RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 December 2021 – Lesson 14
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TOPIC: Spiritual Knowledge (Part 1) (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 December 2021)
MEMORY VERSE: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” – Hebrews 5:14
BIBLE PASSAGE: Hebrews 5:12-14, Hebrews 6:1-2 (KJV) (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 December 2021)
Hebrews 5:12-14
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 6:1-2
1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
INTRODUCTION: Every healthy Christian who is growing up properly will soon reach a stage when he is no longer satisfied with basics but needs more spiritual knowledge. What is the need for spiritual knowledge? How does one qualify for it? How can it be obtained? These and other questions will be answered in this series of lessons on “Spiritual Knowledge”.
RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 5 December 2021 – Lesson 14
LESSON OUTLINES:
THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
1. THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
Children love milk and the Bible encourages ‘new born babes’ in the faith to desire the sincere ‘milk of the Word’ in order to grow (1 Pet.2:2). However, no healthy adult will like to exist merely on milk (Heb.5:13). A time comes when a Christian begins to mature and he is already well versed in the basic doctrines of Christianity (Heb.6:1-2). Then he/she realises that there is something more to be learnt, hidden knowledge, wisdom, understanding and certain things, which the Bible refers to as mysteries (Col 2:2-3; 1Cor.2:7).
The Christian is born again but he finds it difficult to explain how it happens. He knows what has happened to him, when it happened but exactly how it happened he is unable to tell. He knows he used to enjoy sin but now he hates it; he used to appreciate sinners now he only pities them; he used to be restless and burdened with sorrow; now he knows peace and joy. But how did it all happen? He would not hesitate to know the mystery of the new birth, (John 3:8).
Next to the mystery of the new birth is the mystery of the Bride of Christ (Eph. 5:32).
How many people make a Bride? How does one head function as a husband to a body of many parts? Then there is the mystery of the Gospel (Eph.6:19); the mystery of godliness (1Tim.3:16), the mystery of the kingdom of God (Mk.4:11) and the mystery of future (1Cor.15:51). Why all these mysteries? What are they? Why are they hidden? These are some of the quests for spiritual knowledge.
2. FOR SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS KNOWLEDGE
Anyone who wants to know the mysteries of God (Rev.10:7) must satisfy certain conditions. Basic to all other conditions is the knowledge of Lord Himself (Hos.6:3). To know the mysteries of God, you must know Jesus Christ and be known by Him (Phil.3:10; John 10:14). No one reveals his secret to a total stranger or mere acquaintance. The more we know Christ, the more our knowledge of spiritual things will grow (2 Pet.3:18). This is because not only will our ability to understand spiritual things increase, Christ being our wisdom (1 Cor.1:30), but every mystery of God is hidden in Christ (Col.1:17, 19). To know Christ fully is to know all there is to know.
The second qualification for spiritual knowledge is to do God’s will (Rom.12:2; Eph.6:6; 1 John 2:17). The more you do His will, the more of Himself He will reveal, because doing His will implies that you love Him (John14:15) Absolute surrender is a third qualification for those who want to know the mysteries God (Phil.3:7-10). No one can truly do the will of the Lord if he is not willing to surrender all.
Finally, if one possesses deep spiritual knowledge, he will become meek (James 3:13), having discovered his own smallness in vast schemes of God. He will become more like Christ (Eph.4:13). The more you know of Christ the easier it will be for you to stop glorifying yourself and start glorifying Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION:
To know Jesus Christ is to know the Truth, the Way and the Life (John 14:6). To know Jesus is to know all.
QUESTIONS
Why do believers need spiritual knowledge?
Mention the qualifications for spiritual knowledge.
FURTHER READINGS:
Monday: Psalm 148:13 (KJV)
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
Tuesday: Psalm 138:2 (KJV)
2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
Wednesday: Philippians 1:27 (KJV)
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Thursday: 1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV)
12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Friday: 1 Peter 2:12 (KJV)
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Saturday: 2 Peter 3:1-11 (KJV)
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Sunday: John 16:12-14 (KJV)
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
ASSIGNMENT: Students should mention five (5) signs of lack of spiritual growth in a Christian.
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?