Shepherds' Handbook Final

Shepherd’s Handbook Generations 5    

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:2-4

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FOREWORD Dear Shepherds, Firstly I would like to thank the people who had contributed to this handbook. The contents of this book is adapted from many other books, and compiled by Matthew Long, Nam Le, and myself. We hope that this will be a useful resource for you to build up the foundations of the people that God has placed under your care. Before you begin reading the book, and using it for bible study, there are certain things that you need to take note of. You need to first understand that this book was created primarily as a resource for you to base your bible studies on, and not as a book that you use directly for bible study (reading off the book). Therefore, as responsible shepherds and teacher of the Word, you must prepare your bible study lessons beforehand by reading through what you are teaching. I would also like to share with you the Navigators’ 3 Ps guide. Personal (where you catch up and warm up to your sheep), Progress (measuring the progress of your sheep), Principle (teaching the word of God to them). The first should take, 10 mins, followed by another 10 mins, and lastly 40 mins of teaching. To end off, thank you for joining me and many others in impacting lives. The effort and time you choose to invest in the people that God has placed under your care are very appreciated. Continue to change lives and live in God’s grace! Onward Christian Soldiers!

Yours truly, Juliana Tan

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CONTENT PAGE 1. PRAYER...page 04 2. BIBLE - THE WORD OF GOD...page 08 3. EVANGELISM…page 15 4. CELL GROUP…page 18 5. WATER BAPTISM…page 22 6. HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM…page 26 7. PRAISE AND WORSHIP…page 30 8. THANKSGIVING…page 35 9. TITHING AND GIVING…page 42 10. FASTING…page 45

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PRAYER -TALKING WITH GOD

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veryone who yearns to live in victory needs to learn to depend on God through daily prayer. Prayer is the opportunity God has given us to talk to Him – the greatest of all beings, the all-powerful One, for whom nothing is impossible. A consistent prayer life gives us the power to overcome all things. Prayer is dynamite. Tremendous things can come into the lives of those who pray daily. That is why we should make it a lifestyle. It should be something that forms part of our way of living, a habit just like eating, sleeping or cleaning your teeth. Jesus made prayer habitual. He would find a place where He could be alone with the Father. Mark 1:35 says: “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed into a solitary place and there He prayed.” THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER As a new believer, it is vital that you spend time speaking to God and coming to Him in prayer. Prayer is the way you will come to know God and understand the things He wants you to do. In Genesis 1:26-27, we see that the reason God created man was for fellowship; He wanted to communicate with one in His own image. So as you pray, you are actually fulfilling the very desire of God! As believers in Christ, we should follow in the footsteps of our Teacher. This means setting aside time to be alone with God, preferably in the morning. We can then hear His directions; receive His protection and support in the different situations that we will face throughout the rest of the day. To pray effectively, find the most convenient time for you, regardless of whether it is during the day or at night. Pray by yourself, so that you can have intimacy with God, freely pouring out your heart without any inhibitions.

The Lord teaches us how we are to pray in Matthew 6:6. The advantage of praying in private is that since no one else is listening, we can tell God everything we feel, want, or are worried about. We can go to Him with our faults and virtues because He knows us for who we are. He knows our thoughts and intentions even before we tell Him. God enjoys listening to us and longs to fellowship with us. His desires are to help and direct us through prayer and His Word. 4

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Have a certain time and place for a ‘daily appointment’ with God to develop your prayer habit. If for some reason you do not have your devotions, don’t fall into legalism or guilt. Rather, learn your lesson and try even harder to meet with the Lord next time. He never misses an appointment, and without a doubt He will be waiting for you to give you His love, blessing and to take away your burdens. In Matthew 11:28 God expresses His desire to help us:

“Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” God knows your situation and as Isaiah 63:9 says, “In all their affliction He was afflicted.” He identifies Himself with your pain, which is why He says to us, “Come with all that you have, family problems, emotional needs, come with your studies, or with your work, and I will give you rest.” Prayer is pouring out your heart, which implies more than mechanically repeating phrases while your mind dwells on other things. Praying is talking with understanding, conscious that we are talking with an intelligent being. Even though we do not see Him, His presence is with every person who decides to look for Him with their whole heart. The Lord says:

“…And the one that comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37) If we look for Him, He will be there and will receive us, not ignore us. That is the reason why we should not pray lip-service prayers, but rather heart-prayers - prayers that we can remember so that we recognize the answer when it comes. HOW TO BE EFFECTIVE IN PRAYER a. Start your prayer time realizing you are in the presence of God. Hebrews 11:6 says: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

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b. Then confess to God whatever sins you have committed with your words, thoughts, or actions, so that your prayers will not be hindered. Psalm 66:18 affirms: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” c. Spend time presenting your specific needs. Jesus included these in the Lord’s Prayer when He said:

“Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) Therefore, take advantage of the opportunity to make your requests in the name of Jesus. John 16:24 teaches us: “Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” d. Determine to give God the best of your time, not just what is left over. Be fully convinced that you are making the best investment of your life. Nothing opens up bigger opportunities than your communion with God. And what’s more, it will also guard you from temptation, Matthew 26:41 warns:

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” As you become more familiar with talking to God, you will be able to include other people in your prayers, which can accomplish great things on their behalf. Let God lead you to pray for certain answers, and believe that you will see them. End your devotional time by giving thanks to God for having received His blessings and for all He is doing in your life. You need to realize that God is at your side throughout the day, and you can talk to Him every time you need to. He delights in you doing so. You will feel that He is a part of your life and it will be a way to show Him your love.

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e. Before going to sleep, examine your life, ask the Lord what things (thoughts, attitudes, words, or actions) have displeased Him. Then, confess and abandon those things. The Word says in Proverbs 28:13:

“He who covers his sins will not prosper. But whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” Then, ask the Holy Spirit for strength to continue and the ability to live according to His will. End by thanking Him for the victory.

Memory verses: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) (1 John 5:14-15) QUESTIONS

1. When do you take time to meet with God in prayer? How much time are you spending with Him in prayer? 2. What has God been saying to you this past week? 3. Why is it better to talk to God by yourself than with people present?

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THE HOLY BIBLE

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he bible is basically the word of God. The root word in Greek for bible is “biblia” which means books. The Bible contains 66 books written by 40 authors covering a period of approximately 1600 years. It is not merely a compilation of books; it is the Word of God spoken and revealed to man and recorded by man. The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself to man. It is in this book that we see God communicating His heart, His plan, His will and ultimately Himself to us. Today, the Bible is still the all-time best-selling book in history. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” “All Scripture”(every single word) is God-breathed or filled with the breath of God. Our Bible is the product of the divine breath or Spirit of God. The same breath that breathed life into the nostrils of Adam, also brought life into the men who penned the sacred scriptures. 2 Peter 1:20-21 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation [origin], for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” It was given by divine inspiration that is the Holy Spirit directing men to pen these books, enabling them to receive and give forth divine truth without error. The Holy Spirit so guided and controlled the men who wrote the OT & NT in the original languages that what they wrote was exactly what God wanted to communicate.

