RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 2 December 2018 Lesson 15 – Christians and Politics (Part 2)

TOPIC: Christians and Politics (Part 2)

OPENING PRAYER: Father, please let all who rule over us be just, ruling in the fear of God. (Scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 3 DECEMBER 2018 HYMN)

MEMORY VERSE: “The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.” – 2 Samuel 23:3 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 DECEMBER 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Samuel 23:1-4 KJV (RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 9 December 2018)

1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

2 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

INTRODUCTION:
In our previous lesson, we highlighted some misconceptions held by some Christians in some circles. We also examined some of the reasons Christians should be involved in politics from Biblical perspective. In today’s lesson, we shall attempt to guide Christians with genuine intentions on how to be practically in politics and avoid the pitfalls.

TEXT REVIEW: 2 SAMUEL 23:1-4.

To rule or govern, David, when he was about to depart to eternity, gave the following instructions, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to those who aspire to lead others. 2 Samuel 23:1-2:

(i) Such fellow must be just/righteous. 2 Sam. 23:3

(ii) He/she must fear the Lord. 2 Sam. 23:3

(iii) He/she must be like the light of the morning when the sun rises. 2 Sam. 23:4

(iv) He/she must hear the Holy Spirit speaking and must be ready to tell others what the Holy Spirit of Lord says. 2 Sam. 2:2.

HOW TO BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS

Teacher should treat his outline under two sub-outlines.

A. Getting Involved:

(i). It is your civic right and responsibility under the law to vote and be voted for. Titus 3:1; 1Peter 2:13-14; Deut. 1:13

(ii). Eligible Christians should get registered with relevant electoral bodies.

(iii). Be a card carrier of any party of your choice.

(iv). Wield your influence on the choice of representative for the elective position. Exodus 18:21.

(v). Go out and vote rightly during election.

B. How to Join Political Party Of Your Choice
In addition to other possible information:

(i). Visit the website of the parties, or

(ii). Visit Secretariat of your choice party.

(iii). Study the party ideology and manifesto.

(iv). Fill a party registration form.

(v). Supply/provide necessary documents as required.

(vi). Make necessary payments as stipulated.

(vii). Obtain your membership card.

(viii). Attend party meeting regularly.

(ix). Actively participate in discussion and strengthen your voice.

(x). Have burden/passion to serve the people and solve their problems. Neh. 2:1-5; 1Sam. 17:29, 34-37.

(xi) You can prayerfully join or support advocacy group. Esther 4:8, 13-14.

(xii). You can form a political party with people of like minds. 1Sam. 22:2; Dan.
2.49.

CLASS ACTIVITY 1:
Do we need money to form political party or to be actively involved in politics? Why or why not?

THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN POLITICS

(i) Desist from any thought or act of wickedness. Politics is not a do or die affair. Prov. 16:12

(ii) Avoid prayerlessness (James 5:16b-18; Psalm 91:15; Dan. 6:10). Our adversary is not resting, be sober and be vigilant. 1Peter 5:8.

(iii) Shun all foolishness: Get the necessary qualifications or experience ( James 1:5, 1 Sam. 17:34-37) and act wisely. Matt. 10:16

(iv) Never dabble into politics without a godly burden or passion. Neh. 2:1-5.

(v) Avoid compromise: stand by your godly virtues and principles (1Cor. 10:31). Distinguish yourself and do not be hypocritical. 1Cor.6:17; Rom. 12:2.

(vi) Be resolute in the face of persecution and props. Neh. 4:3,6; 6:5-7; Dan. 6:11-14.

(vii) Avoid abuse of power. Do not be tyrannical. 2Chron. 26:16-18.

CLASS ACTIVITY 2:
Why should Christians be prayerful in their political aspiration?

SUMMARY:
Be involved in politics and don’t soil your garment. 1Cor. 15:33

CONCLUSION:
Join a political party today and be a Christian of influence.

CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, let all your children be truly involved in politics.

ASSIGNMENT:
Mention ten (10) things you will do if you become a Governor. 1 Mark for each point

Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here

NOTE:
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RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 9 DECEMBER 2018 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 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?

