Material

BASIC CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. THE BIBLE - GODS WORD A. WHATS THE BIBLE ALL

ABOUT?

2. GOD A. THE TRINITY B. GOD THE FATHER C. ATTRIBUTES OF GOD 3.

GOD THE SON - JESUS A. SIN AND SALVATION B. UNDERSTANDING GODS FORGIVENESS C. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST & HOLINESS D. THE LORDS SUPPER E. BAPTISM

4.

GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT A. THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT B. HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM C. SPIRITUAL GIFTS

5.

KNOWING GOD INTIMATELY A. FAITH B. WORD OF GOD C. PRAYER D. PRAISE & WORSHIP E. QUIET TIMES

IN WORLD TODAY

&

OUR LIVES

1. THE BIBLE - GODS WORD ‘GET YOU THINKING’ QUESTIONS: 1. What do you know about the Bible? 2. Do you know a scripture from the Bible? Which one? 3. Does it mean anything to you? 4. Do you believe that the Bible has any power in it? The name ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word ‘biblia’ which translated means ‘books’. The Bible is a collection of writings which were written by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Bible is a manuel for our everyday living. Its God revelation of Himself and His will for humanity.

A. WHATS THE BIBLE ALL ABOUT? 1. It is unique and popular It is estimated that 44 million bibles are sold a year. An article was written in The Times Newspaper which this was written: ‘As usual the top seller by several miles was… the Bible. If cumulative sales of the Bible were frankly reflected in bestseller lists, it would be a rare week when anything else would achieve a look in. It is wonderful, weird, or just plain baffling in this increasingly godless age – when the range of books available grows wider with each passing year – that this one book should go on selling hand over fist, month in, month out… it is estimated that nearly 1,250,00 Bibles and testaments are sold in the UK each year.’ [Nicky Gumbel:1993] If the Bible was just another book written by writers that weren’t inspired from God, then why is it such a ‘success’? Why would people die to get it into other peoples lives and worlds were the Bible is forbidden to be read? Why don’t the sales go down? Why don’t people stop reading it? Why is it still in such high demand? 2. It is inspired by God READ: 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21 God used ordinary people to write and reveal His thoughts. He chose the writers and equipped them to write. (Jeremiah 30:1-2; Exodus 34:27; 1 Corinthians 14:37) The word ‘inspiration’ means ‘God-breathed’ meaning it contains Gods life and power. The writer is saying that scripture is God speaking. Of course he used human agents. It is 100% the work of human beings, but is also 100% inspired by God (just as Jesus was fully human and fully God). There are views that say that the Bible cannot be inspired because there are contradictions and moral or historical differences. Nicky Gumbel explains, ‘Some difficulties can be explained by the different context in which the authors were writing. It is important to remember that the Bible was written over a period of 1500 years by at least 40 authors, including kings, scholars, philosophers, fishermen, poets, statesmen, historians and doctors. They wrote different types of literature, such as history, poetry, prophecy, apocalyptic and letters. Although some contradictions can be explained by differing contexts, others are harder to resolve. This does not mean, however, that it is impossible and we should abandon our belief in the inspiration of scripture.’ Yes, this is good advice. Take the Bible and start working through it. Often the so-called contradictions people say that there are, are nor really when read in context etc. Lets not give it all up because it’s to hard to understand. Rather we need to hold onto the belief of inspiration and take the difficulties and read about and work through them. If we do, it should transform the way in which we live our lives. 3. It tells you who God is. God wants to be known for who he really is. How would you feel if everyone was more interested in creating their own concept of who they thought you are, rather than coming to you directly to get to know who you are? You want to know more about God – Read the book about Him, the Bible.

4. The Bible is about life & gives life READ: John 6:63 Justine Whang explains, ‘Like any good story, the Bible deals with the big questions and themes we face in life -- life, death, hope, disappointment, love, tragedy, evil, existence, meaning, purpose... The Bible is a relevant book to understanding life -- it offers insight into why things are the way they are, why we are the way we are, and how things could be different. It's a guide to life in this not-so-perfect world. The Bible is honest about life with all its problems and human frailties -- its contributors tell it like it was, no matter how raw and real, admitting their mistakes and weaknesses in facing life's challenges. You'll find the Bible offers practical wisdom and guidance for life -- how to live at peace with yourself, with others and with God.' 5. Its power changes our lives READ: Hebrews 4:12; Psalms 19:7 This is not just a book but it has changed people’s lives all over the world and throughout the ages. In May 1928, the Prime minister Stanley Baldwin said, ‘The bible is a high explosive. But it works in strange ways and no living man can tell or know how that book, in its journey through the world, has startled the individual soul in ten thousand different places into a new life, a new world, a new belief, a new conception, a new faith.’ Eugene Peterson, a writer who has translated the Bible, puts it this way, "When you hold a Bible in your hands, it contains our collective stories. Each of us can find little glimpses of ourselves in its pages. The people in the Bible are a whole lot like you, and a lot of them were far from perfect. We need to open our eyes and see what God would have each of us understand about ourselves." Obedience to Gods Word is a key to spiritual growth and fruitfulness. If you don’t read and hear Gods word, and you don’t respond and apply it to your life, it wont be of any value to you. 6. It is stands forever READ: 1 Peter 1:23-24 Gods word is eternal and it will never pass away (Psalm 119:89; Luke 21:33; Isaiah 30:8) Here are some practical ways to effectively read your Bible: •Begin by reading John’s gospel and after that Matthew, Mark and Luke. These books are all about Jesus. Knowing how He lived His life for God will help us live our lives for God too. •Read a Psalm (songs written mostly by King David) and a proverb (sayings mostly by King Solomon) each day. •Once you have read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, read Acts. This book is about the beginnings of the early church after Jesus died, was resurrected and went to Heaven. •Work through a book in the Bible from beginning to end. Do a little bit each day. •Use this outline (it spells SOAP) when reading a chapter from a book in the Bible. S – Scripture (write down the scripture that sticks out) O – Observation (observe what was happening around the scripture) A – Application (how can this scripture apply to me in my everyday living) P – Prayer (pray to God to help you in these things you have learnt & need to apply to your life ‘GET YOU THINKING’ QUESTIONS: 1. HOW DO I KNOW THE WILL OF GOD FOR MY LIFE? 2. WHAT MUST I DO WITH THE WORD OF GOD? JOSHUA 1:8 , DEUTERONOMY 6:6-7 3. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHANGES THAT THE BIBLE HAS MADE IN YOUR 4. HOW DOES GOD’S WORD TRANSFORM ME? ROMANS 12:2 5. HOW IS KNOWING GOD’S WORD NOT ENOUGH? JAMES 1:22

