CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL – DATE: SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY 2025 | Topic: Seed time and harvest time shall never cease.
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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Seed time and harvest time shall never cease.
DATE:
SUNDAY 26TH JANUARY 2025
HYMN:
S.S & S 877- “Standing on the Promises of Christ.”
TOPIC:
FOCUS ON CHRIST FOR A GOD-GIVEN HARVEST.
TEXT:
Gen 26:1-14; Psalm 126:5-6, Amos 9:13;Luke 5:5-7.
INTRODUCTION:
Harvest time is a period of joy and great expectation after a season of labour. It is the time when our efforts are ripe and ready to be gathered. Harvest is a consequence of carefully planned activities over a period of time.
God-given harvest refers to outcomes that emanate from divine intervention which defies
natural logic or explanation. It is to reap from the benevolence of
God beyond what the natural sense could have imagined and what human effort alone could have achieved. It is to get results that are beyond the ordinary course of nature as a result of divine favour. It is also the ingathering that follows divine inspiration applied on the natural course of sowing and reaping. Through human input alone harvest can neither suffice nor bring lasting satisfaction. As believers, we must realize the role of God in our desire for a God- given harvest.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lesson are to:
- explain the term ‘God -given harvest’;
- discuss some of the conditions for receiving God -given harvest;
- discuss the complementary role of the believer in receiving a God-given harvest; and
- explain why we need a God-given harvest.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. EXPLAIN THE TERM “GOD-GIVEN HARVEST.
God-given harvest refers to the blessings we receive because of what God has done on our behalf. Harvest is the process or
period of in-gathering of crops, or a time of receiving abundant desirable outcomes. God-given harvest encompasses both spiritual and material benefits
we receive, not out of the intensity of our efforts and labour, but by grace. It is the divine multiplication of the outcomes of our little efforts.
Q2. GIVE SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES OF INSTANCES OF GOD-GIVEN HARVEST
There are numerous examples in the Bible where miraculous harvests were received. Some of them are presented below:
i. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Gen 2:8-9.
They were the very first to experience God-given harvest. They were created into a garden of abundance and pleasure,which they never labored for.
ii. The experience of Isaac (Gen 26:12-13)
Isaac experienced God-given harvest at a time of drought. He heard and obeyed God carefully. God so blessed him that he became a subject of envy.
iii. Ruth (Ruth 2:5-8)
This lady of compassion who was widowed and childless is another example of God-given harvest because she received more than enough for herself and Naomi.
iv. Peter on the day of Pentecost, Acts 2:38, 41; received a God-given harvest of souls. With just a simple message, three thousand souls were won to Christ.
v. The Philippians Church (Phil.4:15-19)
As a result o f their liberality, received abundance of harvest and grace that has remained the standard for many a Christian.
vi. Others include People like Jacob who received God-given harvest in Laban’s house, Joseph and Daniel who received God-given harvest in wisdom and administration.
Q3. WHAT ARE SOME CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING GOD-GIVEN HARVEST?
(Gen.26:1-6;Jer4:3;Matt 13:18-23;Psalm 67:5-6;Ecc. 11:1-6).
Receiving God-given harvest is a joyful experience with several responsibilities for the believer. It is not unconditional. The initial conditions are that we must hear from God, have faith in God and obey the instructions of God in all things. Added to these, the believer must labour with diligence and perseverance and must not succumb to discouragement.
In the process of labour, he must go beyond ordinary and average effort as compared to others. All latent and actual talents must be activated in optimism. One is neither to lose focus nor allow distraction from the opposition but rather spread out and look out for hidden opportunities for expansion. Prudent management and allocation of available resources is necessary if one must experience God-given harvest. Most importantly the believer must have deep-seated sense of gratitude to God as the source to all harvests. He must demonstrate patience while sowing and must understand the principle of sowing and reaping.
Q4. HOW DOES ISAAC’S TIME IN GENESIS 26 COMPARE TO OUR PRESENT DAY SITUATION?
Both periods under consideration share a lot in common. These include
famine,economic recession, poor living conditions, mass migration to supposed better climes by both, skilled and unskilled, able -bodied men and women.
However in the case of Isaac, he involved God, obeyed God against his wish, and did not migrate to Egypt. From there on, God took over his affairs.There were great challenges though, but God was ahead, and it all ended in greatness for him and praises to God.
The lesson we can draw from this episode is that the greener pasture is doing the will of God. In the face of economic and security challenges of our time, a closer walk with God, seeking for His counsel and being positive in faith will bring a better and more enduring harvest than any self-induced migration, no matter how appealing it appears.Q5. WHY DO WE NEED GOD-GIVEN HARVEST? Psalm.124:8; 127:1-2
We need God-given harvest because of the gross inadequacy of our efforts alone. Fruit from our labour can only come by His benevolence, not our mastery. We need God-given harvest so that we can obtain real and lasting satisfaction. This will strengthen our faith in God and will help us to develop a sense of dependence on Him alone. God given harvest enables us to develop the spirit of generosity toward people and the things of God. This will ease our burdens in life and constantly remind us of God’s faithfulness in provision and thus motivate us to cultivate an attitude of worship and gratitude to God in all things.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
It is our utmost desire in life to always get good result from every effort of ours. Abundance of input and resources are good, but may not always be sufficient enough to guarantee the needed results. There is the element o f divine favour that brings multiplication to our harvest. This is the God-given
harvest that every child of God must desire and covet.
MEMORY VERSE:
2Corinthians .9:6.
“……He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON: Seed time and harvest shall never cease. Gen. 8:22.
TUE: Reaping comes from sowing. Gal.6:7.
WED: Sowing is a life -long activity. Ecc. 11:1-6.
THU: Increase is from God. Psalm 67:5-6.
FRI: Good results comes from God. Haggai. 1:6.
SAT: He giveth His beloved sleep. Psalm. 127:2.
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