*SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON* 17th November 2019 *THE FEAR OF THE LORD* HYMN: SS & S. 607. I am Thine, O Lord. *CENTRAL THOUGHT:* The fear of the Lord should guide the actions of believers. _TEXT: Prov. 8:13, 16:6; Job 28:28; Gen 39:6-9._

*SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON*

17th November 2019

*THE FEAR OF THE LORD*

HYMN: SS & S. 607. I am Thine, O Lord.

*CENTRAL THOUGHT:* The fear of the Lord should guide the actions of believers.

_TEXT: Prov. 8:13, 16:6; Job 28:28; Gen 39:6-9._

*INTRODUCTION:*

To fear the Lord is to reverence Him with deep respect in our hearts and to live daily in awe of Him. It implies patterning our lives to please and glorify Him. This should manifest in our lifestyle as we allow this consciousness to guide our thoughts, words and deeds. Such reverential fear of the Lord acknowledges Him as the Creator and Controller of the whole universe. He is sovereign and is the giver of life. He has a plan and purpose for everything He created. We can only find true purpose for our lives and experience fulfilment by knowing and understanding who He is and the place He occupies in our lives. As believers therefore, we must relate with God in honour and reverence because of who He is. This study seeks to give an understanding and true meaning of the fear of the Lord and how it can be exercised.

*LESSON OBJECTIVES:*
1. To explain what the fear of the Lord is and how it comes;
2. Examine how some people demonstrated the fear of God in the scriptures
3. Discuss with examples how we can exercise the fear of God in our homes, workplace/schools and church; and
4. Highlight the consequences of not having the fear of God and the benefits of living in the fear of God.

*Q1a: WHAT D0 YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE FEAR OF GOD? (Prov. 8:13, 9:10, 16.6 Job 28: 28).*

The fear of God has to do with our acknowledging Him as the creator of all things and submitting to Him in worship and adoration. Such fear of God should also put in people the desire to live for Him and please Him in everything we say, do or think about. This motivates us to do His will in every area of our lives. It should be noted however that the fear of God does not drive us away from Him as if He was a taskmaster. Rather such fear should draw us closer to Him. This fear makes us to stand in awe of Him.

The fear of God is inspired by the Holy Spirit indwelling the lives of believers who have yielded their lives to God and have a close relationship with Christ. The fear of God is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way..." (Prov. 8:13).

When we fear God, we tend to be careful how we live our lives. As we fear God in everything we do, He gives us the wisdom we need to handle every situation that we come across in life and helps to keep us from evil. "...The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil that is understanding" (Job 28:28).

*Q1b: HOW DO WE ACQUIRE AND DEVELOP THE FEAR OF GOD? (Prov. 2:1-5 Isa 11:1-2; Heb. 9:14*

The fear of God begins with our accepting Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour. We must also acknowledge His Lordship and rulership over our lives. It is only after this relationship has clearly been established that we will be able to fear God. This fear is motivated by the love and reverence we have for Him. The fear of God comes by our diligently receiving His words and obeying the same. We must therefore closely attend to the word of God by studying and meditating on it. We should have a close and unbroken relationship with Him; in addition, we must be people of prayer.

Summarily, we can say that the fear of God comes as we engage ourselves in the following.

i) Studying and meditating on the Word of God continually.
ii) Obeying the Word of God and daily following His instructions in every area of our lives.
iii) Daily hunger and thirst after righteousness, thereby fleeing every appearance of evil.

As we do all these through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will not only have the fear of the Lord, but will also grow in it and learn to know Him better while enjoying a sweeter and closer relationship and fellowship with Him.

*Q2: HOW DID THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE DEMONSTRATE THE FEAR OF GOD?*

The word of God contains accounts of people who demonstrated the fear of God in their times. The following are considered in this study:

a) Joseph in Portiphar's house (Gen 39:6-9): The fear of God kept J oseph at the time he was tempted by Portiphar's wife to commit sin with her. Joseph vehemently refused to succumb because he feared God and did not want to offend Him "... How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" (Gen.39:9b). Although Joseph found himself in a strange land where the people did not know the only true and living God or fear Him, he still stood for the right. He realised that God is in control of the whole universe and sees all things at all times.
b) Daniel in Babylon (Dan.1:8): Daniel was carried captive into Babylon, a strange land with a strange god. As a captive, it would have been extremely difficult if not almost impossible for him to resist the instructions and ways of life in this foreign land bearing in mind that he was a captive who must have to follow and obey whatever instructions that may be issued out to him. On the contrary, he made up his mind that although he found himself in this strange land, he was not ready to compromise his faith or join in serving the idols of the land. Therefore, Daniel purposed in his heart that he was not going to defile himself with the king's meat or his drink. In far away Babylon, he was conscious of the fact that God must be feared and revered in all he did.
c) Mary and Joseph in Courtship (Mathew 1:18-25): During the period of their courtship, Mary and Joseph never indulged in sexual immorality. They had the fear of God. They also realised that their bodies were the temple of God. Mary being a virgin an having not defiled herself could confidently say to the angel "how shall this be, seeing I know not a man?" (Luke 1:34). Joseph had kept himself throughout the period of his courtship with Mary. He was very sure therefore that he was not responsible for Mary's pregnancy. How many young people can confidently boast of a clean and pure courtship today? God's standard still remains the same even today.

*Q3: DISCUSS WITH EXAMPLES HOW WE CAN EXERCISE THE FEAR OF GOD IN OUR HOMES, WORK PLACE/SCHOOL AND CHURCHES*

We must exercise the fear of God at all times and in all places we find ourselves.