SELF-STUDY

LIFE?

2. GOD A. THE TRINITY – THE TRIUNITY OF GOD

Acts 17:11; Psalms 1:1-3 Deuteronomy 11:1820; James 1:22 Psalm 119

‘ It has been said that the doctrine of the Trinity is not taught in the Bible. It is true that it is not directly taught; but the doctrine of the Trinity is the putting together of truths that are taught. It is clearly taught in the Bible that there is but one God. It is also clearly taught that there are three divine per-sons — the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.’ R.A. Torrey God is a unity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. To us it seems like its not possible for God to be one and yet three persons at the same time, but we need firstly bear these two points in mind. (1) God is Spirit, and numbers belong primarily to the physical world. Difficulty arises when we attempt to conceive spiritual being in the forms of physical thought; (2) God is infinite and we are finite. Our attempt at a philosophical explanation of the tri-unity of God is an attempt to put the facts of infinite being into the forms of finite thought and can be at best only partially successful. This much we know: that God is essentially one and that He also is three. There is but one God: but this one God makes Himself known to man as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and they are separate personalities. John 14:16; Mark 1:10-11. There is one God eternally existing and manifesting Himself to us in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we look biblically at the Trinity we see that there is biblical support for this: 1. The Old Testament word most frequently used for God is plural in form. God uses plural pronouns in speaking of Himself Genesis 1:26; Genesis 11:7; Genesis 3:22.

SELF STUDY: Matt 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14; John 5:18; Titus 2:13

2. In the New Testament there are also scriptures showing that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one. John 14:16 Mark 1:10-11; Matthew 28:19; John 16:7; Acts 2:33. 3. The Father is God (John 6:27; 1 Peter 1:2; Romans 1:7) The Son is God (John 1:1,18; Titus 2:13; Romans 9:5) The Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3-4)

Conclusion: We can see that God is one yet three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Sometimes it’s easier to see this in nature. Example: An egg has three parts to it, the shell, the yoke and the egg white, but yet each part is still an egg. Another example: There are three forms to the H2O, liquid water, steam and ice, yet they are still all the same. If we can see this in nature how much more would it be possible for the God who made the universe to exhibit the same traits? R.A. Torrey says: ‘ God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are separate personalities, having mutual relations to one another, acting upon one another, speaking of or to one another, and they apply the pronouns of the second and third persons to one another.

B. GOD THE FATHER Through Jesus’ death on the cross, we as believers have been adopted into Gods family (Romans 8:15; 1 John 3:1). God is now our Father. The word father in Greek is pater which means protector, nourisher and upholder. What thoughts come to mind when you think about a Father? __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Read these scriptures and keep in mind that God our Father is. Sometimes we relate to God our Father as we relate to our earthly father but God our Father is often nothing like our earthly mortal fathers. Read the scriptures below. God our Father: F. Protects us (psalm 91; John 10:27-29)

G. H. I. J. K. L.

Provides for our needs (1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:8-33) Loves us as His children (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8) Disciplines and corrects us (Heb 12:5-11) Forgives us (1 Jon 1:9) Answers prayers (Matthew 7:11) Has an eternal home for believers (John 14:2-3)

C. ATTRIBUTES OF GOD HE IS: EVERLASTING

Isaiah 43:10-12

SELF –SUFFIENT

Psalm 50:9-12

ALL KNOWING

Psalm 139:1-3

ALL PRESENT

Jeremiah 32:17-19

ALL POWERFUL

Hebrews 1:1-4

UNCHANGING

Hebrews 1:10-12

HOLY

Revelation 15:4

LOVING

1 John 4:7-12

CREATOR

Genesis 1:1; Psalms 33:6; Hebrews 11:3

‘GET YOU THINKING’ QUESTIONS 1. HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED GOD IN ANY OF THESE WAYS? 2. DO YOU SEE GOD IN ANY OF THESE WAYS? WHICH ONES?

