TOPIC: Hearing From God [Sunday, 24th June 2018]

OPENING PRAYER: Father, open my ears. Let me hear clearly from you. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

Bible Passage: I Samuel 3: 1-10 (KJV)

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.

8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

You cannot hear, if there is no call from somewhere or someone. Also, you can only answer to a call that you hear. A call can come from any quarters. However, being able to recognise the voice of the one calling is very crucial for every child of God. May God give us hearing ears, seeing eyes and listening hearts, in Jesus’ name – Prov. 20:12; Matt. 11:15.

TEXT REVIEW: I SAMUEL 3:1-10

i. For God to call you, you should be a child of His. I Samuel 3:1a.

ii. Before God will call you, you must prepare your ear to hear and listen. I Sam. 3:4a. The Bible says, the Lord has opened my ear, he wakened my ear morning by morning”. Isaiah 50:4-5.

iii. Whenever God calls, He wants people to answer. I Sam 3:4b. “I was not rebellious” Isaiah 50:4.

iv. God values availability. “And he answered, am I”. I Sam. 3:4-5; “I was not rebellious, neither turn away back”. Isaiah 50:5c.

v. God loves those who run by the callings, “And he ran to Eli and said, here am I” I Sam. 3:5; “…. Write the vision, and make it plain that he may run that readeth it”. Habakkuk 2:2.

vi. God prefers those who keep the night watch. Samuel, though lay down, yet, he heard the Lord’s calling and responded-I Sam. 3:5-6. Night watch produced miracles from troubles. Matt. 14:25-27, Psalm 119:148.

vii. God prepares before He proclaims. He prepared Samuel by calling him three times. He did not proclaim until He was sure Samuel was fully ready. I Sam 3:8-9. viii. God speaks to holy instruments though he may be young. That means, God prefers holiness to corruption. God prefers innocence to godless adulthood. I Sam. 3:10

Lesson Outline 1: HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?

Question: How does God speak?

Answers:
i. God speaks through loud voice. Ex. 3:4
ii. God speaks through inner witness. Matt 16:17; Acts 27:9-11.
iii. God speaks through small still voice. I Kings 19:12, Job. 4:16
iv. God speaks through dreams and visions. I Kings 3:5; Matt. 1:20
v. God speaks through His words, the Holy Scriptures. 2 Tim 3:16; Heb. 10:7

Question: What are the attributes or linkages to God’s speaking?

Answers:

i. Obedience. Whenever God speaks, His children must obey. I Sam. 3:10; I Sam. 15:22

ii. Confirmation from the scripture. The word which you claimed you heard from God must have basis in the Bible/scriptures. Acts 17:11

iii. The one who heard the word must be able to discern between God speaking and the devil or the flesh. I Cor. 2:11; John 4:1.

iv. Regular growth in faith and in the Holy Spirit. This will help believers to recognise the voice of God. 2 Peters 3:18; Heb. 5:14.

Class Activity 1: What does hearing from the flesh or devil look like?

Lesson Outline 2: RESULT OF HEARING FROM GOD.

Question: What are the results of hearing from God?

Answers:
i. Divine guidance direction. Isa. 30:21; 1Kgs. 17:2-4, 8-9;18:1
ii. Prompt answers to prayers. I Kgs. 18:36-38; Acts 9:10-12,17-18.
iii. Peace and divine assurance. Acts 27:22-24; Ps. 85:8.
iv. Better relationship with God. Ex. 33:11; Isa. 6:8.
v. Boldness to exercise spiritual authority. Ex. 3:18, 5:1; Acts 16:16-18.

Class Activity 2: What advice would you give to people who yield respond to the flesh or demons?

SUMMARY:
God would be happy to speak to His children who would obey His instructions-.

CONCLUSION:
God is still in the business of speaking to His children. Ps. 62:11. We need to learn how to hear from Him and obey His voice. Jn. 10:4-5, 27.

EVALUATION:
How does God speak? What are the results of hearing from God?

CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, do not let me ever hear from the devil. Help me to obey whatever you say.

ASSIGNMENT:
Find five reasons why God abandoned Eli and spoke to Samuel instead from I Samuel 32- end.

Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here

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 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: Forethought [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Saturday June 23, 2018]

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop. — Mark 11:25 (AMPC)

Forethought means “a thinking beforehand; anticipation; prescience; premeditation.” Before you make any commitment—even a small one—ask yourself if you truly believe you can and will actually follow through with it.

Some people set unrealistic goals and they always fail. A little bit of forethought could have saved them lots of trouble and frustration. Be realistic about how long it takes to do things, and allow yourself enough time to do them without being stressed-out about them.

If you need to say no to a request, don’t hesitate to do so. We are responsible to follow God’s expectations of us, not everyone else’s. If you’ll take time to think ahead before committing yourself to things, you’ll be surprised at how much time, energy, and peace of mind you will save in the long run.

Prayer Starter: Father, I thank You for Your wisdom that helps us to manage our time, our work and our lives. Help me to plan wisely so I can live with joy and do everything You have called me 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.

Topic: Pray [Teens Open Heavens 23, June 2018]

Memorise: Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. – Mark 11:24

Read: 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Bible In One Year: Esther 7-10, Acts 6

MESSAGE:

Prayer is the communication between man and God. It is the channel through which we are able to talk to Him and hear from Him. Imagine a child that does not speak to his father. That child will miss a lot. When you pray, several things happen; aside you making your petitions known to God, you may enjoy His company and vice-versa. The more you pray, the more like God you become, therefore you will begin to have authority over things that you used to be scared of. The secret of RCCG is embedded in prayers. My father in the Lord, Pa Josiah Akindayomi, used to spend long hours praying every day. It was in the place of prayer that God gave him a picture if the future of RCCG and how we will get there. It is no wonder we are where we are today.

Pray now so that your future will be bright. Pray for your parents, friends, teachers, school, neighbours, pastor, Church and everyone around you. Don’t hesitate to take anything to God in prayer. He cares about you, and He wants to keep your company. He is also willing to answer any prayer you pray to Him.

Action Point: When last did you set apart time to pray and seek the face of your Father in Heaven? Set aside at least one hour everyday to pray to God, and tell Him your heart desires.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Teen Open Heavens Daily Devotional by Pastor Adeboye’’ 

Hymn 16:

1. Christian, seek not yet repose,
Hear thy gracious Savior say;
Thou art in the midst of foes:
Watch and pray.

2. Principalities and power,
Mustering their unseen array,
Wait for the unguarded hours:
Watch and pray.

3. Gird the heavenly armor on,
Wear it ever night and day;
Ambushed lies the evil one:
Watch and pray.

4. Hear the victors who o’ercame,
Still they mark each warriors’s way;
All with one sweet voice exclaim,
Watch and pray.

5. Hear, above all, hear thy Lord,
Him thou lovest to obey;
Hide within thy heart His word:
Watch and pray.

6. Watch, as if on that alone
Hung the issue of the day;
Pray, that help may be sent down:
Watch and pray.

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.

Topic: A Look At The Mirror [DCLM Daily Manna Saturday June 23, 2018]

Text: James 1:19-27 (KJV)

Key Verse: “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25).

MESSAGE:

A story was told of two dogs that went to the house of one thousand mirrors. One was unfriendly and the other very friendly. As the unfriendly dog climbed up to the wall to see the mirror, it saw another one thousand unfriendly dogs like it and as it barked, it suddenly saw another one thousand fierce-looking dogs growling back at it from the mirror. It had to quickly run out because it was afraid it could be eaten by the ferocious one thousand beasts. Meanwhile, as the friendly dog climbed up the same house, it saw another one thousand friendly dogs in the mirror. As it wagged its tail to greet, one thousand other happy dogs greeted it in return. What both saw in the mirror was actually a reflection of how they both look and what they both had inside of them.

The book of James is blessed with so many biblical metaphors and symbolic expressions. We read today that we should be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”. For this to be possible, we must look into the mirror of God’s word. If we have been looking into an imperfect nature, law, music, words or writings of men, then we may as well harvest the imperfect and rash behaviours of the fallen man. But when we look into the perfect law of liberty and continue therein, and if we be doers of the Word, we shall be blessed in our deeds.

