God Ruling over Us
đȘđđ„đ -đšđŁ
âą What is one of the most challenging things you do every day? Why do you do it anyway?
âą Do you like following instructions? Why or why not? Recall an instance explaining this.
âą Tell us about one decision you made this week. What factors did you consider in making it?
đȘđąđ„đ
đđ¶đ” đ đŽđąđș, đžđąđđŹ đŁđș đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ”, đąđŻđ„ đșđ°đ¶ đžđȘđđ đŻđ°đ” đšđłđąđ”đȘđ§đș đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ©. đđ°đł đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ© đąđłđŠ đąđšđąđȘđŻđŽđ” đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ”, đąđŻđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ” đąđłđŠ đąđšđąđȘđŻđŽđ” đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ©, đ§đ°đł đ”đ©đŠđŽđŠ đąđłđŠ đ°đ±đ±đ°đŽđŠđ„ đ”đ° đŠđąđ€đ© đ°đ”đ©đŠđł, đ”đ° đŹđŠđŠđ± đșđ°đ¶ đ§đłđ°đź đ„đ°đȘđŻđš đ”đ©đŠ đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ đșđ°đ¶ đžđąđŻđ” đ”đ° đ„đ°. đđ¶đ” đȘđ§ đșđ°đ¶ đąđłđŠ đđŠđ„ đŁđș đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ”, đșđ°đ¶ đąđłđŠ đŻđ°đ” đ¶đŻđ„đŠđł đ”đ©đŠ đđąđž. đđ°đž đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđŹđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ© đąđłđŠ đŠđ·đȘđ„đŠđŻđ”: đŽđŠđčđ¶đąđ đȘđźđźđ°đłđąđđȘđ”đș, đȘđźđ±đ¶đłđȘđ”đș, đŽđŠđŻđŽđ¶đąđđȘđ”đș, đȘđ„đ°đđąđ”đłđș, đŽđ°đłđ€đŠđłđș, đŠđŻđźđȘđ”đș, đŽđ”đłđȘđ§đŠ, đ«đŠđąđđ°đ¶đŽđș, đ§đȘđ”đŽ đ°đ§ đąđŻđšđŠđł, đłđȘđ·đąđđłđȘđŠđŽ, đ„đȘđŽđŽđŠđŻđŽđȘđ°đŻđŽ, đ„đȘđ·đȘđŽđȘđ°đŻđŽ, đŠđŻđ·đș, đ„đłđ¶đŻđŹđŠđŻđŻđŠđŽđŽ, đ°đłđšđȘđŠđŽ, đąđŻđ„ đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ đđȘđŹđŠ đ”đ©đŠđŽđŠ. đ đžđąđłđŻ đșđ°đ¶, đąđŽ đ đžđąđłđŻđŠđ„ đșđ°đ¶ đŁđŠđ§đ°đłđŠ, đ”đ©đąđ” đ”đ©đ°đŽđŠ đžđ©đ° đ„đ° đŽđ¶đ€đ© đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ đžđȘđđ đŻđ°đ” đȘđŻđ©đŠđłđȘđ” đ”đ©đŠ đŹđȘđŻđšđ„đ°đź đ°đ§ đđ°đ„. đđ¶đ” đ”đ©đŠ đ§đłđ¶đȘđ” đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ” đȘđŽ đđ°đ·đŠ, đ«đ°đș, đ±đŠđąđ€đŠ, đ±đąđ”đȘđŠđŻđ€đŠ, đŹđȘđŻđ„đŻđŠđŽđŽ, đšđ°đ°đ„đŻđŠđŽđŽ, đ§đąđȘđ”đ©đ§đ¶đđŻđŠđŽđŽ, đšđŠđŻđ”đđŠđŻđŠđŽđŽ, đŽđŠđđ§-đ€đ°đŻđ”đłđ°đ; đąđšđąđȘđŻđŽđ” đŽđ¶đ€đ© đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ đ”đ©đŠđłđŠ đȘđŽ đŻđ° đđąđž. đđđđđ§đđđĄđŠ đ±:đđČâđźđŻ
Self-government under God is perhaps the most basic and foundational to the three spheres of government God instituted: the family, church, and civil government. Without self-government, all these will break down and fail.
In Luke 16:10, Jesus said that those who âđ€đąđŻ đŁđŠ đ”đłđ¶đŽđ”đŠđ„ đžđȘđ”đ© đ·đŠđłđș đđȘđ”đ”đđŠ đ€đąđŻ đąđđŽđ° đŁđŠ đ”đłđ¶đŽđ”đŠđ„ đžđȘđ”đ© đźđ¶đ€đ©, đąđŻđ„ đžđ©đ°đŠđ·đŠđł đȘđŽ đ„đȘđŽđ©đ°đŻđŠđŽđ” đžđȘđ”đ© đ·đŠđłđș đđȘđ”đ”đđŠ đžđȘđđ đąđđŽđ° đŁđŠ đ„đȘđŽđ©đ°đŻđŠđŽđ” đžđȘđ”đ© đźđ¶đ€đ©.â Hugo Grotius, an influential seventeenth-century philosopher, political thinker, jurist, and theologian, affirms this truth. He said that the ruler of a kingdom or nation should first be able to manage smaller units of civil government, such as a province or village. Before this, he should be able to govern his family and himself. And ultimately, he should first be ruled by God.
