FEARING GOD
or
"IS HE TOO FAMILIAR TO ME?"
Adapted, in part, from the writings of Dorotheos of Gaza, as well as the Inspiration of the Holy Spirit
A Goodsoil Discipleship Lesson - Rev. A. Madonio
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence -- continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Lesson Introduction
What this lesson teaches:
* This lesson ties together fear, respect, love, obedience and salvation.
* We see a perspective on growing in fear from "real fear" to "obedience fear" to "love fear".
* We learn never to take our salvation for granted.
Scripture references used:
* Philippians 2:12, Galatians 4:7, Proverbs 8:13; 28:14, Matthew 28:5-9
Other scripture that may be helpful:
* Oodles of "fear God" scripture
Discussion questions for study:
1. Did you read this lesson in preparation for this week's discussion?
2. How do you feel about Bill the hunter and Sam the woodworker - did they deserve what happened to them? Was God unfair to let that happen? Can any good come from these kinds of situations?
3. Does the "Rule of Knowledge" mentioned in the lesson make sense to you? Can you see how it may be applied to spiritual matters?
4. Can you truly understand "fearing God" and "loving God" at the same time? Can you explain how the 2 Mary's in Matthew 28:5-9 were both afraid and joyful at what they had discovered?
5. Do the 3 stages of fear described in the lesson make sense to you? Can you see yourself fitting into one of those stages?
6. Do you feel more of a need to respect God for who He is? Do you feel as though you might not have given Him the respect that He, as the most powerful thing in Creation, deserved? Will you tell Him so?
Answers from lesson in order of appearance: YES/NO, YES/NO, YES/NO, YES/NO, (VARIED), SANCTIFICATION, TILL WE HIT HEAVEN, YES/NO, YES/NO, (VARIED) - BUT POSSIBLY FEAR OF THE LOSS OF THAT LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP AND THE VOID THAT WOULD EXIST, LOVE, YOU LOSE YOUR CAPACITY TO HATE EVIL, BLESSED, TROUBLE, YES/NO, LOVE, NO, HOPEFULLY NO!
Bill, The Hunter
Bill is a hunter's hunter. Since he was a small boy, he and his father have stalked the deer that feed in the fields near the family farm. Now Bill lives there with his own family - but the deer still beckon, and Bill still hunts.
There came a beautiful clear, crisp autumn day in November, that Bill and his 2 sons were enjoying the hunt and each other's company. After a few hours, Bill found a comfortable looking log that was perfect for a short break. He figured that since the weather was mild, and the deer weren't cooperating yet, he would clean that rifle of his as well as save his legs for the long day ahead.
It was always relaxing for him to clean that familiar piece of machinery - his old friend. He had done it hundreds of times since his father had given it to him as a boy. In fact, Bill was so accustomed to that rifle that he could break it down, clean each piece, oil it, and reassemble it with his eyes closed.
Maybe that's what he tried that morning in the field near his home. To this day he doesn't know exactly what happened.
All he is sure of is that his oldest boy was 150 yards away - and in the direct line of the round that accidentally discharged sometime during the cleaning process.
And now Bill has only one son.
Sam, The Woodworker
Sam is a woodworker. Although his vocation was a pattern maker at a local machine shop, his love and avocation was making fine cabinetry in his well-equipped home workshop. Lately, Sam had even entertained serious thoughts of retiring early and making a go of it as a small businessman. "Sam's Fine Furniture." That had a pleasant ring to it. It soon became Sam and his wife's dream.
For the present though, the dream had to wait. Twelve hour days were good for the savings account, but not for hobbies. Sam was so tired on some days that he nearly fell asleep in his mashed potatoes at the dinner table. Despite this, he sleepily finished dinner one day and proceeded to his workshop to set up for some red oak end tables he had just begun.
Because he had done it for decades, setting up and using power equipment was a snap for Sam. That particular evening however, he should have rested with a coffee and his wife's company.
His dream might still be alive today if he had.
That twelve-inch table saw was always the most powerful piece of equipment in his shop. To this day he isn't sure why he had his right hand in that small area near the belt drive. He was certain he had unplugged the unit, but as it turned out, he had mistakenly unplugged the band saw instead.
It's going to be tough for Sam to be a master woodworker with no right hand.
In both of these tragic stories, the characters became too familiar with some very powerful objects. To many people, it's an unwritten law of knowledge that the use of powerful objects or the performance of dangerous duties without an accompanying fear and respect of the task or object itself will eventually lead to physical harm.
This "rule of knowledge" is well know to hunters, archers, bricklayers, skiers, electricians and mountain climbers.
DO NOT BECOME COMPLACENTLY FAMILIAR
WITH A POWERFUL OBJECT !
[A healthy respect (meaning "fear") is a good thing to have.]
Beware of becoming too familiar with God !
