TOPIC: Broken Homes [Sunday, 1st April 2018]

OPENING PRAYER: Father, uphold our marriages. Save our homes from division. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 25:24-34

24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

28 And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

MEMORY VERSE: ‘’And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” Mark 3:25.

INTRODUCTION:
Families are the bedrock of society. When families fall apart, society falls into social and cultural decline. The plan of God for divinely instituted homes is for them to remain united in body and in spirit (Psalm 133:1). A broken home is a family in which the parents are separated or divorced. It is also a family that is set apart due to tension and certain problems.

Unless you live in complete isolation, you have seen a broken home. It may be the family of a friend, relative or your own home. Hardly anything perplexes and discourages us more than broken homes. The Bible talks a lot about broken homes which explains the reasons for this lesson.

TEXT REVIEW: Gen. 25:24-34
There were some observed differences between Esau and Jacob as indicated below:
i. Esau was red and hairy, Jacob was not. Gen. 25:2b.
ii. Jacob held the heel of Esau but Esau did not hold Jacob’s heel. Gen. 25:2b
iii. Esau grew to be a CUNNING hunter but Jacob was a PLAIN man. Gen. 25:27
iv. Esau lived in the field but Jacob in the tent. Gen. 25:27
v. Esau used to be starved ( faint for food) and found of asking his brother for some food. Gen. 25: 28-30. His brother was not.

Gen. 25: 28 says, “…Isaac loved Esau,…and Rebecca loved Jacob. Isaac’s love to Esau had an attachment…” Because he did eat his venison” but Rebecca’s love for Jacob was without any attachment. This can be interpreted to mean that wherever “conditional love” comes to play, there would be envy and envy would result into chaos at the long run. Envy could lead to pretense, trick, falsification, stealing and killing or threat to life, sorrow, hate, etc. Gen. 25:31-33, Gen. 27:34-36, 41.

LESSON OUTLINES
1. WHY ARE SO MANY HOMES BROKEN?
2. EFFECTS AND REMEDIES FOR BROKEN HOMES.

WHY ARE SO MANY HOMES BROKEN?
i. Cultural shift (decline of religion and morality)
ii. Wrong choice in marriage. Pro. 21:9;19; Pro.19:13
iii. Parental or friend’s influence. Gen. 2:24; Pro. 13:20
iv. Lack of genuine sacrificial love. 1Jh.3:16; Rom. 5:7-8
v. Communication breakdown. Matt.5:37
vi. Sexual unfaithfulness between couples. Heb.13:4;Hos. 2:2
vii. Stinginess or meanness or poor economic planning. 1Tim. 6:10
viii. Preference for a child over other children (siblings). Gen. 25:28
ix. Attachment to job or other things than the family. Ps.127:2, Pro. 31:14-15.
x. World pleasures. 1 Jh. 2:15

Class Activity 1: Mention other factors that can lead to broken homes besides those stated above.

EFFECTS AND REMEDIES FOR BROKEN HOMES.

A. EFFECTS:
i. Husbands abandon spouses and children.
ii. Wives walk out of the marriage.
iii. Either or both live alone or with strange fellows.
iv. Children suffer emotional stress arising from being abandoned
v. Children may grow to become ordinary fellow.
vi. Parental love is lacking.

B. REMEDIES
Those who suffer the pains of broken homes can apply the following solutions:
i. Commit everything to God in prayer (Psalm 127:1; Psalm 50:15).
ii. Stop and consider that God is greater than any difficulty (Jeremiah 32:27).
iii. Embrace the fact that Jesus loves you (Romans 5:8; Matthew 11:28-30).
iv. Ask God to make you a better person in the present circumstances (Psalm 51:10).
v. Seek the help of other Christians (Proverbs 11:14).
vi. Learn to forgive and seek reconciliation/restoration (Ephesians 4:32; Romans 12:18; Isaiah 57:18).
vii. Be patient to meet your spouse at their point of need (Ecclesiastes 7:8; 1Corinthians 7:10).

Class Activity 2: Mention other effects of broken homes.

SUMMARY:
“Broken homes” could be described as “broken lives”

CONCLUSION:
Love the Lord with your family from the beginning and the love of God which produces unity will grow in your family.

EVALUATION:
i. What is broken home?
ii. How can it be eliminated?

CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, restore those who are suffering from the whips of broken homes.

ASSIGNMENT:
Use five points to differentiate a broken home and a united home.

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?

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Topic: Practicing Thankfulness [Joyce Meyer’s Devotional Saturday March 31, 2018]

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, — 1 Peter 5:6

We all know that we should be grateful for our many blessings. God tells us in His Word to be thankful, and we know from our own experience that once we seriously start praising God, our burdens and troubles seem to weigh less heavily on our shoulders.

