19/10/2019
*IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON*
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*THE NIGERIAN BAPTIST CONVENTION*
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*SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON*
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*October 20, 2019*
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*FAITH CAN HEAL*
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*Devotional Reading: James 5:13-18*
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*Background/Lesson Scripture: Luke 7:1-10*
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*GOLDEN TEXT*
*That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word; and my servant will be healed. Luke 7:7*
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*OBJECTIVES*
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By the end of the lesson class members should be able to:
• *Define faith and its importance to healing.*
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• *Share the benefits of persistence in prayers as displayed by the elders in this passage in line with Jesus teaching in Luke 18:*
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• *Suggest different ways Christians can develop their faith in Jesus Christ for healing.*
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• *Write down their determination to approach God in prayer with confidence in His power to answer prayers.*
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*INTRODUCTION*
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Mrs Smith Adeogo and her family members are devoted Christians. She has the gift of faith and, therefore, she is fond of praying and asking Doctor Jesus to heal the sick, especially those who have lost hope of healing. One day, after their family devotion and having spent time asking Doctor Jesus to heal the sick, one of her children asked her if actually Jesus is a doctor and if yes, in which university did He train? What year did He graduate and in which hospital does He work? Beaming with a smile, Mrs Adeogo explained that Doctor Jesus is not like the medical doctors in our hospitals. However, being God has qualified Him to be a Doctor and our Great Healer. Therefore, He has power over sicknesses and diseases. Those who believe in Him will receive physical and spiritual healing like the centurion who demonstrated strong faith in today's lesson.
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Jesus was involved in a threefold ministry while on earth, they are preaching, teaching and healing. Before He came, people had been falling sick with all kinds of diseases, irrespective of their age, s*x, position, possession, race or tribe; and they sought healing in different ways, which could be spiritual, medical or both, depending on their faith. It should be noted that the man in today's lesson demonstrated great faith when he sought the help of Jesus for one of his servants who was sick, and the servants health was restored by the power of Jesus.
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*THE LESSON EXPLAINED*
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A. *The Centurions Request Luke 7:1-5*
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In chapter 6 of Luke, Jesus taught many lessons about the kingdom. He ended it with the importance of complete obedience to His teaching, using the parable of the two builders, after which He proceeded to Capernaum. According to verse 2, a Roman officer (a Centurion in charge of about one hundred Roman troops) had a sick servant who was valuable to him. Certainly, the centurion had heard about Jesus and perhaps His power to heal and deliver. Therefore, because of his concern for his ill servant, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to come and heal him (v. 3). The centurion was not alone in his desire for the sick servant to be healed and Jesus ability to do so. Obviously, the elders he sent had a similar opinion and belief; thus they begged Jesus with great passion. The elders demonstrated commitment to the assignment as they pleaded with Jesus earnestly saying, This man deserves to have you do this... (v. 4). They stressed two reasons why Jesus should honour the invitation of the centurion: he loved their nation and had built their synagogue in Capernaum (Mark 1:21-23) the same synagogue where Jesus had often taught and healed the sick. By this singular act, the Centurion showed his respect for the God of Israel, the Jewish nation and religion.
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There is no doubt that the faith and pleas of these elders show the efficacy of persistence in prayer. It also portrays the benefit of a collective willingness, faith and belief in Jesus power to heal the sick and deliver the demons possessed. This stresses the need for unity among believers to pray and intercede on behalf of others, especially in their trying moments. The desire of the Centurion to have his servant healed is noteworthy. This must have been based on the usefulness of the servant and his obedience to his master. He also loved the Jewish nation and their religion. As a result, he built a place of worship for them as an act of love for God and His people.