This is evident in Genesis, where God designed Adam and Eve to rule over creation, while being under Godâs rule. Though the term âself-governmentâ or âgovernment of selfâ cannot be found in Scripture, this concept is in the Bible and âself-controlâ is the term closest to it. In this lesson, we will study some basic truths found in the Bible concerning self-government and how we can apply them in our lives.
đ. đŠđČđčđł-đŽđŒđđČđżđ»đșđČđ»đ đ¶đ đŒđ»đčđ đœđŒđđđ¶đŻđčđČ đđ”đČđ» đđČ đźđżđČ đłđ¶đżđđ đżđđčđČđ± đŻđ đđŒđ±.
đđ¶đ” đ đŽđąđș, đžđąđđŹ đŁđș đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ”, đąđŻđ„ đșđ°đ¶ đžđȘđđ đŻđ°đ” đšđłđąđ”đȘđ§đș đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ©. đđ°đł đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ© đąđłđŠ đąđšđąđȘđŻđŽđ” đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ”, đąđŻđ„ đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ” đąđłđŠ đąđšđąđȘđŻđŽđ” đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ©, đ§đ°đł đ”đ©đŠđŽđŠ đąđłđŠ đ°đ±đ±đ°đŽđŠđ„ đ”đ° đŠđąđ€đ© đ°đ”đ©đŠđł, đ”đ° đŹđŠđŠđ± đșđ°đ¶ đ§đłđ°đź đ„đ°đȘđŻđš đ”đ©đŠ đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ đșđ°đ¶ đžđąđŻđ” đ”đ° đ„đ°. . . . đđ°đž đ”đ©đŠ đžđ°đłđŹđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ© đąđłđŠ đŠđ·đȘđ„đŠđŻđ”: đŽđŠđčđ¶đąđ đȘđźđźđ°đłđąđđȘđ”đș, đȘđźđ±đ¶đłđȘđ”đș, đŽđŠđŻđŽđ¶đąđđȘđ”đș, đȘđ„đ°đđąđ”đłđș, đŽđ°đłđ€đŠđłđș, đŠđŻđźđȘđ”đș, đŽđ”đłđȘđ§đŠ, đ«đŠđąđđ°đ¶đŽđș, đ§đȘđ”đŽ đ°đ§ đąđŻđšđŠđł, đłđȘđ·đąđđłđȘđŠđŽ, đ„đȘđŽđŽđŠđŻđŽđȘđ°đŻđŽ, đ„đȘđ·đȘđŽđȘđ°đŻđŽ, đŠđŻđ·đș, đ„đłđ¶đŻđŹđŠđŻđŻđŠđŽđŽ, đ°đłđšđȘđŠđŽ, đąđŻđ„ đ”đ©đȘđŻđšđŽ đđȘđŹđŠ đ”đ©đŠđŽđŠ. đđđđđ§đđđĄđŠ đ±:đđČâđđł, đđ”âđźđ
(Read also đ„đąđ đđĄđŠ đł:đđ°âđźđ±.)
In this passage, đ§đđŠđŽđ© does not just refer to our physical bodies. It refers to our fallen natureâsinful, worldly, and selfish. Left to ourselves, our flesh will rule over us, enslave us, and keep us from doing whatâs right. We cannot rule over the flesh on our own. But if we are governed and led by Godâs Spirit, we wonât đšđłđąđ”đȘđ§đș đ”đ©đŠ đ„đŠđŽđȘđłđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đ§đđŠđŽđ©. Among the works of the flesh presented in verses 19â21, which commonly derail our societyâs leaders and discredit them before our eyes? What do you think would happen if we were unable to rule over our flesh?
đź. đŠđČđčđł-đŽđŒđđČđżđ»đșđČđ»đ đșđČđźđ»đ đźđčđčđŒđđ¶đ»đŽ đđŒđ± đđŒ đżđđčđČ đČđđČđżđ đźđżđČđź đŒđł đŒđđż đŻđČđ¶đ»đŽ đźđ»đ± đčđ¶đđČđ.
