LESSON SIX (06)

TOPIC: THE ORIGIN OF SIN

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*

1. 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.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Thy friend friendship suits me well,

Both young and will sing Thy song,

We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Christ was Thy first teacher,

The Holy Spirit, great teacher,

Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

This testimony is sure,

That God, the Father Almighty,

Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Though the sun be so bright,

Or if the clouds be black with rain,

I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day

I rejoice to see Thee,

Will thou pass over me today?

Without my being blest?

OPENING PRAYER: Father, enlighten me on the origin of sin.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezekiel 28:13-15

 

[13]Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

[14]Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

[15]Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

MEMORY VERSE: Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 51:5.

INTRODUCTION: Sin and evil are words often used interchangeably because both are similar in meaning. The age-old question of where and how sin began has been explored and debated by some of the greatest minds in history, and their findings have helped a great deal in improving our understanding. However, there is no better place to discover the truth about this subject than in the authoritative manual of God – the Bible. In this lesson, we shall attempt to debunk the myths about sin and probe its origin.

LESSON AIM: To teach the church about the actual origin of sin.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this study, students are expected to:

a. Discover how sin came about as evident through the scriptures.

b. Understand the true nature of sin.

TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated objectives, the teacher should:

d. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to discussion, do class activities and assignment.

e. Allow the Assistant Teacher see to the well-being of the class, mark attendance and assignment.

f.  Teach the lesson outline, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give an assignment.

TEXT REVIEW: Ezekiel 28:13-15.

A. One of the insightful indications of how sin came into existence is found in the above text. Concerning Satan otherwise known as Lucifer, it says:

i. Thou has been in Eden the garden of God; Every ………………………….V13.

ii. Thou art the anointed cherub that ………V14.

iii. Thou wast perfect in ……………….………V15.

B. The emphasis here is in Verse 15b that reads “………………………………..”

LESSON OUTLINE 1.DEBUNKING THE MYTHS ABOUT SIN

Question 1: Did the Bible mean that God is the creator of sin when it attributes the source of all creation to God?

Answer: Some, quoting Isaiah 45:7, seek to make God the author of sin: “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” However,

i. The KJV’s word ‘evil,’ from the original Hebrew ‘rah,’ is better translated as “calamity.”

ii. The context of this passage concerns God’s sovereignty over natural disasters.

iii. God is sovereign over all things (Colossians 1:16) but He is not the author of sin (1 John 1:5; James 1:13).

iv. Moral evil originated with the creature, not the Creator. In other words, sin was not part of the original creation, nor was it decreed by the Creator’s will.

Question 2: Are there hints about the origin of sin?

Answer: The first man, Adam, sinned, and his transgression spiralled mankind into sin, but this was not sin’s origin.

i.Ezekiel 28:13-15 speaks figuratively of Satan, who was originally created without flaw, as all things created by God were. Verse 15 gives us a hint as to the origin of sin: “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till iniquity was found in you.”

ii.Isaiah 14:12-14 further indicates that Satan (Lucifer) sinned in his pride and his coveting of God’s throne.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Are there other scriptures that make God the originator of sin?

LESSON OUTLINE 2: SIN IS A ‘DEFICIENCY’

Question 1:  Is evil a creature?

Answer: Evil is not a created thing—it is not a creature and has no independent being. Also, evil has no standard as goodness does.

i. Evil is a lack, a deficiency, a falling short of the standard of God’s perfect goodness.

ii. All sins, no matter how trivial they may seem, fall short of moral perfection (Romans 3:23).

 

iii. God is always consistent with His perfect nature (Deuteronomy 32:4).

Question 2: What is at the core of all sin?

Answer: All sins, therefore, must come from the creature, and the desire for evil comes from within the creature (James 1:14-15).

i. Sin was “found” in Lucifer because of a choice he made to seek something other than what God had chosen for him.

ii. Any time we seek “other” than God’s choice, we sin.

Question 3: Was God caught unaware by the sin of Lucifer?

