RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS’ MANUAL 20 NOVEMBER 2022

LESSON TWELVE (12)
TOPIC: THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY

*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 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 blessings on me

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, help me to know the hidden things about iniquity.

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12

[1]Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

[2]That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

[3]Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

[4]Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

[5]Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

[6]And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

[7]For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

[8]And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

[9]Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

[10]And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

[11]And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

[12]That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

MEMORY VERSE: “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.” 2 Thess 2:7.

INTRODUCTION: Mystery simply means something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained. It takes its root from the Latin word ‘mysterium’ and the ancient Greek word ‘musterion’ meaning a secret or secret rite. Iniquity from its root word ‘anomia’ (in Greek) means illegality, i.e. violation of law or wickedness: transgression of the law, unrighteousness or lawlessness. Therefore, the mystery of iniquity is a system of lawlessness for which believers are warned and expected to be on guard.

LESSON AIM:
To teach students to remain fervent in Christ despite the lawlessness in the world.

TEACHING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:
a. Understand and identify the mystery of iniquity.

b. Know how to work out their salvation with fear and trembling.

c. Know and hold on to the sanctity of God’s word.

d. Guard their hearts with all diligence.

TEXT REVIEW:
A. In this passage, Apostle Paul admonishes believers, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him that: V1.
i. ………………………………………V2.
ii. ………………………………………….V3.
iii. ………………………………….…….V4.
B. Paul further declares:
i. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you …………..………………V5.
ii …………………………………V6.
iii. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: ……………………………V7.
iv. And then shall that Wicked be revealed,…………………….……..V8.
v. ……….. …………….V9.
v……….………….……V10.
vii. And for this cause God shall send them ………..………..V11.
viii. That the …..……..V12.

OUTLINES:
1. THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY EXPLAINED
2. BELIEVERS MUST BE ON THE WATCH

1. THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY EXPLAINED
A. Teacher should explain the mystery as follows:
i. The mystery of iniquity is the working of lawlessness in the world, leading to a worldwide rebellion against God (Matt.24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-4).

ii. It is all about controlling people, systems, finance, etc. (Gen.11:4).

iii. It is an interwoven series of complex systems that have slipped into politics, entertainment, sports, education, religion, media, etc. (Rom.1:21-22).

iv. It is also revealed through the spirit of seduction and doctrines of the devils (2Tim.3:13; 1Tim.4:1).

v. It showcases sinful behaviours and diabolic practices in human beings (Acts 8:22-23; Matt.23:28).

vi. Iniquity relates more to the inner character (Mk.7:21-23) and points to an intentional desire to twist God’s holy standard (Jude 4).

vii. It drives human beings to twist God’s word (Titus 1:11).

B. It will one day culminate in the appearance of the Antichrist, whose spirit is already at work in the world but is being restrained for now so that the world is not as evil as it could be (2 Thess.2:7-8; 1Jn. 4:3).
The mystery of iniquity is the working of lawlessness in the world, leading to a worldwide rebellion against God (Matt.24:12; 2 Tim.3:1-4). It is all about controlling people, systems, finance, etc. (Gen.11:4). It is an interwoven series of complex systems that have slipped into politics, entertainment, sports, education, religion, media, etc. (Rom.1:21-22). It is also revealed through the spirit of seduction, and doctrines of the devils (2Tim. 3:13; 1Tim. 4:1). It showcases sinful behaviours and diabolic practices in human beings (Acts 8:22-23; Matt.23:28).

Iniquity relates more to the inner character (Mk.7:21-23) and points to an intentional desire to twist God’s holy standard (Jude 4). It drives human beings to twist God’s word (Tit.1:11). It will one day culminate in the appearance of the Antichrist, whose spirit is already at work in the world but is being restrained for now so that the world is not as evil as it could be (2 Thess. 2:7-8; 1Jn. 4:3).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The class should mention any sector where the mystery of iniquity is already at work and how?

2. BELIEVERS MUST BE ON THE WATCH
With the spirit of lawlessness everywhere in the world, believers must:
i. Search, rend and guard their hearts diligently and always (Joel 2:13; Prov.4:23).

ii. Confess any known sin (1Jn.1:9) and repent to receive forgiveness from the Lord (Acts 3:19).

iii. Not conform to this world’s system (Rom.12:2) and be diligent to keep God’s commandment (Deut.11:22).

iv. Watch and pray (Matt.26:41) and ask for a new heart (Ps.51:10).

v. Put on the new man (Col.3:10) and be constantly renewed by the Holy Ghost (Tit. 3:5).

vi. Depart from iniquity (2Tim.2:19) and remove the old yeast of sin (1Cor.5:7).

vii. Purge themselves (2Tim.2:21) and let their garments be spotless (Eccl.9:8).
With the spirit of lawlessness everywhere in the world, believers must:

1. Search, rend and guard their hearts diligently and always (Joel 2:13; Prov.4:23).

2. Confess any known sin (1Jn.1:9) and repent to receive forgiveness from the Lord (Acts 3:19).

3. Not conform to this world’s system (Rom.12:2) and be diligent to keep God’s commandment (Deut.11:22).

4. Watch and pray (Matt.26:41) and ask for a new heart (Ps.51:10).

5. Put on the new man (Col.3:10) and be constantly renewed by the Holy Ghost (Tit.3:5).

6. Depart from iniquity (2Tim.2:19) and remove the old yeast of sin (1Cor.5:7).

7. Purge themselves (2Tim.2:21) and let their garments be spotless (Eccl.9:8).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class should mention how they resisted a particular temptation recently.

SUMMARY: The mystery of iniquity is part of the end-time manifestations, the onus lies on believers to keep the fire of their faith burning and hold on to the end.

CONCLUSION: Believers must know that the spirit of lawlessness is already operating in the world presently and they must ensure that they keep the profession of their faith to the end.

QUESTIONS:
* What is the mystery of iniquity?
* Mention four (4) things believers can do to be on the watch

EVALUATION: Teachers should ask the students to explain what they understand by lawlessness in this end-time.

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, help me not to be lost in this world of ungodliness.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) aspects of the world system capable of luring you into being a perpetual sinner. E.g. Clubbing. (2×5=10 Marks).