SERVING HIM TRULY

John 4:24; Romans 12:11

God wants every boy and girl to serve Him. It gives God so much joy and happiness when children willingly serve Him. The purpose of God for our lives is that we should love Him, obey His commandment and serve Him faithfully. The message is in three parts.

1. CALL TO BE SAVED: John 1:1-2; 3:1-5.

The first and most important thing to do before you can serve God is to be born again. The Bible says that all have sinned. Therefore to be saved, a sinner must accept that he is bad, pray, repent and confess all his bad ways to God. He will also ask for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus. Then he must invite Jesus to come into his heart to be his Lord and Saviour. This is the beginning of the fulfilment of God’s purpose for your life. It is only after this, that such a child can serve God faithfully.

2. SERVING HIM TRULY: Matthew 4:18-22.

To serve God means to work for or give your life totally to God. It is a call to lay down your talents, knowledge, future and everything to God. This will allow Him to direct and use you for Himself. Every saved child is called to serve God by (a) Preaching the love of Jesus to sinners (b) Teaching and helping new converts to grow (c) Encouraging the weary ones, the sick and the sad (d) Living good examples as believers for others follow. Singing in the church as a chorister, an usher, cleaning the surroundings and doing other physical works. Are you a friend of Jesus? Then give yourself to the service of the Lord.

3. BENEFITS OF SERVING THE LORD: Exodus 23:25-27.

Whatever a child does for the Lord will always be rewarded (Hebrews 11:6). God will honour you. You will always be the apple of His eyes. You will enjoy His protection, provision, success, victory, healing and good health. At the end, you will live with Jesus in heaven forever.

QUESTIONS:

1. God has a purpose for every life. Yes/No.

2. The first thing to do before you can serve God is ………………………………………..

3. How can a sinner answer God’s call?

4. Mention three things that a Christian child is called to do for Jesus.

5. In what way are you going to serve the Lord?

ACTIVITY: Children are to mention one thing they will each do for the Lord in the next two weeks. They should pray and consecrate their lives to God.

WHO WILL GO FOR US?

Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah was a prophet of God. One day, God asked him the question we are considering in this study. The same question comes to every friend of Jesus today. Will you answer and do what prophet Isaiah did? The message is divided into three parts.

1. PREPARATION TO RECEIVE GOD’S CALL: Isaiah 6:8.

Isaiah prepared himself to receive God’s call. He prayed for God to make him clean. It was only after then that he was able to answer God’s call. Children who will answer God’s call must:- (a) Be born again (b) Be clean in their hearts (c) Be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit (d) Be prayerful (e) Be always willing to work for God.

2. WHAT THE CALL OF GOD MEANS:

The will of God for every child is that, he should repent and turn away from his bad ways accept Jesus into your life to be your Saviour and Lord, and be born again. Have you answered this call? God’s purpose for calling to salvation is to serve Him by telling sinners about the love of Jesus. This is the only work that Jesus wants His friends to do for Him till He comes. If you are a true friend of Jesus, are you telling sinners about Jesus? There are so many bad and naughty children around you who need the Saviour.

3. HOW TO ANSWER GOD’S CALL: Isaiah 6:8.

After prophet Isaiah had been cleansed, he received the call of God. His answer to God was, “Here am I, send me”, what a wonderful answer! God expects you to answer in the same way and obey immediately. You can answer God’s call by: (a) Doing personal evangelism every day. (b) Distributing tracts and children magazine to sinners, and writing to our church fellowship and programmes (c) Praying for your friends and family members who are not yet friends of Jesus. (d) Living in obedience to God’s word so that others can follow your good example.

There are many ways you can tell others about Jesus; only make up your mind that you will obey. As you answer God’s call, you will enjoy the blessings of God in Jesus’ Name.

QUESTIONS:

1. What is the name of the prophet whom God called in our Bible passage?

2. How can a friend of Jesus prepare to receive God’s call?

3. What is the purpose of God’s call to children?

4.  How will you answer God’s call?

ACTIVITY: Children are to sing this chorus prayerfully. “Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord”

 ow will you answer God’s call?

HH

TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Matthew 6:19-24; Colossians 3:1-4.

Treasure means valuable or important things like money, clothes, and other things that we greatly cherish. Many people love to acquire as much treasure as they can here on earth without thinking of eternity with God in heaven. Once upon a time, there was a rich man who spent all his time labouring only to get wealth and increase his business. He had no time for God and did nothing to serve Him. One day, he saw how much his business had prospered and he was so happy. He told himself that he would relax and enjoy himself. God the owner of every life decided that his life here on earth was over; he died that night. Now, he could not stay to enjoy what he had acquired here on earth. God referred to this man as a fool. Why? Because he had laid treasure for himself here on earth but was not rich toward God (Luke 12:14-21). The study is divided into three parts:

1.  COMMAND FROM THE LORD: Matthew 6:19;     Colossians 3:1-4.

     The man in our story was carried away by his treasures. He boasted to his soul that he would have a good time. He forgot that he does not own his life. That very night he died and he could not enjoy all that he had spent all his life to acquire.

     This shows how useless it is to put ones trust in earthly treasures. The things we have in this world will not last forever. They will become old and eaten up by termites and other insects. We cannot also take them with us when we leave this world. That is why Jesus seriously warned and command all His friends not to lay their treasures here on earth.