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you may be confused. It seems like sometimes the Bible tells us how to do certain things that conflict with other things. Have you ever noticed this in your reading of scripture? _________________________ .
Take, for example, the topic of FEAR ! The Bible tells us hundreds of times to FEAR GOD:
Exodus 18:21, Leviticus 19:14, Leviticus 25:17, Leviticus 25:36, Leviticus 25:43, Deuteronomy 6:2, Deuteronomy 6:13, Deuteronomy 6:24, Deuteronomy 10:12, Joshua 24:14, Psalm 2:11, Psalm 15:4, Psalm 19:9, Psalm 33:8, Psalm 34:9, Psalm 34:11, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 8:13, Proverbs 28:14, Matthew 28:8, Acts 9:31, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 2:17
..... to name a few, but it also tells us that "Perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18
Does this make sense to you? _______________________________
Does it seem to be a contradiction in terms? ______________________________
Do you think you can FEAR GOD and LOVE GOD at the same time? __________
What does FEAR GOD mean to you anyway? ____________________________ ________________________________________________________________
NEXT: SOME ADVICE FROM AN OLD-TIMER:
Dorotheos of Gaza was a 6th Century Syrian monk. He wrote much regarding basic instructions on living the Christian Life. Let's see how he dealt with this apparent "contradiction." DOROTHEOS describes the fear of God in believers as a three-stage growth process. Speaking of growth processes, what growth process are we all involved in right know? ____________. And how long will this special growth process last? _____________.
Stage #1 - Slaves: Fear of punishment marks this, the starting point of "Fear of God". It is not a love to do what is good and right, but rather a fear of torments, a fear of the master's anger and wrath. For many, a strong desire NOT to enter HELL is the initial motivation for salvation. This is a "spiritual infant" kind of fear. Can you see this as a motivation for you in your life or the lives of others?
______________________________________________________________.
Stage #2 - Servants: Fear of the loss of benefits. This is the state of a servant working for wages and following orders (obedience !). All to the servants own advantage and benefit. Does anyone you know (including you) fit this category?
______________________________________________________________.
Stage #3 - Sons: This final stage is peace and love and joy and beauty all in one. It is the stage of sons and daughters - CHILDREN OF THE KING !
A royal child has reached a stage of spiritual maturity and is obedient to the Father NOT because he fears a beating, and NOT because he desires a reward. A royal child is obedient because he knows he is loved, and he knows that, because of his Father's Love (which was always there but not always perceived) he will someday receive all that his Father possesses!
So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4:7
When your love for someone is so strong, as strong as a child's love for his/her Father, what do you fear more than anything in the world?
__________________________________________________________.
Don't you fear the loss of that which you have finally discovered and couldn't bear to lose? That something that all Christians discover, and every human yearns for, is to fill the void left in man's soul when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden; the _____________ of Father God.
LOSING YOUR FEAR? WHY YOU SHOULDN'T!
If you dare become "complacently familiar" with God, you will not fear Him as Dorotheos has just pointed out to us previously. What are the implications of that? Read the words of Solomon
To fear the LORD is to hate evil. Proverbs 8:13
What happens when you fail to fear God? ______________________.
Here's another from King Solomon -- Blessed is the one who is never without fear, but one who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity, Proverbs 28:14. Or, to put it another way, "Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord". You see, God assures us that if we always fear Him, we will be ______________ by Him and we will avoid ________________.
SOMETHING MORE TO THINK ABOUT ....
Have you ever left a worship service and felt bothered and unsettled in your spirit?
YES = good!
NO = you need to pray!
If you are not spiritually "nudged" by a church service, there are two possible reasons:
1. The message was not anointed - The pastor was alone - Jesus didn't show up! If this happens you'd better tell your pastor pronto!
2. You have grown too comfortable with God - "complacently familiar." You no longer have that healthy respect (fear). If this is you, you need to hit your knees in real fear and repentance.
Examine the attitude of the two women who knew Jesus best - Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, as they leave Jesus' tomb after discovering the wonderful news the angel delivered to them (emphasis mine).
Matthew 28:5-9 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, AFRAID YET FILLED WITH JOY (emphasis mine), and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.
They were afraid (filled with the fear of the Lord), and joyful! Can you see the attitude of the hearts of these two Marys? They feared their Lord, and that allowed them to love Him all the more! Can you relate to those feelings?
Now, let's go back to the beginning to finish up .....
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Work out your salvation -- how do we do it? With fear backed by _____________. Can you truly love someone without some level of "fear" being part of that love (stages #1 2, or 3)? __________. Here are some "helps" to think about and act upon:
1. Read 1 Corinthians 13 every day or so for 2 months. Let it soak into your soul.
2. Think of the fear we'd face every day if this world had none of God's love in it.
3. Could you learn to love and respect (fear) someone who died a horrible death in order to spare you from eternal agony? ______________________ .
4. Finally: Do you still think the Bible is a contradiction in terms? _______ .