Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Lesson Preview Class June 8, 2025 Lesson 21, Title - God Prepares Old Testament Prophets For Leadership (1)

Christ Apostolic Church Sunday School Lesson Preview Class June 8, 2025 Lesson 21, Title - God Prepares Old Testament Prophets For Leadership (1)

Theme : PREPARING GOD'S PEOPLE for LEADERSHIP

Unit 3: Leadership Preparation In The Old Testament (It) 

Topic: GOD PREPARES OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS FOR LEADERSHIP (1)

 Memory Scripture

Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!" (Luke 24:25) 

24:25 Even though these Jewish men knew the biblical prophecies well, they failed to understand that Christ's suffering was his path to glory. They could not understand why God had not intervened to save Jesus from the cross. They were so caught up in the world's admiration of political power and military might that they were blind to God's Kingdom values that the last will be first, and that life grows out of death. The world has not changed its values. The suffering servant is no more popular today than he was 2,000 years ago. But we have not only the witness of the Old Testament prophets; we also have the witness of the New Testament apostles and the history of the Christian church testifying to Jesus' victory over death. Will we confront the values of our culture and put our faith in Jesus? Or will we foolishly continue to ignore this Good News?

God equips the called, moulding leaders like Isaiah and Jeremiah through trials and doubt to fulfil His divine plan.

BRIEF COMMENT

After Jesus died, two friends walked to a village, called Emmaus. On the way, they met Jesus, who had risen from the dead, though they didn't recognise him at first. They were sad and confused, but Jesus walked with them and explained the scriptures to them. This shows that God is ready to help us in hard times, but our lack of faith and not seeing the bigger picture can make things worse. In the Pentecost Sunday this year, we remember to listen to God's guidance through His Spirit, like in Luke 24:25. The disciples' story teaches us not to ignore God's instructions. We should listen to His Word and follow where He leads us. Let us accept God's help and trust His wisdom. When we obey Him, we can overcome fear and confusion.

Our DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS Stated that:

 1. Godly leaders who remain focused on guiding people in God's way, will and word are covered and empowered by His grace.

 2. Godly leaders, committed to guiding people according to God's ways, are empowered and protected by His grace. Their focus on God's will ensures divine support and empowerment. The lives of Isaiah and Jeremiah exemplify this.

BACKGROUND SCRIPTURE: Zechariah 1:1-6 

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LET'S SUMMARIZE AND BRIEFLY EXPLAIN Zechariah 1:1-6

1:1 Born in Babylon during the Exile, Zechariah was a fairly young man when he returned to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. King Cyrus of Persia had defeated Babylon in 539 and had decreed that captives in exile could return to their homelands. Zechariah and Haggai were among the first to leave. Zechariah, a prophet and a priest, began ministering at the same time as the prophet Haggai (520-518 B.C.). His first prophecy was delivered two months after Haggai's first prophecy. 

Like Haggai, Zechariah encouraged the people to continue rebuilding the Temple, whose reconstruction had been halted for nearly 10 years. Zechariah combated the people's spiritual apathy. despair over pressures from their enemies, and discouragement about the smaller scale of the new Temple foundation. Neglect of our spiritual priorities can be just as devastating today to fulfilling God's purpose. 

1:2-6  The familiar phrase "Like father, like son" implies that chil- dren turn out like their parents. But here, God warned Israel not to be like their forefathers, who disobeyed him and reaped the consequences-his punishment. We are responsible before God for our actions. We can't use our heredity or environment as excuses for our sins. We are free to choose, and individually we must return to God and follow him. 

1:5, 6  The words God had spoken through his prophets a century earlier, before the captivity, also applied to Zechariah's generation, and they are still relevant for us. Because God's Word endures, we must read, study, and apply what is preserved for us in Scripture. Learn the lessons of God's Word so you will not have to repeat the mistakes of others.

AIM of this lesson is:  To establish that following God wholeheartedly enables us to heed His guidance through appointed leaders. 

INTRODUCTION

TEXTUAL SOURCE: Isaiah 6:1ff; Jeremiah 1:4-10

Today's lesson, *"GOD PREPARES OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS FOR LEADERSHIP (1)",* helps us see how God warns, restores and rescues His people through chosen prophets. These prophets led, guided and directed God's children back to His love and grace. God never stops leading and guiding His people, which is why He gave us His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to continue showing us the way of the Lord. Today, as we remember Pentecost, let us trust that the Spirit of God will always be with us. Amen.

LESSON OUTLINE

I. ISAIAH'S PREPARATION

 II. JEREMIAH'S PREPARATION

SHORT STORIES OF ISAIAH AND JEREMIAH

ISAIAH'S SHORT STORY

Trees and prophets share at least one important characteristic-both are planted for the future. Yet seedlings are often overlooked and prophets often ignored. Isaiah is one of the best examples of this. The people of his time could have been rescued by his words. Instead, they refused to believe him. With the passing of centuries, however, Isaiah's words have cast a shadow on all of history. 

