T
ABLE OF CONTENTS
CLASS
1
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THE NEW CREATION
CLASS
2
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THE HOLY SPIRIT
CLASS
3
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CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
CLASS
4
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EVANGELISM AND CELL MINISTRY
CLASS
5
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CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
CLASS
6
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THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY AND BELIEVERS’ LOVEWORLD INCORPORATED
CLASS
7
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THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORING AS A TECHNOLOGICAL TECHNOLOGIC AL PLATFORM PLATFORM IN ADVANCING ADVANCING THE GOSPEL!
INTRODUCTION
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Foundation
It’s with pleasure that we welcome you to the Foundation School of Christ Embassy (a.k.a. BLW nc.!. "nowled#e is $ital and makes the difference between success and failure. t is our e%pectation that you will be impacted with the basic knowled#e of &od’s Word Word which will afford you the pri$ile#e of ha$in# a successful Christian Life built on a ri#ht foundation. AIM OF THE FOUNDATION SCHOOL
'he aim of the Foundation School is to educate members concernin# new creation realities the )erson of the *oly Spirit Christian doctrines + Character which will help to lay a #ood foundation upon which a successful and fulfillin# Christian life can be built. 'he Foundation School will, 'hrou#h the manifestation of the Word and by the *oly Spirit work to present e$ery man perfect
in Christ -esus (Colossians /01!. Correct any erroneous ideas that you mi#ht ha$e had prior to this time (Ephesians 2/32!. Enable you to #row #row by increasin# increas in# in the knowled#e of &od’s Word Word ( )eter 0/0!. )repare you for the 4inistry of 5econciliation.
E"AMINATION AND TESTS Students will be e%pected to take tests durin# the duration of the pro#ram and a final e%amination will be conducted to assess the understandin# of students. GRADUATION 6pon the successful completion of the Foundation School re7uirements students will #raduate at a lo$ely and colorful ceremony. ceremony. WHAT IS E"PECTED OF YOU# 1! P$%& P$%&''$()* $()*''+ 8ou are e%pected to come early for your classes in order to benefit ma%imally from each module. 8ou are re7uired to be time conscious disciplined studious and in$ol$ed. 2! C,)) S+ S+',. E$ery student should be committed to a cell #roup by attendin# the cell meetin#s re#ularly which will further enhance your spiritual #rowth. 3! M*%* M*%*' '/+ /+ M(', M(',/* /*() () 9urin# the course of the Foundation School each student is e%pected to #et (study listen to and watch! the ministry books :udio messa#es 9;9s and other materials recommended by the teachers.
T0, P/*%&*() C0/*' E.(+ F$%('*% S&0) CHRIST EMBASSY TE"AS REGION
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F$%('*% S&0) C$//*&$)$. CLASS 1 THE NEW CREATION T*.*% G$*, 10/ 10/!15.*%
INTRODUCTION
>ew Creation seeks to e%plain by di$ine re$elation the nature and life of the new man man in Christ and the effect of the re#enerati$e power of Christ in his spirit soul and body. LEARNING OBECTIVES A' '0, ,% 8 '0* &)(9 (/'*&*(%' 0$)
"now of their sal$ation and be confident of it.
"now about the ori#in of Sin ? 'he :damic :damic ori#in. Sin is the nature of the unbelie$er re#ardless of if he does #ood or bad.
"now that for#i$eness is a$ailable to a Christian if he sins
6nderstand that their parenta#e is of &od and he #a$e them freely because they belie$ed
6nderstand the reality of Spirit Soul and Body
1. The New Creation: 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2: 10 [Amplified]; Galatians 6:15
1:.*% "Therefore "Therefore if an! man e in Christ he is a #E$ C%EAT&'# old thin(s are passed a)a! and all thin(s are e*ome ne)" 2 Corinthians 5:17
'his is the cardinal point. 'he Christian is a >EW C5E:'<>. *e is one who ne$er e%isted or pre3e%isted alto#ether a new man with a new kind of life and this life comes directly from &od.
'his birth is a rebirth in the real sense of the word because to &od this man ne$er had a past nor e%isted. *e is a brand new person with a new life. 'alk about the encounter of -esus and >icodemus in -ohn @/@32. 'he term Born :#ain was #i$en by -esus and he said bein# born a#ain is a 46S' and not an option. ' S <>L8 B8 BE>& B<5> :&:> '*:' 8<6 BEC<4E : >EW C5E:'<> > C*5S' -ES6S.
'he new creation is &odAs workmanship created made brou#ht to life by &od created in Christ to do #ood works 3 Ephesians 3 Ephesians 2:10. 2:10 . 'he new creation is not remade or refurbished. *e is not ust endowed with a new character. *e is created with the nature of &od in his spirit. *e hails from &od. 'he Bible says/ +or in Christ ,es-s neither *ir*-m*ision nor -n*ir*-m*ision a.aileth m-*h -t a ne) *reation/ Galatians 6:15/
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'he new creation may look the same outside ? no chan#e in skin color sie and shape but the truth is that he is completely new inside in his spirit. 'his is so because bein# born a#ain is of the spirit 'herefore the new creation now li$es his life from the inside. *e has the di$ine nature of &od in his spirit. *e is as holy and ri#hteous as &od is. What we recei$e when we #et born a#ain is a >EW >:'65E. >:'65E. What makes a 4an a 4an is the *uman >ature.
Foundation
What makes a 'ree a tree is the )lant >ature.
What makes a 9o# a 9o# is the :nimal >ature.
What makes a 4an B<5> :&:> is the >:'65E >:'65E and LFE of &<9 he recei$es. r ecei$es.
'o be born a#ain is a 45:CLE. &od’s 4iracle.
ANALOGY: ANALOGY:
: fairly used en#ine in a car with a >ew Body is a fairly used Car. 'his is because the E>&>E is the Car. When a 4an is born a#ain he has recei$ed a >EW En#ine. E$en thou#h the body may ha$e a dent or a scratch because the E>&>E (his Spirit is >EW!. *e is >EW. >ow that you are born a#ain you you are born into the family of &od. 'he family of &od includes all who belie$ed in *im in the past those who belie$e in *im now and those who will in future. &od is the father of e$ery belie$er/ this makes all Christians brethren (brothers and sisters!. sis ters!. 8ou 8ou therefore are ar e a part of &od’s &od’s family. o
Ephesians @/D: @/D: +rom )hom the )hole famil! in hea.en and earth is named"
Before we #ot born a#ain we were not in the kin#dom of &odAs Son i.e. *is family, we were alienated from it. >ow as children of &od we ha$e been translated into the kin#dom of *is Son. By $irtue of our sal$ation sa l$ation we are born into &odAs family. Colossians /@/ $ho hath deli.ered -s from the po)er of darness and hath translated -s into the in(dom of is dear 3on4. 3on4 . o
Eph 0/ >ow therefore ye are no more stran#ers and forei#ners but fellow citiens with the saints and of the household of &od’ 5.*%
1; B/% 8 G -o -ohn /03@, 5omans G/3G 3G 'itus @/D -ohn @/@3H
'his new creation in Christ -esus is born of &od. : son is the child of his father born of his fatherAs seed. o
-ohn /03@ 3 -t 3 -t as man! as re*ei.ed re*ei.ed him to them he (a.e po)er to e*ome the sons of God e.en to them that elie.e on his his name/ $hi*h )ere orn orn not of lood nor of the )ill of flesh nor of the )ill of man -t of God
'he Bible says to all that belie$e in *is >ame &od #a$e ri#ht to become *is sons. n -ohn /03 @ &od calls the one who belie$es in *is son born of *is seed and &odAs seed is *is W<59. 'hat is why we cry A:bba FatherA because the $ery life of &od in us makes us *is belo$ed sons ust as much as -esus is.
*e is not born of man or of the flesh. *e is born of &od because he recei$ed the nature of &od in 5.*% his spirit (-ohn @/@3H!. *e first belie$es in his heart that the the Lord -esus was raised from the dead and then confesses what he belie$es with his mouth. ( %om/ ( %om/ 10:810!. 10:810!. :s soon as this is done he is automatically birthed of &od.
2; T0, O/**% 8 S*% 5omD/23H 0 13, %om9:2982 1,ohn2:2/
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Sin came into this world throu#h :dam :dam when he disobeyed &od and a nd committed hi#h treason a#ainst &od in the &arden of Eden. 'he conse7uence of that action caused the death nature of Satan to pass upon all men and it’s because of that nature that all men sinned. &en0/I Since then sin became the nature of e$ery e $ery man that is born of 4an. 8ou do not ha$e to do anythin# to sin but rather you sin because you ha$e the nature of Sin in you. 5omD/23H 0 13 'his is the reason why the birth of -esus could not ha$e been throu#h the a#ency of 4an otherwise -esus too would ha$e been born a sinner. But -esus was born of a $ir#in without a man and so without the sin nature. *e also li$ed abo$e the temptations of sin (*ebs2/D! so his blood was pure enou#h to be the price propitiation
3; S()<('*% + G/(&, Ephesians Ephesians 0/03G, 5oman D/3@
Sal$ation is by #race. 8ou 8ou do not ha$e to do anythin# to attain it. t is a #ift from &od. :ll we ha$e to do is recei$e it by faith. Christ miraculously destroyed the penalty penalty of sin and its power o$er us on the cross. 'hrou#h faith in Christ we stand ac7uitted or not #uilty before &od. 'his is the #race of &od at work. o
+or ! (ra*e !o- )ere sa.ed thro-(h faith and nor of !o-rsel.es; it is the (ift of God not of )ors lest an!one sho-ld oast4 Eph/ 2:8=/
We became Christians throu#h &od’s &od’s unmerited #race not as a result of any effort ability a bility intelli#ent choice or act of ser$ice on our part. t is therefore e$ident that no action or work we did could ha$e helped us obtain or 7ualify for sal$ation. t was by &od’s &od’s #race. :ll that is re7uired is to belie$e the lordship of -esus and confess it with our mouths. 5omans D/I. 'hose who recei$e abundance of #race and of the free #ift of ri#hteousness will rei#n in life thou#h -esus. 'his is &od’s word to all Christians we can rei#n o$er all the $ices and e$il in this world.
4; A$/(%&, 8 S()<('*%
1:.*%
Sometimes the de$il likes to decei$e &od’s children by makin# us feel that we are not sa$ed.
T0, W/ R.(% 1:=-1:> -ohn D/3G
We know that we are sa$ed by what the word of &od says concernin# our sal$ation. n 5om G/ 3G we see that you belie$e with your heart and with your mouth confess what you belie$e then you are sa$ed. >o matter how doubtful we may feel sometimes this scripture #i$es us assurance.
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From the word of &od we know that the witness of &od is better’ ? -ohn D/3G. &od *imself witnesses that our sal$ation is assured by the belief in our hearts and the confessions that our mouths made. b.
T0, W*'%, W*'%, 8 '0, H)+ S*/*' R.(% ?16
The 3pirit imself eareth )itness that )e are the sons of God4/ We may not always feel as thou#h we belon# to &od but the *oly Spirit always bears witness with our spirit that we are &od’s children. *e does this throu#h the inward witness. *e lets us know by this witness who we are. 'he *oly Spirit witnesses with our spirit that is ali$e to &od that we are born and sa$ed of &od. We hear him communicatin# with us (our spirit! that we are born a#ain. By the abo$e two means we are continually assured of the fact that we are sa$ed despite our feelin#s. t does not matter what our senses tell us. 'he only important testimony is the one &od #i$es concernin# us=
5; 5emi 5emiss ssio ion n for for the the 6nr 6nre# e#en ener erat ate/ e/ :cts :cts 0/@ 0/@1, 4att 4atth hew 0H/0 H/01, Ephe Ephesi sian anss /I /I
5.*%
:n unre#enerate bein# is someone who is not yet born a#ain (an unbelie$er a sinner!. When a sinner comes to Christ he does not recei$e for#i$eness. :n unbelie$er needs to #et his sins remitted to be born a#ain 3 he #ets remission of his sins when he belie$es that -esus is Lord and confesses this with his mouth. 5emission is the actual washin# away of sins in such a way that the sin ne$er e$en e%isted before. 'his is bein# born a#ain. -esus Christ when *e died on the cross of Cal$ary died for the whole world both the re#enerate (Christians! and the unre#enerate (non3Christians =/ +or this is m! lood of the >ew 'estament which is shed for many for the remission of sinJ (4atthew 0H/01!. 'his is why the bible says that if any man is in Christ -esus he is a new creation.
Ephesians /1/ &n )hom )e ha.e redemption thro-(h is lood the for(i.eness of sins a**ordin( to the ri*hes of is (ra*e4/
ANALOGY : >se %emission of ?one! $estern $estern >nion ?one! tr transfer=: ansfer=: 'n*e mone! is remitted it no lon(er elon(s to the remitter/ remitter/ The remitter *an no lon(er *laim that mone!/ The re*ipient )ho re*ei.es the mone! e*omes the #e) ')ner of the mone!/ mone!/ &n the *ase of a sinner sinner his sins are on*e and for all remitted to Cal.ar!/
6; F/*<,%, 8/ '0, C0/*'*(% -ohn /3G, -ohn 0/3@
5.*%
t is possible for a child of &od (a Christian! to sin althou#h this ou#ht not to be. When a Christian does what is wron# or makes a mistake he does not need to confess the Lordship of -esus Christ any lon#er as he did this to #et born a#ain. :ll he needs to do is to be truly sorry and ask &od to for#i$e him as the scripture says and recei$e for#i$eness o
&f )e *onfess o-r sins e is faithf-l and @-st to for(i.e -s o-r sins and to *leanse -s from all -nri(hteo-sness4 1 ,ohn 1:=/
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Foundation
f we confess our sins &od for#i$es us. *e is not countin# our mistakes a#ainst us. &od sees us as ri#hteous children always. *e sees *is son -esus Christ in us and sees us throu#h *is son e$en when we make mistakes. f we make a mistake or sin all we ha$e to do is confess to *im and *e for#i$es us. We must always belie$e that *e has for#i$en us and not brood o$er our past mistakes. o
&f an!one orn a(ain *hild of God= sins )e ha.e an ad.o*ate )ith the father ,es-s Christ the ri(hteo-s4 1 ,ohn 2:1=
-esus Christ is our ad$ocate. *e has already suffered your penalty in your place. :ll you need to do is confess and belie$e that you are for#i$en because *e has indeed for#i$en you.
7; 4an is a S*/*'! *e has S$) and li$es in a B+/ 'hessalonians D/0@, *ebrews 2/0, -ob 2/, -ob G/. G/.
1: M*%
A; T0 T0,, S*/ S*/*' *'
'he Spirit is the K5E:L 4:>J that bein# that communicates with and responds to &od by the a#ency of the *oly Spirit. Spirit #i$es life to the body and can be allowed to ha$e dominion o$er the soul and body. i.
ii.
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T0, S*/*' S */*' M(% ' ' (<, 0 Corinthians D/I, Corinthians H/I
t is the spirit of man that #ot sa$ed. 'his is the man mentioned mentioned in 0 Cor. Cor. D/I. *is body remains the same. *is physical + e%ternal appearances remain unchan#ed because *E S S)5'. S)5'. 'he human body that houses a man is not the person. 'he real per son is the spirit the one who #ot born a#ain. 'hat is the one ali$e to &od and it cannot be seen with the optical eye. &od is Spirit. -t e )ho is @oined to the Bord is one 3pirit )ith im4 2 Cor/ Cor/ 6:17=/ 'hat tells us that the spirit man is the one that is ali$e with &od. H, )*<, )* <, I% '0, W/ 8 G G )eter 0/0, 4atthew 2/2, *ebrews D/032
We all need to eat food to #row. -ust as the human bein# (our physical bodies! must eat to stay ali$e and be healthy so also the Spirit of man must feed to be healthy. T0, 8 8/ '0, */*' * '0, @/ 8 G! 'he Christian cannot li$e on bread alone as -esus said but on e$ery one of &odAs Word (4atthew 2/2!. When we are born a#ain we are spiritual babies and we ha$e to feed to #row . -ust as a human bein# who does not eat well will easily fall ill so will the human spirit that does not feed on the word of &od be susceptible to attack. f we are healthy we will #row thatAs the only way. E$ery Christian should be desirous of &odAs Word Word to #row and be nourished by it ( )eter 0/0 *ebrews D/2!. :s we li$e by the Word and feed on it our appetite for it increases hence the de$elopment of our spirit is enhanced. Christians cannot li$e without the word.
Foundation
iii.
T0, 8/$*' 8 '0, /,&/,(', 0$.(% */*' G()('*(% 522-23
Fruits are the character that we e%hibit e%ternally that tells people who we really are. < ! their fr-its !o- shall no) them/ -ust as a tree produces fruits and is reco#nied by these fruits so also the spirit (manAs spirit! produces character traits that are ChristAs nature. 'hese traits that the belie$er e%hibits are used to identify that he is a Christian. For these fruits to #row in us depends on how much of *im we know by feedin# on *is word and how much we lo$e *im. -esus Christ is the $ine, we are the branches 3 the fruit bearin# part of same $ine. 'hese fruits are different from the gifts of the Holy Spirit . 'he #ifts of the *oly Spirit are spiritual #ifts #i$en to belie$ers by the *oly Spirit as *e wills. :t e$ery point in time the Christian has the fruits of the spirit because they are in his nature
B; T0 T0,, S$) S$) M* M*% %;;
'he soul is the processi processin# n# centre centre of man, it houses houses his emotions, will, feelings and intellect (sensory perception! and is the window between the Spirit and the Body. 'he 'he mind is the thinkin# faculty of man. : man’s thou#ht is as powerful as his action and word and therefore can control the body and affect its discipline. 'he will is the part of the soul that makes decision. 'he emotion of man has to do with his feelin#. 'he soul is the doorway of the spirit, as such if the mind (soul! (soul! of a man is blocked his spirit spirit becomes inaccessible. inaccessible. 'he soul has control control o$er the body. body. t is where a man carries out his reasonin# and his recordin# system. *;
T0,, //,% T0 ,%,@ ,@() () 8 '0, .*% .*% R. R.(% (% 12 1211-3> 3> E E0, 0,* *(% (% 42 4211-22 22
Before we became Christians our minds and thou#hts were filled with thin#s and $alues of the world ob$iously not of &od. 'herefore our minds ha$e to be renewed and our thou#hts ali#ned with and consistent with #odly li$in#. 'he mind is the seat of the will the intellect and the emotion. 'he information in the mind therefore is what determines what the man will become. )aul said that transformation of our li$es comes as we renew our minds. n other words as we take off the old information information we had before we #ot sa$ed and put new ones from the word of &od our li$es will be transformed/
I' * /,% /,%,@ ,@, , + + '0, '0, @/ @/ 8 G G (. (., , 113 113-1 -15> 5> 2&/ 2&/*% *%'0 '0*( *(% %3 31? 1?
)aul in his second epistle to the Corinthian Church said that as we behold the #lory of &od we are transformed into the same ima#e that we see in the word from one le$el of #lory to another.
'he body is the co$erin# co$erin# of the spirit man (-ob G/!. G/!. t’s with his body that a man attends to daily life issues. 'he body also #i$es man the le#al ri#ht to e%ist and function here on earth.
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*; B/*%* B/*%*% % '0, '0, + + $% $%,/ ,/ $, $,&'* &'*% % Corinthians /0230I, Colossians @/D,
'he body has no will of its own. t is either a sla$e to the senses or a sla$e to the spirit. )aul lets us know that it is our responsibilit responsibility y to keep our bodies under the rulership of our spirit. 'he body wants to do what it feels like doin# doin# but many times the feelin#s in the body may be contrary to the word of &od. :t such times we put the body under subection to our spirit. n other words we tell it what to do. )aul says the reason for puttin# the body under is so that we do not #et dis7ualified after preachin# to others. t is possible to be dis7ualified for the prie. :nyone who walks by the flesh will definitely be dis7ualified for the prie that is why -esus said that &od is a Spirit and they that worship *im must do so in spirit and in truth. We do not worship &od in the flesh but in the spirit.
?; N,@ C/,('*% R,()*'*,! 'he >ew Creati Creation on is the man born born anew in Christ. Christ. *e is transfor transformed med by the renewal renewal of his mind mind throu#h the word of &od. :nd he is re7uired to mortify and brin# under control his body by the doin# of the word of &od. 'he new creation.
2:.*%
a. is compl complete ete in *im/ *im/ Coloss Colossian ianss 0/3G 0/3G,, -ohn -ohn 0/@ 'here is nothin# else that the belie$er needs that he does not already ha$e in -esus Christ. :ll of &od’s #oodness dwells in -esus and the Belie$er is complete in him b. has eternal life/ -ohn @/H, -ohn D/02, 0 timothy timothy /3G, -ohn D/30 D/30 Eternal life is more than life that that will not end. Eternal life is the $ery life of &od &od that makes &od &od. 'his life is in -esus and if we ha$e -esus we ha$e this life. We ha$e &od in 6s= c. now li$es li$es in Mion/ Mion/ *ebrews *ebrews 0/00302 0/00302,, Colossians Colossians /@, /@, ohn ohn I/2 I/2 Belie$ers are not of this world they are from Mion. Mion is where &od is a place of rest a place of all possibilities= d. Sits in the the place of of power/ power/ Ephesians Ephesians /30, /30, Ephesia Ephesians ns 0/HG/ 0/HG/ 4atthew 4atthew 01/13 01/13 4ark H/H31. :s belie$ers we sit in the place of power with &od. Because of this when we decree a thin# it comes to pass.
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R EVISION EVISION UESTIONS
'he bible says you are born of &od, this means you ha$e the e%act kind of relationship -esus has with &od. *ow true is thatN
Who are those that belon# to the family of &odN
*ow will be continually assured of my sal$ation despite what my senses tell meN
Fidelis is feelin# condemned and #uilty because he committed a sin. What should he do as a child of &odN
*ow is 5emission of Sin different from For#i$eness of SinN
Write short notes on .! Spirit ( 0.! Soul and (@!Body.