Topic: Don’t Boast In Your Ability [TREM Devotional 8 December 2018]

“But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.” Mark 14:29

Many believers today are like Peter. You look at your commitment and accomplishments in the Kingdom and you think you have arrived. You tend to think that your power has sustained you. Today, I come to challenge you, don’t take your salvation for granted. The fact that you are saved and still standing is the work of grace – it is not by power nor by might.

In our scripture today, we read the account of Apostle Peter when he made a boast “Although all shall be offended, yet will not I”. Even when Jesus told him that he will deny Him, it still didn’t catch his attention. Peter looked at himself, looked at his commitment to Jesus over the period of three years and concluded that it was impossible for him to miss it. You know the story, just as Jesus said, before the cock crowed twice, he denied Jesus thrice.

Stop and take a look at yourself; what accomplishments are making you proud? What do you have that you have not received? If you have received it, then why boast. Thank God for Peter, immediately the cock crowed and he realized his fault, godly sorrow that works repentance came on him. He left sorrowful and learnt a lesson the hard way – it is not of him that wills or runs, it is of the Lord that shows mercy.

No matter the titles you have acquired in church, remember that you are nothing without God. It is in Him you live, move and have your being. Don’t let arrogance be found in you; remember, God is a God of knowledge and by Him actions are weighed (I Sam. 2:3). God is the God of the humble. He resists the proud and lifts the humble. Humble yourself under His mighty hand and He will lift you up.

Further reading: Mark 14:28-31, 66-72

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Daniel 8-10; Evening- 3 John

“If you missed yesterday devotional click HERE to read TREM Daily Devotional by Dr. Mike Okonkwo’’ https://flatimes.com/category/trem-devotional/

Written by Dr. Mike Okonkwo; Is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM); a versatile man of God with over 30 years of dedicated service unto the Lord.

Topic: Simply Believe [Open Heavens for Teens 8 December 2018]

Memorise: Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, – Ephesians 3:20

Read: Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)

Bible In One Year: Daniel 11-12, 3 John 1

MESSAGE:

We can have great expectations because God has given us great promises. According to 2 Peter 1:4, some promises of God to us are far more than just great. God is not a liar, since the Word has gone out of His mouth, He is committed to fulfilling it. He sure will deploy every resource at His disposal to see it come to pass.

This also means that if you are a child of God and you are going through a situation of fruitless efforts, it is only a phase; it is just for a limited time. Soon, God’s Word shall prevail over that situation, you only have to believe that the God you serve is able to meet all your great expectations. The God that you serve can never fail you, even if it means bending the rules or suspending a law in order to meet your needs.

Key Point: Without believing there is no receiving.

Also Read: Teen Open Heaven Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye

Hymn 1:

1. My faith looks up to Thee,
   Thou Lamb of Calvary,
   Savior divine!
   Now hear me while I pray,
   Take all my guilt away,
   Oh, let me from this day
   Be wholly Thine!
2. May Thy rich grace impart
   Strength to my fainting heart,
   My zeal inspire!
   As Thou hast died for me,
   Oh, may my love to Thee
   Pure, warm and changeless be,
   A living fire!
3. While life’s dark maze I tread,
   And griefs around me spread,
   Be Thou my guide;
   Bid darkness turn to day,
   Wipe sorrow’s tears away,
   Nor let me ever stray
   From Thee aside.
4. When ends life’s transient dream,
   When death’s cold sullen stream
   Shall o’er me roll;
   Blest Savior, then, in love,
   Fear and distrust remove;
   Oh, bear me safe above,
   A ransomed soul

Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 8 December 2018 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Dress Modestly

TOPIC: Dress Modestly (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Daily Devotional 8 December 2018)

FIRE SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 3:1-5

MEMORY VERSE: “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;” – 1 Timothy 2:9

The MESSAGE:

Paul’s letter to Timothy was written in part, to address believers on how to dress. There are decent ways believers should dress especially young people. If there is no clear distinction on how you dress when you were in the world and now that you are in Christ, what has Jesus saved you from? How should believers in Christ dress, especially our women? The Bible says you must dress decently. A thing becomes decent when it is modest. It is immodest to wear for example, cleavage revealing tops, extremely tight clothes that reveal your body contours or details, short skirts or gowns that reveal what needs to be covered when you sit down. The major aim of dressing is to cover our nakedness (Genesis 3:21), but today’s mode of dressing is doing quite the opposite –revealing our nakedness! Are you all dressed up to glorify God, to glorify self or men? All dresses worn must glorify God. 1 Corinthians 10:32 says, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor the Gentiles nor to the church of God”. Also 1 Corinthians 6:20 reads; “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s”.

