No Wepon forged against you will prevail.

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowing the Holy One brings understanding."

Introduction: When we hear the word "fear," we often think of being scared or worried. But when the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord, it means something different. It’s not about being afraid of God, but about respecting Him, honoring Him, and recognizing how great He is. Let’s look at what it means to fear the Lord and why it’s important for our lives.

A powerful story of protection from dark forces, including witchcraft or black magic, is found in the account of

*Balaam and King Balak* (Numbers 22-24).

Story Summary:

The Israelites were nearing the Promised Land and camped in the plains of Moab. The king of Moab, Balak, was terrified of the Israelites because they were numerous and strong. He feared they would conquer his land, so he decided to use supernatural means to weaken them.

King Balak hired a sorcerer named Balaam, known for his ability to curse people, to curse the Israelites. Balak believed that if Balaam cursed them, they would be weakened and defeated. However, God had other plans. When Balaam tried to curse Israel, God intervened.

Each time Balaam prepared to speak a curse, God made him bless Israel instead. This happened three times! Despite the efforts of Balak and Balaam to harm Israel with curses and dark powers, God turned the curses into blessings. In fact, Balaam said, *“How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?”* (Numbers 23:8).

God’s power was greater than any black magic or sorcery that Balaam tried to use. No matter how hard Balak pushed for curses, Balaam could only speak blessings over God’s people.

Lesson:

This story shows that God is greater than any dark force, curse, or black magic.

Just as He protected Israel from the harmful intentions of King Balak and Balaam’s sorcery, God protects His people today from evil forces.

No weapon formed against God’s children will succeed when they fear and trust in Him (Isaiah 54:17).

This is a reminder that even in the face of spiritual attacks, God's power triumphs over darkness.

A powerful story of protection from dark forces, including witchcraft or black magic, is found in the account of *Balaam and King Balak* (Numbers 22-24).

Story Summary:

The Israelites were nearing the Promised Land and camped in the plains of Moab. The king of Moab, Balak, was terrified of the Israelites because they were numerous and strong. He feared they would conquer his land, so he decided to use supernatural means to weaken them.

King Balak hired a sorcerer named Balaam, known for his ability to curse people, to curse the Israelites. Balak believed that if Balaam cursed them, they would be weakened and defeated. However, God had other plans. When Balaam tried to curse Israel, God intervened.

Each time Balaam prepared to speak a curse, God made him bless Israel instead. This happened three times! Despite the efforts of Balak and Balaam to harm Israel with curses and dark powers, God turned the curses into blessings. In fact, Balaam said, *“How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the Lord has not denounced?”* (Numbers 23:8).

God’s power was greater than any black magic or sorcery that Balaam tried to use. No matter how hard Balak pushed for curses, Balaam could only speak blessings over God’s people.

### Lesson:

en they trust in Him (Isaiah 54:17). This is a reminder that even in the face of spiritual attacks, God's power triumphs over darkness.

Title: What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?

Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 9:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowing the Holy One brings understanding."

Introduction:

When we hear the word "fear," we often think of being scared or worried. But when the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord, it means something different. It’s not about being afraid of God, but about respecting Him, honoring Him, and recognizing how great He is. Let’s look at what it means to fear the Lord and why it’s important for our lives.

Main Points:

1. Fear of the Lord Means Respecting God

Explanation: Fearing the Lord means having deep respect for who He is—His power, His holiness, and His love. It’s understanding that God is in charge of everything, and we are here to follow His will.

Application: We can show respect for God by praying, reading the Bible, and following His ways in our daily lives. When we respect God, we live in a way that honors Him.

2. Fear of the Lord Brings Wisdom

Explanation: The Bible tells us that when we fear the Lord, we begin to understand what is right and wise. It helps us make good choices that lead to a happy and blessed life.

Application: Before making decisions, we should ask ourselves, "What would God want me to do?" When we live according to God's wisdom, we are more likely to avoid mistakes and wrong choices.

3. Fear of the Lord Removes Other Fears

Explanation: When we fear the Lord, we don’t have to be afraid of other things. Jesus said we shouldn’t fear people or problems but should trust God who controls everything

(Matthew 10:28 “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but instead be afraid of the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” )

Application: When we truly trust God and respect Him, we stop worrying about what other people think or what might happen. We know that God is in control and that He will take care of us.

Illustrations:

Think about standing on the edge of a huge mountain. You are amazed by how big and powerful it is. That’s how we should feel about God—He is greater than anything we can imagine, but He also loves us and keeps us safe. Just like we trust our parents to protect us, we can trust God to take care of us when we respect and honor Him.

Conclusion:

Fearing the Lord doesn’t mean being afraid of Him. It means respecting Him, trusting Him, and living in a way that pleases Him. This kind of fear leads us to wisdom and understanding, helping us make the right choices and feel safe in God’s care.

2 Kings 2:21 NIV

Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’ ”

Rejection of God’s Son.

Mark 12:1–11 NIV

Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others. Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”