CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL Topic: COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE  [Church of God Mission International] DATE: SUNDAY 20th MARCH,2022

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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL

DATE: SUNDAY 20th MARCH,2022

(HYMN: S S & S 642 “When we walk with the Lord”)

TOPIC: COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE

TEXTS: 2Corin 6:14-18; Jn 17:9-17

CENTRAL THOUGHT
Believers are commanded to be separated from the world

INTRODUCTION
Right from the Old Testament era to this dispensation of grace, God frowned at unequal yoke between believers and unbelievers. From the call of Abraham to the redemption of the Gentiles, believers belong to God in body, soul and spirit and are vessels for God’s use. The implications of this divine ownership is that a beivers occupy a special place in God’s heart. Deut 7:6 says “For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Our Lord Jesus in His teachings said that ‘they are not of the world even as I am not of the world.’ Apostle Paul in our text also urged the believers not to form a binding relationship with unbelievers as such would weaken their Christian conviction, commitment and obedience to His word.
The message of separation is compulsory and not optional. A proper understanding of parallel in the texts presents the contrast and convey divine expectations of believer’s lifestyle in the world. These are righteous and unrighteousness, light and darkness, Christ and Belial, he that believeth with an infidel, the temple of God with idols. None of these things can be compared with the other . Believers belong to Christ while unbelievers belong to the devil. The believer’s life, relationship and profession are guided by the word of God. How to achieve this, is the focus of this study.

ALSO READ: Open Heaven 18 March  2022 –Topic: THE LAST DAYS 

LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives are to:

1. Understand the phrase “Come out from among them and be ye separate”
2. Know what believers are expected to separate from
3. Identify how believers should live in this present time; and
4. Enumerate some of the benefits of living a separate life.

BIBLE TRUTH
QUESTION 1(a).
EXPLAIN THE PHRASE “COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE”
Come out from among them and be ye separate means living a life that is marked by an attitude of non-conformity to the worldly practices and ungodly behaviour. It means not to form bidind relationship with unbelievers, as such would weaken their Christian conviction, commitment and obedience to God and His word (2Corin 6:17).

QUESTION 1(b).
READ THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES AND EXPLAIN WHAT IT ENTAILS TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE WORLD (Rom 12:1-2; 2Corin 6:17; Ja 4:4; Heb 11:13; 24-26)
This is not for believers to leave their geographical locations, legal professions and isolate themselves from people. It entails withdrawing from compromising associations and defiling actions that create unhealthy or sinful relationships which suppress our identity with God and distract us from the mission of Christ on earth. Though we are in the world, we are not of the world. The Lord Jesus prayed that God should Keep us from the evils of the world.

QUESTION 2.
USE THE FOLLOWING POINTS TO EXPLAIN WHAT CHRISTIANS ARE EXPECTED TO BE SEPARATED FROM AND WHY ?
(I). Ungodly Relationship and Marriage with an Unbeliever. (2Corin 6:14) “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” The reason is that the unbeliever will turn the heart of the believer away from the living God. “…. neither shall thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shall not give unto his son, nor his daughter shall thou take unto thy son (Deut 7:3). King Solomon paid dearly for his disobedience (1King 11:4).
(II). All forms of Idols. (2Corin 6:15-16). Our Lord Jesus in the sermon on the mount warned that we cannot serve two masters at the same time. The aim of the devil introducing all forms of idol is to take one’s heart away from God. Anything that takes our attention from God when He needs us is an idol. (Ex 20:3) “Thou shall have no other gods before me.” It is certain that whosoever is satisfied with God almighty will not desire a lesser God.
(III). Worldly Association/Groups that Frustrate our Moral Standards (Ps 1:1; Rom 12:12). This leads to conformity to the worldly system and gradually weakens the believer’s faith in God.
(IV). Fornication and all Forms of Sexual Perversion. (1Cor 6:18; 10:18; Eph 5:3). “But fornication and all uncleanness, or coveteousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints”. All forms of sexual perversion are abomination to God.
(V). Worldly Pursuit and Ambition. (1Sam 8:19-20; 2Kings 17:14-15; 1Tim 6:6-10). Worldly pursuit and unguided ambition have the tendency of turning the believer’s heart against his maker. The Israelites demanded for a king to be like other nations and to lead them to battle. They ended up disobeying God. Unguided desire for wealth and power canake one wonder away from God.
(VI). Worldly Dress and Adornment (1Pt 3:3-4; 1Tim 2:9). “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array”. (1Pt 3:3) “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel..” Every kingdom (religion, culture/tradition) has its dressing pattern for recognition. So also, God’s kingdom. Christian dressing is based on God’s standard which is holiness (inside and outside) for beauty and glory (Ex 28:2). God is holy and those that belong to Him must be holy.
(VII). Carnal Festivities and Ungodly Culture/Tradition (Rom 1:42; 1Pt 3:3-4; Gal 5:21). The believer should stand against any acts that contradicts his/her faith. They may include to promote, advocate or revive idol worship or tendency and immoral acts or behaviour. Lev 20:23-24b says that “ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you; for they committed all these things and therefore I abhorred them… am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people”.
(VIII). Worldly Conversation (Eph 5:4-5; 1Pt 3:10; Col 4:6). Worldly Conversation weakens ones spiritual strength and corrupt good manners. It grieves the Holy Spirit.

QUESTION 3(a)
READ (EPH 4:25-30; 5:11-12) AND IDENTIFY HOW A CHRISTIAN SHOULD LIVE IN THIS PRESENT WORLD
Eph 4:29 says “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the identifying that it may minister grace to the hearers”. Those who profess true faith in God should no longer walk in the old lifestyle, live the old way, keep the same company of sinners and adorn themselves the way the world does. Rather he/she should walk worthy of their calling, in truth, in love, in wisdom, etc
QUESTION 3(b)
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF LIVING A LIFE THAT IS SEPARATED UNTO GOD ? (Mk 10:29-30; 2Tim 2:21; Jn 14:1-4)
It protects the believer’s testimony as Christ followers. It protects the purity of the gospel. It brings joy and satisfaction. It prepares one for heaven.

   DAILY LIVING APPLICATION

Every kingdom has its culture and belief system. So also is the kingdom of God. Believers should be mindful of living for God, to please Him or do His will, rather than focus on their passion and pleasures. This weakens the foundation of one’s spiritual strength, gradually cools off the fervency of the Spirit which leads to lukewarmness, backsliding, apostasy and eternal damnation. We should therefore make deliberate and sustained effort to dissociate ourselves from the world and it’s ungodly system. Only then can we keep ourselves from the contaminations that are in the world and enjoy the Promises of God.

MEMORY VERSE
2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you”

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