There are indeed enormous blessings when we use the word of God as the perfect mirror to daily x-ray our lives and conduct. It helps us have control over what we say and how we act. Our religious devotion would become purer and approved by God; and we will know how to impact others positively. Every detail of our lives must be guided by God’s word because by it, we will be judged ultimately.

Thought For The Day: God’s Word is the cleanest mirror we can trust to see our souls.

Bible Reading In One Year: 1 Kings 12-14

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.

Topic: Productive Engagement Of Time [Seeds of Destiny Saturday June 23, 2018]

Scripture: To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Thought For The Day: Anytime you make up your mind to do beyond ordinary work, you will get gain beyond bargain.
Yesterday, we saw what to do with time in order to handle it profitably. We saw that to spend time with God at the place of prayer and for personal development, amongst others, is to spend time profitably.

Today, we want to look at other things to do with time in order to spend it profitable:

1. Spend time in creativity or creative effort
This is using your mind to arrive at better solutions in life and identify ways to do your work better or more efficiently. It is sitting down to think: how can this home become better? How can my wife and I live better together? How can I become better at what I do? What can I do to ensure more effective time management? How can I manage the administration of my office better? Anytime you make up your mind to do beyond ordinary work, you will get gain beyond bargain.

2. Time with family and friends
This is time spent on profitable relationships. Spend time with the people that have something to add to your life. Spend time with people at higher realms. Spend time with your wife and children to pray and plan together; give them instruction from God’s word and what to do in life.

3. Time in recreation or rest
There is a need to spend time in exercise, relaxation and rest. God worked for six days and rested for one day. There is no human being that can work like God, yet He saw the need to rest. It is important to refresh your life with rest.

4. Time for reviews and refocusing.
Spend time to review your life in order to refocus and re-fire. Review what you are doing well and what you have to discard in order to become better at what you do; devise strategies on how to be more efficient and productive.

Beloved, as you make up your mind to spend time in the ways outlined above, your time will be maximised and your life will be more profitable.

Remember this: Anytime you make up your mind to do beyond ordinary work, you will get gain beyond bargain.

Assignments:
1. Spend time for creativity or creative work.
2. Spend time with friends and family.
3. Spend time in recreation and rest.
4. Spend time for reviewing your vision and refocusing on them.

Prayer: O Lord, I ask for the grace and discipline to spend time profitably, in Jesus’ Name.

Daily Bible Reading: 2 Kings 4:18 to 5:27, Acts 15:1 to 35, Psalm 141:1 to 10, Proverbs 17:23

Amazing Fact: Elephants are the only animal that can’t jump.

Today In History: 23/06/2003 – Apple Computer Inc. unveiled the new Power Mac desktop computer.

Quote: You have to justify the reason why you use your leisure to study the Bible when others use their time to do other things. Culled from MAKING FULL PROOF OF MINISTRY by Dr Paul Enenche

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Seeds of Destiny by Pastor Paul Enenche“

Today’s devotional was written by Pastor Paul Enenche of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC), headquartered at Abuja, Nigeria, with Pastor Paul and Becky Enenche, as the Senior Pastors. It is a power-packed arena where God’s Presence, Principles and Power are at work for the salvation, healing and restoration of human destinies and dignities

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: See Yourself Strong [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Saturday June 23, 2018]

And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. – Numbers 13:33

How does the devil see you? Does he see you as a terrifying and mighty warrior of God…or does he see you as a wimp he can whip in a minute?

The answer to that question depends on you. I realized that one day as I was studying the children of Israel and their failure to enter the Promised Land. The key to their failure is found in these words: “And we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”

The reason the Israelites were so terrified to fight the giants in Canaan wasn’t because those giants were so big. It was because the Israelites saw themselves as so small! It was what they were in their own sight that defeated them.

The same thing is true for you as a believer. It’s what you are in your own sight that will make the difference. If, in your own sight, you’re a weak, powerless Christian, the devil will run over you three or four times a day or more if he’s not busy. But when you begin to see yourself as God sees you, as a conquering son or daughter of the Almighty God, equipped with the very power of God Himself, the devil will want to steer clear of you.

