Lesson: SELFLESS USE OF ADVANTAGE
TEXT: Mark 1:35-39
MEMORY VERSE: Matt. 4:10
Jesus said to him, ‘away from Me, Satan! For it is written: ‘worship the L Lord your God, and serve Him only.‘
INTRODUCTION:
Everything we possess in this earth is a gift from God. To simply put, we are delegated owners (cf. 1Cor. 4:7); whether they are spiritual or physical possessions, notwithstanding. They belong to God for all mankind. The Word of God made flesh into (Jesus) shows us so in our text above by not yielding to where people were looking for Him just to experience miracles. He was sent as God’s Word for changing peoples’ hearts to be God-like through preaching. Jesus stood His ground, even to His death (cf. Rev.2:10).
OBJECTIVE: At the end of the lesson, the audience should be able to see the need for selflessness in the use of all God deposited at their disposals.
PRESENTATION:
Step I: JESUS, OUR MODEL OF SELFLESSNESS
(a) Jesus would only use His miraculous powers during preaching; not for personal advantage. (see memory verse).
(b) He chose to be known more a preacher than a sign and miracle worker. (cf. Jn. 10:41; Matt. 12:38-41).
(c) For people to come together today just because a seemingly miracle worker is to minister is incorrect scripturally (see our text).
Step II: SELFLESSNESS, A FEATURE OF THE FAITH OF JESUS
(a) The selfless seek Jesus for a window to deliver service. (cf. Acts 9:6; Luke 3:10-14)
(b) The selfish people cannot inherit the Kingdom of Christ. (cf. Luke 18:24-28).
(c) To be selfish is to be carnal-minded. (cf. 1John 3:16-19; Jn 10:9,10,17)
Step III: SELFLESSNESS, AN ATTRIBUTE THAT
GLORIFIES GOD (Matt. 8:16-18)
(a) Jesus’ good Spirit fulfilled Scriptures positively thereby making God true (see lsa. 53:4).
(b) One is God-dependent when remaining selfless.
i. The same knows that God is a Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (see Heb. 11:6b).
CONCLUSION:
The Christian Faith is not about who performs the most miracles. It is about who converts the most sinful lives to the life of Christ. We do not need, in our time, those who can do what Satan can do. We, rather, need to identify with those who can do what God can do. Only God can love as we can attest in the lives of those He indwells and teaches. His opponent, Satan, can only lust and this, too, we can attest in the lives of unbelievers in Christ. As God bears life to His humanity in the message of Christ, even, so is how Satan shows himself a killer in those he possesses in his camp. (see Jn.10:10) Satan can fake God’s signs and miracles, but he cannot fake His love, light, truth and spirit. By fruits expressed, we will always know. (see Matt. 7:15-20).
EVALUATION:
1. Mention one significant reason goodness should be moved from one place to another.
2. Between working miracles and preaching Christ, which can change life and, thus, be more important?
3. At what point does God permit us to use our gifts for personal advantage?
4. When people are selfish, they are also carnal-mínded. (True or False). Why?
PRAYER: Thank God for the lesson and pray for us to be agents of God’s blessings to our neighbourhood according to His will and grace that is in Christ Jesus.