Answer: To say sin originated within God’s creatures does not mean God was surprised or caught unawares by it.

i. Although God did not bring about sin, He certainly allowed it or it would not exist.

ii. Since God is sovereign over all things (Psalm 115:3). He could have prevented sin, but that would have meant stripping His creation of its free will (Daniel 4:17).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Just like robot, would you have preferred God switches you on and off to take every action?

CONCLUSION: God is not the author of Sin but His creatures. You can overcome sin by giving your life to Jesus Christ and choose to be holy (Romans 6:14; 1 John 3:9).

QUESTIONS:

* Explain the origin of sin.

* What is sin?

EVALUATION: Just like robot, would you have preferred God switches you on and off to take every action?

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, I refuse to partner with the devil, please destroy every work of sin in my life in Jesus’name (1 John 3:8).

ASSIGNMENT: Using Ezekiel 28:15-18, identify five things Lucifer did to be found guilty of sin. (2×5=10 marks).

LESSON SIX (06)

TOPIC: SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*

1. 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.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Thy friend friendship suits me well,

Both young and will sing Thy song,

We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Christ was Thy first teacher,

The Holy Spirit, great teacher,

Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

This testimony is sure,

That God, the Father Almighty,

Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Though the sun be so bright,

Or if the clouds be black with rain,

I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day

I rejoice to see Thee,

Will thou pass over me today?

Without my being blest?

OPENING PRAYER: Father, enlighten me on what spiritual intelligence means.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Judges 7:9-15

 

[9]It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.

[10]But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant,

[11]and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp.

[12]Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

[13]And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”

[14]Then his companion answered and said, “This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”

[15]And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”

MEMORY VERSE: “And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 2 Kings 6:12 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: Generally, Spiritual Intelligence is defined as the human capacity to ask questions about the ultimate meaning of life and the integrated relationship between us and the world in which we live. From a Christian perspective, it can be defined as reasoning ethically and morally to live life according to Scripture through the Holy Spirit. It is also a process of gaining spiritual insight into events yet to happen. Spiritual intelligence includes having a foreknowledge of the adversaries’ activities before they are carried out (2 Kings 6:8-11). All over the world, it is a well-known fact that one of the key tools for any effective military operation is intelligence. Spiritual intelligence is similar to this.

OUTLINES:

1. BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

All through the Bible we see instances where intelligence was employed in order to gain an advantage over the enemy. Some of these instances are mentioned below.

1.Prophet Elisha offered intelligence service to the king of Israel. This made the king escape assassination (2 Kings 6:8-13).

2.Jesus has advanced knowledge of the plan to forcefully make him a king. He was able to isolate Himself (John 6:14-15).

3.David’s knowledge of king Saul’s plot to kill him aided his escape (1 Samuel 19:11-12; 1 Samuel 23:6-13).

4.Paul’s awareness of the plot to arrest and kill him led to the brethren helping him out (Acts 9:23-25).

5.Gideon’s divine intelligence led to victory over Israel’s enemies (Judges 7:9-15).

 

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should share with the class how they have employed spiritual intelligence to attain victory.

2. PROCESS AND BENEFITS

God reveals deep secrets to His children (Daniel 2:22). To become spiritually intelligent, believers must: develop intimacy with the Holy Spirit (John 14:26); live a lifestyle of unceasing prayer, and be watchful (James 5:17; Habakkuk 2:1-2); be committed to obeying God’s word and be spiritually disciplined (1 Kings 13:11-22).

A believer who is spiritually intelligent will gain dominance over the enemy and put the enemy at his/her mercy (1 Samuel 24:9-16). Such a believer will overcome temptation and the resultant sin (Genesis 39:9). Spiritual intelligence helps believers to escape the snares of the enemy (Psalm 91:1-3) and be protected against the hidden wickedness of man (Isaiah 8:9-10); this will frustrate any satanic agenda against them (Isaiah 54:17).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should mention the benefits that come with applying spiritual intelligence.

CONCLUSION: No child of God is redeemed to be dominated but to dominate. For believers to take over, they must gain spiritual intelligence over their adversaries through prayers in the Holy Ghost and a life of holiness.

 

QUESTIONS:

* What is spiritual intelligence?