3. JESUS A. SIN AND SALVATION READ ABOUT: The Original fall of humanity in GENESIS 3:1-24 SO WHAT IS SIN?

M. Sin is disobedience to God and what He says is right, it means ‘missing the mark.’ N. Take away the ‘S’ in sin and the ‘N’ in sin, what is remaining? The ‘I’. That’s the way the Bible defines ‘SIN’. It’s a condition in which you and I believe that we are the master/king/owner of our own lives living by our own rules Even though it was Adam and Eve who sinned, we choose to sin every day (Romans 3:23) too and this breaks our relationship with God, just like in the Garden of Eden. Some people say, ‘I do good things for people, I keep the Ten Commandments’, but the truth is that there is evil in everyone of us no matter how much we try to cover it with our good deeds, its still there. Read Isaiah 64:6. FIND OUT MORE: READ these scriptures and find out more about sin: Romans 7:25 Romans 6:23 James 1:14-15 Galatians 5:16-26 1 John 1:9 1 John 3:4-6 Hebrews 4:15 Colossians 2:13-15 We need to be SAVED from our sin and restore our relationship with God for now and eternity. God cant accept sin as it is contrary to Him, but He wants to have a relationship with us. This can only happen through SALVATION in Jesus. A STORY: THE PROBLEM OF SIN: A man decided to swim across a lake. He was confident when he started that he could get to the other side but as he was swimming he got a cramp in his leg which mde it impossible to carry on swimming to get to the other side. He needs someone who knows the environment, the water. And he needs someone who can meet his needs… to be saved. If you relate this to historical story Jesus, He is the one who had to come to earth, experience the fullness of humanity, the pain, rejection, the joy and sadness, the betrayal to live in our environment. The Bible tells us in the book of Hebrews that blood had to be spilled in the form of a sacrifice for this reconciliation to take place between us and God. Jesus became that sacrifice on the cross of Calvary and we all have an opportunity reentering that relationship with God by accepting Jesus and what He did for us on the Cross WHAT IS SALVATION? Salvation is the time when we decide to invite Jesus to be the Saviour and the Lord of our lives. This can be done at anytime, not just in church. It’s a decision that you make in your heart. HOW DO I INVITE JESUS INTO MY LIFE TO SAVE ME? We cannot earn Salvation; it is a free gift from God. It’s what Christ did and not what we do that gets us into heaven (Ephesians 2:8). We first confess Christ as our Saviour and then confess our sins of the passed (Romans 10:9). SALVATION PRAYER: This would be the sort of prayer you would pray aloud if inviting Jesus into your life: “I confess with my mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in my heart that God has raised Him from the dead. It is written, (Romans 10:13) ” that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved’. Lord Jesus today I can call upon your name for salvation. Come into my heart and save me. Today I receive you as my Lord and Saviour. Lord I confess that I have been a sinner.

Please wash me in your blood and cleans me from all my sins. The sins I would like you forgive include __________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mark 11: 25-26 says that God CANNOT forgive us if we do not forgive those who have hurt us. I therefore forgive (mention their names) __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ from the bottom of my heart, all the people who have sinned against me. Now please write my name in the Lambs book of Life and fill me with your Holy Spirit. (Revelation 21:27)

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Once we have invite Jesus into our lives we need to know that we need to then turn from our own sinful ways and walk the other direction, Gods direction for our lives. READ JOHN 11:1-12 and see what an encounter with Jesus does to our lives. Repentance is a change of mind and purpose and life. READ ABOUT: READ LUKE 15:17-21 to see Gods experience of us asking for forgiveness, repenting and coming back to you.

B. UNDERSTANDING FORGIVENESS THE PROCESS OF FORGIVENESS FROM GOD 1. CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD: Ecclesiastes 7:20 (see 2. TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS: Hebrews 2:18 3. ACCEPT GODS FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING Psalm 51:3 4. THANK GOD FOR HIS FORGIVENES & FORGIVE OTHERS 5. LIVE IN TOTAL LIBERATION – Matthew 10:8 What is Forgiveness? It’s a choice Setting yourself and others free The Will of God Needs to be sincere Extension of God’s forgiveness Extension of God’s grace Privilege with positive results Imitating Christ’s example

What it is not? Not Not Not Not Not Not Not Not

a feeling denying it happened an initiative of man to be done or taken lightly a source of self – arrogance an extension of human grace a begrudging sacrifice a fleshly desire

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DON’T FORGIVE OTHERS? John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and life more abundantly”. Un-forgiveness is the number one destroyer of our faith, love, joy and peace that we are assured of in Christ. It causes bitterness, resentment and anger. It can lead to physical sickness and stress. FIND OUT MORE READ THESE SCRIPTURES: 1. Colossians 3:13 2. Mark 11:25 3. Luke 23:34

C. THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST & HOLINESS READ ABOUT: 1 Corinthians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Colossians 1:16-18; Philippians 2:9-11 The question we should constantly be asking ourselves is, “who is really in control of our lives?” If you really look at your life you notice that very few things are actually in our control. For example

we have no control over our birthdays, looks and life and death. Being a Christian simply means that we hand over control of our lives to Christ. This called “Submitting the Lordship of Christ”. These passages give us two reasons for Jesus’ Lordship

1.

Jesus has the right to be LORD of your life because of WHO He is.

