Mini-study 1 Vol.

IS ITREAttY REPEIITA]IGE-WHAT BIBTE THE BAPTISTS OF TIIE

What does it mean to really repent? How can you know your repentanceis genuine?Seepage 3. WhatdoesBaptismmean?Did you know thereis mare ttnn one kind of baptismin the Bible? fu page 5.

(Prt mel TllE FRUIT 0FTIESPIRIT BEAR H0tT YOU CAll

It is imperativethat we understand iusttpw thelloly Writ E manifestedin a Christian'slife. *e page 7.

(Part twol FRUIT SPIRIT BEAR TllE 0FTIIE YOU HOW CAll
TheSpirit of Christis active-dynamic! lt is a movingforce that can't be bottled up withinyou. Seepage 9.

BY LIYI]IG FAITII
What is faith? Exactly what kind of faith do we need to please God? Seepage 11.

WI]I YOU CAl{ FIGHT.HOW THE CHRISTIA]I

Godsays we have deadlyenemieswhichmustbe defeated, and He tellsus how to do it. Seepage 13.

RTPtrNNCtr
WhatkReallvls
H

T he G ood N e w s , i n c o n j u n c ti o nw i th th e C orre' s pondenc e C o u rs e D e p a rtme n t, p re s e nts bri ef m ont hly ex c u rs i o n s i n to th e s tu d y o f th e B i bl e, delv ing int o to p i c s re l e v a n t to th e d e v el opment and inc r eas e d u n d e rs ta n d i n go f fu tu re members of t he G od F a mi l y . B i b l e s tu d y i s o n e means by whic h Chr isti a n sa re re n e w e d d a i l y (l l C o ri nthi ans 4: 16) , s o let' s re fre s h o u rs e l v e sw i th mo re of the pr ec ious t r u th s o f G o d ' s W o rd ! lns t r uc t io n s : T h e fo rma t o f th e s e mi n i studi es is s im ilart o t h a t o f th e Amb a s s a d o rC o l l e ge B i bl e Cor r es pond e n c eC o u rs e . L o o k u p a n d read i n y our B ible t h e s c ri p tu re re fe re n c e s g i v en i n ans wer t o t he q u e s ti o n s . C o mme n ts fo l l o wi ng l he ques t ions el a b o ra te o n th e s c ri p tu re s j u st read. T hat ' s all t he re i s to i t! (T h e s e s tu d i e s a re based on t he K ing J a m e s V e rs i o n o f th e B i b l e , unl ess ot her wis e s ta te d .) W hat doe s i t me a n to re p e n t? l s re a l repent anc e jus t a n e mo ti o n a lfe e l i n g ? l s i t me rel y feel ing s or r y f or h a v i n g ma d e s o m e m i s ta k e s i n one' s lif e? Let ' s e x a m i n e s e v e ra l b a s i c s c ri p t ures det ailing G od' s d e fi n i ti o no f re a l re p e n ta n ce. 1. How is s i n d e fi n e d i n th e B i b l e ? l J ohn 3:4. Has ev er y h u m a n b e i n g s i n n e d ? R o m a ns 5:12. W hat penalty i s e x a c te d b e c a u s e o f s i n ? R omans 6: 21. 23. A ll hum an b e i n g s w h o h a v e rro l re p e nted are, s o t o s peak , o n s p i ri tu a l d e a th ro w - aw ai ti ng ex ec ut ion o f a j u s tl y d e s e rv e d u l ti ma te capi tal punis hm en t. T h i s e te rn a l p e n a l ty w a s e a rned by s im ply doing w h a t c o me s n a tu ra l l y - s i nni ng! 2. How h a s Go d , i n H i s v a s t me rc y and l ove, pr ov ided a w a y b y w h i c h w e m a y a v o i d payi ng t hat et er na l p e n a l ty ? J o h n 3 :1 6 ; R o m a n s 5:8-10. 3. What is the only way to be covered by Chr is t ' s s acri fi c e , to b e fo rg i v e n o n e ' s si ns and : e deliv er e d fro m th e p e n a l ty o f e te rn al death? A c t s 2: 38: 3 :1 9 . A c t s 2: 38 s u m m a ri z e s th e s a l v a ti o np rocess i n v er s e . c ne A n d o n e o f th e fi rs t w o rd s of that -s: ' 3' : r c us pas s a g e i s " R e p e n t" ! R e p e n tance i s . .lJ r f ir s t v ita l s te p to s a l v a ti o n .J e s u s d ecl ared, E x c ep t y e re p e n t, y e s h a l l a l l l i k e wi se pers F ( Luk e 1 3 :3 ,5 ).