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IMPORTANCE OF READING THE WORD 1. GUIDED BY TRUTH “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105 Deception is the first wave of assault on Christians in these last days (Matthew 24:5). Unless we know the word of God well and are diligent to study the word, we will be tossed about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Deception will be so perverse that it will cause many to lose their salvation. The Apostle Peter spoke at length about false teachers that bring destructive doctrines into the church and destroy the faith of many (2 Peter 2). Thus, we need to fill our minds with the Word of God so that we have an inner-lamp that will show us to the right path. Whenever the Lord speaks and gives divine guidance, it is always in accordance to His Word in its context. Yes, it is so important because the devil can also quote scriptures as seen in Matthew 4. It is also of noteworthy that in the multitude of counselors, there is safety (Proverbs 24:6). It is good that whenever you receive a word either in our time of prayer or from another believer, to do a check with your shepherd. 2. MOVING ON WITH CHRIST 1. Faith is released Colossians 2:6, “As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” We cannot move on and please God if we do not have faith (Hebrews 11:6). It is not about being all hyped up emotionally. Faith is not an imagination of the human mind; it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith is a heavenly substance that can come only by the hearing of the word of God (Romans 10:17). Through our reading of the word, the Lord will speak to us many truths that will release faith into our hearts (e.g. for healing) and encourage us to remain steadfast in His will (Colossians 1:21-23)

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2. Spiritual Food Just as in the natural we need to eat daily to keep ourselves physically alive and strong, likewise we need the Word of God as our spiritual food to sustain us, to bring joy into our hearts (Jeremiah 15:16), to keep us alive and enable us to continue to grow healthily. Indeed, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:4). IN the journey of Israel, the children of Israel were given their portion of food (manna) on a daily basis. Likewise, we need to come to the Lord daily to get our daily portion of bread (John 6:31-35) 3. Growth and Maturity 1 John 2:13-14, “I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.” There are many sets of 3s in the Bible, depicting the different levels of maturity and positions in Christ. - Little children, young men and father (1 John 2:12-14); - Called, chosen and faithful (Revelation 17:14); - Outer court, Holy place and the Holy of Holies (Exodus 26:33) Just as it is the desire of every parent to see their children grow up, so likewise it brings joy to our Heavenly Father when we move onto maturity. Salvation is not an end to itself; it is the beginning of our journey in knowing the Lord. For full spiritual development, a Christian must study and apply the teachings of the entire Bible. Those who “delight in the law of the LORD and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruits in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:2-3. The Word of God is suited for every stage of spiritual development. 4. Transformed into the image of Christ It is the will of God that we be transformed into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:30), through the renewing of our minds as we behold Him who is the Word of God. 10

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The Word of God renews our minds by the washing of the Word (Ephesians 5:26). Without our minds being renewed and our whole being filled with the Word of God, we will never be able to move on to maturity (Romans 12:2) 5. Revelation of God’s ways The Lord reveals Himself and His purposes through His Word (Proverbs 29:18). The journey of the children of Israel is a pattern of the journey of a Christian. After the Lord brought them out of Egypt across the Red Sea signify the waters of baptism, He brought them to Mt Sinai which signifies the baptism of the Holy Spirit, into the wilderness, and the Lord’s plan was for them to enter in and possess the Promised Land, where Zion is (ref. Pst Bailey’s “The Journey of Israel”) God has given us the Holy Spirit to be our teacher (John 14:26). As you read the Word, ask the Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear (Ephesians 1:17-19; Psalm 25:4) to understand the ways of God. 6. Growing in intimacy The reading, studying and meditation of God’s words should be something we do in our daily walk with the Lord. It is part of the abiding process spoken of by the Lord in John 15:1-8. As we read and study His word, the Lord will begin to speak to us. 3. OVERCOMING SIN AND THE ENEMY The revelation of sin comes through the Word of God (Romans 7:7). By the goodness of God (Romans 2:4), the conviction of the Holy Spirit comes to us when there is the revelation sin, to lead us into repentance – a turning away and a forsaking of sin (1 John 1:7). The Word of God is a powerful weapon that Jesus always used to overcome the enemy, as illustrated in Matthew 4. The Word of God is also known as the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). 4. TO BECOME AN APPROVED WORKMAN OF GOD Knowing the word of God and being able to correctly divide the word is the key indication of a workman approved by the Lord (2 Timothy 2:15). Also, the servant 11

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of the Lord must be able to teach, and hence must know the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:24) 5. FRUITFULNESS Matthew 13:19,23, “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart…But he who received seed on good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” The seed in the Parable of the Sower represents the Word of God while the good ground signifies a heart that is tender and open to receive the Word of God. And when this person hears, understands and applies the word, he will be fruitful as we have read in Psalm 1:2-3. Every seed that falls into the ground needs to be watered and fertilized for it to grow and become fruitful. So it is when we hear and receive the Word, we need to meditate on it and apply it into our lives. 6. WITNESS AND EVANGELISM Failure in evangelism is often due to failure of confidence in the Scriptures. We need to be aware of the need to fulfill the commands of the Lord through scriptures to be involved in witnessing. The Holy Spirit will bring to your remembrance Scriptures that point to Jesus and put words into your mouth. But it helps by memorizing some Scriptures that will be helpful in leading a person to Christ (1 Peter 3:15).

WAYS TO KNOWING THE WORD 1. HEARING THE WORD Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Examples are when one listens to sermons or audio bible or reading of the Scriptures aloud, when someone shares the gospel, etc. 2. READ We should read the Word of God daily (Deuteronomy 17:19), the importance of which is brought up in the earlier section: “Importance of Reading the Word”. When we read, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding (John 12

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14:26, 15:26, 16:13-14). It is helpful to follow a Bible reading plan, especially when first starting. 3. STUDY Have an aim or goal for your study. Write down anything that God reveals to you (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15). God wants to build your knowledge of Him, but you should be able to remember and share with others whatever God reveals to you. Studying the Bible is an exciting learning journey and it is useful to keep a personal journal. 4. MEMORIZE & MEDITATE Psalm 1:2, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruits in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” Memorizing (Deuteronomy 6:5-9) and meditating the word enables us to be strengthened. It also helps us to enter into that place of abiding in His Word (John 8:31) that we may overcome sin and the enemy. Remember, the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit which is the weapon of warfare (Ephesians 6:17) as exemplified by Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). It is estimated that when you have used a new word 35 times, it becomes part of your vocabulary. Thus meditating is to recall to our minds a passage that we have read or a word that the Lord has given to us. When we constantly meditate on God’s word, it will keep us from evil throughout the day, from the time we are awake till we go to sleep (Proverbs 6:20-23). Adapted from “Psalm 1” by Dr. Brian Bailey. 5. APPLY It is not those who hear the Word that will be justified, but those who after hearing the Word obey and walk in it (James 1:22; 1 John 1:6-7). These are those whose foundations are deep and strong, and thus are able to withstand the trials of life (Luke 6:47-49). The Word of God must become our daily delight and feast (Jeremiah 15:16). It is only through a continual process of reading, studying and meditating on the

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Word of God that it can become a part of our lives, and by exercise. QUESTIONS 1. Why is it important to read my bible? 2. How do I read my bible?

