writes, and I would just like to just give you six, you can look at them in your spare time, but six particular verses that have to do with the fear of God, and how important, and how important it is.

Chapter 1 and verse 7, the beginning of wisdom, the beginning of knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Who would ever say that that's not important? Chapter 8 and verse 13, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil.

The fear of the Lord in chapter 9 is the beginning of wisdom. So it seems like the beginning of knowledge up until from chapter 1 to chapter 9. Before he finishes the book, the second half of the book, now he says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So knowledge, the first several chapters, and wisdom in the several other at the end of the book.

In chapter 10, the fear of the Lord prolongs our days. In chapter 14, the fear of the Lord promotes confidence. And in chapter 19, the fear of the Lord will abide in satisfaction.

So, dear brother, we need the fear of the Lord. This is something that Israel lost. They lost the fear of the Lord.

And as a result, they were only guilty of wayward living. Hearkened and heard. When I come to Malachi chapter 3, we have all read Malachi chapter 3 and verse 16.

In the midst of failure, in the midst of failure and spiritual departure, you never know that there was a people, a remnant, as you would read Malachi. But when you come to chapter 3, they speak often one to another. That godly remnant speak often one to another.

And I love the next phrase, the Lord hearkened and heard. What does that mean? The Lord hearkened. In other words, the Lord heard.

The Lord drew near and heard every word. The Lord hearkened and heard. And a book of remembrance was written before them.

So, it's a marvelous thing when there is characteristics that have the fear of the Lord. Statement number 2 of my verse is serving Him in truth. If my first thought would be a priority in life, then there is a purpose in labor.

And that is serving Him in truth. 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. The Thessalonians, they turn from idols to serve the living and the true God and to wait for His Son from heaven. They turn from idols to serve the living and the true God.

How marvelous, how marvelous it is to serve. Perhaps some have come to this conference and you've lost the desire. Perhaps maybe the hands are hanging down.

Who was it that quoted in prayer this morning about the hands hanging down and the legs becoming and the feet becoming weary. And my heart's desire to serve has diminished. I can understand why it would be difficult.

I can understand with a discouragement as far as this world is concerned. So few interested in spiritual things. So few interested in listening to what the truth of the gospel is.

So dear Christian, we were reminded last night that there was a king who saw the Lord. And we need a glimpse. As our brother Perkins was telling us.

Oh how desperately we need a glimpse. I think of those two on the road to Emmaus. What did they get? Their world had come to an end.

The world had been taken away. Christ had been resurrected. They didn't know where He was.

The angels meant nothing to them. But it was a man. And that man was taken away.

They didn't know where He was. And two individuals and they're walking on the pathway. And they're depressed.

The Lord Jesus draws near. And as He draws near, He begins to open up the Scriptures. And beginning at Moses and all the prophets.

He spoke of the things concerning Himself. What a love to have been a mouse in the corner. They get to the house.

They constrain Him to come in. He sits with them at the table. And as He breaks the bread.

They get the glimpse, Larry. They get the glimpse. They notice the nail pierced hands.

And as they noticed the nail pierced hands. Is this Him? They vanished. And they quickly went to tell others.

Those two, their whole world was enlightened. Went from discouragement and despair. To tremendous devotion.

All because of a simple glimpse. Of the suffering Savior. They got a glimpse.

This conference would be tremendous. If there would be but one living, one saint. I would get a glimpse.

Get you back into the ability to serve. Maybe there's some here that have lost the desire to even attend. Maybe they've lost the desire to worship.

Maybe they've lost the desire to go to the prayer meeting. Oh dear Christian. How desperately every single one is needed.

How desperately your voice is needed. Your hands are needed. Your feet is needed.

Be able. Be able to serve. I love what the Lord is saying in John chapter 12.

Because He says, If any man serve Me, let him follow Me. There will My servant be. But I love the last phrase of verse 26.

If any man serve Me, My Father will honor. And there's a tremendous honor. As far as the serving is concerned.

Galatians chapter 5 says, We love one another. Love. By love we serve one another.

To be a slave one to the other. To be able to be in bondage one to the other. Again, to be a servant.

Just to be a servant. To be available to serve. My third phrase is, With all your heart.

It's not in purpose and labor for the present. But it's to persevere with love. With all your heart.

I think we could say that, Did John Mark lose heart? Is that why he turned back? How about those that were in Luke chapter 9? They were asked to serve. They were asked to follow. Follow Me.

But wait a minute, Lord. I have a sick father to home. I've got to go see how he is.

Another one says, I have this excuse and that excuse. There was something else. I'll come and follow.

But wait a minute until I go home. Seemed to be a divided heart. Doesn't seem to be 100%.

With all your heart. I think Paul says in chapter 15 of the Corinthian epistle, that abounding in the work of the Lord. Abounding in it.

