C.A.C Sunday School Manuals For March 10, 2024: Topic – RECEIVING SPIRITUAL 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 EIGHT
10th March, 2024
TOPIC: RECEIVING SPIRITUAL POWER AND GIFTS
MEMORY SCRIPTURE : But unto everyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7).
God has a set standard for receiving His power and gifts. Do you follow this? Have you received yours?
BRIEF COMMENT
Spiritual power and gifts are privileges for God’s true children, bestowed based on His grace. These gifts are not equally distributed but tailored according to each person’s abilities. God ensures we are not tempted beyond our capabilities. He does not demand what we cannot handle. The principle of “to whom much/little is given, much/little is expected” applies. God won’t question why someone didn’t run without legs, or fly without wings.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. 4: And You Shall Receive Power (Acts 1:8)
Tue. 5: And They Were All Filled (Acts 2:4a)
Wed. 6: And They Spoke In Other Tongues (Acts 2:4b)
Thur. 7: And Jesus Was Anointed (Acts 10:38)
Fri. 8: And You Shall Be Spirit-Filled (Joel 2:28)
Sat. 9: And You Shall Be Anointed (Isa. 61:1-2)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS
1. Spiritual power and gifts are God’s promised birthright for His children, not for unbelievers. Cherish them!
2. God is always ready to endow man with spiritual gifts, but man must play his required role-readiness!
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:1ff
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
AIM: To aid the understanding of the basics, dynamics and functionality of spiritual gifts and power.
OBJECTIVES: By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to:
1. prove that being born again is the foundation for every successful walk with the Lord; and
ii. show that God’s gifts, though irrevocable (Rom. 11:29), are not without man’s willingness and readiness to cooperate with Him.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: MATTHEW 3:13-17; JOHN 3:3; ACTS 2:1FF; 4:1FF; ROMANS 8:14
Glory and praise to God Almighty for the previous lesson that unveiled to us how GOD GIVES HIS POWER AND GIFTS, by His Spirit, and according to His design. We were exposed to the truth that God is the Giver of spiritual power and gifts.
This week’s lesson centres on: RECEIVING THE SPIRITUAL POWERS AND GIFTS which God gives. God is set to teach us how to receive them, the steps to receiving them, and how to maximise them for His glory and the benefits of humanity. It is our prayer that there shall be an impartation of His Spirit in the course of this lesson and the ones to come. God is ready to dish out His Spirit through His Word. Are you ready to receive?
LESSON OUTLINE
I. CONVERSION IS FOUNDATIONAL
II. COOPERATE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT LESSON EXPOSITION
I. CONVERSION IS FOUNDATIONAL (Jn. 3:3; Acts 2:37-38) And they said; “Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, and your house” (Acts 16:31).
a) Jn. 3:3: Being born again is the starting point to every genuine walk with Christ. It is the point of entry into Christ.
b) Acts 2:37: …they were pricked in their hearts… This is the convicting work of the Holy Spirit. True conversion begins with the conviction in the heart of the sinners after listening to the Word of salvation, solely facilitated by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom. 10:17).
c) v. 38: The Spirit-induced pricking of hearts always yields genuine repentance, forgiveness and conversion.
d) v. 38c:…and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Repentance guarantees salvation, which makes the believer ready to be baptised with the Holy Spirit, and the accompanying signs follow (vv. 4; 10:44-46; 19:1-7).
e) Note that the Holy Spirit came down upon the disciples who had first been with the LORD, Jesus (cf. Mk. 3:15ff). Baptism of the Holy Spirit is for believers, those who have accepted the Lordship of Christ. You can’t claim to be showing gifts when you aren’t born again! Gifts differ from talents!
f) Spiritual gifts, without being born again and guided by the fruit of the Spirit, is charisma without character.
II. COOPERATE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (Matt. 3:13-17; Acts 2:1ff; 4:1ff; Rom. 8:14)
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God (Rom. 8:14).
a) Rom. 8:14: It is one thing to be led by the Spirit, and another to yield to His leading. Cooperating with the Holy Spirit connotes willingly yielding to His leading, following His direction to detail, that shows we are His own.
b) Matt. 3:13-17: The attitude of Jesus to doing the right thing (v. 15) amounted to His cooperating with the Holy Spirit for baptism and anointing (cf. Acts 10:38).
c) 4:1ff: Further cooperation with the Holy Spirit (v. 1) resulted in Him being proved (tested) and prepared for His eventual ministry launch-out.
d) Acts 2:1-4: The Lord had instructed His disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit baptism (1:4,5). Their level of cooperation with His Spirit shows in
i. their immediate return to, and stay in Jerusalem-unreserved obedience (1:12,13);
ii. their obedient waiting for 10 days (2:1; cf. Isa. 40:31);
iii. their oneness in the Spirit (1:4; 2:1); and iv. the way they resolved issues among themselves, thus laying the bed for the Holy Spirit’s visitation.
e) vv. 2ff: Then came the much-needed Holy Spirit baptism with accompanying signs. History tells us that the founding fathers of C.A.C. sufficiently cooperated with the Holy Spirit before the 1930 revival happened.
f) Cooperating with the Holy Spirit has resulted in great, ground- breaking and epoch-making events during the time of the Apostles, the lifetime of our fathers in CAC, and if the legacy is maintained, more of such can still happen in our days.
LESSONS DERIVED
1. Being born again is the foundation for all forms of sonship and exploits in the enabling of the Holy Spirit. Are you born again?
2. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is only possible where the believer
cooperates with Him. QUESTIONS 1. What is the necessity of conversion in receiving the power of the Holy Spirit? 2. What are the practical ways believers can cooperate with the Holy Spirit for His baptism and continuous infilling? *6. SUGGESTED ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ANSWER TO QUESTION 1 . Genuine conversion is the entry point to Christ’s Kingdom. As the son’s food cannot be given to dogs, so are spiritual gifts and power not meant for the unregenerated. Without genuine conversion, walking with Christ will be impossible. The carnal mind cannot comprehend the things of the Spirit. Conversion is to initiate the human mind into the stream of the Spirit. . Conversion is spiritual birth which culminates in spiritual growth. Without being born, there is no growth.
ANSWER TO QUESTION 2 * Total obedience to His leading is one of the finest ways to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
* Cooperating with the Holy Spirit is to live a life of: “Thy will be done, oh Lord!”
* Carrying out divine instructions in the Spirit’s specified way is another way of cooperating with Him. Like our Lord Jesus Christ, doing the right thing in the right way would amount to cooperating with Him.
* Seeking to fulfil divine purpose ahead of self-interest shows a life of full cooperation with the Spirit of God.
LIFE APPLICATION
To achieve significant spiritual feats, one must possess the gifts of the Spirit. These gifts are God’s grace given to believers, distributed according to His will and person’s openness to God. They are specifically intended for those who have accepted Christ’s salvation. God does not invest in those who do not appreciate His gifts. In addition to being born-again, the gifts become more effective when combined with the fruit of the Spirit, and holy living. God is shaping a generation of Spirit-filled believers. Are you one of them?
CONCLUSION
God is looking for those upon whom He will pour out His Spirit as promised (Joel 2:28; Acts 1:8). However, these ones must first accept the Lordship and Person of Christ. Being born-again is the point of entry into a genuine walk with God, possessing spiritual gifts, doing exploits for His Kingdom, and maintaining divine standard in the use of such gifts to His glory. Shalom!
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