CAC SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR AUGUST 1, 2021 LESSON ONE/DIVISION TWO : TOPIC – MAN’S DISCONNECTION 

II. THE FAILED HUMAN EFFORTS (Genesis 4-12; John 14:1-3; Hebrews 1:1-2; 2 Peter 3:10)

Man has always tried to find solution to his own problem. On several occasions, he leaves God behind in an attempt to find lasting solution to his predicaments. Has he succeeded without God? The truth is, there is no good success without God. Adam’s adoption of fig leaf to cover his nakedness is a failed human effort to solve his problem. We need to know that we can do nothing when we separate ourselves from God (John 15:5). Let us seek and utilize God’s offer of solution to man’s predicament through Jesus alone. Do not continue in failure.

God, who at various times in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (Heb. 1:1-2).

i. Generally, man has never known absolute peace, or lasting cordial relationship with His Creator. Sin is deadly, contagious and would lead to eternal separation. God has zero tolerance for sin, that is why He sent His only begotten Son into the world.

ii. The dispensation of innocence started and ended in the garden. After that, chaos came through sin. Murder, idolatry and pride became prevalent practices (Gen 4).

iii. As man began to grow after the corrective and protective expulsion from the Garden of Eden, he now has conscience but not managed by God, or His Word, hence they were murders, disobedient, polygamous, civilized but godless. Unmanaged conscience indeed (Gen. 4-8)!

iv. Human government started after men had recovered from the flood under Noah. His descendants began to increase (without God, without His Word) Gen. 9:11 Chaos followed, leading to confusion of language at Babel. Has God abandoned man? No, but another period of chaos. Are we different today? Godless leaders in various places!

v. The dispensation of promise of God to Abraham and His descendants and the dispensation of the Law (Exod. 12; to Matt. chapters 1,2) i.e. to the time Jesus was born, was not a very peaceful one either. Why? Sin, disobedience, yes, plus so called “increase in knowledge”, improvement in many areas but without godly desires by the gentiles and Jews. Chaotic experiences continued. Failed Dispensations!

vi. The coming of the Son of man during the dispensation of Grace (NOW) has powerfully destroyed the power of sin and the devil has been appropriately dealt with. Are we better off? No, because, we have either rejected the grace or received it in vain (Rom. 6:1; 1 Jn. 3:8).

vii. Good news: The second coming which is the dispensation of divine government will put a permanent end to chaos, economic woes, political upheavals, spiritual shallowness and all forms of human government. Hallelujah (John 14:1-3)!

B. THE WAYS OUT (2 Pet. 3:10)

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up (2 Pet. 3:10).

i. A look at what is happening around us worldwide i.e. in all the continents of the world, one may ask, ‘where is God?’ When are we going to enjoy chaos-free world; where is the peace He has promised and left in the world (Jn. 2 Pet. 14:27)?

ii. Some truth (bitter truth) has been made known in the Bible.

iii. Prophecies have immediate and ultimate fulfillment but the ultimate fulfilments of the prophecies given by Jesus Christ are being awaited. Jesus is coming soon with His eternal Kingdom that would usher in everlasting peace (Mt. 24:15-28).

iv. No amount of peace meetings, associations, union or unionism in the West Africa Sub-Region, Africa, Europe, or Worldwide can bring lasting/permanent peace. Why? We are all rejecting the mercy of God revealed in Jesus Christ again. God must send unquenchable fire to purify the World. So, let the world be ready for more CHAOS. (II Peter 3:6-10).

v. Good news: In the midst of inexplicable CHAOS, God’s people would have relative peace (through Christ) and when the Prince of Peace finally takes over, it would be joy, peace, love and songs of praise forever, for those in CHRIST JESUS (Mt. 24:29-31; Rev. 11:15).

iv. Jesus is not just a gift of God to mankind and a way of salvation through which man can trace his step back to God, He is the solution to man’s predicament and only antidote that negates all other solutions man has tried (Genesis 3:21; John 14:6).

