RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL – LESSON: THIRTEEN – DATE: SUNDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2023 – TOPIC: FIRST INTERACTIVE SESSION AND QUARTERLY REVIEW

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RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL
LESSON: THIRTEEN
DATE: SUNDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2023

TOPIC: FIRST INTERACTIVE SESSION AND QUARTERLY REVIEW (SUMMARY OF LESSONS 1-12)

LESSON: ONE

TOPIC: THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD

MEMORY VERSE: “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in HIS sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do”. – Hebrews 4:13.

BIBLE PASSAGE: PSALM 139:7-12

INTRODUCTION
Even though we know that God’s presence is in some sense uniquely in Heaven (Isaiah 66:1), the teachings of scripture also make it clear that God is omnipresence (present everywhere at the same time). From the beginning of Scripture, we see the presence of God hovering over the earth, even when it was still formless and empty (Genesis 1:2). God filled the world with his creation, and his presence and glory continue to inhabit the whole earth (Numbers 14:21).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. BIBLICAL EVIDENCE
2. ALWAYS WITH US

BIBLICAL EVIDENCE

A. Throughout the Scripture,
There are many examples throughout Scripture of God’s presence moving on the earth, interacting with his creation.

B. For instance,
i. Adam and Eve acknowledged the presence of God in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8);
ii. God walked in the camp of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 23:14).
III. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do”.
iv. Jeremiah 23:24 exclaims, “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD”.

ALWAYS WITH US

A. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ:
i. God is with you, beside you, above you, and inside you (Genesis 28:15).
Ii. God’s presence and watchful care never leave you (Hebrews 13:5b).

B. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ:
i. God is right in front of you, inviting you, drawing you
ii. God is offering you the love, mercy, and grace that He longs to give you (Revelation 3:20).
iii. A better question than “Where is God?” is “Where are you, in relationship to God?” (Genesis 3:8-9).
iv. A sinner cannot hide from God and everything that is done in the secret is open before God because He is everywhere (Psalm 51:3; 139:7).

C. God’s presence is always with us:
i. Whenever we witness Christ to the world (Matthew 28:19-20).
ii. Even when we do not feel God’s presence amid our pain,
III. So we can be assured that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Isaiah 43:2).
iv. Has He was with the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:21-25).
v. All the time (Matthew 1:23).

CONCLUSION
God is everywhere! His omnipresence is one of his existential attributes.

LESSON: TWO

TOPIC: THEOPHANY

MEMORY VERSE: “And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD”. – Exodus 34:5

BIBLE PASSAGE: GENESIS 18:1-3, 16-22

INTRODUCTION
The term “Theophany” comes from the ancient Greek word theophaneia, meaning “appearance of a deity.” Specifically, a “theophany” is a visible or tangible manifestation of God. In its most restrictive sense, it is a visible appearance of God in the Old testament period, often, but not always, in human form. The use of the term “theophany” is restricted here to manifestations of God in temporary forms visible to the eyes (not in dreams). A frequent introduction for theophanies may be seen in the phrase “the Lord came down” (Genesis 11:5; Exodus 34:5).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. CATEGORIES AND BIBLICAL INSTANCES
2. THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST

CATEGORIES AND BIBLICAL INSTANCES

A. Some of the tangible or visible manifestations of God are found in three categories: appearance as a man, non-human form, and appearance as the Angel of the LORD.

B. Biblical instances of God’s appearance:

1. As a Man:
   i. Genesis 18:1-3, 13,17- Abraham had some visitors: two angels and God himself. He invited them to come to his home, and he and Sarah entertained them.

ii. Genesis 32:22-30- Jacob wrestled with what appeared to be a man, but was God (vs. 28-30).

iii. Daniel 3:23-25- The fourth man in the fire is none other than God.

