Lesson: THE PRINCIPAL PREACHING POINT OF CHRIST’S ORIGINAL APOSTLES
TEXT: Heb. 2:5-9
MEMORY VERSE: 2Cor. 4:18
‘So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.’ (NIV)
INTRODUCTION:
The Apostles and Prophets are revealed to us as the foundation of our Christian profession because they (the Apostles) first preached the fulfillment of the salvation of mankind predicted by holy men of old, the Prophets. (cf. Eph. 2:20-22). In our text and memory verse, they let us know on where God’s emphasis was when He (God) was speaking to us (Christians) through them that they and us are PARTAKERS IN THE WORLD TO COME; NOT THE PRESENT ONE. That is the world before sin entered or the new earth (world) after sin and its consequences are destroyed forever. (cf. 2Pet. 3:13).
OBJECTIVE: To remind believers in Christ of Jehovah’s original intent in sending Jesus; their expected divine and worthy priority and the benefits attached thereto.
PRESENTATION:
Step I: JESUS BROUGHT US ETERNAL AND SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS
(a) God’s charge is that we join Jesus outside the world system (cf. Heb. 13:11-14).
i. This means looking up to or focusing on Him, the invisible and eternal reality (Heb. 12:1-2; Col. 3:1-4).
(b) The gift of God and the window through which God passes the gift is spiritual. (cf. Rom. 6:23; 2Cor. 5:16).
(c) Living this way is the power pathfinder for winning our enemy (who’s also God’s enemy – Satan) just as Jesus won. (John 1:11-13; 7:16,17; 10:17).
(d) Material blessings follow this lifestyle (which is the life of God (Eph. 4:17,18) in an attaching manner. (cf. Matt. 6:33).
Step II: OUR DIVINE AND/OR ACCEPTABLE PRIORITY AS CHRISTIANS: These are:
(a) The dream to be like our Father in heaven ultimately. (cf. Matt. 5:48; Rom.8:28-30).
(b) Walking in the spirit as our Father in heaven Who is Spirit. (cf. Gal.5:16, 24-26).
(c) Being aware that no flesh and blood shares in His government. (cf. 1Cor. 15:50).
Step III: THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST IS A BENEFIT TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD
(a) In expecting to access the future world, services in loyalty to the giver must exchange hand. (cf. Luke 16:10-12)
(b) The visible representation of an invisible owner of this world Who is God is man through whom we serve God. (cf. 1John 3:16-19; 4:20-21).
i. So, serving man for God’s sake is serving God. (cf. 1John 4:20-21).
CONCLUSION:
Although the original Apostles burdened themselves preaching to register in the believers in Christ the singular hope of resting in God’s Paradise after the present life (cf. Eph. 4:4-5), they also never forgot God’s Holy One, Jesus, through Whom alone such access is created as the ‘Messiah’ of the Jews and the ‘Christ’ of the Gentiles and, of course, the Saviour of the whole mankind. (Acts 4:12; 2Cor. 5:18-20) Our efforts as Christians must be geared towards familiarizing our thoughts more with the realities of our eternal and blissful heavenly home than with the mundane, material, corporeal and terminal things of this world.
EVALUATION:
1. Mention some of the demerits or deficiencies in preachers of Christ pointing people to the present world.
2. According to “Eph. 2:20-22”, explain how the Apostles and Prophets are our foundation.
3. What is a divine way of seeking material possessions?
4. ‘We will surely be what God predestined us to be ultimately.’ What is that?
5. ‘Services in loyalty to the giver of our hope must
exchange hand.’ Explain.
PRAYER: Thank God for His Word and pray for grace to focus on the world that is to come in which righteousness only will reign.
For partnership with us in our Bible-based Mental Engineering/Bible Reading Culture Promoter efforts, Click here.