RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL 31ST OF JULY 2022 LESSON 48

[1]In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

[2]And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

[3]And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;

[4]Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

[5]And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

[6]Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:

[7]Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.

[8]But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

[9]Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.

[10]And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

[11]Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,

[12]Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

[13]Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

[14]So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.

[15]And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat. RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL 31ST OF JULY 2022 LESSON 48

[16]Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse.

[17]As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

[18]Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

[19]And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.

[20]And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

MEMORY VERSE: 1Corinthians 6:19 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which have have of God, and ye are not your own?”

LESSON AIM: The children will know that God can give them the power to say NO to things that are not of Him

CHILD-RELATED TRUTH: God wants you to rely on Jesus to say No.

God warned his people over and over that if they did not obey Him then He would not protect them from their enemies.

One of the enemies was King Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the powerful country of Babylon. Four good young Jewish boys were taken as prisoners during King Nebuchadnezzar’s raid. Their names were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishacl, and Azariah. They were good boys who loved God. They obeyed God’s laws. They worshipped God and prayed. They were also careful to obey all of God’s rules about which foods they could eat and which foods they could not eat. Now they were prisoners! They had to leave their parents and go live far away in the city of Babylon.

1. While Daniel and his friends were living in Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar decided to choose all the smartest and healthiest young prisoners to be his special helpers.

2. Daniel and his three friends were chosen and the king wanted them to learn to like Babylon and to help the king.

3. They were taken to the palace and taught all the laws of Babylon and their names were changed to Babylonian names; Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

They learned science and maths and all about the stars.

4. While the boys were learning, the king put an official in charge of them and told him to give the young men the best food in Babylon.

5. Daniel told the king’s officer that they would not eat the king’s food because it was sacrificed to idols

GOSPEL CONNECTION: God said in Exodus 20 that He is a jealous God and will not share your love for Him with anyone or thing. God’s love is so great that He sent Son as a sacrifice for our

sins to be forgiven (John 3:16). Jesus shed His lifeblood on the cross so that when you believe in Him as your Saviour, He can give you

the power to say NO to things that are not of God

6. The officer liked Daniel and his friends but he was afraid that the king would get mad at him.

7. Daniel had a good idea that he and his friends would only eat vegetables and drink water for ten days and at the end of ten days, the officer could judge to see if they were as healthy as all of the other young men at the palace.

CLIMAX: At the end of ten days the officer noticed that these four boys were healthier than all of the rest of the young men at the palace.

CONCLUSION: The king decided that Daniel and his friends were the best of all the young men in the palace and they were ten times

better than all the magicians and wise men in the entire kingdom.

RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL 31ST OF JULY 2022 LESSON 48

CHALLENGE: Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego became wise men of the king’s court. They always loved God and tried to obey his laws. Even though they were prisoners God blessed them and took care of them. You have believed in Jesus as Lord and Saviour can also say NO to things that will harm your body (drugs, people trying to touch your private parts, etc).

INVITATION: Jesus can only give you the power to say no if you believe that can save you (John 3:16)

RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL 31ST OF JULY 2022 LESSON 48

MONDAY: EXODUS I5:1-6

TUESDAY: EXODUS 15:7-12

WEDNESDAY: EXODUS 15:13-17

THURSDAY: EXODUS 15:18-23

FRIDAY: EXODUS 15:24-27

SATURDAY: EXODUS 16:1-6

SUNDAY: EXODUS 16:7-12