RCCG JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2022/2023 – AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 7TH OF MAY, 2023 – LESSON THIRTY SIX (36) – TOPIC: EXCELLENT SPIRIT
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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2022/2023
AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 7TH OF MAY, 2023
LESSON THIRTY SIX (36)
TOPIC: EXCELLENT SPIRIT
BIBLE TEXT: Daniel 6:1-28
[1]It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
[2]And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
[3]Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
[4]Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
[5]Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
[6]Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
[7]All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
[8]Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
[9]Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
[10]Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
[11]Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
[12]Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
[13]Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
[14]Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
[15]Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
[16]Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
[17]And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
[18]Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
[19]Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
[20]And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
[21]Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
[22]My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
[23]Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
[24]And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
[25]Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
[26]I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
[27]He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
[28]So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
MEMORY VERSE: Daniel 6:3 “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm”
LESSON AIM: The children will know that can only have excellent spirit in their lives if they follow Jesus.
CHILD-RELATED TRUTH: God wants you to follow Jesus to have an excellent spirit.
INTRODUCTION:
Which of you has a close friend? Who would like to share how you met your friend? What did you do that made the relationship different from others?
We get to know people better when we talk to them and listen when they talk to us. We do this when we spend time with them.
When we do these things on a regular basis we develop a close relationship. How we develop close friendships is very much the same as how we develop a close relationship with the Lord Jesus. Daniel is an incredible example of how to live a life that pleases God with an excellent spirit
PROGRESSION OF EVENT: DANIEL 6:1-28
- King Darius gave Daniel a high position as one of the new three leaders overseeing 120 provinces.
2.Daniel was different from the others because he had an extraordinary spirit and the other leaders spied on him hoping to catch him doing wrong. - Daniel did not fear these men who were trying to get him in trouble because his faith was fully in the Most High God and would not compromise his relationship with God
- The leaders tricked the king into signing a decree that for thirty days, all people would only pray to the king
- Daniel continued in his daily worship in spite of the decree
- When the men report to Darius that Daniel prayed to his God, he realized that he had been tricked.
- He tried to keep Daniel from being thrown into the lions’ den but could not change the situation because of the laws of the Medes and Persians.
- Daniel is put into the den of lions and a stone is placed in front of it, and the king sealed it with his ring along with the rings of his nobles.
- The king went home to his palace but could not sleep and went without food and without any entertainment as he waited for the sun to rise
- The king called out to Daniel and asked if his God has rescued him and he answered yes.
GOSPEL CONNECTION: King Darius loved Daniel and wanted to save him from the lions den but God loved Daniel more and rescued him from the lions. God loves you and wants to rescue you from your sins. God sent His only Son Jesus into this world to die for your sins. Jesus died a horrible death on the cross; He died, was buried and came alive again on the third day so that when you put your trust Him, He will rescue you and give you excellent spirit.
CLIMAX: The king was delighted that God rescued Daniel and had him taken out of the lions’ den.
CONCLUSION: The king punished the men who tried to have Daniel killed. He punished them and their families by having them thrown into the lions’ den.
CHALLENGE: A life like Daniel lived is possible for all who believe in the Lord Jesus. As a child who believes in Jesus, and faithfully walks with God every day, you will have the Holy Spirit’s power enabling you to have excellent character. The more you turn to God and confess your sins when you fail the more you will grow in becoming more like Jesus. An excellent spirit can only happen in your life if you are a follower of Christ. His Holy Spirit lives in your heart as a believer and when you consistently walk with Him, His Holy Spirit develops an attitude of excellence. Daily walking with Jesus means spending time talking and listening to Him (praying and reading His Word).
INVITATION: To have an excellent spirit, you need to call on Jesus as Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:13).
DAILY DEVOTION
SUNDAY ACTS 21:22-24
MONDAY ACTS 21:25-27
TUESDAY ACTS 21:28-30
WEDNESDAY ACTS 21:31-33
THURSDAY ACTS 21:34-36
FRIDAY ACTS 21:37-38
SATURDAY ACTS 21:39-40
Open Heavens 2021 Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
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