Lesson 12 Review: Dying Like a Seed

 

Introduction

Memory Text: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; … but if it dies, it produces much grain” (John 12:24, NKJV).

The dying of a wheat follows three significant processes based on this lesson, First the falling, the waiting and the dying. The Kernel falls from the wheat Stalk; it waits on the floor till it finally dies. Only after the seed gives up its status as a seed, it can not be transformed into a fruit-bearing plant.

What important message is there for us in Philippians 2:5-9?

Jesus denied Himself what was rightfully His and came in the form of man to save us, not as a glorified man either but as a servant, he did not live long and he did not even die a normal death but a death even on the cross. Paul tells us then that we should have the same mind that was in Jesus. Jesus submitted to the will of the Father and He was glorified after it all, if we submit too as Jesus did, we can be sure of being exalted.

When can we be able to test and approve what God’s will for our lives is?

When

1.       ‘We have a true understanding of “God’s mercy” for us (Rom. 12: 1, NIV).’

2.       ‘We offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Rom. 12:1).’

3.       ‘Our minds are renewed (Rom. 12:2).’

What does our own experience of crucifixion teach us?

It teaches us what it means to fellowship in Jesus’ sufferings, though our agony is much less than what our Savior went through.

What essential thing should we do in order to cultivate openness to God’s voice?

Preacher Charles Stanley describes that we shift to the neutral if we are willing to be open to God’s voice. When our agendas take a greater slice of or attention it becomes a waste of time to suggest something contrary.

What happens when we rely on our own understanding rather on God?

We open ourselves up to all sorts of problems when we do not rely on God to direct us.

What sequence did Saul follow to act in disobedience to God’s will?

He saw, He said and He felt. From seeing the scattering of his troops and Samuel’s absence, He said that the Philistines will conquer them, and He felt He should offer a sacrifice, this feeling led to his actions that God hated.

What three substitutes does the lesson highlights that we may use for God?

1.       ‘We use human logic or past experience when we need fresh divine revelation’

2.       ‘We block problems from our minds when we need divine solutions.’

3.       ‘We escape reality and avoid God when we need communions with Him for divine power.’

How should we deal with problems rather than settling for substitutes?

Focusing on God is the best way to deal with our problems, God may not always protect us from opposition, God may instead use it as a crucible to teach us to depend on Him. God did not prevent the opposition to build the temple in Zechariah 4 neither did He spare Zerubbabel from the stress of dealing with it, however it was not by might nor power (substitutes) that the temple was built but by the Spirit of God.

In Conclusion,

To grow into the person that God wants us to be we have to die to sin, we have to be open to God’s voice, we have to shift to neutral. All these say one thing, without submitting to God, we cannot obtain favor from Him. Jesus humbled Himself even to the point of death to save us from sin, even though it was His right to be equal with God, Jesus should be our model. I pray that the Spirit that was in Jesus be in us in Jesus’ name.