YaHs Word
short for YaHWeH's Word
A Scripture based
DISCIPLESHIP COURSE FOR BEGINNERS
( young christians )
- INTRODUCTION - YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW
- WHAT NEXT ?
- HOW WILL I GROW SPIRITUALLY ?
- TRAGEDY IN THE CHURCH !
- THE JOY OF THE LORD
- SELF-PITY - BEWARE OF A SPIRIT OF SELF-PITY
- THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
- INNER-HEALING
- THANKSGIVING
- YOUR NEW SPIRITUAL DIET
- COMMUNICATION
- LEARNING TO PRAY
- OUR GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER
- 10 CERTAIN FACTS WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
- DEPRESSION
- FACTs 11-19
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CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION - YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW
As citizen of a country, as a young man, you are usually enlisted in the army for National Service for a period of one or two years after completing your Primary and Secondary education. It is usually compulsory. (It was in this country a few years ago).
In much the same way, as soon as you become a citizen of the Kingdom of God, by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, and that He died on the cross in your place, you are enlisted for service. You are a soldier, whether you are aware of it or not. You have become a target for Satan, who at this stage is very unhappy with the state of affairs.
He will now do everything in his power to discourage you in your new walk with Christ- anything to try and get you back to your old life-style and habits. In fact, if you gave your life to the Lord one evening in church, the very next morning he will whisper in your ear: You made a fool of yourself- nothing has changed!
In the army, one generally completed three months basic training. During this time you had to exercise daily to become physically fit. You were taught how to handle various kinds of weapons and artillery and you were taught the tactics of the enemy.
The same applies to the young Christian. We should be taught the basics of the Christian life, that temptations will come our way and also how to resist the enemy.
All this knowledge is available to us only through the Word of God.
Jesus’ last instructions to His disciples before He ascended unto the Father was, GO YE THEREFORE, AND TEACH ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER,, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST: TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU: Matthew 28:19 – 20. (Also known as The Great Commission).
As young believers we must be taught about the armour of God, the weapons of our warfare and about walking in the Spirit and how to apply the principles of God’s Word in our daily lives.
I emphasize, the only way to gain knowledge about God, and about His will for our lives, about all the wonderful things He has in store for us, about what pleases the Father and what displeases Him, is by studying the Scriptures under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is through the Word that God reveals Himself to us.
After receiving Christ as Saviour, by attending a church service, watching a TV program or reading a book or whatever method the Lord used to draw you to Him, , it is important to find a Bible based Church or Fellowship where the full Gospel is taught and applied.
Perhaps you’ve been a Christian for quite some time, but have never been taught to grow in the Spirit, to become Christ-like. You’ve come into the habit of attending church regularly and expect to be spoon-fed by the preacher as this is the way
you’ve been taught.
Often Believers think they’ve arrived once they’ve accepted Jesus, and it is actually the responsibility of the preacher to teach them that this is the new birth or being born again, turning from sin and your old life, and that this is just the beginning – you are a BABE IN CHRIST – but what now?
As we saw in the previous chapter, in Matthew 28:19 Jesus instructed His disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel, BAPTIZING them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Thus, your very first step of obedience is to be baptized in water by full immersion, as it was done in the time of the Apostles- and is an accepted fact throughout Christianity. Faith in Jesus MUST preceed water baptism..
This step of obedience signifies your identifying with the death of Christ and when emerging from out of the water, signifies your resurrection with Christ into a new life. It is also a public statement that you have accepted Jesus and that the ‘old man’ is dead and buried.
CHAPTER 3 – HOW WILL I GROW SPIRITUALLY?
As any new born baby needs nourishment to grow and develop, the same applies to a babe in the Spirit. Peter says in 1 Peter 2:2 AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY.
Hosea 4:6 says MY PEOPLE ARE DESTROYED FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE. The latter is a situation we would like to avoid at all costs. Let’s rather take Peter’s advice above and desire the sincere milk of the Word, and grow thereby.
Desiring to read and study the Word doesn’t always come naturally or automatically. And if you DO try, you will usually be interrupted by the phone, visitors or any other obstacle the devil can use. But be determined, and make a choice decision to study the Word. Your spiritual life and growth depends on this decision!
Set aside a certain time that suits your schedule. You will either have to get up earlier to start with, or go to bed later so that you will not easily be interrupted or disturbed..
If at all possible it is best to seek the Lord through prayer and Bible study before you start your day. But this depends on your lifestyle and it differs from person to person.
CHAPTER 4 – TRAGEDY IN THE CHURCH!
