TOPIC: Overcoming Barrenness [RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 1 March 2020]

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MEMORY VERSE: “Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.” – Deuteronomy 7:14 (scroll down for RCCG Sunday School 1 March 2020 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: Deuteronomy 7:11-14 KJV (RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual 1 March 2020)

11 Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:

13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.

14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

God wants us to experience fruitfulness in every area of our lives – spiritually, physically, mentally, financially, relationally, etc. To be fruitful, we need to deal with barrenness. Barrenness means being unfruitful, unproductive, unprofitable, sterile, infertile, etc. It is the opposite or absence of fruitfulness. When you are in a state of barrenness, you have certain feelings such as shame, disgrace, forsaken, deserted or grieved in spirit ( Isaiah 54:4,6). God has good plans for us, if we will be opened to Him. It is to take us from barrenness to fruitfulness (Jeremiah 29:11).

OUTLINES

1. AREAS OF BARRENNESS
2. FROM BARRENNESS TO FRUITFULNESS

1. AREAS OF BARRENNESS

There are many areas in which one can be regarded as barren. These include:

Spiritual Barrenness: This is a situation of spiritual dryness, emptiness, disconnection from God, lack of appetite or zeal for spiritual matters or being unproductive in winning souls and making disciples. Also lack of the fruit of the spirit, etc. ( Matthew 25:18, 24-28, Luke 13:6-9, Gal. 5:22-23).

Physical Barrenness: This may be financial, material, etc. (Luke 16:20-21; 2Kings 4:1-2).

Marital Barrenness: This refers to inability to get a spouse to marry or produce children (Isaiah 34:16; Gen. 11:30; Exodus 23:26).

Mental Barrenness: This is about lacking in stimulations or idea (1Cor. 8:2; Hosea 4:6).

2. FROM BARRENNESS TO FRUITFULNESS

It is possible to move from barrenness to fruitfulness. You need to believe God and hold on to His promises (James 1:6-8; Hebrews 11:11). Prayer will break barrenness (1Samuel 1:9-11, 20). Praying in the spirit is particularly powerful because the Holy Spirit is praying through you (Romans 8:26; James 5:16b). In the state when you have every reason to cry, get depressed and slide into despondency, muster all energy within you and sing praises to God (Isaiah 54:1). You also have to learn to say the right words by aligning your utterances with God’s promises (2Corinthians 1:20; Psalm 19:14; 49:3). Sowing of seeds is another way of provoking fruitfulness (Genesis 26:1,12; 1Sam. 1:11). After you might have done all, submit yourself to God’s timing (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3; 11a) and patiently wait on God (Hebrews 10:36, Job 14:14).

CONCLUSION:
Barrenness is not in the plan and programme of God for our life. You can overcome it by the grace and mercies of God.

QUESTIONS:

1. Mention Few Common Areas Of Barrenness
2. How Can The Barren Become Fruitful?

RCCG Sunday School HYMN

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   Christ was Thy first teacher,
   The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
   Does manifest in thee.
4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   This testimony is sure,
   That God, the Father Almighty,
   Poured His blessing on Thee.
5. 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.
6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
   I rejoice to see Thee,
   Will thou pass over me today?
   Without my being blest?