2. Jesus has the right to be LORD of your life because of WHAT He has done for you. What do you need to do? By accepting Jesus as Lord of your life you accept the RESPONSIBILITY that goes with the decision. This means to live your life according the rules of the Kingdom of God. He is your Lord and you need to live your life according to His Will. He has a specific and unique purpose for you. It should be your desire and ambition to find out what that means for you and act it out. “ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”. Jeremiah 29:11-13 The Lord is clear that He loves and cares for you. If our hearts are sincere in submitting to His Lordship and seeking His Will, we are promised that we will find Him and his personalized Will and plan for our Lives. The Two decisions with two different price tags 1. Salvation – The Cost is Free This is the unearned adoption into the family of God as a child of Christ. This is when Christ becomes our Saviour 2. Discipleship – The Cost is all we are and have This is when we become His servant. Not slavery but a voluntarily based servant-hood. This is when we make Christ our LORD Remember that Jesus being Lord of our lives means that He is on the thrown of all areas of our life. Think of your life and list the areas you have not handed over to His Lordship. (Family, relationships, marriage, finances, career, physical health, mental health, your mind and thoughts, your entertainment, your possessions etc.) Lordship Prayer “Jesus I submit to you Lordship in all areas of my life. After careful reflection I realize that I have been holding on to the following areas (List them)

Please forgive me for my disobedience, ignorance or oversight. I commit myself, and all I have to a life of servanthood, as you become the rightful LORD of all in my life. Help me as I seek you and your Will for my life with all my heart.

D. THE LORDS SUPPER READ ABOUT: READ: Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 There are two ORDINANCES according the Bible. In other words, symbolic acts that were commanded by Jesus for the church to observe. These are the Lords Supper (also known as communion) and Baptism. These are also known as sacraments.

What is the Lords Supper? The Lords Supper was the last supper (and also the first communion) that Jesus shared with His Disciples before going to the cross. It was the prophetic fulfillment of the Passover lambs that were slaughtered 2000 years before in Egypt. It is written that everyone who ate of the lamb and applied the blood to the lintels and doorposts were saved from the angel of death. In the scripture passages you read, Christ symbolically demonstrates that He has become the Lamb that has been slaughtered to save us from certain death. We as Christians perform the sacrament as a symbolic representation and as act of acknowledgement of what Christ did on the Cross for us. We do it out of obedience to Christ’s command. What is represented? Table

Place of remembrance, forgiveness, cleansing, love, sharing, fellowship, and communion

Bread

Christ Body broken for us. He bore our sins and by His wounds (stripes) we are healed.

Grape juice

The Blood of Christ that was spilled for us. This blood ratifies the new covenant that we have with God. It is by this blood that we are cleansed from our sin.

When and where do we partake in the Lords Supper? We can have communion as often as believers get together. It is not a ritual so there is no prescribed time or place to have communion. We, at Life Church, have it once a month in the morning service. You can arrange to have it in your Life Group, when you get together with some fellow believers or even in private. The early church practiced as part of their “love meals’. A time when fellow believers got together and reflected on Christ’s Sacrifice of love and their devotion to the church and other believers. Who can lead in serving the Lords Supper? Any true disciple of the Lord can lead or serve in the Lords Supper. If you do not know how to, and you want to learn, ask your Pastor or Life Group leader, or simply observe how it is done in one of the Communion services. Who Can Partake? Only believers who have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. What are the consequences of partaking in an unworthy manner? 1 Corinthians 11:23-29 ________________________________________________________ Examine on your life; Write down the sin that you would need to confess to be worthy of partaking in the Lords Supper __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

E. BAPTISM READ ABOUT: READ: Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 The most Powerful way a new believer can identify with Christ is through water baptism. Water Baptism is a symbolic act of obedience in which the believers publicly display what has happened to them. They display their newfound life of faith and obedience. What does it mean?

It comes from the Greek word “Baptizo”, which means fully immersed under the water. The same word would have been used for a ship that had sunk and could not be seen anymore. As it lay under the water it was “Baptizo”, fully immersed. • • • •

Why are we to be baptized? In obedience to Christ’s command in Mark 16:16 We follow His example as He was baptized in the Jordan As we go down into the water we leave behind the old life As we come out of the water it represents the new birth Do we have to do it publicly? This is the ideal because you are proclaiming publicly what Christ has done for you. This public testimony blesses all other believers and encourages non-believers to make a decision. The Holy Spirit works in the hearts of all those who are present. It is an awesome time of supernatural intervention. Who is a candidate to be baptized? All believers in Christ. When are we to be baptized? In the Bible people were baptized immediately after conversion. The Biblical instruction is “repent and be baptized”. Who can Administer Baptism? Any believer. Ask you Pastors or leaders what this means. Why then do we practice a delayed form of baptism? In Biblical times, in both the Jew and the Gentile world, baptism was widely known and practiced. When a person came to know Christ as Lord and Savior they already understood what it meant to be baptized. We however live in a world that does not have this biblical understanding of baptism. Many do not have any understanding of baptism at all. This why we delay baptism until a biblical perspective has been taught to the candidate. How many times can I be baptized? Once and only once? Some Christians believe that after a period of backsliding they are to be rebaptized when they make a recommitment. This is not biblical at all. God honors the first baptism even when do not. Read the following passages and write down your own understandings of the requirements for baptism. FIND OUT MORE READ 1. 2. 3.