Adapted from “A New Beginning, 103 Christian Lifestyle” by Cornerstone  Community Church 

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CELL GROUP AND CHURCH THE IMPORTANCE OF FELLOWSHIP

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hen we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we become a part of the family of God. It is His desire to offer us a refuge where He provides protection, care and strength to live righteously with correction, direction, and

discipline.

The family of God gives us new brothers and sisters, people who share the same goal as us – to follow Christ and be faithful to God. They will protect us from faltering or turning back. We will fall back if we try living our Christianity independently and alone. It is wrong to believe we can survive as sons of God if we only listen to Christian radio or watch Christian videos on TV. Just as a piece of coal needs to contact the other coals in the fire to keep burning, we need contact with other Christians to stay on the path that we have chosen. One, coal, as burning hot as it may be, can’t remain on fire if it stands alone. It must have heat and protection from the other coals in the fire. Left alone it would become cold. No believer, as firm as his decision for Christ may be, can be victorious without the help and protection of other believers. We need one another to remain faithful to God in the midst of trials, difficulties and opposition. When we meet at church we fulfill the Lord’s injunction “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” (Hebrews 10:25). When we congregate with other Christians in prayer and worship our lives burn with greater intensity, until we become a flaming torch in Christ’s hands. CELL GROUPS IN SCRIPTURE Throughout the New Testament there are references to the “church that meets in your home.” Paul told the church at Rome, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house…” (Romans 16:5). Again in Colossians 4:15, “Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house.” The “church” that met in these homes was the basic unit of Christianity in the earliest years of the Church of Jesus Christ. There were certain dynamics present that can only 15

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be found in small, close-knit groups. More importantly, the major part of the New Testament was written to these small groups that were called the “church that meets in your home.” Today we call these small groups “cell groups.” PRACTICAL MINISTRY

BENEFITS

OF

CELL

GROUP

a) Each person can participate. (1 Corinthians 14:26) How would a congregation of, let’s say, 150 members come together and everyone has a psalm, a doctrine, and a revelation? It is virtually impossible to fulfill this scripture in a large group setting. However, it is accomplished very easily in a cell group setting in someone’s home. When in a small group setting, people are encouraged to minister to each other and exercise the spiritual gift(s) that God has given them. b) Each person can be discipled. (Matthew 28:19) The word teach actually means disciple. No matter how effective a Sunday School program or preaching service we have at church gatherings, without one-on-one discipleship, few people are ever really discipled. Anyone who has been discipled knows the time and commitment demanded by this kind of relationship. The Paul and Timothy relationship that we read about in Scripture is a rarity in today’s church. Cell groups offer a time of weekly contact with new believers and give encouragement for ongoing personal development.

c) Each member can be trained. Another word that defines the art of discipleship is “mentoring”. More than ever before, we need the older, wiser members of our churches to mentor and train the younger members. Relationships that go far beyond normal scheduled church services are needed to accomplish this, and cell groups provide that opportunity. Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and other Bible figures spent their lifetime in ministry, mentoring and raising up other leaders. d) Each member can belong to a community It is easy to be shaped by the environment around us. If we place ourselves in the right, positive, Christian environment, we will grow to be strong Christians. Each of us needs to be a part of a positive community where strong relationships can be developed. The strongest relationships are built in times of need and crisis. In the cell group settings, each person’s needs are constantly being addressed, and in times of crisis,

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sickness, or tragedy, the cell group is the “minister on call.” Cell group members do the caring, the praying, the visitation, and the “need-meeting” for every member of their cell group. Friendships are more meaningful when people have an opportunity to get together often and meet each other’s needs. The community of believers who love one another is a great testimony to the lost world of the love of Christ. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35). There is no greater place to express that love than in the community of the cell group. In these communities we have the opportunity to glean truth about the Christian way of life from others. In the company of other Christians, we learn how to “grow up” in Christ under the positive influence of mature believers. REACHING YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS The cell group is one of the most effective ways to evangelise family members and friends. It is a fact that most of the people who attend our churches today are there because a relative or friend spent time witnessing to them and loving them to Christ. Cell groups are a natural place to invite loved ones and acquaintances who may be skeptical of attending a local church during regular service times.

Memory verse: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) QUESTIONS

1. What are three benefits that you personally experienced in your cell group? 2. What new relationships have developed since attending cell group? 3. Which of your family members or friends have you invited to your cell group?

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EVANGELISM – - SHARING YOUR FAITH -

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ow that you have been born again and tasted the goodness of God’s grace, you will want to tell others about your experiences. Here are a few questions you may have about sharing Christ with others.

WHY SHOULD I TELL OTHERS? Let’s say that your friend just won a million dollars and you are the one who has been elected to tell him or her. How would you do it? Would you walk up sheepishly and kind of mumble in a low voice? Would you carry a sorrowful expression on your face, look at your friend in the eye and say, “I’m really sorry, but you won a million dollars”? I don’t think so! You would probably come running up to your friend with a huge smile on your face, jumping up and down, hugging everyone on sight, and screaming, “YOU JUST WON A MILLION DOLLARS! WE’RE RICH – I MEAN YOU’RE RICH! YOU”RE A MILLIONAIRE! ISN’T THAT GREAT NEWS?” Obviously, we all enjoy giving good news – it’s a part of our nature. It’s nice to tell somebody something that you know will benefit them. As a believer, you have news to share with others that is much, much better than a million dollars; you have the words of eternal life! You have experienced the saving power of Jesus Christ; you know the way to heaven and the way to be made clean from sin; you have the greatest news of all time. The word Gospel means good news. Whenever we receive good news, we naturally want to tell others so they can share in the excitement and rejoice with us. The good news of Jesus is something you will want to share with people around you so they can experience God’s gift of salvation, too! Sharing our faith is not just a requirement, it is an enormous blessing! What could be better than telling others about our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ? So do not hold back the Good News that you know, but share it with your friends, your family, your classmates, and your co-workers. Let them know that the same God who saved you is the same God who wants to save them. As you faithfully tell others about Jesus, you will see people receive Him as Saviour, and you will have an eternal reward. Share your faith! WHAT DO I SAY?

Share what your life was like before you received Jesus.