âđđŠđąđł, đ đđŽđłđąđŠđ: đđ©đŠ đđđđ đ°đ¶đł đđ°đ„, đ”đ©đŠ đđđđ đȘđŽ đ°đŻđŠ. đ đ°đ¶ đŽđ©đąđđ đđ°đ·đŠ đ”đ©đŠ đđđđ đșđ°đ¶đł đđ°đ„ đžđȘđ”đ© đąđđ đșđ°đ¶đł đ©đŠđąđłđ” đąđŻđ„ đžđȘđ”đ© đąđđ đșđ°đ¶đł đŽđ°đ¶đ đąđŻđ„ đžđȘđ”đ© đąđđ đșđ°đ¶đł đźđȘđšđ©đ”.â đđđšđ§đđ„đąđĄđąđ đŹ đČ:đ°âđ±
đ đąđ±đ±đŠđąđ đ”đ° đșđ°đ¶ đ”đ©đŠđłđŠđ§đ°đłđŠ, đŁđłđ°đ”đ©đŠđłđŽ, đŁđș đ”đ©đŠ đźđŠđłđ€đȘđŠđŽ đ°đ§ đđ°đ„, đ”đ° đ±đłđŠđŽđŠđŻđ” đșđ°đ¶đł đŁđ°đ„đȘđŠđŽ đąđŽ đą đđȘđ·đȘđŻđš đŽđąđ€đłđȘđ§đȘđ€đŠ, đ©đ°đđș đąđŻđ„ đąđ€đ€đŠđ±đ”đąđŁđđŠ đ”đ° đđ°đ„, đžđ©đȘđ€đ© đȘđŽ đșđ°đ¶đł đŽđ±đȘđłđȘđ”đ¶đąđ đžđ°đłđŽđ©đȘđ±. đ„đąđ đđĄđŠ đđź:đ
To be ruled by God, we must first have a relationship with Him. This relationship will, in turn, affect every area of our lives. In Deuteronomy 6, God instructs His people to love Him with all of their hearts, souls, and might:
âą The đ©đŠđąđłđ” includes our inner-being: thoughts, will, and emotions.
âą The đŽđ°đ¶đ refers to all the life that is in us.
âą đđȘđšđ©đ” means all of our passionate energy and strength.
In Romans 12:1, believers are also taught to offer their bodies to God as a đđȘđ·đȘđŻđš đŽđąđ€đłđȘđ§đȘđ€đŠ. This means giving our whole self to God in worship. The apostle Paul said that this is our reasonable and appropriate response to Godâs mercy to us in Christ. How is the term đđȘđ·đȘđŻđš đŽđąđ€đłđȘđ§đȘđ€đŠ ironic? What do you think it means?
đŻ. đŠđČđčđł-đŽđŒđđČđżđ»đșđČđ»đ đ¶đ đđ”đČ đłđżđđ¶đ đŒđł đź đŽđżđŒđđ¶đ»đŽ đżđČđčđźđđ¶đŒđ»đđ”đ¶đœ đđ¶đđ” đđŒđ±.
đđ¶đ” đ”đ©đŠ đ§đłđ¶đȘđ” đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ” đȘđŽ đđ°đ·đŠ, đ«đ°đș, đ±đŠđąđ€đŠ, đ±đąđ”đȘđŠđŻđ€đŠ, đŹđȘđŻđ„đŻđŠđŽđŽ, đšđ°đ°đ„đŻđŠđŽđŽ, đ§đąđȘđ”đ©đ§đ¶đđŻđŠđŽđŽ, đšđŠđŻđ”đđŠđŻđŠđŽđŽ, đŽđŠđđ§-đ€đ°đŻđ”đłđ°đ . . . đđđđđ§đđđĄđŠ đ±:đźđźâđźđŻ
Though we can exercise limited self-control in some areas of our lives, we are unable to fully govern ourselves. The đ§đłđ¶đȘđ” đ°đ§ đ”đ©đŠ đđ±đȘđłđȘđ”, including self-control, only comes from a growing relationship with God. It is a natural byproduct, not something we can force or manipulate. As we continue to know God more, abide in Him, and yield to His work in our lives, we will be transformed and empowered to live self-controlled lives. What are some good habits you would like to start but have been unable to so far?
đđŁđŁđđđđđ§đđąđĄ
âą Is God the ruler of your life? Does He call the shots? How does this reflect in your life, and are you willing to submit to His Lordship?
âą What is the value of self-control or self-government under God? How do you think the fruit of the Spirit will grow in your life and be evident to those around you?
âą What is one thing you would like to accomplish, but have been unable to do with your own strength? Are you willing to rely on Godâs power and ability? How can you abide in Him this week and trust Him to work in your life?
đŁđ„đđŹđđ„
âą Thank God for the fruit of the Spirit that He gives each believer. Pray that you would follow the Holy Spiritâs leading, resulting in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
âą Declare your dependence on God and your submission to His Lordship in every area of your life.
âą Pray that your life under Godâs rule would lead others to know and surrender to Christ as well. Pray that your thoughts, words, and actions would honor God every day.