CAC SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JULY 25 AND AUGUST 1, 2021 LESSON ONE : TOPIC – THE WHOLE WORLD BECOMES CHAOTIC 

CAC SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL FOR JULY 25 AND AUGUST 1, 2021 LESSON ONE : TOPIC – THE WHOLE WORLD BECOMES CHAOTIC 

CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH WORLDWIDE

(KINGDOM OF GOD FAMILY)
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: IN TIME LIKE THIS
UNIT One : MAN’S DISCONNECTION
Date : 25th July & 1st August, 2021
Lesson : ONE
TOPIC : THE WHOLE WORLD BECOMES CHAOTIC
Memory Scripture
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him. And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon
(Isaiah 55:7)
It is very unfortunate that the very world God created became chaotic; no thanks to the devil, the ancient serpent. Thank God that Jesus has come to redeem humanity.
BRIEF COMMENT
Prophet Isaiah here gave a general call to meet with God. He started the chapter with ‘Ho everyone who thirsts Come to the waters’ just as Jesus later called in Matthew 11:28; Come unto me all ye that labour and heavily laden… Everyone here could mean the whole or entire people of the earth, irrespective of language, colour, race and nationality. God is the God of all flesh and has good plan for the entire humanity. Even when man fell, He made provision for man’s redemption in Jesus Christ, His offer of salvation (John 3:16, Romans 3:23).
Just as in the days of old, God is calling man to friendship, fellowship and unhindered relationship. This is the only antidote to be free from the chaotic and pervasive situation of the current world
Man’s godlessness and foolishness has brought this great evil upon him, because he cooperated with the devil, God’s enemy, and the enemy of his own soul.
This call or invitation is aimed at helping man to repent from evil, ungodliness and unrighteousness. Isaiah says, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts…” Man must forsake his alliance with the devil, sin and the world to enjoy the blessings and eternal provision of God. It is not enough to forsake evil. Man must take another step further for repentance: let him return to the Lord. After confession of wrong, the next step is to make U-turn. That is, we must back the world (leaving the world, sin and devil behind us) and face God totally (Hebrew 12:2-4). God is merciful and gracious. He will forgive and restore anyone who repents.
Heeding the call or invitation of God is the only solution to the problem the world is currently facing in the area of economy, health, politics, finance, religion, greenhouse effect, war and all kinds of natural disaster and social cultural vices. When you hear God, do not harden your heart. God bless you.
Devotional Bible Reading For Week One
Mon. 19: No Peace For The Wicked (Isa. 57:21)
Tue. 20: The End Of The Wicked (Psa. 9:17)
Wed. 21: Cain, The First Murderer (Gen. 4:6-8)
Thur. 22: Lamech, The First Polygamist (Gen. 4:19)
Fri. 23: Enoch Walks With God (Gen. 5:24)
Sat. 24: The First Instrumentalists and Technician (Gen. 4:20-24)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. God cannot be confused. He knows what He wants in line with His eternal programme, and He comes up with what is next, at the appropriate time.
2. No situation can move or shake God. He is in charge and in total control of all things in heaven and on earth. Man must continue to realise that he needs God for intervention, interjection and restoration in all facts. When he cooperates, he enjoys all round joy, happiness and blessings, both presently and ultimately in eternity.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Jeremiah 4:1-31
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM To show that Jesus is the ready-made solution to the chaotic condition man got himself into when he aligned with Satan, and must be accepted and appreciated.
OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
i. show that God’s plan for man is nothing but good; He created him good and gave him every good thing to satisfy his heart;
ii. explain that man’s unfaithfulness to God and alliance with Satan brought man into critical condition where he had to experience hardship and chaos;
iii. defend the fact that man has different measures he puts up to solve his problems in different times, yet none of these works out well; and
iv. show signs of better understanding of the fact that the free-gift of God in Jesus Christ is the only lasting panacea to man’s condition will remain critical forever.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCES: GENESIS 1:27-31; 3:3-24; 4-12; JOHN 14:1-3; HEBREWS 1:1,2; 2 PETER 3:10
We give God the glory for the way He chose to deal with us in the recently concluded Sunday School series, with the theme, GOD IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF MAN (II). January to June 2021 was indeed a very great time in the presence of the Lord, as we further delved into how God manages/administers the affairs of man, in every respect. May we continue to enjoy the blessings that He has released into our lives. Amen.