2. In Non-human form:

i. Exodus 24:16-18- Frequently, the term “glory of the Lord” reflects a theophany.

ii. Deuteronomy 31:14-15- God appeared to Moses and Joshua in the transfer of leadership to Joshua “…in a pillar of cloud…”

3. As “The Angel of the LORD”: This is also called “Angelophany”. There is a difference between “an angel” and “the Angel of the LORD”. The Angel of the LORD usually refer to himself as the Lord or God in the Old testament. It is not every appearance of Angels that is theophany.

i. Genesis 16:7-14- The Angel of the LORD appears to Hagar. The Angel speaks as God himself in the first person, and in verse 13 Hagar identifies “the LORD that spoke to her” as “The God “Who sees”.

ii. Genesis 22:11-12- The Angel of the LORD appears to Abraham and refers to himself as God in the first-person.

iii. Genesis 31:11-13- The angel of God “says, “….I am the God of Beth-el”.

THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST

A. The pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (in the Old testament) is called “Christophany.”
i. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s presence.
ii. He is the one to which every theophany – in the Old testament – was pointing (Hebrews 1:1-3; John 1:1,14).

B. However, the incarnation of Christ is different from the Old testament instances of theophany.
i. The Old Testament theophanies are preliminary – they foreshadow and prefigure the coming of Christ in the flesh.
ii. The coming of Christ is their fulfillment – their climax (Matthew 5:17).
iii. In addition, Christ’s incarnation is permanent,
iv. The theophanies in the Old testament were temporary.

C. It is through Jesus that we will finally and fully experience the presence of God with us (Revelation 21:1-4).

CONCLUSION
The main points of a theophany is to know that God is present with humanity. That is ultimately expressed through Christ.

LESSON: THREE

TOPIC: THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

MEMORY VERSE: “But God commandeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. – Romans 5:8.

BIBLE PASSAGE: ISAIAH 1:18-20

INTRODUCTION
There are diverse views, both within and without, about the Christian faith. Some call it a religion, while others say it is a way of life. In some quarters, it is believed that it is a personal relationship with God. What exactly is the tenet of our faith as Christians and how does it compare with other faiths? Is it a religion or a relationship?

LESSON OUTLINES

1. MORE THAN A RELIGION
2. A CALL TO A RELATIONSHIP

MORE THAN A RELIGION

A. Teacher should ask the following questions
i. Question: What is religion?

Answer:
Simply put, religion is the belief in and worship of a superhuman-with controlling power, especially a personal God or gods (Exodus 34:14).

ii. Question: Is Christianity a religion?

Answer:
In that respect, Christianity can be classified as a religion.

iii. Question: So how is Christianity more than a religion?

Answer:
Practically speaking, Christianity has a key difference that separates it from other belief systems that are considered religions. Most religions are man centred. They are built upon the concept that man can reach a higher power-God, through his efforts-good works, sacrifices, rituals, etc. In that regard, Christianity is not a religion.

B. Question: Do men make a religion out of Christianity in any way?

Answer:
Just as the Jewish leaders made a religion out of a relationship with God, many people do the same with Christianity.

i. They follow the way of the Pharisees in creating rules not found in scripture (Mark 7:8).
ii. Some who prefess to follow Christ are merely following man-made religion in the name of Jesus (Colossians 2:8).
iii. While claiming to believe scripture, they are often plagued with fear and doubt that they may not be good enough to earn salvation or that God will not accept them if they do not carry out some ritualistic activity or perform to a certain standard (Ephesians 2:8-9).
iv. The leaders of religious sects add many of their own rules to make it even more cumbersome (Matthew 15:9).
v. They pride themselves on their ability to keep the Law-at least outwardly. This is religion masquerading as Christianity: it is one of Satan’s favourite tricks (Matthew 23:1-7).

A CALL TO A RELATIONSHIP

i. Question: What are the proofs that the Christian faith is a call to a relationship?

Answer:
The Christian Faith is a relationship that God has established with his children because:
i. The Bible states clearly that there is nothing man can do to make himself right with God (Isaiah 64:6).
Ii. God did for us what we cannot do for ourself (Colossians 2:13; 2Corinthians 5:21).
iii. Our sin separates us from His presence, and sin must be punished (Romans 6:23).
iv. God loves us, He took our punishment upon himself (Isaiah 53:5).
v. All we must do is to accept God’s gift or salvation by grace through Faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2. Question: Are there other reasons to substantiate that Christianity is a call to a relationship?

