RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL FOR AGE 13-15 MANUAL 20 APRIL 2025

LESSON THIRTY-FOUR (34)
TOPIC: PRAYER
BIBLE TEXT: Luke 18:1, Matthew 26:36-41
Luke 18:1
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”.
Matthew 26:36-41
[36]Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.
[37]And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
[38]Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
[39]And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
[40]And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
[41]Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

MEMORY VERSE: Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”.
OPENING QUESTION: How often do we ought to pray?
CENTRAL TRUTH: Prayer is the key to success in life as Christian.
INTRODUCTION: Prayer is simply talking to God. However, prayer is only complete when we communicate with God and He responds. This makes the communication complete. Praising, worshipping, and asking God are examples of talking to Him; reading His word, hearing a message, or hearing His voice are examples of Him responding to our prayers.
From our text, we can also define praying as keeping watch. It requires being on guard and at alert, particularly to serve as a patrol for protection, It involves being vigilant and attentive. However, all these must be done in the place of prayers. As Christians what are we to keep watch over, how can we keep watch, who are we to watch over?
STUDY GUIDE
A. FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING, FIND OUT FROM THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES.
1. Matt 25:42-51 —————————–
2. Luke 2:8 —————————–
3. Hebrews 13:17 —————————–
4. Acts 20:28 —————————–
5. Luke 26:38 —————————–
6. Matt 24: 42-44 —————————–
7. Prov 15:3 —————————–
B. WHAT CAN STOP US FROM KEEPING WATCH?
1. Too much sleep
2. Too much food, not fasting.
3. Too many distractions-cares of this world, technology.
4. Friends
5. Procrastination.
7. Selfishness
8. Teenagers to mention more
C. BENEFITS OF PRAYERS
The benefits of prayer can’t be exhausted.
1. Prayer helps us find direction in life.
2. It can prevent us from making wrong decisions and falling into sin.
3. Through prayers, we can learn to submit to God’s will.
4. Prayers leads us into God’s presence. Matt 27:51
5. Prayer draws us closer to God. James 4:8
6. And to some people, prayer is a way of life
DISCUSS: Mention people in our lives that God expects us to keep watch over. And discuss the benefits of praying for them.
CONCLUSION: To be successful in life and make it to heaven at the end of our lives, we need prayers. Not only to pray for ourselves but also to learn to stand in the gap for other people. When we pray: battles are won, sin is conquered, discouragement is defeated, self is abased, and God is exalted.
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION
* What is God saying in today’s lesson?
* How can I apply this to my life?
* My prayer today is: