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A God-Fearer
E.A. Johnston
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0:00 4:28
E.A. Johnston

A God-Fearer

E.A. Johnston · 4:28

E.A. Johnston passionately warns that God's favor rests on those who fear Him, urging believers and nations alike to return to reverent awe and obedience before God.
In this topical sermon, E.A. Johnston calls believers to reclaim the ancient reverence of being God-fearers, emphasizing that God's favor rests on those who fear Him and hope in His mercy. He highlights the spiritual decline of the nation due to pride, sin, and rejection of God, urging a heartfelt return to humility and awe before God's majesty. Johnston challenges listeners to examine their personal and national relationship with God and to seek repentance and revival.

Full Transcript

In Psalm 33, 18, we read, Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy. The thought, His eyes upon them, is twice stated here, first for those who fear God, and then for those who hope in His mercy, thus reinforcing the imagery and declaration that God's eye is on those who fear Him. An old-time description of Christians is the God-fearer.

That's what believers were called. They were called God-fearers. God's eye is on the person, the church, the nation, that fears Him and hopes in His mercy.

His eye, then, is not upon the self-reliant person, or the self-reliant church, or the self-reliant nation. Rather, His back is turned to them. God's back is turned on America because we've turned our backs to Him.

We have turned our backs to Him in our personal lives, our corporate lives, in our national life. There is no fear of God in our land today because we are also full of ourselves, full of sin and disobedience and irreverence. Verse 8 of this psalm declares God's command to His creation.

Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. When was the last time, brother pastor, fellow believer, that you fell before God in humility before Him and stood in awe of His majesty and authority? I thought 9-11 was going to change things in this country because, for a brief time after those terrorist attacks where so many tragically lost their lives in one day, I saw a touch of the fear of God in our churches and in our nation again because we all were so shocked and scared that another attack was right around the corner because, as a people, we felt exposed and vulnerable.

Then we dropped a lot of bombs and our brave troops fought hard against those terrorist factions. And when we had victory, instead of giving God the glory as a nation, we just strutted proudly, patted ourselves on the back, and bragged over our national power and military might. And since that time, we have moved farther and farther away from God in this nation.

It's a wonder that God just doesn't destroy us all for being a nation that only mocks Him. We should change the words of the anthem from, God bless America to, America mocks God. As a nation, we have legalized sin and legislated God right out of this country.

We call evil good and defend it. And not only that, we promote it, and we call good evil, and we try to silence it by enacting laws against it. But my Bible says, blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.

And my Bible also says, the wicked should be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Our nation grows more wicked every day. Nudity and sex are the idols we worship.

We don't give a hoot about God in this country. We snub our noses at Him. How does your nation hold up, friend? Heaven help us all.

Sermon Outline

  1. I. The Meaning of God-Fearers
    • Definition of God-fearers as believers who reverently fear God
    • God’s eye is upon those who fear Him and hope in His mercy
    • Contrast with self-reliant individuals and nations
  2. II. The Condition of the Nation
    • America turning its back on God in personal, corporate, and national life
    • Loss of fear and reverence for God in the land
    • Legalization of sin and removal of God from public life
  3. III. The Consequences of Forgetting God
    • God’s judgment on nations that reject Him
    • Warning against pride and self-reliance after victory
    • Call to humility and awe before God’s majesty
  4. IV. A Call to Repentance and Reverence
    • Encouragement to fear God and stand in awe of Him
    • Reflection on past moments of national fear of God
    • Urgent plea for personal and national repentance

Key Quotes

“God's eye is on the person, the church, the nation, that fears Him and hopes in His mercy.” — E.A. Johnston
“We have turned our backs to Him in our personal lives, our corporate lives, in our national life.” — E.A. Johnston
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” — E.A. Johnston

Application Points

  • Examine your personal life for areas where you have turned away from reverence and fear of God.
  • Pray for national repentance and seek to live as a God-fearer in your community.
  • Cultivate a posture of humility and awe before God's majesty in daily worship and obedience.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it mean to be a God-fearer?
A God-fearer is someone who reverently fears God, placing their hope in His mercy and living in humble obedience to Him.
Why does the speaker say God’s back is turned on America?
Because America has turned away from God through sin, disobedience, and irreverence, leading to a loss of God's favor.
How does the sermon describe the nation’s spiritual condition?
The nation is described as full of pride, sin, and rebellion, having legalized sin and removed God from its public life.
What is the significance of fearing God according to the sermon?
Fearing God brings His watchful care and blessing, while rejecting Him leads to judgment and national decline.
What practical response does the speaker urge?
The speaker urges believers and the nation to repent, humble themselves, and stand in awe of God’s majesty and authority.

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