christian starter

8/13/2019 Christian Starter

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he AIBIhe AIBIChristian Starter Kithristian Starter Kit

welve basic studies for beginning Christians

By John Edmiston Coyright ! AIBI"International #$$%!his eboo& may be freely used for non"rofit Christian ministry but may not be sold in any way'


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How To Become A ChristianMatthew 7:7 NKJV)"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knok, and it will beo!ened to you"

This is the basic secret of becoming a Christian - you have to want to follow Jesus. I can't make you followJesus, no-one can. Its between you and God. In your seeking there are a few facts that make the ourney awhole lot easier and !uicker.

"e call this set of facts #the good news of Jesus Christ# or #the gos$el# for short. This article is about thegos$el and attem$ts to give you a few facts to hel$ you believe.

#at $%veryone, absolutely everyone has fallen short of God's glorious holy standards fortheir lives. &ou might not have murdered but you $robably have lied. &ou may not have sle$twith someone else's wife or husband - but you $robably have hated someone or been unust orcruel. in is not ust se(ual sin or murder, it includes being greedy, ealous, and envious. Itincludes our thought life too) *ll that we think in our imaginations is known to God. That is why+aul the a$ostle can write %&o'ans (:( NKJV) "fo* all have sinned and fall sho*t of theglo*y of +od"*ll includes me - and it also includes you.

#at wo:God is holy and ust therefore e $unishes sin. The ible says

%&o'ans -:( NKJV) "#o* the wages of sin is death, but the gift of +odis ete*nal life in .h*ist Jesus ou* /o*d" in carries the death $enalty.There are two kinds of death referred to in the ible - $hysical death andeternal s$iritual death. %ternal s$iritual death means going into torment inell forever and ever, it means se$aration from God, from goodness, fromtruth, from sanity, from ha$$iness and light. It is eternal torment anddisintegration. "hen we refuse to follow God and obey im we are rebellingagainst our Creator and the ource of /ife. If we rebel against the Creator itis us who lose. It is God who sustains us, not the other way around) "hen

we tell the ource of /ife to stay away from our life and not to interfere we are actually saying #don't su$$ly mewith life#. To sin, to disobey God, is to attack ourselves in the long run. Its like s$eeding - fun until you have tostand before the Judge. 0nfortunately the sentence for a life of sin is not a s$eeding ticket - it is eternal death.

#at h*ee:Jesus took our $unishment for sin when e died u$on the Cross. God$re$ared a way for sin could be dealt with - through s$ecial sacrifices. In the Jewishsacrificial system this was a $erfect animal without s$ot or blemish. Jesus wassinless and was the $erfect sacrifice for all the sins of all $eo$le for all time. Theible tells us that God saw that everyone had sinned and was in danger of ell. edecided to rescue them by sending Jesus to die instead of them. Jesus died on thecross went down into the world of the dead, took our $unishment fully and wasraised from the dead three days later. 1ur sins were #nailed to the cross# and dealtwith when Jesus died. %&o'ans 0:1 NKJV) 2ut +od de'onst*ates 3is own lovetowa*d us, in that while we we*e still sinne*s, .h*ist died fo* us*nyone whobelieves in im can now have their sins forgiven because Jesus' sacrifice has

$rovided forgiveness for everyone who wants it. ome $eo$le are too $roud to wantGod's forgiveness. They think they can get to eaven without the hel$ of Jesus. utas we saw before they can't- because they, like you and I, are guilty before God.

*nd the thing about guilt is that it takes only one crime to make you guilty and deserving of $unishment. * thiefcannot say #but I did not kill# and a murderer cannot say #I did not steal# - their one crime makes them guilty.o it only takes one sin to make us guilty before God and no-one can say they are good enough for heaven."e all need to acce$t what Jesus did for us and say thank you to God for it if we are to become trueChristians.