When a baby is born into this world, he is so sweet and helpless, completely dependent on the mother. But if he stays that way, week after week, month after month and eventually year after year- never learning to sit by himself, never starting to crawl, never starting to eat by himself, never saying his first little words, and never starting to walk, it would be a tragedy for the parents, and everybody would know that the child is retarded- or being politically correct- that he is mentally or physically challenged.
This child will most likely be dependent on his parents or other people for the rest f his life! Such a situation is very traumatic for the parents.
That makes one wonder how our heavenly Father feels , when tragically, there are so many similar cases in the Church
of Jesus. People who have never grown up spiritually. Never matured in their faith. And it’s all due to lack of knowledgeAND application of the Word of God.
Some people are ignorant but then there are those Christians who KNOW WHAT THEY SHOULD DO but just seem disinterested –or is it perhaps plain laziness?
Wheel chair Christians who have to be pushed by the brethren or else they can’t go on. Can’t face the slightest trial or tribulation!
These ‘Christians’ will never have victorious lives, never learn about the Authority of the Believer in Christ Jesus. They willnever know the Peace that Passes all Understanding the Word speaks of, and they will never find true joy. Which is so important, for the Word says: THE JOY OF THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH.
That is why the devil always wants to steal your joy, (by getting you to concentrate on everything that’s wrong, all your weaknesses etc.) because then he will have your strength and you will become a weak and wimpy Christian. Still going to heaven through the Blood of Jesus, but missing out on so much!
CHAPTER 5 – THE JOY OF THE LORD
Life is about choices and if you’re serious about your relationship with God through Jesus, you have to make a choice decision to please the Lord from now on. You’ll have to learn: It’s not about me. We are so carnal and self-centred before we know the Lord- it’s all just about ME ‘my comfort, my happiness, my this and my that.’
Always in search of happiness. Happiness comes from outward circumstances. If everything goes well for me and everything goes my way, then I’m happy.
But joy comes from within. Joy comes from knowing my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, from having a relationship with God, and nowing that my sins are forgiven, my past is blotted out and from knowing that whatever happens, and no matter what the circumstances are, He is there with me, and that makes life worth living!
Wanting to please the Lord, (because you love Him, for what He’s done for you, and for Who He is, not out of fear or for religious purposes) you have to find out more about Him, which you can do by attending church regularly, but this is not enough. Your spirit needs food daily.
You would not expect your baby to live, never mind grow and develop mentally and physically if you only gave him food once or twice a week!
You‘re in the Lord’s army now. (Remember that little song you used to sing in Sunday School.) You need to become a strong, soldier, able to withstand the devil’s wiles and temptations.
Be serious minded about this matter. It IS very serious. If you want to become a fully grown man in Christ, helping others and spreading the Gospel, there is just no short-cut!
So many Christians who have been ‘serving’ the Lord for decades, have never grown up spiritually. They’re always running around, scared about the future, unsure of making decisions, and standing in the prayer line for prayer, running to the phone so that others can pacify them about the smallest problems, and taking offence for the tiniest thing like somebody not greeting them, when in all probability the other person didn’t see them.
As somebody once said, ‘Run to the throne – not the phone!’ Paul said, by this time we should all be preachers!
CHAPTER 6 – SELF-PITY BEWARE OF A SPIRIT OF SELF-PITY
Knowing the Scriptures is where our victory lies but of course, knowledge isn’t enough. We know a lot of facts about unhealthy foods and drinks and do them anyway!
We have to APPLY the knowledge that we receive through study and through the preaching of the Word, to our lives, and that will make the difference.
Reinhard Bonnke once said – you can work in a soap factory and still be dirty- if you don’t apply the soap!
We won’t often go without food or water – in fact we satisfy every craving or whim the body has- be it food, sweets, cold drinks, tea, coffee or whatever. But oh, how easily we chastise the poor spirit. Often the body is over-fed to the point of bad health, while the spirit is suffering from ‘spiritual anorexia’.
If you just take in a bit of the Word every Sunday, you will not grow spiritually, in fact your spirit will slowly starve to death! You need that daily connection with God through genuine Bible study and prayer.
The Word of the Lord builds our faith and strengthens us, gives us wisdom for daily living. We learn to stand on the promises of God, and to trust and obey!
He must become the centre of our universe! John the Baptist said of Him: He must become more and I must become less.
As mentioned before, we will learn that it’s not all about me.
Before you met Jesus life was all about you. But some
Christians never really become new creatures in Christ BY FAITH.
Remember that old chorus:
I’M A NEW CREATION
I’M A BRAND NEW MAN
OLD THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY
I’M BORN AGAIN
MORE THAN A CONQUEROR
THAT’S WHO I AM
I’M A NEW CREATION
I’M A BRAND NEW MAN
All you think of is how you were mistreated, how you were offended, how you were abused, how you were rejected, and what happens is that you are eventually completely taken over by a spirit of self-pity, which is devastating!
