C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON For January 19, 2020, God in the Administration of Man. Unit One: TOPIC – THROUGH THE PRIESTS/LESSON ONE 

By | January 19, 2020

C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON For January 19, 2020, God in the Administration of Man. Unit One: TOPIC – THROUGH THE PRIESTS/LESSON ONE 

GOD, THE OWNER AND ADMINISTRATOR

Our God has the whole heavens and earth in His hands as the Owner and Administrator.

Memory Scripture

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you!” (Daniel 4:31).

BRIEF COMMENT

Man has the tendency to be proud, as an offshoot of the Fall; from self-esteem to ego, them, to pride

It is worse, when one has not experienced the redeeming and saving power of the Lord, and is therefore still under the influence of the power of sin. Such was the life of King Nebuchadnezzar. Typical of the natural/carnal man/mind, he boasted of his supposed self-induced ‘feat’ — building the Babylonian Empire. He must have also been further puffed up by the defeat and capture of the hitherto ‘almighty’ Judah (as the gentile nations must have viewed them, because of Yahweh’s presence and backing). He boasted so confidently and complacently (Dan. 4:28-30), to the chagrin of the gloriously incomparable YAHWEH who wouldn’t take such insolence (Isa. 42:8).

Result: Before he could finish the foolish vituperation between his proud lips and mindb(cf. Matt. 12:34), a voice fell from heaven (v. 31a). Whose voice? The awesome YAHWEH (Exod. 20:18-21; Psa. 46:6). The voice of God’s judgment came heavily on the proud king. God has always resisted the proud (Psa. 138:6; Prov. 3:34; Matt. 23:12; Jas. 4:6-10; 1 et 5:5). Nebuchadnezzar was degraded to an unimaginably lowest level, any human can be debased — like an animal, losing the image of God in him (vv. 32b-33).

The import of what the king did was that he indirectly discredit God’s sovereign presence, and that is foolishness (Psa. 14:1-4) that incurs God’s wrath (Psa. 14:5-7). Regardless of what you become or attain in life, let them not run into your head. Always acknowledge God as the Owner and Administrator who gives and can retrieve, in line with His Own eternal plan (Psa. 24:1ff; 75:6ff).

Devotional Bible Readings For Week One

Mon. 13: The Earth is the Lord’s (Psa. 24:1)

Tue. 14: All Rulers need God (Prov. 8:14-16)

Wed. 15: He gives and Withdraws (Dan. 4:28-37)

Thu. 16: He Allocates Land For Inheritance (Deut. 4:2-19)

Fri. 17: He Determines One’s Life Span (Dan. 5:24-31)

Sat. Therefore, Be Wise (Jam. 4:13-17)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

1. The Sovereign Lord exercises and exacts His power, glory, honour and majesty over all that be, including man, the devil and all created things.

2. His power, glory, honour and majesty, among other features of His, define His greatness and goodness, two sides of His personality. For sure, He is sovereign. We see this clearly and incontrovertibly being demonstrated over all His creatures —- devil, demons, man, and nature, inclusive.

3. Why trying to contend with, or trying to drag whatever you think you are, or have with the One you can never defeat in any respect? Align with Him now, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Psalm 24:1-10

AIM AND OBJECTIVES


AIM: To show that God is, and remains the Owner and Administrator of the Heavens and the Earth, regardless of Satan’s false claims and activities.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, it is expected that the readers should be able to:

i. show the Lord as the sole Owner of the heavens, earth and everything thereof;

ii. show the Lord as the Master of the universe;

iii. be more appropriative to God, for graciously choosing to share His leadership role with man; and

iv. show that Satan’s nefarious activities notwithstanding, God can never be dethroned, and He continues to rule through man.

INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: GENESIS 3:1-15; ISAIAH 45:18; COLOSSIANS 1:16,17; PSALMS 8:6-8; 22:28; REVELATION 12:1-10


Inexpressible appreciation exclusively belongs to God who by His Spirit, led us through the course of study in the last six months, as we considered the Theme: That the Scriptures Must be Fulfilled. By His grace, we were assisted to appreciate the more, what The Scriptures meant to God, the, the Lord Jesus Christ, The Apostles and what it should mean to us i.e. The Church of the Living God in this dispensation (2 Tim. 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21). Jesus lived for and fulfilled the Scriptures.