Answer:
The Grace-based relationship between God and man is the foundation of Christianity and the opposite of religion (Titus 2:11-14).
i. We are able to love God because He first loved us (1John 4:19).

ii. Holiness and obedience to Scripture are important, but they are pieces of evidence of a transformed heart, not a means to attain it.

iii. God desires that we be holy as He is holy (1Peter 1:16).

iv. He want us to grow in grace and the knowledge of him (2Peter 3:18).

v. We do these things because we are his children and want to be like Him, not in order to earn His love

vi. God wants us to know him, draw near to him, pray to him, and love him above everything. That is not religion; that is a relationship.

CONCLUSION
Christianity is not about signing up for a religion. Christianity is about being born into the family of God (John 3:3).

LESSON: FOUR

TOPIC: CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

MEMORY VERSE: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker”. – Psalm 95:6

BIBLE PASSAGE: JOHN 4:19-24

Also Read: Open Heaven 26 November  2023 –  REAL PROMOTION

INTRODUCTION
Worship is an act of paying homage that involved deep resspect, reverence, adoration and showing sincere love to a supreme being. The Almighty God who created us must be worshipped for who He is and not because He needs anything from us (1Peter 2:9). We are created to show the splendor of God by glorifying him (Psalm 29:2). Since we are created for worship, it is important we find out the ways to do it to be acceptable by God who commands it.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP
2. ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP

A. Our heart
i. Before moving into the external acts of worship, there is the need for us to put our hearts in order (Psalm 51:10).
ii. This is to ensure that hindrances to our worship are offloaded from our hearts (Romans 12:1-2).
iii. We must get rid of the “old man” with his deeds anger, hatred, bitterness, and other vices (Colossians 3:8-9).

B. Reconciliation
i. There is the need for us to all also reconciled with God and man in any area of offence (Matthew 5:23-24; Acts 24:16).
ii. We need to make restitutions where necessary (Luke 19:8).

ACCEPTABLE WORSHIP

A. Not all worship is acceptable to God. There are various forms of an acceptable worship. These include:

1. Vain worship: This is based on lip service and not from the heart (Mark 7:6).
2. Ignorant worship: It refers to worship without the knowledge of who God is and how He should be worshipped (John 4:22; Acts 17 22-23).
3. Will or self-imposed worship: It refers to satisfying personal will and desire instead of carrying out God’s instruction (Colossians 2:20-23 leviticus 10:1-2).

B. Therefore, acceptable worship must be rendered to God:
i. In spirit and truth (John 4:20-24);
ii. In holiness (Psalm 96:9); f
iii. From a heart void of offence towards God, and towards man (Acts 24:16).
iv. By Faith, like the sacrifice of Abel (Hebrews 11:4).

CONCLUSION
The scripture teaches that only God should be worshipped (Exodus 20:1-5) and this should be done in spirit and truth.

LESSON: FIVE

TOPIC: THE “SHEPHERD”AND HIS “SHEEP”

MEMORY VERSE: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his sheep of his pasture”. –Psalm 100:3

BIBLE PASSAGE: PSALM 23:1-6

INTRODUCTION
Psalm 23 is an expression of our confidence and trust in the lord. Each verse reveals the close relationship David shared with God. Metaphorically, David portrays God as a loving “Shepherd”. This is because being a shepherd himself; he knows what it means to cater for the flocks. The imagery of God as “THE SHEPHERD” is common throughout the Old and New Testaments. Therefore, every believer should understand the place of God in their lives as the “Shepherd,” what it means to be a “sheep” and how to rely solely on God.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. THE BELIEVER AS A “SHEEP”
2. GOD AS “THE SHEPHERD”

THE BELIEVER AS A “SHEEP”