*.How can believers access spiritual intelligence?

FURTHER READING: SUN: Col.4:2. MON: Job 12:22. TUES: Col. 3:5. WED: Ps.124. THURS: Ps.51:4. FRI: 1 Pet.4:7. SAT: Ps.25:14.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) reasons for spiritual insensitivity among Christians (2X5=10 Marks).

OPEN HEAVEN 8 OCTOBER 2023 MEMORIZE: Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, Iam the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: Exodus 6:6

OPEN HEAVEN 8 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING LUKE 7:11-15

OPEN HEAVEN 8 OCTOBER 2023 MESSAGE

Jesus being The Way also implies that He is The Way out of problems. There are problems in this world that you cannot solve no matter how intelligent you are, but there is no problem that Jesus cannot solve. Jesus Christ is the way out of sorrow.

In our Bible text for today, we read of a widow whose only son died. Nobody needs to tell us that she was in sorrow. She had known days of joy.

The day she gave birth to this boy, she must have had joy, but then the devil came in and steadily began to change her joy to sorrow, first by killing her husband and then coming for her only son.

I can assure you that as they were going towards the burial ground, she was getting deeper and deeper into sorrow because she Knew that there were people amongst those following her, pretending to be weeping with her and saying in their hearts, “Why is your case so bad?

Are you the only one in town? There must be something you have done wrong that God is punishing you for”, but then she met Jesus Christ and the tide turned.

For the mere fact that you are reading this today, sorrow is banished from your life forever, in Jesus’ name.

I was invited to preach at a private event in lkoyi some years ago. I was going to preach on the topic, ‘You need a miracle’, but as I waited in the hostess’ living room before the event started and observed the splendour of the house, I thought to change my topic to ‘O That Man Should Praise The Lord’.

I felt the hostess and her guests appeared to have everything they needed already, but the Almighty God said I should talk to them about “You need a miracle”.

I learnt later on that the woman had only one son who had gone so deeply into drugs that when his mother refused to give him extra money to buy them, he planted some in her bag when she was travelling to London so that she could be arrested at the airport.

Everything seemed nice and beautiful on the outside, but deep inside, there was sorrow.

That day as I preached, the young man gave his life to Jesus, and the mother from that day on knew joy.

If you too want to have joy for the rest of your life, the only way is through Jesus Christ. Let Him carry your burdens (Matthew 11:28).

OPEN HEAVEN 8 OCTOBER 2023 KEY POINT

Jesus gives rest to the burndened heart, but you would have to surrender to Him first.

OPEN HEAVEN 8 OCTOBER 2023 HYMN

HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE

1 In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand

2 In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay

3 Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

4 No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

OPEN HEAVEN 8 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 18-20

AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 MONDAY: THE WAY FORWARD

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 MEMORIZE: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING LUKE 5:1-7

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 MESSAGE

Jesus is the Way forward. In Luke 5:1-7, Peter had fished all night but caught nothing. He wasn’t lazy, but he was still considered a failure.

When Jesus stepped into his boat however, all of a sudden, there was a way forward. Just like Peter, many people find themselves going around in circles.

When Jesus steps into your boat, your forward motion would become accelerated.

One of my sons came to me and said, “Daddy, I’ve been on one spot for more than 12 years. I have applied to an organisation now and have been scheduled for an interview, so I need prayers to succeed”.

I was about to pray for him when he said, “No, don’t pray, just say a word”, so I said, “Go, and the interview will go well.” He said amen and left. He returned the following day excited.

“Daddy, I prepared for that interview like no man’s business. When I got there, they only asked me three questions, ‘What is your name? What position did you apply for? When can you start?’ [ told them I would start tomorrow”.

I congratulated him and he said, “No, speak another word” and I did. The following day, he came again, trembling, “Daddy, I got to my new place of work and was told that their Managing Director just resigned; they then asked me to become the new Managing Director”. Again he asked me to speak another word, so I did. The following day, he was back.

This time, he was almost speechless. “Daddy, they discovered that their Managing Director resigned because their competitor offered him double the salary they were paying, and since they don’t want me to leave, they doubled my salary”.

