RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MANUAL 24 JULY 2022
LESSON FORTY SEVEN (47)
TOPIC: THE SPOTLESS BRIDE
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 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 blessings
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?
Today’s devotional: Open Heaven 24 July 2022
Powerful Declarations: Powerful Declarations For Today 24 July 2022
Today’s Prayer Points: Prayer Points For Open Heavens 24 July 2022
Teens Devotional: Open Heavens For Teens 24 July 2022
MEMORY VERSE: “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:27.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 5:17-30
[17]Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
[18]And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
[19]Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
[20]Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
[21]Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
[22]Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
[23]For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
[24]Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
[25]Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
[26]That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
[27]That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
[28]So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
[29]For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
[30]For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
INTRODUCTION: The Church, that is the congregation of all born again believers, is referred to as the Bride of Jesus Christ in Ephesians 5:25-27. Almost invariably, when a man chooses a bride, he chooses someone who is closest to him in manners, attributes, aspirations, ways of doing things, and the like, because only birds of the same feathers flock together (Amos 3:3). The Lord Jesus Christ is holy, spotless and without blemish; hence His Bride must be without spot or wrinkle too.
OUTLINES:
1. THE ESSENCE AND PROCESS OF BEING SPOTLESS
2. AREAS OF SPOTLESSNESS
1. THE ESSENCE AND PROCESS OF BEING SPOTLESS
It is a reasonable question if a Christian asks, ‘Why must I be spotless?’ Or why must I be pure in all things that there cannot be found in me a single spot, fault or blemish? Here are just a few of the reasons.
First, a Christian is a child of God (John 1:12), and the child must be like his father. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ said that every child of God must be as perfect as our Father in Heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48).
Secondly, the Christian is part of the Bride of Christ. From which it follows that the Christian is part and parcel of the holy, spotless, Christ (Eph.5:29-30).Since Christ is spotlessly holy, it follows that no part of Him can be any less holy than Himself.
Thirdly, the wedding between Christ and His bride is going to take place in Heaven. And nothing unholy shall be allowed into Heaven (Isa. 35:8). Therefore, if you wish to be part of the bride at the wedding of the lamb, you must be without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27).
The steps toward a life of spotless holiness begin with the new birth in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:17).This is then followed by purging yourself of all sinful habits and excesses (Job 11:14-15; 2 Tim. 2:21). After which you must steer clear of all worldly situations that can stain you or get you thinking along wrong tracks (James 1:27; 1 John 2:15-17).
Then, of course, you must live daily for God, taking one day at a time and living it as if it will be the last (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 13:5). Since all determinations are useless without the help of God, you must constantly call on Jesus for help (John.15:5; Phil. 4:13).
2. AREAS OF SPOTLESSNESS
The next reasonable question is ‘In what areas should the bride of Christ be spotless?’ The answer, of course, is ‘in all things’. However, we will specifically look at three areas: In words, in thoughts and in deeds.
1.Spotless in words: Christians are expected to ‘bridle their tongues’ by putting a check or carefully selecting their words in order to avoid offences (James 3:2; Col.4:6). In order to be spotless in word, a Christian must abstain from gossiping, backbiting, lying, rumour-mongering and any other speech that defiles (1 Pet. 4:15; Rev. 21:27; Mark 7:20).
2.Spotless in thoughts: Before someone can be spotless in words, he has to be spotless in thoughts (Ps.19:14). This is because whatever comes out of your mouth is an overflow of what is in your heart (Matt.12:34-35; Prov. 23:7). Consequently, we are advised to watch very closely what we think about and meditate upon. In fact, there is a list of things that must occupy the thoughts of a Christian. These are the things that are true, just; honest, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8).
3.Spotless in deeds: We must not only be spotless in words and thoughts but also in deeds. In fact, our deeds are to be as pure as light. We are to shine at home, in the office, market -place and everywhere so that the world will know who is really our Father (Matt. 5:14-16). True holiness cannot be hidden; it will always shine forth.
CONCLUSION: It is not enough for the Christians to be holy. They must be spotlessly so. Anyone who hopes to be part of the bride of Christ must stay spotless.
QUESTIONS
1. Why should a Christian be spotless?
2. In what areas should a Christian be spotless?
FURTHER READING
MON: Gal. 2:10. TUE: Jos.1:8. WED: 1 Cor.6:13. THUR: 1 John 2:14-15. FRI: 1 Peter 1:14. SAT: 1 Peter 5:15-16. SUN: 1 John 3:8-10.
ASSIGNMENT
Identify five (5) ways through which polluted society can become spotless.
