Adults 4th quarter 2024
November 10, 2024
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” ( Isaiah 53:4 )
PRACTICAL TRUTH
Jesus is the Physician of physicians and there is no sickness that He cannot cure.
DAILY READING
Tuesday - Rom 3.9-12 Sin has corrupted all human nature
Wednesday - Gn 6.3,13; 2 Pe 2.5 Over time, man began to live less
Suggested Hymns: From the Christian Harp
CLASSROOM BIBLE READING
Isaiah 53:1-5; Matthew 8:14-17; James 5:14,15
Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a tender plant, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty; and when we looked at him, we saw no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his stripes we are healed.
Matthew 8:14
When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever.
15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served them.
16 When evening came, they brought to him many who were demon-possessed, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took our infirmities and bore our diseases."
James 5:14
Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, they will be forgiven.
LESSON PLAN
1- INTRODUCTION
In this Sunday’s lesson, we will study the promise of divine healing. Jesus accomplished a complete work of salvation on Calvary, and divine healing is part of it. In the divine plan, the Lord always desired to heal His people, which is why He presented Himself in the Old Testament as Jehovah Rapha. In the New Testament, according to Stanley Horton, “divine healing is an integral part of the Gospel.” Deliverance from illness is provided for us in the atonement, and it is the privilege of all believers.” Christ’s work on Calvary guarantees us salvation, healing, and deliverance. Our Lord has not changed, so we can pray, trusting in His power to heal the illnesses of our body and soul. Jesus Christ does heal!
2- LESSON PRESENTATION
A) Lesson Objectives:
I) To explain biblically the promises of divine healing;
II) To understand the origin and consequences of illness in the world;
III) To make people aware that Christ does heal.
B) Motivation: The plan of salvation not only brought us redemption, but also the promise of healing for our bodies. According to the prophet Isaiah, Jesus took upon himself our pains and “by his stripes we are healed.” Therefore, when faced with the illnesses of our time or a bad and difficult diagnosis, do not lose heart. Have faith and believe that Christ has not changed and that He has the power to heal. No matter the diagnosis, His will always be the final word in our lives. Illnesses can be many and difficult, but they are not greater than our God, so trust in Him.
C) Suggested Method: Teacher, the theme of this Sunday’s lesson is an excellent opportunity to revive the tradition of intercession on behalf of those who are sick. Invite your students to intercede for sick people in the church and in their families. Set aside a period of five minutes for each person to intercede, in class, for people who are sick and will be the target of intercessory prayer. Ask each student to continue praying for the requests presented throughout the week. The Lord has promised us healing, but we need to do our part, which is to get on our knees and intercede! We suggest that students share their testimonies when the blessing of healing has been received.
3- LESSON CONCLUSION
A) Application: Today’s lesson is an excellent opportunity for you and your students to reflect on divine healing. Show that during his earthly ministry, Jesus healed many people, and after his departure, his apostles also performed healings. Explain that when the lame man saw Peter and John entering the Temple, he asked them for alms. But they offered that man something even greater and better: salvation and healing in the name of Jesus Christ. We need “Peter and John” in our days; people who pray and preach boldly, magnifying the name of Jesus Christ.
4- TEACHER’S SUPPORT
A) Christian Teacher Magazine. It is worth getting to know this magazine that brings reports, articles, interviews and support resources for Adult Bible Lessons. In issue 99, p. 39, you will find a special resource for this lesson.
B) Special Resources: At the end of the topic, you will find resources that will support you in preparing your class:
1) The text at the end of the second topic expands on the reflection on the origin of illnesses, while also seeking to respond to critics of the doctrine of Divine Healing with the biblical explanation of the prophecy of Isaiah 53;
2) The text at the end of the third topic shows that although Christ heals, we should not emphasize it to the detriment of the proclamation of the Gospel, highlighting that salvation has always been the priority of the Lord's ministry.
INTRODUCTION
On the Cross of Calvary, the Lord Jesus accomplished a complete work of salvation. This work, carried out by Him, authorizes us to cry out for Divine Healing. In this lesson, we will see that, in the divine plan, the Lord our God desired to heal His people to alleviate their suffering. This plan occurred in a powerful way in the ministry of Jesus, being consummated in the power of the work of Calvary. Jesus Christ does heal!
