OPENING PRAYER: Almighty Father, please teach me how to cleanse myself daily for your use in Jesus’ name.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant Teacher to review the previous week’s lesson.

MEMORY VERSE: “Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” – 2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Hebrews 10:19-23 (KJV)

19 Having, therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;

21 And having a high priest over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

LESSON INTRODUCTION: God’s desire is that His people will be clean outwardly and inwardly (Zechariah 3:4). He loves those whose hearts and lives are perfect towards Him and has made adequate provision for their all-round cleansing (Hebrews 10:22). In Psalm 51:7 David prayed for God’s cleansing. We also have a crucial role to play in this matter. Therefore, we need to examine the issue of self-cleansing carefully.

TEXT REVIEW: Hebrews 10:19-23.

The teacher should identify five benefits of Jesus’ death to believers (or mankind) according to the above-stated passage.
i. ……………………………..
i. ……………………………..
iii. ……………………………
iv. ……………………………

LESSON OUTLINES

LESSON OUTLINE 1: WHAT IS SELF-CLEANSING?

MEANING OF SELF-CLEANSING:

i. It is a conscious and decisive effort by a
person to purge himself or herself of all filthiness. 2 Corinthians 7:1.
ii. lt is self-determination to become whole
and acceptable to God through the help of the Holy Spirit.
iii. It is a thorough sanitation of the filth in one’s life as revealed by the Holy Spirit through the word of God. Isaiah 6:5.
iv. It is a renewal of one’s mind. Romans 12:2.
v. It is putting away all manner of evil deeds. Isaiah 1:16.
vi. It is a decision, backed up by the Holy Spirit not to allow impure thoughts and wickedness to have a place in our hearts. Jeremiah 4:14.
vii. It is disallowing sin from having a place in one’s life. Romans 6:12-13.
viii. It is putting off the old man with his deeds. Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9.
ix. It is putting on the new man in all righteousness after the image of Christ. Ephesians 4:24.

BENEFITS OF SELF-CLEANSING:
i. Self-cleansing makes believers honourable and useful vessels to God. 2 Timothy 2:21.
ii. lt promotes the hope of believers in eternal
life with Jesus because; those that will reign
with Him must be pure. 1 John 3:3.
iii. Self-cleansing prepares us to be blameless before God. Psalm 24:4-6; Hebrews 10:22.
iv. It propels/provokes answers to prayers. Psalm 24:5.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The class should discuss those pollutants that can make a Christian filthy.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: HOW CAN A MAN CLEANSE HIMSELF?

A. We are cleansed through the shedding of the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:14;22.

B. But to cleanse ourselves, we must:
i. Obey the word of God completely. Psalm 119:9.
ii. Put away all manner of sin and weight that can stain or contaminate our purity. Hebrews 12:1.
iii. Stay away from all things which have attributes of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22.
iv. Allow the word of God to wash and correct us even if it is painful. Ephesians 5:26; Ezekiel 36:25; Hebrews 10:22.
v. Not give room or occasion to the flesh to lure us into sin. Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:3-5, 8-9.
vi. Surrender to the Holy Spirit to take over our thoughts and deeds and help us totally. James 4:8.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class should discuss the results of the personal efforts for self-cleansing without the word of God and the help of the Holy Spirit.

SUMMARY: Self-cleansing is a condition to be useful to God.

CONCLUSION: If you are indeed in Christ. and His Spirit is in you, self-cleansing will not be an uphill task.

EVALUATION: Describe self-cleansing and the requirements to attain it.

CLOSING PRAYER: Students should pray to be thoroughly clean for the master’s use.

RCCG 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 old 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 blessing on Thee.
5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   Though the sun be so bright,
   Or if the clouds are 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?