CGMI ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL Church of God Mission International – By ARCHBISHOP M. E. BENSON IDAHOSA – DATE: 22ND SEPTEMBER, 2024 | TOPIC: DISCOVERING GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES (PART 2)
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CGMI ADULTS SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Living in the will of God results from the discovery of God’s plan for our lives.
DATE: 22ND SEPTEMBER, 2024
HYMN: S. S & S: 524. Guide me, 0 Thou great Jehovah
TOPIC: DISCOVERING GOD’S PLAN FOR OUR LIVES (PART 2)
TEXT: ACTS 9: l-6; 10-17
INTRODUCTION:
In our last study, we examined Saul’s encounter on the road to Damascus which led to his asking one of the greatest questions the believer can ask the Lord Jesus today- “What wilt thou have me to do?”
This study sets out to look at the importance of this question in the area of living in the will of God.
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this study are to:
- re-examine the question “what wilt thou have me to do in the area of living in God’s will.
- discuss some circumstances today that may require the believer
to ask the Lord the same question – “what wilt thou have me to do”. - discuss how believers can discover and continue in God’s plan.
- know the consequences of not living in God’s will or be mistaken
about God’s will.
5.know the reward of living in God’s will.
BIBLETRUTH:
Q.1. WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE QUESTION:WHAT WILL THOU HAVE ME TO DO?” -Acts 9: 6.
In addition to our explanation to this samebquestion during our last study,
it could also be seen as an expression of someone who must have lost focus of purpose and desires assistance to return to the right course so as to save himself from going further into a situation that may result in being separated
from the will of God.
Q. 2. USING THE FOLLOWING POINTS,
DISCUSS CIRCUMSTANCES TODAY THAT REQUIRE THE BELIEVER TO ASK THE LORD THE SAME
QUESTION:“WHAT WILL THOU HAVE ME TO DO?”
(A) Strength in life’s troubles: 2Cor. 12: 7-10; Matt 26:39
The troubłes in life are so much and so conplex that no one can bear then by him/herself. Apostle Paul so
understood this that he depended solely on God after he pleaded for healing on three occasions and God assured him of sufficient strength
(grace)that will enable him to bear it through. However God so strengthened him that despite all the afflictions he went through, he was able to accomplish his assignment on
earth before his death.
(1Tim.4:7). The believer should learn to ask God what to do in times of life
challenges. God alone has the right answer.
(B) Direction in life choices:
1Samuel 30: 6-8.
One of the attributes of God is “All Knowing” and the topic of our study gives us the fore knowledge that God
has a plan for our lives. Wisdom should therefore help us understand that any life choice that is not embedded in Giod’s plan for our lives is a fundamental error that can lead to eternal destruction. We must
therefore be very sure that we have settled every issue concerning the choice with God, in accordance with His plan for our lives, before any
decision is made, as David did.
(C)Wisdom for life purpose
:Acts 15: 1-12.
When Paul and Barnabas were in Antioch on one of their missionary
journeys, they met some people who came from Judea and claimed to be believers who taught the new converts that they cannot be accepted as believers unless they were circumcised according to the
Law of Moses. There was heated argument between Paul and these
people from Judea. When they were unable to resolve the issue, a decision was taken that a delegation be sent to Jerusalem to meet the Apostles and elders who were with Jesus, who resolved that the new believers should not be laden with the yoke which themselves nor their fathers
was able to bear. So the issue was amicably settled.
They were all happy and there was rejoicing. It is therefore wisdom for us to be humble enough to ask for clearance from God on issues that we may not have been well informed, instead of engaging ourselves in arguments that may lead us into grievous errors.
(D)Correction in the wrong
path. Acts.26: 19.
We see the whole episode of Paul’s experience on his way to Damascus as a correction from the wrong path. Correction without a manifestation of its effect is meaningless and of no use.
The only reasonable effect of the correction is obedience from the person that is being corrected by leaving the wrong path and follows the right one. This we saw later in the life of Paul (former Saul) who received the correction,testifying before King Agrippa about his obedience to the “heavenly vision'” and the effect on the gentiles who are now members of the household of God. We can learn from Paul’s experience that there is wisdom in
obeying instructions and corrections. We should not allow the pride of life deny us of the immense benefit of
obedience.