David said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:1,19 AMPC).

That’s the power of thankfulness. Not only does it help set us free, but as we pause to give thanks to God for the blessings we enjoy in our lives, we actually begin to find more blessings—even more to be thankful for!

I encourage you to take time to practice being thankful. There is so much for us to be grateful for, and we need to focus on it—every single day. Keep in mind the admonition of the psalmist, “Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!” (Psalm 100:4 AMPC).

Prayer Starter: God, the power of thankfulness is truly incredible. Thank You for blessing me daily and working in my life. I know that without You, I have nothing, so I thank You for the goodness that You have shown me.

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

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

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Topic: From Hunter To Hunted [DCLM Daily Manna Saturday March 31, 2018]

Text: Esther 8:7-14 (KJV)

Key Verse: “Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey” (Esther 8:11).

MESSAGE:

Each year, more than four million animals are trapped and killed for their fur in the United States. Millions more are trapped and killed in the name of “livestock” and “game” protection and for “nuisance” animal control. A fox trapper and his friend were shooting a video about fox trapping tips. But at the end, he suddenly got caught in his own fox trap.

After Haman’s execution in a dramatic turn of events, his office passed on to Mordecai. While this was a worthy prize, it was not enough. There was still business at hand; the edict which the evil Haman had written to exterminate the Jews had to be rescinded. Esther, in our text, therefore petitioned the king to issue an order overruling the previous obnoxious decree, while expressing her grief in the face of the impending disaster awaiting her people. King Ahasuerus responded by having Esther and Mordecai write another edict with his seal of authority to protect their people. So, about two months after Haman’s original edict, the secretaries arrived to take a new order, authorising the Jews to rise up in self-defence against their enemies in all provinces within the domain of King Ahasuerus. This was divine favour!

Fortunes are sometimes divinely shifted in the opposite direction; so that the persons who had been oppressed and disadvantaged suddenly discover that they would hold the advantage over their opponents. The hunter then becomes the hunted in a dramatic turn of events.

Such is always the turn of events in the lives of God’s children. To enjoy this favour, you must become His child by praying for the forgiveness of all your sins, cleansing in Christ’s blood and grace to live righteously as you receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour of your life. God is not partial: He will turn things around for your good.

Thought For The Day: God has the capacity to change any situation in the twinkling of an eye.

Bible Reading in one Year: Judges 1-2

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: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

The post DCLM Daily Manna 31 March, 2018 by Pastor Kumuyi – From Hunter To Hunted appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: From Sons to Servants [Kenneth & Gloria Copeland, Saturday March 31, 2018]

And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will show wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke. – Acts 2:18-19

You and I are living in the most exciting days this earth has ever seen. All around us God is pouring out His Spirit in preparation for the endtime revival that will bring this whole age to a glorious close.

Some of God’s children are just standing by as spectators, watching Him work. Others, however, have become a vital part of it all. They’ve volunteered for service in this great end-time army. They’ve become what the Bible calls the servants and handmaidens of God.

Who are those servants and handmaidens? They are those who have committed themselves totally to their Lord. They are those who, instead of being content simply to be born-again children of God, have gone even further, stepping into servanthood out of love for the Father.

The servants and handmaidens of God are those who’ve said, “I want to be involved in what God is doing in this hour. I want to be His bondslave, available to do His bidding 24 hours a day.”

Those who make that powerful decision are experiencing the great outpouring of God’s Spirit that Peter spoke of in Acts 2. They are the ones whose Spirit-inspired words of prophecy and prayer are releasing the power of God upon the earth. They are the ones whose words are opening the way for the signs and wonders.

Do you want to be among them? You can be. God wants you to be. In fact, He needs you to be!

He needs those who will cut every cord that binds them to this natural world. He needs people He can call on in the middle of the night for intercession. People who will get up and do it no matter how tired they may be.

That’s the quality and depth of dedication servanthood requires. It’s a demanding role but its rewards are rich. Those who are willing to fill that role will be God’s mouthpiece here on the earth in these final days. They will be vehicles of His Spirit and of His mighty power. They will be key players in the Holy Spirit’s greatest earthly production.

Make a decision now to become one of them. Take the step of faith into servanthood today.

Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-21

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.

The post Kenneth & Gloria Copeland’s Devotional 31 March 2018 – From Sons to Servants appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic: The Reward For The Praise Of Faith [Seeds of Destiny Saturday March 31, 2018]

Scripture: Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

Thought For The Day: When light comes, darkness disappears; when light comes, what is missing must be found.

