RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL FOR SUNDAY 10TH OF MARCH, 2024: THE EYE GATE

[33]“No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

[34]The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

[35]Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

[36]If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.” Woe to the Pharisees and Lawyers

INTRODUCTION: The eye gate, which is also referred to as the windows of/to the soul plays a strategic role in the information transmitted to the mind. The eyes dominate emotional communication because what we allow through our eye gate will eventually leach into our mind which is the centre of our thoughts, feelings, and reasoning. For any believer to stay pure and honour Christ always, the person must consciously guard what is allowed into his/her being through the eye gate (Job 31:1).

People with ‘‘Unhealthy Eyes’’ exhibit the following works of the flesh: They are full of lust of the flesh to practice all forms of ungodliness (1 John 2:16). Due to a lack of the fear of God, these eyes have been exposed to iniquity and immorality (Romans 3:18). They are full of adultery and cannot cease from sin (2 Peter 2:14). They are blinded by darkness and filled with hatred (1 John 2:11). They hide from doing good (Proverbs 28:27). They are pure in their own eyes and filled with pride (Proverbs 30:12-13). They give their eyes to excessive sleep and are lazy (Proverbs 20:13). Their eyes are closed to do perverse things (Proverbs 16:30).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The class should discuss other components of “unhealthy eyes”.

‘‘Healthy eyes’’ are consciously developed by believers in Christ Jesus, so as to guard against any form of pollution. Some of the elements of ‘‘healthy eyes’’ include:

1. Self-Control: We must develop the self-will to control what we allow to pass through our eye gate all the time (Galatians 5:22-23).The eyes must be restrained from roaming unnecessarily. This must be a personal resolve to only expose the eyes to anything that will benefit it (Job 31:1).

2. Exposure: We must consciously guard our eyes against any exposure to vile things. (Psalm 101:3).

3. Censor: There are some films we must deliberately refuse to watch and there are some books we must not feed our eyes on (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

4. Discipline/Guidance: We guide our eyes when we quickly take it off anything that can pollute our minds. This must be done on purpose to avoid any contamination (Genesis 9:22-25).

5. Conscious: As believers, we must be conscious of where we are and quickly leave any environment or item that can harm us in the long run through our eyes (2 Samuel 11:1-2).

CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The students should discuss the gains of having “healthy eyes.’

CONCLUSION: Believers who desire to honour God must scrutinize what they allow through their eye gate which ultimately is the window of the soul.

* What are the characteristics of “unhealthy eyes”?

* What can believers do to have “healthy eyes”?

ASSIGNMENT: Students should mention five (5) ways that “self-control” can help them have “healthy eyes” (2X5= 10 marks).