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#at #ou*: The way to become a Christian is by living by two keytruths. These key truths are that Jesus Christ is /ord and that erose from the dead. The first says that e is boss of your life, ofyour family, and even of the government. Jesus Christ is the#ultimate authority# 2 e must be obeyed. o when you read theible and see a commandment of Jesus you must do it. 1nce youbecome a Christian you are like a soldier under the command ofJesus Christ. owever is commands are not $etty or small-

minded. is commands are life-giving, true and the way tosalvation and a fulfilling life. Jesus says #3y yoke is easy and myburden is light.# eing a Christian is not meant to be an im$ossiblestruggle but a oyful celebration of life. The second thing we haveto live by is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. This means thatwe acce$t that e lived 4how else did e die56, that e died 4howelse did he rise from the dead56, and that God raised im from the

dead on the third day. This means that we too will be raised from the dead to have a life that both lasts foreternity and shares the oy of heaven. The ible states why we have to believe these things as follows%&o'ans $4:56$( NKJV) that if you onfess with you* 'outh the /o*d Jesus and believe in you* hea*tthat +od has *aised 3i' f*o' the dead, you will be saved $48 #o* with the hea*t one believes unto*ighteousness, and with the 'outh onfession is 'ade unto salvation $$8 #o* the 9*i!tu*e says,"hoeve* believes on 3i' will not be !ut to sha'e" $8 #o* the*e is no distintion between Jew and+*eek, fo* the sa'e /o*d ove* all is *ih to all who all u!on 3i' $(8 #o* "whoeve* alls on the na'eof the /&< shall be saved"

A Prayer For Those Who Would Like To Become Christians

If you would like to become a Christian then please pray the following prayer:

7ear God, I would like to become a Christian. I know that I have notlived as you want me to. I know I need you to forgive me for all thesins I have done. I ask that you will $lease forgive me because ofwhat Jesus did on the cross. I believe e died on that cross to takemy sins and that &ou raised im from the dead. I want to haveeternal life from God so that I can follow Jesus and obey imforever as my /ord. +lease make me a Christian now. *men.


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How To Be Sure That You Really Are AChristian

%John $:$ NKJV)ut as many as received im, to them e gave the right tobecome children of God, to those who believe in is name

%&o'ans $4:56$( NKJV)that if you confess with your mouth the /ord Jesus and

believe in your heart that God has raised im from the dead, you will be saved. 89:;


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3ow o &ead he 2ible1ne of the first !uestions we ask is #how can I understand the bible#5 The bibleis a book that comes alive to Christians - but lacks im$act to those who don'tbelieve.

The best $lace to start is with the gos$els, that is the books of 3atthew, 3ark,/uke and John. These books document the life of Jesus and hel$ us to believe.

They are at the beginning of the section called the @ew Testament. This isabout three !uarters of the way into your bible. &our bible should have a tableof contents at the front so you can look u$ the various books of the bible. There

are many translations of the bible available in %nglish. In other languages there are often two or threetranslation available. If you look u$ the 0nited ible ocieties home $age on the Internet, they have manylanguage translations available there. Try and get a bible that s$eaks to your heart in a language that you canunderstand and which is accurate to the original te(t. The bible was originally written in the ebrew and Greeklanguages and has had to translated to all the languages of the world since. owever it has always been verycarefully translated and you can trust all the maor bible translations.

"hen you read the bible take a $en and note book with you and write down the things you discover and the!uestions you have. Try and read about a cha$ter at a time and think it over carefully. ere are a few!uestions that will hel$ you dig into the bible. "hat is this $assage saying about God5 "hat is this $assage

saying about Jesus5 "hat is this $assage saying about the oly $irit5 Is there a command to obey5 Is therea $rinci$al to learn5 Is this saying something to my life right now5 Is there a $rayer I can $ray5 ow can Ia$$ly it in my everyday life5 "rite the answers to these !uestions in your note book and you will soon build u$a treasure house of scri$ture knowledge. It is im$ortant to $ray as you read the bible. It doesn't have to be along $rayer, ust something like #7ear God show me what this means and hel$ me to obey#.

It is good to read the bible in a !uiet $lace relatively free from distraction. I read the bible in an armchair late atnight when everyone else is aslee$. 1ther $eo$le get u$ very early in the morning to read their bible andothers find a !uiet $lace at lunch time. There is no magic way to read the bible and it is not a magic book. &ouread it ust like any other, using your mind and thinking hard and also allowing it to s$eak to your heart. *s youkee$ reading you will find some things are said over and over again in the bible. These are the things that Godwants us to $ay most attention to. Commands like love one another, forgive those who have hurt you and donot udge $eo$le are in this category. These are the things you should maor on. 7o not get distracted intoside issues or useless arguments. ?ead the bible to grow in Jesus Christ and to live better not to winarguments. 4= Timothy =9A @IB6 ee$ reminding them of these things. "arn them before God against!uarreling about words2 it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.

