RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 24 July 2022, Lesson 47

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL 24 July 2022, Lesson 47 – THE SPOTLESS BRIDE

RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL
LESSON: FORTY-SEVEN
DATE: SUNDAY 24TH JULY 2022

TOPIC: THE SPOTLESS BRIDE

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 friend friendship suits me well,
Both young and 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 be 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?

MEMORY VERSE: “That he might present it it himself a glorious church, not having spot, or winkle,or such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish”. –Ephesians 5:27

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ephesians 5:17-30

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

INTRODUCTION
The church, that is the congregation of all born again believers, is referred to as the bride if Jesus Christ in Ephesians 5:25-27. Almost invariably, when a man chooses a bride,he chooses someone who is closest to him in manners, attributes, aspirations, ways of doing things, and the like, because only birds of the same feathers flock together (Amos 3:3). The Lord Jesus Christ is holy, spotless and without blemish; hence his bride must be without spot or wrinkle too.

LESSON OUTLINES

THE ESSENCE AND PROCESS OF BEING SPOTLESS
AREAS OF SPOTLESSNESS

THE ESSENCE AND PROCESS OF BEING SPOTLESS

Also Read: Open Heaven 23 July 2022 Daily Devotional By Pastor E. A. Adeboye – SEEING GOD FACE TO FACE

It is a reasonable question if a Christian asks, ‘why must I be spotless?’ Or why must I be pure in all things that there cannot be found in me a single spot, fault or blemish? Here are just few of the reasons. First, a Christian is a child of God (John 1:12), and the child must be like his father. In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ said that every child of God must be as perfect as our father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Secondly, the Christian is part of the bride of Christ. From which it follows that the Christian is part and parcel of the holy, spotless, Christ (Ephesians 5:29-30). Since Christ is spotted holy, it follows that no part of him can be less holy than himself. Thirdly, the wedding between Christ and his bride is going to take place in heaven. And nothing unholy shall be allowed into heaven (Isaiah 35:8). Therefore, if you wish to be part of the bride at the wedding of the lamb, you must be without spot or wrinkle (Eph. 5:27).
The step toward a life of spotless holiness begin with the new birth in Christ. (2Cor. 5:17). This is then followed by purging yourself of all sinful habits and excesses (Job 11:14-15; 2Tim. 2:21).After which you must steer clear of the wordly situation that can stain you or get you thinking along wrong tracks (James 1:27; 1John 2:15-17). Then of course, you must live daily for God, taking one day at a time and living it as if it will be the last (Romans 12:1-2; 2Cor. 13:5). Since all determinations are useless without the help of God, you most constantly call on Jesus for help (John 15:5; Phil. 4:13).

AREAS OF SPOTLESSNESS

The next reasonable question is ‘in what area should the bride of Christ be spotless?’ The answer, of course, is ‘in all things’. However, we will specifically look at three areas: in words, in thoughts and in deeds.

Spotless in words: Christians are expected to ‘bridle their tongues’ by putting a check or carefully selecting their words in order to avoid offences (James 3:2; Col. 4:6). In order to be spotless in word, a Christian must abstain from gossiping, backbiting, lying, rumour-mongering and other speech that defiles (1Peter 4:15; Rev. 21:27;; Mark 7:20).
Spotless in thoughts: Before someone can be spotless in words, he has to be spotless in thoughts (Ps. 19:14). This is because whatever comes out of our mouth is an overflow of what is in your heart (Matthew 12:34-35; Proverbs 23:7). Consequently, we are advised to watch very closely what we think about and meditate upon. In fact, there is a list of things that must occupy the thoughts of a Christian. These are the things that are true, just; honest, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8).
Spotless In deed: We must not only be spotless in words and thoughts but also in deeds. In fact, our deed are to be as pure as light. We are to shine at home, in the office, market-place and everywhere so that the world will know who is really our Father (Matt. 5:14-16). True holiness cannot be hidden; it will always shine forth.

CONCLUSION
It is not enough for the Christian to be holy. They must be spotlessly so. Anyone who hopes to be part of the bride of Christ must stay spotless.

QUESTION

Why should a Christian be spotless?
In what area should a Christian be spotless?

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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