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Tell of an inward problem you had, such as rejection, loneliness, guilt, bitterness, fear, lust, insecurity, lack of purpose or addictions. Describe how it affected you outwardly. Share that Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Tell of the change of heart resulting in your conversion. When did it happen? Where did it happen? How did it happen? Share that Romans 10:910 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

Invite the person to share the same life-changing experience. Explain that it will work for him as well, because Romans 10:11 says, “…whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” You can use the following illustration to explain the Gospel to someone else and invite them to accept Christ as Saviour. THE BRIDGE TO GOD

God wants to have a relationship with us. But we have sinned against God, and sin prevents us from having a relationship with Him. We are separated from God because there is a “sin gap” between us. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God)…”

Man

GOD SIN

Most of us are aware of our sin and try to do good things to make us worthy of God’s acceptance. We try to make up for our sin with good works, hoping that it will bridge the gap between us and God. But the separation is too great. No matter how hard we try, we can never do enough to bridge the gap. 19

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Man

good works

GOD

Religion SIN God did what we could not do. He bridged the gap and made a way for us to have a relationship with Him. God accomplished this by sending His Son, Jesus, to die on a cross and pay our sin debt. Through the shed blood of Christ, we now can have access to God. Romans 6:23 goes on to say, “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

GOD

SIN Simply knowing these truths is not enough. We must act on what we know by admitting we are sinners, repenting (turning from our sinful lifestyle), and receiving God’s gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When we do this, we can cross over the bridge and enter into a relationship with God. Ask the person this question: Are you willing to put your trust in what Jesus has done as your “bridge” to God?

“

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YES” ANSWER

Lead them in a prayer consisting of: Acknowledge Believe Confess II.

NO” ANSWER

You could ask them, “what would hinder you from crossing over to the other side?” Don’t always expect to see immediate results from your efforts. For many people, evangelism is a process rather than an event. 1 Corinthians 3:6 says, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Paul is explaining that it often takes time to get results when we share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sometimes we are planting seeds in people’s lives. Sometimes we may water what someone else has planted. But the result is always left up to the individual and God. We cannot make results happen. We are only responsible to share the Good News of the Gospel. This sometimes involves building relationships, helping other people in their need, and just showing people you care.

Memory verse: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age. Amen”(Matthew 28:19-20) QUESTIONS

1. Do you feel confident that you can lead someone to Christ? 2. Which approach would you use to lead someone to Christ? 3. List three people you think would be the most open to receive Christ. 4. Write a 60-second testimony of your conversion to Christ.

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WATER BAPTISMA STEP OF OBEDIENCE

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s a new Christian, it is very important to take steps that help you to identify with Christ in every area of your life. One of the first steps of obedience a new Christian should take is to be water baptized. This is the most powerful way in the New Testament that new believers identified with Christ. Baptism is an act of worship through which believers express their faith and commitment. It symbolizes a washing away of former sins and identification with the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” (Matthew 28:19) WHAT IS BAPTISM? The word baptism means the process of immersion, submersion, or to be fully wet. The original Greek word expresses this. The word “baptize” is formed by the insertion of the syllable “iz” into root word “BAPTO”, making “BAPTIZO”. “Bapto” means “to submerge something in a liquid and to remove it again”. When the Bible speaks of baptism, it always refers to submerging. The Ethiopian eunuch was immersed by Philip. “…And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.” (Acts 8:38) SIGNIFICANCE OF WATER BAPTISM God used John the Baptist to preach the baptism of repentance. He prepared the way for the Lord. He called the people to repent for their sins that they might be forgiven. They were then baptized to seal their decision, and as a public testimony of their confession and change of lifestyle. WHY DO WE NEED TO GET WATER BAPTIZED ? 1. Jesus commanded it. (Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:16-20) 2. Jesus Himself was baptized. (Matthew 3:13-17)

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3. The apostles commanded it. (Acts 2:37-47) 4. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments. (John 14:15) 5. We validate our faith by baptism. (John 2:17-18) The believer outwardly affirms the inward commitment he has made to Jesus Christ as the Lord of his life. “When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water…” (Matthew 3:16) All Christians need to be water baptized. Jesus stressed its importance when He said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16)

WHAT DOES WATER ACCOMPLISH IN US?

BAPTISM

1. We put on Christ Here is the thought of being clothed in Christ. The result is that we start to feel Him all around us and over us. This is very much needed to keep us from falling back to the flesh. (Galatians 3:27, Romans 13:14) 2. Newness in the power of God’s glory It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead that is now appropriated to us, that we are able to live a crucified life. This happens when we are identified with His resurrection. (Romans 1:4, Romans 6:6, Romans 8:10) 3. Circumcision of heart This is the process where our flesh is cut away with its carnal desires, as we would allow Him to deal with our lives and as we would diligently seek Him. This is the dying process. (Romans 2:25-29, Deuteronomy 30:6) WHO CAN BE BAPTIZED? “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.” (Mark 1:4-5) John the Baptist teaches us that we must prepare ourselves for water baptism, and approach it with a genuine heart of repentance. 23

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Your heart must be sincere, unlike the Pharisees and Sadducees that came to be baptized in Matthew 3:7-8. John challenged them to produce fruit in keeping with true repentance. God does not want us to be baptized for traditional or religious motives. Baptism is a living testimony of the change in our lives, that we may live to please Him. In every scripture below, it will be seen that people heard, believed and received the Word preached and then were baptized. Repentance and faith always preceded baptism. Therefore it is a “Believer’s Baptism”. Baptism itself cannot save anyone. It is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s Saviour that brings an individual to salvation. Therefore, baptism is only effectual for those who have met these requirements. Those receiving baptism must have already laid the first two foundation stones in the Christian experience. WHEN SHOULD YOU BE WATER BAPTIZED? After you repent - Turn away from sin and follow Jesus. After you believe - Completely trust in Christ’s death and resurrection for your salvation. If you’ve accepted Christ and have truly turned toward Him, now is the time follow Him in water baptism. Talk to the person who brought you to Generations and ask him to help you sign up to be water baptized. A REFERENCE POINT You can look back to your water baptism as the moment when you publicly declared your faith in Christ. This reference point will always remind you that you began your Christian life with a clear conscience before God. “There is now an antitype which now saves usbaptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 3:21).

Memory verse: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)

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QUESTIONS

1. What does water baptism mean to you? 2. Why is water baptism a benefit to you and when should you be baptized?

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THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

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he purpose of this chapter is to help give you a clear and thorough understanding of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Carefully read the Scripture references that teach about this gift.

WHAT IS THE “BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT”? The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of Jesus’ words concerning the “promise of the Father” (Luke 24:49). It is a baptism with power! Jesus is the “Baptiser” with the Holy Spirit, Who manifests the Kingdom of God in power and through practical demonstration in our lives. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to witness, resist sin and the devil, and to be all that God intended for us to be in His Kingdom. The phrase “baptism with the Holy Spirit,” means to be immersed in a relationship with the Holy Spirit. It is a distinct and separate act of God from being “baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit” (Galatians 3:27; 1 Corinthians 12:13). This baptism refers to our “born again” experience into the Body of Christ, His church. The Holy Spirit baptizes us into Christ, but Jesus “baptizes” us in the Holy Spirit. When this occurs, we are totally filled and surrounded by God.