In any conversation you’re always talking about ME and I and what I’m going through, or what an insensitive husband I have- or my wife doesn’t understand me.
You live in the past hurts and your life cannot go forward because you cling to all the old things. You actually drag them around like a ball and chain. The weight holds you back and eventually your faith will weaken and you might fall out of the race completely! That is really the makings of A LOSER!
And Satan loves that. He won’t even bother with you, because you feel so sorry for yourself and your self-esteem is so low, you’re inflicting so many wounds on yourself that you’re saving him the trouble!
If that sounds like you - by faith you must realize and accept that you are a NEW CREATURE in Christ. Take it. Make it your own and become victorious! That is the real new birth.
CHAPTER 7 - THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
So, now you’ve accepted Jesus, you’ve been baptized in water- what you desperately need now is the baptism with the Holy Spirit. You have been partially imparted with the Holy Spirit at the rebirth, but that is not the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus, on His departure commanded His disciples to go and preach the Gospel to all the world, but, He said: First go to Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Father.
They watched and prayed in the upper room till on the tenth day, suddenly, the Holy Spirit fell on all one-hundred-and-twenty who were gathered there.
+He appeared as tongues of fire on each of them and they all spoke in an unknown tongue as the Holy Spirit gave utterance unto each of them.
*NOTE: I said of the Holy Spirit HE, because He is a person, the third person of the Godhead, and not a force or a power or some mystic thing.
He can be grieved, He can be quenched, He can be resisted! He guides, He leads us in all truth as the Bible mentions. And mainly, He glorifies Jesus. He is not prayed to. We pray to God our Father – as Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer, and as taught in The Gospel of John, we pray in the Name of Jesus. .
CHAPTER 8 - INNER-HEALING
We see so many Believers today, needing counselling or ‘inner-healing.’ This is a tragedy, and unfortunately, I believe this often happens because many preachers or ministers don’t explain the full Gospel when they make an altar call afterpreaching the Gospel.
People should be told there and then when they accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour : Bring everything to the foot of the cross NOW.
All those past hurts. All the hatred. All the stumbling blocks, abuse, complexes. Bring it all to Jesus now and leave it at the foot of the cross! When you get up from your knees here today- leave everything behind. Jesus has dealt with everything, and He died for everything.’
Oddly enough, many times, the people needing counselling and inner-healing, are the people who grew up in the Church. They have grown used to the things of the Lord and not having gone through a radical salvation like someone who had never been inside a church, they often go through the sacrament of baptism because they know it’s the right thing to do, but sometimes it’s almost like a kind of ‘technical salvation’ and they haven’t changed overnight like a completely unsaved person who has never heard the Gospel before.
The reason for this is that they don’t have many ‘obvious sins’ .. Their life-style doesn’t have to undergo such a radical change on the outside, because the sins they do have, they’re not so fully aware of yet because they’re not so obvious.
Perhaps they don’t even have a definite date that the Lord saved them. This doesn’t mean they are not saved. With a natural birth, you can’t remember what date you were born because you were too small and your parents told you on what day you were born.
Sometimes, as in my own life, I accepted the Lord at a very young age, too young to make a mental note of the date, but as I grew older and learned the Word, the need arose for me to be baptized. Wanting to please the Lord I saw this as a natural step of obedience to take.
Father God knows what date He did that something miraculous in your life – you’ve always been aware of Him, loved Him and prayed and strived to live according to the word, perhaps following the Godly example of Christian parents.
As He draws you closer and you have an urge to be obedient to the Word. He will guide you into the necessary steps you have to take to be obedient to the Word. One day He will also inform you when you were really born again!
Now, unfortunately all children are not as sensitive to the Holy Spirit, especially those growing up without godly parents, and those never having set foot in a church where they can hear the Word and come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit thus never realizing all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
We often hear preachers preaching about believers having ‘lost their first love’ in other words grown cold towards the Lord- this sometimes happens to people who were radically saved and had a great testimony and a tremendous passion for
the Lord, but as time went by they cooled off, and sometimes they actually backslide to a place where they are no longer serving the Lord and start resisting the warnings of the Holy Spirit. This is very dangerous ground!
Whereas, believers who grew up in the church often draw nearer and nearer to the Lord- their relationship growing deeper and deeper, as they delve more and more into the Word and become more and more aware of what Jesus has actually done for them and what He saved them from, and becoming wholly dependant on Him.