I congratulated him again, and he said, “No, speak another word”. This time, I said jokingly, “Do you want to take the company over from the owners?”

When I was a lecturer in the University, I had a driver, but then, somehow, by the middle of the month, I would have become so broke that I would be borrowing money to fuel the car from this same driver whose salary I was paying. I was being relatively well paid but somehow, I wasn’t moving forward in life.

I then met Christ and everything turned around – not because of any brilliance on my part, but rather simply because I gave my life to Christ and began to live holy. This can be your story too, if you do the same.

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 KEY POINT

With Jesus in your boat, success is guaranteed.

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 HYMN

HYMN 18 – WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

1. When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

CHORUS
Trust and obey!
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey

4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay,
For the favour He shows
And the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

OPEN HEAVEN 9 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 21-22

AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 7 OCTOBER 2023 SATURDAY: RUN FROM FALSE PROPHETS

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 7 OCTOBER 2023 MEMORIZE: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 7 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING 1 KINGS 13:14-18

[14]And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an oak: and he said unto him, Art thou the man of God that camest from Judah? And he said, I am.

[15]Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

[16]And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

[17]For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.

[18]He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the LORD, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 7 OCTOBER 2023 MESSAGE

One of the reasons you have to be careful and run away from false prophets is so that you can succeed here on earth and also make it to Heaven.

Today’s text shows the deception of a young prophet by an older prophet. A lion eventually killed the former because he disobeyed the instruction God gave him personally, and he submitted to the lies of the latter.

False prophets say and do many things in the name of the Lord. However, their actions always portray God in a bad light, and they make His sovereignty irrelevant.

These false prophets may be in your hostel, classroom, school or church. Some predict things that may or may not come to pass.

They do this in order to distract people from truly following God and living holy lives. Many of them are immoral and they promote sin to make it look like holiness is not achievable.

Dear child, before you believe someone else’s truth about the Lord Jesus, you should look at their fruits – the character and the behaviour of such a person (Matthew 7:16-20).

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS OCTOBER 2023 ACTION POINT

Watch out for a person’s fruits before believing what they say.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS OCTOBER 2023 HYMN

HYMN 15 – ONWARD, CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS

1. Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before;
Christ, the Royal Master,
Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
See His banners go.

CHORUS
Onward, Christian soldiers!
Marching as to war,
Looking unto Jesus,
Who is gone before.

2. At the name of Jesus
Satan’s host doth Ilee;
On then, Christian soldiers
On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
Loud your anthems raise.

3. Like a mighty army
Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
Where the saints have trod.
We are not divided,
All one body we
One in hope and doctrine,
One in charity.

4. Crowns and thrones may perish
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the Church of Jesus
Constant will remain:
Gates of hell can never
‘Gainst that church prevail;
We have Christ’s own promise-
And that cannot fail.

5. Onward then, ye people,
Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
In the triumph song:
“Glory, praise and honour,
Unto Christ the King”,
This, through countless ages,
Men and angels sing.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 7 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 14-17

AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

LESSON SIX (06)

TOPIC: SPIRITUAL INTELLIGENCE

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*

1. 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.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Thy friend friendship suits me well,

Both young and will sing Thy song,

We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Christ was Thy first teacher,

The Holy Spirit, great teacher,

Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

This testimony is sure,

That God, the Father Almighty,

Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Though the sun be so bright,

Or if the clouds be black with rain,

I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day

I rejoice to see Thee,

Will thou pass over me today?

Without my being blest?

OPENING PRAYER: Father, enlighten me on what spiritual intelligence means.

BIBLE PASSAGE: Judges 7:9-15

[9]It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.

[10]But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant,

[11]and you shall hear what they say; and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outpost of the armed men who were in the camp.

[12]Now the Midianites and Amalekites, all the people of the East, were lying in the valley as numerous as locusts; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the seashore in multitude.

[13]And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, “I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed.”

[14]Then his companion answered and said, “This

is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp.”

[15]And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, “Arise, for the Lord has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand.”

MEMORY VERSE: “And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 2 Kings 6:12 (NKJV).