WHAT IS SPEAKING IN TONGUES? In Acts 2:1-4, on the Day of Pentecost, the followers of Christ were baptized with the Holy Spirit, fulfilling Jesus’ command to wait in Jerusalem for this experience (Acts 1:4). When they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak in tongues. These tongues were not a language that they had learned, but a Spirit-inspired language that came directly from God Himself. This is a language from God, to God (1 Corinthians 12:2, 4; Jude 20). Speaking in tongues strengthens the believer and is the initial physical evidence that someone has received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. We shall review in brief the instances in the book of Acts of those who received the baptism in the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures indicate rather strongly that the initial evidence of the baptism in the Spirit is the speaking in other tongues.

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120 believers in the upper room. (Acts 1:14; Acts 2:4) Simon “saw” the people received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:17-18) Example of Paul. (Acts 9:17; 1 Corinthians 14:18) Example of Cornelius’ household. (Acts 10:46) Example of the Ephesians. (Acts 19:6) HOW DOES THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT STRENGTHEN THE BELIEVER? 1. Authority to witness and minister to others. (Acts 1:8) 2. Inspiration for true worship. (John 4:24; Philippians 3:3) 3. Power in prayer. (Romans 8:26-27; Jude 20) 4. Understanding of the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 2:12; John 16:13) 5. It makes Jesus more real. (John 15:26; John 16:13-14; Acts 19:17) 6. It introduces the gifts of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4; Acts 10:46; Acts 19:6) 7. It causes growth in the fruit of the Spirit. (Acts 15:8-9; Galatians 5:22-23; Romans 5:5) 8. It is God’s guarantee that all He has promised is really ours. (2 Peter 1:4; John 17:3; 2 Corinthians 5:5) 9. It brings a new awareness that we are fighting in a spiritual conflict. (John 4:4; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 1:19-22; Ephesians 6:11-18; Colossians 2:10; Psalm 22:28; Philippians 2:10-11; James 4:7)

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HERE ARE SOME STEPS T O HELP YOU RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 1. Remove all barriers. Sin, unforgiveness, doctrinal hang-ups, pride, or any unclean thing in you may block you from receiving. Why not pray right now and confess your sin, and renounce anything from your past that would hinder you from receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit? 2. Request. Jesus said that all we had to do is ask and we would receive. Tell the Lord that you want to be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. 3. Receive. Reach out by faith and take hold of this gift that God freely gives to all those who believe in Him. Don’t analyse it with your mind, but allow your spirit to receive this gift. Worship the Lord and keep your mind on Him. 4. Release. By faith, stop praying in English (or your native language) and begin speaking in tongues. You may at first have only a few words, but go ahead and speak those in faith, and other will follow. As you yield your tongue to the Spirit, you will begin to feel a wonderful release of worship. Peace and joy, two fruits of the Spirit, will flood you with a new sense of the presence of God. You will never be the same! A FINAL WORD Don’t allow your enemy, the devil, to confuse you later about your new experience in the Lord. He will certainly come to plant doubt in your mind and may tell you that it wasn’t God, but only you, praying in tongues. Remember, he is the father of lies. Instead, grow in what God has given you and allow your prayer language to develop as you use it in your daily prayer life. We recommend that you pray at least 15 minutes a day in tongues during your prayer time. Be sure to share this new experience with your cell leader. He or she will celebrate with you in this new experience and continue to encourage you in your walk with God.

Memory verse: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

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QUESTIONS

1. Describe how the power of the Holy Spirit has affected your life. 2. Have you had any doubts or confusion about this experience?

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PRAISE AND WORSHIP

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ou’re standing inside the church sanctuary, and you look around. You notice the instruments are all beginning to play. Everyone begins to clap their hands and sing with the music. Perhaps some people in the congregation are jumping up and down, or spinning in circles. Later in the music service, it seems that everyone is raising their hands and some are bowing down on their knees. Have you witnessed anything like this before? If you have, you have probably been in a service where people were praising and worshipping the Lord. As a new believer, you may not have understood what this was all about, but soon you will! Praise, worship and thanksgiving is a wonderful part of being a Christian, and although it often takes place at the beginning of our church services it is not limited to that time. We can praise and worship the Lord wherever we are, and you will find that it is a joy to do so. WHAT IS PRAISE? Praise is an act where we rejoice in the Lord and proclaim His goodness and love towards us. Some of the definitions given for “praise” in the dictionary highlight its simplicity: “to commend; to applaud; to express approval or admiration of; to extol in words or in song; to magnify; to glorify.” Notice the bi-directional focus of praise inherent in these definitions: we praise God directly by extolling him or expressing our admiration to Him; we praise God indirectly by commending Him or magnifying Him to others. Praise can be given directly to God, or it can be expressed to others in reference to God. Psalm 117:1 commands, “Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!” When you think of what God has done for you, it should not be hard to find reason to praise Him. As a believer, He has saved you from your sins and has put you on the path to eternal life! Jesus came to earth and died for you and I. That’s enough to praise Him forever! One distinctive feature of praise concerns its extroverted nature. It is characterized by celebration and exhilaration and is expressed through singing, shouting, speaking forth, playing of musical instruments, dancing, and other external forms. Praising the Lord can be done in any situation. It is not just something to do when everything is going well. The Apostle Paul was placed into prison because of his faith many times, but yet even while in this place he constantly rejoiced in the Lord. (Philippians 4:4).

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WHY SHOULD WE PRAISE THE LORD? 1. We praise Him because we are commanded in His word to do so. (Psalm 150:1) God has commanded praise for our own good. Not until we praise Him are we able to come into proper relationship with Him. Without a thankful and praising heart, we will never grow in the grace of Christ Jesus. 2. God is enthroned in our praise. (Psalm 22:3) He loves our praise! He is so pleased with our praise that He literally surrounds Himself with and bathes in our praise. We praise Him because He loves it! 3. There is power in praise. When we stop trying to fight our battles and simply begin to praise the God who has said He will fight for us, God is free to release His power and provision on our behalf. 4. It is a good thing to praise the Lord (Psalm 92:1). It is a pleasant thing for the upright to praise Him (Psalm 135:3). It is fitting for His holy ones to bless Him. 5. He is worthy of our praise. (Psalm 48:1) (Revelations 4:11) 6. We were created to praise Him (1 Peter 2:9). We have been chosen of God for the express purpose of declaring His praises! WHEN SHOULD WE PRAISE? A. We praise when we feel like it. “…is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.” (James 5:13) B. We praise when we do not feel like it. (Psalm 42:5) Praise is not contingent upon our feelings – it is based upon God’s greatness, and that never changes! Notice how David spoke to his own soul: “Praise the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise His holy name!” (Psalm 103:1). Sometimes we are “down in the dumps” or dry spiritually, and it is at those times that we must serve notice to our soul and say, “Soul! Bless the Lord!”.