When you are serious about your salvation and you start living to please God in all aspects of life, not just keeping God in a little Sunday box, together with your Sunday Church suit, He will draw you closer to Him as you study His Word, and His Spirit will guide you in your every day life, keeping you from sin and shame.
It’s almost like visiting friends or family, and waking up in a strange house very early in the morning. It’s still dark and you can’t see anything in the room, then, as day breaks, you start distinguishing different things in the bedroom. You see where the door is, where the window is, where the wardrobe or cupboard is, and after a few minutes you notice the dressing table. Eventually you see the ornaments on the dressing table and the pictures on the wall, and then the details of the pictures.
In much the same manner, the Holy Sprit works and starts showing us things in our lives that don’t belong there.. The closer we come to Jesus, the more we become aware of things that grieve the Holy Spirit.
We feel uncomfortable in certain company and places, or while watching certain TV shows. Till the day arrives that you just feel compelled by the Holy Spirit to get up and walk out. Praise the Lord for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
The Word says, when someone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATION. Old things have passed away, all has become new. You suddenly aren’t interested in all the old things you used to enjoy.
The gossiping and discussing people behind their backs starts to make you feel uncomfortable. Some don’t need a beer anymore to make them happy! Jesus promised: I will never leave you not forsake you – just become very much aware of that. And remember, He knows your inner thoughts and desires.
So now you are a new creature in Christ. You don’t have a past. Don’t feel guilty about your past and ask Jesus to forgive you again and again for the same things, because He forgives and forgets- and He says: I will remove your sins from you as far as the East is from the West.
After experiencing the grace and love of the Lord, you can’t help being filled with love for Him.. And just expressing your gratitude daily for what He did for you on Calvary will bring you into His presence.
David says in the Psalms: I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart; I will enter His courts with praise- and this is a wonderful lesson for us. When we enter into prayer, we start by thanking and praising God for what He has done for us, and then we start to worship Him for who He is.
When you start to think of how He created and sustains the universe, how wonderfully He created the earth, the moon, the stars, and little planet earth hanging out here in space, how wonderfully He made you. How meticulously He created every little creature and that they each have a purpose, just as each of us have a purpose in this life.
And then the wonderful fact that such an unexplainable mighty God is interested in tiny little me, less than a spec of dust. Not just did He send His only begotten Son to die for my sins, but He is interested in my every day life. He cares when I’m hurt and unhappy, and doesn’t want me to stay that way, and I don’t have to.
He wants to shower us with His love and blessings and all He asks in return is – IF YOU ABIDE IN ME- read the Gospel of John. You can’t help but worship Him! So remember, if you still have a battle trying to pray.
First thanksgiving, then praise and worship and then your prayers will start flowing as God brings to mind the needs of others and lastly your own personal needs and requests.
CHAPTER 10 – YOUR NEW SPIRITUAL DIET
The new believer must watch over his ‘ diet’. It should change drastically.
Just as junk food would be very bad for an infant in the natural, so we must watch what food we feed our soul. . Like - garbage in – garbage out.
If you keep on watching X-rated videos or DVDs, or reading pornographic magazines, or visiting the old places of amusement and revelling with the old crowd - you definitely will not grow spiritually. You will have to choose what or Who is important in your life.
That is why it is so important at this stage, to become part of a good Bible based church or Fellowship, where you will get all the support you need for your new life in Christ. You need as much spiritual food as you can absorb.
So once you have found the right church or fellowship- through the guidance of the Holy Spirit
(if you ask God in earnest He will guide you to the right place), you must become committed.
Don,t miss a single service, because you really might miss something important. Give your full support and co-operation to the church and pastor.
Not only will it benefit you, but faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22) and your children, who are much smarter than you think, are taking note of your every step.
Then, very important, if you do have children, see to it that they attend Sunday School every Sunday. Don’t think the Sunday School lessons of David and Goliath, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, Shadrack, Meshack and Abednigo in the Fiery Furnace are not important.
It build’s their faith in God tremendously and when in trouble in later years, they will remember where to turn to. The Word says, Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Many a drug addict and wayward person has returned to the Lord because they remembered what they had been taught in Sunday School- how God welcomed the prodigal son home, and other lessons of the love of God.
Preferably, Sunday School and church should not be during the same time slot - as it is important for the young ones to see and experience their parents worshipping and praising the Lord. Your attitude towards the things of God shouldn’t be DO WHAT I SAY but rather DO WHAT I DO!
We should discuss the goodness and kindness of the Lord daily in our homes, and include the children in our discussions. Tell them when the Lord has answered an urgent plea! Let Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit become part of their worldview and second nature.
They will automatically offer up thanks to God for things if they see you saying grace at the table and hear you thanking God for His blessings and care.