B ut w hat i s real repentance i n God' s si gh t , as reveal ed i n H i s i nspi red W ord? W hat does it invol ve? W hat do w e have to do? The ori gi nal w ords i n the H ebrew and G r eek from which repent and repentance ate translated mean to turn,la change direction. And true repentance i s exactl y that. l t i s a compl ete about- f ace from di sobedi ence tow ard God to obedi ence, l ove and cooperati on w i th H i m. S o repentance i s somethi ng far more than an experi ence.True repentance - " godl y sor r ow" (l l C ori nthi ans 7:10) i nvol ves a complet e about-face i n our thi nki ng and bei ng, a comm it ment to al l that i s ri ght and good. B ut w hat, exactl y, do w e repent of? S i nl To repent of si n, then, si mpl y means t o stop si nni ngand turn to the w ay of obedi ence t o God' s l aw . 4. l sn' t i t cl earl y the l aw of God to w hi c h all w ho have si nned are to turn? E zeki el 18:.21- 22. 5. l s the l aw of God good ? R omans 7:12 . ls it just and holy? Same verse. God' s l aw i s the w ay to peace, to happi ness,t o j oy. l t i s God' s greatest gi ft to manki nd- gi ven t o make man happy,to l ead hi m i nto the f ul l ,abun dant l i fe - to protect hi s happi ness and l ead hi m inio eternal l i fe. E vi l i n thi s w orl d i s not caused by t he law of God, but by the breaking ol itl 6. S houl d true repentance be a deep, mo ving and heartfel t experi ence?Joel 2:12-13. God w i l l not accept those w hose repentanceis onl y outw ard or w here there i s no real chan ge ot atti tude and acti ons. N oti ce i t once agai n: " . . . Turn ye even to me w i th al l your heart, and wit h And f asti ng,and w i th w eepi ng,and w i th mourni ng: rend your heart, and not your garments [outwar d di spl ayl . . ." True repentancerequi restotal m ental and emoti onal i nvol vement. 7. l s spi ri tual repentance cl earl y tow ard God? A cts 20:21. S i n i s agai nst God. H e i s the Law gi ver w hose perfect l aw w e have broken. To repent means lo be so humbl ed and broken up by havi ng reb elled agai nstthe l i vi ng,hol y God - so abhorrento f our decei tful ness,vani ty and sel fi shness - that in real contri ti onw e turn to God for mercy, forgive-

rn z1
!-:

F
/^i

z
t!

