C.A.C SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR APRIL 30, 2023 : LESSON EIGHT: TOPIC – SOME WOMEN WHO ENJOY AND ALIGN WITH GOD’S GRACE

SUNDAY SCHOOLT LESSON

Unit Two: Spiritual Growth Before Christ Came

PREVIEW CLASS

April 30, 2023

LESSON EIGHT

SOME WOMEN WHO ENJOY AND ALIGN WITH GOD’S GRACE

MEMORY SCRIPTURE

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace (Hebrews 11:31).

Despite being females, the grace of God was extended to Rahab and Ruth; they recognised and aligned with the grace, and they never regretted doing so. What’s your attitude toward the grace of God?

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Philemon 1:8-17; Luke 15:11-32

INTRODUCTION TO DIVISION I:

DIVISION I: RAHAB, THE GENTILE HARLOT

This division is a discourse of how Rahab came in contact with God’s grace, and aligned with it. She heard about the greatness and goodness of YAHWEH. Surprisingly, this gentile woman, a harlot for that matter, aligned with it, i.e. maximised the opportunity she had to come in contact with the grace. She didn’t go divinely unrewarded. The grace saved her. How these happened as well as the implications for our Christian living in this generation are our focus of this division.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. RAHAB, THE GENTILE HARLOT

A. KNOWS AND ALIGNS WITH GOD’S GRACE

B. SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE

LESSON EXPOSITION

Apr. 30 1. RAHAB, THE GENTILE HARLOT (Joshua 2:1ff, 6:17ff). When grace manifests, failures become winners, the rejected are accepted and embraced, and the condemned are discharged and acquitted. Only grace will vindicate a sinner, just as it happened to Rahab, a harlot by profession. In that obnoxious trade, she came in contact with the grace of God, unlimited and irresistible. And before long, a gentile and a harlot, turned a saint in Zion. What a gracious God we serve!

A. KNOWS AND ALIGNS WITH GOD’S GRACE (2:1ff)

And said to the men: “I know that the LORD has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you” (v.9).

2:1: Why did Joshua send the spies secretly? As far as he knew, he would be attacking a heavily fortified city using conventional warfare tactics. He needed strategic information about the city for the upcoming battle. But he also knew that this might draw criticism from the other leaders. After all, the last time spies were sent, the report they brought back caused disastrous problems (see Number 13:1-14:4). While he did not want to move ahead without information, he also did not want to cause the people to stumble and question his wisdom and ability to lead the nation.

2:1 Why would the spies stop at the house of Rahab, a prostitute? (1) It was a good place to gather information and have no questions asked in return. (2) Rahab’s house was in an idea location for a quick escape because it was built into the city wall (2:15). (3) God directed the spies to Rahab’s house because he knew her heart was open to him and that she would be instrumental in the Israelite victory over Jericho. God often uses people with simple faith to accomplish his great purposes, no matter what kind of past they have had or how insignificantly they seen to be. Rahab didn’t allow her past to keep her from the new role God had for her.

2:4,5: Was Rahab justified in lying to save the lives of the spies? Although the Bible does not speak negatively about her lie, it is clear that lying is sin. In Hebrews 11:31, however, Rahab is commanded for her faith in God. Her lie is not mentioned. Several explanations have been offered: (1) God forgave Rahab’s lie because of her faith; (2) Rahab was simply deceiving the enemy, a normal and acceptable practice in wartime; (3) because Rahab was not a Jew, she could not be held responsible for keeping the moral standards set forth in God’s law; (4) Rahab broke a lesser principle–telling the truth–to uphold a higher principle—protecting God’s people.

2:8-13 Many would assume that Rahab–a pagan, a Canaanite, and a prostitute, would never be interested in God. Yet Rahab was willing to risk everything she had for a God she barley knew. We must not gauge a person’s interest in God by his or her background, lifestyle, or appearance. We should let nothing get in the way of our telling people the Good News.

2:11: Rahab recognized something that many of the Israelites did not–the God of heaven is not an ordinary god! He is all powerful. The people of Jericho were afraid because they had heard the news of God’s extraordinary power in defeating the armies across the Jordan River. Today we can worship this same powerful, miracle-working God. He is powerful enough to destroy mighty, wicked armies, as he did in Jericho. He is also powerful enough to save us from certain death, as he did with Rahab.

The kingdom of God is a place of surprise! Those we never expected to make it will make it! and Most of people we always think they will make it first, will not be there!

The unbelievers need Little confession to make heaven.

Believers need Little mistake to miss the kingdom of God.

Nobody can ever believe that a prostitute can be a good instruments in the hand of God to save the children of God. Remember Cyrus also.

Instead of you to work more on ourselves we are pointing and condemning the unbelievers.

What a gracious God, Rahab a prostitute was one of the ancestors of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Keep on condemning while God keep on working on unbelievers.

Some of us condemn women who come to our churches for the first time with trouser, without covering their head, and those who put on earrings and necklace are irritating to those who are too Holy.

Anytime you see a sinner or unbelievers, don’t see the sin, you need to discover that something very important is missing in their lives and pray for God’s leading in order to help them to discover what is missing. If you condemn them you’re in the same category.

Many people are in the church today but unknowingly to them they are on the way to hell fire while some are at the beer parlor but will still be saved and make heaven.

God’s grace is for everyone not for you alone. We are once in the situation. Try to bring others to the light of Christ today.

B. SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE (6:17ff) Only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that were sent (v. 17)..

Why did God demand that the Israelites destroy almost everyone and everything in Jericho except Rahab? He was carrying out severe judgment against the wickedness of the Canaanites. This judgment or ban, usually required that everything be destroyed (Deuteronomy 12:2,3; 13:12-18). Because of their evil practices and intense idolatry, the Canaanites were a stronghold of rebellion against God. This threat to the right kind of living that God required had to be removed. If not, it would affect all Israel like a cancerous growth (as it did in the sad story told in the book of judges). A few people and some items in Jericho were not destroyed, but these were special cases. Rahab and her household were saved because she had faith in God and because she helped the Israelites spies. The silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron were kept, not to enrich the people, but to beautify the Tabernacle and its services (6:24)

God’s purpose in all this was to keep the people’s faith and religion uncontaminated. He did not want the plunder to remind Israel of Canaanite practices.

God also wants us to be pure. He wants us to clean up our behaviour when we begin a new life with him. We must not let the desire for personal gain distract us from our spiritual purpose. We must also reject any objects that are reminders of a life of rebellion against God.

May God help us all in Jesus name.

LESSONS DERIVED

1. Rahab feared God, and that opened her eyes to see the greatness of God showcased in the victory of God’s people.

2. Only the grace of God could bind up His eternal plan for His people in a woman with a bad past, like Rahab the harlot.

WORK TO DO

While one does not need to work to obtain the grace of God, there is the need to work to appropriate it. Discuss in the light of Rahab’s experience.

This is where we have to stop today. Please make your contributions and ask questions if you have any.