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“But how can I praise,” you may ask, “when I feel completely deflated emotionally?” We can find an answer in the Psalms, for they were written by men who, like us, experienced deep emotional valleys. One psalmist described his feelings in this way: “My soul is cast down within me.” So he asked himself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Then he proceeded to get tough on himself: “Hope in God.” His next statement so beautifully shows the discipline of praise: “For I shall yet praise Him” (Psalm 42:5-6). Praise must function according to our will and not our emotions. Praise is a discipline that requires our initiative regardless of our emotions. We praise God enthusiastically whether we feel like it or whether we don’t! C. We praise God early in the morning. “Awake, my glory! Awake lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn.”(Psalm 57:8) D. We praise God late at night. “At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, because of Your righteous judgments.” (Psalm 119:62) E. We praise God at all times. “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1) No matter what time of the day it is, and regardless of where we find ourselves, it is always fitting to bless the Lord. WHAT IS WORSHIP? Worship is the act when we are communing with the very heart of God and are in His holy presence. It is the moment when we can establish a direct connection with God, when we can be able to adore Him for who He is. The ability to magnify God with our whole being – body, soul and spirit. Worship can also mean giving ourselves and surrender our lives unto Him. Reflected in “…that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (worship)” (Romans 12:1). The fundamental purpose for why we are created, to worship Him Often during times of worship we raise our hands or bow our knees to God, but the essence of worship is not in these outward acts but rather is in the fact that our heart is connected to the heart of God. The more we worship the Lord, the more like Him that we can become.

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WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH In John 4:21-24, Jesus gave us the greatest revelation of worship, and to understand the heart of worship we must carefully consider His words.

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Jesus was showing that worship would no longer be bound to a certain time or place (neither in Jerusalem, where the Jews worshiped, nor Mount Gerizim, where the Samaritans worshiped); rather, it was going to be a function of the spirit of man reaching out to the Spirit of God. Jesus knew the time was shortly to come when Mosaic sacrifices at Jerusalem would be outdated, and worship would occur within the New Testament temple – man himself (1 Corinthians 3:16). Worship can now happen any time, wherever a Spirit-inhabited person may be. Jesus also indicated that as a function of the spirit, true worship is more than just an outward ritual. Worship is our spirit corresponding with God’s Spirit. Under the old covenant, worship was a series of outward ceremonies that did not necessarily involve the heart response of the participants. Through Isaiah, God lamented, “‘Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honour Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men.’” (Isaiah 29:13). In saying we should worship in truth, Jesus intends that we worship in accordance with the truth of God’s word, for “‘Your word is truth’” (John 17:17). It is not enough to worship in sincerity; we must also worship in truth. There are millions on the earth today who worship in sincerity, but since they do not worship according to the revealed truth of God in His word, He does not hear them. We can know we are a worshiper of the true God by getting to know Him through the Scriptures. Worship flows out of relationship, and our relationship with God is strengthened by learning of Him through His word. Jesus described the Samaritans as worshiping “‘what you do not know’” (John 4:22). It has been said that our worship is

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no higher than our knowledge of God. Obviously, then, we must grow in our knowledge of God, and this comes through diligent study of the Bible. WORSHIP IS …EXPECTED BOTH PUBLICLY AND PRIVATELY That believers are expected to participate regularly in corporate worship is given in the command of Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” The first exercise of the discipline of worship is to develop the habit of faithfully assembling with other believers in meetings where the primary purpose is to worship God. Christianity is not an isolationist religion. The New Testament describes the Church with metaphors like “body” (1 Corinthians 12:12), “building” (Ephesians 2:21), and “household” (Ephesians 2:19), each of which speaks of the relationship between individual units and a larger whole. On the other hand, no matter how fulfilling or sufficient our regular public worship celebration seems, there are experiences with God that He gives only in our private worship. Jesus participated faithfully in the public worship of God at the synagogue each Sabbath and at the stated assemblies of Israel at the Temple in Jerusalem. In addition to that, however, Luke observed that “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” (Luke 5:16). We must not forget, however, that God expects us to worship privately so He can bless us. We minimize our joy when we neglect the daily worship of God in private. It is one of the great blessings of life that God does not limit our access to Him and enjoyment of His presence to one day per week! Daily strength, guidance, and encouragement are available to us. An invitation to grow in intimacy with Jesus Christ Himself is open every day.

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THANKSGIVING

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e has taken you out of the kingdom of darkness and planted you into the kingdom of light. He has given you eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross where once you were condemned to eternal judgment. Once you were slave to sin and under its vile control, now you are free in Christ. There is truly much to give thanks for and this is the starting point of your Christian lives.

“Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14) “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endures forever” (1 Chronicles 16:34) 1. DEFINITION OF THANKSGIVING Thanks or thanksgiving is taken from the word “yadah” in the Old Testament. This means “to give thanks, laud, praise.” This is a very important word in the language of worship and is found nearly 120 times in the Old Testament (some 70 times in the book of Psalms). This word is at times translated as “confess”, “acknowledge” or “praise”. This is indicative of the outward expression of giving of thanks to God. In the New Testament, the words are derived from the word “eucharistia”. This means “to give freely”, “gratitude”, “thankfulness”, “giving of thanks, thanksgiving”. 2. WHAT DOES GIVING THANKS MEANS TO US? The fundamental essence of thanksgiving is this: regardless of favourable, unfavourable circumstances or complete emotional turmoil, you bow your heart and life before God Almighty, acknowledging His supreme Lordship. God delights in the lifestyle of worshippers and the quality of the believer’s life displayed by praise and thanksgiving pleases the heart of the heavenly Father.

A. Enter His Gates with Thanksgiving “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4)

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You were created for God’s pleasure, to live for Him, not for yourself. And while the Lord desires that you enjoy His gifts and His blessings, He desires for you to know He created you first for His pleasure. Psalm 100:4 gives us the picture of the entrance of the temple (signifying entering into God’s presence) through the means of thanksgiving and praise. The people of God would come before the Lord with singing, dancing, rejoicing, and giving thanks and praise to the Lord. Likewise, even as you enter into the salvation made available through Jesus Christ, come with thanksgiving and praise (2 Thessalonians 2:13) “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15)

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves” (Psalm 69:30-31) B. Acknowledge the Sovereignty of God Praise and thanksgiving is an expression of love to God. When you give thanks, you are essentially acknowledging that God is the One working the good in a particular situation. You give thanks for the work of the cross because Jesus went to the cross and redeemed you. Your redemption does not come by your own works, but through the obedience of your Saviour (Ephesians 2:8). It is for you to realize that everything you have comes from God, even the very breath that sustains life. He is the source of everything and He works out everything for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

“Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Colossians 1:12)

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“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17) “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1) “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15) C. Giving Thanks in all Circumstances When facing turbulent circumstances, you have a tendency to complain now and postpone your thanksgiving for later. The bottom line on having a heart of thanksgiving and praise is confessing God’s Lordship when everything that surrounds your life scream, “God is unjust! He has forsaken you!” At such a time when you feel overwhelmed and don’t know why God has allowed a situation to come into your life, you must reaffirm your basic faith in God. “ Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15) You can trust God in every circumstance because God is good and faithful God. He knows the end of the matter from the beginning and He is able to turn the circumstances around for your good.