CHAPTER 11 – COMMUNICATION
No marriage, or even partnership, can exist without COMMUNICATION. If a husband and wife hardly ever speak to each other, and never share their dreams and desires and what they like and dislike, that marriage won’t survive because they will live past each other and become total strangers.
In the same way, communication with our Heavenly Father is of utmost importance. Fortunately, for us as Christians, we don’t have a specific day, or time, or need a specific earthly person to intercede for us when we want to talk to the Lord. Jesus is our Intercessor with the Father and we have permission to go straight to the Throne of God. Just there where you are is good enough!
It is the attitude of the heart that is important.
Whether you kneel and pray, stand and pray, walk around the room and pray or lie on the floor, is your own choice or as you are led by the Spirit.
As mentioned above, it's’ the attitude of the heart that is important and not your physical posture.
Paul says, pray without ceasing, so, with that Scripture in mind, you will eventually come into the habit of talking to the Lord whenever you are alone. For instance, driving alone on your way to work in your car and other similar situations.
Just always be aware of the fact that He is there with you! You can even have a wonderful conversation with Him in your mind while travelling on a full bus or train.
There just are no limits when you have a real living relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ!
You don’t have to make an appointment to see Him, and you don’t have to have a university degree to approach the Throne of Grace! He is no respecter of persons and listens to the Judge, the street sweeper. the C.E.O. and the janitor, the child, the elderly.
The one and only qualification is having been washed in the Blood of Jesus. And of course He also hears the sinners prayer, when we accept Jesus and ask Him to forgive all our sins and past.
God in His Holy Righteousness cannot look upon sin, (Jesus became sin on the cross and called out My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me) but He sees us through the Blood of Jesus who paid the price for our redemption.
CHAPTER 12 - LEARNING TO PRAY
If, at first, you struggle with prayer, read the Psalms of David. You will be encouraged by his thankful heart and find it easier to pray. Starting to pray, will feel like very hard work, and five minutes will feel like an eternity but once you break through in the Spirit it will flow.
A great prayer aid, is to take a journal or any writing pad and pen, sit down and write your Heavenly Father a letter. This will keep you from praying in circles and repeating yourself.
When you have written down everything that was in your heart, it is also a good idea to read it aloud. Your Father is listening.
Also when you do your Bible study, read the Word out loud.
This may sound silly to you, but the Word says, FAITH COMES BY HEARING AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD and this helps build your faith in the Word of God when you actually hear it spoken! Also powerful, the Word says that demons tremble at the Name of Jesus!
CHAPTER 13 - OUR GOD IS A GOD OF ORDER
As you study the Word, you will find that God has specific instructions for each member of the family. In Corinthians, Ephesians, 1 Peter, Timothy, Hebrews and even Genesis, He gives clear directions to each one – He speaks to Fathers, Mothers, Wives, Children.
There is also a solution to every problem we encounter, in the Word of God. If only we will take the trouble to read it, and apply it, we will reap the blessings!
God made man the head of the home. Not to lord it over the rest of the family and treat them like slaves, but because there has to be order. God is a God of order.
Can a school survive without a principal, a Bank without a manager, or a Company without a Chief Executive Officer. A ship without a Captain? Somebody has to make the final decision and take responsibility for the family.
The world is preaching a different story today. Just look around you and you will see how many divorces there are when people reject Gods order and do their own thing. It causes disunity and strife.
The Lord also instructs the husband to love his wife as Christ loved the Church and gave His life for Her.
Now, if your husband loves you that much, surely it shouldn’t be too difficult to stand under his authority? What some women don’t realize is, that when you are standing under your husband’s authority, you are also under his protection, his guidance, his encouragement and you have his companionship. The Word even says – the two shall become one flesh!
CHAPTER 14 - CERTAIN FACTS WITH SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
The following Scriptures are very important in the Christian’s life, and as a young believer you will benefit greatly from reading them through a few times and getting acquainted with them.
Once you know Gods Word, the secret is to find the Scripture pertaining to your particular circumstance or problem, and apply it BY FAITH to your life, believing God’s promises and standing on them, and not on your feelings!
Of course today people are taught to live by their feelings. Just look at the adverts on TV and billboards.
Keep your Bible at hand and look up each Scripture, thus learning where to find them in the Word!
FACT 6 The Lord supplied his children with weapons to defeat the enemy with. He didn’t leave us alone here on earth to fight the battle ourselfs:
FACT 7: THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS -The Lord has given the Church nine spiritual gifts with which to serve one-another- giving to each believer as He knows will suit us best to serve the Church with.
FACT 9: By the same Spirit that Jesus did works on earth, we can also do the works He did.