2. TREASURES IN HEAVEN: Matthew 6:20.

     What does it mean to lay up treasures in heaven? How can we lay our treasures in heaven? These are two important questions that every child must answer. Heaven is a holy place prepared for holy friends of Jesus. Jesus expects us to lay our treasures in heaven by living a holy life while we are here on earth. We are to have the fear of God, love and honour God and seek His glory more than any other thing in this world. Give your time, talent, treasure and tongue for God’s service and His glory. You should count worldly things like toys, money, food, clothes, shoes and all such things as nothing. You should always live a life that will make Jesus happy and constantly pray and watch for His coming.

     The Bible states that “the world passeth away and the lust thereof but they that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (I John 2:17). Those who love the things of this world more than the word of God are enemies of God. We are to have deep love for the things of the kingdom of God and not for the things of this world.

3.  QUALIFICATION FOR HEAVEN: Matthew 6:20-22.

     Jesus warns that, putting our love on earthly treasures can hinder us from getting to heaven. For every boy and girl to lay their treasures in heaven and be able to get there at last; a sinful child, must first repent and ask for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus. A saved child, must be holy because God is holy and heaven is holy too. As a child of God, your life must also show the fruit of the Spirit “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:22-24).

     Friends of Jesus who desire to live with God in heaven must set their love on the things of God like prayer, reading and meditating on God’s word, obeying and living by the word and sharing the love of Jesus with others. Earthly things will pass away but the things of God will last.

QUESTIONS:

1.  Treasure means __________________________________________________________

2.  Why should we not lay our treasures on earth?

3.  Where should Christians lay their treasures?

4.  Mention three things a saved child must do to show that he is laying his treasures          in heaven.

5.  State the qualification for heaven for (a) a sinner, (b) a saved child.

MEMORY VERSE: “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:20, 21).

ACTIVITY: Children should pray for grace to love God and the things of the kingdom.

JESUS OUR SUFFICIENCY AND SATISFACTION

Philippians 4:10-13.

Jesus Christ came to this world for the purpose of saving mankind from their sins including boys and girls (Matthew 1:21). When man disobeyed God in the garden of Eden, God promised that the seed of man will bruise the head of Satan because he deceived man and made him to disobey God (Genesis 3:15). This promise was fulfilled when Jesus volunteered to come into the world and paid the price for our sins with His blood, in obedience to God His Father. He came preaching the gospel of repentance from sin, teaching the word of God, healing the sick and delivering the oppressed. Jesus shed His blood and died for us all (Mark 15:17-18). He loved us and gave Himself to die for our sin. He set us free to become members of the family of God and enjoy the provisions and privileges of His Kingdom.

1.  JESUS: THE UNLIMITED SAVIOUR: Isaiah 7,16; Matthew 1:21; John 3:16-18.

     Before Jesus was born, it had been prophesied that a virgin shall bring forth a Son and His name shall be called Emmanuel, which means God with us (Isaiah 7:14). He was also called Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus’ power to save is unlimited. All power in heaven and on earth belongs to Him. Nobody can stop Him from whatever He says He will do (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus has paid the price. He finished all that was needed for our salvation (John 19:30). He is knocking at the door of the hearts of every boy and girl and if anyone opens, He will enter and have fellowship with him/her. Jesus is ready to fill your lives with His love and give you abundant life.

     Jesus Christ is the Saviour. Free and full salvation can only be found in Him. There is no other person whom God has given the power to save us from sin. (Acts 4:12). As a sinner, you must open your heart to Jesus and let Him come inside.

2. JESUS: THE GIVER OF EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING: John 17:17; Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:3

      Jesus does not only save us from our sins, He also gives us all other spiritual blessings. He sanctifies our hearts with His blood and makes us holy. He also baptizes us with the Holy Ghost power and gives other spiritual power that enables us to do great and mighty works for Him. Jesus has unlimited power. Make Him your Saviour and friend and your life will not remain the same. Jesus only is our Saviour, sanctifier and Baptizer in the Holy Ghost. When you totally surrender your life to Him, there is nothing you need that He will not supply in His sufficiency.

3.  KNOW JESUS AND BE SATISFIED: Philippians 4:12,13; Colossians 1:16; 2:9-10.

     Jesus owns and controls everything in the world. He gives us all things richly to enjoy. By Him all things were created and they exist. All our needs are provided as we ask whatever we desire from God in His Name. All that come to Him will find rest (Mark 11:28). When you give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ and abide in Him, you will have peace and satisfaction of all your needs both spiritual and physical. A life without Christ is a life full of crises and without peace.

     Jesus assured all His friends that they should not worry about their needs or be anxious for what they will eat, drink or be clothed with; for our heavenly Father knows that they need them (Matthew 6:11-12). The Lord Jesus satisfies. He is able to supply all your needs if you know Him and you are His friend. If you are still doing bad things, it shows that you are yet to know Him (I John 3:6). You must confess your sins today. Turn away from them, ask for forgiveness and cleansing in the blood of Jesus. When you believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Saviour and Lord, you will become unlimited and complete in Him. He will supply all your spiritual, physical and material needs. He will also give you sufficient grace to follow Him to the end.

QUESTIONS:

1.  Jesus came to this world to save ________________.

2.  Mention three spiritual blessings that Jesus gives?

3.  Jesus satisfies like no one else. Yes/No?

4.  Who is the giver of every spiritual blessings?

5.  What must a sinner do to be happy and truly satisfied?

MEMORY VERSE: “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21).