The devil would rather do anything than come against someone who’s bold and courageous because he’s a coward himself. In fact, ever since Jesus came up out of that grave, Satan’s heart has melted within him at the sound of that Name in the mouth of one who has faith in it.

If you’re not strong in the Lord in your own sight, you need to change that. You need to get so full of God’s Word and so full of the Holy Ghost that you walk around like a spiritual giant. Turn the tables on the devil and let him find out what it feels like to be a grasshopper for a change.

Scripture Reading: Numbers 13:17-33

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Kenneth and Gloria Copeland’s Daily Devotional Here ’’

This message was written by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the leader of the Kenneth Copeland Ministries (www.KCM.org) that specializes in teaching principles of bible faith – prayer, healing, salvation and other biblical topics.

Topic: Belonging [Our Daily Bread 23 Saturday June, 2018]

Read: Isaiah 44:1–5, Bible in a Year: Esther 9–10; Acts 7:1–21

The Lord who made you and helps you says: “Do not be afraid . . . my chosen one.” Isaiah 44:2 nlt

I’d been out late the night before, just as I was every Saturday night. Just twenty years old, I was running from God as fast as I could. But suddenly, strangely, I felt compelled to attend the church my dad pastored. I put on my faded jeans, well-worn T-shirt, and unlaced high-tops and drove across town.

I don’t recall the sermon Dad preached that day, but I can’t forget how delighted he was to see me. With his arm over my shoulder, he introduced me to everyone he saw. “This is my son!” he proudly declared. His joy became a picture of God’s love that has stuck with me all these decades.

The imagery of God as loving Father occurs throughout the Bible. In Isaiah 44, the prophet interrupts a series of warnings to proclaim God’s message of family love. “Dear Israel, my chosen one,” he said. “I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children” (vv. 2–3 nlt). Isaiah noted how the response of those descendants would demonstrate family pride. “Some will proudly claim, ‘I belong to the Lord,’” he wrote. “Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands” (v. 5 nlt).

Wayward Israel belonged to God, just as I belonged to my adoptive father. Nothing I could do would ever make him lose his love for me. He gave me a glimpse of our heavenly Father’s love for us.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we all come from families that are broken in one way or another. Thank You for loving us in that brokenness and for showing us what real love looks like.

God’s love for us offers us the sense of belonging and identity we all crave.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Bread Devotionals HERE”

This message was written By Tim Gustafson [Our Daily Bread Ministries.]

Topic: Love Conquers Fear [Andrew Wommack Saturday June 23, 2018]

John 9:27 “He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?”

Text: John 9:6-27

This man showed great courage in confronting these religious leaders. Even Peter later backed down for fear of this same group of men (Lk. 22:54-62). Certainly one thing that gave him this boldness was that he knew what Jesus had done for him. And even beyond the physical healing, he knew that Jesus had healed him because He loved him. It’s our security in the Lord’s love for us that gives us the strength to face rejection from others. As Proverbs 28:1 puts it, “the righteous are bold as a lion.” The antidote for fear of men is a large dose of the love of God.

One of the greatest truths of the Bible and one of the hardest to comprehend, is that we are the objects of God’s love. God didn’t just pity us or feel some sense of moral obligation to save us. He saved us because of His infinite love for us (Jn. 3:16). An experiential understanding of God’s love is the key to being filled with all the fullness of God (Eph. 3:19).

Paul prays in Ephesians 3:19, that we would experience the love of God which passes mere knowledge about it. How can we know the love of God if it passes knowledge? This sounds like a contradiction. It’s not. The knowing is experiencing it. The end result of having understanding and experiential knowledge of God’s love is that we will be filled with all the fullness of God. God’s love is the key that opens the door to everything that God is. God is love (1 Jn. 4:8).

It’s not just a casual acquaintance with God’s love that we need, but an intimate understanding and experiential knowledge of the depths of God’s love. Just as a tree’s roots provide stability and nourishment for the tree, so our revelation of God’s love is the foundation upon which everything else we receive from God is built.

“If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read Andrew Wommack’s Daily Devotional HERE

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).