1. The term “sheep” in this context, is used metaphorically for believers (Psalm 100:3).
2. A sheep is someone who obediently follows and relies on the Lord Jesus Christ – “The Shepherd” (John 10:14).
3. A Christian has to subject himself to the leadership of the “Great shepherd” who surely has his interest at heart (Hebrews 13:20).
4. Like the sheep, a believer needs God:
   i. For daily provisions – both spiritual and physical (Luke 11:3) Matthew 7:9-11);
   ii. For protection from predators (John 10:11-12);
   iii. For direction on the right parts (Proverbs 16:9), etc.
5. A believer needs the “Shepherd” to save him from *hirelings” – false prophets, fake pastors, heretical teachers, apostates apostles, greedy evangelists, etc.
6. Where the “sheep” only see green grass, the Shepherd see hidden dangers. Hence, without the “Shepherd* the “sheep” is in trouble (1Kings 22:17).
7. Also, a sheep need the Shepherd
   i. whenever life is hard (Psalm 27:13);
   ii. in time of anxiety (Matthew 6:25-26);
   iii. For safety (Psalm 125:2);
   iv. When downcast (Psalm 43:5);
   v. for help (Psalm 121:1-2)
8. Therefore, believers should always call on God as their Shepherd (Romans 10:13).

GOD AS “THE SHEPHERD”

1. A shepherd is a person who tends herds-someone who feeds and guards herds of sheep.
2. A shepherd’s primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of the flock.
3. Like David, believers in Christ can call God their Shepherd (Psalm 80:1; Isaiah 40:11).
4. Jesus Christ also calls himself the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). In fact, Hebrews 13:20 call Him “the great shepherd”.
5. Our Shepherd perform his all-important role in the following ways:

i. He leads us out and in so that we find pasture and safety (John 10:9).

ii. He knows how to take care of our needs and in the course of His grace, and providence leads us in the way in which we should go (Psalm 84:11; Isaiah 30:21).

iii. He watches over us and keeps us from being destroyed by ravenous beast (John 10:10-11)

iv. When we stray, he brings us back (Matthew 12:11).

v. Just as the Shepherd bring the flock to the shade in time of scorching heat, God becomes our refuge in type of persecution and affliction (Psalm 91:4).

CONCLUSION
To enjoy the blessings of the Great Shepherd we must humbly follow as responsive sheep.

LESSON: SIX

TOPIC: THE ORIGIN OF SIN

MEMORY VERSE: “Behold, I was shape in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”. – Psalm 51:5

BIBLE PASSAGE: EZEKIEL 28:13-15

INTRODUCTION
Sin and evil are words often used interchangeably because both are similar in meaning. The age-old question of where and how sin began has been explored and debated by some of the greatest minds in history, and their findings have helped a great deal in improving our understanding. However, there is no better place to discover the truth about this subject than in the authoritative manual of God- the Bible. In this lesson, we shall attempt to debunk the myths about sin and probe it’s origin.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. DEBUNKING THE MYTHS ABOUT SIN
2. SIN IS A ‘DEFICIENCY’

DEBUNKING THE MYTHS ABOUT SIN

Question 1: Did the bible mean that God is the creator of sin when it attributes the source of all creation to God?

Answer: Some, quoting Isaiah 45:7, seek to make God the author of Sin: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things”. However,

i. The KJV’s word ‘evil,’ from the original Hebrew ‘rah’ is better translated as”calamity”.
ii. The context of this passage concerns God’s sovereignty over natural disasters.
iii. God is sovereign over all things (Colossians 1:16) but He is not the author of Sin (1John 1:5; James 1:13).
iv. Moral evil originated with the creature that, not the creator. In other words, sin was not part of the original creation, nor was it decreed by the Creator’s will.

Question 2: Are there hints about the origin of sin?

Answer: The first man, Adam, sinned, and the transgression spiralled mankind into sin, but this was not sin’s origin.

i. Ezekiel 28:13-15 speaks figuratively of Satan, who was created without flaws, as all things created by God were. Verse 15 gives us a hint as to the origin of sin: “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till iniquity was found in you.”
ii. Isaiah 14:12-14 further indicates that Satan (Lucifer) sinned in his pride and his coveting of God’s throne.

