TOPIC: Hearing From God [Sunday, 24th June 2018]
OPENING PRAYER: Father, open my ears. Let me hear clearly from you. (Scroll down for SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN)
Bible Passage: I Samuel 3: 1-10 (KJV)
1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4 That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6 And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
MEMORY VERSE: “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” – 1 Samuel 3:10
LESSON INTRODUCTION:
You cannot hear, if there is no call from somewhere or someone. Also, you can only answer to a call that you hear. A call can come from any quarters. However, being able to recognise the voice of the one calling is very crucial for every child of God. May God give us hearing ears, seeing eyes and listening hearts, in Jesus’ name – Prov. 20:12; Matt. 11:15.
TEXT REVIEW: I SAMUEL 3:1-10
i. For God to call you, you should be a child of His. I Samuel 3:1a.
ii. Before God will call you, you must prepare your ear to hear and listen. I Sam. 3:4a. The Bible says, the Lord has opened my ear, he wakened my ear morning by morning”. Isaiah 50:4-5.
iii. Whenever God calls, He wants people to answer. I Sam 3:4b. “I was not rebellious” Isaiah 50:4.
iv. God values availability. “And he answered, am I”. I Sam. 3:4-5; “I was not rebellious, neither turn away back”. Isaiah 50:5c.
v. God loves those who run by the callings, “And he ran to Eli and said, here am I” I Sam. 3:5; “…. Write the vision, and make it plain that he may run that readeth it”. Habakkuk 2:2.
vi. God prefers those who keep the night watch. Samuel, though lay down, yet, he heard the Lord’s calling and responded-I Sam. 3:5-6. Night watch produced miracles from troubles. Matt. 14:25-27, Psalm 119:148.
vii. God prepares before He proclaims. He prepared Samuel by calling him three times. He did not proclaim until He was sure Samuel was fully ready. I Sam 3:8-9. viii. God speaks to holy instruments though he may be young. That means, God prefers holiness to corruption. God prefers innocence to godless adulthood. I Sam. 3:10
Lesson Outline 1: HOW DOES GOD SPEAK?
Question: How does God speak?
Answers:
i. God speaks through loud voice. Ex. 3:4
ii. God speaks through inner witness. Matt 16:17; Acts 27:9-11.
iii. God speaks through small still voice. I Kings 19:12, Job. 4:16
iv. God speaks through dreams and visions. I Kings 3:5; Matt. 1:20
v. God speaks through His words, the Holy Scriptures. 2 Tim 3:16; Heb. 10:7
Question: What are the attributes or linkages to God’s speaking?
Answers:
i. Obedience. Whenever God speaks, His children must obey. I Sam. 3:10; I Sam. 15:22
ii. Confirmation from the scripture. The word which you claimed you heard from God must have basis in the Bible/scriptures. Acts 17:11
iii. The one who heard the word must be able to discern between God speaking and the devil or the flesh. I Cor. 2:11; John 4:1.
iv. Regular growth in faith and in the Holy Spirit. This will help believers to recognise the voice of God. 2 Peters 3:18; Heb. 5:14.
Class Activity 1: What does hearing from the flesh or devil look like?
Lesson Outline 2: RESULT OF HEARING FROM GOD.
Question: What are the results of hearing from God?
Answers:
i. Divine guidance direction. Isa. 30:21; 1Kgs. 17:2-4, 8-9;18:1
ii. Prompt answers to prayers. I Kgs. 18:36-38; Acts 9:10-12,17-18.
iii. Peace and divine assurance. Acts 27:22-24; Ps. 85:8.
iv. Better relationship with God. Ex. 33:11; Isa. 6:8.
v. Boldness to exercise spiritual authority. Ex. 3:18, 5:1; Acts 16:16-18.
Class Activity 2: What advice would you give to people who yield respond to the flesh or demons?
SUMMARY:
God would be happy to speak to His children who would obey His instructions-.
CONCLUSION:
God is still in the business of speaking to His children. Ps. 62:11. We need to learn how to hear from Him and obey His voice. Jn. 10:4-5, 27.
EVALUATION:
How does God speak? What are the results of hearing from God?
CLOSING PRAYER:
Father, do not let me ever hear from the devil. Help me to obey whatever you say.
ASSIGNMENT:
Find five reasons why God abandoned Eli and spoke to Samuel instead from I Samuel 32- end.
Read previous RCCG Sunday School Teacher’s Manual Here
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?
