Sunday School

TOPIC:    BELIEVING GOD’S PROMISES (2 COR. 1: 20)
INTRODUCTION:
The word “believe” is related to faith, and means to have confidence and trust in something. When used in relation to God or Christ, it means to assent to what He says or made known, or to receive and trust Him personally.

EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO BELIEVED GOD’S PROMISES:

From the beginning we see people like us including Sarah, Abraham, Noah, Moses, etc showing absolute faith and trust in God’s spoken word to them at various times and places. These people demonstrated their faith and acted in absolute obedience, so that what was spoken to them became a reality. Their belief and action did go to fulfill that which was said that “…he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

When Abraham showed trust in God’s promises for generation yet unborn, it was counted to him as righteousness. “He took Him outside and said …… then he believed God and He counted to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:5-6).

Notwithstanding the actions of these believers, there still exist “OBSTACLES” that go to test the faith of believers, even today.

• Lack of sympathy on the part of the Church. See the case of the Canaanite woman (Matt. 15:22-23).
• The case of children brought to Jesus (Mk. 10:13).
• Discouraging circumstances. (See the healing of the paralytic in Luke 5:18-19).
• Unbelieving friends – Jarius’ Daughter’s case (Mk. 5:35).
• Divine Delays: Lazarus’ death and his sisters’ message to Jesus (John 11:3-6).

The Divine call on Christians today is to look out for the many promises of God recorded in the Bible and take hold of them as they affect us, believing that God cannot lie and He will not fail us (Hebrews 13: 5).

EXAMPLES OF GOD’S PROMISES

• Healing of our sicknesses. “Is any sick?...” (James 5:13).
• In fearful circumstances or attacks from enemies. “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God” (Isa. 41:10; 43:2).
• Needs of this life. “Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock and the door shall be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7; Luke 11:9).
• Divine gifts. “Give and it shall be given to you…” (Luke 6:38).
• Mansions in Heaven. “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me…” (John 14:1-3.
• Life conditions in different situations. There is a promise of change for good in the hereafter. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet…” (I Cor. 15: 52).
• A better resurrection. “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout…And the dead in Christ will rise first… Then we who are alive and remain…. So we will always be with the Lord” (I Thess. 4:16-18).

CONCLUSION:

Dearly beloved, God who is Divine has called us to Himself and given us His word in various promises for our lives here and hereafter. Therefore, since we still have these promises today, let us hold fast all of God’s promises to us by being faithful and reach out and claim them whenever opportunity calls us to do so in Jesus Christ Name, Amen.

REMAIN BLESSED!

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TOPIC: FALSE RELIGION (REV. 2: 6)

INTRODUCTION:
The Bible contains God’s word, and it is divided into the Old and the New Testaments. The Old Testament contains the principles and practices of Judaism, the religion God designed for the nation of Israel. The New Testament, on the other hand, contains the principles of Christianity, the religion God designed for all nations of the world. To practice true Christianity we must ensure that we do not go beyond what is written in the New Testament.

WHAT IS FALSE RELIGION?

False religion is a wrong belief on various systems of faith and worship. Anyone who seeks to be justified by the law is separated from Christ and has fallen from grace (Gal. 5:4). The worst false religions are the ones that claim to be Christians but worship something else (I Tim. 4:1, II Tim. 4:3-4).

FALSE RELIGIONS:

These are some of the false religions that some uphold and practice; and unless they repent, they will not inherit eternal life.

1. “That one can be saved without Christ.” But the truth is that salvation is only in Christ Jesus (Acts 4:12; John 3:16-18; 14:6; Rom. 8:1).

2. “That one can be saved without baptism.” One must be baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38; I Pet. 3:21).

3. “That to be born again, one only needs to invite Christ into his life as his personal Lord and Saviour through prayer.” The truth is that one must be born of water (baptism) and the spirit (infilling of the Holy Spirit) (John 3:3,5; Acts 23:38).

4. “That sprinkling, pouring, flagging and flogging are acceptable ways of being baptized.” The Bible clearly states that Baptism is by immersion (burial) into water (John 3:23; Matt.3:13; Acts 8:35-38; Col.2:11-12; Rom. 6:4).

5. “That infant baptism and proxy baptism are sufficient for salvation.” But the Bible says only the people who believe and repent should be Baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).

6. “That one needs training on church doctrine before he is baptized.” The moment one believes and repents he is due for baptism (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk 16:16; Acts 2:38-41).
7. “That only 144,000 people will go to heaven and the number is complete already, that others will live on earth.” The Bible lets us know that heaven is for all faithful believers, and no one had gone into it yet. That the earth will be burnt up (Revelation 7:4-9, John 14:2-3; Phil. 3:20; II Pet. 3:10).

8. “That only those who are predestined to be saved will be saved.” The truth is that only those who work out their salvation through obedience will be saved (Phil. 2:12-13; Heb. 12:14; Matt. 25:34-36).