SIN IS A ‘DEFICIENCY’

Question 1: Is evil a creature?

Answer: Evil is not a created thing-it is not a creature and has no independent being. Also, evil has no standard as goodness does;

i. Evil is a lack, a deficiency, and a falling short of the standard of God’s perfect goodness.
ii. All sins no matter how trivial they may seem, fall short of moral perfection (Romans 3:23).
iii. God is always consistent with His perfect nature (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Question 2: What are the core of all sin?

Answer: All sins, therefore, must come from creature, and the desire for evil comes from within the creature (James 1:14-15).

i. Sin was “found” in Lucifer because of a choice he made to seek something “other” than what God had chosen for him.
ii. Anytime we seek “other” than God’s choice, we sin.

Question: Was God caught unaware by the sin of Lucifer?

Answer: To say sin was originated within God’s creatures does not mean God was surprised or caught unawares by it.
i. Although God did not bring about sin, He certainly allowed it or it would not exist
ii. Since God is sovereign over all things (Psalm 115:3). He could have prevented sin, but that would have meant stripping His creation of their free will (Daniel 4:17).

CONCLUSION
God is not the author of Sin but his creatures. You can overcome sin by giving your life to Jesus Christ and choose to be holy (Romans 6:14; 1John 3:9).

LESSON: SEVEN

TOPIC: BIBLICAL DESCRIPTION OF SIN

MEMORY VERSE: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law”. – 1John 3:4

BIBLE PASSAGE: ROMANS 5:12-15

INTRODUCTION
Sin is best described in the Bible as the transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7). Sin had it’s beginning with Lucifer who was not content with his position; he desired to be higher than God, and that was his downfall (Isaiah 14:12-15). Since the time of Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God, sin has been passed down through all the generations of mankind and we Adam’s descendants, have inherited sin from him (Romans 5:12).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. TYPES OF SIN
2. REDEMPTION FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN

TYPES OF SIN

1. Inherited sin: Through Adam, the inherent inclination to sin entered the human race, and we became sinners by nature.
   i. When Adam sinned, his inner nature was transformed by his sin of rebellion, bringing to him spiritual death and depravity which would be passed on to all who came after him (Romans 5:12).
   ii. We are sinners not because we sin, rather, we sin because we are sinners (Romans 5:19a).
   iii. This passed on depravity is known as inherited sin.
   iv. Just as we inherit physical characteristics from our parents, we inherit our sinful nature from Adam (Psalm 51:5).
2. Imputed sin: The Greek word ‘ellogeo’ translated “imputed” means “lay to one’s charge or credit to one’s account.”
   i. Before the law of Moses was given, sin was not imputed to man, although men were still sinners because of inherited sin (Romans 5:13).
   ii. After the law was given, sins committed in violation of the law were imputed (accounted) to them (Romans 5:20a).
   iii. Even before transgressions of the law were imputed to men, the ultimate penalty for sin (death) continued to reign (Romans 5:14).
   iv. After Moses, humans were subject to death both because of inherited sin from Adam and imputed sin from violating the laws of God.
   v God used the principle of imputation to benefit mankind when He imputed the sin of all to the account of Jesus Christ, who paid the penalty for that sin – death – on the cross (1 John 2:2). It is important to understand that sin was imputed to Him, but He did not inherit it from Adam. He bore the penalty for sin, but He never became a sinner (2 Corinthians 5:21).
3. Personal sin: This refers to the sins committed every day by human beings.
   i. We have inherited a sinful nature from Adam, we commit individual sins, everything from seemingly innocent untruths to murder (1 John 5:17a).
   Those who have not placed their faith in Jesus Christ must pay the penalty for these personal sins, as well as inherited and imputed sin (Romans 6:23).

REDEMPTION FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN

i. The only just penalty for sin (inherited, imputed, and personal) is death; physical and eternal (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:11-15).
ii. Thankfully, all three types of sin have been crucified on the cross of Jesus, and now by faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour we have redemption (Ephesians 17; 1 John 3:5).
iii. Once we confess our sins to God and ask for forgiveness for them, we are restored to perfect fellowship and communion with Him (1 John 1:9).
iv. Believers have been freed from the eternal penalty of sin and now have the power through Jesus to refuse to sin (1 John 3:9).