There are some books to hel$ you read to bible. The most common hel$s are concordances, bible dictionariesand commentaries. *ny good Christian book store will have these. There are also some very good com$uter$rograms such as Duick Berse, /ogos and the 1n /ine ible to hel$ you study scri$ture. "hy not go now andstart reading about the birth of Jesus in 3atthew cha$ter 9.

#o* a bible *eading !lan see the ne=t ha!te*


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Daily Bile Readin! Pro!ramThe ible is the main source of our knowledge about God. It is is ins$ired and authoritative "ord that hasthe $ower to build faith , ho$e and truth into our lives. The following 7aily ible ?eading +rogram will hel$you to work through the ible systematically so that the "ord of God dwells richly in your life and $roduces

oy in your heart.

Aout The BileThe ible was written over 9E:: years between about 9A:: C and FE*7.The 1ld Testament is God's dealings with Israel and consists of >F bookswritten and collected together over 9::: years from 9A::C to A::C. Thenthere was a big ga$ of A:: years until Jesus was born. The @ew Testamentconsists of = books written between about E:*7 and FE*7 and is the recordof the life and gos$el of Jesus Christ. The 1ld Testament was originally writtenin ebrew and *ramaic while the @ew Testament was written in Greek. Thusthe ible you read is a translation of these original ancient manuscri$ts whichwere very carefully $reserved and translated.

The "nde# $Tale %& Contents

ecause the ible was written by many $eo$le over a long $eriod of time, the books of the ible are notarranged al$habetically but to$ically, chronologically and by the ty$e of writing. It is a bit confusing at first. omost ibles have an Inde( or Table of Contents in the front. This will give you the $age numbers of thevarious books of the ible. o if your $astor says to look u$ the book of ?omans, you go to the Inde( and findit there, and then go to the $age it indicates.

The Structure %& The Bile' Testaments( Books( Cha)ters and *erses++

"hen you o$en your ible and look at it you will notice it is not structured like most other books, it is writtenmore like a legal document in which everything is numbered. It is im$ortant to understand this structure.

The ible is divided into two esta'ents, 4a Testament is like a will or contract6, the 1ld Testament which

mainly details God's dealings with the nation of Israel and the @ew Testament which contains material aboutJesus and the Church. %ach Testament contains many se$arate "books" which were originally bible scrollswritten by various $ro$hets and a$ostles. The 1ld Testament contains >F books and the @ew Testamentcontains = books.

%ach book is divided into ha!te*s - which generally are about one or two $ages long. %ach cha$ter is thendivided into "ve*ses"which are short sections of cri$ture, generally about a sentence or a $aragra$h inlength. The verse numbers were $ut in there to hel$ $eo$le find their $lace in the ible.

%ventually $eo$le came u$ with a shorthand notation to refer to bible verses that describes the book, cha$terand verse. The shorthand consists of the name of the book, followed the a s$ace, then the number of thecha$ter, a colon, and then the number of the verse like this John >9H or ?omans 9

o John >9H indicates the book of John, cha$ter >, and verse 9Hand ?omans 9 indicates the book of ?omans, cha$ter , and verse 9

o when someone says something like #$lease find James >9H# this is what you do9. Go to the inde( and find the book of James 4it is in the @ew Testament6=. Go to the $age number for the book of James indicated in the inde(.>. Then turn the $ages until you get to cha$ter >A. Then look down until you find verse 9H

It is good to $ractice this for ten minutes or so until you get really used to it.


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A Bile Readin! ,ethod You Can -se

The following is the bible reading method develo$ed by the cri$ture 0nion movement that $romotes dailyible reading in over 9=: countries around the world. It is very sim$le +ray, ?ead, Think, +ray

Pray'*sk God to o$en u$ is "ord to you. #/ord o$en my eyes that I may see wonders from your "ord#.