Isaiah was active as a prophet during the reigns of five kings, but he did not set out to be a prophet. By the time King Uzziah died, Isaiah may have been established as a scribe in the royal palace in Jerusalem. It was a respectable career, but God had other plans for his servant. Isaiah's account of God's call leaves little doubt about what motivated the prophet for the next half century. His vision of God was unforgettable. 

His encounter with God permanently affected Isaiah's character. He reflected the God he represented. Isaiah's messages-some comforting, some confronting are so dissimilar that some have guessed they came from different authors. Isaiah's testimony is that the messages came from the only one capable of being perfect in justice as well as in mercy-God himself. 

When he called Isaiah as a prophet, God did not encourage him with predictions of great success. God told Isaiah that the people would not listen. But he was to speak and write his messages anyway because eventually some would listen. God compared his people to a tree that would have to be cut down so that a new tree could grow from the old stump (Isaiah 6:13) 

We who are part of that future can see that many of the promises God gave through Isaiah have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We also gain the hope of knowing that God is active in all of history, including our own. 

 *Strengths and accomplishments* 

* Considered the greatest Old Testament prophet 

* Quoted at least 50 times in the New Testament 

* Brought powerful messages of both judgment and hope 

* Carried out a consistent ministry even though there was little positive response from his listeners 

* His ministry spanned the reigns of five kings of Judah 

 *Lessons from his life*  

* God's help is needed in order to comfort people while effectively confronting sin 

* One result of experiencing forgiveness is the desire to share that forgiveness with others 

* God is purely and perfectly holy, just, and loving 

 *Vital statistics* 

* Where: Jerusalem 

* Occupations: Scribe, prophet 

* Relatives: Father: Amoz. Sons: Shear-jashub, Maher-shalal-hash-baz. 

* Contemporaries: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Micah 

 *Key verse* 

"Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?' I said, "Here I am. Send me" (Isaiah 6:8). 

 *Isaiah's story* is told in 2 Kings 19:2-20:19. He is also mentioned in 2 Chronicles 26:22: 32:20, 32: Matthew 3:3; 8:17; 12:17-21; John 12:38-41; Romans 10:16, 20, 21.

*JEREMIAH'S SHORT STORY*

Endurance is not a common quality. Many people lack the long-term commitment, caring, and willingness that are vital to sticking with a task against all odds. But Jeremiah was a prophet who endured. 

Jeremiah's call by God teaches how intimately God knows us. He valued us before anyone else knew we would exist. He cared for us while we were in our mother's womb. He planned our life while our body was still being formed. He values us more highly than we value ourselves. 

Jeremiah had to depend on God's love as he developed endurance. His audiences were usually antagonistic or apathetic to his messages. He was ignored; his life was often threatened. He saw both the excitement of a spiritual awakening and the sorrow of a national return to idolatry. With the exception of the good king Josiah, Jeremiah watched king after king Ignore his warnings and lead the people away from God. He saw fellow prophets murdered. He himself was severely persecuted. Finally, he watched Judah's defeat at the hands of the Babylonians. 

Jeremiah responded to all this with God's message and human tears. He felt firsthand God's love for his people and the people's rejection of that love. But even when he was angry with God and tempted to give up, Jeremiah knew he had to keep going. God had called him to endure. He expressed intense feelings but saw beyond the feelings to the God who was soon to execute justice but who afterward would show mercy. 

It may be easy for us to identify with Jeremiah's frustrations and discouragement, but we need to realize that this prophet's life is also an encouragement to faithfulness. 

 *Strengths and accomplishments* 

* Wrote two Old Testament books, Jeremiah and Lamentations 

* Ministered during the reigns of the last five kings of Judah 

* Was a catalyst for the great spiritual reformation under King Josiah 

* Acted as God's faithful messenger in spite of many attempts on his life 

* Was so deeply sorrowful for the fallen condition of Judah that he earned the title "Weeping Prophet" 

 *Lessons from his life* 

* The majority opinion is not necessarily God's will 

* Although punishment for sin is severe, there is hope in God's mercy 

* God will not accept empty or insincere worship 

* Serving God does not guarantee earthly security 

*Vital statistics* 

* Where: Anathoth 

* Occupation: Prophet 

* Relative: Father: Hilkiah 

* Contemporaries: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah, Baruch 

 *Key verses* 

"O Sovereign LORD, I said, 'I can't speak for you! I'm too young!! The LORD replied, 'Don't say, "I'm too young" for you must go wher- ever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don't be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the LORD, have spoken!" (Jeremiah 1:6-8). 

