TOPIC: Partners (Not Staff) In Christian Service [RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 21 October 2018]

MEMORY VERSE: “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” – John 15:15 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 21 OCTOBER 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 21 October 2018)

6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

INTRODUCTION:

By definition, a partner is a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others, especially in a business or firm with shared risk and profits. A staff is an employee of an organisation. Unlike the contemporary workplace, believers are expected to be partners together with Christ. Our commitment should be motivated by reward/wages as staff but as partners.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. Joint-heirs with Christ
2. Co-labourers on earth

JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST

The term heirs of God emphasises our relationship to God the Father. As His children, we have full rights to receive His inheritance (Romans 8:17; 1 Peter 1:4). Salvation in Christ affords Christians ‘’sonship’’ status in God’s kingdom and being sons, we have the same privileges with Christ (John 1:12-13; Romans 8:14-17). Just as God created man and gave him life to serve in the garden (Genesis 2:7,15), salvation through Christ guarantees a new life and brings believers into the place of service in God’s vineyard (2 Corinthians 5:17; 1 Peter 2:9). The Father works and so, does the Son (John 4:34; 5:17; 9:4). The Son imitates the Father so believers as joint-heirs with Christ must also walk in His footsteps (John 5:19-20; 14:12). Being joint-heirs with Christ, we are also partners with Him in God’s vineyard (John 15:15).

CO-LABOURERS ON EARTH
All believers in Christ are bought with the same price, baptised into the same Spirit and live by the same commandment (1 Corinthians 12:13). We should labour together with Christ in God’s vineyard. All believers should use their God-given gifts and talents to serve, working together with Christ for one purpose, the edification of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). Another reason we must collaborate as partners is because the harvest is plenteous (Luke 10:2).

Believers should note that rather than making demands for benefits or rewards for services rendered, God’s children, as partners, should hope in the sure reward that comes from God (Colossians 3:23-25; 1Corinthians 3:8-9).

CONCLUSION:
Christian service is our Father’s business and being joint-heirs with Christ, we must see ourselves as partners in the venture rather than employees whose utmost interest lies in the wage. We must focus on Heaven and please God by making sacrifices in the cause of the Kingdom business.

QUESTIONS:
1. Mention four attributes that make believers joint-heirs with Christ.

2. Identify three reasons believers should co-labour with Christ as partners in God’s vineyard.

Also Read: RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 14 October 2018, Lesson 7

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 21 OCTOBER 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?

Family Happiness Begins with You (Part 2) by Pastor Faith Oyedepo

Topic: Family Happiness Begins with You (Part 2)

Dear Reader,

A successful marriage requires commitment to one’s spouse. Without this, no amount of prayer, fasting, and “sleeping” in church can take the place of commitment in marriage. Marriage is not a temporary arrangement, but a commitment for life. If this is true, you may wonder why the divorce rate is so high, even among Christians. The reason is that many couples are not committed to each other.

Commitment is the framework on which a marriage is built. A man and his wife must, therefore, be totally committed to each other spiritually, physically, emotionally and otherwise. Commitment in turn brings security.

A successful marriage must be exclusive, involving one man and one woman, in one life-time relationship. Each spouse must be committed to “forsake all others”.

Commitment compels love

A husband’s primary responsibility is that of loving his wife, and commitment compels love. That is, where there is commitment to one’s spouse, love becomes automatic. Commitment becomes like a driving force, pushing the husband to love his wife. The Word of God says: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it (Ephesians 5:25).

If any man finds it difficult to love his wife, the problem could be lack of commitment to his marriage. When there is commitment, there will be no need to persuade a man to love his wife; it will come naturally.

Also Read: Dwelling In Understanding (Part 4) By Pastor Faith Oyedepo

My husband, for instance, is highly committed to God and to the success of our home. Therefore, it is easy for him to ravish me with so much love, even without my asking for it. That is commitment! Husbands, you need to hear this. There is no wife who hates to be loved. There is no woman that will not respond positively to love. Someone once said that submission is a response, because when you love your wife, she responds by unquestionable submission. Therefore, tension and quarrelling in a home are an indication of the absence of love.

Commitment compels submission

Just as commitment provokes love, it also triggers submission. Any woman who is truly committed to the success of her marriage will be submissive to her husband. When a woman is stubborn and naughty, it is a sign of lack of commitment to her home.

Submission is simply defined as the willingness of putting yourself under someone else’s authority. Contrary to some people’s thinking, submission has nothing to do with slavery. Rather, it is an act of the will. The Word of God says: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body (Ephesians 5:22-23). A committed woman needs no advice or encouragement to submit to her husband. Her commitment is a driving force. I am not talking about submission under duress, but from a willing heart.

Many people wish and express their desire that their home be like ours; but as the saying goes, “If wishes were horses, beggars will ride.” Nothing good happens by chance. Commitment must be in place; else family success will be a mere dream.

Thank God for His grace, but we have been committed to playing our parts too. That is why today I can boldly declare that I am enjoying a good home! As you play your part also, God will give you a brighter testimony than ours!

Wherever there is commitment in a marriage, there will be love and submission: both parties working together for the success of their home.

Your commitment to God is the gateway to your commitment to your spouse. Therefore, if you want to be committed to your spouse, you must first be committed to God. This entails surrendering your life to Christ by confessing your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. That is how to be born again. If want to be born again, say this prayer and be committed to it: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.

Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).

With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through [email protected], 07026385437 OR 08141320204.

For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).

“Please click HERE to read other inspiring articles by Pastor Faith Oyedepo”

Pastor Faith Oyedepo is the wife of Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of the Living Faith Church Worldwide a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel, and Senior Pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, Nigeria.

David Abioye Devotional 19 October 2018 – Keep Touching Lives

Topic: Keep Touching Lives 

Never care for accolades.

Never seek for rewards.

Never be bothered about who appreciate or do not appreciate you or your works.

Just keep reaching out and touching lives. Your reward is sure to come.

The lives you touch are the ones that will keep spreading the values of your life and ministry.

Topic — Willpower: The Fair-Weather Friend [Joyce Meyer Devotional 19 October 2018]

Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. — Zechariah 9:12

Willpower sure sounds like a great thing. We are led to believe that we have enough of it to fight off every temptation that comes our way. And sometimes it works. But let me tell you a little secret about willpower. Willpower is your best friend when things go well, but it’s the first friend to check out when you get weary.

I have found that if I really don’t want to do something, my mind gives me plenty of reasons why I don’t have to. My emotions even join in, saying, “I agree because I don’t feel like doing it anyway.”

Our souls (mind, will, emotions) would love to run our lives, but the Bible says we are to be led by God’s Spirit. We are never instructed to be willpower-led, we are told to be Spirit-led.

Willpower and discipline are important and vitally necessary to a successful life, but willpower alone won’t be enough. Determination gets you started and keeps you going for a while, but it is never enough to bring you across the finish line.

Look at Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV): …Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.

What happens if, instead of turning first to willpower in your time of need, you turn to God instead? God releases His power into your willpower and energizes it to bring you across the finish line. Willpower does not get the credit for our success, God does.

Jesus said in John 15:5, …apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing (AMPC). This is one of the most important and most difficult lessons we must learn if we want to enjoy the life Jesus died to give us.

Prayer Starter: O, Lord, I turn to You today for Your strength and grace. I can’t do it alone, but by Your Spirit, I can accomplish everything I need to do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.