Read'?ead a short $assage of cri$ture about ten to fifteen verses or a cha$ter. tart with the @ewTestament first and read it in order from 3atthew to ?evelation.

Think'Think about what you have ust read and ask some of the following !uestions

9. "hat does the $assage say about God5 "hat does it say about the . The read the +salms in order from 9 to E: then take a break 4there are 9E: of them6.A. ?ead Isaiah A:-HH, 7aniel, *mos, osea, Jonah, aggai, echariah, /amentations and 3alachi

which should hel$ you gras$ the $ro$hets.E. Then read +roverbs, %cclesiastes, Job, and ong of olomon - known as the "isdom /iterature.H. Joshua , Judges, ?uth, 9 K = amuel, 9K = ings, 9K = Chronicles - this will give you a good gras$ of

the history of Israel.. Then go back and read the @ew Testament from start to finish all over again.. Then go back and read another E: +salms 4E9-9::6F. Then tackle the 1ld Testament laws in /eviticus and @umbers.9:.3ore $ro$hets - %Lekiel, Isaiah 9->F, Jeremiah these are the #maor $ro$hets#99.


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What "s The Best Bile To -se.3any $eo$le are confused by the large number of different bible translations available. This has come aboutbecause the ible was written in three original languages ebrew 4most of the 1ld Testament6 *ramaic4some of the 1T6 and Greek trade language of the 9st century known as koine Greek 4the @ew Testament6.There are basically four ty$es of bibles de$ending on how they choose to do the translation $rocess

Literal translations'These translate the bible with word by word and are very accurate. "hile they arevery faithful to the original te(t they can be somewhat clumsy when $ut into %nglish. /iteral translationsinclude the ing James version, The @ew ing James Bersion, the ?evised tandard Bersion, the @ew

?evised tandard Bersion, and the @ew *merican tandard ible. 3y favorites here are the @ew *mericantandard ible and the @ew ing James version.

Dynamic translations'*re translated $hrase by $hrase or conce$t by conce$t. They are still !uiteaccurate but not as literally accurate as those above. They are much easier to read and understand. Theyinclude the Good @ews ible, the @ew international Bersion, The Contem$orary %nglish Bersion and manyothers. The @IB is the best dynamic translation.


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Books and Resources That Can Hel) You -nderstand The Bile

1. How To Read The Bible For All Its Worth by Gordon tuart and 7ouglas


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How To Pray

he /o*d>s ?*aye*

43atthew HE-9 @JB6 #*nd when you $ray, you shall not be like the hy$ocrites.


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What "s /od Like.

How The Bile Descries /od4+salms F:9-= @JB6 /1?7, &ou have been our dwelling $lace in all generations. 8=;efore the mountains were brought forth, 1r ever &ou had formed the earth and theworld, %ven from everlasting to everlasting, &ou are God.

4%(odus >AH- @JB6 *nd the /1?7 $assed before him and $roclaimed, #The /1?7,the /1?7 God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness andtruth, 8; #kee$ing mercy for thousands, forgiving ini!uity and transgression and sin, byno means clearing the guilty, visiting the ini!uity of the fathers u$on the children and thechildren's children to the third and the fourth generation.#

4Isaiah H9-A @JB6 In the year that ing 0LLiah died, I saw the /ord sitting on a throne,high and lifted u$, and the train of is robe filled the tem$le. 8=; *bove it stood sera$him2each one had si( wings with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, andwith two he flew. 8>; *nd one cried to another and said #oly, holy, holy is the /1?7 of

hosts2 The whole earth is full of is glory)# 8A; *nd the $osts of the door were shaken by the voice of him whocried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

These are ust some of the descri$tions of God in the ible. They tell us that God is everlasting and

unchanging, that e is merciful, kind and gracious, that e is ust and faithful, that e is holy and without sin.e is abounding in goodness and truth. e is a God we can trust utterly.

/od "s Like 0esus

*bove all God is like Jesus. Jesus is the #$erfect image# of God. Jesus came to show us e(actly what God islike.4John 9AFb-9:a @JB6e who has seen 3e has seen the


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What Has Ha))ened To ,e.

