RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 10TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2023
LESSON TWO (02)
TOPIC: DIVINE LEADING (PART 1)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Psalms 37:3-7
[3]Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
[4]Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
[5]Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
[6]And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
[7]Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
MEMORY VERSE:
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” Psalm 32:8 (NKJV).
INTRODUCTION: Divine leading is about being directed by God. Being led or guided by God is a necessary key for Christians. It is the only way to fulfil God’s will in every of our decision-making processes (2 Kings. 3:11). Therefore, we need to learn the avenues through which God leads His people. Moreover, in this dispensation, the leading of the Holy Spirit is inevitable and indispensable.
OUTLINES:
1. AVENUES FOR DIVINE LEADING.
2. RECOGNISING DIVINE LEADING
1. AVENUES FOR DIVINE LEADING
It is important to note that God, in His sovereignty, can adopt any or several means to lead those who put their trust in Him. Here are some of them:
1.Through the word of God (1 Samuel 3:21; Hebrews 1:1-2).
2.Through a witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:14, 16). The witness of the Spirit can also come in form of God’s peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7).
3.Through the voice of the Spirit. This is beyond just a witness; it is a hearing. This hearing can be inward (which means no one else, around you, hears it). The Bible calls it a ‘still small voice’- like the sound of a gentle whisper (1 Kings.19:12). Sometimes the voice comes in the midst of a godly thought (Acts 10:19). The voice of the Spirit can also be outward, in which case you look around as if you heard or somebody else heard what you are hearing (1 Samuel 3:3-5; Acts 9:3-5).
4.Through revelations – dreams, visions, trances (Joel 2:28). Dreams can come from your thought (Ecclesiastes 5:3), or the devil – scary and tormenting (nightmares) or from God – insightful, instructional, or revelational (Job 33:14-17). Dreams happen when you are fully asleep (day or night). Vision can come when you are awake and see something like a still or motion picture (day or night) – Daniel 2:19. Trance is like the average between a dream and a vision (you are half awake, half asleep) when the physical senses seem to be suspended (Acts 10:10-11).
5.Through ordained situations or circumstances (Jeremiah 18:1-6). God can take you by or through a happening to give you a clear direction for life.
6.Through prophetic utterances and confirmations (Hosea 12:10). However, believers are cautioned against living at the mercy of prophecy (1 John 4:1).
7.Through diverse means as deemed fit by God (Hosea 12:10).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should mention other ways God speaks to them.
2. RECOGNISING DIVINE LEADING
The Holy Spirit takes on the role of a Guide and Counsellor, leading us in the way we should go and revealing God’s truth (Luke 12:12).
One of the most important ways to recognise the Holy Spirit’s guidance is to be familiar with God’s word. The Bible is the ultimate source of wisdom about how we should live (2 Timothy 3:16), and believers are to search the Scriptures (John 5:39), meditate on them, and commit them to memory (Psalm 1:2). The word is the “sword of the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:17), and the Spirit will use it to speak to us (John 16:12-14) to reveal God’s will for our lives. He will also bring specific scriptures to mind at times when we need them most (John 14:26).
Therefore, we must always test our inclinations against the Scriptures. This is because the Holy Spirit will never push us to do anything contrary to God’s word (1Corinthians 14:33). If it conflicts with the Bible, then it is not from the Holy Spirit and should be ignored. It is also necessary for us to be in continual prayer with the Father (1Thessalonians 5:17). Not only does this keep our hearts and minds open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, but it also allows the Spirit to speak on our behalf (Romans 8:26-27).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class should discuss how they recognise divine leading.
CONCLUSION: If you are not led by God, you will wander and get lost in the wilderness of life. Let God lead you.
QUESTIONS
* Mention four avenues of divine leading.
* How can believers recognise divine leading?
FURTHER READING
SUN: Rev.1:16. MON: Eph.6:18. TUES: Acts 17:11. WED: Rom.15:14. THURS: Prov.3:3-5. FRI: Acts 2:17. SAT: Jn. 14:16.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) dangers of ignoring divine leading (2X5=10 marks).
*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 friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and 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?