Q.3. USING THE FOLLOWING POINTS,
DISCUSS HOW THE BELIEVER CAN
DISCOVER AND CONTINUE IN GOD’s
PLANS.
(A) Communion with God in
prayer: Psalms 27: 11.
In order to succeed in living our lives according to the plan of God, we need to engage Him in constant discussion. The only avenue open to us for communication with God is prayers. For us to fully understand how we can
start and continue to the end, we must have continuous fruitful communication (fervent prayers) with God.
And so, if we must succeed in
discovering God’s plan and
Continuing in it, effective
daily communion (in prayers) with Him is inevitable.
(B) Studving and searching His word: Psalms I19: 105
The word of God leads us out of spiritual darkness.When we are ignorant of God’s purpose it can be said that we are in spiritual darkness, and only the study and search of the word of God will reveal to us the
knowledge that will enable us to accomplish the purpose of God for our lives.
(C) Complete and implicit trust.
Paul was one of most outstanding disciples of Jesus Christ.
Jesus told him that he (Paul) would suffer greatly for His (Jesus) sake. He truly suffere greatly while preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
(2Corin 11: 24-28). Despite the untold hardship he went through in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, he neither denied Christ nor abandoned the work. He
demonstrated an unwavering trust (faith) in Christ even until his death. What a challenge to believers today!
(D)The Help of the Holy
Spirit: John. 14:26; 16:13.
Before Christ ascended into heaven, He promised His disciples that He would not leave them without a
Comforter- The Holy Spirit, who will also teach them all things. The Holy Spirit is still with the believer today and still teaches/reveals the purpose
of God to him/her through personal conviction.
(E) Seeking counsel from
other brethren Acts 9: 15;
1Cor.12:25-28; Prov.11: 14:
15:22; 24:6.
God in His infinite wisdom and knowledge has endowed many of His
servants with wisdom,knowledge and diverse gifts, whom He has sent out into mission fields, as teachers,
evangelists, counselors’ e.t.c, from whom the believers could seek counsel in times of challenges of any kind, including searching out God’s plan for our lives and living in it.
Q. 4. WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT LIVING IN GOD’S WILL OR BEING MISTAKEN
ABOUTGOD’S WILL? Prov. I4: 12.
Some obvious consequences in either case are: failure to attain God’s
purpose for the individual becoming a failure in life, frustration, becoming a
nuisance to the society, untimely death and ultimately spending eternity in hell fire without experiencing the supernatural. However, there is still hope for anyone who is in such a situation now that the individua] is alive. God is still
reserving a space in His kingdom if only he/she will sincerely repent from the error and wholeheartedly cry unto
Jesus for restoration.
Q.5. WHAT ARE THE REWARDS OF LIVING IN GOD’S WILL? 2Tim.4:7-8.
The rewards that await anyone living in God’s will are rewards of a victor. These include success in every
endeavor in ife, the crown of
righteousness from the Lond- the righteous Judge, experencing the
supernatural in all aspects of
life and ultimately, eternal life in the Kingdomof God.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
Asking the Lord “what will Thou have me to do” daily, is essential towards discovering His will for your
life and staying in it. Knowing and fulfilling His purpose for your life will free the individual from fear of the
unknown. We will fulfill God’s purpose for our lives by living in obedience to His revealed will. God’s plan for our lives is to give us a hope and a future (Jer.29:11).
MEMORY VERSE:
(Eph.2: 10)
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before, ordained that we should walk in them”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE:
MON: GOD’S PLAN FOR THE BELIEVER:Acts 9:10-17, 13: 2-12: Jn. 4: 16-22.
TUE: LIVING IN THE WILL OF GOD: John 5: 30-31: Heb. 10:7-9
WED: WISDOM IN LIFE’S PURPOSE: Acts 15: 1-12; Gal. 2: 1-10.
THU: COMMUNION WITH GOD: Psalms 5: 1-8; 27: 11-14.
FRI: OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S PURPOSE: Gen. 12:1-7,22: 1-12.
SAT: CONSEQUENCES OF NOT LIVING IN GOD’S WILL
Matt. 25: 1-13,24-30
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