RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 26 June 2022 – Lesson 43 – TOPIC: Processing Restitution
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TOPIC: Processing Restitution (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 26 June 2022)
MEMORY VERSE: “If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.” – Ecclesiastes 10:10 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Genesis 20:1-18 (KJV) (RCCG Sunday School Student Manual 26 June 2022)
1 And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.
2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.
3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.
4 But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?
5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were sore afraid.
9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.
10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?
11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.
12 And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother.
14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife.
15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.
16 And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.
17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.
18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.
Also Read:
RCCG Sunday School Teacher Manual 26 June 2022: Processing Restitution
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Sometimes, moving forward may be difficult until we have made the past right. This is important for those who realise that their sin has wounded others and are as genuinely sorry as they are eager to obey and please God.
LESSON OUTLINES:
1. CAUTION AGAINST RUSHING INTO RESTITUTION
2. HOW TO PROCESS RESTITUTION
1. CAUTION AGAINST RUSHING INTO RESTITUTION
It is good to sincerely decide to make right the wrongs of the past. However, sometimes in our rush to obediently cooperate with God, or to selfishly get out from under a load of guilt and regret, we rush headlong into the act of restitution and end up making a bigger mess instead of cleaning things up (Prov. 26:12; 29:20).
Many stories of restitution often end in great sadness instead of reconciliation. Hastily plunging into restitution can easily make new wounds and frequently they are bigger than what we are trying to correct.
2. HOW TO PROCESS RESTITUTION
When we finally make the decision to make amends for a wrong we have done, there are a few wise steps to consider so that our attempt to make things right does not make them worse instead.
- Counsel: It is best to seek advice before proceeding with restitution, so that an advisor can guide us through the correction. There may be legalities that need to be considered and sometimes restitution does not need to be made (Prov.11:14; 19:20).
- Scope: The general rule is that restitution can be as broad as the offence. A private offence is settled in private and a public one needs to be settled in public e.g. social media (Lk.19:8; Acts 16:37). Outside of getting some counsel, those who are not part of the problem or solution should not be involved in the process. If a thing is between you and God, keep it there except maybe with a trusted partner (1Jn.1:9; James 5:16). If the thing that needs to be made right includes a legality, a Christian legal expert may need to be involved (Lk.12:58; 1Cor.6:1).
Sometimes, when civil laws have been broken, it requires a more severe punishment in the form of corrective measures or even imprisonment. This ensures the payment has been sufficient, especially when what was taken or damaged cannot be replaced because no financial/material price is sufficient.
Note that peculiar cases should be handled with the help of a matured and trusted Christian counsellor/Pastor. - Wait: Restitution is often best made after time is given a chance to work a deeper healing, allowing your heart to soften. Patience and self-control are two of the fruit of the spirit (Gal.5:22-23) and when dealing with a long standing hurt, it is usually best to pray our heart into a better state before proceeding with the restitution (James 1:4).
- Substitution: If it is not possible to make restitution to the offended person, you find a relative or give it to the Lord. Counsel will help you decide what is appropriate.
- Restitution not reconciliation: Occasionally, reconciliation is not the goal. The relationship may never go back to where it was before the disagreement or wound. We cannot control how people respond and we must not express disapproval if our efforts are rejected. Reconciliation is certainly desirable in most cases, but there are some situations where, even though we have apologised, it would be unhealthy or unwise for us, and maybe for them, to resurrect the previous relationship (Gen.33:12-17).
CONCLUSION: Restitution gives peace of mind to those who will honestly do it.
QUESTIONS:
- What are the cautions against rushing into restitution?
- How can you process restitution?
FURTHER READING:
Monday: James 1:4 (KJV)
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Tuesday: Luke 12:58 (KJV)
58 When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
Wednesday: 1 Corinthians 6:1 (KJV)
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
Thursday: Genesis 33:12-17 (KJV)
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. 16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Friday: Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Saturday: 1 John 1:9 (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Sunday: James 5:16 (KJV)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five (5) things you should not do when restituting.
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
- 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. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee. - 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. - O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?
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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