Thank God for His grace in allowing us to continue here on this side of the divide, in preparation for Christ’s return and eternity with Him. This second half of the year (January – December 2021), God has chosen to help us understand Him and His purpose better in another theme, IN TIME LIKE THIS.
This is the first lesson in the series, THE WHOLE WORLD BECOMES CHAOTIC. The world is currently witnessing another inexplicable dimension of chaos — economic, spiritual, moral, political, etc. Almost everyone is confused; no adequate explanation for all these; and who knows what would happen next? People keep asking questions. Was this the world God created? Is this the world God envisaged? Why has not God done anything about it? In time like this, people are flabbergasted and confused, even the faith of some are already shaking.
Thanks be unto the eternal God who has given us The Eternal Message that cannot be faulted or set aside. We shall be going into thia Book (the Bible) to examine events, prophecies and history that would show us what had happened in the past, how God has responded to the activities and lifestyles of man, and where we are in His programme.
May we be blessed as we humbly, patiently and expectantly learn from Him who has the final say for a time like this. Amen.
INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION
As usual, this is a two-week lesson with two major divisions, I and II. Each is further divided into A and B.
DIVISION I: THE NATURE OF MAN
This first division dwells on who man is; how he was created in the image and likeness of God and how God declared is how man incurred God’s wrath. His unfaithfulness brought upon him the unfortunate condition where he had to begin to die after he has been banished and punished heavily by God.
DIVISION II: THE FAILED HUMAN EFFORTS
This division dwells also on two important issues, One, Different Dispensations where we begin to understand the various attempt by man to get out of his unfortunate conditions by his own human efforts. Here, we see different times and different trials, yet none of these yielded any good result. The second issue is the way out, which explains the only lasting and efficacious solution to man’s problem as offered by God. The attitude of man to, and what should be the recommended attitude to the offer of Christ by God also brought to perspective.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. THE NATURE OF MAN
A. HE IS CREATED GOOD
B. HE INCURS GOD’S WRATH
II. THE FAILED HUMAN EFFORTS
A. DIFFERENT DISPENSATIONS
B. THE WAY OUT
LESSON EXPOSITION
I. THE NATURE OF MAN (Genesis 1:27-31; 3:3-24)
25th July, 2021
Nature od man is talking about who man is, how he was fashioned or designed by the Creator. God made man in his image and likeness. He was made to rule over all that God created. He was sinless, innocent and godly, until he allowed the image of God in him to be distorted by sin and devil. Since he cooperated with Satan, the Adamic nature in him came to the fore.
A. HE IS CREATED GOOD (1:27-31)
Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good (1:31)
i. v. 31: After the chaotic dateless past, the good, gracious, loving and eternal God embarked on perfect reconstructive word for six days.
ii. vv. 1-3: He worked by His Word and Spirit; this is the combination of the absolute, unlimited and unstoppable God (the Trinity). The Summary: Everything He had created (made) was supervised by the perfect and all wise God and declared “very good” (Gen. 1:31).
iii. This included man, the climax od His creative works who received special attention during the process (1:26), who enjoyed the “breath” (2:7) from God’s nostrils, who was also given the duty of overseeing all that was created before his creation (1:26-31). God enabled and engaged the man to any level.
iv. In “His image” is talking about God, being in this man with the Relative power to do what God only could do. One of such was that he (man) gave names to all the birds and animals that God created (2:19). God trusted man and committed a lot to him. He wants to do that today to the Redeemed. Are we ready?
v. Part of the good in man is that, God gave him the Will to decide for himself, and to make choices. He wasn’t designed like a robot which is programmed.
vi. God should not and cannot be blamed for the misfortune od man. His good gesture should not be mistaken for weakness or wickedness. Man is at fault, and he has within him everything it takes to say ‘NO’ to the man of sin, the devil, but he deliberately went with the STRANGER. The situation has remained the same even today, as we continue to embrace devil’s offers. Hence the chaos and all evil experiences.
