C.A.C Sunday School Manual For January 31, 2021 : Topic – He Unfolds His Eternal Agenda

God prepared the agenda for the world before anyone was created. He determined that hat He wanted to do, who would be used and when should be done. Continuity is one of the features of God’s programme.

And he said, “Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia before he dwelt in Haran, and said to him, ‘Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show you” (Acts 7:2,3).

i. God’s eternal programme can never be scuttled, everyone given the opportunity becomes responsible and accountable to God for what he/she has received. Remember the past generations before Abram.

ii. After “CONFUSION” of language with the consequences that followed, what has been the lot of the post-flood generations (Gen. 11:1-9). God’s programme must continue, after all, He is the Creator and the Governor of all nations (Isa. 45:18, Psa. 22:29). Man was confused but God can never be confused.

iii. Abram became God’s prepared vessel. He had appeared irreligious background but the omniscient God had seen Abram’s accessibility, reachability and humility. God cannot be short of personnel ‘. Are you available?

iv. Abram was called before his idolatrous father died, but no serious commitment, until he had the unreserved freedom to choose (Gen. 11:26-31 of Acts 7:1-8). God chose to start a new thing to achieve His predetermined eternal programme. Where are you in that programme?

v. Abram heard and obeyed God (Gen. 12:1-4). Abram humbly, faithfully and ungrudgingly obeyed God without thinking about the gains/pains. All that mattered to him was, obedience to the divine voice.

vi. One thing was needful at which he never lacked — unbroken relationship with the Caller i.e. The Owner of heaven and the earth. Evidences of the relationship (Gen. 12:7; 13:14; 15:18; 17:1-27), etc.

vii. Greater things do not usually have great beginning if it is of God, people would see meanness, smallness and insignificance, but the end of any God-given assignment is unimaginable. Do not despise your small beginning (Job 8:7). Has God started anything with you? Recognise, Receive, Respond, and Release.

In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because you have obeyed My voice (22:18).

i. God had started a new dispensation with Abram. God gave to him the what was bigger than he. What anyone receives from God has to do with God’s grace but the recipient needs humility, faith, availability and total obedience.

ii. God, the Owner and Creator of the Heavens and Earth, had chosen to continue His work with Abram, who would be not just be the father of his household but of NATIONS (Gen. 15:1-5).

iii. God began by giving him assignments with covenants — innumerable children (v. 5), old age (15:14,15), portions of land as inheritance (vs 17 – 21).

iv. Gen 17:4-6 covenant of being a father of NATIONS, though Isaac was yet to be born. Everlasting covenant to be his God for his children (v. 7) and a special covenant with Isaac (v. 21). Meaning that, come what may, God will not abandon ISRAEL, and by extension, believes, who are ISRAEL of today.

v. Gen. 22:15-19: Covenant of blessing and multiplication. God spoke about kings, and priests coming from Abram (17:5,6 Ex. 19:6). Who else is qualified to make pronouncements like these, except the Owner of the kingdoms?

vi. God’s programme are eternal, unstoppable and indestructible. These must be SUSTAINED by those God has chosen for the assignments who must continue to pursue the ORIGINAL INTENTIONS of the Owner.

1. God is the Governor of all Nations, and directly, or indirectly, He always starts something with the one He has graciously chosen.

2. When God has finally decided on what to do, His programme (Plans) cannot be destroyed, but He can change the persons who refuse to comply and be relevant.

QUESTIONS

1. God is merciful; He spared the Ninevites who repented. Can there be forgiveness without repentance?

2. What is God sustaining or starting with you in His Kingdom? Are you living up to His expectation?

Forgiveness has to do with pardon for a fault or offence to excuse from payment of a debt owned, or freedom from total punishment from a sin committed.

Usually, it is the offended that should show the act of forgiveness. Most of the time, this is based on the mercy, the offended has on the perceived or confessional attitudes of the offender (1 Kg. 21:29, Ps. 51).

Genuine confession of sins (Ps. 51) and repentance from the evil way are true important ingredients that may attract God’s mercy. No one who continues to sin, refuses all invitations and offer of love from God, towards repentance and reconciliation would be forgiven by God. The Ninevites (like the Israelites) experienced that glorious deliverance, but for how long? No forgiveness for deliberate sinners (Heb. 10:26).

This is a direct question to everyone who makes it practical and personal.

1. Has God started anything with you? Are you placed in a place to keep working on what God has started through someone? Keep doing (wholeheartedly) whatsoever is being committed into your hands. Be sensitive. Be creative!

ii. What are you doing (NOW) what have you received?

– Know it

– Appreciate it

– Work it (enthusiastically, passionately)

– Get others along with you – Yes, others who have been sent to join you by God

– Pray for, and pursue God’s glory and CONTINUITY of the programme.

God works with covenant. The Israelites would continue to be relevant and indispensable. Why God’s covenant upon/over them (2 Sam. 7:1-6, 13 – 17). The seasons, times and rainbow would continue as long as the earth remains. Why? God’s covenant (Gen. 8:22; 9:11-15). The process of salvation and entry into relationship with God would continue to depend on the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and the blood of the covenant. Key yourself into God’s eternal blessing by coming to God through Jesus Christ. Key yourself into the only eternal and everlasting covenant of God, through the blood of Jesus Christ (Heb. 8:7, 12:26,13:20).

God the Creator, creator out of love for a predetermined purpose and relationship with Him (NOW) and reign with Him (later).

When God saves a person, He normally washes and fortifies such a person to reach tens, hundreds, thousands and millions.

Your race, tribe or nationality is not a barrier to His choice but He expects man to respond to His love, power, provisions and consequently, be available, teachable, so that the gracious God can bring him out, build him up and bless him with spiritual blessings for every good works. Are you ready?

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK TWO

Mon. 25: Sins Cry And God Hears (Gen. 18:20).

Tue. 26: God On Inspection To Sodom And Gomorrah (Gen. 18:21-22)

Wed. 27: God Listens To Abraham’s Intercession (Gen. 18:23-33)

Thur. 28: Misbehavour To The Heavenly Visitors (Gen. 19:1-17)

Fri. 29: Blindness Before Fire Consumption (Gen. 18:10,11; 24-25)

Sat. 30: God Remembers Abraham (Gen. 19:27-29).