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ASSIGNMENT
. *ow will will the study of the Word of &od affect affect a man’ man’s/ a! Spirit b! Soul c! Body
TODAY’S CONFESSIONS ! am a N"# C$"AT!ON% C$"AT!ON% ! ne&er e'isted or pre(e'isted% ! am not ref)r*ished% ! am altogether a
*rand new person, with a new +ind of life% y new life comes directly from God% ! ha&e e&erlasting, indestr)cti*le and eternal life of God at wor+ in me% The life of God is in e&ery cell of my *ody% *ody% !t-s in my so)l% !t-s all o&er me% ! am God.s wor+manship, created in Christ to do good wor+s% ! do good wor+s *eca)se ! am righteo)s% ! am created with the nat)re of God in my spirit% ! hail from God/ ! am a new creation% ! may loo+ the same o)tside *)t the tr)th is that ! am completely new inside, in my spirit% Therefore, ! now li&e my life from the inside% ! ha&e the di&ine nat)re of God in my spirit% ! am the righteo)sness of God in Christ 0es)s/ SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION FOR MEDITATION
"Therefore "Therefore if an! man e in Christ he is a #E$ C%EAT&'# old thin(s are passed a)a! and all thin(s are e*ome ne)" 2 Corinthians 5:17 R EFERENCE EFERENCE MATERIALS
5<5 'opical Compendium ;ols. O $ol 0 6nderstandin# 5i#hteousness (Series! >ow 'hat 8ou 8ou are Born :#ain 'he Concept of Sin (9;9! 'he Essence of Christianity.
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CLASS 2
THE HOL HOLY Y SPIRIT T*.*% G$*, 10/
INTRODUCTION
'he person of the *oly Spirit is $ital to the e%istence of the Christian. t would ha$e been impossible for -esus to accomplish his earthly ministry without the *oly Spirit. n fact -esus would not ha$e been born without the *oly Spirit. 'oday oday what differentiates Christianity from all the reli#ions of the world is the presence and power of the *oly Spirit that resides in the church (the body of of Christ!. L,(/%*% O,&'*<, T0,., S&/*'$/, 0% 14 16 -2:
'o introduce the *oly Spirit to the belie$er 'o #et the new belie$er filled with the *oly Spirit 'o ac7uaint the new belie$er with the ministry of the *oly Spirit 'o create a passionate hun#er in the heart of the new belie$er for a close walk with the *oly Spirit.
1; WHO IS THE HOL HOLY Y SPIR SPIRIT IT
'he *oly Spirit is &od &od *imself. *e is the @ rd person of the trinity. *e is the one that puts to work &od’s &od’s instruction. *e is a member of the &odhead. &en /0H
E.# in &enesis &enesis /0H when when &od said Let )s/ ma+e man in o)r own image, after o)r li+eliness11%, it was the *oly Spirit that that went to work.
:lso we see the *oly Spirit at work in &enesis &enes is /0 .. and the Spirit of &od mo$ed upon the face of the waters. t was the *oly Spirit that created the earth when &od spoke.
*e is the an#el of &od’s presence (saiah H@/!. *e is the person that brin#s to us on earth the presence of the &od the Father. -esus is in hea$en but *is presence can be felt here on earth throu#h the ministry of the *oly Spirit. &od dwells between the cherubim of #lory but *is presence can be felt in this world throu#h the *oly &host. &host.
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Bein# a Spirit we cannot see *im with the optical eyes but we can see *is manifestation. *e is as real as the person sittin# ne%t to you (-ohn 2/I!. *e has a personality ust as e$ery human bein# has a personality. *e can be #rie$ed (Ephesians 2/@G! and can talk (:cts @/0!.
&od is too bi# to dwell in us but *e is able to dwell in us by the *oly Spirit. :ny time it was recorded that &od appeared to men it was the *oly &host that brou#ht to them the presence of &od. *e is the an#el of &odAs presence. *e is one of the same kind with -esus (-ohn 2/H 0G!. 'he *oly Spirit is also known as Allos araletos araletos meanin# another Comforter of the same kind called alon#side to help. *e is not of a different kind but of the same kind with the Lord -esus Christ. *e talks heals sa$es and does e$erythin# like -esus. -esus is ust like the Father, Father, it then means that the *oly &host is ust like the father. father. 'his implies that the Father Father -esus and the *oly &host are one and the same. 'he Father says the same thin#s as -esus ust
Foundation
as the *oly &host speaks the $ery words of -esus (-ohn H/@!.
&od and -esus cannot cannot be e$erywhere e$erywhere at the same time (&od is in *ea$en and -esus it seated at the ri#ht hand of &od! but the *oly Spirit is the one who takes the presence of &od e$ery at the same time.
2; THE MINISTRY MINISTRY OF THE HOLY HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN CHRISTIAN
t is only by the power of the *oly Spirit that we can be effecti$e witnesses of the death burial and resurrection of our Lord -esus Christ. When a man recei$es the *oly Spirit the *oly Spirit #i$es him the dynamic ability to li$e the Christian life successfully -esus Christ said to his disciples that they would recei$e power after that the *oly Spirit is come upon them (:cts /1!. 'his power is to enable us fulfil the ministry that he has called us into. :ll Christians ha$e been called into this ministry (Ephesians 2/0!, Luke 2/I31 records our function or responsibilities in this ministry. 'he *oly Spirit empowers all Christians to do the followin#/ a! b! c! d! e!
)reach )reach the &ospel &ospel to the the poor poor.. *eal the broken hearted )reach )reach deli$e deli$eran rance ce to the capti$ capti$es es 5eco$e 5eco$ery ry of of si#ht si#ht to the the blin blind d Set at libe liberty rty them them that that are are bruised bruised
3; SEVEN SYNONYMS OF THE HOLY HOLY SPIRIT
:part from bein# known as the *oly Spirit there are I other ways or re$elations a belie$er can ha$e of the *oly Spirit that will help *im in his walk and relationship with the *oly Spirit.
-ohn 2/H3I 0 nd Corinthians /@ H, * $/ C.8/',/ 'he *oly Spirit comforts Christians. 'here are times when the Christian may be discoura#ed or #oes throu#h some challen#es that may want to discoura#e him but the *oly Spirit encoura#es the Christian to mo$e ahead and o$ercome those challen#es. )salm H/I saiah /0 H, * $/ C$%,))/ t is the *oly Spirit who instructs you in your inward man. *e #i$es you instructions by which which he #uides your life. For e%ample thin#s that that concern daily li$in# such such as decision makin#. H, * $/ H,),/
)salm 2H/
5omans 1/H
'he *oly Spirit is our *elper. When you recei$e *im into your life you should ne$er say a#ain D& dont ha.e an!od! to help me . me . 'his is because &od has the ri#ht people in the ri#ht place to help you at the ri#ht time. &od orchestrates help to us whene$er we need it $ia the ministration of the *oly Spirit. 'here are times that a Christian may be confused about somethin# but the *oly Spirit helps us by witnessin# to our Spirit. 'here are times when you are faced with a #reat task and you are wonderin# how you would succeed. Be sure of this you are not walkin# alone. With With *is help there is no tellin# what we can do and where where we can #o. &lory to &od=
H, * $/ I%',/&,/
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5omans 1/0H
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:n intercessor is one who stands in the #ap for another .'here are times that we ha$e an ur#e to pray for but we really may not know what to pray about or the e%act words to use. 'he *oly Spirit helps us to pray in words that cannot be articulated. 'he prayer sometimes may not be about that concerns us specifically but we find our self intercedin# for someone.
O$/ T,(&0,/ 1' C/*%'0*(% 2> =-119 0% 1613 'he *oly Spirit teaches us deep truth to our understandin#. 'here are times that we may not ha$e full understandin# of a matter but the *oly Spirit Spirit makes it easy for us to understands understands by teachin# us throu#h our Spirit O$/ S'/,%'0,%,/ P0*)**(% 413 I(*(0 112 'here are times that we feel limited to do some thin#s maybe physically or mentally. With the *oly Spirit in us we know that we are stren#thened on e$ery side. We can actually recei$e stren#th by the *oly Spirit for whate$er we need it for.
E.# some people sometimes pass out because they ha$e hi#h blood pressure 3 they black out all of a sudden. Such thin#s are not supposed to happen to you you can stop them by applyin# the power of the *oly Spirit.
O$/ S'(%+ 5oman 1/ When you run out of e$erythin# stren#th information information ideas and opinion. 'here is a standby standby the *oly Spirit. *e will #i$e life to your body he will ener#ies your Spirit and supply you with the necessary knowled#e wisdom and understandin#. 'he *oly Spirit is our standby to take o$er and carry on when we ha$e reached our limits.
4; HOW TO RECEIVE RECEIVE THE THE HOLY HOLY SPIRIT SPIRIT - ACT 1 ? 9 A&' 1=6 1=6 E$ery Christian can recei$e the *oly Spirit as this is not restricted to a selected few but to all belie$ers. 'he Christian can recei$e by/ 'hrou#h the layin# of hands We can also confess it 5; SPEAING SPEAING IN IN TONGUE TONGUES S AND ITS ITS PURPOS PURPOSES ES When a Christian has recei$ed the *oly Spirit this must manifest by the ability to speak in other ton#ues. Speakin# in ton#ues is one of the si#ns of a belie$er. 4ark H/ I
'he reasons for speakin# in ton#ues are as follows/
T $*) $/ 8(*'0! $, 2: :s we pray in the *oly &host (speakin# in ton#ues! we see oursel$es ha$in# recei$ed answers to our prayers + petitions and we be#in to act as those that ha$e recei$ed 3 this is faith. 'he 'he more we spend time to speak in other ton#ues the more our faith is built up= :t a point we know that nothin# nothin# is impossible to us=
I' * %, 8 '0, SIGNS 8 ( ,)*,<,/! M(/ 16 17 Speakin# in ton#ues is one of the ways to reco#nie a belie$er. When you say you are born a#ain people look out to see if you speak in ton#ues as this sets you apart as truly born a#ain.
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T ,*8+ +$/,)8!1C/*%'0*(% +$/,)8! 1C/*%'0*(% 144 E%ample/ E%ample/ when you need need to make a decision or to know the direction direction to #o in any area of your life (school (school ob business family family and finances!. :s you speak in ton#ues your mind becomes 7uiet then you can pick the information information from your spirit.
T )/*8+ G9 A&' 1: 469 1C/*%'0*(% 1417 'rue praise and worship can only be by speakin# in other ton#ues. 'his is because there is not enou#h words in any of the $ocabulary to #lorify.
T S,( M+',/*, ' G! 1C/*%'0*(% 42( 4yster 4ysteries ies are hidden hidden truths truths only only re$eal re$ealed ed to the initiat initiated ed mostly mostly $erbal $erbalie ied d in esoter esoteric ic lan#ua#e. t is the lan#ua#e of &od and :n#els.
6! THE SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD!
'he number Se$en (I! is re#arded by the *ebrew people as a sacred number and throu#hout the Bible it is used to symbolie perfection fullness abundance rest and completion. 'he KSe$en Spirits of &od’’ therefore implies a KcompletenessJ or KfullnessJ of the *oly Spirit and this fullness of the Spirit is what e$ery Christian ou#ht to ha$e for it is our birth ri#ht A! S*/ S*/*' *' 8 8 G G II( (*( *(0 0 11 11 2 T0, */*' 8 '0, L/ ? 0 chronicles D/ ? 0 is known as the spirit of Lordship or Spirit of 9ominion *e is the one who always Krest uponJ or Kcomes uponJ. *e’s the one who anoints you with power for ser$ice. *e #i$es you boldness and the sense of dominion. *e puts you in char#e of situations. B! S*/*' 8 M*0' I(*(0 11 1 2 Samson had the spirit of mi#ht that’s why he was able to destroy or tear the lion apart he also pulled a whole buildin# by holdin# ust the pillars. pillars . For us Christians the Spirit of 4i#ht makes us bold we can pray to be stren#thened with mi#ht in your inner man. C! T0, S*/*' S*/*' 8 F,(/ 8 T0, L/ 2 C/*%'0 C/*%'0 144 'his means re$erence when it comes into a place thin#s chan#e. *e disciplines people and sets thin#s thin#s in order. order. When :nania :naniass and Sapphire Sapphire misbeha$ed misbeha$ed he struck them dead and #reat fear came upon the people. (saiah ( saiah /0! D! T0, S*/*' 8 W*. 1 C/*%'0 13: s the one who brin#s you the wisdom of &od. )aul prayed for the Ephesians Christian that the &od of our Lord -esus Christ the father of &lory may #i$e unto you the spirit of wisdom and re$elation re$elation in the knowled#e knowled#e of him ? Ephesians Ephesians /I31. /I31. 'he spirit spirit of wisdom is the one who helps you understand the hope to which you ha$e been called. Ephesians @/13. E! T0, S*/*' S*/*' 8 %@), %@),, , "nowled#e accordin# to Webster dictionary is the fact or condition of bein# aware of somethin# or knowin# somethin# with familiarity #ained #ained throu#h e%perience or association. :ccordin# to the word of &od knowled#e is e%act specific specialied and absolute. 5e$elation knowled#e is knowled#e from the spirit of &od that is imparted to the human spirit with any material medium. 4ost times the difference between a successful $ictorious Christian and the one who is not is the knowled#e they ha$e.
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F! T0, S*/*' 8 C$%,) A&' 166 'he 'he spir spirit it of coun counsel sel spoke spoke to )aul )aul where where to #o to preach preach.. 'he 'he (*ol (*oly y Spir Spirit it!! is also the e%traordinary strate#ist. E%ample Sister -oy’s -oy’s car stopped on the train rail while she was tryin# to start the car a train was approachin# suddenly the spirit of &od counsel her on how to start the car immediately she did what &od asked her to do the car en#ine came ali$e and she was able to sa$e the car from bein# destroyed by a train.
I.
THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE MINISTRY GIFTS!
'hese #ifts bear testimony of the truth of &od’s Word and &od’s callin# upon a man’s life. 'hey are like tools &od has #i$en to us for our work as belie$ers. 'he #ifts of the *oly Spirit Cor 0/ I ? G are #ifts #i$en to belie$ers by the *oly Spirit as he wills for the common #ood and the edification of the Church’ 'hey can further be classified into @ cate#ories.
POWER GIFTS
'hese are action #ifts that cause someone to do or accomplish somethin# and they include/ a! &ift &ift of *eal *ealin in#s #s b! Faith c! Worki orkin# n# of mirac miracle less
UTTERANCE OR VOCAL GIFTS
'hese #ifts make use of the $ocals and they include/ a! )rophecy b! nterpretation of ton#ues c! Speaki Speakin# n# in in di$er di$erse se kinds kinds of of ton#ue ton#uess
REVELATION AND INSPIRATIONAL GIFTS
'hese make one to know or see a truth about another situation. situation. 'hese are/ a! Word ord of of Wisdo isdom m b! Word of "nowled#e c! 9isc 9iscern ernin in# # of of Spi Spirit ritss 'hese #ifts of the Spirit are what &od uses to e7uip the church.
MINISTRY GIFTS (*eb D/2 Eph 2/3@! &od #i$es the 4inistry #ifts to indi$iduals for their Callin# into an 'S F<5 '*E W<5" S'58. n other words to prepare and build up the saints so they can fulfil &odAs purpose for their li$es on earth. *owe$er t is not e$erybody that occupies these offices. t is a callin#. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND MINISTRY GIFTS!
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'he 4inistry #ifts are &od’s callin# into an office and cannot be desired (*ebrews D/2, Ephesians 2/!. t is &od *imself who calls the indi$idual into the fi$e3fold ministry and no man can take it upon himself. 'he ministry must be e$ident in the indi$idual’s life because &od who has called him will surely e7uip him with the di$ine enablement credentials or endowment to stand in that office.
'he #ifts of the Spirit are by the impartation into man’s spirit and they are abilities &od #i$es to e$ery belie$er to fulfil &od’s call upon his life. 'he Fruit of the recreated human spirit is the product of our recreated nature. We ha$e all of the fruit of the Spirit inside us as they come with our ri#hteous nature Gal5:2 Gal5:22 2 -t -t the fr-it fr-it of the 3pirit 3pirit is Bo.e Bo.e ,o! ,o! ea*e ea*e Bon(sBon(s-ffe fferin rin( ( Gentle Gentlenes ness s Goodness +aith ?eeness Temperan*e4/ Temperan*e4/ A#AB'G: ,-st lie )e *an onl! tell a tree ! its fr-it the +r-its of the ol! 3pirit are the identif!in( attri-tes of the #e) Creation/
&! EVERY CHRISTIAN CAN WAL IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT A&' 23? 3=;
'he *oly Spirit is recei$ed after sal$ation. t is the *oly Spirit comin# upon man to enable him do the supernatural. t is man recei$in# &odAs ability becomin# identified with the omnipotence of &od by the enablement of the *oly Spirit. :cts /1 says/ P -t !e shall re*ei.e po)er after the ol! Ghost Ghost is *ome -pon !o-///J !o-///J 'he 'he power power here means d-namis. d-namis. t is the dynamic ability to cause chan#es. &odAs ability is recei$ed after the *oly &host comes upon ones life. 'he *oly &host is recei$ed by faith and *eAs mostly recei$ed by the layin# on of hands (:cts /I :cts 1/I :cts 1/H!. 5ecei$in# the *oly &host means recei$in# the anointin# for Christian Ser$ice (-ohn 0/0G 0I, 0 Corinthians /0!. t is &od e7uippin# you with the ability to do what *e would would ha$e done if physically present on earth. 8ou 8ou recei$e the power to preach the #ospel heal the sick and raise the dead. 'he *oly &host is for e$ery child of &od and is recei$ed by faith (&al. @/0!. 'his is a #ift (:cts 0.@1!. Since it is a #ift you donAt ha$e to work it 3 you only recei$e it when you hear that &od desires to fill you with *is Spirit.
UESTION
.
*ow can you define define and describ describee speak speakin# in# in ton ton#ue #ues. s. n n othe otherr words words what what does does it mean to speak in ton#uesN
0. What is the purpose of speakin# in ton#uesN ton#uesN @. 4ention and e%plain all the #ifts of the *oly Spirit and cate#orie them as you ha$e been tau#ht. 16 | P a g e
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2. &i$e e%amples of the operation operation of each of the #ifts #ifts of the *oly Spirit. Spirit. D. What are ministry #iftsN #iftsN List and and e%plain e%plain them. them. H. What is the difference difference between ministry #ifts and #ifts of the spiritN I. What are the conditions for recei$in# the #ifts of the spiritN 1. What are the fruits of the SpiritN . What is the difference difference between the fruit of the spirit and the #ifts of the spiritN G. What is the fundamental difference between 4ark
H/I and Corinthians 0/IN
. What is the si#nificance of the *oly Spirit in a Christian’s Christian’s lifeN 0.
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ASSIGNMENT
. E$er E$ery y Christ Christia ian n can walk walk in the power power of the *oly *oly Spir Spirit it.. *ow *ow when when and at what what pointN 0. List D e$idences of the power power of the *oly Spirit.
CONFESSION &m f-ll of the ol! Ghost in im & li.e mo.e and ha.e m! ein( and & de*lare that in )hate.er & do & do ! the o)er of The ol! 3pirit that *a-ses me to tri-mph dail!/
& *an ne.er e defeated dis*o-ra(ed or helpless e*a-se the ol! Ghost li.es in me and & manifest his *hara*ter/ *hara*ter/
CLASS 3
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
INTRODUCTION
'
he purpose of this class is to establish the students firmly on the principles of the word of &od so that they will be no more children tossed to and fro and carried by e$ery wind of doctrine and to disabuse their minds of some misconceptions of the basic tenets of the #ospel. 'his class is $ery important as it forms f orms the cradle of their understandin# of ministry. ministry. 4ore so a #ood understandin# of this class would make their Christian li$es oyous and stru##le?free in the *oly Spirit. LEARNING OBECTIVES 17 | P a g e
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'hat participants would understand the fundamental doctrines of the thin#s that are most surely belie$ed in the new Christian3dom on 5i#hteousness Layin# on of hands Sanctification and *oliness baptism and what their role is in fulfillin# the doctrines in their life Timing Guide
2% W, (/, *% ( %,@ *%.9 ,/('*% + ( *88,/,%' ,' 8 /$),
n *ebrews 0/ 0030@ the Bible says
K8e K8e are come unto 4ount Mion and unto the city of the li$in# &od the hea$enly -erusalem, and to an innumerable company of an#els. To the general assem*ly and ch)rch of the first *orn, which are written in hea&en, and to God the 3)dge of all, to the spirits of 3)st men made perfect1/
When we recei$ed Christ into our li$es *e made us new creatures (0 Cor. D/I!
We are now in a >ew "in#dom (Col. /03@!.
n this >ew "in#dom we ha$e a lifestyle which is based entirely on the faith of &od’s word (5omans 0/@ *ebrews /H!. When we were in the world there are certain mannerisms lifestyles or ethics that we learnt either consciously or unconsciously3 we now e$aluate them in the li#ht of &od’s word and also take on the &od3kind of lifestyle in the >ew 'estament. 'his class deals with these lifestyles which ha$e become doctrines in the church of &od and especially this local assembly Christ Embassy.
5 minutes
4% M,(%*% 8 &'/*%,
: doctrine is a reco#niable principle of beliefs teachin# $alues or instructions that are adhere to belie$ed tau#ht and practiced by a #i$en set of people. 4ost doctrines are transferable concept which ha$e been handed down to us formally or informally informally,, for e%ample in the new testament testament we ha$e these maor doctrines doctrines ? ri#hteousne ri#hteousness ss Baptism Sanctification )rosperity etc. each of them is important in ensurin# that we li$e a sound Christian life. a.
t means means teach teachin# in# or or learnin learnin#/ #/ 'imo 'imothy thy 2/@ 2/@,, :cts :cts 0/20
Learnin# can be conscious (e.# school 4inistry 4aterials! and unconsciously ('; >ews! Learnin# can be throu#h culture or society and similarly the chur$h is a place of learnin#
b. Bein# established upon the truth/ Ephesians 2/2, :ct 0G/013@0
5% D&'/*%, 8 /*0',$%, H, 517> a. We are &od’s &od’s 5i#hteousn 5i#hteousness ess 5omans 5omans D/I, D/I, 0 Corinthia CorinthiansD/0/ nsD/0/5oma 5omans ns G/32G G/32G,, 0 Corinthians 2/@.
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t is the $ery nature of &od that we recei$ed in that moment you #a$e your heart to Christ. -ust as a baby can’t be more human than it you also cannot cannot be more ri#hteous than you are from the day you you #ot sa$ed. Foundation
5i#hteousness is the nature of &od that #i$es us a ri#ht standin# in *is presence. t is ri#hteousness that #i$es the ability to rei#n in life li$in# in &od’s presence without feelin# (or any sense! of #uilt inferiority or condemnation t is a #ift bestowed upon us by &od irrespecti$e of whate$er #ood we ha$e done. 'his #ift is recei$ed by faith not of walks. 8our 5i#hteousness is the same as -esus Christ irrespecti$e of what you do. For e%ample K'aranJ was raised by monkeys but he is still a 4an. 8ou 8ou are the ri#hteousness of &od irrespecti$e of who you mo$e with or what you do t is our tool of dominion. t is recei$ed by faith because it is a #ift and not by obser$in# the works of the law. law. 5omans D/I We submit to &od’s ri#hteousness by ceasin# to trust in our own works (5omans G/3D!. ()hilippians @/!.
b. :ccess to &od’s &od’s presence/Ephesians 0/1 ,Ephesians @/0
c.
t #i$es us the ability to stand before &od without a sense of #uilt inferiority or condemnation.