CONCLUSION
God imputed the righteousness of Christ to believers and credited our accounts with His righteousness, just as He had credited our sins to Christ’s account (2 Corinthians 5:21).

LESSON: EIGHT

TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING REPENTANCE

MEMORY VERSE: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”. – Acts 3:19

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2CORINTHIANS 7:9-10

INTRODUCTION
Technically, repentance is a change of mind, not just returning from sin. The Greek word translated as repentance is metanoia, and the meaning is simply a change of mind. In common usage, however, we often speak of repentance as “a turning from sin.” In this lesson, we will discuss the role of the Holy Spirit in repentance and its outcome.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. THE CONVICTING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
2. THE FINAL PRODUCTS

THE CONVICTING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A Repentance is often associated with salvation in the scripture, that is, what happens when the Holy Spirit begins His work to bring a person to salvation.
i. The spirit gives the sinner a personal understanding and infallible conviction that the facts concerning his spiritual state are true (John 16:8).
ii. Those facts are his sin, the eternal punishment due him for his sin,
iii. The substitutionary nature of Jesus’ suffering for his sin as well as the need for faith in Jesus to save him from his sin (Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
iv. From that convicting work of the Holy Spirit, the sinner repents; he changes his mind about sin, the Savior and salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

B. When a repentant person changes his mind about sin:
i. That change of mind naturally leads to a turning from sin. Sin is no longer desirable or fun because sin brings condemnation (Romans 5:17-18).
ii. The repentant sinner begins to dislike is past misdeeds and he starts seeking ways to amend his behaviour (Luke 19:8; Acts 2:37).

THE FINAL PRODUCTS

A. Ultimately, the result of the change of mind about sin is good deeds (Matthew 3:8; Titus 2:7,14).
i. The sinner turns away from sin towards faith in the Savior
ii. That faith is shown in action (James 2:17).

B. Repentance concerning salvation is a change of mind from an embrace of sin to rejection of sin and the rejection of Christ to faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5).
i. Such repentance is something only God can enable (John 6:44; 2 Timothy 2:25).
ii. Therefore, true biblical repentance will always result in the change of behaviour (2 Corinthians 5:17).

CONCLUSION
Your character must change from sinful to godly if you have repented. It is not just turning from sin but turning to God.

LESSON: NINE

TOPIC: BEING BORN AGAIN (PART 1)

MEMORY VERSE: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever”. – 1Peter 1:23.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1THESSALONIANS 4:1-7

INTRODUCTION
Being born again is a state of conversion from being a sinner to becoming a saint. It is a spiritual transformation that leads to a change of heart and life (John 3:3-7). Being born again is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes, confesses her/his personal accepts Jesus Christ as his/her personal Savior and lord. If you claim to be born again, there must be notable pieces of evidence to prove that we are children of God (Romans 8:14).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. A SANCTIFIED LIFE
2. A SPIRIT CONTROLLED LIFE

A SANCTIFIED LIFE

A If you are born again, it is expected that we live a sanctified life:
i. A life devoid of sin, separated unto God and Christ-like (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:13). This is what it means to be a Christian or a child of God.
ii. It is the will of God that His children are sanctified (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
iii. Jesus’ followers are expected to be sanctified (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 1Peter 1:15-16).

B. This great privilege and experience (sanctification) are obtainable
i. By the word of God (John 17:17),
Ii. By the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 13:12),
iii. Also by ‘heart surgery’ as the individual daily surrenders unto God (Ezekiel 36:25-27; Romans 6:13).

C. As children of God, we are empower to live holy, bear the fruit of the Spirit, and have a guaranteed eternity in the Lord (Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22-23).

