C.A.C LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL FOR MARCH 3, 2024 : TOPIC – GOD GIVES HIS POWER AND GIFTS
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CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH Nigeria And Overseas
2024 SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THEME: SPIRITUAL POWER AND GIFTS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST
LESSON SEVEN
3rd March, 2024
TOPIC: GOD GIVES HIS POWER AND GIFTS
MEMORY SCRIPTURE
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).
God still gives His power and gifts. He is indeed the incomparably gracious God!
BRIEF COMMENT
The letter written by Paul to Timothy stirred the latter’s strength and confidence in God to avoid cowardice before unbelievers, which can thwart the Gospel from being preached. Timothy could possibly have been timid when faced with problems and God’s work, probably due to his youthfulness (1 Tim. 4:12). So, Timothy and we today are reminded and encouraged that the Spirit we have received doesn’t generate fear (Rom. 8:15), but power, love, and discipline (sound mind, self-control). Fear grips, torments and immobilises its victi victims, making them feel powerless and alone (1 Jn. 4:18). God’s power by the Holy Spirit enables us to no longer be victims. God’s perfect love fills our lives through the abiding presence of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:5). Also, Christ’s mind guides us in God’s way of making right choices. We will experience peace and poise, while fear and cowardice will vanish when the Spirit takes control.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 26: God Gives Good And Perfect Gifts (Jas. 1:17)
Tue. 27: God’s Spirit Gives Varieties Of Gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-11) Wed. 28: God’s Gifts Are Irrevocable (Rom. 11:29)
Thur. 29: God’s Gifts Are For Service (1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12:3-8)
Fri. Mar 1: God’s Power Strengthens Our Weakness (2 Cor. 12:9)
Sat. Mar 2: God’s Immeasurable Power Works In Us (Eph. 3:20)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. God gives His power and gifts to believers as an expression of His grace in Christ Jesus.
2. The power and gifts of God that you possess are for the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Romans 12:3-8
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To clearly illustrate that God possesses absolute power and bestows His gifts as He deems fit.
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to show that:
i. the Kingdom of God is in power, and not mere words; and
ii. show that God gives His power and gifts to fulfil His purpose.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: PSALM 62:11; ACTS 1:8; 2:1-21; 1 CORINTHIANS 4:20; 12:1FF; EPHESIANS 4:7-8
We praise God for using the previous lesson to clarify what talents and spiritual gifts are. Through the sharing of His abilities and gifts, God communicates with us in a variety of ways. Every person on the planet has unique talents that he/she should explore and develop.
In today’s discussion, we shall be studying how God gives His power and gifts. Hope we haven’t forgotten that power is the ability, capacity, right, legal or official authority to act, produce an effect, possess control, influence or have dominion over others. God gives gifts without revocation (Rom. 11:29). His mighty Arm on the likes of Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, Prophet Daniel Orekoya to mention a few, are examples of God giving His power and gifts.
Since the dawn of time, this same loving and generous God has been giving. His generous giving is recorded throughout the Bible, and He gives as He sees fit and pleases (Psa. 115:3). May we be enabled to understand this better than ever before, by His Spirit.
b) Psa. 62:11: Undeniably, power belongs to God (19:1). It comes from Him to believers on a journey to submit to Him. It is the ability to do things divinely. God has the raw power; He uses His unchallengeable strength to get things done.
c) Acts 1:8a: God generously delegates His power to believers to execute in accomplishing His redemptive purpose here on earth, without the exertion of much energy. He associates this power with the descent and indwelling of the Holy Spirit (cf. Lk. 24:49).
d) The life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit is God’s design and desire for believers (Psa. 68:35; Jn. 14:16-18; 15:26,27; 16:13), different from what we have in this packaging and noise-making generation.
e) 2:1-21: The promised divine power indeed came at Pentecost. The Apostles and others at the Upper Room were filled with power. God is able to accomplish far more than we can ask or imagine through His power in us (Eph. 3:18-20; Php. 4:13).
f) However, this divine power comes with some conditions: not to lord it over others (Matt. 20:25-28), or for personal glory (Jn. 7:18; 2 Cor. 10:17-18). It is for God’s glory.
g) Divine power is meant to showcase Christ and bring people to the saving knowledge of Christ Jesus. He should be the centre of attention and at the forefront of all that is done with His power.
II. GIVES GIFTS ACCORDING TO HIS DESIGN (Eph. 4:7-8; 1 Cor. 12:1ff)
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Eph. 4:7).
a) 1 Cor. 12:1ff: The Scripture teaches that God gives individual gift(s) through His Spirit, as He wills (Matt. 25:14).
b) vv. 4-7 show that spiritual gifts are spiritual abilities, or endowments given to believers to strengthen the Church and accomplish God’s purpose here on earth. It is for the profit of all. What are you using your gift(s) for?
c) vv. 8-11: Each of the gifts mentioned here is the manifestation of the Spirit, given as He wills, as occasion demands, from the divine perspective (Matt. 10:19-20).
d) Eph 4:7-8: Christ’s gifts are to strengthen Christ’s body, the Church. Your gift(s) is (are) for the use of the Church and not for selfish gains. Based on your gifting, you are a gift to the body of Christ. Are you playing your part as gifts to the Church?
e) 1 Cor. 12:4-5: Christ owns the Church, His body. By divine sovereignty (Psa. 115:3), He apportions different gifts, ministries and activities to each member, by the same Spirit.
f) vv. 27ff: God’s design is that, regardless of the diversity of our giftings, we would work together as Christ’s one body, by His Spirit, to accomplish His eternal redemptive purpose on earth.
g) Your gift(s) does(do) not make you different from, or better than your fellow believers. As the Body of Christ, we are working for the unification, edification and strengthening of His body. Negligence will give room for the devil.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. God has chosen to graciously share His power with man (believers) to carryout His work on earth.
2. God’s Spirit equips members of Christ’s body with gifts to facilitate victorious and productive Christian living.
QUESTIONS
1. The Holy Spirit is the channel to divine power and spiritual gifts. Discuss.
2. God gives gifts as He wishes. Explain.
SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
ANSWER TO QUESTION 1
* Refer to part 1 of the lesson exposition.
* Absolute power belongs to God and He gives as He pleases.
* According to Luke 24:49, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, the divine Enabler. No one can receive divine power without the Holy Spirit.
* The Pentecostal experience of the outpouring of God’s power through the Holy Spirit affirms this.
* There are different kinds of spiritual gifts that are given by the same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:4-5).
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2
* God’s sovereignty over all cannot be overemphasised; He owns all things and does whatever He wishes with them (Psa. 115:3).
* God is not a waster. He gives gifts benevolently, and solely, for the fulfilment of His purpose here on earth.
* God created us, and He is all-knowing; He knows our capacity, i.e., what we can handle and manage. Therefore, He determines what each one of us gets.
* God made Peter’s shadow and Paul’s handkerchief or apron to heal the sick, and those with evil spirit were delivered (Acts. 5:15-16; 19:11-12).
LIFE APPLICATION od is a generous Giver who provides power and gifts to believers G to advance His Kingdom on earth. He remains consistent in His giving, as He did during the Apostolic age and with great empowerment of fathers, like Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola and Prophet Orekoya. You too can receive His power and gifts according to His measure and purpose.
CONCLUSION
The Church functions well because God provides power and gifts for the body of Christ. These gifts are meant to benefit everyone, not just ourselves. We should use God’s grace to build up, strengthen, and unite the Church, rather than causing division. It would be a mistake to take God’s generosity for granted, as we will be held accountable for the grace we have received.
NOTE