INTRODUCTION: Generally, Spiritual Intelligence is defined as the human capacity to ask questions about the ultimate meaning of life and the integrated relationship between us and the world in which we live. From a Christian perspective, it can be defined as reasoning ethically and morally to live life according to Scripture through the Holy Spirit. It is also a process of gaining spiritual insight into events yet to happen. Spiritual intelligence includes having a foreknowledge of the adversaries’ activities before they are carried out (2 Kings 6:8-11). All over the world, it is a well-known fact that one of the key tools for any effective military operation is intelligence. Spiritual intelligence is similar to this.

LESSON AIM: To teach students the importance of spiritual intelligence for a victorious living on earth.

 

TEACHING OBJECTIVES: Through this study, students are expected to:

a. Define spiritual intelligence and its relevance to Christianity.

b. Mention biblical examples of those who employed spiritual intelligence.

c. Highlight the process that employs one to be spiritually intelligent. d. List the benefits one could derive from being spiritually intelligent.

TEXT REVIEW: Judges 7:9-15.

The Bible passage reveals how God encourages Gideon with regard to the battle with the Midianites.

LESSON OUTLINES 1: BIBLICAL EXAMPLES

All through the Bible we see instances where intelligence was employed in order to gain an advantage over the enemy. Some of these instances are mentioned below.

1. Prophet Elisha offered intelligence service to the king of Israel. This made the king escape assassination (2Kings 6:8-13).

2. Jesus has advanced knowledge of the plan to forcefully make him a king. He was able to isolate Himself (John 6:14-15).

3. David’s knowledge of King Saul’s plot to kill him aided his escape (1 Samuel 19:11-12; 1-Samuel 23:6-13).

4. Paul’s awareness of the plot to arrest and kill him led to the brethren helping him out (Acts 9:23-25).

5. Gideon’s divine intelligence led to victory over Israel’s enemies (Judges 7:9-15).

 

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should share with the class how they have employed spiritual intelligence to attain victory.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: PROCESS AND BENEFITS

A. God reveals deep secrets to His children (Daniel 2:22).

B. To become spiritually intelligent, believers must:

i. Develop intimacy with the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

ii. Live a lifestyle of unceasing prayer, and be watchful (James 5:17; Habakkuk 2:1-2).

iii. Be committed to obeying God’s word and be spiritually disciplined (1 Kings 13:11-22).

C. A believer who is spiritually intelligent will:

i. Gain dominance over the enemy and put the enemy at his/her mercy (1 Samuel 24:9-16).

ii. Overcome temptation and the resultant sin (Genesis 39:9).

iii. Escape the snares of the enemy (Psalm 91:1-3).

v. Be protected against the hidden wickedness of man (Isaiah 8:9-10).

vi. Frustrate any satanic agenda against them (Isaiah 54:17).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Students should mention the benefits that come with applying spiritual intelligence.

CONCLUSION: No child of God is redeemed to be dominated but to dominate. For believers to take over, they must gain spiritual intelligence over their adversaries through prayers in the Holy Ghost and a life of holiness.

EVALUATION: Teachers should ask the students about the process to attain spiritual intelligence

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, I refuse to be a spiritual dwarf. Help me to be spiritually intelligent in all matters.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) reasons for spiritual insensitivity among Christians (2X5=10 Marks).

LESSON SIX (06)

TOPIC: THE ORIGIN OF SIN

*SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN*

1. 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.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Thy friend friendship suits me well,

Both young and will sing Thy song,

We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Christ was Thy first teacher,

The Holy Spirit, great teacher,

Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

This testimony is sure,

That God, the Father Almighty,

Poured His blessing on Thee

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,

Though the sun be so bright,

Or if the clouds be black with rain,

I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day

I rejoice to see Thee,

Will thou pass over me today?

Without my being blest?

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezekiel 28:13-15

[13]Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

 

[14]Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

[15]Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

MEMORY VERSE: Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Psalms 51:5.

