C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 19 & 26, 2023 : LESSON THREE, TOPIC – ABRAHAM GROWS IN GRACE

LESSON THREE

TOPIC: ABRAHAM GROWS IN GRACE

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8).

The gracious God graciously called Abraham and gave him a glorious future. Don’t put the call of God’s grace on hold.

BRIEF COMMENT

Spiritual growth is enshrined in total obedience, which is a product of faith in God. Is faith in God really separable from obedience to Him in achieving spiritual maturity? The two are intertwined, since it is not possible to obey someone you do not have faith in, and vice versa. That is why, the obedience of Abraham here was qualified by faith. You need faith to walk with God in obedience, to be able to enjoy all the blessings He has in store. God wanted to change the destiny of Abram from an ordinary idol worshipper in Ur of Chaldean, to a follower of YAHWEH and an inheritor of Canaan, the Promised Land.

However, this paradigm shift is attached to his obedience to the call to depart his nativity to the unknown land. Man misses God’s promises and agendas when he fails to demonstrate total faith and obedience in God. Many of us are wise in our own eyes (Prov. 3:7), unlike Abraham who wholly followed God, even when the instruction was not humanity reasonable. How will someone leave the known, just like that, for the unknown? The Bible says, And he went out, not knowing where he was going. This is a rare kind of obedience, and can only be found in few people in such situation. God’s grace really worked in, and for Abraham. Our level of obedience by faith in God, which is a demonstration of whether we cooperate with grace, or not, will determine the height we can go in God.

DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS FOR WEEK ONE

Mon. 13: Abraham Is Divinely Called (Heb. 11:8)

Tue. 14: Abraham Enshrines Divine Faith (Heb. 11:9-10

Wed. 15: Abraham Enjoys Divine Strength (Heb. 11:11)

Thur. 16: Abraham Received Divine Promise (Heb. 11:12.

Fri. 17: Abraham’s Assurance Of Divine Hope (Gen. 15:1-6)

Sat. 18: Abraham Receives His Hope (Gen. 21:1-7)

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

1. God’s grace projected Abraham as a great light in the midst of darkness, and assisted him to succeed in his divine assignment.

2. Grace located Abraham from among the countless that existed in the world then, elected him, brought him out of godlessness, helped him to obey in a significant way, even when he had no example to follow, and made him what God designed him to be. Grace also took Abraham through the stages of growth towards maturity in YAHWEH, beginning with the time he began like a spiritual baby, despite his old age, through gradual growth (cf. Gen. 17), until he became appreciably mature.

3. When you cooperate with, and focus on the grace of God, you are divinely assisted ó follow through the path of maturity, and rewarded accordingly immediately and ultimately. Never look away from God’s grace.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Romans 4:16-25

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

AIM: To show that our growth in God makes Him committed to us, and brings His good purposes to pass in our lives.

OBJECTIVES: At the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:

i. show that by God’s grace, believers are called out of darkness into the marvellous light of Christ.

ii. prove that after the call unto salvation, God’s grace still brings us into higher and deeper covenant, where we enjoy great spiritual blessings;

iiu. explain how you God’s grace helps us to overcome setbacks on our ways to spiritual maturity; and

iv. explain how cooperating with God’s grace help us reach the height, or stature God has in mind for us.

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: GENESIS 12:1-20; 15:1-21; 16:1-27; 18:1-33; 21:1-21; 22:1-9

All glory to God Almighty for living us the opportunity to study the theme: SOME CHARACTER WHO GROW IN THE LORD’S GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE. May His name be praised forever. Amen. In the previous lesson, we had considered the spiritual life of Job as he was of the biblical leaders that could be followed in the path of spiritual growth. This means that he was worthy of emulation.

Subsequently, the present lesson teaches us the spiritual life of another biblical leader, a father of faith, righteous man, and founder of a race for God — Abraham. In this lesson, we are going to see how God graciously called him out of his homeland to another land, for His eternal purpose. We will see how God commissioned him for the special assignment to begin a new, holy and covenant race—God’s owner people.

Also, we shall be considering how God’s grace helped him to succeed in all the tests he went through in his journey of faith.

May God empower us with the grace to achieve great things in our own Christian race, as we study this lesson, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

INTRODUCTION TO EACH DIVISION:

This is a two-week lesson with two major divisions, I and II, each is further subdivided into A and B.

DIVISION I: GRACE CALLS AND COMMISSION HIM

The first division makes us understand how the grace of God located Abram from his idolatrous background. God called Abram, and he obeyed, despite that he had no previous knowledge of YAHWEH. In obedience, he left his home in the Ur of the Chaldeans, and journey to a land, which he had never been to before. He eventually received it as an inheritance. We shall also come to better understand the reality that God also extends His grace to the unbelievers, in order to bring them into encounter, close relationship and fellowship with Him.

DIVISION II: GRACE SUSTAINS HIM

In this division, we see how the grace of God sustained Abraham. As a man, he had his own flaws, yet, God’s grace worked things out for him. The same grace that helped Abraham to come out of that pagan background, also assisted him to make amends when he erred, and sustained him through all his life’s challenges, passing the tests of life. At the end, he received the fulfillment of God’s promises by the grace of God; his love for God paid off eventually, as he became a friend of God and father of nations.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. GRACE CALLS AND COMMISSIONS HIM

A. INITIAL CALL

B. EVENTUAL COMMISSIONING

II. GRACE SUSTAINS HIM

A. GRACE HELPS HIM ON HAGAR’S SAGA

B. GRACE HELPS HIM TO PASS ISAAC’S TEST.

LESSON EXPOSITION

Jan. 19 I: GRACE CALLS AND COMMISSIONS HIM (Genesis 12:1-20; 15:1-21; 17:1-27; 18:1-33).

