RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 13th May 2018 Lesson 37 –Gideon

RCCG Sunday School TEACHER’s Manual 13th May 2018 Lesson 37 –Gideon

OPENING PRAYER: Father, turn my fear to courage. Let the Holy Spirit give me strength to become a mighty man of valour. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)

Bible Passage: Judges 6: 11 -16 (KJV)

11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

MEMORY VERSE: “And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”. – Judges 6:12

LESSON INTRODUCTION: Gideon, also called Jerubbaal, (Judg. 6:29, 32), was of the tribe of Manasseh. He was the son of Joash, of the family of Abiezer. Judg. 6:11. He was a valiant and prudent judge of Israel, particularly the Eastern and Northern tribes, (B. C. 1249 to 1209). He resided in Ophrah, east of the Jordan, a region often ravaged in harvest-time by the wandering tribes on its eastern border. Being called of God to deliver his people, and encouraged by signs from heaven, he defeated the Midiantites, and caused Israel to dwell in safety for many years. Gideon had many wives and seventy sons, Judges 8:30. He also had a son named Abimelech by a concubine in Shechem, Judges 8:31. Died in “a good old age, and was buried in the sepulcher of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites”. Judges 8:32. Open Heaven 14 May 2018

TEXT REVIEW: JUDGES 6:11-16

WORDS OF COURAGE AND ASSURANCE

Statement of courage and assurance can bring an abrupt end to years of oppression and intimidation. In today’s story, five statements of assurance brought the Israelites out of seven (7) years of pains inflicted upon them by the Midianite oppressors, Judge6:1-5. These life-restoring statements are stated below:

i. The Lord is with you. Judges 6: 12a.
ii. You are a mighty man of valour (not a coward). Judges 6:12b.
iii. Go in this your might Judges 6:14a
iv. You will save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Judges 6:14b.
v. I have sent/commissioned you. Judges 6:14c.

The teacher’s words to students in affliction must bring light of hope and recovery of destiny. Towing the path of excuse given by the shekels as Gideon did in Judges 6:13, may prolong the pains. Teacher should be so sure of his God and present same to those in affliction. Joshua said, “We are well able” Number 13:30. The three Hebrews said, “Our God is able.” Dan. 317. Therefore we are well able to win the battles through God on our side. Judges 7:25.

Lesson Outline 1: CHARACTER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

A. HIS CHARACTER
i. He was humble.
ii. He did not believe he could be qualified for God to use because his family was poor and least Judges 6:15
iii. He was encouraged and strengthened by the angel of the Lord. Judges 6:12,14
iv. The angel of the Lord described him as “a mighty man of valour. Judges 6:12.
v. God commissioned him through his angel to “save Israel Judges 6:14.
vi. God gave him a proof that he would be with him through a sign from the angel. Judges 6:16-24.

B. HIS ACHIEVEMENTS
i. He was able to pull a large number of soldiers in his army. (22,000 men).
ii. He obeyed and believed God to reduce the army to only 300 soldiers. Judges 7:24
iii. He fought with this few number of soldiers and defeated the Midianites.
iv. He brought an end to the 7 years of Midianite’s oppression. Judges 6:1
v. He destroyed the altar of Baal. Judges 6:28.

Class Activity 1: Why do you think people are reluctant to submit themselves to the calling of God?

Lesson Outline 2: LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
i. Christians must always be ready. God may call you at any time to accomplish His purpose. lsa.6:8.
ii. You must always remember that God “gives grace to the humble” James 4:6.
iii. God gives us the power to do whatever He tells us to do, no matter how difficult it may seem to be. Phil. 2:13; 3:14.
iv. Courage in the face of adversity can accomplish great things. Deut31:6.
v. Victory over the battles of life is not achieved through human ability but through divine interventions. Zech.4:6; Exo.14:13-14; 2Chr. 20:17.

Class Activity 2: Why is courage essential for believers to carry out divine order?

SUMMARY:
We need God to win our battles. We need to hear His voice for right strategies to win.

CONCLUSION:
Often times, when God wants to accomplish a great task, He does not call the qualified but qualifies the called.

EVALUATION:
What moral lesson did we learn from Gideon?

CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, give me courage to do your word as directed. Let me win all my battles.

ASSIGNMENT:
Mention five strategies which believers can use to break the oppressions of the adversaries.