CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL – Topic: FOCUS ON CHRIST TO WALK IN THE LIGHT – SUNDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2023
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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
DATE : SUNDAY 10th SEPTEMBER, 2023.
HYMN : S.S & S 642 “When We Walk With The Lord”
CENTRAL THOUGHT :
Believers should walk continuously in the light of Christ
TOPIC :
FOCUS ON CHRIST TO WALK IN THE LIGHT
TEXT:
1Jn 1:1-7; Eph 5:8
INTRODUCTION:
“Light illustrates, make evidently manifest and dispels darkness, it gives direction and awaken the other senses. God is light (1Jn 1:5) and anyone walking in light walks with God.” Walking” equally suggests that it is a continuous process. To walk in light therefore means to continuously walk with God- a call to fellowship with the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a call to deliberately choose light over darkness- “Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness…” (Eph 5:11NLT).
The focus of this study is to help the believer walk in the part of God’s light continuously by focusing on Christ.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are to:
- Know what it means to walk in the light
- Appreciate the characteristics of those walking in the light
- Know the requirements of walking in the light
- Understand how focusing on Christ can help the believer walk in light
- Understand consequences of not walking in the light, and
- Appreciate benefits of walking in the light BIBLE TRUTH: QUESTION 1.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK IN THE LIGHT ? (Eph 5:8; Acts 26:18)
To walk in light means to deliberately turn away from darkness (ignorance and lack of divine knowledge that holds men in bondage) and all that it represents and choose to walk in illumination. Satan is identified as the God of this world which lies in darkness (Isa 60:1). It is to be delivered from the power of satan and the hold of sin. It also means to receive pardon and forgiveness from sin and book a place with the company of saints sanctified by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. In simple terms, it means to be born again, and live for and by Christ on a daily basis. It represents a situation where the believer’s life and reality are governed by the illumination and truth that is found in God and that God represents.
To walk in light is a daily step-in-step walk with Christ- “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12NIV).
The death and resurrection of Jesus broke through the Spiritual darkness that engulfed the heart of men through alienation from divine truth – ” Those who sit in darkness have seen a great light” (Matt 4:16; Isa 9:2) QUESTION 2.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THOSE WHO WALKED IN THE LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ? (Eph 4:17-31).
A major characteristic of those who walked in the light is that their reality and consciousness is anchored on the eternal truth of God’s own reality which is expressed in His word. They do not deny the existence of a contrary notion or narrative, but they choose to deliberately say “I follow Jesus” and actually do so.
They take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (Eph 5:11-13). By the way we live our lives, those who live contrary should see and be ashamed. It means not joining the multitude to commit sin. Unfruitful works of darkness represents those that stand in contrast to the will of God for the believer.
The believer who walks in light add values to the general body of believers by acting and living right. They live out what is “good and right true”
(Eph 5:9NLT)…. “for this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” The believer who walks in light is careful how he/she lives… the ultimate goal and desire is living to please God. QUESTION 3.
HOW CAN ONE BEGIN TO WALK IN THE LIGHT ?
To begin to walk in the light, one must be born again. To be born again means to come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and accept Him as Lord and Saviour. It is a personal decision that cannot beade on behalf of another. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour gives entrance into this pathway of life and light in the Father. Jesus is and remain the exclusive light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5).
Walking is an activity that requires effort and the expending of energy to reach a desire goal or destination. It implies a purposeful activity to accomplish something regardless. True, salvation is free, but to continue to walk in and enjoy the light that is in Christ requires deliberate effort to engage with the word of God (… the Holy Scripture) and doing what is expects of us (Jas 1:22-24). For as we keep looking into the scriptures, we are transformed.
We need the energizing power of the Holy Spirit- for by strenght shall no man prevail, in order to continue the walk in the light. It is the Holy Spirit-that brings and interpretes the mind of Christ to us, and the mind of Christ is in agreement with the mind of God.
Acknowledging that we cannot walk this path on our own, the place of prayers helps the believer to draw the strength needed to continue to walk in light. QUESTION 4.
HOW DOES FOCUSING ON CHRIST HELP US TO WALK IN LIGHT ?
To focus means to gaze continuously. We are admonished to look and keep looking unto Jesus as our perfect example of all that the Father expects of us to walk in light. “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith…” (Heb 12:2). Jesus did not only walk in light, He was the very light of men. He was manifested to destroy all the works of the devil, (1Jn 3:8). Only Jesus has the remedy for the sin nature. This remedy was handed over to man at the cross of Calvary for those who believe and have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. To know how to apply this remedy on a continuous basis, we must focus on Christ, learn of Him and walk in Him. We must choose to walk the path that Jesus walked. To do that, our gaze must be on Him continuously without wavering. QUESTION 5.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT WALKING IN THE LIGHT ?
Anyone who does not walk in light walks in darkness and in obscurity. Such is cut of from God and is destitute of the blessings that comes from having fellowship with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the body of saints (believers). The life of such a man is marked by ignorance of divine truth and devoid of the blessings that comes from such relationship. “He that has the Son has Life, He that has not the Son does not have life” (1Jn 5:12). Such is cut off from the God kind of Life. Not walking in light is death i.e. separation from God QUESTION 6.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF WALKING IN THE LIGHT ?
Unbroken fellowship with the Trinity and fellow Saints is part of the benefit of continuously walking in the light. Even when such falls into sin, the need to confess and forsake is paramount and the Holy Spirit plays His role for our restoration. Because of our broken relationship with the Trinity, there is peace. Eternal life is guaranteed. DAILY LIVING APPLICATION :
The believer is encouraged to be deliberate and intentional about walking in the light. He who walks in light will not grope in darkness, and will deny the unfruitful works of darkness represented by the world. Blessings attend to those who walk in the light focusing on Christ, and leading ultimately to a place in heaven with the Father MEMORY VERSE
1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin”
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