FACT 12: THE BATTLE IS SPIRITUAL - We have been given spiritual weapons to fight the spiritual battle.
FACT 13: NOT THE END OF YOUR PROBLEMS!
FACT 14: THE SECRET HIDING PLACE OF THE BELIEVER - There is a secret hiding place for the true believer!
FACT 15: THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT - Taking up the sword of the Spirit.
FACT 16: NEGATIVE THOUGHTS - We should never give in to negative thoughts and emotions.
FACT 17: You must cultivate an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE and praise toward our Father.
FACT 18: SATAN CANNOT FORCE YOU TO SIN - THE CHOICE IS YOURS AND GOD’S HELP IS AT HAND!
FACT 19: OUR GOD HAS A PERSONAL NAME
FACT 1: Jesus is the only way to God - you cannot be a Christian and believe that Buddha or Krishna or whoever are just other roads to God!
SCRIPTURE: John 14:6 – Jesus answered him, I am the way, the truth, the life; Nobody comes to the Father but by Me.
Also - Acts 4:12 - There is salvation in no-one else! In all heaven there is no other name for men to call upon to save them.
FACT 2: Be secure in the knowledge that you are a child of God! NEVER trust in your feelings! Just believe God!
SCRIPTURE: John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on His name.
FACT 3: After being born again you have to be baptized in water by full immersion as soon as possible. It is not optional! It is part of the Gospel. You don’t have to pray about it – just be obedient!
(People who are disobedient in this matter- often have issues with sin in their lives- whether it be smoking or drugs or alcohol They cannot move into a place of victory!)
SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28 :19 – Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Also: Acts 9:18 (Saul) And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was BAPTIZED.
Acts 10:48 And he (Peter) commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
Also- Acts 16:33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
FACT 4: Having been baptized in water, by your own request in obedience to God’s Word you now need the baptism in the Holy Spirit. This will change your life and give you the necessary boldness you need to testify to others.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 24:49 And behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you: But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Also - Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Also - Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Unfortunately - the Church seems to have neglected this part of the Gospel. If you study the Scriptures you will see that after repentance and water baptism, there was the laying on of hands for receiving the Holy Spirit.
As far back as I can remember, they only started praying for the Holy Spirit round about the time of Penticost every year, in the churches.
This is not Scriptural. After the pouring our of the Holy Spirit on the 120 in the upper room- the Holy Spirit was never taken away again. But it seems that He is not that welcome anymore!
FACT 5 -
Having been faithful in your walk with the Lord and fulfilled all the above mentioned, you should start bearing the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, which is really as a result of your obedience to the Word:
This is not the Gifts of the Spirit, and you cannot earn it, but as mentioned, it will come naturally as a result of your obedience.
SCRIPTURE- Galatians 5:22 But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:
FACT 6:
The Lord supplied his children with weapons to defeat the Enemy with. He didn’t leave us alone here on earth to fight the battle ourselves.
This is not a physical battle but a spiritual battle and therefore we need spiritual weapons. These weapons are called THE ARMOUR OF GOD.
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 6: 10-18
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole ARMOUR OF GOD, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
NB - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked
And take the helmet of salvation, and the Sword of the Spirit, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD:
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
FACT 7:
THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS -
The Lord has given the Church nine spiritual gifts with which to serve one-another- giving to each believer as He knows will suit us best to serve the Church with.
SCRIPTURE: 1 Cor. 12:8-11
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.
To another faith by the same Spirit;
to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
To another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy;
to another discernment of spirits;
to another divers kind of tongues;
to another the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all
the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?
If the whole body were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no
need of thee; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
:25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it;
or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
FACT 8:
AUTHORITY OF THE BELIEVER-
Jesus Himself, gave us, the believers and disciples, authority over all the power of the enemy.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 10:19
(Jesus) Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Also:
Matthew 10:1 .And when He had called unto Him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Also: Mark 16:17 – And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
FACT 9:
By the same Spirit that Jesus did works on earth, we can also do the works He did.
SCRIPTURE: John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Some of the works Jesus did: Preached the Gospel to the poor, opened blinded eyes, healed the deaf and lame, cleansed the lepers, cast out unclean spirits and even raised the dead!)
I HAVE HEARD PROPLE SAY- BUT JESUS GAVE THIS POWER TO THE APOSTELS –
Thank God for the Word. Read Matthew 28 where Jesus ascended unto heaven and He gave His last instructions – He added : - and teach them to observe all things which I have commanded you.
That means we, His children, are all included. He gave us power over all the power of the enemy – and read Matthew 10 verse one-
He gave us authority over demons – TO DRIVE THEM OUT – IN His name.