From Darkness To Li!ht

4%$hesians =9-9: @JB6 *nd you e made alive, who were dead intres$asses and sins, 8=; in which you once walked according to the course of

this world, according to the $rince of the $ower of the air, the s$irit who nowworks in the sons of disobedience, 8>; among whom also we all onceconducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the fleshand of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, ust as the others. 8A;ut God, who is rich in mercy, because of is great love with which e lovedus, 8E; even when we were dead in tres$asses, made us alive together withChrist 4by grace you have been saved6, 8H; and raised us u$ together, and

made us sit together in the heavenly $laces in Christ Jesus, 8; that in the ages to come e might show thee(ceeding riches of is grace in is kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8;


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,eetin! /od1s Peo)le

The First Church 2when the a)ostles li3ed4

4*cts A>=->E @JB6 @ow the multitude of those who believed wereof one heart and one soul2 neither did anyone say that any of the

things he $ossessed was his own, but they had all things incommon. 8>>; *nd with great $ower the a$ostles gave witness to theresurrection of the /ord Jesus. *nd great grace was u$on them all.8>A; @or was there anyone among them who lacked2 for all whowere $ossessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the$roceeds of the things that were sold, 8>E; and laid them at thea$ostles' feet2 and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

A 5ew Peo)le 6 A Peo)le o& /od

eing a Christian means being $art of a #new $eo$le# 4%$hesians =9E, = Cor E96 we are introduced to the#household of God# 4%$hesians =9F6 and have brothers and sisters in the faith. This means that something

wonderful and su$ernatural can ha$$en when believers gather together. The oly $irit dwell in the midst ofGod's $eo$le making it a Mtem$le of the oly $irit#. 49 Corinthians >9H-9 @JB6 #7o you not know that youare the tem$le of God and that the $irit of God dwells in you5 89; If anyone defiles the tem$le of God, Godwill destroy him.


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A Bad Church

There are some grou$s you need to watch out for

9. *void grou$s that claim their $articular grou$ is the only grou$ that will enter the ingdom of God. They areoften full of unsound teaching and mani$ulative $ractices.

=. *void grou$s that refuse to be u$front with you on the first meeting.

>. *void grou$s that are centered around a $articular human leader who is often made out to be an infallibleguide. +articularly if they ask for large sums of money.

A. *void grou$s that do not see Jesus as the only way to salvation or which mi( together Christianity and otherreligions or which have #uni!ue teachings# about Jesus.

E. *void grou$s that $artici$ate in the occult or which condone some forms of immorality.

H. *void grou$s that have #their own version# of the cri$tures or which add to the ible.

Lo3in! the Church

1nce you have found a good church 4there are no $erfect churches6 stick with it des$ite the u$s and downs.Churches are full of $eo$le like you who make mistakes, aren't !uite $erfect and say things they do not really

mean. 1ne day someone may say or do something that really hurts you. tick with it then - don't get bittertowards all Christians because of a foolish one or two. ?emember some $eo$le who attend church are notreally born again. ome are still searching, some are $retending, but the vast maority are really nice $eo$le.ere are three things you should take to church each unday.

9. &our heart to be filled with the $irit. Go with an o$en and e($ectant attitude and you will receive.

=. &our eyes and your hands - to watch for the needs of the $eo$le of God and meet them in $ractical

ways. >. &our mind - to hear, understand and think about God's word. ome Christians think that faith and

their minds cannot mi(. That is wrong. It is true that faith and a $uffed u$ and arrogant mind cannotmi(. ut faith and anin%uiring mindgo hand in hand and create wisdom, knowledge grace and truth.


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Breakin! Free From Sin

We Ha3e The Power To 5o Lon!er Li3e "n Sin

4?omans HE-=> @JB6


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4Galatians E9H-9 @JB6 I say then "alk in the $irit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 89;


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What Aout Hea3en And Hell

The Bile Descries 0ud!ment Day

43atthew 9>A-E: @JB6 #*gain, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnetthat was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, 8A; #which,

when it was full, they drew to shore2 and they sat down and gathered thegood into vessels, but threw the bad away. 8AF; #o it will be at the end ofthe age. The angels will come forth, se$arate the wicked from among the

ust, 8E:; #and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing andgnashing of teeth.#