Also Read: Open Heaven 26 November  2023 –  REAL PROMOTION

A SPIRIT CONTROLLED LIFE

Anyone that is born again should be controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit:

1. Gives us power over sin (Galatians 5:16);
2. Gives us power to serve God (Acts 1:8);
3. Gives us power to witness to our spiritual adoption (Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24).
4. Helps us to bear fruits unto repentance (Matthew 3:8);
5. Guides us into all truth (John 16:13),
6. Controls believers’ temperament (Romans 8:4-5; Galatians 5:25),
7. Gives life to our mortal bodies (Romans 8:11);
8. Power to rebuke and cast out demons (Act 13:8-11);
9. Influences our choices (Acts 13:2).
10. Sends help and comfort Christians in time of pains, disappointment, loss, trials etc (2Corinthians 1:3-4).

CONCLUSION
Anyone who is born again must be sanctified and controlled by the Holy Spirit

LESSON: TEN

TOPIC: BEING BORN AGAIN (PART 2)
MEMORY VERSE: “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he also glorified”. – Romans 8:30

BIBLE PASSAGE: ROMANS 5:1-5

INTRODUCTION
Being born again is not a title or an entitlement. Rather, the evidence must be in living a sanctified life and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead/control one’s life. Furthermore, an understanding of the concepts of justification and assurance of salvation is very essential to the establishment of a new convert in Christ. This study attempts to shed some light on these basic concepts of the Christian faith.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. A JUSTIFIED LIFE
2. ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

A JUSTIFIED LIFE

A To justify simply means to declare someone righteous.
i. Meaning, God begins to see you as you have never sinned (Romans 3:21-25; 5:1).
ii. The law and the justice of God demand death as the penalty for sin (Ezekiel 18:4) and punishment for the wicked (Isaiah 57:20-21).

B. Two major events are obvious with justification.
i. One is that the sin is forgiven and the punishment of that sin is removed from the dinner (Isaiah 43:25).
ii. The second is that the righteousness of Jesus Christ is credited to the sinner’s account (Romans 5:18).

C. The justified life is obtained
i. Simply by grace (Romans 3:24),
ii. By the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9)
iii. By His resurrection (Romans 4:25).

D. Now that we are born again,
i. We ‘wear’ a justified life identified by peace with God
ii. We also have a vibrant, enjoyable prayer life (Romans 5:1-2).

E However, we must continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling by avoiding sin (Philippians 2:12; 1 John 3:9).

ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

A. As a new creature in Christ, it is important to have the assurance of salvation. This assurance can be found:
i. In the word of God (Romans 10:9-11),
ii. Through the witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16),
iii. Through the evidence of a changed life (2Corinthians 5:17).

B. Feelings or comments of people are unreliable for your assurance; therefore, do not lean on them.
i. Be warned of doubts that may arise about your salvation.
ii. Do not open the door to sin, worldliness (1 John 2:15-16), laziness in prayer, and constant study of the word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).

C. Be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Jude 20).

CONCLUSION
Once you are born again, you receive the righteousness of Christ and the Holy Spirit impresses it on your heart that you have become a child of God.

LESSON: ELEVEN

TOPIC: THE “WORLD SYSTEM”

MEMORY VERSE: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”. – 1John 2:15

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1JOHN 2:15-17

INTRODUCTION
A Christian is a person who has accepted the Lord Jesus as his Lord and personal saviour and is living a holy life with the ultimate goal of making it to heaven (1Pet. 1:3-4). However, there are three terrible enemies- “the world system,” “The flesh” and “the devil” contending with the believer daily, to make the Christian journey difficult and impossible (Acts 20:29-30). In this study we shall consider the enemy called “the world system.”

LESSON OUTLINES

1. SATAN’S “WORLD SYSTEM”
2. GOD HAS “A NEW WORLD”

SATAN’S “WORLD SYSTEM”

A. The Bible uses the word “world” in three ways.
i. First, it can refer to the Earth, which God created (Genesis 1:1; Acts 17:24)
ii. Second, the “world” can refer to people as in John 3:16, for God so loved the world…”
iii. A third use is found in 1John 2:15, where the believers is warned not to love the world or use things in the world. “The world” in this passage refers to the operating system of the word which is satanic.