THESE SCRIPTURES Repentance – Acts 2:38 Faith – Mark 16:16; Acts 8:12.36-37; Acts 16:31-33 Confession of Faith – Romans 10:9-10

4. HOLY SPIRIT A. THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN WORLD TODAY, OUR LIVES & THE CHURCH FIND OUT MORE Acts 6:1-6; 9:17; 11:24; 13:52; Eph 5:18-20

FILLS CHRISTIANS

John 16:8-11; Acts 5:32; Heb 6:4; Tit 3:3-7

CONVICTS SINNERS

John 3:5-6; 1 Thes 1:4-6; Tit 3: 3-7

REGENERATES BELIEVERS

Psalm 51:10-12; Ezek 36: 24-30; Acts 2:38-39; 10:44-47; 19:1-7; Rom: 2:29; 1 Cor 12: 1-3

PERMANENTLY INDWELLS THE SAVED

1 Sam 19:18-24; Matt 10:19-20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12; Acts 6:8-10; Phil 1:18-20

PROTECTS THE ENDANGERED

Rom 5:1-5; 8:23; 2 Cor 1:22-23; 5:1-6; Gal 5:5; Eph 1:13-14

GIVES SECURITY

Ex 31:1-11; Acts 13:9; 1 Cor 12:4-11; 14:1-39; Heb 2:3-4

GIVES GIFTS TO EVERY BELIEVER

Acts 2:32-33; Rom 7:6; 15:13-16 + 30; 2 Cor: 3:17-18;Gal: 22-26; Col: 7-8; 2 Thes 2:13-15

TRANSFORMS THE FAITHFUL

1 Sam 16: 13-14; Psalm 106: 32-33; Isa 63:10-14; 1 Thes 4:8; 5:16-22

MAY BE RESISTED

Acts 20: 22-23

GUIDES THE BELIEVER

Rom 8:1-17; 1 Cor 6:18-20; Gal 5:16-18

MUST BE OBEYED

Rom 8:25-27; Gal 4:6; Eph 6:18; Rev 22:17

INTERCEDES IN PRAYER FOR THE BELIEVER

Acts 4:3; 9:31; 1Cor 3:16

UNDERGIRDS THE CHURCH

2 Cor 13:14; Eph 4:3-6

UNITES THE FELLOWSHIP

Acts 4:8-10

ENERGIZES FOR MISSION

Hag 2:4-5; Zech 4:6; John 15:26-27; Acts 1:8; 16:6-10 Gen 41:38-39; Dt 34:9; 2 Kings 2:1-18; Acts 13:1-4; 2 Cor 3:3-11 John 14:26; 16:12-15; Acts 15:28; Rom 9:1

GUIDES IN MISSION CALLS AND EQUIPS LEADERS TEACHES HIS PEOPLE

B. HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU AND THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? The Holy Spirit living in you: God is always knocking on our hearts, wanting to come live fully in us… Rev 3:20, but it’s a decision we have to make. When we are reborn by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are born again of the Spirit … John 3:5-8, with the Holy Spirit coming to live in us. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit as He left OTHER earth, that He would be our Counsellor and be with us forever… John 14:15-20 SCRIPTURES

TO LOOK AT: 1 John 4:13-16 John 14:17 ‘We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have 2 Tim 1:14 seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he1inJohn God.’2:27-29 Matt 3:11-12 Luke 11:13 Once the Holy Spirit is living in us there is the possibility of the believer Acts 2:1-4, 38; Acts 4:29bearing fruit. This is called the fruit of the Spirit… Gal 5:22-26. 31 We may think these fruit could never be seen in our lives but with the help of the Holy Spirit and our willingness, fruit will begin to grow and flourish Acts 8:14-17; Acts 10:44-47 Acts 19:1-8; Eph 5:18 in your life. Col 1:11

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit: This experience is available to all believers. Jesus spoke about how we must wait to be clothed with power… Luke 24:49, being baptized in the Holy Spirit… Acts 1:4-6. It is an empowering that is given to us to equip & enable us for service and ministry. It is clear from scripture that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a specific experience following salvation. a) After Phillip preached in Samaria, men and women were baptised in water. In verse15 of the same chapter, Peter and John were then sent from Jerusalem and they prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Acts 8:14-17 b) Paul came to Ephesus and met disciples of Jesus there. They were born again, but knew nothing about the Holy Spirit. Paul then baptised them in water in the name of Jesus, and laid his hands on them. The Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Acts 19:1-6 AN EXAMPLE FROM THE DISCIPLES THAT SHOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVING IN YOU AND THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: In John 14:14-20, Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit coming to the disciples as He was no longer going to be with them. This plays out in John 20:19-23 once Jesus had been crucified, then arisen and now was appearing to the disciples before ascending to heaven. Here Jesus breathes on them telling them to receive the Holy Spirit. These scriptures show us the disciples receiving the promised indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:4-6, just before Jesus is taken up into heaven, He gives the same disciples a command to wait in Jerusalem for a gift from the Father, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Once Jesus ascended into heaven the disciples went and waited in Jerusalem. In Acts 2, we see the disciples being filled and baptised in the Holy Spirit. This indicates to us that there is a 2nd experience with the Holy Spirit apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at salvation. This is called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit.