KEYWORD: Divine Healing
I – THE BIBLICAL PROMISE OF DIVINE HEALING
1- The messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53. The biblical prophecy of Isaiah 53 presents the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ of God who was nailed to the Cross of Calvary for our redemption ( Isaiah 53:1-3 ). In this way, the work of Calvary was carried out in a complete, perfect and full manner, so that, in addition to being redeemed and freed from the empire of sin, the saved also receives healing from diseases because of the work of Calvary (Isaiah 53:4,5). Yes, our Lord Jesus suffered both physical and spiritual suffering in our place and, therefore, the work of Salvation is complete. Furthermore, the evangelist confirms the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in the ministry of Jesus ( Matthew 8:17 ). Therefore, we can affirm that Jesus saves and heals.2- The prophetic fulfillment in the ministry of Jesus. The biblical text of Matthew 8:14-17 presents the Lord Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law. Then, He receives the demon-possessed and the sick, casting out demons from those who were enslaved by unclean spirits and healing the sick who were before Him. The evangelist Matthew referred to this episode in the following way: “That what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, saying, ‘He took our infirmities and bore our diseases’” (Matthew 8:17). This account shows that God’s Plan of Salvation also took into account the divine healing of the sick.
3- Ministers are called to pray and anoint the sick. Throughout the New Testament, the apostles, other leaders and the Early Church believed in the healing power of the Lord Jesus, so that the people of God expected to receive healing through prayer, accompanied by anointing with oil by the ministers of the church and, if necessary, also accompanied by confession of sins ( James 5:14,15 ). Thus, it is the responsibility of God's ministers to anoint the sick with oil and pray with faith for them. How many testimonies show that the Lord Jesus still heals, because it is a work completed on Calvary!
SYNOPSIS I
The work of Christ on Calvary was carried out in a complete, perfect and full manner, so that, in addition to being redeemed and freed from the empire of sin, the saved person also receives the promise of divine healing.
II – ORIGIN AND CONSEQUENCES OF DISEASES IN THE WORLD
1- The origin of diseases in Eden. The origin of diseases and their tragic consequences go back to the act of disobedience of our first parents, as reported in Genesis 3. Human sin caused diseases to arise, accompanied by pain, suffering and death. Therefore, as we presented in the first topic, the biblical doctrine of Divine Healing is based on the work of Calvary, because, according to the Bible, the true cause of the advent of diseases is sin ( Gen 3.1-7,22-24 ).2- The consequence of the advent of disease. Sin corrupted all areas of human nature ( Rom 3.9-12 ). Thus, one of the main consequences of sin, as well as the advent of diseases, was the reduction in the life span of human beings. The Bible reveals that Adam lived 930 years; Seth, 912 years; Enosh, 905 years; The age of other important biblical characters decreased over time ( Genesis 5:1-32 ). When announcing the Flood to Noah, God set the limit of human life at 120 years ( Genesis 6:3,13 ; 2 Peter 2:5). Psalm 90 affirms a shorter life expectancy: “Our days are seventy years, and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet the best of them are but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass away, and we fly away” ( Psalm 90:10 ). The fact is that with sin and the advent of diseases, human beings have had their lifespan shortened.
3- The proliferation of diseases. Throughout human history, we have witnessed the proliferation of various diseases. Basically, we can classify them into two orders of existence: physical and mental. In the physical order, we have heart disease, diabetes, cancer, among others, which take many lives. In terms of mental health, we have Alzheimer's, depression (which leads to suicide), and several other disorders and dementias. These and other illnesses affect many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, because believers are not immune to them. Unfortunately, many unwary people are deceived by false promises of cures and, therefore, do not seek medical help, and what could be treated ends up getting worse. It is important to point out that the Word of God teaches that our body has not yet been fully redeemed ( Romans 8:23 ). Therefore, it is not incompatible to pray for healing and, at the same time, seek help from doctors. This has nothing to do with a lack of faith, but with the zeal of those who are temples of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 6:19 ).
SYNOPSIS II
Illnesses had their origin in the Fall. They are a direct consequence of sin.
THEOLOGICAL HELP
Teacher, begin the topic by asking the following question: “What is the origin of sickness?” Listen carefully to the students and encourage active participation from all. Then explain that sickness originates in the Fall, but not all sickness is the result of sin, as Job’s friends believed. Explain that “critics of the biblical doctrine of divine healing do not understand the full scope and significance of Christ’s atoning work. Christ’s suffering was for us, in our place and on our behalf. In Isaiah 53, the Servant of Yahweh experiences rejection and suffering, ‘not as a consequence of his own disobedience, but on behalf of others.’ What is the result? He brings about the healing of God’s people through ‘his stripes.’” The statement that Jesus’ sufferings bring healing to those who suffer is established on a solid theological foundation” (HORTON, Stanley M. Systematic Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 1996, p. 519).
