Obedience is the Very Best Way
Notes
Transcript
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Opening
Opening
Songs - Obedience Is...
Prayer
OT39 Review Game - Around the World
Lesson Introduction
Lesson Introduction
How many of you remember Micah Self’s rules? Was there punishments if you did not follow those rules? What about at home or at school? Are there things that you could do that would result in punishment? What about church? Do you get punished for misbehaving?
Was there problems if you did not follow those rules?
What about at home or at school? Are there things that you could do that would result in punishment?
What about church? Do you get punished for misbehaving?
Bible Lesson: Solomon Turns Away from the Lord
Bible Lesson: Solomon Turns Away from the Lord
Discussion
Why do we have rules in the classroom?
What happens if the teacher has rules but never punishes those that break those rules?
If the teacher doesn’t enforce the rules all the time do you think that the students will feel that the teacher is fair?
Can you trust the teacher that doesn’t keep their word?
God has given us rules.
Why do you think God has rules?
Give me some examples of His rules? Are their consequences?
God keeps His Word
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
In the NT, Jesus says...
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
But if people choose to reject God’s ways and not follow Him, the Bible tells us that God
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
In the world you and I live in many people break laws but not everyone always receives the punishment for the laws they break. God is perfect and righteous in all that He does. He keeps all of His promises and that includes the consequences of disobedience to His laws. ()
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
God can always be trusted to do what He says He will do.
God can always be trusted to do what He says He will do.
Let’s review what we learned about Solomon last time. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted.
What did Solomon ask God for? (Wisdom)
How did God answer Solomon’s request? (He gave Solomon wisdom and also riches and honor )
God made a promise to Solomon when He said He would give him those things, but some of these promises had a condition...
And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
What was God promising Solomon? (A long life)
What was the condition? (If Solomon walked in God’s ways and obeyed His commands)
As Solomon walked with God and obeyed His commands God blessed him and the people of Israel. Let’s look at some examples of God’s blessings on Solomon. (have students turn to passages and read out loud)
The people were numerous, ate drank and were happy
Judah and Israel were many, as the sand which is by the sea in multitude, eating and drinking, and making merry.
Peace on all sides
For he had dominion over all the region on this side the river, from Tiphsah even to Azzah, over all the kings on this side the river: and he had peace on all sides round about him. And Judah and Israel dwelt safely, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, all the days of Solomon.
Lived in safety
But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
Famous for the wisdom and riches God gave Solomon
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions. And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not any thing hid from the king, which he told her not. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard. Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which delighted in thee, to set thee on the throne of Israel: because the Lord loved Israel for ever, therefore made he thee king, to do judgment and justice.
1 kin 10 22-
So king Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.
If Solomon were living in our day he would probably own a t-shirt or two that says “Life is Good”. As he walked with God and obeyed his commands Solomon experienced a life full of blessing. He had more than he could ever ask for.
Discussion
If you have believed in the Lord Jesus to save you from your sins, you are God’s child and have His promise of blessing for obedience in your own life
But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
God has given us everything we need to live a life of obedience to Him. He has given us His Word to teach us how to live. His Holy Spirit lives in us to guide us and direct us in our lives to continue to live a life that pleases God.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Solomon Turns Away from the Lord
Solomon Turns Away from the Lord
Mrs. Price had a poster on her classroom wall with rules for her fourth grade class. Raise your hand when you want to ask/answer a question. Respect your classmates (do not speak unkind words, do not harm physically). Finish homework on time and do not cheat. She had these rules posted so the students would know what was expected in her classroom. Each rule had a consequence if it was broken. If a student spoke out in class without raising his/her hand they received a warning. After two warnings the third time it happened the student would lose a recess. If a student spoke unkind words or hit another student they would lose their recess. If the rule was broken again the student would be sent to the principal’s office.
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God has given us rules to follow in His Word. Why do you think God has rules? (So people will know how to live in this world) What are some rules that God has made that people should obey? (Do not lie) Why would God make a rule like ‘do not lie’? (So people can trust each other.) Are there consequences for people who break God’s rules? (Yes) What are some consequences to lying? (Being grounded by parents, failing a class because you cheated on your work, people won’t believe you)
Unlike Mrs. Price’s classroom, God keeps His Word. He tells us in the Bible that He will bless those who obey Him and He will curse (or punish) those who disobey Him. “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse-the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” () In the New Testament Jesus says, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” () If people choose to reject God’s ways and not follow Him, the Bible tells us that God “will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power.” ()
In the world you and I live in many people break laws but not everyone always receives the punishment for the laws they break. God is perfect and righteous in all that He does. He keeps all of His promises and that includes the consequences of disobedience to His laws. () God can always be trusted to do what He says He will do.
Let’s review what we learned about Solomon last time. God appeared to Solomon in a dream and asked him what he wanted. What did Solomon ask God for? (Wisdom) How did God answer Solomon’s request? (He gave Solomon wisdom and also riches and honor ) God made a promise to Solomon when He said He would give him those things.
If Solomon were living in our day he would probably own a t-shirt or two that says “Life is Good”. As he walked with God and obeyed his commands Solomon experienced a life full of blessing. He had more than he could ever ask for.
If you have believed in the Lord Jesus to save you from your sins, you are God’s child and have His promise of blessing for obedience in your own life. (, ) As believers we have more than we could ever ask for. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” We may not completely understand what this verse means but if we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing we can be assured that we are richer than Solomon!