We were able to see the progressive fulfillment of the Scriptures and also became challenged to discover that prophecies of the past, become today’s history which is pointing to the fact that whatsoever has been said/written, through the Scriptures, would be fulfilled. Hence, the most important aspect of the Scripture which is awaiting fulfillment (NOW) is the unstoppable Second Coming of the of the Saviour, Lord and judge of the world. This becomes a source of encouragement to believers (1 Tess. 4:17,18). May we continue to be reminded of all these and be strengthened to keep walking with, and working for Him, as we wait for this aspect of the Scriptures.

Now, God is launching us, by His Spirit, into another subject: “God in the Administration of Man” (Psa. 22:28). Question to be pursued may include: Who created, Owns the Heavens and the Earth? Is God interested in the Administration of the Earth? Can the World be successfully administered without Him? What about men, families and nations that do not seriously recognise Him? Does He has influence on such Nations? Have rebellion, protests, unbelief, etc. prevented Him for acting? When is He going to be fully in charge, etc?

By His Grace, the lessons have been arranged under three Units viz: Unit I: Administration Through the Priests; Unit II: Administration Through the Judges and Unit III: Administration through the Kings. The first lesson in Unit I is titled, God the Owner and administrator.

Nothing has ever existed on its own. Even man was contemplating, conceived and created. If what has life, real life, has its source and origin from God, how about other things and animals? The Bible and believers in God know no other creator who is qualified to properly administer what He has created for an unchanging eternal purpose. May we be wise to see and acknowledge His indispensability in Jesus’ name.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION

This lesson is divided into two sections, I and II. Each of the sections is further divided into A and B.

DIVISION I: GOD, THE OWNER OF ALL

This division rightly presents God as both the Owner and Lord (Master) of the universe (the heavens and the earth), along the lines of two different but interrelated parts, A and B, as usual. Isaiah 45:18; Col. 1:16-17 are the points of call in the division. God is indeed the Creator of all, a thing that makes Him the Owner. The division then sets forth some instances in the Bible that prove the lordship of God in the affairs of Man.

DIVISION II: SATAN, THE THIEF AND USURPER

Gen. 3:15-20; Psa. 8:4-5; Rev. 12:1-10 are the basis of the second division of this lesson. The two parts are God Gives Man Leadership Role and Satan Usurps The Leadership Role. The first part draws meaningful lessons from the fact that God shares His leadership role with man, graciously. This is evident in His dealings with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and others mentioned. The Part B shows how Satan usurped the leadership role given the unsuspecting man. We are not just going to discuss the story, but see how, despite Satan’s trials, God’s sovereignty as the Owner and Lord of the universe can never be rendered ineffectual.

LESSON OUTLINE
I. GOD, THE OWNER OF ALL
A. HE IS THE OWNER OF THE UNIVERSE
B. HE IS THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE

II. SATAN, THE THIEF AND USURPER
A. GOD GIVES MAN LEADERSHIP ROLE
B. SATAN USURPS THE LEADERSHIP ROLE

LESSON EXPOSITION
I. GOD, THE OWNER OF ALL
 (Isaiah 45:18; Psalms 22:28; Colossians 1 16-17)

That one owns something means one has the thing as one’s personal property. If we talk of God in the administration of man. It is just logical to start with the very position and worth of God in relation to man that defines His being sovereign in the affairs of man. It is what you own that you can determine its usage. God is our Lord, because He creates and owns us all.

