Sunday School - June 14, 2009
Fear stands as our doorkeeper, protector and conscious guard; it instinctively deploys in a moment of uncertainty, to employ cautionary measures to all subsequent moves. This dynamic emotion can be either weak or wise; the inherent foe that resides in counsel, to assure the better choice is the choice we will make. As Christian, the Lord is where our fear should abide, for if we abide in the Lord, His spirit will rest upon us.
Isaiah 11:2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Godly fear is to reverence, the Lord to whom we must follow; such is the wise choice to make, even when all is not fully understood. When fear is exposed as weakness, we must continue to follow by faith, for faith in our Lord requires obedience, the true evidence of a saving faith that follows. If fear of the Lord begins wisdom, knowledge becomes a continuous quest, a journey of unlimited destinations, in an endless inspirational pursuit.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
In our obedience to God we must walk not in fear, for all that He requires He shall sustain to the end. Although testing and trials are obstacles we are sure to encounter, such is the cost we are given to bear; Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf (1 Peter 4:16).
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
This week's lesson is again from the book of Exodus. For those who follow the International Sunday School Lesson Plan (aka: The Standard Sunday School Lesson), this Sunday's lesson (June 14, 2009) comes from Exodus 4:10-16, 27-31.
Exodus 4:10-16
Moses is now receiving instructions from God as to the task he is given to perform. Instead of heeding such, Moses spends much time responding in fear, stating his lack of abilities to do that which he is called. Unlike pride, humility often exposes fear, which renders more and accurate assessment of one’s abilities. However, when God give instructions, humility is the perfect canvas on which God will commission His portrait.
James 4:6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
The Lord informed Moses that He made all things and all that Moses lacked He would provide. In all that the Lord would require of Moses, the Lord would be with him and teach him. Such is the will of God, to request, provide instructions, and assistance to assure such is followed through. Yet Moses chooses fear over faith, and insisted that the Lord find another. The Lord gave grace even in anger by providing an assistant to Moses, his brother Aaron; although fear is a faithless response to responsibility, fear is diminished when dispersed among others.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Aaron would come to meet Moses with much joy in their reunion. Moses would speak to Aaron and put words in Aaron’s mouth; and God would give words to Moses and teach Moses all that he needed to do. In this arrangement, Aaron would be the spokesman to the people, an instrumental mouth of Moses, and Moses would be to Aaron instead of God. This arrangement was the result of fear and disobedience, but such is the lot from which God has to choose.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
Exodus 4:27-31
The Lord also instructed Aaron to go and meet Moses at the mount of God. Unlike Moses, there is no apprehension on the part of Aaron; one might find it hard to assume that Pharaoh offered vacation days to the Israelites. However, Aaron was living as a slave, a fate that provided a greater incentive to follow his faith; for where there is a greater need, there is also a greater faith.
Moses told Aaron all the words given to him by God and all the signs, which he had commanded him. Upon their return to Egypt, they gather together all the elders of Israel. Aaron spoke all the words given to him by Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. The people believed and were happy that the Lord had looked upon their affliction, and then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
The fear that had overtaken Moses was not evident in Aaron or the Elders. Their faith was not in Moses, but in the God who Moses followed. We must strive to find faith in our God, lest we display a lesser faith than others. We must walk not in fear of man, nor by sight, but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
If you are not a typical Sunday School attendee, Go and surprise the teacher. If your Church does not follow the Standard Sunday School Lesson and you are not aware of the topic of discussion, take on the attitude of "positive anticipation". I am sure you will like it; there is nothing like reading and discussing God's Word.
FYI: Sunday School is not just for Kids, it is also for the Humble (those who fear God, not task or man) at heart.
Good Day and God Bless
Fear stands as our doorkeeper, protector and conscious guard; it instinctively deploys in a moment of uncertainty, to employ cautionary measures to all subsequent moves. This dynamic emotion can be either weak or wise; the inherent foe that resides in counsel, to assure the better choice is the choice we will make. As Christian, the Lord is where our fear should abide, for if we abide in the Lord, His spirit will rest upon us.
Isaiah 11:2. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;
John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Godly fear is to reverence, the Lord to whom we must follow; such is the wise choice to make, even when all is not fully understood. When fear is exposed as weakness, we must continue to follow by faith, for faith in our Lord requires obedience, the true evidence of a saving faith that follows. If fear of the Lord begins wisdom, knowledge becomes a continuous quest, a journey of unlimited destinations, in an endless inspirational pursuit.
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
In our obedience to God we must walk not in fear, for all that He requires He shall sustain to the end. Although testing and trials are obstacles we are sure to encounter, such is the cost we are given to bear; Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf (1 Peter 4:16).
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
This week's lesson is again from the book of Exodus. For those who follow the International Sunday School Lesson Plan (aka: The Standard Sunday School Lesson), this Sunday's lesson (June 14, 2009) comes from Exodus 4:10-16, 27-31.
Exodus 4:10-16
Moses is now receiving instructions from God as to the task he is given to perform. Instead of heeding such, Moses spends much time responding in fear, stating his lack of abilities to do that which he is called. Unlike pride, humility often exposes fear, which renders more and accurate assessment of one’s abilities. However, when God give instructions, humility is the perfect canvas on which God will commission His portrait.
James 4:6. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
The Lord informed Moses that He made all things and all that Moses lacked He would provide. In all that the Lord would require of Moses, the Lord would be with him and teach him. Such is the will of God, to request, provide instructions, and assistance to assure such is followed through. Yet Moses chooses fear over faith, and insisted that the Lord find another. The Lord gave grace even in anger by providing an assistant to Moses, his brother Aaron; although fear is a faithless response to responsibility, fear is diminished when dispersed among others.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Aaron would come to meet Moses with much joy in their reunion. Moses would speak to Aaron and put words in Aaron’s mouth; and God would give words to Moses and teach Moses all that he needed to do. In this arrangement, Aaron would be the spokesman to the people, an instrumental mouth of Moses, and Moses would be to Aaron instead of God. This arrangement was the result of fear and disobedience, but such is the lot from which God has to choose.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one
Exodus 4:27-31
The Lord also instructed Aaron to go and meet Moses at the mount of God. Unlike Moses, there is no apprehension on the part of Aaron; one might find it hard to assume that Pharaoh offered vacation days to the Israelites. However, Aaron was living as a slave, a fate that provided a greater incentive to follow his faith; for where there is a greater need, there is also a greater faith.
Moses told Aaron all the words given to him by God and all the signs, which he had commanded him. Upon their return to Egypt, they gather together all the elders of Israel. Aaron spoke all the words given to him by Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. The people believed and were happy that the Lord had looked upon their affliction, and then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
The fear that had overtaken Moses was not evident in Aaron or the Elders. Their faith was not in Moses, but in the God who Moses followed. We must strive to find faith in our God, lest we display a lesser faith than others. We must walk not in fear of man, nor by sight, but by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7)
If you are not a typical Sunday School attendee, Go and surprise the teacher. If your Church does not follow the Standard Sunday School Lesson and you are not aware of the topic of discussion, take on the attitude of "positive anticipation". I am sure you will like it; there is nothing like reading and discussing God's Word.
FYI: Sunday School is not just for Kids, it is also for the Humble (those who fear God, not task or man) at heart.
Good Day and God Bless