Introduction

You’ve probably seen George Zimmer of the Men’s Warehouse. George sells suits and tuxedos, but I have also seen his ads for casual wear. We are living in a world of change, but not all change is good. Many firms and schools have gone to casual Friday. Some type of company of school T-shirt is worn with jeans or Dockers. Some have begun to question the practice and wonder if it hasn’t affected productivity in a negative way.

Our title this morning is “Reverence in a Casual World.” There’s a place for the casual, but this morning we want to notice the place for reverence and respect, and honor. I didn’t see it, but I was told of an incident in which President Bush was interrupted as he was answering a question. He paused and said to the offender, “You will respect this office.”

How do we define respect? It isn’t a matter of not being able to wear jeans to church. That isn’t the issue. It isn’t just clothing, it’s the way we do things, and perhaps even more important, it is our attitude. I don’t mean that everything has to be solemn and quiet like a funeral, but we want to look at what the Bible says about reverence and honor.

Body

I. The fear of the Lord is an important concept.

A. As the Lord appeared in special ways, he sometimes asked special reverence.

1. One such example is Moses and the burning bush.

(Exo 3:4-5 NKJV) So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." {5} Then He said, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground."

2. A similar example occurred with Joshua.

(Josh 5:13-15 NKJV) And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or for our adversaries?" {14} So He said, "No, but as Commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, "What does my Lord say to His servant?" {15} Then the Commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy." And Joshua did so.

B. The Psalmist indicates the great value of the fear of the Lord.

(Psa 111:9-10 NKJV) He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. {10} The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.

C. Closely associated with the fear of the Lord is the idea of reverence for God.

(Psa 89:7 NKJV) God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be held in reverence by all those around Him.

1. Fear and reverence are tied together in Malachi also.

(Mal 2:5 NKJV) "My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name.

2. Standing in awe and not sinning are associated in the Psalms.

(Psa 4:3-4 KJV) But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. {4} Stand in awe¹, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

¹7264. ragaz, raw-gaz'; a prim. root; to quiver (with any violent emotion, espec. anger or fear):--be afraid, stand in awe, disquiet, fall out, fret, move, provoke, quake, rage, shake, tremble, trouble, be wroth.

Psa 4:3-4 NKJV) But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly; The LORD will hear when I call to Him. {4} Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

(Psa 4:3-4 TLB) Mark this well: The Lord has set apart the redeemed for himself. Therefore he will listen to me and answer when I call to him. {4} Stand before the Lord in awe, and do not sin against him. Lie quietly upon your bed in silent meditation.

(Psa 33:8 NKJV) Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

D. If we are in the fear of the Lord, we will listen.

(Mat 11:15 NKJV) "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

(Mat 13:13-15 NKJV) "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. {14} "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: 'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive; {15} For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'

E. Another expression of awe is simply to keep silence in His presence.

(Hab 2:20 NKJV) But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him."

II. Reverence for God is a requirement of the leadership of the church.

A. Elders are to rear their children to be submissive in all reverence.

(1 Tim 3:4 NKJV) one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence

B. Deacons are to be reverent.

(1 Tim 3:8 NKJV) Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,

C. C. Deacons wives are also to be reverent.

(1 Tim 3:11 NKJV) Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

D. D. Titus was told that he was to be an example of reverence.

(Titus 2:7 NKJV) in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

III. There is a place for the casual, but there is also a place pause, to get quiet, and to stand in awe of Him.

A. In our worship service, we need to give Him our undivided attention.

B. Paul clearly points out the seriousness of the Lord’s Supper.

(1 Cor 11:26-30 NKJV) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. {27} Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. {28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. {29} For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. {30} For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

Conclusion

I. Have you shown honor to God by obeying Him?

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