B. HE INCURS GOD’S WRATH (3:3-24)
Therefore just as through one man sin entered The world, and death through sin, and thus spread to all men, because all sinned (Rom. 5:12).
i. God, in His kindness, had not just established the man in the garden (provision, protection, etc). He also gave the laws od love — what to do and what not to do, if he would not die (spiritually), or be cut off from His benefactor (Gen. 2:26,17).
ii. Perhaps, if he had asked some questions from God, further explanation about the fallen, judged fell and the consequence was generational curse on man. Corrective measures were introduced to avert further damage but the deed had been done (Gen. 3:3-24). Thank God for the Second Adam who brought permanent cure to the curse of sin and of the law (Rom. 5:12-14; Gal. 3:10-14).
iii. However, because of the spirit of rebellion and disobedience that live in man, till today, chaotic experiences continue, in spite of the everlasting provisions made available in Jesus Christ. Are you free?
iv. Of course, the all-knowing God, who knows the end of all things from the beginning, was not caught unawares on man’s infidelity. He knew that the STRANGER was always around and also knew the havoc he could wreck.
v. God expected that man would be able to resist the STRANGER but since he chose to align, God was furious with man for his choice yet, His eternal provision for remedy would set in, to show he was prepared for the worst.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. The first man, Adam, was created in the image and likeness of God with the full potential to be perfect and capable of doing whatever God wanted him to do. Today, believers are full and complete IN Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:10; Gal. 2:10)
2. Sin and sinful habits have always attracted commensurate punishment from God (even when not detected by anyone, or when the offender is above the law or runs away). This generation should be ready for more chaos, though the blood of Jesus has been shed provisionally for the removal of curse of sin and of the law (Rm. 3:23; Rm. 6:1,23).
WORK TO DO
Temptation is not sin. Sin is yielding to the offers of the devil, flesh, etc., but the believers can live above sins. How (I John 3:8; Phil. 4:13)?
SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO
i. Of a truth, temptation is not sin. Sin is yielding to the offers of the devil, flesh, etc.,
ii. When you are tempted, you have not sinned. However, it becomes sin when eventually you fail to resist the temptation and fall flat for the temptation, as in, doing what tempter dictates.
iii. Here is an examination of James 1:12-15 on the matter of TEMPTATION AND SIN.
* There I blessing (crown of life) for enduring temptation (v. 12a). Enduring temptation shows you love the Lord and approves you as being for God (v. 12b).
* It is wrong to say God tempts you because He does not tempt people.
* Neither can you tempt God, nor He tempts you (v. 13).
* What tempts us is our own desire (v. 14). Desire here means those things we want to have, eat, possess, do, etc. That is, lusts of our hearts. It is along this path that the tempter entices us to sin. Lust is negative, or evil desire.
* DESIRE always gives birth to SIN when it has conceived, and sin when it is fully grown brings DEATH (v. 15).
Believers can live above sin if they choose to. How?
* God has designed in man all what he needs to live life to the fullest, including things needed for godliness.
* Did Adam make use of these? He chose to align with the STRANGER. That makes it wrong to allege God for man’s predicament. Some people believe that God should have stopped the Devil from getting through to Adam and Eve in the first place, while some challenge the inclusion of forbidden tree in the beautiful garden. Anyway, it must be clear that God is neither weak nor wicked. His inclusion of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is not an act of wickedness and that He allowed the devil to get through is not an act of weakness.
* God perfected His work, He did not make robot but full-willed man, who has an intellect and reasoning power. He carries God’s image in him. Why wouldn’t he resist or oppose the STRANGER. It is gross infidelity, unfaithfulness and foolishness for man to have played along with the disguised ENEMY.
* To live above sin, or not, is a matter of choice, because there is readily available provision to resist the devil and sin for the believer in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 12:4; 1 Peter 5:6-9; 2 Peter 3:14-18).
* Remember Job versus Satan; Joseph versus Mrs. Potiphar; The 3 Hebrews versus Nebuchadnezzar, etc.
* Watch your own desire or Lust and learn from the likes of David in the case of Beersheba; Amnon in the case of Tamar; Ananias and Sappirah against the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11); Shechem against Tamar (Genesis 34).

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