&i$es &i$es you you boldn boldness/ ess/)ro )ro$er $erbs bs 01/, 01/, *ebre *ebrews ws G/ G/
d. &i$es &i$es you peace peace /saiah /saiah @0/I, @0/I,5om 5omans ans D/ We are now called Saints -ust 5i#hteous. 'hat is who you are today. :nswer your name=
6% T0 T0, F$%('*%() D&'/*%, 8 C0/*'
H,/,@ 61-2
Certain truths contained in the Word are referred to as foundational principles of the doctrines of Christ Christ.. 'hey 'hey are fundam fundament ental al to faith faith and form the founda foundatio tion n off off a sound sound Christi Christian an e%perience. e 6:182/ Therefore li.in( the prin*iples of the do*trine of Christ let -s (o -nto perfe*tion; not la!in( a(ain the fo-ndation of repentan*e from dead )ors and of faith to)ards God of the do*trine of aptisms and of la!in( on of hands and of the res-rre*tion of the dead and of eternal @-d(ment4. @-d(ment4. :ny doctrine that in any way disa#rees with these fundamental doctrines is accordin# to the standar standard d of &od’s &od’s Word a 8(), &'/*%,. 'hey therefore form a #ood reference point for ud#in# any doctrine. *!
R,, R,,%' %'(% (%&, &, 8/. 8/. ,( ,( @/ @/ H, H,/ /,@ ,@ =1 =122-14 14> G()! G()! 216 216!! t is essential for a Christian to realie that he is ustified by the faith and not by any thin# that he did or does. 'hat is all that is re7uired for sal$ation. n *eb /32 the writer let’s us know that throu#h the blood of Christ we ha$e our consciences pur#ed from dead works to ser$e the li$in# &od. What are these dead worksN Studyin# for $erses 3@ of the same chapter we can see that the apostle )aul was talkin# about the ritual by which people of the
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F(*'0 F(*'0 '@( '@(/ / G G H,/,@ H,/,@ 111 111-6 -6 R.( R.(% % 117 117>2 >2 C/*% C/*%'0* '0*(% (% 57! 57! 'he Bible says in *ebrews /30 K>ow faith is the substance of thin#s hoped for the e$idence of thin#s not seen. For by it the elders obtained a #ood reportJ. 'he life of the belie$er is a life of faith and &od has called us to li$e in the realm of faith. :s &od’s children we walk by faith and not by si#ht. Si#ht’ here means sensory perceptions. (0 Cor. Cor. D/I!. Before we #ot born a#ain we were led by our sensory perceptions but now &od wants us to chan#e. *e wants us to li$e i n *is realm the realm of faith. 'o some people the life of faith is a stru##le but it shouldn’t be like that for a Christian because we are born in faith. 'he Bible says in 5omans 0/@ 'hat is all we re7uire we ha$e recei$ed the measure of faith. 'his is the measure of faith that brou#ht us to Christ by our respondin# to the word of &od (5omans G/3G!. t is e$ery belie$er’s responsibility to de$elop his faith. K>ow faith comes by hearin# and hearin# by the Word of #odJ (5omans G/I!. :s we hear the word of &od we are buildin# up our faith, so e$ery belie$er must make conscious efforts of continually hearin# hearin# the word of &od not ust by attendin# attendin# church #atherin#s #atherin#s or bein# in meetin#s where the word of &od is tau#ht but also by buyin# rele$ant audio and $ideo tapes and other faith3buildin# materials.
***!
B('*. 'he word baptise’ is deri$ed from the &reek word baptio’ which means to immerse completely into’. (! B('*. B('*. 8 '0, H)+ H)+ S*/*' S*/*' N,@ N,@ B*/'0; B*/'0; 1 C/ 1213> 1213> E0 E0 44-5 44-5
T0* * B('*. *%' C0/*' / 'his is what happens when a man is born a#ain by the *oly &host. *e is buried into Christ in identification. *e thus partakes of *is death burial and conse7uently conse7uently resurrection into a new life. l ife.
! W(',/ (',/ B('* B('*. . R. R. 63-5> 63-5> 1 P,',/ P,',/ 321 321 B('*. + *..,/*% *% @(',/ / 'his is one of the sacraments of the church of Christ. t is the immersion of one completely into water and is an outward manifestation of what happens to a man when he is born a#ain and baptised into Christ. t was commanded by the Lord *imself as a si#n of faith showin# the world that we ha$e belie$ed and identify with the redemption of &od for mankind. L(+*% % 8 0(%
*
'he main reason for the layin# on of hands is for the impartation of #race upon an indi$idual either for healin# or empowerment or to impart a #ift. 9urin# the layin# on of hands that has to do with impartin# a spiritual blessin# it often #oes alon# with a prophecy. For e%ample in >umbers 0I/130@ where 4oses laid hands on -oshua to impart his authority authority we find that by the Spirit 4oses #a$e him char#e. 9euteronomy @2/ later records that -os hua was full of the spirit of wisdom because 4oses laid hands on him.
a. *eal *ealin in#/ #/(4 (4ar ark k H/1 H/1!, !, 'he e%ample of )astor in healin# School b. the infillin# of the *oly spirit/(:cts /H!, For those that are yet to recei$e the *oly &host c. impart impartatio ation n of spiritu spiritual al #ifts/( #ifts/(' 'imo imothy thy 2/2! 2/2!,, d. ordina ordinatio tion n into into the minis ministry try/(: /(:cts cts @/3 @/3@! @! e. for anointin# *ands *ands could be laid upon someone someone to recei$e anointin#. anointin#. 'he recei$in# of
this anointin# is $ital for the #reater and special works of the ministry
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R,$ ,$//,& //,&''*% *% 88//. '0, '0, ,( ,( / -ohnD/0130, 'hes 2/@3H, Cor D/
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'he scriptures records that it is appointed for a man to die once and after that ud#ment. *eb /0I. but form the understandin# of &od’s word we know t hat death is an enemy. enemy. &od ne$er means for a man to die but throu#h the disobedient of man death came into the earth. 'he bible says in 5om D/. KFor if by one man’s offence death rei#n by one much more they which recei$e abundance of #race and of the #ift of ri#hteousness shall rei#n in life by one -esus ChristJ. 9eath rei#ned until the obedience of Christ. >ow Christ has abolished death 0 'im /03G and has #i$en us the power to choose life. n Christ -esus death is a choice for the belie$er. 9eath cannot rei#n o$er us but those who died in Christ has hope in the resurrection. 'he Bible says in 'hess. 2/@3H. We belie$e in the resurrection of the dead because the word of &od teaches us so. 4an is a Spirit bein# and does not #o to e%tinct when he dies. *is spirit #oes to t o his master ? either &od or the de$il 5om. H/H but his body is buried and returns to dust. E%ample of those with near3death near3death e%periences Scriptural 5eferences/ -n D/0130 'hess. 2/@3H *eb. /0I
E',/%() $ $.,%'
'he scriptures record that it is appointed for a man to die once and after that the ud#ment (*ebrews /0I!. We We ha$e two types of ud#ment one for belie$ers and the other for unbelie$ers/ (! C0/*'*(% C0/*'*(% $.,% $.,%'' 8/ /,@(/ /,@(/ R.(% R.(% 141:>1 141:>1 C/*%'0 C/*%'0*(% *(% 311-16 311-16
,-d(ment 3eat of Christ: 'he Christ: 'he ud#ment seat of Christ is where Christians recei$e rewards for the deeds they performed while on earth ( Cor. @/@3D!. >ote that the Christian will not face the ud#ment seat to be condemned or ud#ed. 'here is absolutely no condemnation for those who are in Christ -esus. (5omans 1/ 2/G!. ! $.,%' $.,%' 8 '0, $%, $%,)*,<,/ )*,<,/ 8/ &%,.%(' &%,.%('*% *% R,<,)('*% R,<,)('*% 2:1 2:11-15
The Great $hite Throne ,-d(ment: 'his ,-d(ment: 'his is when the non3Christian will be ud#ed or condemned for not acceptin# -esus Christ as their Lord and Sa$iour. *ere the church also will be present to#ether with &od to pass pas s ud#ment on the non3Christian ( Cor. Cor. H/03@!. 7% D&' D&'/*% /*%,, % S(%& S(%&'* '*8* 8*&( &('* '*% % He*rews 28:2892 Corinthians :2;9 2 Thessalonians 7:45, 2Corinthians 2:58 'his means D*onse*ration or or separation from others for a special use . t is two3fold/
T0, 8*/' 8) * '0, ,(/('*% 8 '0, ,)*,<,/ 8/. '0, @/) @0,% 0, ,' /%-((*%! T0* * *%'(%'(%,$ $% /,&,*<*% C0/*' .
n this first fold &od takes you from the world. t’s like takin# you out from the mud. -t !e are )ashed -t !e are san*tified in the name of the lord ,es-s and ! the 3pirit of God4/ 1 C/! 611 see also H,! 1:1: $, 1! 'his first fold of Sanctification is done by &od and &od alone throu#h -esus Christ our Lord
T0, ,&% 8) * '0, $)'*.(', ,(/('*% 8 '0, ,)*,<,/ $%' G!
'his is by the word of &od affectin# his whole bein# ? (Spirit Soul O Body!. 'his is #radual. t is not pro#ressi$e or procedural but it is and should be continuous.
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n this second fold the world is taken out of the belie$er. 5emember that in this first fold he took the sinner out of the mud now in this second fold the mud is taken out of the belie$er. t’s like takin# a bath of water and soap. K 3an*tif! them thro-(h th! )ord th! )ord is tr-th %! 1717! t is your personal responsibility to recei$e the word into you throu#h meditation study and listenin# to the word of &od dili#ently e.#. buyin# and actually usin# our ministry materials Scriptural references/ *eb. 1:1:! 1 C/! 6119 1 C/! 129 1 T0,! 449 2 T*. 222
% D&'/*%, % H)*%, 1C/*%'0*(% 61=> H,/,@ 31 *oliness is our positionin# 3 where we are in Christ. 'he e%ample of when we #i$e our offerin#. While it is still with us it is ours but once we drop it on the altar it is no lon#er l on#er ours. 'hat’s 'hat’s why you don’t collect chan#e when you #i$e offerin#. 8our *oliness has nothin# to do with what you do it is who you are. What makes you holy is the fact that your body is now the temple of the *oly&host who dwells in you. 1C/*%'0*(% 61= 8ou are no lon#er your own. 8ou 8ou are bou#ht with wi th a price.
<% D&' D&'/*% /*%,, % '0, '0, )(@ )(@ R.( R.(% % ?1 ?1-3 -3>E >E0 0, ,*( *(% % 21 215> 5>H, H,/, /,@ @ 71 71??-1= 1= : law functions and it is effecti$e whether or not you are aware of it e%istence.
'he Bible talks about @ important laws/ i. 'he Law of 4oses ? Was ne$er for the #entiles but e$en so Christ has abolished the law E0,*(% 215> For the Lo$e of &od that is shed abroad in our heart (5om1/D! (5om1/D! is the fulfillment of the law (5om@/G! 8ou therefore no lon#er ha$e to keep the letters of the ten commandments and all the other laws of 4oses yet these laws are fulfilled in us as we do the word and walk in lo$e
ii.
'he la law of of Sin and de death ? s the nature at work in the natural unre#enerate man that causes man to tend to do wron# always that brin#s death sickness failure and e$erythin# e$il upon the natural man. Like the law of #ra$ity (all that #oes up must come down! man is helplessly subect to this law. But in Christ we are more than mere men because we ha$e recei$ed inherent power by the *oly&host.
iii. iii.
'he 'he Law Law of the the Spi Spiri ritt of of Lif Lifee in in Chr Christ ist -esus -esus 'his is the law of &od that is at work in e$ery born3a#ain child of &od I))$'/('*% Like the law of Lift (that enables a plane to fly and remain up there for as lon# as it wants to despite the e%istence of the law of #ra$ity! so are we (the new creature in Christ! able to rise abo$e the elements of this world and e$ery fiery dart of the wicked. 8ou ha$e to aware and li$e in the consciousness of this law so that you will constantly acti$ate it by faith fait h throu#h your faith proclamations 8ou can rise abo$e the common flu or pla#ue sickness fear failure lack etc by t he law of the Spirit of life in Christ -esus =% D&'/*%, % D,)*<,/(%&, D,)*<,/(%&, C)*(% 112-13> 112-13> M(/1617 5.*%
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'he word deli$er means to take out’ to sa$e’ rescue from’ for e%ample from dan#er. Sal$ation is the central theme of the #ospel and one of its benefits to the new creation is deli$erance. &od had deli$ered us out of the control and the dominion of the darkness. We are free from the power hold dominion or authority of darkness ? Col. Col. /@. 'his is a present tense reality, -esus came to redeem man not ust by payin# a price (ransom! but by force E%od. H/H. -esus made a public display of Satan’s defeat. *e con7uered and disarmed the power of darkness and spoiled them that is he took e$erythin# they had that was of $alue from them ? Col. 0/D. 'his $ictory secured our deli$erance. What’s moreN *e translated us into the kin#dom of his dear son. *e brou#ht us outJ to Ktake us inJ. We Kha$e beenJ deli$ered (past tense! out the domain of failure fear po$erty sickness >ot Kwill beJ deli$ered. deli$ered. t has happened already already.. t is our present3tense present3tense possession. possession. &od did not stop here he also #a$e us authority o$er Satan and all his cohorts in the name of -esus ? Eph. /00 )hil. 0/3. We ha$e been #i$en the power of attorney to use his name and in that name we cast out de$ils 4k H/I. 'he power of darkness that we used to be afraid of is now like you knowin# someone that used to scare you with a toy #un but now that you ha$e a real #un (:": 2I! in your hand you are now the terror to him. >ow think how silly it will be for you to with a li$e #un to be scared or hidin# from a bully with a toy #un=
R EVISION EVISION UESTIONS . List the the QQQ Founda Foundational tional 9octrines 9octrines of Christ Christ.. 9iscuss 9iscuss briefly briefly on each one. one. a. 5epe 5epent ntan ance ce from from dead dead work workss b. Faith towards &od c. Baptism d. Layin ayin# # on on of of han hands ds e. 5esu 5esurr rrec ecti tion on of of the the dead dead f. Etern ternal al ud ud#men #mentt 0. :naly :nalyee the the other other 9octri 9octrines nes of Chri Christ st a. 5i#hteousness b. 9eli$erance c. *oliness d. 'he 'he thr three ee impo import rtan antt Law Lawss @. What What is Bapt BaptismN ismN List List the type typess of Bapt BaptismN ismN 2. Why Why do we lay lay han hands ds on on peop people leNN
TODAY’S CONFESSIONS I (. '0, R*0',$%, 8 G *% C0/*' ,$! L<, * .+ %('$/,
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SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION FOR MEDITATION
-t !e are *ome -nto ?o-nt Fion and -nto the *it! of the li.in( God the hea.enl! ,er-salem; and to an inn-merale *ompan! of an(els/ To the (eneral asseml! and *h-r*h of the first orn )hi*h are )ritten in hea.en and to God the @-d(e of all to the spirits of @-st men made perfe*t4 ere)s 12: 22829
R EFERENCE EFERENCE MATERIALS
5<5 'opical 'opical compendium $ol O $ol 0 Chan#in# hopeless situations/ 6nderstandin# 5i#hteousness(series! )ower for Chan#e (9;9! @ "inds of Wisdom *ow to 4ake 8our Faith Work )rayin# the 5i#ht Way 'he )riestly 4inistry of the Belie$er (9;9 series!
CLASS 4
EVANGELISM EVANGELISM AND CELL MINISTRY
INTRODUCTION The
obecti$e of this class is to teach the student about/
The Great commission The Cell inistry
'hese are $ery inte#ral aspects of our Christian walk particularly as members of our ministry. :t the end of the class the students should know in clear terms why he needs to be in$ol$ed in the #reat commission and the cell system. LEARNING OBECTIVES A' '0, ,% 8 '0* &)(9 (/'*&*(%' 0$) . "now "now about about the the import importanc ancee of Soul Soul winni winnin# n#.. 0. Be able able to iden identif tify y their their chario chariots ts @. Be inspir inspired ed to culti$ culti$ate ate a lifes lifestyl tylee of winnin winnin# # souls souls 2. "now "now the importa importance nce of oinin oinin# # a cell cell (as a place to learn learn and #row #row in the word word by askin# askin# 7uestion 7uestionss a member cannot ask durin# church ser$ices! D. 6nderstand 6nderstand the cell cell structure structure as a support support system for for Christian Christian li$in# li$in# and for winnin# winnin# souls. souls.
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A!
EVAN EVANGEL GELISM ISM AND AND SOUL SOUL WINNI WINNING NG
1! T0 T0,, G/,(' G/,(' C.. C..* **% *% M(''0, M(''0,@ @ 2? 2? 1?-2: 1?-2:
&od has #i$en #i$en e$ery e$ery Christi Christian an the respon responsib sibilit ility y of soul soul winnin winnin#3' #3'he he 4inistr 4inistry y of 5econc 5econcilia iliation tion// 0 Corinthians D, 130. 'he reason &od does not take us to hea$en after we are born a#ain is that *e e%pects to win others to Christ. *e has #i$en us the ministry of reconciliation.
We are to be witnesses witnesses of Christ in our world. Witnessin Witnessin# # Christ helps us #row spiritually spiritually.. 'he #osp #ospel el of Chri Christ st is &od’ &od’ss power power for for sal$ sal$at atio ion n for for man man (5om (5oman anss /H /H!. !. Carry Carryin in# # out out this this commission is e7ually renderin# ser$ice in the body. 'he $ision of our ministry is to take the di$i di$ine ne pres presen ence ce of &od &od to the the peop people less and and nati nation onss of the the world world whil whilee demo demons nstra trati tin# n# the the Character of &od’s Spirit. 'his $ision promotes the #reat commission, therefore e$ery member of our ministry must be about the #reat commission in his+her sphere of contact We are &od’s ambassadors here on earth. t is a di$ine assi#nment #i$en to us Christians. t is such an important task for which &od counts on us $ery much as e$en an#els cannot preach the &ospel. t is &od’s >o -ob. t is indeed a pri$ile#e and honour for us as Christians.
2! S$) W*%%*% W*%%*% * ( &..(% &..(% 9 %' ( $, $,'*% '*% M(/ M(/ 16151615-2: 2:
'his is a mandate #i$en to e$ery belie$er. *e said #o ye therefore and teach all nations. (: nation is any #roup of indi$iduals that share a common interest like a $ocation or a #eo#raphical! *e also said to baptie those that belie$e.
3! I./'(% I./'(%&, &, 8 $) $) @*%%*% @*%%*% R.(% R.(% 1:13 1:13-159 -159 M(/ M(/ 16 16 15-16! 15-16!
'he *oly Spirit was #i$en to us maorly for the purpose of witnessi n#3:cts /1
'he #ospel is the sa$in# power of &od.
t is the way by which men are reconciled to &od.
I))$'/('*% We are his le#s his hands. We are &ods e%tension here on earth. f you are presently not en#a#ed in a ob do not say you don’t ha$e a ob because you indeed ha$e a ob. When #i$e 7uality time for soul winnin# your other ob will come sooner than you think. f you are an accountant you are first of all a soul winner before you are an accountant. f you are a medical 9octor the same thin# applies. B! *% *% '0* '0* C0(/* C0(/*' ' A&' A&' ?26-3 ?26-35 5 1! W0 W0(' (' * * +$ +$// &0( &0(/* /*' '# #
8our chariot is your $ehicle or platform throu#h which you reach your world with the &ospel.
Where you li$e work school do business is your chariot.
Chariots are different areas of life where we ha$e contact with peoples of the world and influence them with the &ospel of Christ
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8ou must reco#nie that &od put you in these Chariots primarily to be able to reach people with the #ospel of Christ. t must be your priority in your daily dealin#s with people. 8ou cannot afford to be 7uiet. 5eco#nie you ha$e a messa#e to preach and $oice that must be heard. 2! W0 * * $()*8*, $()*8*, ' @*% $)# $)# A&' 1 ?9 A&'4 A&'4 1?-2: 1?-2:
'he primary reason why the *oly &host was sent to us was for soul winnin#.
E$eryone who has recei$ed Christ has the ability and is 7ualified to win s ouls.
mmediately you #et born a#ain you are enrolled into the lea#ue of soul winners
3! R,@(/ R,@(/ 8 $) $) @*%%*% @*%%*% D(%*,) D(%*,) 1239 1239 1 C/*%'0*(% C/*%'0*(% =16-1?9 =16-1?9 25 25
*e that wins soul is wise. *e walks in hi#h le$el of wisdom
*e shines as stars
*e is &od’s partner.
&od is unable to abandon or do without a soul s oul winner.
I))$'/('*%
f -esus can lea$e the #lory and splendor of hea$en to come and die for mankind we whom he paid this price for should be ready to #o about his work. 'hat is the least we can do for him. W0(' , *' .,(% ' ',(&0 ()) %('*%# M(/ 16 15
C.
'eachin# all nations means preachin# the #ospel to e$ery creature and makin# them obser$e all that we ha$e been tau#ht by -esus Christ. 4akin# disciples of all nations (#roup of people!
>isciples are disciplined followers of Christ i%e% people who ha&e come to +now Christ and follow him in nat)re, character and in lifestyle% Nations are refers to different different gro)pings i%e% gro)p of ?an+ers, ?an+ers, N)rses, Lawyers, "ngineers etc%
P/(+*% P/(+*% 8/ $) $) P(). P(). 2 ?9 2C/*% 2C/*%'0*(% '0*(% 4 394 394 9 E0 E0,*(% ,*(% 6 1:-129 1:-129 (., (., 5 5 16
)rayer is a $ery important aspect of soul winnin#.
Soul winnin# is spiritual and as such for it to be effecti$e prayer is the winnin# tool.
)rayer helps to loosen men from the hold of the de$il so that recei$e - esus Christ.
)rayer creates the appetite of the new creation in a youn# Christian.
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E!
