Topic: MY UTMOST FOR THE HIGHEST [Church of God Mission International] CGMI SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE 12 March 2023
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CGMI SUNDAY SCHOOL OUTLINE
DATE: 12TH MARCH 2023
HYMN: S.S & S 607 “I Am Thine O Lord”
CENTRAL THOUGHT: Every Christian should replicate the love of God by giving their all to Him
TOPIC:
MY UTMOST FOR THE HIGHEST
TEXT: Rom 12:1; Phil 1:20; Acts 14:19-22; Matt 22:37
INTRODUCTION:
Right from creation, God has not failed to demonstrate His immeasurable love towards man. He created man in His image, after His likeness. When man eventually fell, He brought into being the plan of salvation for man’s restoration. His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ was made the sacrificial lamb that took away our sins. Apostle Paul while commenting on this declared that God commended His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). This remains the greatest and ultimate sacrifice. It is by it that we are redeemed. Believers are to reciprocate this boundless love by giving our utmost to our loving Father.
This study is aimed at helping us understand what our attitudes to the love of God should be.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
This lesson is intended to accomplish the following objectives:
- Explain the phrase “My utmost for the highest”
- Point out how Paul exemplified one who gave his utmost for the highest
- Discuss why we should give ourselves totally to God
- Explain how we can give ourselves to God on daily basis and
- Discuss the benefits of giving our utmost to God
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1.
WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY “MY UTMOST FOR THE HIGHEST” ? Rom 12:1
Our sovereign Lord, God Almighty, is the greatest and the most high. He is the maker of all and His above all. In adoration, the multitude of angels declared “Glory to God in the Highest…”(Lk 2:14). He gave Jesus, His only begotten Son to die for the sins of mankind out of His inestimable love. What can man (believers) not give to Him in return ? We should therefore be prepared to give our lives, as a living sacrifice to Him at all times.
QUESTION 2A.
HOW DID PAUL DEMONSTRATE A LIFE THAT GAVE HIS UTMOST FOR THE HIGHEST ? Acts 21:8-14; Phil 1:20.
After his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus, Apostle Paul totally yielded his life to God as a living sacrifice unto Him. How words and actions attested to the facts that he has given up his utmost to the highest. His utmost desire was to glorified Christ Jesus dead or alive (Phil 1:20). According to him, “…for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). To make good his pledge to die for Christ if the need arose. Paul defied the tears and pleas of the brethren not to proceed to Jerusalem after prophet Agabus had prophesied that dangers awaited him in Jerusalem. In his words “…I am ready not to be bound only but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13).
Indeed, Paul’s life was characterized by intense persecutions but he never threw in the towel or give up. To him, he took pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions, distresses for Christ’s sake (2Corin 12:10)
QUESTION 2B.
WHY SHOULD THE BELIEVER GIVE HIMSELF TOTALLY TO GOD ? Titus 2:11-15; Rom 12:1; 11:36
A believer is someone who has appropriated the grace of God into his life. His sins have been forgiven him. He lives a new life. Such a person is seen by God as unique and peculiar. In return, he should be sold out to God, being zealous of good works. Also, in order to partake of the blessed hope of the church which is the soon appearing of the great God and our saviour, Jesus Christ, the believer should absolutely surrender to God. It is the believer that presents himself as a living sacrifice to God that can render acceptable service to Him. It is important also to submit our lives totally to Him because He is Sovereign. All things emanate from Him. We are His. It is only when we do this that we can be guaranteed of His divine wisdom and direction to successfully navigate our lives on earth.
QUESTION 3.
HOW CAN WE GIVE OURSELVES TOTALLY TO GOD ON A DAILY BASIS ?
One way to be totally yielded to God is by devotion to knowing Him and deepening our spiritual walk with Him (Phil 3:10). Thereafter, the believer should be devoted to making Him known to others.
He should also endeavour to walk in the ways and commandments of God (1Kings 8:61; James 1:22-25). The word of God should serve as a guide post to his life daily. In addition, the believer should be devoted to prayers which is a demonstration of absolute dependence on God (1Thess 5:17). Good work should also accompany the believer who has given himself absolutely to God (Eph 2:10; Acts 10:2). The believer should also continually reflects on God’s love and His promises towards him. This will help strengthen his relationship with God. Above all, on a daily basis, the believer should live a crucified life (Gal 2:20). This is a life of absolute faith in God
QUESTION 4
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GIVING OUR UTMOST TO GOD ?
When we give our utmost to God, we enjoy His favour (Dan 1:8-15). When Daniel gave his utmost to God even as a slave in Babylon, God cause him to enjoy the favour and tender love of the prince of the eunuchs. Daniel also enjoyed divine upliftment (promotion) on account of his total yieldedness to God (Dan 6:3). Giving our utmost unto the most high will lead to our transformation into His likeness (2Corin 3:18). We will begin to resemble God in His nature, thereby bringing glory to His name (Lk 6:40). No one who gives his utmost to God will not be blessed on earth and in heaven. Jesus told His disciples “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life” (Matt 19:29). Also, giving our utmost to God guarantees our continued guidance and direction in life. God takes the center stage of our lives thereby fulfilling destiny.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
It cost God His own life to redeem man from sin even when we were not making any effort to be saved. This is the highest form of love as nothing will ever surpass it. We are to respond in equal measure in our devotion to knowing God and making Him known, in our obedience to His word, in prayers, rendering of good works as well as living a crucified life. Like Paul, we can boldly say “for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21).
MEMORY VERSE:
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service”.
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