3 – JESUS CHRIST IS THE CARE OF YOU
1- Divine Healing is part of God’s Plan. Since Exodus 15, we can see God revealing Himself with healing power. In the desert with Israel, He acted as the Physician of His people. The divine declaration “I am the Lord who heals you” ( Exodus 15:26 ) makes clear God’s plan to heal people, to bring relief from their illnesses and suffering. This divine plan is very clear in the ministry of Jesus who, after healing people, “had compassion” on them ( Matthew 9:35,36 ).2- Jesus heals. The same Lord Jesus who healed in the Gospels is the same who heals today. He has healing power. Our Lord “is the same yesterday, and today, and forever” ( Heb. 13:8 ). The Jesus who healed the woman with the flow of blood (Matthew 9:19-22), heals today; the Jesus who healed the blind man of Jericho ( Mark 14:46-52 ), does heal; Jesus, who raised Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:35-43), raises any human being from their illness. The power of Jesus through the Holy Spirit is present in the life of the Church of Christ to heal any and all illnesses.
3- What can we do to receive Divine Healing? There are some biblical principles that must accompany the life of those who wish to experience divine healing. In the Word of God, we see that we must believe that Jesus can heal, we must trust in the power of Jesus ( Mt 7:12 ). We also learn in the Bible that we must ask the leaders of the local church to pray for us, anointing us with oil ( Jm 5:14-16 ). Let us not fail to persevere in faith and prayer, because our time is not always God’s time ( Lk 18:1-8 ). Finally, do not fail to seek medical help, whether for treatment or to confirm the divine healing received; because whether using and blessing doctors or healing supernaturally, Christ does heal.
SYNOPSIS III
Divine Healing is part of God's Redemptive Plan. The Lord Jesus still heals.
BIBLICAL HELP
Teacher, explain that Christ continues to heal today, but “one of the great dangers of overemphasizing healing is that it can eclipse the gospel in evangelism. This danger may also have influenced Jesus’ command that those who were healed be kept secret. As Stephen Short puts it, ‘Jesus did not want people to come to Him just to receive physical benefits.’ Many non-Christians come to Christian meetings primarily to meet some physical or material need. Once they come, we share the gospel with them. But I have found that it is very difficult for them to make the transition in their thinking from their felt needs to the gospel. They hear our explanation of the gospel and perhaps even accept it, but in their hearts, when they think of Christianity and us Christians, they imagine: This is a place where my physical and material needs are met. Therefore, they have difficulty in really hearing the Gospel, even though it is clearly transmitted to them” (FERNANDO, Ajith. Ministry Directed by Jesus. Rio de Janeiro: CPAD, 2013, pp. 212,213).
CONCLUSION
In this lesson, we studied how the Work of Christ on Calvary guarantees us Salvation and Divine Healing. In the name of Jesus, we can pray for one another so that we may experience divine healing. Our Lord has not changed. He remains the same. Therefore, we must turn to Him with humility and persevering faith, trusting that He is powerful to heal the illnesses of His people. Jesus Christ does heal!
REVIEWING THE CONTENT
1- What does the prophecy of Isaiah 53 present?
The biblical prophecy of Isaiah 53 presents the Lord Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ of God who was nailed to the Cross of Calvary for our redemption (Isaiah 53.1-3).
2- How did the evangelist Matthew refer to the episode in which Jesus healed the sick in Matthew 8?
The evangelist Matthew referred to this episode as follows: “so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, saying: He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Mt 8:17).
The evangelist Matthew referred to this episode as follows: “so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, saying: He took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses” (Mt 8:17).
3- What happened as a consequence of human sin?
Human sin caused illnesses to appear, accompanied by pain, suffering and death.
Human sin caused illnesses to appear, accompanied by pain, suffering and death.
4- Name one of the main consequences of sin and the advent of diseases.
One of the main consequences of sin, as well as the advent of diseases, was the reduction in human lifespan.
One of the main consequences of sin, as well as the advent of diseases, was the reduction in human lifespan.
5- Name some principles that should accompany our lives in order to experience divine healing.
Trust in the power of Jesus (Mt 7-12); ask the leaders of the local church to pray for us, anointing us with oil (Jm 5.14-16); persevere in faith and prayer (Lk 18.1-8); do not fail to seek medical help, whether for treatment or to confirm the divine healing received.
Trust in the power of Jesus (Mt 7-12); ask the leaders of the local church to pray for us, anointing us with oil (Jm 5.14-16); persevere in faith and prayer (Lk 18.1-8); do not fail to seek medical help, whether for treatment or to confirm the divine healing received.
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