NBC Sunday School Manual For July 9, 2023 :Topic – A DEMONSTRATION OF POWER.
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SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON FOR YOUR PREPARATION
NBC SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
Theme for the Month:
JESUS ENVISIONS THE KINGDOM.
DATE: SUNDAY, 9TH JULY, 2023.
TOPIC: A DEMONSTRATION OF POWER.
Devotional Reading:
Matthew 6:5-15.
Background Scripture:
Matthew 12:1-32.
Lesson Scripture: Matthew 12:22-32.
GOLDEN TEXT:
“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Matthew 12:28.
OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the lesson, class members should be able to:
● Describe Jesus’ authority over the powers of darkness.
● Explain the reason the Pharisees doubted Jesus’ power to heal.
● Make a personal commitment to guard their utterances in spiritual matters, particularly when it concerns the Holy Spirit.
INTRODUCTION:
Demonic activities are real in our contemporary time, just like it was in the days of Jesus. Jesus’ ministry while on earth was majorly teaching, preaching and healing. Each time He preached, taught, and healed the sick and demon possessed, people were amazed because of the demonstration of divine power. His authority over demons was so much that He was accused on different occasions of being possessed of the Devil. In this passage, the Pharisees showed their ignorance over the divine power of Jesus when He healed the man who was possessed by demons. Though they agreed that He had supernatural power but they claimed that such power came from the Devil (Matthew 9:34; 10:25). Jesus, however, convinced them that His power is from God and not the Devil, as they assumed. In all the instances, Jesus demonstrated His power over demons, people were not only cured but the power of evil was defeated.
The confrontation between Him and the kingdom of darkness became apparent when the crowd brought a man who was demon possessed to him. The man was blind and mute as a result of demonic powers. By divine power, Jesus healed the man and he became free. The miracle was a proof that He is the true Son of David whose kingdom is the only hope for humanity in every generation. Rather than praising God and acknowledging the source of Jesus’ power, the Pharisees doubted His ability to perform such a miracle. They concluded that He was able to drive out demons because the prince of demons, Beelzebub, gave Him the power to do so (v. 24). Their assumption was an indication that they were ignorant of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, who has power over everything including demons. The healing of the demonpossessed man by Jesus was truly a demonstration of divine power. This is the focal point of today’s lesson.
THE LESSON EXPLAINED…
A. JESUS DEMONSTRATES POWER OVER DEMONS:
[Matthew 12:22-28]
The first few verses of chapter 12 of the gospel of Matthew record quite a number of arguments the religious leaders had with Jesus, especially over the violation of the Sabbath law. Later, they brought a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him. The people who witnessed the miracle were all amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” But this annoyed the Pharisees who had frequent confrontations with Jesus. In their usual way, they mocked Him and said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons that this fellow drives out demons” (v. 24). Their claim suggests that Jesus was not a true Jew thus He was working with Beelzebub, the supreme god of the people of Ekron. Jesus responded to their statement saying, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and very city or household divided against itself will not stand.” He made it clear in verse 26 that if Satan drives out Satan, he is already divided against himself; therefore, his kingdom cannot stand. Thereafter, He declared saying, “If it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you”.
The power of Jesus is supreme over every other power, spiritual authority and principalities (Colossians 2:10) of this world, even if people refuse to acknowledge it. Although Jesus’ critics agreed that He had supernatural power, they assumed that such power came from the Devil (Matthew 9:34). He, however, made it clear to them that His power was from God, which was evident in His life and ministry. The demonstration of the power of Jesus is a fulfilment of God’s desire to show mercy rather that outward religious strictness, devoid of compassion like the Pharisees stressed (v. 7; Hosea 6:6). The Pharisees were always concerned about mere strict observance of the law, at the expense of the expression of the love of God. Jesus’ attitude is the supreme example for believers – just as He was compassionate towards the needy, we should also care, show genuine love and consistently pray for those who are burdened with different challenges instead of being unconcerned.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. Do we still have people in our day like the Pharisees who constantly accuse others?
2. How can the church handle the issue of holier-than-thou attitude in the lives of some believers?
B. A NECESSARY WARNING:
[Matthew 12:29-32]
As much as the Pharisees hated Jesus, they did not deny His miraculous works, which were evident in His ministry. Unfortunately, they were so hypocritical that they attributed it to satanic power. Jesus gave an illustration in verse 29 saying, “How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house.” Anyone who will fight a strong person must first be able to capture such a person before looting his house. The Devil is a strong man but it takes a stronger man, who is Jesus to overcome him. Thereafter, He warned them saying: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (v. 30b) By these statements, it is clear that the Pharisees were against Jesus’ ministry and the growth of God’s kingdom. Furthermore He said, even though people will receive forgiveness for every sin and blasphemy but the sin against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this age or hereafter (vv. 31-32).
Jesus’ question in verse 29 reveals that the power of God is superior to that of Satan. Consequently, it is only through the power of God that captives can be totally set free. Unfortunately, the Pharisees failed to recognise the power of God and so, through their action, they became enemies of God and were guilty of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This is a warning to Christians to guard their hearts against unbelief and sin against the Holy Spirit. The warning is necessary because anyone who deliberately refuses to recognise, acknowledge and glorify the Holy Spirit through His works but blasphemes against Him, cannot receive forgiveness. If we believe in God and the person of Jesus Christ, we should also believe in the Holy Spirit because the three are one; they are inseparable. Believers should not doubt the power of the Holy Spirit at work in the church, even when we cannot explain it. Jesus is still delivering people from demonic oppression by the power of the Holy Spirit.
DISCUSSION TIME:
1. According to the passage, what are the signs Jesus presented that indicate that the kingdom of God has come?
2. Discuss the consequences of speaking against the Holy Spirit?
Fellowship and Ministry Building Activity:
● Ask class members to identify people with protracted health challenges. Spend some time to pray for and encourage them that the power of the Holy Spirit is still potent as before and is capable of healing them.
Take Home: State at least three main lessons you are taking home, based on today’s lesson:
● __________
● __________
● __________
Commitment:
● Based on today’s lesson, make a commitment to help someone who is sick by encouraging and arousing the faith of the person to believe in the healing power of Jesus Christ.
Remain Inspired & Be Lifted!