Jun. 21, 2020

A Rightful Fear

Primary Text:  Acts 9:31                                            June 20 & 21, 2020

Last Week’s Teaching:  A True Love

1)  The Commands of God

1 John 2:3-6:  We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

DQ 1) What are the commands of God?  What are their purposes?

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2)  Not the World

 1 John 2:15:  Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

DQ 2) When does love for a person become love for the world? 

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3)  Love of the World

 1 John 2:16-17:  For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world.  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

DQ 3) Define lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life.

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This Week’s Teaching

1)  Proper Fear

Acts 9:31:  Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace.  It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. 

DQ 1) What does it mean to live in the fear of the Lord?

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 2)  Swift Punishment

 Acts 5:1-11:  Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.  With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet.  Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land?...  You have not lied to men but to God."  When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died.  And great fear seized all who heard what had happened….   About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.  Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?"  "Yes," she said, "that is the price."  Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?  Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."  At that moment she fell down at his feet and died.  Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband.  Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. 

DQ 2) Why do you suppose God judged Ananias and Sapphira 

           so sternly?

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DQ 3) What does it mean to test the Spirit of the Lord?

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3)  Fear Him

Luke 12:4-5:  I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him. 

Hebrews 9:27:  Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…. 

DQ 4) Why is it healthy to fear the judgment of God?

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4)  What Does He Ask?

 Deuteronomy 10:12-22:  And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the LORD's commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?...  Fear the LORD your God and serve him.  Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name.  He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.  Your forefathers who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky. 

DQ 5) What conditions of the human soul arise if a person does

           not fear God?

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DQ 6) Do you genuinely recognize God’s nature and fear Him

           above all else?

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5)  The Beginning

Proverbs 9:10:  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 

Proverbs 1:7:  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. 

DQ 7) How is gaining wisdom connected to fearing the Lord?

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