T0,, %,, T0 %,, 8/ 8/ T/(*% /(*%*% *% E E0, 0,* *(% (% 4 4 1111-16 16
'o be an effecti$e soul winner trainin# is important. &od trains his children. :n e%ample is 9a$id who was trained throu#h tendin# his father’s flock. *e was later to become the #reatest kin# of srael. 4oses also underwent trainin# for 2G years to be able to lead &od’s people. 'he basic tool of trainin# is the word of &od3 0 'imothy @ /H I
THE CELL MINISTRY T0, &,)) +',. (! W0 W0(' (' * * ( &,) &,))9 )9 PCU PCU (% (% PCF PCF# #
'he cell is the smallest unit of the church that multiplies and reproduces its kind while contributin#
to the numerica numericall #rowth #rowth of the church church and spirit spiritual ual maturi maturity ty of its members members throu# throu#h h their their in$ol$ement in soul winnin# acti$ities prayer chains and a couple of other acti$ities that are desi#ned to aid their #rowth. 'he cell system is our insurance and #i$es e$ery member an identity in the church. church. 'he cell #rants e$ery member an opportuni opportunity ty to identify identify and e%plore e%plore his+her &od #i$en abilities and talents. E$ery member of our ministry is e%pected to be part of the cell system.
5easons a member must belon# to a cell (: member belon#s to a support #roup and not alone. *e has someone lookin# out for his well3bein# nurturin# and prayin# with him when necessary! :cts 2/ @03@D I))$'/('*% &f a memer of a *ell )ere (ettin( married or is plannin( a similar o**asion the memer *an rel! on memers of his *ell to e there for them/ There ha.e een o**asions )hen memer ha.e made material *ontri-tions to)ards s-*h e.ents/ Cell memers are often present main( s-*h o**asions (rand/ est of all is that memers pra! for their rethren/ rethren/
The *ell is a memers address in *h-r*h/ ?emers of the *ell *an e*ome a memers so*ial s-pport (ro-p/ &n a *h-r*h as lar(e as Christ Emass! it is eas! for a person to e lost in the *ro)d/ A person )ho @oins a *ell and is a*ti.e in his *ell lo*ates himself and *an easil! easil! e lo*ated/ T0, '/$&'$/, 8 '0, &,)) / E$ery cell is supposed to ha$e the followin# offices to be occupied by its
members members and any person who has attended the cell meetin# meetin# thrice is deemed a member member howe$er howe$er there are certain positions in the cell that can be occupied only by indi$iduals who ha$e demonstrated a sense of responsibility and faithfulness (See/ 'he cell ministry manual!/
: cell leader :ssistant Cell Leader Bible study class teachers ? must ha$e won at least @ souls Cell Secretary Financial Secretary+ 'reasurer ? must ha$e demonstrated a sense of commitment O faithfulness ;enue 4ana#er
Foundation
B*), S'$+ C)( T,(&0,/ A*'(%' C,)) L,(,/ B+ A*%'.,%'; C,)) L,(,/ PCF L,(,/ D,(&%/+ P('/ S$-G/$ P('/ G/$ P('/ V*/'$() %() P('/ %() P('/
T0, &,)) .,,'*% (/, ,J,&', ' 0) %&, ,<,/+ @,, ,(&0 .%'0 *% '0, 8))@*% /,/
$ee 1 ? )ray )rayer er and and plan planni nin# n# meet meetin in#/ #/ this this meet meetin in# # affo afford rdss the the memb members ers of the the cell cell an opportunity to pray and plan for the new month. $ee 2 ? 2 ? Bible Study meetin#/ in this meetin# the cell is di$ided into smaller #roups+ bible study classes while the bible study class teachers are allowed to teach each #roup from a common outline #i$en by the church $ee 9 ? 9 ?
T0, C,)) * ( .**%(/+ $%*'
: Christian is a missionary on a mission. We We are called out and built for the work of the ministry. ministry. We are the sent ones. 'he cell is a missionary unit meant to train members members in soul winnin# and other spiritual de$elopment acti$ities. E$ery member must reco#nie their place as soul winners in the cell because the cell is a soul winnin# factory where we win souls build them and send them. )salm HI/0 Ephesians 2/0 : missionary Christian is a$ailable and ea#er to preach the #ospel to his world. *e is also ready to in$est his resources in the #ospel. Ephesians 2/D3H t is often said that you put your money and other res ources where your heart is. 'he 4issionary Christian sets his eyes on soul winnin# and does not allow any distractions. *e in$ests in soul winnin#. *e also does not lack because the Lord takes o$er his cares.
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I./'(%& I./'(%&,, 8 C//(', C//(', E<(%,)*. E<(%,)*. E$ery cell is e%pected to ha$e corporate e$an#elism where its
members are #i$en an opportunity to be in$ol$ed in the art of soul winnin#. t is important that all the members in a cell take ad$anta#e of such opportunities. a/ Corpor Corporate ate e.an( e.an(eli elism sm in the *ell *ell *ell *ell o-trea* o-trea*h= h= / Corporate Corporate e.an(e e.an(elism lism in the *h-r *h-r*h *h *h-r* *h-r*h h o-trea o-trea*hes= *hes= */
Corporate Corporate e.an(elism e.an(elism in the ministr! ministr! ministr! ministr! o-trea o-trea*hes *hes e/(/ i(her i(her Bife Confer Conferen*es en*es #ationa #ational l o-th Conferen*e and #i(ht of liss=
P('/() C(/, *% '0, &,)) A&' 244-47 H,/,@ 13 7 'he cell member has access to the pastoral counsel and care throu#h the leadership hierarchy in the cell which are as follows/
PCF/ 'he )astoral Care Fellowship is composed composed of all the cell members that report to a )CF leader who is the president of the )CF and o$ersees the o$erall acti$ities of the )CF as a body PCD/ 'he )astoral Care 9epartment a department in church that caters for all the departm department entss in Church Church such as the 6shers 6shers ;enue enue 4ana#e 4ana#ers rs First First 'imers imers 4inistr 4inistry y Childr Children’ en’ss Church Church etc. :nd apart apart from bein# in a cell cell e$ery e$ery member member of the cell is e%pected to be a committed member in a church department
:ll these are structures that are put in place to take care of and pro$ide pro$ide for the spiritual spiritual needs of e$ery member of the cell. t is e%pected that all members of the cell subect themsel$es to the leadership of this structure and take ad$anta#e of the benefits that comes with bein# part of the system as they are )astor’s representati$es to us. P/*%&*), 8 P/(+,/
-ames D/H31 :ctsH/23I
4en ou#ht always to pray and not to faint. When we pray we chan#e situation like Eliah prayed. prayed. Because prayed about a situation in the the office a whole department was shaken because one person decided to pray and not take a no for an answer. )rayer is a fellowship with &od and when we pray we use &od’s word in prayer because he can only respond to his word so we don’t use human words. We pray in the name of -esus we don’t pray throu#h the name of -esus.
CONCLUSION Christianity is a life ser$ice to &od. : Christian can render his ser$ice throu#h his acti$e in$ol$ement in the body of Christ. E$ery Christian has been commissioned by our Lord -esus Christ to preach the #ospel. n other words he has been called into the ministry of reconciliation. re conciliation. So any Christian who is not in$ol$ed in reconcilin# men back to &od is not functionin# well. : Christian must maintain the ri#ht attitude in courtship by keepin# himself pure and #ettin# the Church in$ol$ed. : Christian should not be in courtship or en#a#ement with a non3Christian. CLASS REVIEW :t the end of this class the followin# 7uestion should be re$iewed to test the students’ comprehension/ . What What are are the the obe obect cti$ i$es es of this this clas classN sN 29 | P a g e
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0. @. 2. D.
Why should should preach preach the #ospel #ospel labor labor to win win soul soulss and and de$el de$elop op the the soul soulNN Who are are the the ones ones called called into into the the ministr ministry y of recon reconcil ciliati iation on (0 Cor Cor.. D/130 D/130, , 9an 9an 0/@! 0/@!NN *ow do do we we #r #row in in th the ch churchN >ame >ame the the dif differ feren entt kind kindss of meet meetin in#s #s we we ha$e ha$e in in the the cell cell..
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ASSIGNMENT 9iscuss different ways throu#h which a member can participate in soul winnin# and the class should #o out and carry out what they ha$e learnt as an assi#nment. Each member of the class’ soul must be presented at a special brin#in# in the shea$es pro#ram in church. REFERENCE MATEIALS T(,
4aster soul winner 'his &ospel+'he 4issionary Christian Sin#les Seminar 'apeO0 6nderstandin# D le$els of 5elationship &rowin# unto 4aturity
B
-oin this chariot 'he Cell 4anuals )rayin# the 5i#ht Way
CLASS 5
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
INTRODUCTION
'
his course focuses on the life of a Christian which is for ser$ice to &od. :ccordin# to 5omans 0/ belie$ers must possess a sin#le3minded passion pass ion to please &od in i n Lo$e de$otion praise and to offer the members of their bodies for *is ser$ice. *e must li$e for &od worship *im obey *im and imbibe Christ. 'his he does by conductin# himself in a manner befittin# to the "in#dom of &od. 'his means his beha$iour, manner of life must ali#n with what what &od says he is. LEARNING OBECTIVES A' '0, ,% 8 '0* &)(9 (/'*&*(%' 0$)
a.e learnt ho) to st-d! Gods Gods )ord
Hno) the importan*e of the Christian (ro)th (ro)th
>nderstand the p-rpose of prosperit!
'he new creation man has a new lifestyle (new way of li$in#! that needs to be de$eloped. 'his class addresses this new faith lifestyle. 1! T0 T0,, *./'( *./'(%&, %&, 8 8 /@'0 /@'0 8/ 8/ ( C0/* C0/*'*( '*(% % (Galatians :182= [1] #o) & sa! that the heir as lon( as he is a *hild differeth nothin( from a ser.ant tho-(h he e lord of all; [2] -t is -nder t-tors and (o.ernors -ntil the time appointed of the father4/ (Galatians :182=
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G/@'0 @*)) ,%(), '0, C0/*'*(% 0,*/; ' @() *% 0* *%0,/*'(%&, and demonstrate the difference between the Christian and the non3Christian non3Christian (ser$ant! G ,*%, $ 8/ /@'0 &od desi#ned for us to #row. &rowth thus means Kchan#eJ ha$in# the ability to discern that ri#hts you ha$e as a child of &od. t also implies that you no lon#er operate from your human senses and reasonin# but from the word of &od. 'his is a chan#e that e$ol$es throu#h the study and understandin# of the word of &od. When there’s a comprehension of the word of &od in our heart it is manifested on the outside. t thus brin#s about tan#ible+$isible chan#e that is seen by e$eryone who takes a look on your life as a Christian. 8our le$el of #rowth is determined based on the words that come out from your mouth. 'he bible thus references that we [15] -t [15] -t speain( the tr-th in lo.e ma! (ro) (ro) -p into him in all thin(s )hi*h is the head head e.en Christ: [16] +rom )hom the )hole od! fitl! @oined to(ether and *ompa*ted ! that )hi*h e.er! @oint s-pplieth a**ordin( to the effe*t-al )orin( in the meas-re of e.er! part maeth in*rease of t he od! -nto the edif!in( of itself in lo.e/4Ephes/ :15816=
'he illustration of the #rowth of a baby that depicts that of the new born Christian, 'he incorruptible maestic durable lofty e%pansi$e #rowth of a cedar of Lebanon is the way the Christian should #row
2! S'$ S'$+* +*% % '0, '0, @/ @/ 3t-d! to she) th!self appro.ed -nto God a )orman that needed not to e ashamed ri(htl! di.idin( the )ord of tr-th/42 Tim/ 2:15=
'he Christian is a student for life pastor says you may ha$e a 9’ in school but you cannot afford to ha$e a 9’ in life 3 life is spiritual therefore the need for serious spiritual education 'he Berean Christians were more noble because of their checkin# up the scriptures always. 'he Christian is a worker worker and must be ri#htly ri#htly educated for the work. 5i#htly 5i#htly di$idin# the word of truth will help us pray the ri#ht way and confess the ri#ht way. A% R,(% 8/ '$+ As ne)orn aes desire the sin*ere mil of the )ord that !e ma! (ro) there!4 there!4 1 eter 2:2=
o
o
?%
Study is essential for our #rowth and de$elopment as Christians the word is our necessary food. That )e hen*eforth e no more *hildren tossed to and fro and *arried ao-t )ith e.er! )ind of do*trine ! the slei(ht of men and *-nnin( *raftiness )here! the! lie in )ait to de*ei.e4 Ephes/ de*ei.e4 Ephes/ :1 Study will help us to be stable Christians and protect us from the deception of wron# teachin#s. When we understand the word we will no more be like children who pick up one thin# today and drop it tomorrow we will be stable in the faith.
N,&,*'+ 8 (*)+ '$+ These )ere more nole than those in Thes saloni*a in that the! re*ei.ed the )ord )ith all readiness of mind and sear*hed the s*ript-res dail! )hether those thin(s )ere so4/A*ts 17:11= 4an is a spirit and must feed his spirit man daily ust like a man who feeds his body daily. ma#ine a soldier who has not eaten for days #oin# to war. Similarly Similarly the Christian is continually fi#htin# the fi#ht of faith and must be spiritually fit. : plant needs constant water to flourish and do well so is the life of a Christian.
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the! *ontin-in( dail! )ith one a**ord a**ord in the temple and reain( reain( read from from ho-se to And the! ho-se did eat their meat )ith (ladness and sin(leness of heart4 A*ts 2:6=
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C%
'he daily (day by day! walk of faith of the early Christians is of note. E$en as a tree #rows 02hours a day I days a week and is constantly connected connected to its source, source, the Christian Christian is typified as a tree in )salm that #rows by the ri$er. 8ou 8ou must stay connected to the source of your life ! D,$' 3246-47;
R0(+ 8 /,()*'*, (% ,88,&'*<, '$+ $*, We ha$e a daily de$otional de$eloped to help our study of &od’s &od’s word. We should not speed read our rhapsody de$otional like a news paper but study and underline strikin# facts to your spirit it. Follow the bible readin# plan. 'here are people who read the newspaper daily but we as Christian people should de$elop the habit for in$estin# our time in thin#s that edify us and nourish us.
3! F,)) F,))@ @0 0* * S,/ S,/<* <*&, &,99 C,)) C,));; 'he Bible talks about the to#etherness and participation of each of us with one another in the body of Christ. n Christianity Christianity no man is an sland ust like li ke the eye needs the ear etc And the! *ontin-ed steadfastl! in the apostlesI do*trine and fello)ship and in reain( o reain( of read and in pra!ers/ [9] And fear *ame -pon e.er! so-l: and man! )onders and si(ns )ere done ! the apostles/ [] And all that elie.ed )ere to(ether to(ether and had all thin(s *ommon; [5] And sold their possessions and (oods and parted them to all men as e.er! man had need/ [6] And the! *ontin-in( dail! )ith one a**ord in the temple and reain( read from from ho-se to ho-se did eat their meat )ith (ladness and sin(leness of heart [7] raisin( God and ha.in( fa.o-r fa.o-r )ith all the people/ And the Bord Bord added to the *h-r*h *h-r*h dail! s-*h as sho-ld e sa.ed4/ A*ts 2:287=
'he early Christians are e%amples of belie$ers walkin# to#ether in fellowship. 'heir testimony caused increase in the body of Christ as the Lord added more to the church daily as s hould be sa$ed.
'he Cell System of Christ Embassy is a fellowship #roup where Christians #ather to#ether in more intimate #roups and are in$ol$ed in each other’s li$es. +rom )hom the )hole o )hole od! fitl! @oined to(ether and *ompa*ted ! ! that )hi*h e.er! @oint s-pplieth a**ordin( to the effe*t-al )orin( in the meas-re meas-re of e.er! part maeth in*rease of the od! -nto the edif!in( of itself in lo.e4/ Ephes/ :16= We all need each other to #row and de$elop fully.
I))$'/('*% *ow the human body works that t hat all the members are dependent on each other.
C%*',%&+ *% S,/<*&,! o And let -s *onsider one another to pro.oe -nto lo.e and to (ood )ors4 ere)s 10:2= o
We must de$elop the habit of #oin# to church whether we feel like it or not. 'he Bible teaches that some ha$e a manner of ne#lectin# Christian #atherin#s. We must ha$e the ri#ht attitude in attendin# church ser$ices not ust to fulfil ri#hteousness but to learn it is like #oin# to a spiritual school. f you can #o to work daily why can’t you attend church ser$ices which is ust once a week remember that the money you seek wisdom can #i$e.
&od e%pects you to be in ser$ice and will minister to you as if you are present. Some ha$e missed their ministration by bein# absent.
4! LOVE Gree )ord8 AGAE :#ape is the &od kind of lo$e and iiss different from the world’s kind of lo$e. :#ape is lo$e that is unconditional it #i$es in spite of the recipient.
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Lo$e is the emblem of the Christian the Lord said that is how people will know we are his disciples when we lo$e one another. cor2/ says we should hotl y pursue Lo$e (make it our #reat 7uest!. f you are #oin# to li$e the faith life you will ha$e to work in lo$e for faith works by lo$e ! Lo$e is the key to spiritual #ifts Cor2/ says follow after lo$e and desire spiritual #ifts
N',
! Cor @ is the chapter chapter that that e%plains e%plains lo$e (for (for a #ood renderin renderin# # check the the amplified amplified $ersion!. $ersion!. 0! >ote >ote that that in &alD/0 &alD/00. 0. We We read read that that the Frui Fruitt ( sin(-lar ( sin(-lar ! of the spirit (the recreated human spirit not the *oly&host! is sin(-lar= Lo$e. 'his connotes that all the other listed fruits are in the first one 3Lo$e fruits. : Christian does not need to ask &od for the ability to lo$e he has lo$e like he has faith the Bible says the lo$e of &od is shed abroad in our hearts by the *oly Spirit (5om1/D!. (5om1/D!. We are born of Lo$e. We We are born with it so we can only #row in the manifestation manifestation of the fruits K A ne) *ommandment & (i.e -nto -nto !o- that !e lo.e one another; as & ha.e lo.ed !o- that !e also lo.e one another/ another/ [95] ! this t his shall all men no) that !e are m! dis*iples if !e lo.e one to another4 ,ohn 19:9895= @! 'he 'he G comm comman andm dmen ents ts ha$e ha$e been been abol abolis ishe hed d and and do not not appl apply y to the the new new crea creati tion on.. 'he 'he new new commandment for the new creation is to lo$e as Christ lo$ed us. And this *ommandment ha.e )e from him that he )ho lo.eth God sho-ld lo.e his rother also4/ 1 ,ohn :21= Y$/ /<, 8 +$/ )<, 8/ G * +$/ )<, 8/ +$/ /'0,/
e !e therefore follo)ers of God as dear *hildren; [2] And )al in lo.e as Christ also hath lo.ed -s and hath (i.en himself for -s an offerin( and a sa*rifi*e to God for a s)eet8smellin( sa.o-r4/ Ephes/ 5:182=
I))$'/('*%
-ust like children copy their father we should imitate &od by walkin# in lo$e. ma#ine a child who wears his father’s shoes and tie actin# like his father.
5! OUR CONFES CONFESSIO SIONKM NKMAN ANNER NER OF LIFE LIFE C*5S':>'8 is called the #reat confession there is a connection between our confession and the way we li$e. $ee ha.in( the same spirit of faith a**ordin( as it is )ritten & elie.ed and therefore ha.e & spoen; $ )e also elie.e and therefore spea4 2 Corinthians :19=/
Christianity is a life of confession. Confession comes from the &reek word omolodiaA A omolodiaA which means speakin# the same thin#s with &od in consent. 'he Bible says that what we speak is not what we see think or feel. We speak what we belie$e. n the book of *ebrews the Bible says Bet !o-r *on.ersation e )itho-t *o.eto-sness and e *ontent )ith s-*h thin(s as !e ha.e: for he has said & )ill ne.er lea.e thee nor forsae thee/ 3o that )e ma! 'BJB 'BJB 3A 3A the Bord is m! helper helper and & )ill not fear )hat man shall do -nto me4 (*ebrews @/D3H!. &od has spoken so that we may boldly say what *e has said concernin# us in a#reement with *im. 'his is the Christian life. t is our confessions that put our faith to work. Sal$ation is sealed by confession. 4erely belie$in# in the mind does not do anythin# until we declare who we are what we ha$e
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become etc. Confession puts the power of &od to work. 'he Bible says That if tho- shall *onfess )ith th! mo-th the Bord ,es-s/4 and also $ith $ith the mo-th *onfession is made -nto sal.ationJ. sal.ation J.
Al)a!s in e.er! pra!er of mine for !o- all main( reK-est reK-est )ith @o! @o! [5] +or !o-r fello)ship in the (ospel from the first da! -ntil no); no); [6] ein( *onfident of this .er! thin( that he )hi*h )hi*h hath e(-n a (ood )or in !o- )ill perform it -ntil the da! of ,es-s Christ4 hilip/ 1:86= from )hen*e also )e loo for the 3a.io-r 3a.io-r the Bord ,es-s Christ: [21] +or o-r *on.ersation is in hea.en; from )ho shall *han(e o-r .ile od! that it ma! e fashioned lie -nto his (lorio-s od! a**ordin( a**ordin( to the )orin( )here! he is ale e.en to s-d-e all thin(s -nto himself4/ hilip/ 9:20821=
That if tho- shalt *onfess )ith th! mo-th the Bord ,es-s and shalt elie.e in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead tho- shalt e sa.ed/ [10] +or )ith the heart man elie.eth -nto ri(hteo-sness; and )ith the mo-th *onfession is made -nto sal.ation/ [11] +or the s*ript-re saith $hosoe.er elie.eth on him shall not e ashamed/ [12] +or there is no differen*e et)een the ,e) and the Gree: for the same Bord o.er all is ri*h -nto all that *all -pon him/ [ 19] +or )hosoe.er shall *all -pon the name of the B ord shall e sa.ed4/ %omans 10:819=
We start out the Christian life with confessin# the lordship of -esus Christ and continue the Christian life by this same process of confessin# the thin#s we belie$e.
All thin(s are la)f-l -nto -nto me -t all thin(s are not eLpedient: eLpedient: all thin(s are la)f-l for for me -t & )ill not e ro-(ht -nder the po)er of an!4/ 1 Cor/ 6:12=
8ou must learn to lea$e the #ood for the best
A! L*8, (% (% D,('0 * *% T0, T0, P@,/ P@,/ 8 '0, T%$, T%$, 'his is an e%tension of the last point we made concernin# confession. 'he last point deals with sayin# the same thin#s with &od. n other words a#reein# with what &od has said with our words but this one deals with the power of our ton#ue. 'he ton#ue has the power to kill or make ali$e. 'he reason why we ha$e to a#ree with &od and say what *e says is because *is words are spirit and they are life (-ohn H/H@!. 'herefore 'herefore *is words will produce life for us. :ny other word will produce ne#ati$e thin#s because there is power in the ton#ue.