A. HE IS THE OWNER OF THE UNIVERSE (Isa. 45:18; Col. 1:16,17)

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the LORD, and there is no other (Isaiah 45:18).

i. God is the Creator and Owner of Heaven and Earth (Isaiah 45:18).

ii. The Creator? Yes. He brought everything (invisible) into existence and has been sustaining them (Jn. 1:3,Col. 1:14-17).

iii. Man can be assisted by God, necessity and education, to discover, invest, pioneer “new” things but no other CREATOR. To create, in the real sense, is to bring something out of nothing. He is the only Creator.

iv. All other developmental discoveries in cattle rearing in music (Gen. 4:20,21), technology ppand construction (Gen. 6:12-18), medical (Gen. 2:21), military weapons, etc., were discoveries out of materials and substances already CREATED by the only creator, GOD.

v. God is therefore, the Only Creator and Owner of all things. Why? For His glory, eternal purpose and the blessings of man (Col. 1:16,17; Rev. 4:11).

vi. Therefore, he has the inalienable RIGHT to be in charge (directly or indirectly of all activities on earth and heaven.

vii. The thought of Him being our Owner should humble us in all our dealings, leading us back to Him, regularly. None of us owns him/herself God. does. He must receive the glory for creating us and making us who we are, and would become.

B. HE IS THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE (Gen. 18:20-23; 19:19-25; Psa. 22:28)


For the kingdom is the LORD’s, And He rules over the nations (Ps. 22:28).

i. To be a lord is to have authority and power over others.

ii. God is the LORD of all lords (Heb. Adonai). (Ezo. 20:2; Deut. 6:4). Jesus is called Lord (Karious in Grk)(Acts 2:21,36). Man is also called lord (with small letter ‘I’ (donai in Heb). The lordship of man over the things God created is therefore, by delegated authority. Man is neither a Creator nor an Owner.

iii. Lord is a name of a person who has authority, control or power over all other, God’s power is unlimited. Time, place, people human legislations, etc., Cannot limits His power.

iv. See how God interferes in the affairs of man, even without INVITATION.

(a) After the creation and the manipulation of man, He came and turned the situation around (Gen. 3:20 – 24).

(b) When men began to increase and no longer had respect for His LORDSHIP, He came around and cleansed with water what HE CREATED (Gen. 6:6-8,9:1-3,8-15).

(c) In the family of Abram, He intervened (Gen. 16:7-13; 21:8-21).

(d) Even in the gentile land, Sodom and Gomorrah “experienced” the intervention of God, the Lord, the owner (Gen. 18:20-23; 19:19-25). Any protests, any resistance, any barricade? Impossible, because the LORD, the Owner was in charge.

v. That He is Lord calls for our regular worship of Him. We must accept His lordship over all (not parts) of our lives, ACTIVELY, not PASSIVELY. He who faithfully does that would experience what it means for Him to champion the person’s causes, every time, everywhere.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. God is the Only Creator. He is the Source, Origin of everything. He has continued His work by enabling man to discover, develop and invent new things. Be used of God in positive ways.

2. God is not just the Creator, He is the Master who shows eternal interest in the administration of His world. Because He is Lord, there is no where He has intervened, interrupted and acted that He had been successfully refused, rejected or overthrown.

WORK TO DO

i. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and He is the governor of all nations comes from Psalms 22:18. What ‘kingdom’? Kingdom of both the heavens and the earth, immediately and ultimately. He made all things. Kingdoms inclusive (Psa. 24:1ff). Everything thus belongs to Him.

ii. A governor is an authority figure, like an employer or boss. That is the sense of God being the Governor of all nations. It is more than, He, just being an appointed or elected official who governs a state, colony, or province for a specific term. He rules all nations endlessly, ‘termlessly’.

iii. All nations refers to every kingdom here on earth. God alone permits and moderates the enthronement and denthronement of kings, emirs, sultans, obas, etc. Take the case of Nebuchadnezzar for example.

iv. That He is the Governor of all nations means that nothing happens behind Him (cf. Amos 3:6). He is sovereign over all nations, and only those nations, or people that recognise and appreciate this, can enjoy the fullness of His blessings. This is in the light of Rev. 4:11 that reads, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.

v. God, being the Creator, Owner, and Sustainer of everything, deserves to be worshipped, i.e given all the glory and honour and power; He deserves it. None else does.

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