And so there's a longing as far as God is concerned to be able to do it with all our heart. Even Paul, as he writes in 2 Corinthians 2, he writes us those things that are not right. And he has his anguish of heart.

And he's pouring out his soul. He's pleading with the Galatians, those that have turned over to Judaism and they've pleaded to the Galatians to again, appeal to them. I have won you first.

Now he says, return. Return. So there's a longing that our hearts might be reminded to persevere with love.

I love Romans 6 when Paul says obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine. So if I obey something from God, I see something I need to obey. And if it's from the heart, it is something that I'll be able to put into practice and be able to enjoy those things that the Lord has shown to me.

Phrase number 4. Consider how great things. Consider how the great things. He says great things He has done for you.

Well, dear brethren, where are we going to start? The great things. The great things as far as God has done for us. Where would we be today, dear brethren, without number 1, the Gospel? Where would we be today perhaps without parental guidance and help? Where would we be today if our grandparents did not respond to the truth of God? I was raised in an area where there was two Georges.

I won't tell you their last names. Well, I guess I have to. One was my grandpa, George Fry and George Shipper.

Nobody knows George Shipper, but some here would know George Fry. George Fry and George Shipper were both believers. George Fry was milking his cows one Saturday night and Oliver Smith drove on the yard and walked into the barn, rolled up his sleeves, and he says, Well, Mr. Fry, I'll milk the cows that you haven't milked.

Where should I start? And my grandpa could hardly believe it when this man who preached the Gospel picked up a cow stool and sat down and milked that cow. When the cow was milked and the chores were done, he asked Mr. Fry to come to Gospel meetings. How can you say no when the chores were being done? Mr. Fry had the great joy of trusting the Savior, his wife, his three children, their spouses, believers, saved and in the assembly, the grandchildren, the great-grandchildren.

Why did Mr. Fry have that blessing, brethren, considering the great things he has done? Because there was a time when he said no to Christendom, when he said no to the religions of the world, when he turned his back upon that which was man-made and they gathered simply. In the year of 1927, 55 believers sat down for the first time. Among those 55 were both sets of my grandparents that thrills me to this day.

But where would I be today considering the great things, considering the great things that God has done for you, brethren? Where would we be today if I hadn't been for Mr. Fry saying no to the allurements, to the enticements of religious people? The other George trusted the same Savior. I worked for him. Would you come to Heightsville? Mr. Shipper? No.

I've got to stay where I'm at. I've got to stay in that place. They love me there.

They want me there. Mr. Shipper stayed there. Guess what? How many children did Mr. Shipper see saved? How many partners did their children see were saved? How many grandchildren are saved? You know the results.

They all were raised. Beautiful families. All raised in Christendom.

Where would we be today if our forefathers, if our grandparents, our great-grandparents hadn't come out from the system? Sad to say, people are going back into the systems today. Where our grandparents and great-grandparents left the system, but they are going back. So the great things He has done produces marvelous worship in our souls.

I'm thinking of Psalm 103, dear brethren. Psalm 103, Bless the Lord and forget not all His benefits. Because Psalm 103 reminds us of how that He forgiveth.

He forgiveth iniquities. He healeth our spiritual diseases. He redeemed us, saved our souls from not only destruction, but I think what salvation means, and we don't preach it enough, brethren, and that is simply this, He saved us from a wasted life.

From a life that was given to perhaps the glory of self and to be able to achieve but we've been delivered from a wasted life. He crowneth us with tremendous favor. He giveth us, satisfies us, and He restoreth our souls.

Now, dear brethren, I'm only thinking of what David could say one thing. Have I desired of the Lord and that will I seek after. What a marvelous thing that we have been given considering how great things praise with a lip, persevere with love, the purpose in labor, but there is one other thing He has done.

He has done for you. He has done for you personally, personally from the Lord. He has done for us what none other could.

I believe Psalm 116 reminds us I will take. I will pay. I will give.

I will offer. I will walk. All because of the great things that He has done for you.

May we at this conference, if I've lost an appreciation of the great things that my God has done, may we get back again to an appreciation of what He has done for us personally, and may we again go on to enjoy. You know, brethren, where would we be without this book? Thank you. Where would we be? I often think of driving through towns.

My dear wife will probably get tired of me saying, look at that nice building there. That would be a nice gospel hall right there. Go through another town.

There's another gospel hall right there. If only I was 25 instead of 65, or am I older than that? If only I could turn the clock back. But if I turn the clock back, then I'm farther away from going home.

But we don't want that either. Midst the darkness, brethren, storm and sorrow, one bright gleam we see. Well, we know the blessed morrow.

Christ will come for me. He and I together entering those bright cores above. He and I together sharing all the Father's love.

Let's not forget all the great things that our great God has done for us for His name's sake.