LESSON DERIVED

1. From the time of creation till NOW, man has continued to disregard God’s instructions, he has always rejected His offers of mercy and has always pitched his tent with God’s enemy (Satan), flesh and the world. However, God has always has a few remnants, like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Lot, Joseph, etc. This is our own generation. Who are you?

2. Chaos will continue in the world, even the worse is yet to come, but believers are to prepare for the Second Coming of the Lord. How? Worship and Work (Missions and Evangelism). His arrival will terminate all chaos. After all, He is the Prince of Peace.

1. Why has God not judged this generation as He did with the past: flood, confusion, captivities, etc (Acts 17:30, 31; II Pet. 3:6-10).

2. God’s judgment is certain impartial and very near. How can we escape?

i. God’s patience and mercy overlook man’s ignorance past (Acts 17:30, 31).

ii. He has given man opportunity to repent.

iii. He takes no pleasure in the death of sinners but that they repent of their sins (Ezekiel 33:11)

iv. Time For Warning: Warning is one of the rules of engagements. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. After several warnings, well circulated, no one will have the opportunity to give any excuse. Like the recalcitrant Israelites, who God had to sell off after several warnings (2 Kings 17:5-23).

v. God is not slack or weak as some people have concluded (2 Pet. 3:1-12).

vi. God’s judgment comes like the thief in the night (Matt. 24:43,44).

vii. God’s appointed day is at hand and cannot shift. Yet a day is like a thousand years (2 Pet 3:7-9).

viii. With the aforementioned, we must realise that it is foolishness to exhaust God patience and mercy.

ix. Even the previous generations that were judged (banished from the beautiful, flooded, confused language and exiled) also enjoyed God’s mercy, patience — they warned. But they eventually exhausted God’s patience that is why they were dealt with terribly.

x. It will be wise I’d this generation can learn from their experiences and retrace its steps on time.

xi. May it not be too late for us in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The only way to escape the impartial, certain and very near judgment of God is that we should:

i. Learn from the terrible consequences the previous generations got for rejecting God’s caution.

ii. Heed gods warning

iii. Ask for mercy and help from Him.

iv. Accept His offer for salvation, which is Jesus Christ, because there is no salvation in any other (Acts 4:12).

v. Noah and his family members escaped the deluge that wiped the ungodly people because he found favour with God (Genesis 6-9).

vi. Lot and his two daughters escaped the destructive inferno that wiped out Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:12-29).

vii. If the likes of Noah and his family could escape, we will definitely escape, provided we do not reject such a great salvation (Hebrews 2:3).

The lives of the following people were characterised by chaos tumult, depression, and all manner of adversities until Christ came unto their situation as Lord and Saviour (Matt. 11:28). Zacchaeus was rich as a publication (Tax Collector) but he could not help the feeling of emptiness and wretchedness in his spirit, until Jesus located him and entered into his house (Luke 19:2-8). Mary Magdalene’s seven evil spirit drove her far away from the Divine Spirit of God, until Christ met her (John 20:11-18). The wisdom of Nain’s hope was totally lost, until she had an encounter with Christ, the Hope of Glory (Luke 7:11). For Thirty-eight years, the man at the pool of Bethsaida was useless and hopeless, until Jesus totally and permanently restored him. The list is endless of lives that encountered Jesus, and their sorrows, hopelessness and adversities came to an end. You are the next!

So far, Holy Spirit has assisted us to come to the end of lesson one of this powerful, wonderful and life-transforming series tagged, In Time Like This. We have been told that Jesus is the only antidote to the world’s chaotic situation. He must be accepted and appreciated, since a medicine does not prove effective until it is accepted and used according to prescription.

Mon. 26: Let The Wicked Forsake Evil (Isa. 55:7)

Tues. 27: Fire From God Is Coming (2 Pet. 3:9-10)

Wed. 28: Neglecting God’s Salvation? (Heb. 2:1-3)

Thur. 29: Do Not Be Troubled (Jn. 14:1-3)

Fri. 30: Abide In Him Now and Forever (Jn. 15:1-7)

Sat. 31: Desire His Appearing (2 Tim. 4:8).