FACT 10:
THE JOY OF THE LORD -
We should have the joy of the Lord, in all circumstances, for in it lies our strength.
SCRIPTURE:
Nehemia 8: 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry: for THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH..
Depression should have no place in the life of God’s child. The world is always seeking ‘happiness’ which comes as a result of the circumstances surrounding them. If all goes well then I’m happy. If things happen my way, then I’m happy.
But the JOY of the Lord comes from deep within your spirit, as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit and the fact that my sins are forgiven and my name is in the Lambs Book of Life!
Paul wrote to the Philippians: Rejoice in the Lord always- and again I say rejoice!
CHAPTER 15 - DEPRESSION -
There are two obvious major reasons for depression:
- If I don’t know God and don’t have His peace
- If I’m a child of God and there is unrepented sin in my life from sinning knowingly, and purposefully going against God’s commandments.
FACT 11:
God gave us the answer to resist temptations and sin and depression.. It sounds almost too simple but it’s true.
SCRIPTURE: James 4: 7 Submit to God. Resist the devil and he WILL flee. That means when you are attacked or tempted, or you feel the spirit of depression coming on - to literally open your mouth and speak:
Satan, I am submitted to God- I resist you and you will flee - because the Word of God says so! Do just that and you will see it works! He will flee - he has no choice for it is written - but of course not for good.
He will flee = just for that situation - but he’ll come back tomorrow, or later today even, with a new attack. And you will resist him again. As the Word says- Thank God for Christ Jesus in Whom we will ALWAYS have the victory!
FACT 12 :
THE BATTLE IS SPIRITUAL -
We have been given spiritual weapons to fight the spiritual battle.
SCRIPTURE: 11 Corinthians:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh; for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God for the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; -
FACT 13 :
NOT THE END OF YOUR PROBLEMS!
Please don’t think it’s the end of all your troubles and problems now that you have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
The opposite is more likely true!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: BUT THE LORD DELIVERETH HIM OUT OF THEM ALL !
Also- John 16:33 (Jesus said): These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace.
In the world ye SHALL have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
THE SECRET HIDING PLACE OF THE BELIEVER-
There is a secret hiding place for the true believer!
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 91 :1-16
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God, in him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers.
And under His wings shalt thou trust.
His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for THE TERROR BY NIGHT;
nor for the ARROW THAT FLIETH BY DAY;
nor for the PESTILENCE THAT WALKETH IN DARKNESS
Nor for the DESTRUCTION THAT WASTETH AT NOONDAY.
A thousand shall fall at thou side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but IT SHALL NOT COME NIGH THEE.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation;
THERE SHALL NO EVIL BEFALL THEE,
neither SHALL ANY PLAGUE COME NIGH THY DWELLING.
For He shall give His angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tred upon the lion and adder:
the young lion and the dragon shalt thy trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me,
Therefore will I deliver him.
I will set him on high, because he hath KNOWN MY NAME. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble:
I will deliver him and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.
FACT 15 :
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT -
Taking up the sword of the Spirit.
What does it literally mean?
SCRIPTURE:
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the WORD OF GOD;
It means to know the Scriptures well so that in any given circumstance you can take the right Scripture pertaining to your circumstance, make it your own by faith, and resist the devil with it by faith!
When Jesus was tempted by Satan after fasting forty days He resisted him by saying each time :
IT IS WRITTEN - -
Read Matthew 4:1-11. The Word of God is our mightiest weapon.
NEGATIVE THOUGHTS - We should never give in to negative thoughts and emotions.
SCRIPTURE: Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.
:6 Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS.
This takes and exerted effort on our part –especially when we see and hear the things going on in the world today.
FACT 17:
You must cultivate an attitude of gratitude and praise toward our Father
It really isn’t that difficult at all.
Once you just start thinking of the fact that Jesus died on the cross for your sins. That He took you out of darkness and placed you in the light. That your name is written in the Lambs Book of Life.
Perhaps you were a messed up person when God saved you; think of where you would have been had He not stooped down and saved you.
And then there are the everyday, what we would call ‘basic privileges’ or some even dare to call them their rights. A home. A vehicle. Water and electricity. Food. Clothing. Just
look around you and see how many people today don’t have these privileges.
With all this in mind it really isn’t difficult to become thankful. When you see a beggar again, just remember-
but for the grace of God- there go I!
Now just remember to voice your gratitude to God every day or at night before you climb into your comfortable warm bed with the thick duvet and pillows, after you’ve had that almost boiling hot
bath, where you relaxed for twenty minutes or so, soaking up the bath oil, and after you’ve enjoyed your steaming mug of hot chocolate.