4?evelation =:9:-9E @JB6 89:; The devil, who deceived them, was castinto the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false $ro$hetare. *nd they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 899; Then

I saw a great white throne and im who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. *ndthere was found no $lace for them.4?evelation =:9=-9E @JB6 *nd I saw the dead, small and great, standingbefore God, and books were o$ened. *nd another book was o$ened, which is the ook of /ife. *nd the deadwere udged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 89>; The sea gave u$ the

dead who were in it, and 7eath and ades delivered u$ the dead who were in them. *nd they were udged,each one according to his works. 89A; Then 7eath and ades were cast into the lake of fire. This is thesecond death. 89E; *nd anyone not found written in the ook of /ife was cast into the lake of fire.

The Fi#ed6-) 7 ,ade 5ew World

4?evelation =99-A @JB6 @ow I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earthhad $assed away. *lso there was no more sea. 8=; Then I, John, saw the holy city, @ew Jerusalem, comingdown out of heaven from God, $re$ared as a bride adorned for her husband. 8>; *nd I heard a loud voice fromheaven saying, #ehold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and e will dwell with them, and they shall be is$eo$le. God imself will be with them and be their God. 8A; #*nd God will wi$e away every tear from theireyes2 there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more $ain, for the former thingshave $assed away.#

Hea3en 7 Hell

God is holy and must deal with sin. in can be dealt by us through re$entance and faith and following Jesus inthe $ursuit of holiness. This way of dealing with sin leads to heaven. 1r sin can accumulate and #store u$ thewrath of God for the 7ay of Judgment#. +eo$le who have not dealt with their sin by re$entance, faith andfollowing Jesus will be destroyed - cast into the lake of fire. They are not deserving of, or fit for, heaven. Theydo not have a sinless #real self# 4see the *II article on the Inner 3an6. Their real self is still sinful and wicked.Therefore it is destroyed and $unished. ell is not a sort of debauched $arty full of sinners having a good time,it is unrelenting anguish without any $lace for or $ossibility of rest and relief.

eaven is the absolute enoyment of the $resence and $ower of God. It is where God's love is $erfectlyunderstood and where absolute total blissful ha$$iness is normal. In heaven there will be no more crying or$ain. It is ended. The days of suffering, meaninglessness, misfortune and calamity are over. It is a worldordered for good and for the very best. hould you go to heaven you will dwell in unimaginable wealth - yetwithout coveting, you will reign with Christ - in humility and meekness, you will have a life that goes on for alleternity full of $ur$ose, love and meaning. It will be a $lace where every scar on your soul is healed, whereevery tear is forgotten and where the life of God flows through you like an ever flowing stream.4?evelation=9K==6
http://aibi.gospelcom.net/articles/fllwup7.htmhttp://aibi.gospelcom.net/articles/fllwup7.htm


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What Aout ,y 5on6Christian Friends.

When Friends Lead You Astray From /od

ometimes our non-Christian friends can be leading a lifestyle that is sinful, andthey will want us to oin in and $ressure them to Pgo alongQ and com$romise ourvalues. "e should still love our non-Christian friends and we definitely should

share Christ with them, but we should not give in and conform to their lifestyle.This article deals with the $roblem of $ressure from non-Christian friends who askus to do something wrong.

49 Corinthians 9E>>->A @JB6 7o not be deceived #%vil com$any corru$ts goodhabits.# 8>A; *wake to righteousness, and do not sin2 for some do not have theknowledge of God. I s$eak this to your shame.4James AA-E @JB6 *dulterers and adulteresses) 7o you not know that friendshi$with the world is enmity with God5 "hoever therefore wants to be a friend of theworld makes himself an enemy of God. 8E; 1r do you think that the cri$ture saysin vain, #The $irit who dwells in us yearns ealously#5

4= Corinthians H9A-9 @JB6 7o not be une!ually yoked together with unbelievers.


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themselves#. This makes the $artnershi$ very unwise for Christians. atan wants to #steal, kill anddestroy# the $eo$le of God 4John 9:9:6 and you have foolishly $laced yourself right alongsidesomeone who the 7evil can control to do you ma(imum harm. That $erson may not will you any harmnow but their weakness and vulnerabilities mean that they can #fall into sin# and take you with them.They do not have the strength to resist a strong tem$tation from the %vil 1ne. This is a hard lesson tolearn because many unbelievers are nice, attractive $eo$le. 1lder Christians have often learned thislesson the hard way and many will tell you of the $ain they have suffered. &ou are not udging the$erson by denying the relationshi$. &ou are obeying God and e $romises you and even better

relationshi$ if you follow im.

