Discipleship: Gifts of the Spirit

Today we started the most serious, deep teaching of Discipleship that we've had so far for this class. The gifts of the spirit are powerful tools that God gives to leaders in the Kingdom. We are told to desire these spiritual impartations and use them as the Lord leads us.

The three discussed today were tongues, interpretation of tongues and the word of knowledge. They can all be found in 1 Corinthians 12. What do you remember from the lesson today about these gifts from God?

Discipleship: praise is an elevator

Psalms 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people. He desires our praise and dwells there. It return that praise elevates us into God's presence.

Praise and worship is a lifestyle. It's not just about singing a song. Everything about our lives is a worship to God: words, songs, actions, relationships, etc. Our lifestyles should worship God in all that we do. When we take the elevator to the top into His presence we can live in the penthouse, so to speak, of a Godly life. That means that we don't have to leave His presence. We can stay in it. Psalms 91 says that we can "dwell in the secret place of the Most High." Let's make a choice to live in God's presence.

Discipleship: The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is many things to us: friend, comforter, 3rd part of the Trinity, intercessor, God's gift to Christians, power, etc. Without the Holy Spirit the Christian life will seem empty. We were created to have all of the anointing and power of God working in our lives. We have to receive what God gives us and use it.

The HS has a manifestation in us. When you are filled with the HS you will speak with other tongues (Acts 2). There is an immediate sign that you have been filled. You don't receive the HS just because you accept Jesus into your heart. That's the gift of eternal life that we receive by confessing Jesus and believing on Him as the Son of God in our hearts. The proof of the infilling of the HS happens when we ask God for that gift, receive it by faith and begin to speak in a Heavenly language. God is a very creative God, and He gives each one of us a different sound in that gift. It makes it unique. It would be like going to a party and everyone getting candy but each person received a different kind. All Christians can receive the HS, but we sound differently when we pray.

Intercession is one of the most powerful forms of prayer. It is when you fervently pray for someone or something else. Romans 8:26 says that He "makes intercession for us." How incredible is it that the HS will pray for us?! He can give us divine comfort because He knows He's talked to God on our behalf, and that the answer we need is on the way.

If you're not filled with the HS yet and your a Christian, ask God to fill you. Read the story in Acts 2 when men were first filled with the HS. God empowered His people then, and He still does it today. Ask God to fill you, and He will. Then take time everyday to pray in tongues and in your normal prayer language.

Discipleship: Week 1 is complete!

You all have done such a great job this week! You have been challenged to build your faith, witness, be baptized, pray in tongues and the understanding and PREACH. Everyone has done their part with excellence.

The ones that preached today we're anointed, and the illustrations were creative. Everyone who is ministering Monday, get ready to bring it! I'm excited to hear what you have prepared.

Girls/Guys Night Out is going to be fun tonight. See everyone at 4:15 pm.

Discipleship: Water Baptism

Today we learned about the power of identifying with Christ through water baptism. Being baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one of the foundations of our faith. It shows the world that we are no longer identifying with our old ways, and now we identify with a new life. Galatians 3:27 says, "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ." The last three words "put on Christ" have a great meaning. We are put on our Christ-like nature every day just like we get dressed every day. It literally means to clothe yourself with Jesus. When we take His qualities and apply them to our lives, we are putting on Christ.

Once we identify with God by being baptized it is now time to live it strong. It takes guts to identify with God and follow through with it every day. The devil presents all kinds of options that can distract and deceive us. We have to be wise to his attempts and cast them down. Use these scriptures to combat the enemy:

• 2 Corinthians 10:5 - Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
• Sometimes the devil attacks in our thoughts. Choose to think on the Word. 
• Never allow your imagination to run wild with negative thinking. Dream big about what God has planned for you; dream about answers.
• 1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking who he may devour:
• The devil can't trap you if you stay aware. You have power over him in the name of Jesus.
• Remember, it's the devil who tries to trip you up, not God. God brings the answers.
• 1 John 2:2 - But ye have an unction from the holy one, and ye know all things.
• God speaks to His children. "Unction" means a knowing in your heart. When God speaks, you will know.
• God will give you clarity on situations when you consult him in prayer.
• Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
• Jesus has set us free! We have salvation, and we have identified with Him in water baptism so live like a child of God.
• Don't get tied up in sin, guilt, problems, etc. Walk free and replace old lifestyle habits with Godly characteristics since you have identified with Christ. 
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  Every day we put on Christ we have the opportunity for success. Water baptism is a single act of obedience to the Bible that shows the world we belong to Him, just like salvation is a single prayer and confession of Jesus. The best part is that we get to live it everyday. So make a choice to be daily identifier with Christ and thank Him for the successes that come.

Discipleship: Salvation

Salvation is the ultimate gift that God our Father has given us. It is our promise of life everlasting and our ticket to a great life on earth. It's no wonder the devil tries so hard to deceive people into going the wrong way in life. Once we've become a Christian, it is our job to tell others about the goodness of God and the bad plans the of the devil.

James 1:17 says that "every good and perfect gift is from above." God doesn't cause bad things to happen to us. He gives us the opportunity through salvation - His free gift to us - to obtain all of the good things He has for us. The devil will try to make you believe that, for example, God gives people cancer to teach them a lesson. This couldn't be further from the truth! He gave purchased salvation, peace, healing and many other things for us at Calvary according to Isaiah 53:5. He has already taken those things from us. It's the devil who tries to attack us with bad things and deceive us. Never believe the lies of the devil. There is no truth in him, so just reverse what he says in faith and declare the Word of God at all times.

Remember, as a Christian you have access to the promises of God. Live a life of faith and take hold of everything He has for you!

Discipleship: Faith

Faith is our substance and evidence according to Hebrews 11:1. In other words it is our proof of the answer until we see it happen. When we act on our faith is pushes us toward the answer we're believing for.

With every heartbeat faith should be pulsating through our lives. When we allow it to move through us, Heaven is unleashes to bring answers our way. As faith grows, answers come. Let faith grow in your heart with these easy steps:

1. Read the Bible daily, Rom. 10:17
2. Pray in the understanding and in tongues every day, 1 Thess. 5:17 and Acts 1:8
3. Go to church, Heb. 10:24-25

Let me know what you think about faith!