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 50:22, 23 Now consider this, ye who ,forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver-
WHOSO OFFERETH PRAISE GLORIFIETH ME: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.
(Read this text, and others, in different versions or translations of the Bible.)
FACT 18 :
SATAN CANNOT FORCE YOU TO SIN - THE CHOICE IS YOURS AND GOD’S HELP IS AT HAND!
You are now free from all bondage and slavery. Satan cannot make you sin against your wishes. His hold over your life is broken by the Blood of the Lamb! (He might try to whisper in your ear that your sin is not sin, but only a weakness in your body! Don't’ believe him, he is the father of lies.)
SCRIPTURE: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed!
FACT 19 :
OUR GOD HAS A PERSONAL NAME
Read "The missing J" for a thorough examination of God's names.
The word ‘God’ is a title. Our God has a Name. He revealed His Name to us in the original Hebrew scriptures, OVER 8,000 TIMES. ‘I AM JAHWEH’.
Somebody will someday stand before God! In the Bible, the Name Jahweh was translated as ‘the Lord’ or ‘die Here’ in Afrikaans, not by mistake! But obviously purposely! It was hidden from us.
At some stage they translated it as ‘Jehova; which they acknowledge is wrong.
Doing their best to confuse people they call Jahweh ‘the Lord’ and they call Jesus ‘the Lord’, and we know that the Babelonian idol Baal is also called the Lord.
Many people believe it’s not important, or so they say - To me it is of
great importance. Especially in these Last Days we are living in -
I want to be able to distinguish my God from other ‘gods’.
And always remember, our God has a Son and His Name
Is Jesus ( Yeshua ). This is a very important fact, because a
certain religion emphatically states that there god has no son.
The danger in seeing our God, Jahweh, as the same god
Allah and as god in other religions, is that in these end times
there will be, according to scripture, a one world religion
(a mixture of all religions) and we will be expected to join
hands in prayer with idol worshippers etc. which is
blasphemous to our Lord
SCRIPTURE: You can read about God’s Name Jahweh (sometimes spelt Yahweh) in the Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Read "The missing J" for a thorough examination of God's names.
Picture from www.yaim.org
STUDING THE SCRIPTURES -
One of the tools you need to study the Bible is a concordance. It contains most of the words you find in the Bible, in alphabetical order. For instance, if you remember part of a Scripture but do not know where to locate it, you can take one of the words you remember, look it up alphabetically, and you will find where all the scriptures are, referring to that word.
One of the best and oldest concordances, is the “Strongs Concordance” which has been around for over a hundred years, but if possible, try to obtain more than one. .
They, some of the churches, don’t mind telling you about the other Names of God such as . EL SHADDAI – the God of plenty or The All Sufficient One, ELOHIM – The Only God, ADONAI – Lord (or my Owner) JAHWEH JIRE - Provider. JAHWEH NISSE, JAHWEH MKEDDESH, JAHWEH RISSI JAHWEH ROFIR, JAHWEH SHALOM – God of Peace, JAHWEH SHAMMA. But these are descriptive names and not His personal Name that He referred to mostly in the original Scriptures He wanted Himself known as, is JAHWEH – I am God Almighty or Covenant making God.
Jesus’ Name in the original is Jeshua - which was changed by the translators to Jesus.
The Name Jesus is actually already the eighth translation of that Name.
However when addressing Jahweh in prayer, Jesus taught us in the Scriptures to call Him Our Father, in the Lord’s prayer.
You have just been given a crash course in Christianity ( WHICH INCIDENTLY IS NOT A RELIGION BUT A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH HIS SON JESUS ) and may you spend the rest of your life, each and every day learning more and more about the Godhead. ( JAHWEH, JESHUA AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. )
Purchase a few different translations and versions such as The Amplified Bible, The New International Version, and The King James Version as well as the Living Bible and The Message to really help you understand the true meaning that was spoken.
Never stop reading and studying the Word because that could be detrimental for your spiritual life.The Word exhorts us, leads us, encourages us in times of trouble, builds our faith in God and teaches us Who God is and what He expects from us.
Just as the Israelites had to pick up fresh manna every day in the desert, so we need the fresh manna of God’s Word daily. We will never survive on yesterday’s blessings.
These LESSONS are just meant as a guide to set you, the new Believer, off in the right direction.
God bless you as you mature in spirit!
Never forget that Jesus said THE ANTI-CHRIST IS ALREADY AT WORK AND WE CAN SEE HIS HAND EVERYWHERE IF WE ASK GOD TO OPEN OUR SPIRITUAL EYES. FAST AND PRAY. IT IS MUCH LATER THAN WE THINK!
17th October 2006