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:2-3) “Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have pressed for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:19) “In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 56:11) This is the deep cry within you- that expression from the depths of your soul that affirms your trust in God regardless of the changing circumstances of life. Your confidence in the Lord which flows out from a heart of trust and 37

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thanksgiving, moves you to a posture of worship, the deep within us calling out to the deep in God (Psalm 42:7).

D. Path to Victory An attitude of thanksgiving ensures victory when you are faced with difficulties and trials. It is important that you are able to acknowledge that difficulties and times of testings are allowed to come to you by God. It is through these circumstances that God would teach you His ways, change your character and take you to new heights with Him. In giving thanks for adverse situations, we acknowledge His sovereignty and His good will for your life. “I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD within me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34: 1-4) “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2 Corinthians 2:14) “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4) E. The Cleansing Power of Thanksgiving The Ten Lepers “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten 38

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cleansed? But where are the nine? “Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19) In this story, the ten lepers were cleansed from their leprosy, which signifies sin. However, the one who came back and gave thanks was made whole in addition to being cleansed. Giving thanks will establish the work God is doing in your life and bring wholeness to you. 3. A NEW LIFESTYLE-THANKSGIVING With this new life in Christ, God gives you a new lifestyle to go with it. This new lifestyle is neither burdensome nor full of laws. Instead it is one of forsaking your old sinful ways and entering into a life of rejoicing, sweet melody and thanksgiving. Even in heaven, there will be an abundance of praise and thanksgiving. All the lifetimes ever lived will never be enough for you to express your thanks to Him for all that He has done.

“All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honour and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Revelations 7:11-12) “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance” (Psalm 89:15) A life of thanksgiving and praised must be learned. It is not a talent with which one is born, nor is it a special gifting for a select few. Thanksgiving is the art of expressing oneself to God, and we must learn that expression once we become a believer in Christ and continue to open our hearts as channels to the Holy Spirit. Like the art of prayer, a lifestyle of praise and thanksgiving is learnt by doing it daily, from the moment you are awake and you give thanks to the Lord for His goodness till the end of the day as you rest in the night. Responding positively with thanksgiving rather than bemoaning the trying circumstances will cause us to grow with a sweet and thankful spirit. 39

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Giving thanks even in times of prosperity, keeps us humble before Him.

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20) “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24) “The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me—a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm 42:8) “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting; which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:1-4)

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:18-21) “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks be made for all men” (1 Timothy 2:1)

“I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD” (Psalm 116:17) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6)

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“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6-7). “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving” (Colossians 4:2) Memory verse: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Adapted from Exploring Worship, by Bob Sorge, Oasis House. 

QUESTIONS

1. How do we praise God? 2. Why should we worship God? 3. What does it mean to worship in spirit and in truth? 4. Why do we need to develop a lifestyle of thanksgiving?

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GIVING AND TITHING

G

iving is a vital part of our relationship to God. It is an important way to show Him our love, respect and gratitude, and to acknowledge that all we have comes from Him.

We are told that when we give to others, we give to God: “He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.” (Proverbs 19:17) Remember- God owns everything that we have, and we are only His steward of what is in our possession. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1) “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The Power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted head over all. Both riches and honour come from You And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.” (1 Chronicles 29:11-12) HOW CAN WE GIVE? You can first of all learn how to tithe (to be elaborated below). However, giving involves more than money; you should give God your time, talents, and treasures. Each of us has something to offer to someone in need. We can give our money and our time to charity, be a friend to someone who is sick or lonely, give unselfishly our time to our friends or parents. You can be generous with your praises, dancing and singing to the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:19, 23; Psalm 135:3).

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It is not necessary to be a wealthy person or a full time volunteer to make a meaningful contribution. Rather, we should give generously of whatever wealth and abilities we have, no matter how little we think it is worth. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GIVE? It would seem that the more we give to others, the poorer we become, but in fact, the opposite is true. It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) Service to others brings meaning and fulfillment to our lives in a way that wealth, power, possessions and self-centered pursuits can never match. As Jesus said: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you”. (Luke 6:38).

TITHING

WHAT IS TITHING? Tithing is the practice of giving a tenth of one’s income or property as an offering to God. Historical Background to Tithing The tithing system began during the time of Moses. (Leviticus 27:30 (Deuteronomy 14: 22-23) WHY TITHE? a) Tithing symbolizes our gratitude to God Besides being commanded to tithe in the Bible, we tithe because when we give God a tenth of what we have, we are confessing to God that He is actually the owner of everything we have. When we tithe, we demonstrate in God that He is in control of our finances. When we tithe of our firstfruits (and not leftovers), we show our gratitude to God for giving for our financial blessings.

b) Tithing strengthens our devotion to God The discipline of tithing eliminates unwise spending habits. It also expands the amount of good we can do for the Kingdom. When we tithe, we can be assured that the money will be used for His Kingdom purposes, such as to further missions in the nations, to fund church planting, and to feed the poor. Tithing also helps us to stay on track spiritually.

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As Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. Each time we tithe or give, it will serve to remind us that our treasures are in heaven, and not try to store up earthly treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy. (Matthew 6:19-21)

c) It is a way to honour God “Honour the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10) God is our role model in giving At the end of the day, God has given us so much, and what we can give is only a minute proportion of what He has given us. He loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, that we would inherit eternal life (John 3:16). God’s motivation for giving us was love. Ours must be, too. He gave us only precious begotten Son. He gave His very best! We must also give Him our very best. Memory verse: “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) QUESTIONS 1. How much of our finances should we give to God as our tithe? 2. What should our attitude be like when we give? 3. What does tithing symbolizes? 4. How much of your finances do you give to God regularly?

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FASTING

F

asting is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines of all the Christian disciplines. When fasting and prayer are coupled with a broken, repentant and contrite heart, God will hear from heaven and heal our lives, our families, our church, our communities, our school, our nations and the nations beyond.

WHAT IS FASTING? First of all, let's look at the root word which is used for "fasting." The Greek word for fasting is nesteia -- a compound of ne (a negative prefix) and esthio which means "to eat." So the basic root meaning of the word simply means "not to eat." But what does this "not eating" food mean? Why did people in the Bible "not eat?" We find a clue in Leviticus 16:29. This verse says that fasting is synonymous with "afflicting one's soul." We gain some insight here about how the Hebrews viewed fasting. Fasting is more than just "afflicting one's body". It is "afflicting one's soul." In other words, fasting in the Hebrew mind is something my soul participates in. Fasting is denying self. It is denying not only my own body, but also my own wants. It is a way of saying that food and my desires are secondary to something else. Fasting is "afflicting one's soul" -- an act of self-denial. But it is not only an act of selfdenial.