'he Bible says Jeath and life are in the po)er of the ton(-e: and the! that lo.e it shall eat the fr-it thereof4 ()ro$erbs thereof4 ()ro$erbs 1/ 0!. 'his is $ery stron#. 'he power to control life lies in the ton#ue e$en thou#h the ton#ue is one of the smallest members of the body. 'he Bible declares/
KFor in many thin#s we offend all. f any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold we put bits in the horsesA mouths that they may obey us, and
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we turn about their whole body. body. Behold also the ships which thou#h they be so #reat and are dri$en of fierce winds yet are they turned about with a $ery small helm whithersoe$er the #o$ernor listeth. E$en so the ton#ue is a little member and boasteth #reat thin#s. Behold how #reat a matter a little fire kindleth= :nd the ton#ue is a fire a world of ini7uity/ so is the ton#ue amon# our members that it defileth the whole body body and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hellJ (-ames @/03H!.
'he Bible shows that the ton#ue controls e$erythin# about life. -esus said in 4ark /00 that we shall ha$e whatsoe$er we say. We must keep speakin# the word of &od. 'he Bible says we should hold fast our confession. $,'*% 1= Bife and death are in the po)er of the ton(-e/ Jis*-ss this eLha-sti.el! )ith s*ript-res/ 2= oo- shall ha.e )hatsoe.er !o- sa!/ ELplain/ B! F(*' F(*'0 0 W() () 'he Christian walk is a walk of faith. 'he Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please &od because he that Kcometh unto &od must belie$e that *e is and that *e is a rewarder of them that dili#ently seek himJ (*ebrews /H!.
We do not walk by what we see but by what the word says.
$,'*% (! E%plain PFor we walk by faith and not by si#htJ. (0! E%plain the law of faith. C! C0/*'*(% C0/*'*(%*'+ *'+ * ( L*8, L*8, 8 S$.* S$.**% *% 'he Christian Christian life is a life of submission 3 submission submission to the word of &od. When we submit submit oursel$es to one another or to authority (both spiritually and earthly! we are submittin# to the word because it is the word that admonishes us to li$e in submission. 'here are three le$els of authority that the Bible asks the Christian to reco#nie and submit to. 'hey are/ *! A$'0/*'+ A$'0/*'+ *% '0, 0., 'his basically makes reference to the relationship between the husband and the wife and between the children and the parents. For the husband and the wife the Bible says PWi$es submit yoursel$es unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife e$en as Christ is the head of the church, and *e is the Sa$ior of the bodyJ (Ephesians D/0030@!.
>otice that it did not say P $i.es s-mit !o-rsel.es to all h-sandsP. h-sands P. t says says to !o-r o)n h-sandsP. h-sandsP. While the wife is submitted to her own husband her husband is asked to lo$e her/ K -sands lo.e !o-r )i.es e.en as Christ also lo.ed the Ch-r*h and (a.e imself to it4 35 | P a g e
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Ephesians 5:25=/ :uthority is #i$en the husband to be the head o$er his wife and so &od commands the wife to submit herself to the husbandAs authority. 'he authority that the husband e%ercises o$er his wife is likened to the one Christ e%ercises o$er the church and the wife is to submit herself to her husband the way the church submits to Christ.
'he reason why we should submit to the leaders is because &od is the one who establishes them and so any rebellion a#ainst the so$erei#n is directed towards &od. 'he Bible says KFor rulers are not a terror to #ood works but to e$il. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the powerN 9o that which is #ood and thou shall ha$e praise of the same. For he is a minister of &od to thee for #ood. But if thou do that which is e$il be afraid...P (5omans @/2!. )aul admonishes us further to pray for those in authority so that we may lead a 7uiet and peaceable life in all #odliness and honesty. honesty. ( 'imothy 0/30!
iii. A$'0/*'+ *% '0, C0$/&0 &od has set up #o$ernment in *is church. *e lets us know how to relate with those in positions of authority in the body of of Christ. Bible says K
6! SE SETT TTLI LING NG DIS DISAG AGRE REEM EMEN ENTS TS ?oreo.er if th! rother rother shall trespass a(ainst thee (o and and tell him his fa-lt et)een thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee tho- hast (ained th! rother/ rother/ [16] -t if he )ill not hear thee then tae )ith thee one or t)o more that in the mo-th of t)o or three )itnesses e.er! )ord ma! e estalished/ [17] And if he shall ne(le*t to hear them tell it -nto the *h-r*h: -t if he ne(le*t to hear the *h-r*h let him e -nto thee as an heathen man and a p-li*an4 ?atthe) 1:15817=
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'here is a way Christians should settle disputes amon#st themsel$es that is different from the way of the people of the world settles them. 8ou call the party in$ol$ed talk with him if he doesn’t listen to you in$ite another Christian yet still if there is no chan#e tell it to the church that is to the pastor of the church. f this does not work you can treat the person the way you would treat a stran#er. 7! SANC SANCTI TIFY FYIN ING G YOUR YOUR THOUG THOUGHT HTS S Bet no man sa! )hen he is tempted & am tempted of God: for God *annot e tempted )ith e.il neither tempteth he an! man: [1] -t e.er! man is tempted )hen he is dra)n a)a! of his o)n l-st and enti*ed/ [15] Then )hen l-st hath *on*ei.ed it rin(eth forth sin: and sin )hen it is finished rin(eth forth death4/ ,ames 1:19815=
rethren )hatsoe.er thin(s are tr-e )hatsoe.er )hatsoe.er thin(s are honest )hatsoe.er thin(s are are +inall! rethren @-st )hatsoe.er thin(s are p-re p-re )hatsoe.er thin(s are lo.el! lo.el! )hatsoe.er thin(s are are of (ood report; if there e an! .irt-e and if there e an! praise thin on these thin(s4/ hilip/ :=
:s Christians we ha$e to take char#e of our thou#hts 'hou#hts can come to you from &od from your mind based on the information you recei$e and from the de$il :s Christian you should not allow your mind to dwell on ust anythin# 'he Bible #i$es us a list of thin#s we should dwell on in )hi 2/1 Be careful on what you dwell on because your mind is the doorway to your spirit. Be careful about the thin#s you watch read and hear like mo$ies books ma#aines because they could influence your thou#hts positi$ely or ne#ati$ely.
PRINCIPLES OF PROSPERITY 1! WHA WHAT IS IS PROS PROSPE PERI RITY TY# # or gain in anything 'he 9ictionary defines prosperity to mean K The state of *eing prospero)s9 ad&ance or gain good or good or desira*le9 desira*le9 s)ccessf)l progress in progress in any *)siness or enterprise9 or enterprise9 attainment of attainment of the the o*3ect desired9 o*3ect desired9 good good fort)ne9 s)ccess9 as, commercial as, commercial prosperity9 prosperity9 national prosperity/% prosperity/%
Bord ,es-s Christ that tho-(h he )as ri*h !et for !o-r saes he +or !e no) the (ra*e of o-r Bord e*ame poor poor that !e thro-(h his po.ert! mi(ht e ri*h/ [10] And herein & (i.e m! ad.i*e: for this is eLpedient for !o- )ho ha.e e(-n efore not onl! to do -t also to e for)ard a !ear a(o4 2 Cor/ :810= 'nl! e tho- stron( and .er! *o-ra(eo-s that tho- ma!est oser.e to do a**ordin( to all the la) la) )hi*h ?oses m! ser.ant *ommanded thee: t-rn not from it to the ri(ht hand or to the left that thoma!est prosper )hithersoe.er tho- (oest/ [] This oo of the la) shall not depart o-t of th! mo-th; -t tho- shalt meditate therein da! and ni(ht that tho- ma!est oser.e to do a**ordin( to all that is )ritten therein: for then tho- shalt mae th! )a! prospero-s and then tho- shalt ha.e (ood s-**ess4/ ,osh-a 1:78= 2! PURP PURPOS OSE E OF OF PROS PROSPE PERI RITY TY
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&od is a wise in$estor and he e%pects results. 'he purpose of &ods prosperity in the life of a Christian is specific and he ne$er minced words about this. 4any ha$e boasted about their ability to accumulate wealth but in 9euteronomy 1/I31 &od says, K And K And tho- sa! in thine
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heart m! po)er and the mi(ht of mine hand hath (otten me this )ealth/ -t tho- shalt rememer the B'%J th! God: for it is he that (i.eth thee po)er to (et )ealth that he ma! estalish his *o.enant )hi*h he s)are -nto th! fathers as it is this da! J. Enoyin# and ha$in# a #reat life is #ood but the purpose whereby &od brin#s wealth into your hands as a Christian is for the purpose of the &ospel. *e wants to use your wealth to spread this #ospel. *is desire is that all may come to the knowled#e of truth and be sa$ed. When &od prospers you you must understand the reason and the more you in$est in the kin#dom the more he opens new frontiers for you. Mech /I
'he )urpose of )rosperity for a Christian is to be a blessin# to other people especially to fellow Christians. 'here are se$eral blessin# associated with #i$in# offerin# to &od some of these offerin#s are e%plained below with $arious supportin# scriptures/
A! TITHES 'his is one of the principles that a Christian has to follow if he must e%pect to work in prosperity. *ere we are talkin# about durable prosperity and not the one that #oes up to come down. : 'ithe &od says belon#s to him and there is no ne#otiation about this as a Christian. When you pay your tithe it is to &od and not to a man. *e says #i$e it to me 3 that is one tenth of the $alue of your income. 8ou may ha$e said but don’t earn much and am e%pected to pay tithe out of that which is not enou#h already. : Christian must pay tithes irrespecti$e of the sie. 4alachi @/ G says, K rin( !e all the tithes into the storeho-se that there ma! e meat in mine ho-se and pro.e me no) here)ith saith s aith the B'%J of hosts if & )ill not open !o- the )indo)s of hea.en and po-r !o- o-t a lessin( that there t here shall not e room eno-(h to re*ei.e it J. it J. (ref. &enesis 2/ 0G 4atthew 0@/ 0@ Luke / 20 &enesis D/ 130G!
K And lessed e the most hi(h God )hi*h hath hath deli.ered thine enemies into th! hand/ hand/ And he (a.e him tithes of all4/ Genesis 1:20! 1:20 !
$oe -nto !o- s*ries and harisees h!po*ritesM for !e pa! t ithe of mint and anise and *-mmin and $oe ha.e omitted the )ei(htier matters of the la) la) @-d(ment mer*! and faith: these o-(ht !e to ha.e done and not to lea.e t he other -ndone4/ ?atthe) 29:29=
K -t )oe -nto !o- hariseesM +or !e tithe mint and r-e and all manner of hers and pass o.er @-d(ment and the lo.e of God: these o-(ht !e to ha.e done and not to lea.e the other -ndone4/ B-e 11:2=
K &n the same da! the Bord made a *o.enant )ith Aram sa!in( >nto th! seed ha.e & (i.en this land from the ri.er of E(!pt -nto the (reat (reat ri.er ri.er the ri.er E-phrates: [1] The Henites and the HeniNNites and the Hadmonites [20] And the ittites and the eriNNites and the %ephaims4/ Genesis 15:1820= B FIRST FRUITS 'his is another type of #i$in# that is re$ealed to the Christian in the bible. First fruit means the first and the best of your increase. 'his &od also says belon#s belon#s to *im. n E%odus 00 / 0 &od says, Tho- shalt not dela! to offer the first of th! ripe fr-its and of th! liK-ors: the firstorn of th! sons shalt tho- (i.e -nto meJ. meJ. &od is layin# claim that this belon#s to him. When you make a release of your first fruits to
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&od you are declarin# that the rest of the fruits are sanctified. 'he bible declares for if the firstfruit be holy holy the lump is also holy/ and if the root be holy so are the branches 3 5omans /H. KThe first fr-it also of th! *orn of th! )ine and of thine oil and the first of the flee*e of th! sheep shalt tho- (i.e him4/ Je-t/ 1:= C FREEWILL OFFERING 'he freewill offerin# ust as the name implies is what you make up in your mind to #i$e to &od of your own free will. 'hese pertains to such offerin#s we #i$e durin# the ser$ices and meetin#s. When you #i$e e%pect e%pect har$ests. har$ests. :lso know that har$ests come with multiplicatio multiplication. n. LukeH /@1 says , DGi.e and it shall e (i.en -nto !o-; (ood meas-re pressed do)n and shaen to(ether and r-nnin( o.er shall men (i.e into !o-r osom/ +or )ith the same meas-re that !e mete )ithal it shall e meas-red to !o- a(ain4/ D SEED OFFERING 'his is a special kind of offerin#. t is #i$en in e%pectation for somethin# and most times it comes as a sacrifice. : Christian who e%pects a chan#e in the affairs of his life family business work and others may decide to pick up somethin# that is of $alue to him and offer it to &od with e%pectation for &od to inter$ene on his behalf. o
&od will ne$er owe any man who #i$es to him. as it is )ritten e hath dispersed aroad; he hath (i.en to the poor: his ri(hteo-sness remaineth for e.er/ #o) he that ministereth seed to the so)er oth minister read for !o-r food and m-ltipl! !o-r seed so)n and in*rease in*rease the fr-its of !o-r ri(hteo-sness ;= K -t this & sa! sa! e )hi*h so)eth sparin(l! shall reap also also sparin(l!; and he )hi*h so)eth o-ntif-ll! shall reap also o-ntif-ll!/ [7] E.er! man a**ordin( as he p-rposeth in his heart so let him (i.e; not (r-d(in(l! (r-d(in(l! or of ne*essit!: for God lo.eth a *heerf-l (i.er/ [] And God is ale to mae all (ra*e ao-nd to)ard !o-; that !e al)a!s ha.in( all s-ffi*ien*! in all thin(s ma! ao-nd to e.er! (ood )or: [] As it is )ritten e hath dispersed aroad; he hath (i.en to the poor: his ri(hteo-sness remaineth for e.er/ e.er/ [10] #o) he that ministereth seed to the so)er oth minister read for !o-r food and m-ltipl! !o-r seed so)n and in*rease the fr-its of !o-r ri(hteo-sness ;= [11] ein( enri*hed in e.er!thin( to all o-ntif-lness )hi*h *a-seth thro-(h -s thans(i.in( to God4/ 2 Cor/ :6811=
E PARTNERSHIP )artnership )artnership is another another type of #i$in# #i$in# made by a Christian. t is a relationshi relationship p between indi$iduals indi$iduals or #roups #roups that that is charac character teried ied by mutual mutual cooper cooperati ation on and respon responsibi sibilit lity y as for the achie$ achie$eme ement nt of a specified #oal. *ere the specified #oal is reachin# the world with the #ospel of our Lord -esus Christ. t speaks $olume of the Christian. 'his is because the christian by his #i$in# is sayin# for the purpose of achie$in# the cause he has oined forces to#ether with the pastor or ministry to make sure the #ospel is taken to the whole world. 'he partner may not be e$erywhere present but throu#h his #i$in# anywhere the #ospel is taken to he is ably represented by his money which he has staked for the purpose. When a christian does this &od is unwillin# to do without him.
K And & intreat thee also tr-e !oefello) !oefello) help those )omen )hi*h lao-red lao-red )ith me in the (ospel )ith Clement also and )ith other m! fello) lao-rers )hose names are in the oo of life4/ hilip/ :9= K -t & re@oi*ed in the Bord (reatl! (reatl! that that no) at the last !o-r *are *are of me hath flo-rished a(ain; )herein )herein !e )ere also *aref-l -t !e la*ed opport-nit!4/ hilip/ :10=
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K #o) !e hilippians no) also that in the e(innin( of the (ospel )hen & departed departed from ?a*edonia ?a*edonia no *h-r*h *omm-ni*ated )ith me as *on*ernin( (i.in( and re*ei.in( -t !e onl!/ [16] +or e.en in Thessaloni*a !e sent on*e and a(ain -nto m! ne*essit!/ [17] #ot e*a-se & desire a (ift: -t & desire fr-it that ma! ao-nd to !o-r a**o-nt/ [1] -t & ha.e all and ao-nd: & am f-ll ha.in( re*ei.ed of Epaphrodit-s Epaphrodit-s the thin(s )hi*h )ere sent from from !o- an odo-r of a s)eet smell a sa*rifi*e a**eptale )ell pleasin( to God/ [1] -t m! God shall s-ppl! all !o-r need need a**ordin( to his his ri*hes in (lor! ! Christ ,es-s4/ hilip/ :1581=
CONCLUSION
'his class teaches on Christian character and the responsibility of the Christian the life that has been #i$en to him ? (Lo$e!.
1/ 2/ 9/ / 5/ 6/ 7/ / /
$hat $hat is the the )ho )hole le *la *lass all ao ao-tO -tO $hat $hat does does the the life life of of a Chri Christia stian n *onsi *onsist/ st/ %ela %elate te )ith )ith ile ile refe refere ren*e n*es/ s/ $hat $hat is *onfe *onfessio ssion n and )hat )hat sho-ld sho-ld e the the manne mannerr of o-r o-r Christ Christian ians= *onfe *onfessio ssionO nO $hat $hat does does it it mean mean to sa! sa! Bife Bife and death death is is in the po)er po)er of of ton(ton(-eO eO $hat $hat is the si(nif si(nifi*a i*an*e n*e of this this statem statement ent to the the life life of a Christ Christian ianO O $h! $h! sho sho-l -ld d a Chr Chris isti tian an e s-m s-mis issi si.e .eO O $hat $hat ar are the thr three le. le.el el of of a-th a-thori orit! t! as tata-(h (htt in thi thiss *las *lass/ s/ o) *an *an !o!o- des*ri des*rie e the the ideal ideal or re*o re*omme mmende nded d relat relation ionshi ship p )ith )ith !o-r !o-r spiritspirit-al al leade leaderO rO $hat $hat sho-ld sho-ld e !o-r !o-r relatio relationsh nship ip )ith )ith *onsti *onstit-te t-ted d a-thor a-thoritie ities; s; oth oth those those )ho hate hate and malt maltre reat at !o- and and those )ho lo.e !o-/
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ASSIGNMENT
. What is the the relationship relationship between between the the ton#ue ton#ue and lifeN lifeN (-ames (-ames @/23H @/23H 4ark/003 4ark/0030@! 0@! 0. K'he -ust -ust shall li$e li$e by faithJ faithJ 5om/I 5om/I we walk walk by faith faith not by by si#ht 0 Cor Cor D/I. D/I. 9iscuss. 9iscuss.
S,)8-E<()$('*% (% A,.,%'
& lo.e the Bord )ith all of m! heart so-l and mi(ht and & lo.e m! nei(ho-rs as m!self/ The lo.e of God is shared aroad in m! heart/ There is po)er in m! ton(-e so )ith m! ton(-e & *a-se the desired *han(es/ & impa*t li.es )ith m! ton(-e and also (i.e life/
TODAY’S CONFESSIONS
& am lo.e/ Bo.e is m! nat-re/ & am patient and & am ind SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION FOR MEDITATION
1 Corinthians 19:8 ampl
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REFERENCE MATERIALS T(,
a. b. c. d. e. f. #. h. i. . k. l. m.
Christ ist in in 8ou Stri$in# for the Faith of the &ospel Ser$ Ser$in in# # th the Lor Lord d
B
a. 'he 'he )owe )owerr of of 'on 'on#u #ues es.. b. 5<5 'opical 'opical Compendium ;ols. ;ols. O $ol 0 c. >ow >ow 'hat 'hat 8ou are are Bor Born n :#a :#ain in
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CLASS 5 CHRISTIAN CHARACTER INTRODUCTION 'his course focuses on the life of a Christian which is for ser$ice to &od. :ccordin# to 5omans 0/ belie$ers must possess a sin#le3minded passion to please &od in Lo$e de$otion praise and to offer the members of their bodies for *is ser$ice. *e must li$e for &od worship *im obey *im and imbibe Christ. 'his he does by conductin# himself in a manner befittin# to the "in#dom of &od. 'his means his beha$iour, manner of life must ali#n with what &od says he is. LEARNING OBECTIVES A' '0, ,% 8 '0* &)(9 (/'*&*(%' 0$)
a.e learnt ho) to st-d! Gods Gods )ord
Hno) the importan*e of the Christian (ro)th (ro)th
>nderstand the p-rpose of prosperit!
'he new creation man has a new lifestyle (new way of li$in#! that needs to be de$eloped. 'his class addresses this new faith lifestyle. A
T0, *. *./'(%&, 8 8 / /@'0 8 8/ ( C0/*'*(% (Galatians :182= [1] #o) & sa! that the heir as lon( as he is a *hild differeth nothin( from a ser.ant tho-(h he e lord of all; [2] -t is -nder t-tors and (o.ernors -ntil the time appointed of the father4/ (Galatians :182=
&rowth will enable the Christian (heir! to walk in his inheritance and demonstrate the difference between the Christian and the non3Christian non3Christian (ser$ant!
G ,*%, $ 8/ /@'0 &od desi#ned for us to #row. &rowth thus means Kchan#eJ ha$in# the ability to discern that ri#hts you ha$e as a child of &od. t also implies that you no lon#er operate from your human senses and reas reason onin in# # but but from from the the word word of &od. &od. 'his 'his is a chan chan#e #e that that e$ol e$ol$e $ess thro throu# u#h h the the stud study y and and understandin# of the word of &od. When there’s a comprehension of the word of &od in our heart it is manifested on the outside. t thus brin#s about tan#ible+$isible chan#e that is seen by e$eryone who takes a look on your life as a Christian. 8our 8our le$el of #rowth is determined determined based on the words that come out from your mouth. 'he bible thus references that we.. [15] -t [15] -t speain( the tr-th in lo.e ma! (ro) (ro) -p into him in all thin(s )hi*h is the head head e.en Christ: [16] +rom )hom the )hole od! fitl! @oined to(ether and *ompa*ted ! that )hi*h e.er! @oint s-pplieth a**ordin( to the effe*t-al )orin( in the meas-re of of e.er! part maeth in*rease of the od! -nto the edif!in( of itself in lo.e/4Ephes/ :15816=
B
'he illustration of the #rowth of a baby that depicts that of the new born Christian, 'he incorruptible maestic durable lofty e%pansi$e #rowth of a cedar of Lebanon is the way the Christian should #row
S'$+*% '0, @/ 3t-d! to she) th!self appro.ed -nto God a )orman that needed not to e ashamed ri(htl! di.idin( the )ord of tr-th/42 Tim/ 2:15=
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'he Christian is a student for life pastor says you may ha$e a 9 in school but you cannot afford to ha$e a 9 in life 3 life is spiritual s piritual therefore the need for serious spiritual education 'he Berean Christians were more noble because of their checkin# up the scriptures. 'he Christian is a worker and must be ri#htly educated for the work. 5i#htly di$idin# the word of truth will help us pray the ri#ht way and confess the ri#ht way.