C. SPIRITUAL GIFTS ‘ Just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 12: 4-6 As Christians we make up the Body of Christ, the church. God was the one who designed the Body of Christ for a specific reason and in a specific way. God chose to make the Body of Christ an organism with Christ as the head and each member functioning with a spiritual gift. Understanding spiritual gifts and especially your own gifts is key to understanding how God wants the church to work together to reach the world with His love. What is a Spiritual Gift? ‘A spiritual gift is a special attribute given by the Holy Spirit to every member of the Body of Christ according to Gods grace for use within the context of the Body.’ - Peter C. Wagner

Who has Spiritual Gifts? Unbelievers do not have spiritual gifts, but every Christian who is committed to Jesus has at least one or possibly more gifts. 1 Pet 4:10 These gifts are not our natural talents that all humans have. It is a gift which has been freely given to you when you became a Christian.

SELF STUDY

Is it important to find your gifting? ‘ A Christian desiring to do the will of God, but who does not know how he or she was made to function in the Boy of Christ, needs to give top priority to discovering gifts.’ – Peter C. Wagner

Ephesians 4:13-16 1 Corinthians 13-14 1 Peter 4 1 Corinthians 7 Ephesians 3

What are the gifts? Throughout the Bible we many gifts being Mentioned. But majority of these are found in Romans 12 & 1 Corinthians 12. Romans 12

Prophecy

1 Corinthians 12

Explanation

Wisdom Knowledge

Wise advice, wise speech Studying, speaking with knowledge Supernatural Faith Healing illnesses, disease Doing great deeds Inspired utterance Discrimination in spiritual matters Speaking languages never learned Understanding languages never learner Ministry, serving others Teaching Encouraging others Contributing, generosity, sharing Authority, ruling Sympathy, comfort to the sorrowing, showing kindness

Faith Healing Miraculous powers Prophecy Discernment of spirits Different kinds of Tongues Interpretations of tongues

Serving Teaching Encouraging Giving Leadership Mercy

FIND OUT MORE How can I find my Spiritual Gifts? Are you a Christian? Do you believe in spiritual gifts? Are you willing to use them for Gods glory? Will you pray for Gods guidance? If you have answered YES to all these questions then take a look at the 5 Steps that Peter C. Wagner mentions in his book, ‘Your Spiritual Gifts can help the church grow.’ 5 Steps that will help you find your Spiritual Gifts Step 1: Explore the Possibilities Study the Bible to find out more about the gifts Hang around with gifted people Discuss with fellow Christians Step 2: Experiment with as many as you can Ray Stedman says, ‘You discover a spiritual gift just like you discovered your natural talents.’ You have to step out of your comfort zone to experiment. Not always the easiest but it’ll pay off. Step 3: Examine your feelings God will match the spiritual gift He gives us with our feelings in such a way that if we really have a gift it will naturally fall in with our desires & feelings. Step 4: Evaluate your effectiveness If you experiment with a certain gift and you find that what it is supposed to do doesn’t happen, you probably have discovered another one of the gifts that God has not given you. Step 5: Expect confirmation from the Body of Christ If you think that you have a siritual gift and are trying to exercise it, but no one else in your church thinks you have it – you probably don’t. It needs to be confirmed.

5. KNOWING GOD INTIMATELY READ ABOUT: READ: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 & 1 John 1:3 By now you have established some sort of relationship with God. This was initiated instantly from time of conversion. It is now time to cement this relationship and take it to the next level. Your newfound faith gives birth to a spiritual relationship with both God and the family of God. This changes your life forever. God has created us to have fellowship with Him and others. As any Christian should admit the foundational issue in our life must be an appropriate relationship with God, and knowledge of God.

Even though this may seem obvious for most Christians, careful observation tells us that the mistake often made by faithful Christians is getting the following three mixed up • Knowledge of God – Learning about God • Serving God – What I do for God • Know-ing – My personal relationship with God Yes all three are linked but are to be counted as separate. Learning about God and doing things for God cannot and must never replace the ultimate foundation, our relationship with God. Out of this deep and personal relationship all the other things will flow. As you enter into this Father / child relationship through the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit becomes your ultimate counsellor, teacher, guide and helper. There are certain Christian disciplines that will help you grow in your relationship with God and as the Holy Spirit speaks to you through these disciplines helps us know God better and know His purpose for our lives.

A. FAITH DEFINITION OF FAITH Heb 11:1… “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (NKJ) Vine’s Dictionary defines faith as follows: “A firm persuasion – a conviction based upon hearing” Faith is now, Hope is future The only requirement that God demands for all miracles to take place and people to be saved is Faith. Faith gives us the assurance that the things we need will be given to us at the right time. NATURAL FAITH VS SUPERNATURAL FAITH Natural faith: Every person, saved or unsaved, has natural faith and exercises it daily. E.g. Sitting on a chair and believing that it will hold me up is natural faith. Supernatural faith: This type of faith grasps the unrealities of hope (future) and brings it into the dimension of reality (present)… Heb 11:1. HOW TO DEVELOP FAITH

a) Faith comes through hearing the Word of God… Rom 10:8-17. Many people hear the Word, but do not combine it with faith. The heard Word is then of no benefit. Become familiar with the Word of God and the promises contained therein. b) Memorise Scripture so that you can ward off the devil’s fiery darts. Faith is an integral part of the armour of God. Eph 6:16…“Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all fiery darts of the wicked one.” (NKJ) c) Confess the Word Mark 11:23… “for assuredly I say to you, whoever SAYS to this mountain.… ….” Faith that has been developed through constant positive Word input will always say “I have it, even though I cannot see it.” If you already possess what you need, it is not necessary to have faith. Likewise, you do not need faith for that which you are able to do, but you do need faith for that which you cannot do. But Remember: This doesn’t mean that we can’t say certain things when we need prayer. d) Read books about faith. Feed your mind with positive input. e) Don’t let doubt and negativity cloud your mindset f) Don’t always think your feelings are proof of faith Faith is not based on feelings, but on the Word of God. We can only expect scriptural results if we apply Word-faith.

