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SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES WITH HOME CARING FELLOWSHIP OUTLINES NAME: ____________________________________________ CHURCH LOCATION: ______________________________ A publication of Life Press Ltd. Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Lagos, Nigeria Reprinted by Deeper Christian Life Ministry Northern European Headquarters P.O. Box 737, 2501 CS The Hague, The Netherlands Email: [email protected] © 2017 PASTOR W.F. KUMUYI Founder & General Superintendent Deeper Life Bible Church Worldwide ABOUT PASTOR W.F. KUMUYI Pastor (Dr.) William Folorunso Kumuyi, previously a professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos, is the founding pastor of the Deeper Life Bible Church and General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Worldwide. The Church with its headquarters in Lagos officially began on November 7, 1982 with a simple message: “Jesus transforms lives - bringing not only healing but a complete and fully formed Christian character.” By 1988, the Conference of Pentecostal and Evangelical Churches worldwide recognized Deeper Life Bible Church as the single largest church in Africa, and the third largest single congregation in the world. The phenomenal growth of the church tends to overshadow its small beginning. With 15 adult members in 1973, Kumuyi began an interdenominational weekly Bible study in Lagos. By 1975, this fledgling group quickly grew to 1500 people who assembled faithfully every Monday to hear the systematic, expository and rich teaching of the scriptures with practical application that is immediately helpful and relevant to listeners. Less than a decade later, the Bible Study group became what is now the Deeper Life Bible Church and grew to 350,000 members at the Lagos headquarters church with mission work in 42 countries of the world. The church has since sustained an unprecedented growth trajectory leading to worldwide membership strength in the millions. Pastor Kumuyi, from the beginning of his ministry, has been blessed with divine success because of his commitment to teaching sound doctrine, a stellar and pristine character, unparalleled commitment to leadership development and divine giftedness. A humble and outstanding teacher and preacher, Pastor Kumuyi exemplifies servant leadership. He commits himself tirelessly and selflessly to achieve divinely ordained goals. He has a colossal grasp of the scriptures coupled with uncanny ability to dissect 4 scriptural truths. Preaching between two worlds, bridging the context and the content of the biblical text to meet the realities and the needs of present day led many listeners to conclude that he “teaches the Bible as if he was there when it was written”. The Bible serves as the proof text for his teaching and preaching. With a thematic approach, he gives a wide range of Bible passages supporting, clarifying and expanding his main point. A typical Kumuyi teaching is a beauty to behold. He brightens and deepens delivery with laborious scholarship and stylistic deployment of a vast range of figurative, alliterative devices. Kumuyi’s message is music to the ears and balm to the spirit. It comes across with crystal clarity free from the din and distractions of fleeting hysterics and unnecessary drama. It is not uncommon to see on a typical Sunday service, princes, paupers, professors and priests sit side by side reaching for the cross and surrendering to the Lord in response to a heart-rending sermon. This emphasis on the primacy of preaching and the exaltation of the Word is one of Kumuyi’s great legacies to the body of Christ. Much of the church’s cohesion and shared sense of community have been driven by the inspiring and exemplary leadership of Pastor Kumuyi. His infectious passion for evangelism is undiminished. He is passionate about leadership training and equipping pastors, teachers, evangelists and Christian workers. As his congregation blossomed throughout Africa, the Deeper Christian Life Ministry has also extended its missionary exploits to Western Europe, Russia, Asia, India and North America. Kumuyi credits God for the success recorded so far by the church: “The bottom line is that God in His own wisdom and power raised up the church and has given us divine support. The only reason Deeper Life has grown is because God Himself has given the growth.” 