>% R,(% 8/ '$+
o
As ne)orn aes desire the sin*ere mil of the )ord that !e ma! (ro) there!4 there!4 1 eter 2:2= Study is essential for our #rowth and de$elopment as Christians the word is our necessary food.
o
"%
That )e hen*eforth e no more *hildren tossed to and fro and *arried ao-t )ith e.er! )ind of do*trine ! the slei(ht of men and *-nnin( *raftiness )here! the! lie in )ait to de*ei.e4 Ephes/ :1
Study will help us to be stable Christians and protect us from the deception of wron# teachin#s. When we understand the word we will no more be like children who pick up one thin# today and drop it tomorrow we will be stable in the faith.
N,&,*'+ 8 (*)+ '$+
@%
These )ere more nole than those in Thes saloni*a in that the! re*ei.ed the )ord )ith all readiness of mind and sear*hed the s*ript-res dail! )hether those thin(s )ere so4/ A*ts 17:11= 4an is a spirit and must feed his spirit man daily ust like a man who feeds his body daily. ma#ine a soldier who has not eaten for days #oin# to war. Similarly Similarly the Christian is continually fi#htin# the fi#ht of faith and must be spiritually fit. : plant needs constant water to flourish and do well so is the life of a Christian. And the! the! *ontin-in( dail! )ith one a**ord a**ord in the temple and reain( reain( read from from ho-se to ho-se did eat their meat )ith (ladness and sin(leness of heart4 A*ts 2:6= 'he daily (day by day! walk of faith of the early Christians is of note. E$en as a tree #rows 02hours a day I days a week and is constantly connected connected to its source, source, the Christian Christian is typified as a tree in )salm that #rows by the ri$er. 8ou 8ou must stay connected to the source of your life ! D,$' 3246-47;
R0(+ 8 /,()*'*, (% ,88,&'*<, '$+ $*,
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We ha$e a daily de$otional de$eloped to help our study of &od’s &od’s word. We should not speed read our rhapsody de$otional like a news paper but study and underline strikin# facts to your spirit it. Follow the bible readin# plan. 'here are people who read the newspaper daily but we as Christian people should de$elop the habit for in$estin# our time in thin#s that edify us and nourish us.
Foundation
G% F,))@0* S,/<*&,9 C,)); 'he Bible talks about the to#etherness and participation of each of us with one another in the body of Christ. n Christianity Christianity no man is an sland ust like li ke the eye needs the ear etc
reain( of And the! *ontin-ed steadfastl! in the apostlesI do*trine and fello)ship and in reain( read and in pra!ers/ [9] And fear *ame -pon e.er! so-l: and man! )onders and si(ns )ere done ! the apostles/ [] And all that elie.ed )ere to(ether to(ether and had all thin(s *ommon; [5] And sold their possessions and (oods and parted them to all men as e.er! man had need/ [6] And the! *ontin-in( dail! )ith one a**ord in the temple and reain( read from from ho-se to ho-se did eat their meat )ith (ladness and sin(leness of heart [7] raisin( God and ha.in( fa.o-r fa.o-r )ith all the people/ And the Bord Bord added to the *h-r*h *h-r*h dail! s-*h as sho-ld e sa.ed4/ A*ts 2:287=
'he early Christians are e%amples of belie$ers walkin# to#ether in fellowship. 'heir testimony caused increase in the body of Christ as the Lord added more to the church daily as s hould be sa$ed.
'he Cell System of Christ Embassy is a fellowship #roup where Christians #ather to#ether in more intimate #roups and are in$ol$ed in each other’s li$es. +rom )hom the )hole )hole od! fitl! @oined to(ether and *ompa*ted ! ! that )hi*h e.er! @oint s-pplieth a**ordin( to the effe*t-al )orin( in the meas-re meas-re of e.er! part maeth in*rease of the od! -nto the edif!in( of itself in lo.e4/ Ephes/ :16= We all need each other to #row and de$elop fully.
t hat all the members are dependent on each other. I))$'/('*% *ow the human body works that
C%*',%&+ *% S,/<*&,!
And let -s *onsider one another to pro.oe -nto lo.e and to (ood )ors4 ere)s 10:2=
We must de$elop the habit of #oin# to church whether we feel like it or not. 'he Bible teaches that some ha$e a manner of ne#lectin# Christian #atherin#s. We must ha$e the ri#ht attitude in attendin# church ser$ices not ust to fulfil ri#hteousness but to learn it is like #oin# to a spiritual school. f you can #o to work daily why can’t you attend church ser$ices which is ust once a week remember that the money you seek wisdom can #i$e.
&od e%pects you to be in ser$ice and will minister to you as if i f you are present.Some ha$e missed their ministration by bein# absent.
/ LOVE Gree )ord8 AGAE :#ape is the &od kind of lo$e and iiss different from the world’s kind of lo$e. :#ape is lo$e that is unconditional it #i$es in spite of the recipient. Lo$e is the emblem of the Christian the Lord said that is how people will know we are his disciples when we lo$e one another. cor2/ says we should hotl y pursue Lo$e (make it our #reat 7uest!. f you are #oin# to li$e the faith life you will ha$e to work in lo$e for faith works by lo$e ! Lo$e is the key to spiritual #ifts Cor2/ says follow after lo$e and desire spiritual #ifts N',
. Cor @ is the chapter chapter that that e%plains e%plains lo$e (for (for a #ood renderin renderin# # check the the amplified amplified $ersion!. $ersion!. >ote that in &al D/00. We read that the Fruit ( sin(-lar ! of the spirit (the recreated human spirit not the *oly &host! is sin(-lar= sin(-lar= Lo$e. 'his connotes that all the other listed fruits are in the first one 3Lo$e fruits. : Christian does not need to ask &od for the ability to lo$e he has lo$e like he has faith the Bible 44 | P a g e
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says the lo$e of &od is shed abroad in our hearts by the *oly Spirit (5om1/D!. We are born of Lo$e. We are born with it so we can only #row in the manifestation of the fruits K A ne) *ommandment & (i.e -nto -nto !o- that !e lo.e one another; as & ha.e lo.ed !o- that !e also lo.e one another/ another/ [95] ! this t his shall all men no) that !e are m! dis*iples if !e lo.e one to another4/ ,ohn 19:9895= 'he 'he G comm comman andm dmen ents ts ha$e ha$e been been abol abolis ishe hed d and and do not not appl apply y to the the new new crea creati tion on.. 'he 'he new new commandment for the new creation is to lo$e as Christ lo$ed us. And this *ommandment ha.e )e from him that he )ho lo.eth God sho-ld lo.e his rother also4/ 1 ,ohn :21= o-r pro.e for !o-r lo.e for God is !o-r lo.e for !o-r rother e !e therefore follo)ers of God as dear *hildren; [2] And )al in lo.e as Christ also hath lo.ed -s and hath (i.en himself for -s an offerin( and a sa*rifi*e to God for a s)eet8smellin( sa.o-r4/ Ephes/ 5:182= 5:182=
I))$'/('*%
-ust like children copy their father we should imitate &od by walkin# in lo$e. ma#ine a child who wears his father’s shoes and tie actin# like his father. !%
OUR CONFESSIONKMANNER OF LIFE
CHRISTIANITY is called the #reat confession there is a connection between our confession and the way we li$e.
$ee ha.in( the same spirit of faith a**ordin( as it is )ritten & elie.ed and therefore ha.e & spoen; $ )e also elie.e and therefore spea4 2 Corinthians :19=/
Christianity is a life of confession. Confession comes from the &reek word omolodiaA A omolodiaA which means K3peain( K 3peain( the same thin(s )ith God in *onsent J. *onsent J. 'he Bible says that what we speak is not what we see think or feel. We speak what we belie$e.
n the book of *ebrews the Bible says Bet !o-r *on.ersation e )itho-t *o.eto-sness and e *ontent )ith s-*h thin(s as !e ha.e: for he has said & )ill ne.er lea.e thee nor forsae thee/ 3o that )e ma! 'BJB 'BJB 3A 3A the Bord is m! helper helper and & )ill not fear )hat man shall do -nto me4 (*ebrews @/D3H!.
&od has spoken so that we may boldly say what *e has said concernin# us in a#reement with *im. 'his is the Christian life.
t is our confessions that put our faith to work. Sal$ation is sealed by confession. 4erely belie$in# in the mind does not do anythin# until we declare who we are what we ha$e become etc. Confession puts the power of &od to work. 'he Bible says That if tho- shall *onfess )ith th! mo-th the Bord ,es-s/4 and also $ith $ith the mo-th *onfession is made -nto sal.ationJ. sal.ation J.
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Al)a!s in e.er! pra!er of mine for !o- all main( reK-est reK-est )ith @o! @o! [5] +or !o-r fello)ship in the (ospel from the first da! -ntil no); [6] ein( *onfident of this .er! thin( that he )hi*h hath e(-n a (ood )or in !o- )ill perform it -ntil the da! of ,es-s Christ4 hilip/ 1:86=
from )hen*e also )e loo for the 3a.io-r 3a.io-r the Bord ,es-s Christ: [21] +or o-r *on.ersation is in hea.en; from )ho shall *han(e o-r .ile od! that it ma! e fashioned lie -nto his (lorio-s od! a**ordin( a**ordin( to the )orin( )here! he is ale e.en to s-d-e all thin(s -nto himself4/ hilip/ 9:20821=
That if tho- shalt *onfess )ith th! mo-th the B ord ,es-s and shalt elie.e in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead tho- shalt e sa.ed/ [10] +or )ith the heart man elie.eth -nto ri (hteo-sness; and )ith the mo-th *onfession is made -nto sal.ation/ [11] [11] +or the s*ript-re saith $hosoe.er elie.eth on him s hall not e ashamed/ [12] +or there is no differen*e et)een the ,e) and the Gree: for the same Bord o.er all is ri*h -nto all that *all -pon him/ [19] +or )hosoe.er shall *all -pon the name of the Bord shall e sa.ed4/ %omans 10:819=
We start out the Christian life with confessin# the lordship of -esus Christ and continue the Christian life by this same process of confessin# the thin#s we belie$e.
All thin(s are la)f-l -nto -nto me -t all thin(s are not eLpedient: eLpedient: all thin(s are la)f-l for for me -t & )ill not e ro-(ht -nder the po)er of an!4/ 1 Cor/ 6:12=
8ou must learn to lea$e the #ood for the best
0% L*8, (% D,('0 * *% T0, P@,/ 8 '0, T%$, 'his is an e%tension of the last point we made concernin# confession. 'he last point deals with sayin# the same thin#s with &od. n other words a#reein# with what &od has said with our words but this one deals with the power of our ton#ue. 'he ton#ue has the power to kill or make ali$e. 'he reason why we ha$e to a#ree with &od and say what *e says is because *is words are spirit and they are life (-ohn H/H@!. 'herefore *is words will produce life for us. :ny other word will produce ne#ati$e thin#s because there is power in the ton#ue.
'he Bible says Jeath and life are in the po)er of the ton(-e: and the! that lo.e it shall eat the fr-it thereof4 ()ro$erbs thereof4 ()ro$erbs 1/ 0!. 'his is $ery stron#. 'he power to control life lies in the ton#ue e$en thou#h the ton#ue is one of the smallest members of the body. body. 'he Bible declares/
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KFor in many thin#s we offend all. f any man offend not in word the same is a perfect man and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold we put bits in the horsesA mouths that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body. body. Behold also the ships which thou#h they be so #reat and are dri$en of fierce winds yet are they turned about with a $ery small helm whithersoe$er the #o$ernor listeth. E$en so the ton#ue is a little member and boasteth #reat thin#s. Behold how #reat a matter a little fire kindleth= :nd the ton#ue is a fire a world of ini7uity/ so is the ton#ue amon# our members that it defileth the whole body body and setteth on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire of hellJ (-ames @/03H!.
'he Bible shows that the ton#ue controls e$erythin# about life. -esus said in 4ark /00 that we shall ha$e whatsoe$er we say. We must keep speakin# the word of &od. 'he Bible says we should hold fast our confession.
Ruestions ! Life and death are in the power of the ton#ue. 9iscuss this e%hausti$ely with scriptures. 0! 8ou shall ha$e whatsoe$er you say. E%plain. % F(*'0 W() T0, C0/*'*(% @() * ( @() 8 8(*'0! 'he Bible says that without faith it is impossible to please &od because he that Kcometh unto &od must belie$e that *e is and that *e is a rewarder of them that dili#ently seek himJ (*ebrews /H!.
W, %' @() + @0(' @, ,, $' + @0(' '0, @/ (+ .
E<,/+'0*% '0, ,%, &(% ,/&,*<, * ',./() . 'hey are subect to chan#e but the word of &od abides fore$er. So the Bible says we walk by faith and not by si#ht. (0 Corinthians D/I!.
'his is why &od said Alet the weak say l am stron#A.
$,'*% (! E%plain PFor we walk by faith and not by si#htJ. (0! E%plain the law of faith.
L% C0/*'*(%*'+ * ( L*8, 8 S$.**% 'he Christian Christian life is a life of submission 3 submission submission to the word of &od. When we submit submit oursel$es to one another or to authority (both spiritually and earthly! we are submittin# to the word because it is the word that admonishes us to li$e in submission. 'here are three le$els of authority that the Bible asks the Christian to reco#nie and submit to. 'hey are/
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i. A$'0/*'+ *% '0, 0., 'his basically makes reference to the relationship between the husband and the wife and between the children and the parents. For the husband and the wife the Bible says PWi$es submit yoursel$es unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife e$en as Christ is the head of the church, and *e is the Sa$ior of the bodyJ (Ephesians D/0030@!. >otice that it did not say P$i.es s-mit !o-rsel.es to all h-sandsP. Kto !o-r o)n h-sands P. t says Kto h-sandsP. h-sandsP. While the wife is submitted to her own husband her husband is asked to lo$e her/ K -sands lo.e !o-r )i.es e.en as Christ also lo.ed the Ch-r*h and (a.e imself to it J it J (Ephesians D/0D!. :uthority is #i$en the husband to be the head o$er his wife and so &od commands the wife to submit herself to the husbandAs authority. 'he authority that the husband e%ercises o$er his wife is likened to the one Christ e%ercises o$er the church and the wife is to submit herself to her husband the way the church submits to Christ.
'he reason why we should submit to the leaders is because &od is the one who establishes them and so any rebellion a#ainst the so$erei#n is directed towards &od. 'he Bible says KFor rulers are not a terror to #ood works but to e$il. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the powerN 9o that which is #ood and thou shall ha$e praise of the same. For he is a minister of &od to thee for #ood. But if thou do that which is e$il be afraid...P (5omans @/2!. )aul admonishes us further to pray for those in authority authority so that we may lead a 7uiet and peaceable peaceable life in all #odliness and honesty. honesty. ( 'imothy 0/30! iii. A$'0/*'+ *% '0, C0$/&0 &od has set up #o$ernment in *is church. *e lets us know how to relate with those in positions of authority in the body of Christ. Bible says K
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% SETTLING DISAGREEMENTS DISAGREEMENTS ?oreo.er if th! rother rother shall trespass a(ainst thee (o and tell him his fa-lt et)een thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee tho- hast (ained th! rother/ rother/ [16] -t if he )ill not hear thee then tae )ith )it h thee one or t)o more that in the mo-th of t)o or three )itnesses e.er! )ord ma! e estalished/ [17] And if he shall ne(le*t to hear them tell it -nto the *h-r*h: -t if he ne(le*t to hear the *h-r*h let him e -nto thee as an heathen man and a p-li*an4 ?atthe) 1:15817=
'here is a way Christians should settle disputes amon#st themsel$es that is different from the way of the people of the world settles them. 8ou call the party in$ol$ed talk with him if he he doesn’t listen to you in$ite another Christian yet still if there is no chan#e tell it to the church that is to the pastor of the church. f this does not work you can treat the person the way you would treat a stran#er. stran#er. N%
SANCTIFYING SANCTIFYING YOUR THOUGHTS
Bet no man sa! )hen he is tempted & am t empted of God: for God *annot e tempted )ith e.il neither tempteth he an! man: [1] -t e.er! man is tempted )hen he is dra)n a)a! of his o)n l-st and enti*ed/ [15] Then )hen l-st hath *on*ei.ed it rin(eth forth sin: and sin )hen it is finished rin(eth forth death4/ ,ames 1:19815=
+inall! rethren rethren )hatsoe.er thin(s are tr-e )hatsoe.er thin(s thin(s are honest )hatsoe.er thin(s are are @-st +inall! )hatsoe.er thin(s are p-re )hatsoe.er thin(s are lo.el! )hatsoe.er thin(s are of (ood report; if there e an! .irt-e and if there e an! praise thin on these thin(s4/ hilip/ :=
:s Christians we ha$e to take char#e of our thou#hts 'hou#hts can come to you from &od from your mind based on the information you recei$e and from the de$il :s Christian you should not allow your mind to dwell on ust anythin# 'he Bible #i$es us a list of thin#s we should dwell on in )hi 2/1 Be careful on what you dwell on because your mind is the doorway to your spirit. Be careful about the thin#s you watch read and hear like mo$ies books ma#aines because they could influence your thou#hts positi$ely or ne#ati$ely.
PRINCIPLES OF PROSPERITY 1! WHA WHAT IS IS PROS PROSPE PERI RITY TY# # 'he 9ictionary defines prosperity to mean K The state The state of ein( of ein( prosper prospero-s; o-s; ad.an*e or (ain or (ain in an!thin( in an!thin( (ood (ood or desirale; s-**essf-l pro(r s-**essf-l pro(ress ess in an! -siness or enterprise; attainment of the o@e*t desired; (ood fort-ne; s-**ess; fort-ne; s-**ess; as as *ommer*ial prosperit!; *ommer*ial prosperit!; national national prosperit!4/ prosperit!4/ +or !e no) the (ra*e of o-r Bord Bord ,es-s Christ that tho-(h he )as ri*h !et for !o-r saes he e*ame e*ame poor poor that !e thro-(h his po.ert! mi(ht e ri*h/ [10] And herein & (i.e m! ad.i*e: for this is eLpedient for !o- )ho ha.e e(-n efore not onl! to do -t also to e for)ard a !ear a(o4 2 Cor/ :810=
'nl! e tho- stron( and .er! *o-ra(eo-s t hat tho- ma!est oser.e to do a**ordin( to all the la) )hi*h ?oses m! ser.ant *ommanded thee: t-rn not from from it to the ri(ht hand or to the left that tho- ma!est prosper prosper )hithersoe.er tho- (oest/ [] This oo of the la) s hall not depart o-t of th! mo-th; -t tho- shalt meditate
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therein da! and ni(ht that tho- ma!est oser.e to do a**ordin( to all that t hat is )ritten therein: for then tho shalt mae th! )a! prospero-s prospero-s and then tho- shalt shalt ha.e (ood s-**ess4 ,osh-a 1:78=
2! PURP PURPOS OSE E OF OF PROS PROSPE PERI RITY TY
&od is a wise in$estor and he e%pects results. 'he purpose of &ods prosperity in the life of a Christian is specific and he ne$er minced words about this. 4any ha$e boasted about their ability to accumulate wealth but in 9euteronomy 9euteronomy 1/I31 &od says, K And tho- sa! in thine heart m! po)er and the mi(ht of mine hand hath (otten me this )ealth/ -t tho- shalt rememer the B'%J th! God: for it is he that (i.eth thee po)er to (et )ealth that he ma! estalish his *o.enant )hi*h he s)are -nto th! fathers as it is this da!J. da! J. Enoyin# and ha$in# a #reat life is #ood but the purpose whereby &od brin#s wealth into your hands as a Christian is for the purpose of the &ospel. *e wants to use your wealth to spread this #ospel. *is desire is that all may come to the knowled#e of truth and be sa$ed. When &od prospers you you must understand the reason and the more you in$est in the kin#dom the more he opens new frontiers for you. Mech /I 'he )urpose of )rosperity for a Christian is to be a blessin# to other people especially to fellow Christians.
'here are se$eral blessin# associated with #i$in# offerin# to &od some of these offerin#s are e%plained below with $arious supportin# scriptures/ A! TITHES 'his is one of the principles that a Christian has to follow if he must e%pect to work in prosperity. *ere we are talkin# about durable prosperity and not the one that #oes up to come down. : 'ithe &od says belon#s to him and there is no ne#otiation about this as a Christian. When you pay your tithe it is to &od and not to a man. *e says #i$e it to me 3 that is one tenth of the $alue of your income. 8ou may ha$e said but don’t earn much and am e%pected to pay tithe out of that which is not enou#h already. : Christian must pay tithes irrespecti$e of the sie. 4alachi @/ G says, K rin( !e all the tithes into the storeho-se that there ma! e meat in mine ho-se and pro.e me no) here)ith saith s aith the B'%J of hosts if & )ill not open !o- the )indo)s of hea.en and po-r !o- o-t a lessin( that there t here shall not e room eno-(h to re*ei.e it J. it J. (ref. &enesis 2/ 0G 4atthew 0@/ 0@ Luke / 20 &enesis D/ 130G! K And lessed e the most hi(h God )hi*h hath hath deli.ered thine enemies into th! hand/ hand/ And he (a.e him tithes of all4/ Genesis 1:20! 1:20 !
$oe -nto !o- s*ries and harisees h!po*ritesM for !e pa! t ithe of mint and anise and *-mmin and $oe ha.e omitted the )ei(htier matters of the la) la) @-d(ment mer*! and faith: these o-(ht !e to ha.e done and not to lea.e the other -ndone4/ ?atthe) 29:29=
K -t )oe -nto !o- hariseesM +or !e tithe mint and r-e and all manner of hers and pass o.er @-d(ment and the lo.e of God: these o-(ht !e to ha.e done and not to lea.e the other -ndone4/ B-e 11:2=
K &n the same da! the Bord Bord made a *o.enant )ith Aram sa!in( >nto th! seed ha.e & (i.en this land from the ri.er of E(!pt -nto -nto the (reat ri.er ri.er the ri.er E-phrates: [1] The Henites and the HeniNNites and the Hadmonites [20] And the ittites and the eriNNites and the %ephaims4/ Genesis 15:1820=
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B! FIR FIRST FRUI FRUITS TS 'his is another type of #i$in# that is re$ealed to the Christian in the bible. First fruit means the first and the best of your increase. 'his &od also says belon#s belon#s to *im. n E%odus 00 / 0 &od says, Tho- shalt not dela! to offer the first of th! ripe fr-its and of th! liK-ors: the firstorn of th! sons shalt tho- (i.e -nto meJ. meJ. &od is layin# claim that this belon#s to him. When you make a release of your first fruits to &od you are declarin# that the rest of the fruits are sanctified. 'he bible declares for if the firstfruit be holy holy the lump is also holy/ and if the root be holy so are the branches 3 5omans /H.
