CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL – Topic: THE BELIEVER IN TIMES OF INSECURITY – Church of God Mission International – 23 September 2023
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CGMI ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL MANUAL
23 September 2023
HYMN: S.S & S 642 “When We Walk With The Lord”
CENTRAL THOUGHT:
Our safety is in the Lord
TOPIC:
THE BELIEVER IN TIMES OF INSECURITY
TEXT:
Judges 6:1-10
Psa 191:1-16
INTRODUCTION:
We are living in a time when insecurity has become a major issue and a global phenomenon with increasing terrorism. Indeed, insecurity has led to the loss of many lives, personal, public and church buildings, farmlands and other sources of livelihood have been destroyed. Worse still, many people have been displaced from their homes/communities. All these have led to untold hardship, misery and excruciating poverty in the land. The causes of insecurity and how a Christian should respond to it is the focus of this study
LESSON OBJECTIVES
This topic is intended to accomplish the underlisted objectives:
- Explain the meaning of insecurity
- Compare the present state of insecurity and that of the Israelites in the hands of the Midianites
- Identify some causes of insecurity and
- Discuss the expected attitude of the believers in times of insecurity
BIBLE TRUTH:
QUESTION 1a. WHAT IS INSECURITY ?
Insecurity can be seen in many ways such as not being confident on oneself, fear of the safety of one’s life, properties, jobs, etc.
It is that heightened sense of fear or anxiety about one’s survival in a particular socio-political and economic environment
QUESTION 1b. IS THERE ANY RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ISRAELITES IN THE HANDS OF THE MIDIANITES AND WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW ? (Judges 6:1-10) The children of Israel sinned against God in the days of the Judges. As a punishment, He instigated Midians to oppress them. Their homes, farmlands and herds were mercilessly plunder by the Midianites. In search of safety, the Israelites relocated to caves, mountains and strongholds for security. Our society has witnessed so much untold hardship and frustration for several years in the hands of various invaders called herdsmen, bandits and now terrorists.
These invaders, like the Midianites, invade whole communities, kill and kidnapp indigens, rustle their cattle, and carry away material properties of their choice. They displace the original owners of the lands who ends up in refugee camps, thereby losing their entire source of livelihood. Thus, the situation now is comparative to the experiences of the Israelites in the hand of the Midianites. Like them therefore, the church should rise in unison to cry to God in repentance, acknowledging the sin of the nation and plead for His mercy
Also Read: Open Heaven 23 September 2023 – REBUKE THE DEVIL
QUESTION 2. WHAT ARE THE SOURCES OF INSECURITY ?
A lot of factors have been identic reasons for the state of insecurity in our society. The most obvious ones are:
(A) RELIGIOUS FANATICISM: Religions the world over tend to preach peace and tolerance among men. However, there are some with limited and unguided knowledge of their belief. They go violently against adherents of other faith.
(B) LAND GRABBING: Some people with limited land space or unfertile areas are sometimes, ushed into expansionist tendencies. They fight to dispossessed others of their rightful lands, and this lead to violence and anarchy.
(C) INSENSITIVE LEADERSHIP: Failure by leadership to act speedily to stop all forms of communal crisis and criminal tendencies tend to strengthen the criminals resolve to continue their evil activities.
(D) UNGUARDED AND POROUS BORDERS: When national borders are not properly checked, it can result in huge influx of criminal elements and harmful materials into a country. These criminals usually have unhindered access to and the illegal use of arms for their activities
(E) CLASS SHOULD MENTION OTHERS
QUESTION 3. WHAT SHOULD BE THE ATTITUDE OF THE BELIEVER IN TIMES OF INSECURITY ?
The persistent rate of insecurity in our world is bound to evoke some measure of apprehension in everyone including believers. However, the Christian should realize that one of his/her sonship rights in Christ is security. He should therefore believe and appropriate the promises of God in the situation. To make these promises of divine protection effective in his life, he must dwell in the secret place of the Most High (Psa 91:1). Then, he must trust and depend on God for his safety (Prov 3:5-6). Hence, like David, we can boldly declare “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” (Psa 23:4). He must also be watchful and prayerful. Prayer in times like this is show of absolute dependence on the Almighty God who will never fail.
The believer should not leave his life to chance. He should be security conscious. Above all, we should be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. As we acknowledge Him in all our ways, He will surely direct our paths (Prov 3:6).
(CLASS SHOULD DISCUSS MORE)
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
We are indeed in perilous times. Evils of unimaginable proportions happens every day. Agents of darkness have become more brutish and sinister. However, the child of God should be unwavering in his faith in the Almighty who is able to keep, protect and deliver us from every form of danger. We should trust Him and hide in His secret place for the preservation of our lives and properties.
MEMORY VERSE
Psalms 91:1
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
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