_Fear of God In our Home (Eph. 5:21-33, 6: 1-9)_
The fear of God must be exercised in every home. The home is made up of the husband/father, wife/mother, children and others who may be house helps or members of the extended family. Every member of the home should demonstrate the fear of God in every area of their lives and in all their dealings with each other in the home. When each member plays his or her role in the home in the fear of God there will be peace, love, unity and God's presence will always abide in such a home.

_Fear of God In our Work Place/School (Gen.39:l-9; Dan.l:8, 17-20)_
We must ensure that we stand for the Lord in our work places if we are workers and in our school if we are still at school; we must not compromise our faith. We saw from the life of Joseph that as he went about his business in his master's house, when his master's wife wanted to force him to lie with her, he bluntly refused because he feared God. "... How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" (Gen 39:9b). There is a tendency for students to cheat, 'block' and Join in so many vices just for the sake of passing their examinations. As believers \who have the fear of God, we must never, ever compromise our faith and join in this evil. As parents we should resist the idea of taking our children to go and write examinations in those schools commonly referred to as 'special centres'. God will always honour us when we honour Him (1 Sam 2:30b). This was clearly demonstrated in the lives of Daniel and the three Hebrew lads in the land of Babylon. They purposed in their hearts and refused to defile themselves with the 'king's meat'. At the end of everything they were found ten times better than all the others in all matters of wisdom and understanding.

We must realise that we are God's representatives any where we are and should remember that He sees all things that we do. It therefore behoves us to live and do all things in the fear of God and hate every form of evil. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil (Prov. 8:13a).

_Fear of God In our Church_
The Church belongs to God; it does not belong to any man. We are all accountable to Him for our actions therefore we must make sure that we fear God in everything we do. We must conduct ourselves in accordance with the Scriptures. If there is the fear of God in any church congregation, it will be evident in all that they do. Leaders must lead in the fear of God and see themselves as ministers (servants) of God and of the flock that God has given them to oversee and must therefore behave as people who will give account of their stewardship to God. Likewise, the followers must submit to their leaders because they have been set over them by God. Every member must be careful to do all things in the fear of God.

The Word of God clearly tells us that God is immortal and invisible. "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen "(1 Tim 1:17). Although we as mortal men do not see Him with our physical eyes, He sees all things. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do"(Heb 4:13).

*Q4a: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT HAVING THE FEAR OF GOD? (Prov.1:22-32; 1 Sam 2:30-33, 15:26-29; Acts 5:1-10)*

There are grievous consequences of not having the fear of God. The believer who is not living in the fear of God will become an easy prey in the hands of the devil. This brings the wrath and judgment of God on such a person. In addition he cannot receive God's protection, provision, deliverance or any of His blessings. God will not answer his prayers. God's purpose for his or her life will not be fulfilled. In situations where such a believer has been called to a specific ministry, God will set him aside and anoint another person to achieve His purpose. Finally, not living in the fear of God leads to eternal death. Such a person faces the danger of spending eternity in hell.

*Q4b: WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LIVING IN THE FEAR OF GOD? (Ps. 34:9-17, 112:1-3; Prov. 19:23; Job 1:1-2*

Numerous benefits accrue to those who have and live in the fear of God. The reverential fear we have for God makes us to desire to know Him, obey Him and always be ready at all times to do His will in everything. This will also lead to peace and order in our immediate environment. The fear of God in the hearts of believers borne out of love for God and the willingness to obey Him will manifest in the society in many ways such as loving other people and dwelling peacefully with them.

God can only relate intimately with those who Fear Him. He confides in those that fear Him. “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and will shew them His covenant" (Ps.25:14). The desires of those that fear God are fulfilled. "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him He also will hear their cry, and will save them" (Ps. 145:19). Another benefit of having the fear of God is that He guards the lives of those who fear Him. He also preserves them from evil and disease and prolongs their days.

The fear of God attracts His blessings. "... Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD that delighteth greatly in His commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth, the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house and his righteousness endureth forever" (Ps. 112: 1-3).

The fear of God makes us to love and obey Him and this will also reflect in the society at large as people live in peace, unity and have love for one another.

*DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:*

It is imperative that every believer should live daily in the fear of God. We must endeavour to continuously make a conscious effort to stand in awe of Him. Whatever we do, whatever decision we may be taking, we must ensure that all are in line with the Word of God. We must realise that God is our Creator and therefore submit to Him totally in worship and adoration. God is pleased when we fear Him reverently. This enables us have a close relationship and sweet fellowship with Him. God's eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth as stated in 2 Chron. 16:9. There is no place we can hide from His presence that we will not be seen. Therefore as God's dear children we should live in the fear of God where ever we are and in whatever we do. This is very pleasing unto God. The blessings that follow us when we fear God are numerous and are both here on earth and in eternity with God.

_MEMORY VERSE: Prov. 19:23_
_"The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil"_

DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON: To understand the fear of the LORD. (Prov. 2:1-5)

TUE: Demonstration of the fear of God, (Gen. 39:6-9)

WED: Demonstration of the fear of God. (Matt. 1 : 18-25)

THU: Exercise of the fear Lord in the home. (Eph. 5:2133;61-9)

FRI: Exercise of the fear Lord in work place (Gen. 39: 1-9; Dan. 1:8, 17-20)

SAT: Benefit of living in the fear of God. (Ps. 34:9-17; 112:1-3;Prov.19:23)