4 = Cor H9H-9 @JB6#


20/24

Lo3in! Your 5ei!hor

The Story %& The /ood Samaritan

4/uke 9:=E-> @JB6 *nd behold, a certain lawyer stood u$ and tested

im, saying, #Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life5# 8=H; e saidto him, #"hat is written in the law5 "hat is your reading of it5# 8=; o heanswered and said, # '&ou shall love the /1?7 your God with all yourheart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,'and 'your neighbour as yourself.'# 8=; *nd e said to him, #&ou haveanswered rightly2 do this and you will live.# 8=F; ut he, wanting to ustifyhimself, said to Jesus, #*nd who is my neighbour5# 8>:; Then Jesusanswered and said #* certain man went down from Jerusalem toJericho, and fell among thieves, who stri$$ed him of his clothing,wounded him, and de$arted, leaving him half dead. 8>9; #@ow by chancea certain $riest came down that road. *nd when he saw him, he $assed

by on the other side. 8>=; #/ikewise a /evite, when he arrived at the $lace, came and looked, and $assed byon the other side. 8>>; #ut a certain amaritan, as he ourneyed, came where he was. *nd when he saw him,he had com$assion. 8>A; #o he went to him and bandaged his wounds, $ouring on oil and wine2 and he sethim on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 8>E; #1n the ne(t day, when he de$arted,he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkee$er, and said to him, 'Take care of him2 and whatever moreyou s$end, when I come again, I will re$ay you.' 8>H; #o which of these three do you think was neighbour tohim who fell among the thieves5# 8>; *nd he said, #e who showed mercy on him.# Then Jesus said to him,#Go and do likewise.#

Lo3e %& 5ei!hor

/ove of God and love of neighbour are the two great commandments. They are re$eated doLens of times inthe cri$tures e.g. 49 John >9H-9 @JB6 y this we know love, because e laid down is life for us. *nd wealso ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 89; ut whoever has this world's goods, and sees his

brother in need, and shuts u$ his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him5 89; 3y littlechildren, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.# There is a com$elling weight to thesee(hortations. "e 30T do the good works that God has $re$ared beforehand for us to do 4%$hesians =9:6.This $age is devoted to showing you how to fulfill this commandment. 96

9te! wo "e can then refer them to someone more able to hel$ 4#the innkee$er#6 but be $re$ared to still beinvolved and $ick u$ the tab if necessary. This may mean taking them to ** or ocial ecurity and standingwith them until things are sorted out.

9te! h*ee Check our attitude. *re we being generous or are we resenting #having to get involved#5 *re wemerciful and gracious or do we view the $erson as foolish5 *re we hel$ing out in order to boost ourselves orbecause we had com$assion on that $erson5 "e should still hel$ even if though our motives are very mi(edand $ride cree$s in. It is better to meet the need because that way we are kee$ing our hearts o$en to the loveand mercy of God - these will, in time, correct our attitudes.


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3ay I suggest an set of $riorities for Christian com$assion -

9. 1ur s$ouse

=. 1ur children

>. 1ur aged $arents

A. The church,

E. The basic needs of the world.

ere are some verses that underlie my order of $riorities

4%$hesians E= @JB6 o husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies2 he who loves his wifeloves himself.

49 Timothy E @JB6 ut if anyone does not $rovide for his own, and es$ecially for those of his household, hehas denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

43ark F-9> @JB6 e said to them, #*ll too well you reect the commandment of God, that you may kee$your tradition. 89:; #; #making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you havehanded down. *nd many such things you do.#

4Galatians HF-9: @JB6 *nd let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall rea$ if we donot lose heart. 89:; Therefore, as we have o$$ortunity, let us do good to all, es$ecially to those who are of thehousehold of faith.