Yesterday, we looked at the essence of the praise of faith. We noted that the praise of faith praises God for discoveries from His Word and also makes God know that He is the reason things are not worse in our lives than they are.(FROM MARCH 2018 SEEDS OF DESTINY DAILY DEVOTIONAL BY DR. PASTOR PAUL ENENCHE)

Today, we shall look at the rewards of the praise of faith:
1. Greater discoveries for quicker recoveries. When you praise God for discoveries in His Word, you will see more things out of the Scriptures. This is because when light comes, darkness disappears.
2. Arrest of negative occurrences and the establishment of the Will of God in your life. Praise terminates the agenda of the enemy and establishes the Will of God in a person’s life (1 Thessalonian 5:18).

Now, how do we carry out the praise of faith?
1. Praise God in the beauty of holiness. Do not let any guilt or unconfessed sin destroy your praise. Do not let your voice to be drowned by the voice of accusation.
2. Praise God with focus. Do not be distracted by any challenge while praising God.
3. Praise God unconditionally irrespective of whether you have seen your expectations or not. Praise God because you have the breath of life in your nostrils (Psalms 150:6).

Remember This: When light comes, darkness disappears; when light comes, what is missing must be found.

Assignments:
1. Make a list of what God has done for you within this month and determine to praise Him.
2. Make the praise of faith your daily assignment.

Prayer: O LORD, I praise You with all my heart and my soul. I look up to You to bring my expectations to pass in this season, Lord in Jesus’ Name.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE PRAISE OF FAITH

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 16:1 to 17:20, Luke 9:7 to 27, Psalm 72:1 to 20, Proverbs 12:8 to 9.

Quote: It cannot be released to you until it has been revealed to you. Culled from GO IN THIS THY MIGHT by Dr Paul Enenche

Amazing Fact: One day on Mercury lasts about 1,408 hours.

Today In History: 31/11/1918 – Daylight saving time goes into effect in the United States for the first time.

“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: Please do not prolong your salvation if you have not repented. Many are going home daily and tomorrow maybe too late…There is still hope, JESUS LOVES YOU!

The post Seeds of Destiny 31 March 2018 by Pastor Paul Enenche – The Reward For The Praise Of Faith appeared first on Flatimes.

Topic — Count On It; It’s Sure! [Our Daily Manna ODM Saturday, March 31, 2018]

Basic Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Oswald Sanders once wrote: “The crown is awarded to those who have completed the Christian race with integrity, with eye fixed on the coming Lord. It is the reward for fulfilling the mystery entrusted to one.” Welcome to Today’s devotion, an encouragement concerning your labour for the Lord! Paul boldly declared in vs. 8 of today’s scripture:” there is laid up for me.”

Not, there might be” Or there is a silent chance,” but, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but to all those who love his appearing.” The word ‘IS’ can also be “SO SURE or VERY SURE.” Hallelujah call this the sure prize and I also call it the BLESSED ASSURANCE. Sometimes we ask, “Is there really a heaven?” But never, never forget the experience many years ago of the global, financial services firm, Lehman Brothers.

It is an example of shaky reporting (to put it kindly). It hides more than $50 billion in cash. When the subprime mortgage crisis hit the world 2007, Lehman Brothers was forced into bankruptcy and was acquire by Barclays (BCS) and Nomura Holdings (NMR). Just like when other banks or popular PONZI investment failed in the past, customers that were promised good results (dividends) on investments were disappointed and some committed suicide. That is the prize of man!

As you and your family do this work of the Lord, the prize that awaited Paul is also your portion. GOD IS NOT A MAN! Peter, James, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Smith Wiggles worth, Kenneth Hag in, Oral Roberts, IDAHOSA, Ayo BABALOLA, etc, got it and you too will. Count on it, plan on it. Wait for it. It is sure! Your labour shall not be in vain. Be watchful, because: Our present choice, determines our future rewards. Pray now!

Help a SOUL daily. Give out the next ODM as a special Easter gift. NEW CHILDREN ODM CARTOON is available.

Prayer Points: Take song 5: when the roll…
1. Pray on today’s word generally as led.
2. Thank God for your salvation. ODMDAILY 2018
3. Pray in the Holy Ghost for at least 10 minutes today.
4. I shall not lose my reward like Judas. Pray Psalm 63.
5. I decree: EVERY REWARD EATER, SCATTER now! Lord, I shall possess my reward; teach me to know that YOU ARE NOT A MAN (pray it seriously).
6. Pray the new 2018 morning, afternoon and evening devotional today. See page 7.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Our Daily Manna ODM devotional HERE’’ 

By Bishop (Dr) Chris E. Kwakpovwe (Cek)
Publisher/Writer Of ODM And

Rev (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe (Fek)
Co-Publisher/Writer Of ODM.

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