Let’s turn to .
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father.
Let’s turn to . What happened to Solomon? (Allow students to respond) How does this make you feel as you read about Solomon? It is disappointing when we see a person blessed by God turn their heart away from Him.
What happened to Solomon? (Allow students to respond)
It is disappointing when we see a person blessed by God turn their heart away from Him. Solomon began his reign with his heart following God and obeying his ways. When he obeyed God, he experienced God’s blessing. Somewhere along the way Solomon stopped guarding his heart and was drawn away from God’s ways and he began to do evil.
What happened in Solomon’s life happened in the Garden of Eden. God created Adam and Eve and gave them everything they would ever need. He gave them one rule. Not to eat from the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Because Adam and Eve sinned every person born after them is born with a sinful heart. (, )
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Satan is God’s enemy and he knows that God created His most special creation (man and woman) so He could have a close relationship with them. Satan hates God and he knows the only way he can hurt God is by turning His most special creation (people) away from Him. Satan tried to destroy Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and has worked hard throughout history trying to destroy God’s people. ()
What was that rule? (Not to eat from the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil)
Questions
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Questions
God promises to bless those who obey Him. He also says He will punish those who disobey.
1 ing 11 9-13
And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen.
Because Solomon disobeyed, God was going to take away His Kingdom. The remainder of the chapter tells us how God raised up enemies against Solomon.
Read . Because Solomon disobeyed, God was going to take away His Kingdom. The remainder of the chapter tells us how God raised up enemies against Solomon. When Solomon was obedient he and the Israelites were living in peace and safety. When Solomon’s heart turned away from God his disobedience became punishment instead of God’s blessing.
When Solomon was obedient he and the Israelites were living in peace and safety. When Solomon’s heart turned away from God his disobedience became punishment instead of God’s blessing.
The Scriptures do not tell us if Solomon repented and returned to God with an obedient heart.
And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon? And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years.
Solomon began his reign pleasing God and ended his reign under God’s punishment. Whatever God has written in His Word is to help followers of Jesus to live a life that pleases Him.
Conclusion
Conclusion
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
He wants us to love Him and walk in all His ways
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
He wants us to guard our hearts.
Keep thy heart with all diligence;
For out of it are the issues of life.
Immediately repent of sin
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Stay focused on Jesus daily
)Stay focused on Jesus daily. ()Depend upon God’s Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life. (; )
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Depend upon God’s Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life.
Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying,
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,
Saith the Lord of hosts.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Review Questions
If you and I are obeying God and enjoying His blessings can our hearts turn away from God? (Yes)
How does such a terrible thing happen in our hearts when we know and believe that God loves us and His plans for our lives are best? (Sin)
What does God promise to do for those who obey Him? (Bless them)
What does God promise to do for those who disobey Him? (Punish them)
Because Adam and Eve sinned every person born after them is born with a sinful heart. (, ) Satan is God’s enemy and he knows that God created His most special creation (man and woman) so He could have a close relationship with them. Satan hates God and he knows the only way he can hurt God is by turning His most special creation (people) away from Him. Satan tried to destroy Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and has worked hard throughout history trying to destroy God’s people. ()
How did Solomon begin his reign as King? (Obedient to the Lord)
God promises to bless those who obey Him. He also says He will punish those who disobey. Read . Because Solomon disobeyed, God was going to take away His Kingdom. The remainder of the chapter tells us how God raised up enemies against Solomon. When Solomon was obedient he and the Israelites were living in peace and safety. When Solomon’s heart turned away from God his disobedience became punishment instead of God’s blessing.
God promises to bless those who obey Him. He also says He will punish those who disobey. Read . Because Solomon disobeyed, God was going to take away His Kingdom. The remainder of the chapter tells us how God raised up enemies against Solomon. When Solomon was obedient he and the Israelites were living in peace and safety. When Solomon’s heart turned away from God his disobedience became punishment instead of God’s blessing.
How did God bless Solomon’s obedience? (Wisdom, riches, peace, safety)
Let’s read . The Scriptures do not tell us if Solomon repented and returned to God with an obedient heart. Solomon began his reign pleasing God and ended his reign under God’s punishment. Whatever God has written in His Word is to help followers of Jesus to live a life that pleases Him. () What do you think God wants believers to learn from this lesson about Solomon? (Allow responses)
What did Solomon do that angered the Lord? (His heart turned away and he worshiped false gods)
How did God punish Solomon? (Took away his kingdom, raised up enemies against him)
He wants us to love Him and walk in all His ways. ()He wants us to guard our hearts. ()
What can we do to protect our hearts from turning away from God? (Obey Him, walk with Him every day, stay in His Word, allow His Holy Spirit to control your life)
How can you and I live a life that stays focused on Jesus and doesn’t turn away?
As we close in prayer think about what God has shown you that you need to do so you can obey what He has taught you from His Word.
Close in prayer.
Review Questions:
What does God promise to do for those who obey Him? (Bless them)What does God promise to do for those who disobey Him? (Punish them)How did Solomon begin his reign as King (Obedient to the Lord)How did God bless Solomon’s obedience? (Wisdom, riches, peace, safety)What did Solomon do that angered the Lord? (His heart turned away and he worshiped false gods)How did God punish Solomon? (Took away his kingdom, raised up enemies against him)What can we do to protect our hearts from turning away from God? (Obey Him, walk with Him every day, stay in His Word, allow His Holy Spirit to control your life)