RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL
STUDENT'S MANUAL
LESSON FIFTEEN (16)
DATE: 16TH OF DECEMBER, 2018
TOPIC: 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 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?
MEMORY VERSE: "Whoso findeth a wife a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD." Proverbs 18:22.
BIBLE PASSAGE : GENESIS 24:1-19
1. And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things.
2.And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
3.And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:
4.But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
5.And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?
6.And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son thither again.
7.The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.
8.And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.
9.And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him concerning that matter.
10.And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
11.And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to draw water.
12.And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.
13.Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water:
14.And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.
15.And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.
16.And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up.
17.And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher.
18.And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.
19.And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.
LESSON INTRODUCTION :
Marriage is ordained by God and it is a legal relationship between a man and a woman that should last for a life time. Gen. 2:22-23.
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 vague feelings and strange rituals.
LESSON OUTLINES
1.RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FIRST
2. HOW DO WE RECOGNISE HIS WILL IN MARRIAGE?
RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FIRST
Marriage is a creation of God, it all started from Him(Gen. 2:18).God will only guide His own(Jer. 10:23). He will not play a guessing game with His people(1 Cor. 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 119:105,130). You must not live your life in fear but in fellowship with God(2 Tim. 1:7). Develop your God's given gift and master how God deals with or guides your steps( Psalm 85:8; 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 (2 Peter 1:3-4). You must be found working in His vineyard like Adam and have a source of income( Gen. 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 His people to be joined with unbelievers in marriage (2 Cor. 6:14-17). How then do we recognise his will in marriage?
1. Through the word of God. (Prov. 3:5-7)
God has placed His words 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 your conviction, pray to have spiritual backing.( Prov. 18:22; 19:14; Gen. 2:22).
2. God will work in you to do His will. He will use circumstances and situations to perfect His will for your life.(Rom. 8:28; Phil. 2::12-13).
3. Through the counsel from elders or spiritual heads in the church. (Psalm 1:1; Prov.19:21; 11:14; 15:22; Acts 1:24; Titus 2:3-5). Do not despise Godly counsel from spiritual heads. (Prov.14:29b; Isa. 52:12).
*However, be careful of the following pitfalls*:
i. Passion for sex, peer/ parental pressure, age and poverty etc may influence your hasty decision or push you into marriage. Watch and pray to overcome temptations (Matt. 26:41)
ii. The environment you are in and the friend you keep may also influence your choice. Therefore, keep company with believers and not unbelievers (1 Cor. 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?
ASSIGNMENT : Find out ten (10) attractions that could lead a person to choose a marriage partner outside the will of God.
*For Further Reading:* 1 Cor. 7:32; Prov. 20:18; Judges 14:1-3; Psalm 25:9.