*SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON* DATE: *MARCH 29, 2020* TOPIC: *THE FEAR OF GOD - PART 2* _CENTRAL THOUGHT: It is the believer’s place to have a reverential fear of His._ _HYMN: S.S & S 642. ”When we walk with the Lord“_ *TEXT: PSALM 139:7-12; PROV. 2:1-5*

*SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON*

DATE: *MARCH 29, 2020*

TOPIC: *THE FEAR OF GOD - PART 2*

_CENTRAL THOUGHT: It is the believer’s place to have a reverential fear of His._

_HYMN: S.S & S 642. ”When we walk with the Lord“_

*TEXT: PSALM 139:7-12; PROV. 2:1-5*

*INTRODUCTION:*

Prov. 3:7, 8 says " Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones." We have seen in the first part of this subject that it is the reverential, worshipful regards, respect that an individual has for God and His word. This was what guided Joseph (Gen. 39:6-9), the three Hebrew friends (Dan. 3:13-25). Daniel (Dan. 1:8) and also the Hebrew midwives in Exodus (Exo. 1:17, 21) in their resolve to please the Lord in their days.

*LESSON OBJECTIVES:*
1. appreciate God's omnipresence;
2. examine the dangers of not living in the fear of God; and
3. discuss the benefit of living in the fear of God.

*BIBLE TRUTH:*

*Q1. HOW DOES THE FEAR OF GOD COME? Isaiah 11:1-2, Prov. 2:15, Heb 9:14.*

The fear of the Lord is not a feeling, nor is it an achievement, as no one can claim to have sufficiently acquired the fear of God. The fear of the Lord comes through the Holy Spirit, who is resident in the believer.

The starting point is giving one's life to God. It takes a regenerated spirit to be able to accommodate the spirit of the fear of God. After becoming born again, obedience to God's word is paramount to having the fear of God. Ps 119:11 says 'how can a young man keep his ways, it is by hiding the word of God in his heart'. It is the word that will guide the believer from evil. As rightly put in Prov. 2:1, it is not only in receiving the word i.e. head knowledge that brings the fear of God, but in hiding it as a treasure within us. Do not say you fear God if you cannot keep Hiss commandment/word (Duet. 6:2, 24; Duet.17:19). To fear God is not to be afraid or scared but to obey Him and hold Him in high esteem. There must be a desire, deliberate search and determination to fear God. It is not imputed on man or can it be acquired for another; it is what an individual will have to work out with the help of the Holy Spirit. The foundation having been laid by Christ Jesus on the cross by reconciling man to God.

The desire to fear God is not a once thing. It is a continuum, from when an individual accepts the Lord till death. Those who fear God will also trust Him (Ps.115:11).

The place of prayers and trusting the Lord for the grace to fear Him is also important.

*Q2. HOW DO WE KNOW THAT GOD SEES US IIN ALL OUR DEALINGS? Ps 139:7-12; Heb 4:13.*

The word of God is truth. We believe the account as recorded therein about God. It is normal for some believers to put up a face that they fear God in the presence of others; this is quite different when no one is looking. The test that an individual fears God is not amongst believers or in the church, but in trying times, When the opportunity avails itself for an individual to do otherwise, particularly when out of other's view, what is done at such times will determine the extent to which the individual fears God.

God is everywhere. His eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth. There is no hiding place from God, heaven, hell, sea, darkness, nothing can hide a man from the presence of God (Ps. 139:7-12). Night shines as the day before God. Everything is exposed and naked before God (Heb. 4:13; Luke 8:17).

If an individual succeeds in hiding from men, there is no hiding place from God. The pretence of man to have the fear of God is vain, since the very intent of man's heart is open to Him (Prov. 16:2; Jer. 17:10). God knows who actually fears Him or not, because He looks at the heart. (1 Sam.16:7).

*Q3. WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF NOT LIVING IN THE FEAR OF GOD?*

The fear of God as established makes men to depart from evil. It implies that in the absence of the fear of God, nothing restrains men from evil. The social vices such as gangsterism, arm robbery, bribery, rape, prostitution, ritual killings, occultism, etc. experienced in our society are attributable to the absence of the fear of God.

The lack of the fear of God in marriage leads to infidelity, adultery, multiple concubines / marriages , keeping secrets. Without the fear of God in the home, there is fighting, quarrelling, and disobedience by children and disrespect to parents.

The church that lacks the fear of God is like the church in Rev. 3:20 who has locked out the Lord Jesus. The power of God is not in full manifestation as God wills it.

Here is a call for repentance to the family, society and particularly the church of God; may the Lord meet us ready.

*Q4. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LIVING IN THE FEAR GOD (Ps. 34:9-17, 112:1-3, 15; Prov. 19:23, Job 1:1-2)*

The beneflts derived from living in the fear of God are numerous and unquantifiable to mention a few; Ps. 33:18-19 and 34:8-10 reveal that there is no lack to them who fear the Lord. He becomes their provider. They enjoy deliverance in time of trouble and such a person is blessed (Ps. 128:1-4).

Beyond the individual who fears God, there is a generational blessing upon his/her seed/children who shall become mighty upon the earth and his generation is blessed. The fear of God secures enduring righteousness and blessings. (PS. 112:1-3; Ps. 103:11, 13, 17; Ps.115:13-16).

A man that fears God has the assurance of answered prayers , (Ps. 145:19) lives a satisfied life and is protected from evil. Prov. 14:26. Even when, misfortunes of life befall such an individual, there is assurance of him being. restored (Job. 1:1-2; 42:12).

The fear of the Lord makes one to be wise. (Prov. 1:7; Prov. 9:10; Prov. 15:33; PS. 111:10). The fear of God is the fountain of life to avoid the traps of death (Prov. 14:27) even unto eternal life (Prov. 23:17-18). God takes pleasure in those who fear Him (Ps. 147:10-11) and God reveals secrets to those that fear Him (Ps. 25:12-14). Long life is garanteed and wellness on every side (Prov. 10:27; Prov. 19:23).

*DAILY LIVING APPLICATION*

Absence of the fear of God leads to multiple vices in the society, the home is distorted and the church loses its spirituality.

Believers are admonished to have reverential fear for God and exhibit it wherever they go. The fear of God is a must for the believer to make heaven. Without it, believers may start living in sin. The Scripture enjoins us to fear God as our whole duty to Him and this gives a wholesome life. Eccl 12:13.

_*MEMORY VERSE: PS. 89: 7*_
_”God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him."_