 *Jeremiah's story* is told in the book of Jeremiah. He is also mentioned in Ezra 1:1: Daniel 9:2: Matthew 2:17; 16:14; 27:9. See also 2 Chronicles 34-35 for the story of the spiritual revival under Josiah.

*LESSON EXPOSITION* 

 *I. ISAIAH'S PREPARATION (Isaiah 6:1ff)* 

And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged" (v. 7).

*COMMENT AND SUMMARY OF ISAIAH 6:1ff for deeper understanding:*

 *6:1* The year that King Uzziah died was approximately 740 B.C. He remained leprous until he died because he tried to take over the high priest's duties (2 Chronicles 26:18-21). Although Uzziah was generally a good king with a long and prosperous reign, many of his people turned away from God. 

 *6:1ff* Isaiah's vision was his commission to be God's messenger to his people. Isaiah was given a difficult mission. He had to tell people who believed they were blessed by God that God was going to destroy them because of their disobedience. 

 *6:1ff* Isaiah's lofty view of God in 6:1-4 gives us a sense of God's greatness, mystery, and power. Isaiah's example of recognizing his sinfulness before God encourages us to confess our sin. His picture of forgiveness reminds us that we, too, are forgiven. When we recognize how great our God is, how sinful we are, and the extent of God's forgiveness, we receive power to do his work. How does your concept of the greatness of God measure up to Isaiah's?

 *6:1-3* The throne, the attending seraphim (angels), and the Wor threefold holy all stressed God's holiness. Seraphim were a type of angel whose name is derived from the word for "burn," perhaps indicating their purity as God's ministers. In a time when moral and spiritual decay had peaked, it was important for Isaiah to see God in his holiness. Holiness means "morally perfect, pure, and set apart from all sin." We also need to discover God's holiness. Our daily frustrations, society's pressures, and our shortcomings narrow our view of God. We need the Bible's view of God as high and lifted up to empower us to deal with our problems and concerns. God's moral perfection, properly seen, will purify us from sin, cleanse our mind of our problems, and enable us to worship and to serve. 

 *6:5-8* Seeing the Lord and listening to the praise of the angels, Isaiah realized that he was sinful before God, with no hope of measuring up to God's standard of holiness. When Isaiah's lips were touched with a live burning coal, however, he was told that his sins were forgiven. It wasn't the coal that cleansed him, but God. In response, Isaiah submitted himself entirely to God's service. No matter how difficult his task would be, he said, "Here I am. Send me." The painful cleansing process was necessary before Isaiah could fulfill the task to which God was calling him. Before we accept God's call to speak for him to those around us. we nust be cleansed as Isaiah was, confessing our sins and submitting to God's control. Letting God purify us may be painful, but we must be purified so that we can truly represent God, who is pure and holy. 

 *6:8* The more clearly Isaiah saw God (6:5), the more aware Isaiah became of his own powerlessness and inadequacy to do anything of lasting value without God. But he was willing to be God's spokesman. When God calls, will you also say, "Send me"?

a) v. 1: Isaiah's encounter with the holy God amidst spiritual decline under King Uzziah revealed God's sovereignty over human affairs, enlightening Isaiah about his role in God's divine plan. 

b) vv. 1-4: His vision of God's majesty and holiness deeply imparted him, fostering reverence and understanding of God's character. It also underscored the significance of acknowledging sinfulness and repentance (cf. v. 5; Psa. 99:9).

c) v. 5: His humble confession of his sins before God showed he was ready for his prophetic duty (cf. Psa. 51:3; Lk. 5:8). 

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Humility is one of the best character of a good leader. It will help you to access and discover your sins and be ready to be corrected. But when HUMILTY is missing in the life of any leader, he will be too big to be corrected and when you're too big to be corrected the more you remain unqualified for any divine promotion to the next level of your life. The position you occupied today is just a privilege not your family inheritance don't abuse it with pride if you want God to take you to the next level.

d) vv. 6,7: His purification through the live coal symbolised his sanctification for prophetic service (cf. Lev. 8:15; 1 Pet. 1:22).

e) v. 8: His immediate response, Here am I! Send me, to God's call proved his willingness to serve, like Samuel (1 Sam. 3:4) and Ananias (Acts 9:10). 

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Many people are ready for God's work but not qualify for the work due to their their lifestyle. The way God chooses His representative is different from how men choose. Men chose by sight but God chooses by inner look. You may also be ready but not available. Don't push yourself or force anyone into any position without God's selection.

f) vv. 9ff: His grasp of God's Word as conveying a dual nature of salvation and judgement (Heb. 4:12; 2 Cor. 2:15-16) empowered him to faithfully deliver His message.

g) Obviously, Isaiah was cooperating with God in His faithfulness to prepare him for the work of delivering God's mind to His people. This provided him with strength and resolve for prophetic leadership. 

