RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL SUNDAY 15TH OF MAY 2022 LESSON THIRTY SEVEN (37)

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?

MEMORY VERSE: “Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.”

RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL SUNDAY 15TH OF MAY 2022 LESSON THIRTY SEVEN (37)

Proverbs 1:1-19

[1]The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

[2]To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

[3]To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

[4]To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

[5]A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

[6]To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

[7]The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[8]My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

[9]For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

[10]My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

[11]If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

[12]Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

[13]We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

[14]Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

[15]My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

[16]For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

[17]Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

[18]And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

[19]So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL SUNDAY 15TH OF MAY 2022 LESSON THIRTY SEVEN (37)

Cultism can be traced to the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptians had many magicians who practiced occultism and used occult means to acquire more powers. These magicians belong to groups that kept their activities secret (Ex.7:11). The spread and explosion of cultism to other nations of the world happened for diverse reasons. Cultism is otherwise known as secret cult or secret society.

RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL SUNDAY 15TH OF MAY 2022 LESSON THIRTY SEVEN (37)

A cult is a group of people who have extreme beliefs and ideas which only members have access to. Cultism is an association or organisation of people whose membership, initiation, policies and activities are done secretly. The activities are carried out at odd hours of the day and are at variance with the accepted norms of the society. Cultism cuts across all spectra of society. However, the youths are the most vulnerable. Occult groups use signs and symbols such as green ribbons on berets, cross bones, human skull, axes and so on. They usually adopt some handgrip as means of mutual recognition among the members.

Although the benefits promised members of secret cults may be enticing, the reality is that ‘cultism is suicidal’. It leads to fear, insecurity, failure, shedding of innocent blood, destruction of lives, destinies and property. When caught, it gives bad names to the family. Cultists are unforgiving and vengeful (Jer.20:10). Cultism attracts God’s punishment, causes spiritual death and loss of eternal life among others (Rom.1:18; Col.3:5-6).

A child of God must not allow anything or anyone to lure him/her into joining a cult group (Ps.1:1). Just like fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, cultism should not be named at all among believers (Eph.5:3).

Scripture warns us against fellowshipping with them (Eph.5:11) because their activities have negative effects on both members and non-members. The activities of these cults take various destructive forms which include consumption of alcohol and hard drugs that tends to give false courage, stealing, violent behaviours, killing, use of guns and dangerous weapons, sexual harassment, torture, flogging, stripping to the pants and making destructive cult marks on the bodies of new members with red hot swords during initiation (Rom.3:15-18). Regardless of the motives for setting up or joining a cult group, it is shameful to imagine the evil they perpetrate and the destruction they cause to themselves and their victims (Eph.5:12; Rom.6:21).

To avoid being lured into cultism, a Christian must take the following precautions:

1. Stand firm on your faith and do not allow situations or circumstances to dictate your position in Christ. This can lead one into bondage (Gal.5:1).

2. Dissociate yourself from friends, class/course/room-mates, family members, etc. whose ways of life are suspicious. Let them know your stand in the Lord (Prov.1:10; 1Cor.15:33).

3. Let your fellowship with God and the brethren be strong (Matt.22:37-39). Spend your spare time with godly people (Heb.10:25).

4. Avoid misrepresentation of your person. Let people see you as a genuine child of God in your mode of dressing, use of language/slangs, gestures, etc. (2Cor.6:17-18).

5. If you are already a cultist, you must be ready to cut ties with the group and believe that Jesus can save you. It is important to seek counsel from a matured Christian. You must confess your sins, renounce your membership and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour (Rom.10:9-13; Prov.24:6).

CONCLUSION: Shun cultism. It only leads to destruction of lives and destinies.

RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL SUNDAY 15TH OF MAY 2022 LESSON THIRTY SEVEN (37)

RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL SUNDAY 15TH OF MAY 2022 LESSON THIRTY SEVEN (37)

1. What is cultism?

2. Why is it dangerous to join a cult group?

FURTHER READING: MON: 1Cor.15:33. TUE: Ps.20:7. WED: Prov.11:4. THUR: Jn.8:32. FRI: Rom.10:17. SAT: Heb.10:25. SUN: Ps.1:1.

ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) consequences of cultism.