RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024 AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL SUNDAY 14TH OF APRIL, 2024 LESSON THIRTY THREE (33) TOPIC: BENEFITS OF A GRATEFUL HEART 5: SWIFT ANSWERS TO PRAYER

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RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024
AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 14TH OF APRIL, 2024
LESSON THIRTY THREE (33)
TOPIC: BENEFITS OF A GRATEFUL HEART 5: SWIFT ANSWERS TO PRAYER

BIBLE TEXT: 1 Samuel 1 – 2:1-10
1 Samuel 1:1-28
[1]Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
[2]And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
[3]And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
[4]And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
[5]But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
[6]And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
[7]And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
[8]Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
[9]So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
[10]And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
[11]And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
[12]And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
[13]Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
[14]And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
[15]And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
[16]Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
[17]Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
[18]And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
[19]And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
[20]Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
[21]And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
[22]But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
[23]And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
[24]And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
[25]And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
[26]And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
[27]For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
[28]Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

1 Samuel 2:1-10
[1]And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
[2]There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
[3]Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
[4]The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
[5]They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
[6]The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
[7]The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
[8]He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, and he hath set the world upon them.
[9]He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
[10]The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.

MEMORY VERSE: 1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us”.

LESSON AIM: The children will discover that God hears and answers prayers.

CHILD-RELATED TRUTH: God wants you to depend on Jesus for answered prayers.

INTRODUCTION
Children! Let us pray (Say a short prayer). What is the longest time you have waited for something you prayed for? What kept you from giving up when it is a long wait? Do you still look forward to receiving what you ask for? Is there something you have prayed for but have given up because you have received no answer from God in a long time? We are going to see an example of God hearing and answering prayer in our bible lesson for today.

PROGRESSION OF EVENT

1. Elkanah took his two wives and family to Shiloh every year to sacrifice and worship God.
2. His wife Peninnah had children and provoked the other wife Hannah because she did not have children because God closed her womb
3. Elkanah loved Hannah and gave her a double portion of the sacrifice but she could not eat it because she was sad about the state of her childlessness.
4. In this particular year, after the meal, Hannah went up to the Tabernacle to pray and wept in silence but bitterly and only her lips moved.
5. Prophet Eli thought that Hannah was drunk and rebuked her but she answered with respect and honesty that she was not but pouring out her heart to the Lord.
6. The Prophet told her to go in peace and that the God of Israel will grant her petition.
7. Hannah made a vow that the Lord would give her son, she would give the boy back to the Lord to serve Him all the days of his life.

GOSPEL CONNECTION: The Prophet knew that God would answer Hannah because God loved her. God loves you too and wants to answer your prayers. There is something that will make God not hear your prayers and that is sin. Sin separates us from God. In order not to be separated from Him, God sent Jesus, His only Son into the world to take the punishment you deserve.

CLIMAX: God heard and answered Hannah’s prayers because she conceived and bore a son whom she named Samuel because she asked him from the Lord.

CONCLUSION: Hannah praised the Lord for answered prayers, and when Samuel was of age, she dropped him with Prophet Eli in the Tabernacle to serve the Lord all the days of his life.

CHALLENGE: As a child who believes in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you have the privilege to pray to God the Father and believe that he hears and answers prayers. His answer may be yes, no, or wait. If we are praying according to God’s Word we can trust that He will hear and answer according to His perfect plan for our lives.

CARRY-OVER ACTIVITY: This week, pray earnestly for God to give you the boldness to tell others about Him.

INVITATION: If you put your trust in the Lord, He will save you from your sins (John 5:24).

DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SUNDAY Psalms 60:1-4
MONDAY Psalms 60:5-8
TUESDAY Psalms 60:9-12
WEDNESDAY Psalms 61:1-4
THURSDAY Psalms 61:5-8
FRIDAY Psalms 62:1-4
SATURDAY Psalms 62:5-8

Open Heavens 2024 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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