INQUIRE FROM THE LORD (PART 2), February 10th, 2019

Posted by on Feb 8, 2019 in Sunday School |

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CENTRAL THOUGHT

The believer who inquire from the Lord enjoys the benefit of being guided by God.

 

TEXT: 1 Samuel 23:1-12, 30:7-8; Numbers 27:1-7; Joshua 9:3-15

 

INTRODUCTION

God has made provision for His children to be properly guided in making choices, decisions and taking necessary actions.  However, it is the believer who seeks such guidance that will enjoy the benefits of being guided by the Lord.  It is therefore needful for the children of God to always inquire from Him.

 

LESSON OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are:

  1. Examining what hinders believers from inquiring from the Lord.
  2. Considering some examples of people who inquired from the Lord.
  3. Learning from the consequences of not inquiring from the Lord.
  4. Appropriating the benefits of inquiring from the Lord.

 

BIBLE TRUTH

Q1. What are some of the things that hinder us from inquiring from the Lord?

Some of the things that hinder the believer from seeking GOD’s counsel (or inquiring from HIM) on specific matters include:

  1. Love of the world, John 2:15-17. When a believer has hidden love in his heart for the things of the world, the tendency will be for such a believer to do things to please and satisfy himself.  Such a mindset will hinder the believer from inquiring from GOD for fear that GOD may give him directions contrary to his personal ways, ideas or methods of achieving results.
  2. Greed and covetousness. Greed and covetousness are also a hindrance to our ability to inquire from the LORD or seek His counsel on the issues of life.  In some situations, even when such counsel is sought, the desire for gain may rob us of actualizing the benefits of such counsel.  This was the situation with Balaam, Numbers 22; Revelation 2:14.
  3. Selfishness, selfish interests & pride of life. In some situations, the desire to promote oneself hinders believers from inquiring from GOD as regards what to do when faced with life situations. The desire to be recognized above others makes people employ means that are not scriptural to achieve their set objectives.  Some believers while pursuing political offices which they perceive will bring them to the “limelight” ignore biblical principles provided they achieve their aim.  They do not bother to inquire from GOD or allow HIM work out HIS will in the matter.  They claim that they do not want to leave things to chance.  No wonder many in such situations have made shipwrecks of their faith and Christian commitment.  Clearly, they were propelled by the “pride of life”, 1 John 2:16.
  4. Sin. A believer who is inclined to ungodly habits or makes a practice of sin will certainly be hindered from inquiring from the LORD or seeking GOD’s counsel on life matters.
  5. Other. The class is free to mention and discuss some other factors that hinder believers from inquiring from the LORD.

In concluding this section, it is needful to state that the only way to overcome these hindrances is for the believer to live a life of total surrender to the LORD JESUS CHRIST; recognizing that while enjoying the benefits of being a son to the FATHER through the LORD JESUS, he must also accept the responsibilities of being a slave to the MASTER.

 

Q2. Consider some examples of people in scripture who inquired from the Lord?

The scripture is full of examples of people who inquired form the LORD before making decisions. Some of them include:

  1. Moses, Numbers 27:1-7. Moses as leader of Israel was faced with a situation where he needed to decide in regards to the inheritance for the daughters of Zelophehad.  He took the matter to GOD and GOD told him what to do.  Christian leaders should follow this example.
  2. David, 1 Samuel 23:1-12. David was under threat of an enemy.  He went to inquire from THE LORD in regards to what to do and GOD gave him directions which he followed and achieved victory and success, 1 Samuel 30:6-8.
  3. The LORD JESUS CHRIST. The LORD JESUS inquired from the FATHER before choosing the twelve disciples, Luke 6:12-16.  Also, before His passion and crucifixion, He inquired from the FATHER in the garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36-46.  He is our perfect example and we ought to follow in HIS steps, 1 Peter 2:21.
  4. The early church. Our forefathers in faith inquired from the LORD before choosing leaders.  This was clearly demonstrated when Judas Iscariot was to be replaced and when the deacons and business elders were to be selected from among the brethren, Acts 1:15-26, 6:1-6.

 

Q3. What are the consequences of not inquiring from the Lord? Joshua 9:3-15

When we do not inquire from the Lord, or seek His counsel or allow Him work out His will in our decision making, the consequences can be grave.  In the Scripture above we see how Joshua and Israel fell for the deception of the Gibeonites because they “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord”, Joshua 9:14.

In many ways today, many believers have fallen for the deception of the people of the world because they did not seek counsel from the mouth of the Lord.  Some have gone into marriages which suffered collapse.  Some were deceived into business partnerships which did not make head way.  Some were enticed into jobs which looked promising at the beginning but ended up in disappointments.

The believer should realize that it is profitable before decisions are made.  It is needful to state here too that where wrong decisions have been made, it is still possible to go back to God in repentance and ask Him for directions, counsel and guidance in resolving the existing situations.

 

Q4. What are the benefits of inquiring from the Lord?

There are many benefits that follow when we sincerely inquire from the Lord, seek His counsel and allow Him work out His will in our lives.  Some of these benefits which the class should discuss include:

  1. Peace, Isaiah 26:3.
  2. Joy
  3. Personal satisfaction from doing God’s will.
  4. Success and victory as experienced by David in 1 Samuel 23:1-12, 30:6-7 and the king of Israel when Elisha wasprophetin Israel, 2 Kings 5 & 6.
  5. Guidance on life issues.

 

Daily Living Application:

 

The believer ought to cultivate the habit of inquiring from the Lord in all issues of life.  The consequences of not seeking God’s counsel on issues can be grave.  Let us acknowledge that we are limited in knowledge and our own we do not know enough to give us the best in life.  Therefore, we must learn to look up to God for direction and guidance in all situations and allow Him work out His will in our lives.  Great benefits await us if we do this.

 

Memory Verse:

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths”.