RCCG YAYA SUNDAY SCHOOL STUDENT’S MANUAL SUNDAY 18TH OF JUNE, 2023

[39]Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him.

[40]When He came to the place, He said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

[41]And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and prayed,

[42]saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

[43]Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

[44]And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

[45]When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow.

[46]Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane

INTRODUCTION: ‘Plugged-in knees’ simply refer to a life of constant prayers. A consistent and persistent prayer life was a regular practice and more of a lifestyle by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. This exercise was pressed upon us more frequently by our Saviour, thus He encouraged His disciples to be fervent, consistent, and persevere in the place of prayer (Lk.18:1). He even propounded the parable of an unjust judge, who was overcome by an unrelenting widow, to do her justice contrary to his own inclination (Lk.18:1-7).

‘Plugged-in’ is to engage wholeheartedly in a task or to be connected. The need for ceaseless prayers is therefore emphasised in the Bible (1Thess.5:17) for various reasons. Some of these are:

1. To keep the communication line between God and His children open (Ps.55:17).

2. To be filled with the power of the Holy Ghost and be bold (Acts 4:31).

3. To be guided when there is a need to take a decision (Acts 1:24) or find direction (Gen.24:12).

4. For believers in Christ to enjoy the fullness of joy promised them by God all the time (Jn.16:23-24).

5. To remain standing, though the days are evil (Eph.5:16) and full of sin, error, subtle heretical seducers, and sharp persecutions (2Tim.3:13-14; Matt.24:12-13).

6. To stay connected to the parent stock, as a branch, and be fruitful. (Jn.15:5-6).

7. To be able to withstand and confront the forces of wickedness that sought to destroy God’s children (Eph.6:12-13).

8. To cast out unclean spirits (Matt.17:19-21).

9. For restoration (Judg.16:28) and when agonised (1Sam.1:10).

10. To bring the flesh under (Matt.26:41; 2Cor.10:3-5) and always look up unto God (Ps.5:3).

CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should discuss why they find it difficult to pray persistently.

2. HOW TO PRAY REGULARLY

We pray frequently when we take prayer as a daily task (Ps.141:2). Deliberately pray in the Spirit (Eph.6:18; Jude 20). Live in the reality, that there is a need to pray without ceasing (1Thess.5:17; Mk.14:38). Put God first on any issue by contacting Him through prayers (Ps.37:3-5). Be actively involved in praying regularly for others (Col.1:9). Give oneself to prayers (Ps.109:4). Delight in God when praying (Job 22:26-27). Pray with confidence believing that God hears and answers prayers (1Jn.5:14-15). Pray everywhere – even in seemingly odd places like the kitchen, bus, street, playground, etc. (1Tim.2:8).