Biblical fasting, is, "not eating" with spiritual communication in mind . How do we know this? Because Biblical fasting always occurs together with prayer in the Bible - ALWAYS. You can pray without fasting, but you cannot fast (Biblically speaking) without praying. Biblical fasting is deliberately abstaining from food for a spiritual reason: communication and relationship with the Father SOME POINTS ON WHAT FASTING IS ALL ABOUT:… 1. It is the crucifying of our appetite to seek God We stop eating so as to die to our own fleshly desires for food and instead use the time for eating to pray and seek His face.

2. Humbling of ourselves that we may find favor (Isaiah 66, Psalm 35)

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3. Breaking of strongholds (2 Corinthian 10:4-5) Fasting is one of the weapons which we fight with which is not of this world. And that has the power to demolish strongholds in our lives. 4. Releasing power from heaven (2 Chronicles 20:3,18,22) Because of the fast which King Jehoshaphat declared over the whole of Judah, Judah and the whole of Jerusalem was saved by the mighty hand of God. God caused the Moabites and Ammonites to rise up against the people of Mount Seir, and delivered Judah from the hands of the enemy. 5. Usher into God’s chambers – Song of Songs 1:4 6. Having God to manifest His presence 7. Becoming more conscious and sharper to hear God

EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE FASTING IN THE BIBLE Daniel (Daniel 9:30) King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:24) Josiah (2 Chronicles 34:27) Nehemiah (Nehemiah1:4) Esther (Esther 4:5-16) City of Nineveh (Jonah 3:5) Moses (Deut 9 :9, 18, 25-29) Paul (Acts 9:9) David (2 Samuel 3:35) Joshua (Exodus 24:13-18) Jesus (Matthew 4:11) WHY SHOULD I FAST? God said, "When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you" (Jeremiah 29:13,14). When a man or woman is willing to set aside the legitimate appetites of the body to concentrate on the work of praying, they are demonstrating that they mean business, that they are seeking God with all their heart. Fasting is an expression of wholeheartedness. This is clear from Joel's call to

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the nation of Israel: "Yet even now," says the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting. . ." (Joel 2:12). Andrew Murray said, "Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything - to sacrifice ourselves - to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God." How do you know when to pray and fast and when to just pray? That is not a question that someone else can always answer for you. But here is a principle: In God's word we always find fasting connected with a very troubled spirit or a very anxious heart before the Lord. So a reason for fasting is not something you choose on the spur of the moment. Rather the reason is a consuming one. In a sense, it's not something you choose, so much as something that chooses you, because it's that important. So why fast? To demonstrate that we are seeking God "with all our heart." Fasting puts things in proper focus. It is a physical way of saying, "Food and the things of this life are not as important to me now as (fill in the blank) ." Of course, denying yourself food to focus on God and His program shows humility. That is why fasting is also the equivalent of the phrase "to humble oneself before the Lord" (Psalm 35:13; 1 Kings 21:29; Ezra 8:21). When a person is really concerned about the things of God, he will humble himself. There will be times when he will abstain from the enjoyment of food to continue concentration and focus on that which is important to God. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I FAST? Now that you get an idea about what fasting is all about, and the reasons why we fast. It’s time to find out what happens when we fast. By understanding what happens when we fast, it would help us get a clear picture of what to expect.

1. We crucify our appetite, giving ourselves entirely to God When we die to our own appetites we deny our flesh its desires, and signifies that we would rather be with God than to satisfy our fleshly desires of food. 2. Demonstrates the mastery of man over his appetites 3. Aids us against temptations

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4. Attain power over demons (Mark 9:14-29) Jesus said to his disciples in Mark 9:28-29 when they asked him why they couldn’t cast the spirit out that this kind only comes out by prayer and fasting. Therefore by fasting we can attain power over demons. 5. Develops faith as we crucify unbelief 6. Attain power (Matthew 17:14-21) WHEN DO I FAST? Here are a few scenarios in which fast, and when we face similar situations or the following applies, we can fast. Under chastening – 2 Samuel 12:16-23 Under judgment – 1 Kings 21:27 In need (not wants) – Ezra 8:21 In danger – Esther 4 Worried – Daniel 6:18 In trouble – Acts 27:9 In spiritual conflict – Matthew 4:11 Desperate in prayer – Acts 9

TYPES OF FAST WHICH WE CAN GO ON 1. Total Fast Abstain from solid food and beverages for 24 hours. Take only water or fruit juices (Avoid orange or tomato juice due to its acidic content, unless mixed with equal portions of water)

2. Partial Fast Abstain from solid food for an extended part of the day. Take only water. You may fast from sunrise to sundown or from breakfast to afternoon tea. 3. 1-Meal Fast Sacrifice one full meal a day. For example Lunch Fast or Dinner Fast or Recess Fast.

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4. Daniel Fast Abstain from meat and other favorite delicacies. Take only small portions of fresh vegetables, fruit and juices. You may practice this as a 21-day routine. Or as Daniel 1:2 suggests, make this a 10-day fast. 5. Beverage Fast Abstain from solid food for 24 hours. Take only water and liquid food such as milk, milo or other health beverages. 6. Esther’s Fast Abstain from solid food and water for three days. 7. Forty Days Fast Abstain from solid food and water for forty days. Not recommended unless God specifically called you to do so, as it would take divine strength to sustain the forty days without dying. 8. A Few Days Fast Abstain from solid food and water for a few days. Note: A fast can be not only be a fast from food, but also from things such as television, computer games, MSN, bubble tea etc.

SOME PRACTICAL GUIDELINES ON FASTING 1. A physician's note: Make sure you are medically able to fast before attempting it. Some brothers and sisters can only do a one-day partial fast. They drink different types of juice, but take no food or other liquid. God knows and understands their medical condition and does not expect them to harm their "temple" (1 Corinthians 6:19) in order to be spiritual. There are no rigid standards about fasting in the Bible that say you must do this or that. 2. Begin with short fasts and gradually move to larger periods of time if you desire. If you've never fasted before, you need to start slow. Don't start with a three day fast! 3. Be prepared for some dizziness, headache, or nausea in the early going. Most of our bodies have never gone without food for longer than a few hours.

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4. Break a prolonged fast gradually with meals that are light and easy to digest. Trying to gorge yourself following a fast will only make you sick and will leave you with an unpleasant memory of fasting. 5. Enter with a positive faith that God will reward those who fast with the right motives. - Jesus gave this promise: "When you fast, your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:18). 6. Sometime during your fast, mix your fast with prayer, time in Scripture reading, singing, or devotional reading. Remember: fasting is not an end in itself. Seek the Lord, not the experience of fasting. 7. Keep checking your motives concerning your fasts. Hypocrisy and spiritual pride can easily creep in. There is a reward for fasting, but only fasting done with the right motives (Matthew 23:28).

FINAL WORD “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” - Matthew 6:16-18 Remember fasting is not starvation! We must have the right motive to fast. (Isaiah 58:3-4)

QUESTIONS 1. Why should we fast?

2. When should we fast? 3. How often should we fast? 4. Is there a fixed regulation in fasting, are the suggested fasting methods die die must follow?

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