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Isaiah's was cooperating with God the Owner of the work but it's a pity that instead of most of the leader to cooperate with God they abandoned Him and choose to go for men's cooperation. Who are you operating with as a leader? God or men? Try to cooperate with God at all times if you want God to always renew your strength.

*II. JEREMIAH'S PREPARATION (Jer. 1:4-10)* 

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born 1 sanctified you; l ordained you a prophet to the nations (v.5).

*COMMENT AND SUMMARY OF JEREMIAH 1:5-10* 

 *1:5* God knew you, as he knew Jeremiah, long before you were born or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you. When you feel discouraged or inadequate, remember that God has always thought of you as valuable and that he has a purpose in mind for you.

 *1:5* Jeremiah was "appointed" by God as his "prophet to famer the nations." God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work. Samson (Judges 13:3-5), David (1 Samuel 16:12, 13), John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-17), and Paul (Galatians 1:15, 16) were also called to do particular jobs for God. Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Philippians 1:11). If God gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If God has not given you a specific call or assignment, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers to love, obey, and serve God-until his guidance becomes more clear. 

 *1:6-8* Often people struggle with new challenges because they lack self-confidence, feeling that they have inadequate ability, training, or experience. Jeremiah thought he was "too young" and inexperienced to be God's prophet to the nations. But God promised to be with him. We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God. He will always be with us. If God gives you a job to do, he will provide all you need to do it.

 *1:8* God promised to be with Jeremiah and take care of him, but not to keep trouble from coming. God did not insulate him from imprisonment, deportation, or insults. God does not keep us from encountering life's storms. but he will see us through them. In fact, God walks through these storms with us and rescues us. 

 *1:10* God appointed Jeremiah to bring his word to "nations and kingdoms." Jeremiah's work was to warn not only the Jews but all the nations of the world about God's judgment for sin. Don't forget in reading the Old Testament that, while God was consistently working through the people of Judah and Israel, his plan was to communicate to every nation and person. We are included in Jeremiah's message of judgment and hope, and as believers we are to share God's desire to reach the whole world for him.

a) vv. 4-5: The Word of the Lord reached Jeremiah, revealing that he was chosen and ordained for his prophetic role, even before birth. This shows God's initiative and foreknowledge in selecting him. You have been in the mind of God ever before you came into existence. 

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Jeremiah has been predestined to be a prophet to this world but he was not aware of it until he had encounter with God; so also there is nothing new to God about you He has predestined your journey but the only way to discover your purpose of living is to have a personal encounter with Him.

*I HAVE A QUESTION*

What are the true criteria of a true servant of God especially prophets, prophetess is it by keeping their hairs without cutting it for the rest of their life or what? Many people believe that you will know them by their look. What can you say to this?

b) v. 6: Jeremiah, like Moses and some other biblical figures, showed humility and felt unworthy when called by God, revealing true partnership with God (Exod. 3:11-12; Jdg. 6:15). 

c) vv. 6-8: He was hesitant and unsure of himself, but God reassured him of His presence and support. This in itself went a long way to equip Jeremiah for the task of prophetic leadership. 

d) v. 9: God empowered Jeremiah by touching his mouth, symbolising divine authority, and this enabled him to speak God's Word with power (Exod. 4:11-12; Isa. 6:7).

e) v. 10: Jeremiah had been prepared by God with the prophetic ministry's dual nature of uprooting sin and ungodliness and building up righteousness and obedience (Ezk. 33:7-9; Acts 20:20-21), hence his successful mission among God's people. 

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Jeremiah was prepared by God with understandable portfolios! Are you also prepared by same God or man? Do you have divine portfolios for the assignment or man's portfolios? Who is behind your ministerial calling?

f) God demonstrated His sovereignty and care in preparing and guiding His chosen servant, Jeremiah, for prophetic leadership. Are you surrendering to God for His preparation (cf. Isa. 6:1-8; Acts 9:15-16)?

God cares for His sheeps and He won't allow man to destroy them than guiding and bringing them back to Him.

*LESSONS DERIVED* 

 1. God not only owns the people but also the messenger He calls, guiding them to lead others rightly.

 2. God calls, prepares and sends His mouthpiece. Open your heart and let God speak to you.

*QUESTIONS* 

 1. Are our prophetic leaders effectively guiding the people according to God's expectations today? If not, what suggestions do you have for improvement?

 2. Do you believe there are individuals who cannot be used by God to lead His people, today?

God bless you for joining us today. May God grant us a retentive memories in Jesus name. Amen

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JESUS IS LORD