RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER’S MANUAL 2ND JUNE 2019
TOPIC: FINGER OF GOD (PART 1)
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 friend 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 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?
OPENING PRAYER:
Father, prove to the whole world that I am yours.
BIBLE PASSAGE:
Exodus 8:16-19
16. And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
17. And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.
18. And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.
19. Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.
MEMORY VERSE:
“Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said.” Exodus 8:19
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
The finger of God has been used both literarily and figuratively in the Bible. It brings about supernatural happenings beyond human comprehension. We need to understand what the Finger of God represents and how it works for us as individuals in our relationships with God. Also Read – Open Heavens 2 June 2019
TEXT REVIEW : EXODUS 8:16-19
“DO NOT PROVOKE GOD”
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in mercy. Psalms 103:8.
But whenever a man provokes Him to anger, no gods or power or magic can deliver such a man.
In today’s Bible passage, Pharaoh and his government provoked God and the entire land bore the consequence.
The following truth emerged in the incidence:
i. God can stretch out his finger through the hand of his anointed one(s). Exodus 8:16.
ii. God’s finger of anger can bring calamity upon man, animals and the entire land. Exodus 8:17.
iii. God’s finger of anger cannot be replicated by any act of magic or enchantment. Exodus 8:18 or curbed by them.
iv. Whenever God’s finger of anger is on display, all other powers and authorities (Pharaoh and magicians) will know that it is God in action. Exodus 8:19.
2 LESSON OUTLINES
LESSON OUTLINE 1: THE FINGER OF GOD DESCRIBED
i. Finger of God means the expression of God’s creative power and authority over his creation. Psalm 8:2-3.
ii. The finger of God was demonstrated in the writing of the Ten Commandments on the stones. Exodus 31:18.
iii. The finger of God was also demonstrated in writing the judgement of King Belshazzar on the wall for desecrating the vessels of God’s house. Dan. 5:1-5, 25-28.
iv. God pointed His finger in Egypt to prove His supremacy to Pharaoh and his magicians whose hearts were hardened.
God’s finger released lice upon the land and the magicians could not bring forth such wonders with their magic. Exodus 8:17-19.
v. God’s finger can be expressed positively or negatively. It all depends on man’s disposition to God. Those who do good will enjoy positive expression while the wicked will enjoy negative expression. Romans 9:15-18.
CLASS ACTIVITY 1:
What can people do to experience the negative finger of God?
LESSON OUTLINE 2:
ITS MERCY AND JUDGEMENT
i. God’s finger of mercy was seen in the lives of Joseph, prodigal son, the adulterous woman, etc. Gen. 39:21-23; Luke 15:18-20; John 8:2-11.
ii. God’s finger of judgement was seen at the red sea, Sodom and Gomorrah, King Herod, Ananias and Sapphira. Gen. 19:24-25; Acts 12:22-23; 5:3-5, 9-10.
iii. God’s finger of judgement and mercy can be expressed on an individual together. For instance, He removed Nebuchadnezzar and later restored him. Dan. 4:30-36. He cursed Cain to be a fugitive and vagabond and later set a mark on him not to killed by anybody. Gen. 4:9-15
iv. The sinners who fail to repent will experience the negative finger of God for judgement. Ezekiel 33:13; 18:1-13.
v. The sinners who repent will experience the positive finger of God for mercy. Ezekiel 33:11; Isaiah 55:7.
CLASS ACTIVITY 2:
What can a person do to attract the merciful finger of God?
SUMMARY:
Your disposition to God will determine the kind of finger of God that would be pointed at you.
CONCLUSION:
Having understood what the finger of God is, you need to decide whether to enjoy its mercy or face its judgement.
EVALUATION:
Explain the merciful and judgemental fingers of God.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, help me to keep your word always to experience the merciful finger of God.
ASSIGNMENT:
Mention five (5) things each which a person can do to experience the merciful or judgemental fingers of God.