Calling and commissioning are by the grace of God. No one takes the honour (calling) upon himself; no one calls himself. The call of God is the sovereign act of God, through which He brings one into what He wants such to do for Him. It is consecration for a specific task, in line with God’s eternal redemptive purpose. Longman dictionary defines calling as “a strong desire or feeling of duty to do a particular kind of work, especially religious work”. Commissioning is giving an authority to act for, on behalf of, or in place of another. Let us see how God did this In Abraham’s life.

A. INITIAL CALL (12:1-20)

Now the LORD has said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you” (v. 1).

i. vv. 1-3: Abram was first called by God while he lived in Ur of the Chaldeans. God’s grace located him when he was still a pagan amidst his idolatrous people (11:27-32), to make him relevant in God’s eternal redemptive programme—grace in action for the undeserving.

ii. vv. 4-6: The question is, “Will he obey?” Leaving his comfort zone for an unknown destination was a big risk. Thank God he obeyed;;grace assisted him. His cooperation with the grace that located, and brought him out of that darkness paid off later (24:35).

iii. vv. 7-9: He exercised great Faith YAHWEH he was yet to fully know. This is God’s grace in action, which occasions constant relationship with Him. Blessed are those who don’t only see but also believe (Jn. 20:29).

iv. 22:1ff; cf. Heb. 11:8-10: The prompt obedience grounded in faith characterised this patriarch’s lifetime. Even when he was finally commissioned, he didn’t argue with God. Spiritual growth is enshrines in total obedience to God.

v. For the blessings of God to be fulfilled on anyone, he/she must cooperate with God’s grace, like Abram did (Rom. 4:1-25; cf. 12:7; 13:5-21).

vi. The call to jet out of his nativity came by God’s saving grace, through which sinners are brought out of darkness into the fellowship of the Light. Have you got this fundamental call? What have you done with it, if yes? Cooperate with God as He continues to guide you by His Spirit of grace.

B. EVENTUAL COMMISSIONING (15:1-21; 17:1-14; 18:1-33)

And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly (17:2).

i. To commission is to be given work to do. Abram had been told what he was divinely called to do. Grace calls and commissions. God doesn’t call for frivolities.

ii. 15:1-21; 17:1: The LORD frequently appeared to Abram. Here, He appeared to commission him for specific assignment; the essence of his calling.

iii. The grace Abram received positioned him to hear God’s special name by which God revealed Himself, I am Almighty… (Heb. El Shaddai) from God Himself. Your level of spiritual growth determines the level of your revelations.

iv. v. 1b: Walk before me and be blameless… That he had a son through another woman (16:1-16) was a stain on his linen. So, he needed cleansing, and grace to walk perfectly before God. To be effective in his God-given assignment, he would have to do away with blemishes, since God’s grace does not condole iniquity (cf. Rom. 6:1ff).

v. 17:1-14: Part of the commissioning is the renewal of the covenant by God, with circumcision as its token. The commissioning involved grace, giving them changed names—‘Abraham’ replaced ‘Abram,’ and ‘Sarah’ in place of ‘Sarai.’ God’s grace brings positive change to the new creature (Christian) (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17).

vi. Waiting patiently and cooperatively upon the LORD will help us to identify what He wants us to do for Him, and how to do it. This is also by God’s grace.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. When we totally obey God, He will release His blessings in full package to us.

2. It is important to back your call and commission with unflinching holiness–an indication of growth in grace.

WORK TO DO

Why was the charge, “Walk before Me and be perfect,” necessary for the life and fulfilment of God’s purpose in Abraham? Any lesson for us today?

SUGGESTED ANSWER TO WORK TO DO:

The charge was necessary due to the following:

i. God is neither confused, nor does he confuse anyone. He is holy and orderly. His way must be clear enough for one to follow.

ii. The immaculate God doesn’t accept indulgence. Abraham, though delivered from idolatrous background, still allowed himself to be controlled by cultural influences, which God’s holiness can never condone, hence the need for purging (Matt. 5:48; Jn. 15:3).

iii. Also, for Abraham to fulfil the purpose and promise of God for his life, he had to live a sacred and consecrated life unto God. If not, the justice of God, which is impartial, would knock him out.

iv. Having been called out of darkness into light, Abraham had the responsibility to separate himself and be an example to others, in following YAHWEH, since God was just establishing to him, the principles and rules that would guide His own special and separated people (Exod. 19:5,6; 1 Pet. 2:9).

v. God expected Abraham to totally trust Him. Hence, he had to learn walking with God with perfect heart.

vi. The only way to walk with the Lord and enjoy the benefits therein is to agree with His holy standard (Amos 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:15,16). No wonder, God charged Abraham to retrace his steps back to His holiness, so that that wouldn’t hinder the fulfillment of God’s purpose for him (Gen. 17:1ff).

Lessons for us today:

i. We must be holy and separated to God alone. We shouldn’t join ourselves with the world from where He has called us out.

ii. If we learn to walk with God with perfect heart, it will be well with us, and God will be proud of us.

iii. We must be exemplary as peculiar people of God, holy and elected by God from the world.

iv. We must regularly examine ourselves to make sure we are still in tandem with God’s holy standard, and to make sure we are still in tandem with God’s holy standard, and to make amends whenever we find ourselves lagging behind (cf. 1 Cor. 13:5).

v. When we are distinguished, and do God’s will, His purpose for our lives will be established.