RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL LESSON SIXTEEN 16 DECEMBER 2018 – KNOWING GOD’S WILL IN MARRIAGE
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 old 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 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: “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” – Proverbs 18:22
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 24:1-19
Genesis:24.1
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
Genesis:24.2
So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh,
Genesis:24.3
“and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell;
Genesis:24.4
“but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
Genesis:24.5
And the servant said to him, “Perhaps the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?”
Genesis:24.6
But Abraham said to him, “Beware that you do not take my son back there.
Genesis:24.7
“The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land,’ He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there.
Genesis:24.8
“And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be released from this oath; only do not take my son back there.”
Genesis:24.9
So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.
Genesis:24.10
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed, for all his master’s goods [were in] his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor.
Genesis:24.11
And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw [water.]
Genesis:24.12
Then he said, “O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
Genesis:24.13
“Behold, [here] I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
Genesis:24.14
“Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, ‘Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink’ — [let] her [be the one] You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”
Genesis:24.15
And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold, Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham’s brother, came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.
Genesis:24.16
Now the young woman [was] very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.
Genesis:24.17
And the servant ran to meet her and said, “Please let me drink a little water from your pitcher.”
Genesis:24.18
So she said, “Drink, my lord.” Then she quickly let her pitcher down to her hand, and gave him a drink.
Genesis:24.19
And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw [water] for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”
INTRODUCTION:
Marriage is ordained by God and it is a legal relationship between a man and woman that should last for a life time (Genesis 2:21-23).
The step taken before going into this journey is very important to prevent pitfalls. In knowing God’s will, therefore, you do not have to rely on vague feelings and strange rituals.
LESSON OUTLINES
1. The relationship with God first
2. How do we recognise his will in marriage?
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FIRST
Marriage is a creation of God, it all started from Him (Genesis 2:18). God will only guide His own (Jeremiah 10:23).
He will not play a guessing game with His people (1Corinthians 14:33). He wants us to know and do His will and He is actively involved in revealing it. Therefore, before seeking God’s will in marriage, develop a relationship with Him (Psalm 119:130; Psalm 119:105). Also Read – Open Heaven 16 December 2018
You must not live your life in fear but in fellowship with God (2Timothy 1:7). Develop your God’s given gift and master how God deals with or guides your steps (Psalm 85:8; Psalm 37:23).
Discover your purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ (John 18:37). This will reduce stress, give your life meaning and prepare you for eternity (2Peter 1:3-4).
You must be found working in His vineyard like Adam and have a source of income (Genesis 2:15-18) because marriage is not for lazy people. Marriage is for matured adults, not juveniles.
HOW DO WE RECOGNISE HIS WILL IN MARRIAGE?
The Scripture is clear about the fact that God does not want His people to be joined with unbelievers in marriage (2Corinthians 6:14-16; 1Corinthians 6:15-17). How then do we recognise His will in marriage as believers?
1. Through the word of God (Proverbs 3:5-7). God has placed His word in our hands so that we can have a more objective set of guidelines to follow than dreams, feelings and impulses. Despite your dreams and conviction, pray to have scriptural backing (Proverbs 18:22; Genesis 2:22; Proverbs 19:14).
2. God will work in you to do His will. He will use circumstances and situations to perfect His will for your life (Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:12-13). You must, therefore, remain sensitive; paying attention to doors He opens and closes to direct your path.
3. Through the counsel of elders or spiritual heads in the church (Psalm 1:1; Proverbs 19:21; 11:14; 15:22; Acts 1:24; Titus 2:3-5). Do not despise godly counsel from spiritual heads (Proverbs 14:29b; Isaiah 52:12).
However, be careful of the following pitfalls:
(a) Passion for sex, peer/parental pressure, age , poverty etc., may influence your hasty decision. Do not allow any of these to cloud your sense of reasoning or push you into marriage. Watch and pray to overcome temptations (Matthew 26:41).
(b) The environment you are in and the friends you keep may also influence your choice. Therefore, keep company with believers and not unbelievers (1Corinthians 15:33).
CONCLUSION
Prayer, pure word of God, worship, fellowship and service for God and right environment of good spiritual nourishment are factors that aid our spiritual sensitivity. As a child of God, you have His word, His Spirit within you and His ministers to guide and counsel you.
QUESTIONS
1. Why have a relationship with God before marriage?
2. How do you know God’s will in marriage?