KThe first fr-it also of th! *orn of th! )ine and of thine oil and the first of the flee*e of th! sheep shalt tho- (i.e him4/ Je-t/ 1:=
C! FREE FREEWI WILL LL OFFE OFFERI RING NG 'he freewill offerin# ust as the name implies is what you make up in your mind to #i$e to &od of your own free will. 'hese pertains to such offerin#s we #i$e durin# the ser$ices and meetin#s. When you #i$e e%pect e%pect har$ests. har$ests. :lso know that har$ests come with multiplicatio multiplication. n. LukeH /@1 says , DGi.e and it shall e (i.en -nto !o-; (ood meas-re pressed do)n and shaen to(ether and r-nnin( o.er shall men (i.e into !o-r osom/ +or )ith the same meas-re that !e mete )ithal it shall e meas-red to !o- a(ain4/ D! SEED SEED OFF OFFER ERIN ING G 'his is a special kind of offerin#. t is #i$en in e%pectation for somethin# and most times it comes as a sacrifice. : Christian who e%pects a chan#e in the affairs of his life family business work and others may decide to pick up somethin# that is of $alue to him and offer it to &od with e%pectation for &od to inter$ene on his behalf.
&od will ne$er owe any man who #i$es to him. as it is )ritten e hath dispersed aroad; he hath (i.en to the poor: his ri(hteo-sness remaineth for e.er/ #o) he that ministereth seed to the so)er oth minister read for !o-r food and m-ltipl! !o-r seed so)n and in*rease the fr-its of !o-r ri(hteo-sness ;= K -t this & sa! e )hi*h so)eth sparin(l! shall reap also sparin(l!; and he )hi*h so)eth o-ntif-ll! shall reap also o-ntif-ll!/ o-ntif-ll!/ [7] E.er! man a**ordin( as he p-rposeth in his heart so let him (i.e; not (r-d(in(l! (r-d(in(l! or of ne*essit!: for God lo.eth a *heerf-l (i.er/ (i.er/ [] And God is ale to mae all (ra*e ao-nd to)ard !o-; that !e al)a!s ha.in( all s-ffi*ien*! in all thin(s ma! ao-nd to e.er! (ood )or: [] As it is )ritten e hath dispersed aroad; he hath (i.en to the poor: his ri(hteo-sness remaineth for e.er/ [10] #o) he that ministereth seed to the so)er oth minister read for !o-r food and m-ltipl! !o-r seed so)n and in*rease the fr-its of !o-r ri(hteo-sness ;= [11] [11] ein( enri*hed in e.er!thin( to all o-ntif-lness )hi*h *a-seth thro-(h -s thans(i.in( to God4/ 2 Cor/ Cor/ :6811= E! PARTN ARTNER ERSH SHIP IP )artnership )artnership is another another type of #i$in# #i$in# made by a Christian. t is a relationshi relationship p between indi$iduals indi$iduals or #roups #roups that that is charac character teried ied by mutual mutual cooper cooperati ation on and respon responsibi sibilit lity y as for the achie$ achie$eme ement nt of a specified #oal. *ere the specified #oal is reachin# the world with the #ospel of our Lord -esus Christ. t speaks $olume of the Christian. 'his is because the christian by his #i$in# is sayin# for the purpose of achie$in# the cause he has oined forces to#ether with the pastor or ministry to make sure the #ospel is taken to the whole world. 'he partner may not be e$erywhere present but throu#h his #i$in# anywhere the #ospel is taken to he is ably represented by his money which he has staked for the purpose. When a christian does this &od is unwillin# to do without him.
K And & intreat thee also tr-e !oefello) !oefello) help those )omen )hi*h lao-red lao-red )ith me in the (ospel )ith Clement also and )ith other m! fello) lao-rers )hose names are in the oo of life4/ 51 | P a g e
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hilippians/ :9= K -t & re@oi*ed in the Bord (reatl! (reatl! that that no) at the last !o-r *are *are of me hath flo-rished a(ain; )herein )herein !e )ere also *aref-l -t !e la*ed opport-nit!4/ hilippians :10=
K #o) !e hilippians no) also that in the e(innin( of the (ospel )hen & departed departed from ?a*edonia ?a*edonia no *h-r*h *omm-ni*ated )ith me as *on*ernin( (i.in( and re*ei.in( -t !e onl!/ [16] +or e.en in Thessaloni*a !e sent on*e and a(ain -nto m! ne*essit!/ [17] #ot e*a-se & desire a (ift: -t & desire fr-it that ma! ao-nd to !o-r a**o-nt/ [1] -t & ha.e all and ao-nd: & am f-ll ha.in( re*ei.ed of Epaphrodit-s Epaphrodit-s the thin(s )hi*h )ere sent from from !o- an odo-r of a s)eet smell a sa*rifi*e a**eptale )ell pleasin( to God/ [1] -t m! God shall s-ppl! all !o-r need need a**ordin( to his his ri*hes in (lor! ! Christ ,es-s4/ hilip/ :1581= CONCLUSION
'his class teaches on Christian character and the responsibility of the Christian the life that has been #i$en to him ? (Lo$e!.
. 0. @. 2. D. H. I. 1. .
What What is is the the whole whole class class all all aboutN aboutN What does does the life of a Christian Christian consist consist.. 5elate 5elate with bible bible referen references. ces. What is confess confession ion and what what should should be the the manner manner of our (Chris (Christian’ tian’s! s! confession confessionNN What does does it mean mean to say say KLife KLife and death death is in the power power of of ton#ueN ton#ueN What is the si#nifica si#nificance nce of this statemen statementt to the life of of a Christian ChristianNN Why should should a Chri Christia stian n be submiss submissi$e i$eNN What are the the three three le$el le$el of authority authority as tau#ht tau#ht in this class. class. *ow can you describ describee the ideal ideal or recommended recommended relatio relationship nship with with your spiritua spirituall leaderN leaderN What should should be your your relationship relationship with with constituted constituted authori authorities, ties, both those those who hate hate and maltreat maltreat you and those who lo$e you.
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ASSIGNMENT
. What is the the relationshi relationship p between between the ton#ue ton#ue and and lifeN (-ames (-ames @/23H @/23H 4ark 4ark/003 /0030@! 0@! 0. K'he -ust -ust shall li$e li$e by faithJ faithJ 5om/I 5om/I we walk by by faith not not by si#ht si#ht 0 Cor D/I. D/I. 9iscuss. 9iscuss.
S,)8-E<()$('*% (% A,.,%'
lo$e the Lord with all of my heart soul and mi#ht and l o$e my nei#hbours as myself. 'he lo$e of &od is shared abroad in my heart. 'here is power in my ton#ue so with my ton#ue cause the desired chan#es. impact li$es with my ton#ue and also #i$e life. TODAY’S CONFESSIONS
am lo$e. Lo$e is my nature. am patient and am kind SCRIPTURE FOR MEDITATION FOR MEDITATION
1 Corinthians 19:8 ampl
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REFERENCE MATERIALS T(,
a. b. c. d. e. f. #. h. i. . k. l.
Christ in in 8ou Stri$in# for the Faith of the &ospel Ser$ Ser$in in# # th the Lor Lord d
B
. 'he 'he )ow )ower er of 'on#u on#ues es.. 0. 5<5 'opi 'opical cal Compe Compendi ndium um ;ols. ;ols. O $ol 0 @. >ow >ow 'hat 'hat 8ou 8ou are are Bor Born n :#a :#ain in
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CLASS 6 THE LOCAL ASSEMBLY AND BELIEVERS LOVEWORLD INTRODUCTION
'he Church has been &od’s plan from the be#innin# to establish *is kin#dom here on earth. n the
L,(/%*% O,&'*<,
'hat the student would understand the 6ni$ersal Church ? the purpose and functions of the Church throu#h its indi$idual members 'hat the student is well informed about the ministry and the leadership structure of t he ministry that the student has a better understandin# of the Cell System as it inte#rates with the uni$ersal church 'he student should understand his+her role and what it means to #i$e one’s life a meanin#3 understandin# of the $ision of the ministry their role in outreach pro#rams and our emphasis on trainin# at all le$els. :nd lastly that the student is at home with what we belie$e and preach i n this ministry as summaried in our statement of faith.
1! WHA WHAT T IS THE UNIVERSAL UNIVERSAL CHUR CHURCH CH AND AND THE BODY BODY OF CHRIST CHRIST 'he &reek word translated Church is ECCLESIA which means a (atherin( of people *alled o-t from amon( other people. people . t is $ery important that you #et to understand what the uni$ersal church is and also know how one becomes a member. t must be understood that the church is one. 'he uni$ersal church therefore comprises e$ery member of the body of Christ in the whole world round. 'his is the whole family of &od that meets in e$ery part of the world from Christ to date. E0,*(% 321 We find that Christ himself bein# the head of the church appointed (or #a$e! the fi$e ministry #ifts. (i.e. apostles prophets e$an#elists pastors and teachers! for the perfection buildin# up (edifyin#! of the church. 'he church is &od’s peculiar treasure. C)*(% 11?924 'he church is the &od’ &od’ss pecul peculiar iar treasure. treasure. 'he word of &od declares in P(). 163 K-t saints that are in the earth and to the eL*ellent in )hom is all m! deli(ht J 'he church is &od’s deli#ht. 'he >"-; reads Kand to the e%cellent onesJ. t’s #reat to belon# to the church (i.e. the body of Christ!. IC/*%'0*(% 121? &od himself sets his children into the particular local assembly they should belon#. 8ou are not here by chance. &od positioned you in this particular local assembly inline with his predestined purpose for you and . 'he 6ni$ersal body of Christ needs you. you. R.(% 124-5
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2! HOW DO I BECO BECOME ME A MEM MEMBER BER# # 'o become a member of the uni$ersal church (or the church precisely! one has to be born a#ain. 'his is the only pre3re7uisite for becomin# a member of the church. 'o be born a#ain is to appreciate for yourself the sal$ation that -esus brin#s. :ll you ha$e to do is to act on the word of &od as it is in R.(% 1:=-1: KThat if tho- shalt *onfess )ith th! mo-th the Bord ,es-s and shalt elie.e elie.e in th! heart that God raised him from the t he dead tho- shalt e sa.ed for )ith the heart man elie.eth -nto ri(hteo-sness and )ith the mo-th *onfession is made -nto sal.ationJ sal.ation J By reason of this proclamation or declaration one is baptied into the body of Christ throu#h the instrumentality of the *oly Spirit. 'his is bein# born a#ain (i.e. *oly &host baptism!.
3! EVER EVERYONE YONE SHOULD SHOULD BELONG BELONG TO A CHUR CHURCH CH t is $ery important that e$ery Christian belon#s to a church (i.e. local assembly!. We had seen in H,/,@ 1:25 that the apostle )aul admonishes that we should not forsake the #atherin# of oursel$es to#ether as the bad manner of some is. We should not make oursel$es church super$isors #oin# from one church to another under the prete%t that &od spoke to us for there is no such thin# as that. We We should be committed to t o a local assembly. 'he only time &od will speak to you to lea$e a church for another accordin# to the scriptures is when his word is not tau#ht there. *e would now (by the *oly Spirit! direct you to a proper place. S,, A&' 242, H,/,@ 213. :lso #oin# from church to church would not allow you to be built up. t rather helps to raise 7uestions and doubt and suspicion. t was the custom of -esus to #o the temple same also with the disciples. 'hey are our e%amples. We should follow after them, also it is important that we #o to church to be built up too. Finally we #o to church to worship &od to pour out our heart to him to praise and #lorify him. L$416 'hat is why we need local assemblies, it enhances fellowship and causes e$ery member to contribute his or her own part in the work of the ministry ministry.. :lso the unity of the brethren brethren is ade ade7ua 7uately tely enhance enhanced. d. IC/*%'0*(% 1212-91?-27> E0,*(%416 'he whole body is fitly oined to#ether and compacted as each one of us supplies our own e%pected (ordained! 7uota to the work of the ministry. Secondly local assembly enables brethren to identify what office or role they can perform. R.(% 124-5 'he 6ni$ersal body of Christ needs you. We depend on one another ust as &od depends on us. 'hat is why we must care for one another and honor one another another..
4! PU PURP RPOS OSE E OF TH THE E CHURC CHURCH H )rimarily the purpose of the church can be seen to be three3fold (! T )/*8+ )/*8+ G9 G9 E0,*(% E0,*(% 1=-129 1=-129 E0, E0,*(% *(% 32:-2 32:-21 1
'he true purpose of the Church is to be a li#ht (saiah HG/! and to #lorify &od in all our works and deeds mindful of the fact that *e is the Lord of our li$es our source and stren#th (Ephesians @/0!. a.in( made no)n -nto -s the m!ster! of his )ill a**ordin( to his (ood pleas-re )hi*h he hath p-rposed in himself/ That in the dispensation of the t he f-llness of times he mi(ht (ather to(ether in one all thin(s in Christ oth )hi*h are in hea.en and )hi*h are on earth e.en in him/ &n )hom also )e ha.e otained and inheritan*e ein( predestined a**ordin( to the p-rpose of him )ho )oreth all thin(s after the *o-nsel of his )ill/ That )e sho-ld e to the praise of his (lor! )ho first tr-sted in Christ4
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&od’s purpose is for the church to #lorify *im and to show forth *is #lory (i. e. *is E%cellency *is perfection! ! T @*'% @*'%, , ' '0 '0,, @/) @/) :part from #lorifyin# &od the church should also be in$ol$ed in witnessin# to the world our Lord -esus Christ. 'his talks of soul winnin# and it is &od’s number one ob. t is &od’s heartthrob. E$ery Christian should make soul winnin# a priority+ in$ol$ement with witnessin# is not ne#otiable both sin#ularly and corporately the church should e$an#elie and disciple the world for -esus. See M(''0,@ 2?1?-2:9 A&' 1?9 2% C/*%'0*(% 517-1=9 (% M(/ 1615-16! &!
T $* $*) ) $ '0 '0,, (* (*%' %' E$ery member of the church is called to be saints ( 1C/12! and we all ha$e the responsibility of contributin# to the buildin# or edification of the body of Christ. 'he thin#s that we as we are tau#ht by the ministry #ifts (i. e. pastors prophets e$an#elists teachers and apostles! and the *oly Spirit we should use also to teach others and brin# them up in the faith. :s Christians we should take up our appropriate responsibilities $i, soul winnin# and soul de$elopment. t is not enou#h to witness to somebody of -esus but ade7uate follow up should be mounted to win and de$elop him to the le$el that he becomes in$ol$ed too in winnin# and de$elopin# others. See E0,*(% 411-16
5! WHY DO WE NEED LOCAL ASSEMBLY#
'he local assembly actually is a #atherin# of belie$ers in a #i$en locality. a.! 'he local assembly assembly positions positions the indi$idu indi$idual al belie$er in the body body of Christ and enables enables him or her function properly in the body of Christ. ( Cor 0/0H! b.! 'he local assembly also builds up the indi$idual member thereby nourishin# him or her onto maturity. maturi ty. (Eph 2/32! c.! 'he local assembly assembly also enables enables the belie$er belie$er disco$er the different different #ifts #ifts bestowed on him him by the *oly Spirit. ( Cor.0/013@!
6! IS IT IMPORTANT TO BELONG TO A CHURCH#
t is important to belon# to a Church because the bible instructs us not to ne#lect the comin# to#ether of &od’s people i.e. in fellowship ( H,/,@ 1:25!. We also belon# to a Church Church so as to #row spiritually spiritually onto maturity it makes us consistent and committed members of the Body of Christ ( E0,*(% 41114!.
7! WHO BUILDS THE CHURCH# a% UPON THIS ROC I WILL BUILD MY CHURH’ n M(''0,@ 1613-1= you will disco$ disco$er er that many peop people le ha$e erroneously erroneously interpreted interpreted -esus’ statemen statementt or words to mean that )eter is the rock. We We must #et it ri#ht and this can only come as we take this in conte conte%t. %t. 8ou see after )eter answered that KthoK tho- art the Christ the son of the Bi.in( God4 and ,es-s a*no)led(ed his ans)er ! sa!in( flesh and lood hath not re.ealed it to !o- -t his father )hi*h is in hea.en J *e went further to tell )eter that upon this rock will build my church. 'he rock -esus referred to there is Kthe re$elation that )eter recei$ed that -esus is the ChristJ So we find that -esus Christ is the rock upon which the church is built.
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When the Lord would ha$e built up Mion then *e will come in *is #lory. We ha$e seen that -esus is the rock which the church is built on M(''0,@ 161? . -esus therefore is the builder of the church. *e is the head of the church E0,*(% 523. *e is the author and the finisher (or perfecter! of our faith H,/,@ 122. / :lso e$ery member of the church is e7ually buildin# the church. n E0,*(% 412-16 you will find that the reason for which -esus #a$e the ministry #ifts for e7uippin# e7uippin# and perfe perfectin# ctin# of the saints for the work of the ministry for the buildin# up (edifyin#! of the body of Christ (i. e. the church!. 'his therefore makes us partners with deity deity.. &od is buildin# his church throu#h us. 'he word of &od declares that we are &od’ &od’ss workma wor kmansh nship ip cre create ated d in Chr Christ ist -esu -esuss unt unto o #oo #ood d wor works. ks. E0,*(% 21: importan importantly tly also also we fin find d in 1' Godss h-sandr! h-sandr! !e are God Godss C/*%'0*(% 3=-1: K +or )e are laorers to(ether )ith God: )e are God -ildin(s/4 A**ordin( to the (ra*e of God )hi*h is (i.en -nto me as a )ise master -ilder/ & ha.e laid the fo-ndation and another -ildeth thereon/ thereon/ -t let e.er! man tae heed ho) he -ildeth there -pon4/ -pon4/ 'here is a reward waitin# for us for how we build on the foundation for our work in the ministry when we stand before the ud#ment ud#ment seat of Christ. 'hen we shall recei$e recei$e our eterna eternall rewar reward. d. 1' C/*%'0*(% =259 2T*.'0+4?
?! YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR LEADERS a. C0/*'*(%*'+ * ( L*8, 8 S$.**%- submission to the word of &od. When we submit oursel$es to one another or to authority (both spiritually and earthly! we are submittin# to the word because it is the word that admonishes us to li$e in submission. 'here are three le$els of authority that the Bible asks the Christian to reco#nie and submit to. 'hey are/
A)thority in the home home 'his basically makes reference to the relationship between the husband and the wife and between the children and the parents. For the husband and the wife the Bible says "$i.es s-mit !o-rsel.es -nto !o-r o)n h-sands as -nto the Bord/ +or the h-sand is the head of the )ife e.en as Christ is the head of the *h-r*h; and e is the 3a.ior of the od!4 (E0,*(% 522-23;! >otice that it did not say "$i.es s-mit !o-rsel.es to all h-sands"/ t sa!s t sa!s to !o-r o)n h-sandsP. h-sands P. While the wife is submitted to her own husband her husband is asked to lo$e her/ K -sands lo.e !o-r )i.es e.en as Christ also lo.ed the Ch-r*h and (a.e imself to it J (E0,*(% 525!. :uthority is #i$en the husband to be the head o$er his wife and so &od commands the wife to submit herself to the husbandAs authority. 'he authority that the husband e%ercises o$er his wife is likened to the one Christ e%ercises o$er the church and the wife is to submit herself to her husband the way the church submits to Christ.
Ci&il a)thority n relat relatin in# # with with the the state state the the Bibl Biblee instr instruc ucts ts also also that that we shou should ld subm submit it to the the authority authority of the state or so$erei#n so$erei#n as lon# as he+she does not by his authority authority $iolate the authority of the word of &od. Bible says PLet e$ery soul be subect unto the hi#her powers. For there is no power but of &od/ the powers that be are ordained of &od. Whosoe$er therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of &od/ and they that resist shall recei$e to themsel$es damnationJ (R.(% 131-2;
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'he reason why we should submit to the leaders is because &od is the one who establishes them and so any rebellion a#ainst the so$erei#n is directed towards &od. 'he Bible says KFor rulers are not a terror to #ood works but to e$il. Wilt thou then
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not be afraid of the powerN 9o that which is #ood and thou shall ha$e praise of the same. For he is a minister of &od to thee for #ood. But if thou do that which is e$il be afraid...P (R.(% 134!. )aul admonishes us further to pray for those in authority so that we may lead a 7uiet and peaceable peaceable life in all #odliness and honesty. honesty. ( I T*.'0+ 21-2;
A)thority in the Ch)rch Ch)rch &od has set up #o$ernment in *is church. *e lets us know how to relate with those in positions of authority in the body of Christ. Bible says K
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E$ery Christian is admonished to submit to the authority in his+her local assembly because those in authority are not rulin# with their own abilities. t is the power of &od that established them where they are. Whoe$er resists them is resistin# the anointin# and this is $ery dan#erous. 'he Bible says it will not be profitable to do this.
The ?i*le says we sho)ld o*ey o)r spirit)al leaders and s)*mit to them BHe*rews 25:2< Loyalty/ 1C/1615-16 We all like the house of Stephanas should be addicted to the ministry of the saints. t is a decision that has eternal rewards in this world and the world to come. 'his loyalty is demonstrated in our obedience to our leaders 1C0/%2:2: Submission/ 8our spiritual leader has been #i$en the char#e by &od to watch o$er your welfare. 'he leaders in the church ha$e the responsibility of trainin# people who are under them to full maturity. 'his responsibility could be a lot easier when the followers humble themsel$es in obedience to their leaders. 8our attitude should be such that your leaders would #i$e your report with oy and not with #rief. n 1' S(.$,) 1522-239 this scripture like many other places clearly e%plains that K oedien*e is etter than sa*rifi*eJ. sa*rifi*eJ. 'his is one of the $ery important re7uired characters of a Christian in his relationshi relat ionship p to his leade leaderr. n other words rebellion and stubb stubbornne ornness ss are serious sins. Scripture e7uates them to W'C*C5:F' and 9$.,/ 16 we read how "orah who was a Le$ite and already one of the leaders rebelled a#ainst 4oses and was punished. &od does not take insurrection li#htly
Can Yo) Yo) Spea+ Against Yo)r Yo)r Leaders "&en !f He >oes Something #rongD #rongD BN)m*er 24:2( :s Christians it is not in our position to speak a#ainst our leaders e$en if they do somethin# wron#.. 'his is because they are ordai wron# ordained ned by &od and are answer answerable able to him or their leader leader and not to you who is under him. R.(% 13 12; says Klet Klet e.er! so-l e s-@e*t -nto the hi(her po)ers/ +or there is no po)er that e -t God Gods; s; the po)ers that e are ordained of God God .. $hosoe.er therefore resists the po)er resists the ordinan*e of God: and the! that resist the po)ers shall re*ei.e to themsel.es damnation/ damnation/ -ust like the e%ample of 4iriam and :aron in N$.,/ 121-6! :nother :noth er e%ample of bad leadership leadership are the )harisee whom -esus still admon admonished ished the people to still obey what they say and not what they do. M(''0,@232-3
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What 9o 8ou 9oN 8/ 0*.! 1' T*.'0+ 21-2 o P/(+ 8/ o )aul ur#es us to pray for people particularly for our leaders. 'his is not when they ha$e been #ood to us but e$en at times when thin#s thin#s are not well. o S,( ' .,%, ,%*/ ' 0*. *% )<,9 %' &.)(*%*%! o F/*<, 0*. *% )<,
=! WHY SHOULD I GO TO CHURCH# G (* 'he Word of &od is unambi#uous in lettin# us know that *e desires *is children to attend Church. I% H,/,@ 1:259 the admonition is clear not to forsake the assembly of the brethren and e$en #oes on to indicate that some were erroneously doin# so.