It is immodest to wear clothes that are so transparent that they show your underwear and their colours. Do not be an object that elicits lust from men, causing them to stumble and be bad examples to others. God is interested in how you dress and therefore your appearance. This is why He made coats of skin as a covering for Adam and Eve as opposed to the fig leaves they used earlier to cover themselves.

An immodest way of dressing is a dressing that conforms to the practice and culture of this world, which does not glorify God. Men are also not left out in indecent mode of dressing: wearing crazy, torn jeans, sagging your trousers or wearing carrot trousers and skirts without fully buttoning up, thereby revealing the whole of the chest area, especially when one is hairy, is not fitting for a child of God. These also elicit lustful desire from women, causing them to stumble. Dress to please God and not men or self.

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
YOUR BEAUTY IS NOT IN THE DRESS YOU WEAR, IT IS IN THE GLORY OF WHOM YOU PROJECT.

PROPHETIC WORD:
I decree and declare that your life shall bring fragrance to God.

PRAYER POINTS:

MORNING

1. I destroy every influence of worldliness in my life, in the name of Jesus.
2. I deliver my affection from the grip of worldliness, in the name of Jesus.
3. I receive grace to dress to the glory of God, in the name of Jesus.

EVENING

1. Every negative influence of immoral dressing in my life, loose your hold, in the mighty name of Jesus.
2. I shall not be a slave to fashion and worldliness, in the name of Jesus.
3. I receive grace to possess an ornament of a meek and quite spirit, in the name of Jesus.
4. My life shall be manifestation of the glory of God, in the name of Jesus.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional HERE

MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)

Flatimes Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

Topic: Plague of Jealousy [DCLM Daily Manna 8 December 2018 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]

Text: John 11:47-57 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles“ (John 11:47).

MESSAGE:

Tuthmosis III was the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He was regarded as a great military genius and expansionist. Apparently moved by envy and jealousy, he tried to destroy the memory of his predecessor and stepmother, Queen Hatshepsut. This he did by building a wall around her obelisk (a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument) to prevent people from admiring it or reading its inscriptions. Ironically, this malicious act helped in preserving Queen Hatshepsut’s obelisk for posterity!

The action of the chief priests and Pharisees was not only borne out of jealousy but also shows the extent jealousy can go to bring down its target. Christ had just performed one of the greatest miracles of raising Lazarus from death four days after burial. Expectedly, this brought so much joy and excitement in Bethany and beyond. As a result, many believed in Christ.

The Pharisees and chief priests sat in council to determine what to do – not for, but against Christ. Uncomfortable with Christ’s increasing exploits and fame, they decided that He should be killed. Of course, God had already planned to use Christ’s death as channel for the salvation of mankind even as unwittingly prophesied by Caiaphas, one of the priests. Like the spiteful building of wall around the obelisk, their jealousy and maliciousness only fuelled Christ’s glorification while His detractors fizzled out miserably.

Jealousy is as strong as death and as poisonous as venom. The trouble with it is that it unleashes more harm to the person harbouring it than the person targeted. You may be tempted but do not let the devil drop this deadly venom in your heart. If you are the target of jealousy, Iean on God and be sure that the venom can only water the plant of your success.

Thought For The Day: Another person’s promotion does not mean your demotion until you confirm it with jealousy.

Bible Reading In One Year: Romans 4-7

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Deeper Christian Life Ministry, DCLM Daily Manna HERE

DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.

Flatimes’ Notice Board: Until you are born again, God ever abiding presence will never be with you. You must be born again to enjoy continuous victory. Please say the displayed prayer below in faith:

Lord Jesus, come into my life. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Saviour. I believe in my heart You died and rose from the dead to save me. Thank You Lord for saving me, in Jesus name Amen.

If you just prayed the prayer of salvation online please send your testimonies and prayer request to [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.