@ 1979WorldwideChurchof God Ail Rights Reserved

n e s s and t he help w e s o d e s p e ra te l y n e e d i n ord e r t o ov er c om e. S om e hav e t ho u g h t re p e n ta n c e i s me re l y a ma t t er of being t h a n k fu l th a t th e y a re s o g o od th e y hav e been ab l e to s e e th e tru th a n d a re n ow a cc ept ing it . T hat i s n o t re p e n ta n c e .T h a t i s s el /ri g h t eous nes s - s i n - s o me th i n g mo re to be re pent ed of . Ev er y one of us m u s t u l ti m a te l y c o m e to s ee God as J ob did ( Jo b 4 2 :5 -6 ) - a n d to s e e o urse lv es t hr ough G o d ' s e y e s , p u tti n g H i m fo re m o st i n o ur m inds . O nly th e n c a n w e b e g i n to l o v e G od a s J es us ins t r uc ts u s to d o (Ma tth e w 2 2 :3 7 ). B ut how is it pos s i b l efo r a h u ma nb e i n g to c o me to t hat k ind of r ep e n ta n c e ?H o w c a n o n e s ta rt to ch ange f r om s elf -c e n te re dl o v e to Go d -l o v e ?The a n s wer :it has t o c o m e f ro m Go d ! 8. Does G od' s g o o d n e s s a n d m e rc y l e a d one to r epent anc e? R o ma n s 2 :4 . l s H e p a ti e n t a nd l o v ing in leading o n e to re p e n ta n c e ? Sa me ve r s e. 9. f s it G od who g ra n ts u s re p e n ta n c e ?l l T imo th y 2: 25. A ls o s e e A c ts 1 ' l: 1 8 . 1O .Did J es us p l a i n l ys a y th a t n o o n e c a n c o m e to Him unles s th e F a th e r d ra w s h i m ? J ohn 6 :4 4, 65. I n light of t he ab o v e s c ri p tu re ,w e s e e th a t our ca ll t o r eal r epe n ta n c e c o m e s fro m G o d , w ho p u t s wit hin us t he d e s i re to " c o m e to H i m .' 11. Does r eal re p e n ta n c ei n v o l v eo u r l o ta l , unco ndit ionals ur r en d e rto G o d , p u tti n g H i m a h ead o f a nd abov e all e l s e ? Ma tth e w 1 0 :3 6 -3 8 . B ef or e Chr is t c o me s to i mp o s e H i s l o v i n g rul e o n m ank indand f o rc e s th i s w o rl d to s u rre n d e rto Hi m, He is c allin g u p o n i n d i v i d u a l sto s u rre n der vo lunt ar ily t o His a u th o ri ty o v e r th e i r l i v e s n o w . B ut r epent anc e - s u rre n d e ri n gto G o d - i s n o t a m alle( of gi v i n g u p e v e ry th i n gg o o d , a s so ma ny hav e er r one o u s l ya s s u m e d . R e p e n ta n c e i s p o s it iv e. Not only d o y o u e s c a p e th e p e n a l ti e s of si n t hr ough r epen ta n c e , i t i s a l s o th e w a y to i nn u m er ablepos it iv e b e n e fi ts i n th i s l i fe ! Repent anc e em p h a ti c a l l y d o e s n o t m e a n w e mu s t giv e up t he u s e o r a p p re c i a ti o n o f ma te ri al th i ngs . W hat G od i s i n te re s te d i n i s th e a tti tu de we hav e t owar d H i m a n d ma te ri a l th i n g s whet her we s eek fi T s lH i s Ki n g d o m a n d H i s ri ghte o us nes s ( M at t h e w 6 :3 3 ). G od does wis h fo r u s to p ro s p e r a n d b e i n g o od h e alt h ( lll J ohn 2 ).H e w a n ts u s to g i v e u p o nl y th o s e t hings t hat a re b a d fo r u s - w h i c h h u rt us sp ir it ually and ph y s i c a l l y . R e p e n ta n c e a n d c o nve r s ion m ak e po s s i b l e o u r i n te l l i g e n t u s e ot God' s m at er ial c re a ti o n th ro u g h th e g u i d a n c e of Hi s laws and His S p i ri t.

