RCCG House Fellowship Leader’s Manual 2 February 2020, Lesson 23 – The Race Is Not To The Swift, Nor The Battle To The Strong.
TOPIC: The Race Is Not To The Swift, Nor The Battle To The Strong .
PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to depend solely on you.
BIBLE PASSAGE: Hebrews 12:1-13
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.
INTRODUCTION:
Our bible character, who was very conscious of the race he was called to run, was Paul, the apostle. Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-14 had a steadfast determination. He did not quit, he did not turn or look back, he did not give in, he did not slow down: He pressed towards the mark for the price of the high calling in Jesus Christ. The moment you became born-again, a race is st before you (Hebrews 12:1). Without being born-again, you have no destination to go with God. Religion and being religious can never give you a destination in Christ.
MEMORY VERSE:
“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11
TEXT REVIEW: Hebrews 12:1-13
i. Continuous exhortation to faith patience and godliness is needed.
ii. Set Jesus at the beginning and end of every race.
iii. Endurance is needed to finish the race.
iv. Encouraging others and be of help in any way as you run
v. A honorary position and crown await anyone that runs to the end.
LESSON OUTLINE:
It is one thing to start a race and another thing to finish it. While it is a great thing to finish the race, it is more glorious to finish it with joy.
TO FINISH IT WITH JOY, we must:
- Remember, that we are surrounded by, so great, a cloud of witnesses, who by faith have testified to the truth of Gods absolute faithfulness (Hebrews 12:1a). We are not the only one to take this journey. People have run this way before, as Hebrews 11 shows (a chapter that is often called the “hall of faith”).
- Do away with every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us. We must run with endurance and persistence the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1b). Those things that seem so satisfying in the moment can take our eyes off the prize (Romans 8:13).
- Look away from all those things that will distract us and keep your focus only on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
SUMMARY: Safety is of the Lord. So run with God in mind.
CONCLUSION:
We must run the race that is set before us depending completely on God. As we run this race and keep our eyes on Jesus, He will bring us to our long-awaited reward (Philippians 3:4).
Satan is doing everything to get us, but if we are dead to self, we will not be moved. However, if we allow self to control us, we will take offence and finish in sorrow. This will not be our portion in Jesus’ name. But, we must be ready to pay the price to finish this Christian race with joy.
ASSIGNMENT: Determine in your heart to run to the end telling it to God daily to help you.
PRAYER POINTS:
- Thank God for His grace and power upon you and your family.
- Father, help me to finish the Christian race which is set before me with joy.
- Father, please help me to do that which will earn me eternity.
- Pray for the rapid growth of RCCG physically, spiritually and numerically.
- Pray for Daddy G.O. and his family.
- Personal prayer request.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK
MONDAY: 2 Timothy 4:7 – Finishing the race.
TUESDAY: John 9:4 – It is not yet time to rest.
WEDNESDAY: Revelation 3:11 – That no man take thy crown.
THURSDAY: 1 John 3:2-3 – Live a consistent lifestyle of holiness.
FRIDAY: Romans 18:17-18 – We will reign with Christ.
SATURDAY: 1 Corinthians 4:2 – Be faithful unto God until the end.
SUNDAY: 2 Timothy 4:8 – Rewards
House Fellowship Anthem
- I love this family Of God,
So closely knitted into one,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I bless this family of God,
So greatly prospered by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I know this family of God,
So deeply rooted in the word,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - I see this family of God,
So highly lifted above all,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family - Come and join this family of God,
So highly favoured by the Lord,
They have taken me into their arms
And ‘am so glad to be
A part of this great family
SUGGESTED TIME SCHEDULE
10 minutes for Opening Prayer, Praise and Worship
10 minutes for Testimonies
15 minutes for Bible Discussion
15 minutes for General Prayers
10 minutes for Questions & Answers
5 minutes for Welcoming New Members
10 minutes for Announcements, Offering, House Fellowship Anthem & Closing Prayers.
Total – 60 Minutes (1 Hour)
