*RCCG HOUSE FELLOWSHIP MEMBERS’ MANUAL*
*DATE: SUNDAY, 25TH APRIL 2021*
*LESSON: 34*
*TOPIC: HOSPITAL AND PRISON (CORRECTIONAL CENTRE) EVANGELISM*
*HOUSE FELLOWSHIP ANTHEM:*
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Come, 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
MEMORY VERSE: “Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.” – Matthew 25:36
TEXT: MATTHEW 25:31-46
31 – When the Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory:
32 – And before Him shall be gathered all nations: and He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 – And He shall set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 – Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 – For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in:
36 – Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.
37 – Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, and fed Thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 – When saw we Thee a stranger, and took Thee in? or naked, and clothed Thee?
39 – Or when saw we Thee sick, or in prison, and came unto Thee?
40 – And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.
41 – Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 – For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me no drink:
43 – I was a stranger, and ye took Me not in: naked, and ye clothed Me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited Me not.
44 – Then shall they also answer Him, saying, Lord, when saw we Thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto Thee?
45 – Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me.
46 – And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
INTRODUCTION:
Prisons in Nigeria have now be rebranded as Correctional Centres. Hospitals and prisons are unpleasant places to be admitted into. The two places are for people that are going through storms of life, afflictions, suffering or trials occasioned by sins, miscarriage of justice or in some cases it may be a test of their faith like Job etc.. – Job 2:7, Genesis 3:11, 4:8
Many of the people in the hospitals and prisons are desperately in need of divine intervention and are therefore ready to receive anyone with solution to their problems.
Churches need to encourage / create the hospital and prison evangelism units and strengthen its housefellowship centres to reach out to such souls in our hospitals and prisons sometimes called “the affliction zone” as all these souls are important to God. Christ ministry, when He was here on earth, was heavenly places on this zone. – Luke 4:18, 1 Peter 2:21-24
WHY DO WE EVANGELISE THE AFFLICTED PEOPLE?
1.- Sin can cause a long term internal suffering or curse. – Genesis 4:6-7, Romans 8:18-21, hence they need salvation.
2.- To encourage the afflicted to trust God through suffering. – Job 16:16, Hebrews 3:17-19
3.- Sometimes the suffering or affliction can be honour in disguise. – Acts 16:28-30
4.- To preach to true believers that suffering for Christ’s sake is a privileg. – Philippians 1:29, 1 Peter 2:21-24
5.- To offer helping hands and bear their burden. – Matthew 25:40
CONCLUSION: Current research and studies show that more and more people are getting into affliction zones, mainly because of increase in incidence of diseases and injustices in many countries / goverments. But this gives us an opportunity to reach out to such souls for salvation, because in their affliction they are waiting for solution and would readily accept any divine intervention. Our housefellowship centers and churches should begin to set aside days for hospital and prison evangelism.
PRAYER POINTS:
1. Father, thank You for the salvation of my soul.
2. Father, have mercy on the sick and those in captivity all over the world.
3. Father, revive the hospital and prison evangelism units in our churches and housefellowship centres.
4. Father, reward Daddy G.O.’s passion for the souls in hospitals and prisons.
5. Individual prayer.
GOLDEN DIET FOR THE WEEK (print or write it out so that you can participate daily):
MONDAY:
God is a specialist in caring for the hurt and afflicted. – 2 Kings 4:32-37
TUESDAY:
Jesus teaches, preaches and cares for others. – Luke 10:29-37
WEDNESDAY:
Learn and follow Jesus’ examples. – John 11:32-44
THURSDAY:
Have you encouraged someone in a difficult situation lately? – Romans 1:6-9, 1 Thessalonians 5:11
FRIDAY:
Go out to the affliction zone, God may be giving you a soul to be registered in heaven. – Philippians 3:7-11
SATURDAY:
Suffering or afflicted for Christ’s sake is a privileg. – Philippians 1:29
SUNDAY:
Join the hospital and prison evangelism today. – John 16:33.