FEAR THE LORD
Tuesday 31/5/2022
Suggested Hymns: G. H. B. 61, 83
Devotional Reading: Ps. 112:1-10
Topic For Adults: Blessed Is The Man Who Fears The Lord
Topic For Youths: The Fear Of The Lord Is The Beginning Of Wisdom
Topic For Intermediates: The Fear Of The Lord Is To Hate Evil
Lesson Scriptures: Gen. 4:1-11; 39:1-12; Exo. 5:1-5, Rom. 1:28-32;
Dan. 3:12-25, Neh. 5:14-19; Ps. 112:1-10.
MEMORY VERSE
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way
and the perverse mouth I hate” (Proverbs 8:13) NKJV.
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JOSEPH FEARED THE LORD
Genesis 39:1-13
Joseph was a young man who went through tough times in life. He was hated by his older brothers because of his father’s unique love for him and for his dreams that suggested that he would one day rule over them. He was thrown into a pit and later brought out and was sold into slavery. Unfortunately, instead of his dreams coming to pass, he seemed to be going farther and farther away from the fulfillment and from home. However, in the midst of all these, when the wife of his boss tempted him persistently asking him to sleep with her, Joseph refused. He said among other vital points “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” The fear of God would not make one succumb to temptations.
Point of Emphasis: The fear of the Lord is an antidote to sin.
Prayer Point: Help me to always have Your fear at heart so as to be strengthened against the power of temptations.
Reading The Bible Through in a Year: Morning: Jam. 1:1-11; Evening: Eccl. 7-9
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BACKGROUND
Wickedness, violence, corruption, abortion, murder, kidnapping, rape, ritual killing, eating of human flesh and drinking of human blood and all kinds of sins and evils are being perpetrated with reckless abandon in the society today because of lack of the fear of the Lord. If people fear the Lord according to the Scripture, they will not be sinning there will be peace, progress and joy. The will of God will be done.
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NOTES ON THE LESSON
PART 1: LIFESTYLES THAT PORTRAY LACK OF THE FEAR OF THE LORD - GEN. 4:1-11; EXO. 5:1-5; ROM. 1:28-32
According to the passages above and many more not quoted because of space, there are clear manifestations of lifestyles devoid of the fear of the Lord. Cain became envious and killed his brother in spite of God’s warning. Pharaoh became swollen-headed and stubborn and refused to allow the children of Israel to go and serve the Lord. He and his people paid dearly for this, as they eventually perished in the Red Sea (Exo. 14:21-31).
In Rom. 1:28-32, we can see clearly, the lifestyles that show lack of the fear of the Lord. Those who live contrary to the words of God do not fear the Lord. Those who live sinful lives do not fear the Lord. The thieves, fornicators, adulterers, adulteresses, abortionists, armed robbers, kidnappers, students who are involved in examination malpractices, the corrupt officials and those who embezzle public money don’t have the fear of God in their hearts.
Examine yourself if you still indulge in sin or you still disobey known instructions and commandments of God. You need to repent and have a change of heart because the judgment of God is imminent on those who disrespect Him in anyway.
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PART 2: LIFESTYLES THAT PORTRAY THE FEAR OF THE LORD - GEN. 39:1-12; DAN. 3:12-25; NEH. 5:14-19
Jesus said “therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:20). Whoever fears the Lord will be recognised through his or her lifestyle. In spite of the sinful and persistent sexual temptation from Potiphar’s wife, Joseph did not sleep with the woman. He resisted the temptation. He said among other things “…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”. Joseph resisted the temptation because he feared the Lord. Whoever fears the Lord will resist and run away from sin regardless of the pressure.
The three Hebrews; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the golden image which Nebuchadnezzar had set up in spite of the threat of the burning fiery furnace. They said among other things “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you O King, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the golden image which you have set up” (Daniel 3:16-18).
They demonstrated their loyalty to God because they feared the Lord. Whoever has the fear of the Lord will be loyal to God and will not succumb to the temptation of serving and worshipping the gods of wood, sex, money, football, masquerade, alcohol, drug and so on.
For fear of the Lord, Nehemiah, unlike the governors before him did not lay unnecessary burden upon the people of Israel while rebuilding the wall after they had returned from captivity (Neh. 5:15). Leaders who have the fear of the Lord will not lay unnecessary burden on the people they lead.
PART 3: BLESSINGS OF FEARING THE LORD - PS. 112:1-10; PROV. 1:7
There are several promises for those who fear the Lord. If we fear the Lord, we can confidently claim these promises and blessings. Here are some of them which we need to meditate on and claim.
Those who fear the Lord:
1. are assured of angelic protection (Ps. 34:7);
2. command God’s continual attention (Ps. 33:18);
3. access His provision (Ps. 34:9, Ps. 111:5);
4. receive God’s great mercy (Ps. 103:11);
5. have their heart desires granted (Ps. 145:19);
6. are endowed with wisdom and understanding (Prov. 9:10-11);
7. are confident (Prov. 14:26-27);
8. have peace of mind (Prov. 15:16);
9. are made rich, honoured and filled with life (Prov. 22:4);
10. are given clear direction (Ps. 25:12);
11. have a good reward for their labour (Matt. 16:27).
I encourage everyone of us to cultivate the fear of the Lord in our daily living and relationships. We can then boldly claim the above promises and many more.
CONCLUSION
To fear the Lord should be a very easy way of life ready to enjoy the abundant blessings and benefit embedded in it, but unfortunately, the force dwelling in man runs contrary. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom to be prosperous, to be secured, to be healthy and eventually be in heaven with God eternally.
It should be noted, that in this age of information, knowledge is plentiful but wisdom is scarce. Since the fear of Lord is the beginning of wisdom, adhere to godly wisdom which the Bible offers.
QUESTIONS
1. Going by the week’s lesson, what does it mean to fear the Lord?
2. Mention some of the marks of lack of the fear of the Lord.
3. Mention some people in the Bible who feared the Lord and some of the people who did not have the fear of the Lord.
4. Mention some of the benefits which accrue to those who fear the Lord.
5. What steps will you take to demonstrate the fear of the Lord?
DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY
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