9. “That the soul of a wicked man can be transferred from purgatory to heaven through mass.” The bible teaches that there is no repentance and no redemption after death (Heb. 9:27, Rev. 14:13; 2 Cor. 5:10; John 9:4).

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF THESE FALSE RELIGIONS?

1. Lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6; Luke 6:39; Matt. 7:21-23).
2. Love of money (Heb. 13:5; Matt. 16:24-27; I Tim. 6:10-12).
3. Willful ways of taking people away from Salvation (2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Pet. 2:1-3; Rom. 16:17-18).
4. In the later time (I Tim. 4:1; Mark 13:22; Matt. 24:11;,24; Matt. 7:15; II Tim. 4:3-4).

THE SEVERITY OF GOD TO THE DISOBEDIENT

God as pronounced a curse on anyone who would preach or cause others to do anything which is outside the gospel of Christ (Gal. 1:6-9). For example, Nadab and Abihu had to die a merciless death because they went beyond God’s instructions (Lev. 6:12-13) by bringing strange fire to burn the incense (Lev. 10:1-3).

THE GOODNESS OF GOD TO THE OBEDIENT

God promised blessings to everyone who keeps the perfect law of liberty, that is, the law of Christ (James 1:25). Noah enjoyed God’s blessings because of obedience to God’s instructions that he should build an Ark of gopher wood (Gen. 6:22; Gen. 7:23).

CONCLUSION

One’s salvation is at stake and questionable if one worships God or does anything religiously outside the New Testament (2 John 9). Note that one who follows a wrong road-map would never reach an expected destination though he travels. One who holds false ideas about salvation will not be saved, though he takes part in worship activities (II Pet. 2:4-9).

Also note that those who teach or uphold false religions are under a curse (Gal. 1:6-9).

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TOPIC:   OVERCOMING TEMPTATIONS
INTRODUCTION

To tempt is to entice to do wrong by promise of pleasure or gain. Temptation, therefore, is the state of being enticed especially to do evil. It can also be said to be a testing designed either to strengthen or corrupt someone.

HOW TEMPTATION WORKS

The Holy Spirit tells in detail how temptation works in James 1:13-15. Here are some graphic equations.

         Lust          +      Enticement       =      Temptation

(Sinful desire)    (Opportunity)

Temptation   +        Action            =        Sin

     Sin               +  No Repentance   =     Death (Eternal)

These equations are followed by a warning: “Be not deceived my beloved brethren” (vs. 16). Why? Sin is very deceptive (2 Cor. 11:3).

THE THREE LINES OF ATTACK THE ENEMY USES IN TEMPTATION

Temptation to sin is common to mankind. Even our Lord Jesus was tempted (Matt. 4:11; Heb. 4: 15, 16). All temptations come through one of three (3) avenues or a combination thereof. They are: Lust of the flesh, Lust of the eyes, and           the pride of life (1 John 2: 16)

1. The case of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:6). In Eden, Eve saw that the tree was:

“Good for food” = Lust of the flesh

“Pleasant to the eyes” = Lust of the eyes

“A tree to make one wise” = Pride of life.

2. The case of Christ (Matthew 4). In Christ’s temptation we see the following:

“Command these stones to become bread”= Lust of the flesh.

“The devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world” = Lust of the eyes.

“Throw yourself down from here” = Pride of Life.

3. In our case today (1 John 2:16). In our temptation today the devil follows the same line of action by using the allurement of worldliness to attack us. These are:

1. Things appealing to the flesh = Lust of the flesh.
2. Things appealing to the eyes = Lust of the eyes.
3. Things appealing to the mind = Pride of life.

HOW TO OVERCOME TEMPTATION

Temptation to sin can be interrupted in four areas:

• Lust can be controlled: One’s thoughts can be transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom. 12:2; Phil. 4:8). A person who loves God more and more will be tempted less and less to tell lies, curse, etc. One may not be what he thinks he is, but what he thinks – he is (Prov. 23:7). Watch your thought (Prov. 4: 23).

• Enticement (Opportunity to sin) can be limited. It is not right for one who has not matured sufficiently to go into a situation where he will have strong inducements to sin. Such opportunities to sin must be limited. For example, when you marry, marry a real Christian; keep good company (1 Cor. 15: 33).

• Action can be disciplined. This, too, begins with thinking. All lusts and enticements cannot be removed, but one can learn self-control. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit, than he that takes a city (Prov. 16:32). Be conscious of God’s presence always (Prov. 3: 6).

• One must repent. This is necessary when one succumbs to sin (Acts 17:30, 31). The penitent child of God confesses his sins to God (1 John. 1:9). It is not the will of God that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3: 9).

• Watch out for the way of escape (1 Cor. 10: 13). We must always remember that for every temptation, there is a corresponding way of escape. Therefore, let us always watch out for the way of escape whenever temptation arises.

CONCLUSION

The devil is the tempter who is seeking to destroy us (1 Pet. 5:8). We must not give place to the devil (Eph. 4:27). God’s Word tells us to resist him and he will flee from us (James 4:7).                    

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