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*DISCUSSION TIME*
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1. *Why is it that some leaders do not have regard for the well-being of their followers, unlike the centurion in today's passage?*
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2. *How can Christians promote a good working relationship among themselves?*
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3. *Share the benefits of persistence in prayer as displayed by the elders in this passage.*
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B. *The Centurions Faith and Humility Luke 7:6-8*
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The Jewish elders successfully convinced Jesus of the personality and generosity of the Centurion and perhaps how much respect he has for the Jewish faith. Thereafter, Jesus was moved with compassion and immediately went with them to the Centurions house. When he saw Jesus afar off, the Centurion recognised his unworthiness to receive Jesus into his home. He simply sent a message to Him saying, Lord, do not trouble yourself for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof, hence I did not bother to come to you personally. He demonstrated faith and said, ...but say the word and my servant will be healed. (vv. 6b- 7) This, of course, was a sign of humility and faith on the part of the Centurion who thought of himself less but had much regard for Jesus. After all, he was a man of authority who had soldiers serving under him who obey his instructions without questioning his order. In fact, it was uncommon for a Roman officer to feel undeserving of a Jewish Rabbi this way. Truly, the Centurion displayed a remarkable faith by seeing a parallel in the way he commanded his soldiers and the word of Jesus. Even though he had initially requested for Him to come, he believed that Jesus pronouncement alone would make his servant well (vv. 3, 7) and it happened according to his faith (v. 10). In other words, Jesus did not have to be physically present before His words could accomplish what He purposed. In the same manner, Christians do not need the physical presence of Christ before their needs are met. All we require is a step of faith in Christ to receive our miracle.
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The Centurions reverence for God was translated into his reverence and high esteem for Jesus. While the Jewish elders said the centurion was worthy of Jesus help (v. 4), he claimed he was unworthy to receive Him into his house (v. 6). This was an expression of faith, humility and submission to the sovereignty of Christ as the Healer and Deliverer.
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*DISCUSSION TIME*
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1. *Can we still find people like the Centurion in our society today with such great faith?*
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2. *What is faith and why is it so important to receive healing from God?*
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C. *The Servants Miraculous Healing Luke 7:9-10*
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The passage truly reveals the faith of the Centurion. He acknowledged the fact that Jesus authority and power was supreme and divine to heal his servant, even from a distance. Our Lord Jesus Christ was pleased with the faith and confession of the Centurion. Jesus honoured him and said to His followers, I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel (v. 9) In other words, Jesus was pleased with his faith, humility, simplicity and sincere confession, notwithstanding his position. The climax of the story is that before the elders returned home, the health of the servant had been completely restored (v. 10).This is an indication that faith (belief), intercession and persistence are important factors to receiving miracles anywhere. Little wonder Jesus could not perform many miracles in His hometown, Nazareth because of their unbelief!
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The writer of Hebrews defines faith as being certain about the things we hope for or the things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1). Therefore the role of faith in both physical and spiritual healing cannot be overemphasized as displayed by the Centurion in today's passage. In addition, Jesus concern for the Centurion and his servant shows that the Gentiles are not excluded from the benefit of His grace. In the same vein, anyone, regardless of tribe or religion in times of challenges, by faith, will receive the grace of healing, deliverance and redemption.
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*DISCUSSION TIME*
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1. *Whenever somebody is sick, what do we remember first: medicine or prayer?*
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2. *Discuss how the faith of one (1) person can translate to the healing of another person.*
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3. *Discuss the benefits of intercession on behalf of others*
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*PRAYER POINTS*
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• *Ask God to help you develop your faith.*
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• *Pray collectively for the sick in your family, church and perhaps neighbourhood.*
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*Fellowship and Ministry Building Activities*
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• *Discuss how we can stir the faith of the sick for healing.*
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• *Write down your determination to approach God in prayer with confidence in His power to answer prayers.*
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*TAKE HOME*
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• *It is important to treat people well, no matter the position you occupy.*
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• *Have faith in God who is able to heal.*
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• *God expects us to always intercede on behalf of others.*
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• *Remember to show commitment in your duty like the Centurions servant.*
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• *We must learn to use our positions to help others and not intimidate them.*
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• *Be involved in spiritual discipline so that you can grow in faith.*
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