g) Eliminate wrong thinking, wrong believing, wrong speaking. If we think correctly (according to the Word) and believe correctly, our confession will be right. Faith contradicts difficult circumstances. Faith speaks the answer. HEAD FAITH VS HEART FAITH Head faith – seeing is believing Heart faith – believing is seeing How do we get from head faith to heart faith? Faith needs to become a lifestyle – Heb 10:38 Many read the Bible on an academic level and even agree that the Word is true, but they only agree with their minds while there is not faith in their hearts. Faith is a decision of your will. You can choose to trust or to doubt. N.B. We do not have faith in faith. Our faith is in God – our faith comes from Him. FAITH MEANS ACTION The greatest miracles take place when people act on God’s Word a)

The Walls of Jericho -

b)

The whole nation had to believe the Word and take action accordingly Joshua and his people could not sit around and wait for things to happen automatically… Joshua 6:5; 16-20. Please note: They shouted while the walls were still standing. Many people only rejoice after the walls fall – for that no faith is required The paralysed man lowered through the roof

- Jesus saw their faith by their actions…Luke 5:18-20. - When Jesus spoke to the paralysed man he responded …Luke 5:24-25 - If you believe, you will act. We receive through faith.

B. WORD OF GOD God’s Word is essential for our growth, relationship with God and living our lives. God has given it to us as our final authority and yard stick that we measure our lives by. We are to… • Take it seriously and obey its instruction • Apply it to all areas of our lives • Read all of it in time. • Use it to transform your thinking • Test all you hear and see by it’s content. How do we correctly interpret the Bible? 1. Prayer – Ask for God’s leading and not to lead by your own understanding 2. Quietness – Choose a time and place that you can focus without interference 3. Hunger – Develop a hunger for God’s Word. We do this by “feeding” on the Word regularly and therefore become “hungry” in its absence. Hunger for the word is the number one evidence that the Holy Spirit is working in you. 4. Holy Spirit – We can only interpret the Word with the illumination of the Holy Spirit. This is when we suddenly experience an in-depth understanding of the passages we read. 5. Historical Context – Always try to imagine the world around the authors and the time it was written in. Then work out what the passage would have meant at that tome. Once you understand what it meant it is easier to work out what it means today and for your life. You can get books at any Christian bookstore to help you with this. Look in the concordances or Bible Dictionarys. 6. Contextual Principle – Read the verse in context of the passage and the passage in the context of the chapter and book. Often verses are quoted out of context to back up an argument. Check these out every time. 7. Ask for Help – God has placed people around you to help you understand and grow. Use them.

8. Group Study – This is always an effective means of gaining knowledge of the Bible. Debate and discussions stimulates and reinforces our thinking and belief system. 9. The Word through your Pastor – Acts 2 reinforces the fact that we are to devote ourselves to the teaching of God’ appointed leaders of the church 10. Old And New Testament – We always read the Old Testament in the light of the New Testament and visa versa. Jesus and the New Testament authors did this. It is essential practice.

C. PRAYER READ: 2 Chronicles 7:11-16 Prayer is simply communicating with God. Prayer is as essential to spiritual growth as breathing is to physical growth. It is like breathing. • As you inhale (figuratively) – listen to God • As you exhale (figuratively) – talk to God We need to practice both listening and talking to God. When and where do I pray? Anytime Anywhere Out loud In your mind Under your breath Being “prayerful” in all we do

Why? • To Worship • For thanksgiving • When you need help • When you are lonely • When you need strength • When you are interceding for someone else • When you need guidance • When you are tempted • When you fail or sin and need to confess How? As God is our heavenly father approach Him like you would an earthly father. Talk to Him with love, respect, humility and as a best friend. He is always there and available. • • • • • •

• • • • • • •

TYPES OF PRAYER Confession – Num 21:7 Praise – 2 Cor 1:3 Thanksgiving – Mark 6:41 Petition – Mark 13:18 Intersession – John 17:1-26 Commitment – 2 Sam 5:3 Forgiveness – Matt 6:14-15

•

Confidence – Psalm 121:1-8

• • • • • • • •

MODES OF PRAYING Worship – John 4:23-24 Blessing – Heb 13:20-21 Curse – Ps 5:10 Lament – Luke 5:33-35 Oath – 1 Kings 2:23-24 Vow – Gen 28:20-21 Music – 1 Kings 3: 15-18 Tongues – Acts 10:46

TRY AND USE THE P.A.R.T. PRINCIPLE P

A

R

T

PRAISE GOD AT ALL TIMES - Psalm 34:1 “I will BLESS the Lord at all times; His praises will continually be in my mouth”. Always start off by worshipping God or who He is and not just for what He does for you. ADMIT YOUR SINS TO GOD – Psalm 66:18 If I regard my iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not Hear”. Repentance and confession is essential for our prayer life. REQUEST NEEDS TO GOD – Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him”. Even though God knows our needs He has chosen to act on us asking Him. This is us acknowledging our dependence on Him. THANK GOD FOR ALL THINGS – Ephesians 5:20 “…giving thanks always for things to God the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. God wants you to give thanks in the good times and the bad.