B. Since the fall of Adam and Eve, Satan has not changed his mode of Operation (Genesis 3:11-13).
i. He has been consistent at deceiving; manipulating and dominating those who refuse to completely yield themselves to God (Romans 6:13, 16).
ii. The “software” Satan designed to turn man against his Maker is still working in the world (Eph. 2:2-3; 2Corinthians 4:4).

C. Satan controls his evil world system and use the attractive things of the word to deceive and destroy people Matthew 4:8-9; 1Peter 5:8).
i. Satan “world system” comprises Love of money, materialism, cultism, addictions, lust, selfishness, greed, pride, etc.
ii. Also, satan uses filthy and worldly music, adulterated TV reality shows, sexy movie, and indecent dressing, to entice innocent souls by flooding their minds with a wrong thoughts and getting them involved in unspeakable vices.
iii. He convince people to rebel against higher authority (Jude 8).
iv. This is what apostle John summarises in 1John 2:16, for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. There is nothing good or godly in this things.

GOD HAS “A NEW WORLD”

A. Satan’s world system hate God, it hates God’s son Jesus Christ and it hates God’s people. Hence:
i. The Bible clearly warn against friendship with the world (James 4:4).
ii. God will one day destroy Satan’s world system (2Peter 3:10).

B. This world has been ruled by sin, but God has a “new world” for those who love him.
i. It is called the kingdom of God.
Ii The lord Jesus is the King and Ruler of God’s new world (Isaiah 9:6; 1Corinthians 15:25).

C. When we surrender our lives to the lord Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour,
i. God takes us out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness and put us into “the kingdom of his dear son”
ii. We are no longer in Satan’s world system (Gal.1:4; Col. 1:12-14).

CONCLUSION
Satan’s world system may seem very beautiful and attractive but it is a path to destruction (Prov. 14:12). Choose to be on God’s side.

LESSON: TWELVE

TOPIC: PLEASING GOD

MEMORY VERSE: “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more”. – 1Thessalanians 4:1.

BIBLE PASSAGE: ROMANS 8:5-8

INTRODUCTION
Pleasing God is or should be, the goal of all believers-all who call upon the name of Christ for salvation. The requirements for all who want to please God have are they must seek God by Faith, walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, and walk worthy of their calling in obedience and submission to the will of God.

LESSON OUTLINES

1. WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
2. LIVING BY FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

WALKING IN THE SPIRIT

A. Paul reminds the believers in Rome that they who are in the flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:8).
i. So, the first step in pleasing God is to accept the sacrifice for sin that He provided in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
ii. Only then are we “in the Spirit” and not “in the flesh”.
iii. We do this by faith because “…without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6).

B. In Romans 8, Paul explains the difference between the sinful nature and the nature of those regenerated by the Spirit.
i. Those who are still in their sin have their minds set on sinful desires, whereas the ones regenerated by Christ have a completely new mind that is controlled by the Spirit and desire to live by following him (Romans 8:6-8).
ii. The next step for believers in pleasing God is to be sure we are walking in the Spirit, not in the flesh (Galatians 5:16).

LIVING BY FAITH AND OBEDIENCE

A. We must live by faith (Hebrews 10:38, 11:6). God cannot be pleased with those who:
i. Draw back from Him because they have no confidence in Him (Hebrews 10:39)
ii. Doubt the truth of His declarations and promises (2 Corinthians 1:20)
iii. Do not believe that His way is right and holy and perfect (Psalm 18:30).

B. The requirement of faith and confidence in God is not unreasonable; it is just what we require of our children and spouses, and it is an indispensable condition of our being pleased with them. So it is with God.

C. Therefore, pleasing God is a matter of living according to His precepts and commandments, and doing so in love (John 14:15). The Epistles are God’s plan for believers and are filled with exhortations to display throughout our lives the behaviours that is pleasing to God: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more (1Thessalonians 4:1).

CONCLUSION
God wants us to please Him, and He makes it possible for us to please Him. We do these things by the power of His Spirit who lives in our hearts.

Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.

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