RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT'S MANUAL

LESSON NINE (09)

SUNDAY IST OF NOVEMBER, 2020

TOPIC: THE POWER OF A PRAYING CHURCH

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 be 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?

*MEMORY VERSE*: "Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him". Acts 12:5

*BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 18:18-20*

[18]Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

[19]Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

[20]For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

*INTRODUCTION:* The church is God's agency on earth that demonstrates His love, wisdom and power. Jesus said ,"... I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven". (Matthew 16:18-19). Prayer is a mighty weapon in the church with unprecedented outcomes upon the church, the world and God's kingdom. Therefore, we must understand the role of the church through prayer and it's resultant effects.

               *OUTLINES*

*1. Reasons And Conditions*

*2. Scope And Results*

*REASONS AND CONDITIONS*

 The church employs prayer to make effective the word, the name, and the Spirit of God in fulfilling her divine mandate (Acts 2:42). God listens to the church (Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 18:19). The church needs prayer for constant fellowship with God and with one another (Acts 2:42); for exhortation and edification, building of the faith of believers in God (Heb. 10:25; 1 Timothy 3:10) and to remind God of His promises to protect His Church from the attack of the enemy (Matthew 16:18). The church also pray for the demonstration of God's power through miracles, signs and wonders (Acts 5:12; 12:5).

   For the prayer of the church to be effective and result-oriented, the members must live in holiness as saints of God because the prayer of sinner is abomination unto God (Pro.15:8). The church members must relate with singleness of heart and be united in faith (Acts 2:1; 4:25; 2 Peter 1:1). Such prayer must be scripture-based (Dan. 9:2-3), specific (Acts 4:29-30), fervent (James 5:16), spirit-led  (Romans 8:26; Jude 29) and with the assurance of response from God (Acts 4:31; 1 John 5:14-15).

*SCOPE AND RESULTS*

The prayer of the church should cover Sinners' conversion (Acts 2:21); Family needs (Acts 16:32); Nation's request (Romans 10:1-3); People in authority and all men (1 Timothy 2:1-4); Church leaders (Colossians 4:3-4); Church work (Matthew 16:18-19); Individual requests (James 5:13); Wrestling territorial powers (James 5:13); etc

The essence of prayer is it's results. The church prayed for Peter with unity and God answered speedily (Acts 12:5-11). Similarly, the church prayed desperately for unction to function and this turned around the course of the church (Acts 4:31). Hence, the earnest and sincere heart-prayers of the church, based upon the word of God, accomplish much. The results include: God's presence and power (Acts 4:31); 

Boldness of the Saints to witness (Acts 14:3); 

Empowerment of believers for exploits (Acts 4:33); Growth of the church (Acts 5:12-14); 

Spiritual strength and maturity (Col. 1:9-11).

Prosecution of the world evangelisation through mission outreaches (Acts 13:1-3); Miracles, signs and wonders (Acts 5:12); God's visitation to release incarcerated saints (Acts 12:5-11).

*CONCLUSION*: Prayer makes the church grow, glow and gracious. The major hindrance to the prayer of the church is sin and disunity.

*QUESTIONS*: 

1. What are the reasons and conditions the church of God must pray?

2. What areas should the prayer of a church cover and what are the results?

*ASSIGNMENT*: Student should list five 5 benefits they have enjoyed through corporate prayers.

DATE: SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER 2020.

THEME: MIND WHAT YOU EAT. 

MEMORISE:

Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Proverbs 23:20-21

READ: Proverbs 23:1-3

1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

MESSAGE:

I have often heard people say that you are what you eat. This is a wise saying because what you eat can affect who you are- both physically and spiritually. If you eat food that makes your body weak such that you are always lethargic and cannot pray or study your Bible for long hours, your spiritual strength will be low. If on the other hand, you eat organic and healthy food, not only will your body be strong, you will also soar spiritually because you can spend long hours praying and studying your Bible.

It may interest you to know that the devil also uses food to recruit people into secret societies. That is why it is not expedient to eat at every occasion you attend. Before you eat anything that is offered to you, whether in public or private, make sure you pray on it first and ask God for permission. John 6:11 says:

“And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.”

One day while I was preaching, I saw a woman dash out of the hall and some ushers ran after her. She then was brought to me after the service. She said while I was preaching, he clothes caught fire so she had to run out. Many years before that incident, she had gone to see a white-garment prophet because she had been losing all her children. Eventually, she met the prophet’s wife who, upon hearing the woman’s problems, gave her a kolanut to eat. From that night, she started finding herself in meetings whenever she slept at night, eating human meat with some other people. Eventually, it was her turn to provide the meat and she was asked to submit her children- the same ones whose lives she was trying to protect in the first place. We prayed a simple prayer that day and when she got home, she excreted a dead snake. Thus, God rescued her from the deadly kolanut.

Mind what you eat or drink.

KEY POINT:

Pray before you eat, drink or even take a snack. Mind what you eat.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Acts 1-3

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE 

HYMN 20: NEARER, MY GOD TO THEE.

1. Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

o Refrain:

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

2. Though like the wanderer, the sun gone down,

Darkness be over me, my rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I’d be nearer, my God, to Thee.

3. There let the way appear, steps unto Heav’n;

All that Thou sendest me, in mercy giv’n;

Angels to beckon me nearer, my God, to Thee.

4. Then, with my waking thoughts bright with Thy praise,

Out of my stony griefs Bethel I’ll raise;

So by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee.

5. Or, if on joyful wing cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I’ll fly,

Still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee.

6. There in my Father’s home, safe and at rest,

There in my Savior’s love, perfectly blest;

Age after age to be nearer, my God, to Thee.