,$ *9 0@*% $ ( ('',/% ' 8))@
I' * '0, <,0*&), + @0*&0 +$ 8$%&'*% *% '0, + 8 C0/*' : Christian is not a committed Christian until he demonstrates his commitment in the local assembly because the local assembly is a microcosm of the mystical body of Christ which is &od’s representati$e on earth. 8ou can’t function in that body until you function in the local assembly. 'he scriptures are clear that the early church was made up of local assemblies and se$eral were mentioned in the epistles for e%ample R. 165 and R,< 3!
T0, C0$/&0 * '0, P*))(/ (% G/$% 8 T/$'0 1 T*. 315 &od wants *is children to know the truth about life because the truth makes you free from bonda#e and sets you at liberty. liberty. n the Church you are tau#ht the truth. truth. n the absence of the truth a man will belie$e a lie and be a $ictim of it. For e%ample the scriptures tell us that -esus has abolished death and brou#ht life and immortality to li#ht throu#h the #ospel. n the Church these truths are not only tau#ht but e%plained. 'he teachin# of &od’s Word is crucial for $ictorious li$in# and the Church is a primary a$enue for this.
T0, C0$/&0 * ( )(&, 8 8,))@0* @*'0 '0,/ C0/*'*(%
Fellowship with other Christians is so important in the #rowth of a Belie$er. 'he scriptures tell us in H,/,@ 1:24-25 that we should pro$oke one another to lo$e and to #ood works and further says says we should should encou encoura# ra#ee one anoth another er.. n P/<,/ 2717 the scriptures indicate that we sharpen oursel$es as we fellowship. 'he company a man keeps will affect his life and #rowth as the the scrip scriptu tures res tell us in 1 C/ 1533 . So keepin# and bein# found in the ri#ht company is desirable and #oin# to Church facilitates this. T0, C0$/&0 * ( )(&, @0,/, C0/*'*(% G/@'0 (% C0(/(&',/ (/, ,%0(%&, n E0 411-16 the scriptures clearly state that &od ordains certain offices for the benefit of the Christian for #rowth and to sharpen his spiritual de$elopment. 'hese offices are found in the Church and men are ordained into them for the local assembly for the benefit of those in that local assembly. assembly.
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T0, C0$/&0 * ( )(&, @0,/, +$ 0,(/ '0, @/ 8 G /,$*/, 8/ 8(*'0 )*8,&od re7uires us to li$e by faith without it you can’t please &od ? H, 116! 'he Church is a place where the Word of &od is preached and tau#ht. 'he preachin# of the word imparts faith and the teachin# of the word helps that faith to #row as you understand and put to work what you learn.
T0, C0$/&0 * ( )(&, 8 '/(*%*% n 1 T*. 3169 the bible lets us know that the Word of &od is #i$en to train and instruct you. n the Church &od sets instructors who are able to instruct you in the truth and help you to culture your life. 'he Church is a place where discipline and proper conduct are imparted. 'hese are re7uired for your spiritual #rowth and for you to be used of &od. C/ 14 4:! T0, C0$/&0 C0$/&0 * ( )(&, 8 )$'*% )$'*% ' )*8,’ )*8,’ $, $,'*% '*% n the Epistles we see the pattern where the :postles sent letters to the Churches to address life’s 7uestions that the brethren had. t hasn’t chan#ed. 'he Church is uni7uely e7uipped by the *oly Spirit to communicate wisdom from &od for 7uestions a Christian mi#ht ha$e. &ettin# answers from the world is a dead dead end since since the wisdom wisdom of the world world is destined destined to come come to nou#ht. nou#ht. 1 C/ 26! T0, C0$/&0 * )(&, @0,/, +$ &(% ,J,/*,%&, '0, &//(', (%*%'*% :s brethren dwell to#ether in unity the scriptures tell us in P 133 that it pro$okes a corporate anointin# that blesses e$eryone. 'he anointin# is i s conta#ious in the Church by association a Christian can sometimes do more with other belie$ers than he could by himself. T0, C0$/&0 * ( )(&, 8 /,8$,9 &.8/' (% /,8/,0*% : Christian is #uaranteed to recei$e encoura#ement and words of refreshin# in Church. 'his is often needed after the tra$ails of the market3place of life. 'he Church is a place where you can recei$e the undiluted truth and learn new thin#s that are pro#ressi$ely to your benefit. 'he Church is a place of upliftment encoura#ement and refu#e. >o wonder 9a$id was always deli#hted to #o to Church and remain there ? P 1221 (% P 274!
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BELIEVERS’ LOVEWORLD INCOPORATED
1! CHRIST EMBASSY AND YOU 'he book of 2% C/*%'0*(% 52: says that we are ambassadors ambassadors for Christ. Like any other ambassador here on earth posted to another country we are also ambassadors (representati$es! of Christ to reconcile the world back to *im. We are posted into the World thou#h we are not of the world. We are to win the world to Christ. Mion is our home country because we are on an official assi#nment. n doin# this we #i$e people’s li$es a meanin# i. e. sal$ation healin# prosperity peace etc T0, V**% 8 '0, M*%*'/+
K'o take the di$ine presence of &od to the people and the nations of the World and to demonstrate the character of the SpiritJ We are to win souls build then and send them.
Whatt are my Wha my respons responsibi ibiliti lities es as an :mb :mbassa assador dor of of ChristN ChristN
2! THE CELL SYSTEM 'his is a set of fellowships and outreach units workin# to#ether as a whole for the #rowth or de$elopment of the 4other church. a/ /
*/ d/ e/
&t ser ser.e .ess as a a asis sis of ide ident ntif ifi* i*at atio ion n of oo-rr mem memer erss as e.e e.er! r!od od!! m-st m-st el elon on( ( to a *ell/ *ell/ &t ser. ser.es es as a pla* pla*ee for the the eLplo eLploit itat atio ion n of lead leaders ershi hip p poten potentia tials/ ls/ To To )in soso-ls ls and and tae tae resp respon onsi siili ilit! t! o.er them he *an rise from ein( a ile st-d! tea*her )ho is responsile for at least t)o so-ls he )on into the *ell to e*omin( a C+ leader/ A C+ leader is responsile for ao-t ten *ells or more/ &t is a -nit of o-trea*h &t is a -nit of fello)ship/ &t is a -ni -nitt to *at *ater er for for the the imme immedia diate te need need of r reth ethre ren n as as the! the! arise arise// The The phil philoso osoph ph!! of of the the Cell Cell s!ste s!stem m is: )in so-ls -ild so-ls and send them/
)C6s ()astoral Care 6nit! are made up of at least @ cells and )CFs ()astoral Care Fellowship! are made up of at least @ )C6s. 'he )FCC ()astoral Fellowship Coordinatin# Center! super$ises the runnin# of the Cell system. We ha$e cells for teena#ers sin#les and the married. 'he sin#le )CFs are in Mones (#eo#raphically located! while the youths and married )CFs are not. UESTIONS find out all the locations where we ha$e Cells and which co$ers each area. &et names of all the leaders in the $arious cells and know them.
3! BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MINISTRY 'he 4inistry started as a fellowship at the then Bendel State 6ni$ersity Ekpoma >i#eria. t was known as the KY$'0 8/ C0/* name me la late terr ch chan an#e #ed d to K B,)*, C0/*'' J. 'he na B,)*,<,/’ <,/’ L<, W/) C(. C(.$ $ F,))@ F,))@0* 0*J.
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where the church mo$ed to :lausa and finally mo$ed to
4! THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE :t the helm of affairs of the ministry is )astor Chris o$ember annually. ministry annually. UESTION dentify and know your CEC members facially facially know the chapter of Christ Embassy they pastor. The Central Executive Council
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5! THE VARIOU VARIOUS S ARMS ARMS OF THE MINISTR MINISTRY Y We all ointly ensure that the #ospel is made a$ailable to all men (around the world! as much as possible.
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6! MIN MINIST ISTR RY PROGR PROGRAMM AMMES ES 'hese are pro#rammes that are held either annually or 7uarterly or at the discretion of our )astorate. (! I%', I% ',/% /%(' ('* *%( %()) P( P(' '/ / (% (% P(/ P(/'% '%,/ ,/ &% &%8, 8,//,% ,%&, &, I IPP PPC; C; 'his is the most si#nificant of all the pro#rammes we hold. E$eryone who identifies with this ministry comes for this pro#ram irrespecti$e of whether they reside in >i#eria or not. t is a time to hear from &od. We also hear of the #reat strides taken in the past years and the plan for the comin# year. 'he $arious churches and campus fellowships tender reports and pries are awarded. :t ))C you as an indi$idual can take ad$anta#e of the period to hear from &od by yourself on your way forward.
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! T' '( () EJ EJ,/ ,/*, *,% %&, / H* H*0 0,/ L*8 L*8,, &% &%88,/ ,/,% ,%&, &, 'his is purely a meetin# with the *oly Spirit in total control. control. ts aim is to create an a$enue for the *oly &host to mo$e mi#htily in the li$es of people especially for sal$ation of their souls and healin# of their bodies. &! W/ M**% 'his is )astor Chris itinerary (schedule! on how he $isits the $arious Christ Embassy churches within and outside the country with &od’ &od’ss word on a mission. For instance inst ance in :u#ust e$ery year he #oes to En#land for Word Con$ention. ! P/,/*'+ C%<,%'*% 'his pro#ram is a *oly Spirit inspired pro#ram in which the brethren are tau#ht on the prosperity of the spirit soul and body of the new creation. ation aka Christ Embassy t is our monthly End of 4onth )rayer meetin# all across our churches within and outside the country
7! THE BELIEVER’S BELIEVER’S LOVEWORLD LOVEWORLD STA STATEMENT OF FAITH 'his is the statement of Bible doctrine as belie$ed and tau#ht by the Belie$ers’ Lo$eWorld inc. :": Christ Embassy. 'his statement of faith has its source in the Bible and is in total a#reement with the foundational principle of the doctrines of Christ. .
We belie$e that the Bible contains the inspired and infallible Word of &od. 2T*. 316> 2P,' 12:21;
0.
We belie$e that there is only one &od eternally e%istent in three (@! persons, &od the father &od the Son and &od the *oly Spirit. E0 45-69 2 C/ ?16> G,% 126> M('' 316-17;
@.
We belie$e in the deity of Christ/ % 11-4> % 1:3:> H, 11-5; (a! *e was born of a $ir#in, M('' 11?-25> L 13:-35; (b! *e was concei$ed of the *oly Spirit, M('' 11?-25> L 13:-35; (c! *e died, % 1=3:-35; (d! *e rose a#ain from the dead bodily, % 2:25-2=> L 2436-4:; (e! *e ascended into hea$en bodily, A&' 1=-11> 1 T0, 416;
2.
We belie$e in the rapture of the church and the second comin# of Christ. 1 T0,4 16- 17> M('' 242=-3:;
D.
We belie$e that the only means of bein# cleansed from sin is repentance and faith in the precious blood of -esus Christ. A&' 31=> L 2447> E0 17;
H.
We belie$e that re#eneration by the power of the *oly Spirit throu#h the Word Word of &od is essential for personal sal$ation. T*'$ 25> % 33-5> E0 525-27;
I.
We belie$e that the redempti$e work of Christ on the cross pro$ides di$ine healin# for the body and sal$ation for the soul of e$eryone that belie$es. 1P,' 224> A&' 316> A&' =32-35;
1.
We belie$e that when an indi$idual recei$es the *oly Spirit he recei$es di$ine enablement for Christian ser$ice and witness. A&' 1?> 24> 31-26> 45-12;
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.
We belie$e in the sanctifyin# power of the *oly Spirit R. 1516> 1 C/ 611;
G.
We belie$e in the final resurrection resurrection of both the sa$ed and the lost, the former to eternal life and the latter to eternal ud#ement. R,< 2:11-15> 1 C/ 1512-23;
REVISION UESTIONS
. 0. @. 2.
D.
With reference to the ei#ht (1 th! statement of faith of the ministry/ 9ifferentiate between the baptism of the *oly Spirit and recei$in# the *oly Spirit. What is the churchN Wha hatt do do you you un unde derrst stan and d by by the the un uni$ i$er ersa sall chu churc rchN hN *ow ca can on one become a me mem mber of th thee ch churchN a. Wh What at is the the pur purpo pose se of of the the chur church chNN b. Briefly discuss on how you are in$ol$ed in achie$in# two of these i. s :p :pos ostl tlee )e )ete terr th thee 5o 5ock ckNN ii.Who is the rock and #i$e two scriptures to back your answer up
GROUP DISCUSSION AND ASSIGNMENT
. -esus is the the builder builder of the the church. church. 4atthew 4atthew H/1, H/1, )eter )eter 0/H. 0/H. 9iscuss. 9iscuss. 0. Why do we need need a local local assem assembly blyNN
REFERENCE MATERIALS TAPES
*ow to pray for &od’s )eople. 'he har$est is )lenteous 8ou are my Witness Christ builds *is Church
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CLASS 7 THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORING AS A TECHNOLOGICAL PLATFORM IN ADVANCING ADVANCING THE TH E GOSPEL INTRODUCTION
'echnolo#y has become an indispensable medium throu#h which more and more people are connected and communicate throu#h both low and hi#h3end tech means. Communicatin# and stayin# connected with dispersed relationships today are enabled and enhanced throu#h technolo#y. technolo#y. 'herefore it #oes without sayin# that technolo#y has made the world a #lobal $illa#e where the barriers of distance lan#ua#e culture tradition ethnicity and interest ha$e been eliminated.
'he use of technolo#y in reachin# our respecti$e spheres of influences and constantly bein# abreast of rele$ant information from our #reat ministry ('he BLW >ation! has become imperati$e and must be fully utilied.
'oday oday media technolo#ies such as the nternet and the social media are increasin#ly shapin# e$ery sphere of our professional social and cultural life creatin# new and interconnected media arenas and relationships. 'his phenomenon called technolo#y also pro$ides a platform for us Christians to hold forth the word of life/ /
-ust as the subect of technolo#y’ is wide so also are its applications dimensions and benefits but for the purpose of this class we would be focusin# on the )se of SOC!AL ">!A N"T#O$!NG as a technological platform in ad&ancing the gospel%
'he )salmist prayed to &od in )salms HI $erse 0 ('LB! sayin# 3end -s aro-nd the )orld )ith the ne)s of !o-r sa.in( po)er and !o-r eternal eter nal plan for all manind4 . 'he Lord also instructed instructed e$ery belie$er in the #reat commission commission in 4att. 01 $s G30G ("-;! to JGo !e therefore and tea*h all nations aptiNin( them in the name of the +ather +ather and of the 3on and of the ol! 3pirit: Tea*hin( them to oser.e all thin(s )hatsoe.er & ha.e *ommanded !o-4 . 'he concern of pre$ious years of how we are to #o around the world with &od’s sa$in# power power teachin# the nations the principles of the kin#dom has been taken away by technolo#y. 'he 'he world and indeed nations ha$e been deli$ered into our hands and with the tap of the fin#er &od’s sa$in# power is a$ailable to millions from one location.
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Overview Of Social Media and Social Media Networking SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is best understood as a #roup of new kinds of online media which share most or all of the followin# characteristics/ Earticipation: social media encoura#es contributions and feedback from e$eryone who is interested. Openness: most social media ser$ices are open to feedback and participation. 'hey encoura#e $otin# comments and the sharin# of information Con&ersation: whereas traditional media is about KbroadcastJ social media is better seen as a two3way con$ersation. Comm)nity: socia sociall medi mediaa allo allows ws comm commun unit itie iess to form form 7uick 7uickly ly and and comm commun unic icate ate effec effecti ti$e $ely ly.. Communities share common interests such as a lo$e for photo#raphy a political issue fashion sports culture etc. Connectedness: 4ost kinds of social media thri$e on their connectedness makin# use of links to other sites resources and people.
SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORING
'hese sites allow people to build personal web pa#es and then connect with friends to share content and communication. Social media networkin# is the #roupin# of indi$iduals into specific #roups like small rural communities or a nei#hborhood subdi$ision if you will. Social media networkin# is filled with millions of indi$iduals who are lookin# to meet other people to #ather and share first3hand information and e%periences about life e$ents. 4any of these online community members share common interests in hobbies reli#ion politics and alternati$e lifestyles.
)erhaps the best known form of social media blo#s are online ournals with entries appearin# with the most recent first.
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W**
'hese websites allow people to add content to or edit the information on them actin# as a communal document or database. 'he best3known wiki is Wikipedia
P&('
:udio and $ideo files that are a$ailable by subscription throu#h ser$ices like :pple i'unes.
F/$.
:reas for online discussion is often around specific topics and interests. Forums came about before the term Ksocial mediaJ and are a powerful and popular element of online communities.
C%',%' &..$%*'*,
Communitie Communitiess are social media platforms platforms that or#anie or#anie and share particular kinds of content. content. 'he most popular content communities tend to form around photos (Flickr! bookmarked links (delicious! and $ideos (8ou'ube!. M*&/)*%
Social networkin# networkin# combined combined with bite3sied bite3sied blo##in# blo##in# where small amounts of content content (updates’! (updates’! are distributed online and throu#h the mobile phone network. 'witter is the clear leader in this field.
M*), &*() .,*(
When social media is used in combination with mobile de$ices it is called mobile social media. 'his is a #roup of mobile communication applications that allow the creation and e%chan#e of user3#enerated conten content. t. 9ue to the fact that that mobile mobile social social media media runs runs on mobile mobile de$ice de$ices s it differe differenti ntiates ates from traditional social media as it incorporates new factors such as the current location of the user (location3 sensiti$ity! or the time delay between sendin# and recei$in# messa#es (time3sensiti$ity!.
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T0, I./'(%&, O8 S&*() M,*( *% T(+ @/)
ts is estimated that 0.G1 Billion of the world’s population are acti$e in the $irtual community 3 the internet and D.0 Billion use mobile phones. 'his fi#ure is proected to double by 0GD. •
t pro$ides us with a whole new way to stay connected and communicate with a #lobal audience at a moment’s notice,
•
>ow we can reach and influence hundreds of thousands of people with a sin#le post,
•
>owadays >owadays Social 4edia (S4! has succeeded succeeded in 7uickly 7uickly breakin# down personal personal cultural and pro%imity barriers,
•
t has helped open up a whole new world of con$ersational opportunities,
•
t helps e%pand our social circles and e%plore new horions throu#h our online connections,
•
'hrou#h S4 news+information spread and are accessed faster,
•
'hrou#h S4 we can brin# about the chan#e we want in our society and a nd e$en in the lar#er world faster.
T0, C0/*'*(% A% S&*() M,*(
Some are of the opinion that as Christians we should not use S4. But because the control lies in our hands as Christians it can be used for #ood. -ust as our Lord -esus Christ used the power of social networks to build the Church from twel$e disciples in a small community to hundreds of millions around the world today. We also as Christians are to carry on the tradition like social networks in our own culture throu#h opportunities in cyberspace with social networkin# sites like 8ookos 8ookos Facebook blo#s 8ou 'ube and 'witter 'witter amon# others. >ow throu#h S4 (from our home+city+nation! we can e$an#elie and make disciples in another country without the need of physical appearance. :s Christians we must adopt the S4 as a new way of reachin#
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people. 'echnolo#y 'echnolo#y has helped tear down the #eo#raphical borders that once di$ided us makin# it easier to reach out to many people at once throu#h S4. Whereas in years back missionaries tra$eled for days on end to #et to their destination to spread the #ospel the interconnectedness that S4 sites create makes it easier to access many people with the #ospel at once in our #eneration. 4any can be sa$ed healed stren#thened and transformed ust by bein# e%posed to the transformin# power of the #ospel of Christ that we share+publish throu#h S4 sites. :lways :lways share/
'estimonies 'estimonies of your personal pers onal Christian life+sal$ation,
)ictu )ictures res from from our our insp inspir irin in# # chur church ch pro# pro#ram rams+s s+ser$ er$ic ices es wher wheree the the powe powerr of Chris Christt was was demonstrated,
5ecaps of our )astor’s messa#es (from 5<5! that has blessed you.
BBLE 5EF./ 'itus /D, Cor. /00, )sm. H1/ ('LB!
How To To Use Social Media
)ost no wron#+unedifyin# communication
*a$e a purpose ? to influence and impact with your S4 community with our messa#e.
4ake an impact with your communication
9on’t ust ha$e a presence be acti$e on the S4 platform
Create and share contents
&et people to oin your S4 platform re#ularly BBLE 5EF./ 5EF./ )hill. 0/D Hb, Eph. 2/0
U*% S.(/' P0%,9 T(),' (% O'0,/ M*), D,<*&, T S/,( T0, G,)
nterconnect and rebroadcast messa#es upload pictures and share testimonies of impact from our church or cell pro#rams on social media by usin# these de$ices
)ractical demonstration by the teacher
Encoura#e the students to come to class with internet enabled phones+mobile de$ices
Let e$eryone participate
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Use of Yookos n Social Media Networking !nd "vangelism
ntroduction to 8ookos
)ractical demonstration by the teacher,
'he teacher takes the students throu#h the na$i#ation and features of the site,
Students are instructed to si#n on,
Students are instructed to in$ite friends create blo#s and #roups and also post comments on the site to #ain points for the class,
:s part of the class the students are directed to ha$e ALi$e chatsA with the pastor of the local church ust to interact with him and share their e%perience in the se$en week period they were in Foundation.
I%'/$&'*% ' BLW .*%*'/+ A9 $(,9 ,%,8*'9 ,'& .
)ractical demonstration by the teacher,
'he teacher shows the students $arious ministry :pps and their benefits how to download,
Students are instructed to download the :pps,
Students are instructed to send :pps link to their friends
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