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How To Release The Holy S)irit "nto Your Li&eBile *erses

4%$hesians E9-=9 @JB6 *nd do not be drunk with wine, in which isdissi$ation2 but be filled with the $irit, 89F; s$eaking to one another in$salms and hymns and s$iritual songs, singing and making melody inyour heart to the /ord, 8=:; giving thanks always for all things to God

the @JB6 #If a son asks for bread from any father amongyou, will he give him a stone5 1r if he asks for a fish, will he give him aser$ent instead of a fish5 89=; #1r if he asks for an egg, will he offer hima scor$ion5 89>; #If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts toyour children, how much more will your heavenly 99-9= @JB6 #I indeed ba$tiLe you with water untore$entance, but e who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. e willba$tiLe you with the oly $irit and fire. 89=; #is winnowing fan is in is hand, and e will thoroughly cleanout is threshing floor, and gather is wheat into the barn2 but e will burn u$ the chaff with un!uenchablefire.#

4*cts =>> @JB6 #Therefore being e(alted to the right hand of God, and having received from the


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her husband #I want all of you ...# Thus from our $ers$ective we can get #more of the oly $irit# that is sensethe reality of is +resence with us more dee$ly and with greater reality. "e can move into a dee$er, strongerand more committed relationshi$ full of $eace, oy and $ower.

How Do We Do This.

The release of the oly $irit into your life involves seeking, re$enting and asking. There are many obstaclesin our hearts that choke the $irit's work. These include bitterness, anger, wrath, clamor, unbelief, being too

controlling, immorality and involvement in $ornogra$hy or the occult. &ou cannot have the fulness of oly$irit and bitterness. &ou will have to choose between the two.4%$hesians A>:->= @JB6 *nd do not grieve the oly $irit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day ofredem$tion. 8>9; /et all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil s$eaking be $ut away from you, with allmalice. 8>=; *nd be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, ust as God in Christ forgaveyou.

*s we seek the fulness of the oly $irit we will often become aware of areas that are contrary to iso$eration in us. *s we re$ent of them then the oly $irit is no longer grieved and is oy fills us. In truerevivals we see that there is always seeking God, there is always re$enting and there is always asking formore and more of his +resence and $ower.

I do not have a #formula# for seeking, re$enting and asking. I cannot tell you how long it will take or e(actlywhat you should do. ome $eo$le are greatly assisted by certain forms of worshi$, others by fasting and self-

denial, others by a daily !uite time with God. "hatever the method you use it must involve earnest anddiligent seeking, re$enting and asking of God.

%stacles

If its ust that sim$le why is not revival, at least on the $ersonal level, far more common5 ecause wetenaciously hold on to certain sins and attitudes that block the o$eration of God. "e distrust the surgeon whocan save us.


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astrology, $agan religions, idolatry, masonry, etc. 4ee 7euteronomy E, =E and *cts 9F9F6

. +ress on to higher ground through obedience, $rayer, fellowshi$ and bible study. Get involved in the thingsof God. God only gives you $ower and strength so you can use it to bless others.

Buildin! %n The Blessin!

1nce you have received a releasing of the oly $irit into your life you need to build on it for ministry and

service and growth in Christian character. The blessings of God are not sensual moments to be enoyed likegood music or a meal. They are ste$$ing stones to holiness, Christian character and a blessed and $roductivelife that is useful in building the ingdom of God here on earth.

"hen the oly $irit comes u$on you in $ower there is a tendency to gain an e(tra level of functioning knownas a #s$iritual gift#. In amson's case it was great strength, in olomon's it was wisdom, in +eter the ability towork miracles, in +aul the a$ostolic gift and calling. This e(tra level of functioning needs to be learned and$racticed so that it integrates with the whole of life and with God's $ur$oses for is church. $iritual gifts arenot status symbols any more than the servants towel is a status symbol. The s$iritual gifts are there for you touse the $ower of God in love for the edification and su$$ort of other believers and the conversion of thoseoutside the ingdom.

7o not leave you blessing gift wra$$ed in a silver bo(. Take it out and use it. *dmiring what God has ust donefor you is good, but it will soon be time to $ut your new level of functioning to use in the real world. If the

renewal has left you more $eaceful it will be time to show that at work when you are under $ressure. If it hasmade you more loving then dis$lay that love at home and grow it and strengthen it.

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