5 CONTENTS LESSON PAGE OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES 638 Divine Retribution on Abimelech and the Shecemites 8 639 Israel’s Sin And Misery 13 640 Jephthah’s Rejection And Rise To Leadership 20 641 Jephthah’s Vow And Victory Over Ammon 28 642 Strife Between Ephraim And Gilead 35 NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES 643 The Pre-eminence Of Love 43 644 Precepts For Use Of Spiritual Gifts 51 645 The Resurrection Of The Dead 58 646 Paul’s Care For The Saints 65 647 Comfort For Suffering Believers 73 SPECIAL STUDIES 648 The Baptism With The Holy Ghost 81 649 Quiet Time And Family Devotion 88 650 Prayer And Fasting 94 OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES 651 The Miraculous Birth Of Samson 99 652 Samson’s Inordinate Affection 106 653 Samson’s Vengeance On The Philistines 113 654 Samson’s Lust And Fall 120 655 Samson’s Final Exploit And Death 127 NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES 656 Paul’s Passion For Godliness In The Church 133 657 The Superiority Of Grace To The Law 139 658 The Character Of Christ’s Servants During Trial 146 659 Paul’s Hope And Labour For Eternal Glory 153 660 Paul’s Sufferings And Faithfulness In Ministry 158 SPECIAL STUDIES 661 Holiness With Hospitality 165 662 Serving One Another In Love 171 663 Divine Healing And Health 177 6 OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES 664 Micah Introduces Idolatry In Israel 184 665 Dan Seeks Territorial Expansion 191 666 Moral Perversion In Gibeah 197 667 Israel Demands Justice From Gibeah 203 668 Conflict Between Israel And Benjamin 210 NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES 669 Warning Against Unequal Yoke 217 670 The Pursuit Of Purity In The Church 222 671 Pattern And Precepts For Godly Giving 228 672 The Practice Of Acceptable Giving 234 673 Saints’ Spiritual Warfare 239 SPECIAL STUDIES 674 Total Freedom From Sin 247 675 The Fruit Of The Spirit 255 676 Personal Evangelism 263 OLD TESTAMENT STUDIES 677 Remnants of Benjamin Re-established 271 678 Elimelech’s Journey to Moab 278 679 Naomi Returns with Ruth to Bethlehem-Judah 284 680 Ruth’s Piety and Hard Work 289 681 Ruth finds Favour with Boaz 295 NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES 682 Paul Defends His Apostleship 301 683 Paul’s Concern and Suffering for the Church 308 684 Sufficiency of God’s Grace 315 685 Exhortation to Godly Living 322 686 Danger of Perverting the Gospel 329 SPECIAL STUDIES 687 Daily Christian Service 336 688 Jesus’ Pattern of Soul-winning 343 689 Marriage and Family Life of Christians 351 BUILDING THE BODY CARING FELLOWSHIP OUTLINES 359 − 459 7 LESSON 638 DIVINE RETRIBUTION ON ABIMELECH AND THE SHECHEMITES MEMORY VERSE: “Knowest thou not this of old, since man was placed upon earth, That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?” (Job 20:4,5). TEXT: Judges 9:34-57 bimelech, son of Gideon by a concubine from Shechem, assumed the throne in Israel by Aslaughtering his father’s seventy sons. He made himself king by eliminating all potential successors to the throne. His inordinate ambition to become king was in sharp contrast to Gideon’s self-effacing and humble response when the men of Israel made an unsolicited request for him to be their king after his conquest of the Midianites (Judges 8:22,23). Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon escaped the massacre and cursed Abimelech and the men of Shechem. At first glance, Abimelech might seem like an ideal candidate for leadership as a gifted communicator and skilled tactician. He set his heart on becoming the ruler of the people. He had an unbridled passion to lead and effectively used his oratory to gain support. “Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, whether it is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal which are three score and ten persons, reign over you or that one reign over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh” (Judges 9:2). Though Abimelech ascended the throne by subtlety and wickedness, his reign was short-lived as he was killed in battle after three years of turbulent rule. Today’s lesson reveals a fulfilment of the law of sowing and reaping. “For whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). This lesson also shows the destruction of the impenitent because “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hands join in hand, he shall not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5). 8 Question 1: How does the law of sowing and reaping apply to man’s actions? THE DRIVE AND DOMINION OF ABIMELECH (Judges 9:34-41; 2 Samuel 15:1-6; Matthew 18:1-4; 20:20-28; Isaiah 14:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:2,3; 2 Thessalonians 2:11,12). “And Abimelech rose up and all the people that were with him, by night and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies” (Judges 9:34). Godly leaders are motivated by service and not by inordinate quest for power (Acts 13:36). But Abimelech’s inner drive was to dominate and destroy the men of Shechem whom he used as spring board to the throne. He reigned over Israel for only three years. He had no God in his programme. He fought wars by his personal wisdom and physical strength trusting in his sword, bows and arrows. To him, killing his fellow men, even his blood relations was normal. His war was without mercy; he killed or burned all who stood in his path.