RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024 – AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL – SUNDAY 4TH OF FEBRUARY, 2024 – LESSON TWENTY THREE (23) – TOPIC: GOD THE FATHER DELIGHTS IN A GRATEFUL HEART

Click HERE for Previous RCCG Manual

RCCG LOWER JUNIOR ZEAL FOR 2023/2024
AGE 6-8 TEACHER’S MANUAL
SUNDAY 4TH OF FEBRUARY, 2024
LESSON TWENTY THREE (23)
TOPIC: GOD THE FATHER DELIGHTS IN A GRATEFUL HEART

BIBLE TEXT: 2 Chronicles 20:1-22
[1]It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
[2]Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a great multitude against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.
[3]And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
[4]And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
[5]And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court,
[6]And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
[7]Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?
[8]And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying,
[9]If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help.
[10]And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
[11]Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.
[12]O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
[13]And all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones, their wives, and their children.
[14]Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;
[15]And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
[16]To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
[17]Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
[18]And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
[19]And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high.
[20]And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
[21]And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
[22]And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.

MEMORY VERSE: Psalm 50:23 “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.”

LESSON AIM: The children will learn to develop hearts of gratitude toward God.

CHILD-RELATED TRUTH: God delights in your heart of gratitude.

INTRODUCTION: Children! Sometimes there are some situations that are very difficult that you think that good can come out of and you do not know who to turn to for help. As children of God, who do you turn to for help? (give room for children to respond). When we turn to other people or things for help without looking to God first to help us in our difficulty, we miss the opportunity to see God’s great power to use that difficult situation and turn it into a blessing.

PROGRESSION OF EVENT

1. King Jehoshaphat was facing a very difficult situation because he has been told some very serious news.
2. King Jehoshaphat was alarmed by the news so he led the people in Judah to fast and look to God.
3. King Jehoshaphat publicly prayed and called upon God for His help.
4. God heard King Jehoshaphat’s prayer and sent Jahaziel to give him His answer that they should not be afraid or discouraged because God was going to fight this battle.
5. Jehoshaphat and all of Judah responded to God’s answer by praising and worshiping Him

GOSPEL CONNECTION: God loved Jehoshaphat and answered his prayer because he put his trust in God. God loves you and wants to answer your prayers but sin separates you from Him and He cannot hear you. God made a way out for your sins to be forgiven by sending Jesus to Earth to die on the cross. He was buried but rose from the grave on the third day. If you put your trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, you can now have your sins forgiven. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

CLIMAX: King Jehoshaphat sent his army into their positions with a group of men singing praises to God.

CONCLUSION: King Jehoshaphat’s enemies turned on each other and fought themselves.

CHALLENGE: When we choose to completely trust God and follow Him, the way God rescues us may look very strange to those watching us. Those following Jesus are only responsible to trust and obey God and not being concerned about how they look to others. Your faith in the Lord will be richly rewarded and your response will be that of a grateful heart singing praises and worshiping the Lord. you may never know how many others will turn away from their sins if they see you with an attitude of a grateful heart to God.

CARRY-OVER ACTIVITY: Let others see you praising and worshiping with a heart full of joy.

INVITATION: Accept Jesus as Lord and Savior to be able to display a grateful heart to God.

DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Sunday: Psalms 40:5-8
Monday: Psalms 40:9-12
Tuesday: Psalms 40:13-17
Wednesday: Psalms 41:1-3
Thursday: Psalms 41:4-8
Friday: Psalms 41:9-13
Saturday: Psalms 42:1-4

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.

ALSO READ: CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ⊗ OPEN HEAVEN ⊗ JOEL OSTEEN DEVOTIONAL⊗ ABOVE ONLY ⊗ OUR DAILY BREAD ⊗ SEEDS OF DESTINY ⊗ JOYCE MEYER DEVOTIONAL ⊗ RHAPSODY OF REALITIES ⊗ JOHN HAGEE ⊗ MFM DAILY DEVOTIONAL ⊗UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHESTDCLM DAILY MANNA ⊗ JOHN PIPER DEVOTIONAL ⊗