D. PRAISE & WORSHIP PRAISE DEFINITION OF PRAISE According to Webster’s Dictionary praise is:“The act of glorifying or extolling God.” SELF STUDY Praise means the speaking well of, extolling, or magnifying the virtues Romans 12:1-2 of God. A relationship with God cannot exist without praise. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 Praise is vocal, public and exciting. It is always accompanied Psalm 19:1 by sound. Praise occurs when we tell someone else about Revelation 12:11 God’s goodness. WHAT DO THESE SCRIPTURES TELL US ABOUT PRAISE? Psalm 8:1-2 ISAIAH 61:3 PSALM 106:47 PSALM 22:3 PSALM 100:4

WORSHIP DEFINITION OF WORSHIP “Worship” as a verb means, “to pay homage” or “respect”. There are also many synonyms that help us understand the meaning of the word. For example: adore, esteem, magnify, revere, venerate and exalt. It is always associated with an attitude of the body: Sometimes lifting of hands, sometimes bowing down, sometimes bending the knee and sometimes prostrating oneself. MAN IS MADE TO WORSHIP Man is essentially a worshipping creature. His choice is not whether he will worship but rather whom he will worship. In the Bible, God demands worship. We ultimately will end up serving whatever we worship ...Matthew 4:10. Our nature demands that we worship something. Our choice is whether it will be God or something else.

SELF STUDY WORSHIP IN THE SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH In John 4:23 it says: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;

Psalm 115 Isaiah 6:1-4 1Corinthians 14:15 1 Chronicles 6:31-32

for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” In spirit and in truth means absolute honesty and openness before God, hiding nothing. Worship is a response to a relationship with God. That relationship is very intimate and it involves fellowship. It is the outpouring of the inner thoughts to God. It is accompanied by emotional and expressive actions of the body. WORSHIP IS AN ACT OF WILL No man worships God automatically. It is an act of our will to thank God, it is an act of our will to praise. It is God’s will for us to enter His presence through the act of worship. It is only then that our relationship with God is consummated.

E. SPENDING TIME WITH GOD (QUIET TIMES)

WHATS A QUIET TIME Quiet time could refer to those precious moments after the kids are in bed, but for Christians, a quiet time is more than that. Quiet time, or devotion time, refers to our daily appointment with God, when we shut out as much outside interference as possible. During our quiet time, we may sing praise songs, pray, read Scripture or daily devotions, meditate on God's Word, or simply be still and listen. Making that appointment is one thing; keeping it is something else entirely! QUIET TIME - THE OUTER CHALLENGE Quiet time is a goal that sounds simple, but which meets with greater challenges than many physical endurance contests. We live in a world of noise. Everywhere we go, even in our own homes, there is some kind of noise to distract us, from telephones to TV to traffic. But making time for daily devotion is critical to hearing God!! QUIET TIME - THE INNER CHALLENGE Quiet time involves an inner state of being, as well as an outward condition. Have you ever noticed that when you sit down to read your Bible or pray, your mind begins to wander or you suddenly remember what you needed at the grocery store? Inner "noise" can be just as troublesome as outer noise when it comes to having quiet time with God. Writing down those thoughts and deal with them after your time with God can help. If the thoughts are linked emotionally then don’t hesitate to work through the inner noise with a counsellor or pastor. QUIET TIME - WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? God longs to spend time with us and wants to speak to us. Consider what He was willing to do for us, in order to reunite us with Him. Jesus set the example for us concerning quiet time. He took time to connect with the Father regularly, as the following Scriptures tell us, and His impact on this world was life-changing for many: "Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, 'Sit here while I go over there and pray'" (Matthew 26:36). "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed (Mark 1:35). "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed" (Luke 5:16). QUIET TIME HELPS - HOW TO FIND IT, EVEN IN A NOISY WORLD Quiet time can almost seem like a contradiction in this high volume world we live in. If you desire quiet time with God, but find it difficult to attain, try these tips: • •

•

Carve out time in your day by writing it into your calendar. Appointments and meetings not written down are often forgotten. Make a daily appointment with God. If noise is all around you, look for a place in your home, neighbourhood, or community that can easily be your place to talk with the Lord. If you can't find a quiet place, try making one of your own. It's been said that Susanna Wesley, mother of Charles and John Wesley, would simply pull her apron up over her head! That let her family know she was meeting with God and not to be disturbed. Be creative! God made you in His image, after all, and no one is more creative than God.

If a wandering mind is your hang-up, pray for discipline and then keep lists handy. Have a list of the people and things you want to pray about. Have a daily Bible reading plan printed out and easy to find. Keep a note pad nearby for those shopping list items and errands that pop to mind. Jot them down and go on with the meeting. Our God is a God of order. Give Him your wandering mind and your desire for discipline. He will help you find ways to make it work.

Finally, do you desire to hear from God? Are you passionate about wanting His will in your life, above your own? Daily quiet time prepares your heart to listen. You may "hear" Him speak to you in those quiet moments…or you may hear Him through a friend or circumstance later in the day. But because you've made time with Him a priority and have been willing to shut out the world to hear Him, He will make sure you do.