INTRODUCTION: Sin and evil are words often used interchangeably because both are similar in meaning. The age-old question of where and how sin began has been explored and debated by some of the greatest minds in history, and their findings have helped a great deal in improving our understanding. However, there is no better place to discover the truth about this subject than in the authoritative manual of God – the Bible. In this lesson, we shall attempt to debunk the myths about sin and probe its origin.

OUTLINES:

1. Debunking The Myths About Sin

2. Sin Is A ‘Deficiency’

1. DEBUNKING THE MYTHS ABOUT SIN

Some, quoting Isaiah 45:7, seek to make God the author of sin: I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. However, the KJV’s word ‘evil,’ from the original Hebrew ‘rah’ is better translated as “calamity.” The context of this passage concerns God’s sovereignty over natural disasters. God is sovereign over all things (Colossians 1:16) but He is not the author of sin (1 John 1:5; James 1:13). Moral evil originated with the creature, not the Creator. In other words, sin was not part of the original creation, nor was it decreed by the Creator’s will.

The first man, Adam, sinned, and his transgression spiralled mankind into sin, but this was not sin’s origin. Ezekiel 28:13-15 speaks figuratively of Satan, who was created without flaws, as all things created by God were. Verse 15 gives us a hint as to the origin of sin: “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till iniquity was found in you.”Isaiah 14:12-14 further indicates that Satan (Lucifer) sinned in his pride and his coveting of God’s throne.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Are there other scriptures that make God the originator of sin?

2. SIN IS A ‘DEFICIENCY

Evil is not a created thing-it is not a creature and has no independent being. Also, evil has no standard as goodness does; it is a lack, a deficiency, and a falling short of the standard of God’s perfect goodness. All sins, no matter how trivial they may seem, fall short of moral perfection (Romans 3:23). God is always consistent with His perfect nature (Deuteronomy 32:4). All sins, therefore, must come from the creature, and the desire for evil comes from within the creature (James 1:14-15). Sin was “found” in Lucifer because of a choice he made to seek something other than what God had chosen for him. Any time we seek “other” than God’s choice, we sin.

To say sin originated within God’s creatures does not mean God was surprised or caught unawares by it. Although God did not bring about sin, He certainly allowed it or it would not exist, since God is sovereign over all things (Psalms 115:3). He could have prevented sin, but that would have meant stripping His creation of their free will (Daniel 4:17).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: Just like robot, would you have preferred God switches you on and off to take every action?

CONCLUSION: God is not the author of Sin but His creatures. You can overcome sin by giving your life to Jesus Christ and choose to be holy (Romans 6:14; 1 John 3:9).

QUESTIONS:

* Explain the origin of sin.

* What is sin?

ASSIGNMENT: Using Ezekiel 28:15-18, identify five things Lucifer did to be found guilty of sin. (2×5=10 marks).

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 6 OCTOBER 2023 MEMORIZE: Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 6 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING PROVERBS 11:24

[24]There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 6 OCTOBER 2023 MESSAGE

Every young fellow dreams of becoming wealthy in life so that he/she can buy everything that money can buy and enjoy life to the fullest.

OUnfortunately. many people don’t attain their desired greatness.

Unless a fellow is born with a silver Spoon or God smiles on him/her, he/she may struggle to become wealthy in life.

Interestingly, there are some antidotes to poverty, and at the top of the list is giving.

Even though you can pray against poverty, giving remains the greatest ticket out of poverty.

The Bible says in Proverbs 11:25: “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

This means that those who give liberally and joyfully have no choice but to flourish. No matter how small you are, never think that you have nothing to give.

I usually tell my children that if they can’t give someone #100, they will not be able to give by the time they start making big money.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 6 OCTOBER 2023 REFLECTION

Are you paying your tithes and offerings?

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 6 OCTOBER 2023 HYMN

HYMN 17 – THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS

1. “There shall be showers of blessing”
This is the promise of love;
There shall be season refreshing
Send from a savior above

Chorus:
Showers of blessing
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy drops round us are falling
But for the showers we plead.

2. “There shall be showers of blessing”
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys;
Sound of abundance of rain.

3. “There shall be showers of blessing”
Send them upon us Oh Lord!
Grant to us now a refreshing;
Come now and honour Thy Word.

