RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL 5 DECEMBER 2021

LESSON FOURTEEN (14)
TOPIC: SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE (PART 1)

MEMORY VERSE: “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by the reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil Hebrews 5:14.

BIBLE PASSAGE: HEBREWS 5:12-6:2.
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.

LESSON 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”.

OUTLINES
1. THE NEED FOR SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
2. QUALIFICATIONS FOR SPIRITUAL
KNOWLEDGE

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; 1 Cor.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.

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; 1John 2:17). The more you do His will, the more of Himself He will reveal, because doing His will implies that you love Him (John 14:15).

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
1. Why do believers need spiritual knowledge?
2. Mention the qualifications for spiritual knowledge.

FURTHER READINGS: MON: Ps.148:13.
TUE: Ps 138:2. WED: Phil.1:27: THUR:
1 Tim.4:12. FRI: 1Pet.2:12. SAT: 2Pet.3:111.
SUN: Jn.16:12-14.

ASSIGNMENT: Students should mention five (5) signs of lack of spiritual growth in a
Christian.