Lesson: THE CHRISTIAN FAITH, THE PLACE THAT RENDERS GOD A DEPENDANT
TEXT: John 18:19-21
MEMORY VERSE: 2Cor. 4:7
‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.’
INTRODUCTION:
God depended on Jesus to make Him known, even as Jesus has depended on us to make both Him and His Father known. How will this our uncompromising obligation be strategized for effectiveness? What will we do with Jesus as there is no neutral ground? It is either we say, ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ to Him. Of course, to be neutral is tantamount to refusal.
OBJECTIVE: At the end of this brief lesson, the audience, by God’s grace, should be able to adopt strategies favourable to the revelation of Jesus as the Saviour of all creation as well as to every individual and group.
PRESENTATION:
STRATEGY ONE: To Learn Jesus
(a) ‘Ask those who have heard me, what I said to them; they know what I said’ (Jn. 18:21b) were the words of Jesus to the high priest.
i. By the statement Jesus made above, He has shown what He expects of us, His followers, not to let the bulk stop with us.
(b) To learn Jesus involves discipleship without which one is left in an “occultism of ignorance” where he becomes his own judge (cf. Jn. 8:31-32).
(c) It is upon the believers’ shoulders to encourage others who will, in turn, encourage others to learn and exercise.
(cf. 2Tim. 2:2; 1Pet. 3:15).
STRATEGY TWO: To Teach Jesus (cf. Acts 2:42)
(a) We are to teach the plan and execution of God’s salvation in Christ (cf. Acts 4:11-12; 1Pet. 1:10-12; Gal. 4:1-5).
(b) We are to prayerfully teach the stories and parables about God’s kingdom as Jesus does midwife its establishment on earth. (cf. Matt. 13:1-52; Col. 1:12; Eph.5:5).
(c) We are to teach the examples of Christ’s suffering and those of His early believers as models for encouragement. (cf. 1Cor. 11:1; Phil. 3:17; 1Pet. 2:21-23; 4:1-2)
i. What is the Christian Faith without a change of life? Therein is the only way to know who a true preacher of Christ is.
(Eph. 4:20,21).
STRATEGY THREE: To Live Jesus (cf. Heb.12:1-2)
(a) Emphasis here is on good fruit-bearing lifestyle. (cf. Jn. 13:17; 15:5,8)
i. It will not be good fruits if the bearer is the only consumer and/or beneficiary. (1Jn. 3:17-19; Matt. 5:16).
ii. Such fruits must bring reprieve to the neighbourhood before God can be glorified as He rewards. (cf. Matt. 5:13-15).
CONCLUSION:
Jesus never preached to convert any unbeliever at the period between His resurrection and ascension – forty days to be specific. That, really, is a doubtless handing over to His believers to continue from there. Even elect angels (spirits) are not permitted to be preachers of Christ. If their services are needed, they have to communicate their God-given message to target persons who will share with fellow persons afterwards. (cf. Rev. 19:9,10; 22:8,9)
Make yourself available too for this rewarding and divine assignment.
EVALUATION:
1. In what way(s) are human beings significant in God’s salvation in Christ?
2. Mention the three strategies you have just learned about revealing Jesus.
3. How could the life of the early Christians teach Jesus?
4. Between you and your neighbour, who will the Christian life seek to bless first?
5. When a believer or group of believers claims to know everything, what will they always be doing and want to
do with others?
PRAYER: Thank God for His Word and pray for grace to ably represent our invisible, yet always present, Father here on earth through bearing the good fruit of His Spirit always.