4. “There shall be showers of blessing”
Oh, that today thy might fall,
Now as to God we are Confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!

5. “There shall be showers of blessing”
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be season refreshing,
If we let God have his way.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 6 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 12-13

AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVEN 7 OCTOBER 2023 MEMORIZE: ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh untc the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6

OPEN HEAVEN 7 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING JOHN 8:32-36

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

OPEN HEAVEN 7 OCTOBER 2023 MESSAGE

Someone may want to ask the Lord Jesus Christ, “Everybody calls You one name or the other; some say teacher, some say prophet.

What would You love to be called?” In today’s memory verse, He said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life”.

These are three mighty names, but for the next few days, we will be looking at Jesus as ‘The Way’.

Today, we will consider Jesus as the way to freedom. John 8:32 says: ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

In John 8:36, the Bible says, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” When we talk about freedom, there are some people who think they are free but are not.

Many influential people have problems that money cannot solve – problems completely beyond the power of science.

However, there is no problem beyond the power of Jesus Christ. He is the way to freedom.

There was a man in Mark 5:1-15 who was controlled by a legion of demons. Just one word from The Way, and all the demons left him.

There was a woman who had this peculiar condition that caused electrical currents to pass through her whenever any electronic appliance around her was switched on.

If you switched on the electric iron, she would become hot while the iron remained cold. If you switched on the fan, the woman would start rotating.

Once, when she wanted to go to the hospital in a van, as soon as the driver started the engine, the current flowed from the battery, picked her up and threw her out of the vehicle.

Due to this strange condition, electricity supply had to be cut off from her house.

I went to see this woman and told her | knew someone who could set her free.

She immediately gave her life to Jesus, we prayed a simple prayer and when we turned on the fan, it rotated without affecting her in any way. She was set free by The Way.

The only way to obtain freedom is by surrendering your life completely to The Way.

OPEN HEAVEN 7 OCTOBER 2023 KEY POINT

Jesus is the only way to true freedom.

OPEN HEAVEN 7 OCTOBER 2023 HYMN

HYMN 18 – WHEN WE WALK WITH THE LORD

1. When we walk with the Lord,
In the light of His word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

CHORUS
Trust and obey!
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

2. Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear,
Not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

3. Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss,
Not a frown nor a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey

4. But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay,
For the favour He shows
And the joy He bestows
Are for them who will trust and obey.

5. Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way,
What He says we will do,
Where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

OPEN HEAVEN 7 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 14-17

AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 5 OCTOBER 2023 MEMORIZE: The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:9

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 5 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING ROMANS 8:18

[18]For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 5 OCTOBER 2023 MESSAGE

God created man and beautified him with His glory. However, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, man lost the glory and inherited the exact opposite- shame.

In God’s initial plan, we were not designed to experience any hardship, shame poverty, struggles, et cetera, In fact, the whole world was supposed to be ina state of perfection, but sin changed the dynamics.

The good news, however, is that once you cross over to the Lord’s side by repenting of your sins and forsaking them totally, the glory is restored by the blood of Jesus.

This is why you should tell everyone about Jesus so that they can escape any form of bondage and enter into the glory that was prepared for us before the foundation of the world.

Are you presently experiencing pain, affliction, or maltreatment? Please don’t make any rash decision; don’t entertain depression or suicidal thoughts because your tomorrow will be alright.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 5 OCTOBER 2023 POINT

Those who don’t give up will enjoy the glory.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 5 OCTOBER 2023 HYMN

HYMN 14 – STANDING ON THE PROMISES OF GOD

1. Standing on the promises of Christ our King,
Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring:
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.

Chorus
Standing, Standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Saviour
Standing, Standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.

2. Standing on the promises that can-not fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the living word of Go I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.

3. Standing on the promises I now can see
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.

4. Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord,
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword,
Standing on the promises of God.

OPEN HEAVEN FOR TEENS 5 OCTOBER 2023 BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR: MATTHEW 10-11

AUTHORS: PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE
PASTOR MRS FOLU ADEBOYE