RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP
LEADER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 23RD OF JUNE 2019
TOPIC: AGEING GRACEFULLY
HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM
1. I love this family Of God,
So closely knitted into one,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
2. I bless this family of God,
So greatly prospered by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
3. I know this family of God,
So deeply rooted in the word,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
4. I see this family of God,
So highly lifted above all,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
5. Come and join this family of God,
So highly favoured by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
SUGGESTED TIME SCHEDULE
10 minutes for Opening Prayer, Praise and Worship
10 minutes for Testimonies
15 minutes for Bible Discussion
15 minutes for General Prayers
10 minutes for Questions & Answers
5 minutes for Welcoming New Members
10 minutes for Announcements,
Offering,House Fellowship Anthem & Closing Prayers.
PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to stay with you and grow in you.
BIBLE PASSAGE : Psalms 91:1-16*
1. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
7. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
9. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
10. There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Psalms 71:18
Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
INTRODUCTION: Old age is a grace from God according to Ps. 91:16 “With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation”. God also promised us old age in Exodus 20:12; It is however dependent upon you honouring your father and mother; “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
Attainment of old age is the desire of ever I mortal being; it connotes running a full course of life’s journey. Nobody prays for premature death but to be full of days or old age. Old age is the period where death can come anytime because it is the Night Time.
MEMORY VERSE: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.Isaiah 46:4
TEXT REVIEW:
Psalm 91:1-16; 71:18.
i. The secret to age in grace is to stay under God’s shadow.
ii. At all times you are to speak of His goodness.
iii. Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
iv. His sovereignty over all makes Him more than dependable.
v. There is no need to fear though pestilence is all around you.
vi. Long life is guaranteed in Him.
LESSON OUTLINE
Some examples in the Bible of those that attained old age before they died.
1. Genesis 24:1 “And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.”
2. Genesis 27:1-2 “And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.
And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:
3. Joshua 23:1-2 “And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:”
4. 1 Samuel 12:2 “And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.”
5. Job 42:16-17 “After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
So Job died, being old and full of days.”
Common Features Of Old Age
1. Grey hair. Prov. 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.”
2. Diminishing strength/feebleness. The mortal body is designed to be losing strength as one gets older. No wonder the Bible acknowledges the great strength of the youth. Prov. 20:29a
3. Dimness of Vision. Majority of their eyes are dim and may need aided vision such as recommended glasses, etc.
4. Joint pain etc. The joints are no longer as flexible and athletic as they used to be in the younger days.
5. Responses may not be as sharp as the younger days.
6. Skin dehydration etc. The old people’s skin are not as hydrated as their youthful days. More wrinkles set in.
What do I do to live to Old Age gracefully
1. Ensure that you are born again and dwell in the secret place of the Almighty God. Psalms 91:1.
2. Trust Him Completely by making Him your fortress and refuge. Psalms 91:2.
3. Obey His commandments completely. Psalms 68:35.
4. Avoid anxiety. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”.1 Peter 5:7.
5. Nurse no grudges against anyone so that you will always have peace of mind. Heb 12:14a “Follow peace with all men………….”
6. Accept your aging process as a natural upwards life journey. If you can no longer climb staircase, settle for bungalow.
7. Eat well. You will Jo longer be able to eat the same size and volume of food you consumed during your youthful days. But eat well balanced food. Add fruits etc.
8. Sleep well.
9. Exercise your body daily, a little walking around is recommended. Sedentary life harbours sickness.
10. Have regular medical check-ups and avoid self medication.
11. Draw closer to God in prayer and Bible study; if you cannot read get audio Bible etc. Be deeply heavenly conscious.
12. Avoid loneliness as much as possible. Regularly surround yourself with your children and their families as many derive joy from this.
13. Fellowshipping with fellow elders in the Church, associating with elders in your community that will not derail your Christian standing.
14. Prepare your will, it is part of the aging process and it is a wise step to avoid chaos/crisis when death comes knocking.
SUMMARY: Long life is guaranteed in God on earth and in eternity.
CONCLUSION: It is a special grace of God that you can run life’s full course in this part of the world, where life expectancy keeps reducing by the day. Always appreciate God for this privilege and do jot blame Him for keeping His promise with you; Ps. 91:16.
Use everyday well, intercede for your immediate and extended families etc. Forgive those who have offended you so that you can have true peace of God and have forgiveness from God. Matt. 6:14-15. Avoid anxiety, eat well and sleep well. Have regular medical checkup and avoid self medication.
More than ever before, draw closer to God in prayers, Bible study and be active in your Church especially in Elders’ fellowship.
Pray the following scriptures: Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. Psalms 71:18
ASSIGNMENT: 5 things to do to age gracefully.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Father, I thank you for the salvation of my soul.
2. Father, according to your word, please support our elders with your divine health, financial blessings, etc. Isaiah 46:4.
3. Father, I thank you for your peace over us. John 14:27.
4. Father, I thank you also because you will grant me the grace to teach others around me these secrets, apart from my family members. Gen. 18:19.
5. Father, I thank you because you will continually increase Daddy and Mummy G.O. in age, wisdom, knowledge, strength and anointing.
6. Father, please help all RCCG members to attain their old age in Jesus’ name.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: Psalm 71:17-18. Father, please, right from my youthful age, teach me to do your will, which will in turn help me to live to old age.
TUESDAY: Psalm 20:7-8. Father, please help me to trust you totally, and as I trust you, let my faith in you work wonders in my Life.
WEDNESDAY: Psalm 45:7. Father, as I follow your precepts in loving righteousness and hating iniquities, please let your oil of gladness upon my head see me through to old age gracefully.
THURSDAY: Psalm 91:1-16. Father, as you promised in the Bible, please satisfy me with long life.
FRIDAY: Psalm 128:1-6. Father, please help me to fear you so that all your declarations for today will manifest in my family.
SATURDAY: Psalm 48:14. Father, please help me to believe and act on the fact that you are the only one that will remain forever.
SUNDAY: Psalm 1:1-3. Father, please help me to be happy studying and meditating on your words.