12. A nci ent K i ng D avi d i s a chi ef exampl e of one w ho deepl y repented of hi s si ns. D i d D avi d admi t that he w as gui l ty of many si ns? P sal m 51:9. D i d he adn t that hi s heart (atti tude) had not been ri ght ;' :* Gcd? V erse 10. 13. D i d D av,c:^:' :ughl y abhor hi s si n?V erse 3. D i d he cast hrmse' -::- 3cd' s mercy?V erse 1. D avi d di d n:: - - -:e any of hi s si ns. H e di d not attempt t3.-s: ' _.:^:- N cr di d he bl ame them on others R ather. he .,,as a:^:s: a: * hat he had done ' :e{ore God and i mpl ored H rs re' :., : = -?ss H e made no ' ' :el y confessed attempt to e\; a asked God to w hat he hac l :^e r' ' -: -' -hsi sthe cl ean hi m .c :::a , ,,, e repent basi c atti troe ,,.: sol our si n" q A re yoi s: H i s l aw a" : H i m? H are..:- : ul arl y du' -; :by the en: -e: you may I,e:: to keep a r' aoversrl i - a.. : 14. H :r. -:nani z nl

', . :::-

.:-

3 'e s t l l l l n a r e 13:5; l : 'i n t h l a n s

Matthe' ,r3 3 . B y thei r frui ts C hec< :^a ' ' - :,. :' . : -- ' 9 ye sha (^:.' , :-:l ^' s: sard (Matthew 7:20). j ' urts of havi ng the H ol y D oes i :,' ' + ' e..2 :-. .,e ..y, peace, l ong-sufferi ng , S pi ri t ^ ::- gentl e^ess _::::^ess, l ai th, meekness, temperance i se' -: :-:' :, (Gal ati ans5:22-23)? Gcc ::< s :: tnose w ho are of a meek and contr,:e sc' : - those w ho trembl e before H i s W ord 3:: recogni zes a repentant atti tude of mi nC - a croken spi ri t, a si ncere desi re for forgi veness and mercy. H e w i l l trul y honor the atti tude ot ai l rvho are w i l l i ng to turn from w orks and deeds that H i s W ord brands as s/n. Gcdl y repentance requi res a permanent change of di recti on.l t i s a fofal commi tmentl o a course from w hi ch there i s no turni ng back. l t i s nol l i ke the temporary emoti onalexperi encethat i s f al sel y construedas repentanceby so many i n the w orl d today. Y ou have l earned that i t i s somethi ng much deeper and vastl y more profound! of w hat repentancereW i th the understandi ng al l y i s, l et us put si n out of our l i ves w i th renew ed determi nati onand resol ve to l i ve before God i n " si nceri ty and truth" (l C ori nthi ans5:B ).

TheBAPTISI\4S oftheBible
The Good News, in conjunctionwith the Corres pondenc e C o u rs e D e p a rtm e n t, p re s e nts bri ef m ont hly ex c u rs i o n s i n to th e s tu d y o f the B i bl e, delv ing int o to p i c s re l e v a n t to th e d e v el opment o f fu tu re members and inc r ea s e d u n d e rs ta n d i n g of t he G od F a mi l y . Bi b l e s tu d y i s o n e means by whic h Chr is ti a n sa re re n e w e dd a i l y (l l C ori nthi ans 4: l6) , s o le t' s re fre s h o u rs e l v e sw i th m o re of the pr ec ious t r u th s o f Go d ' s Wo rd ! I ns t r uc ti o n s : T h e fo rma t o f th e s e mi ni studi es is s im ilart o th a t o f th e Amb a s s a d o rC o l l ege B i bl e Cor r es pon d e n c eC o u rs e . L o o k u p a n d read i n your Bible the scripture references given in ans wer t o t he q u e s ti o n s . C o m m e n ts fo l l ow i ng the ques t ions e l a b o ra te o n th e s c ri p tu re s j u st read. T hat ' s all t h e re i s to i t! (T h e s e s tu d i e s are based on t he K in g J a m e s V e rs i o n o f th e Bi b le, unl ess ot her wis e s ta te d .) T he r eli g i o u s w o rl d i s i n g re a t c o n f usi on regar dingt he v a ri o u sb a p ti s m s me n ti o n e di n the B i ble. W e he a r a b o u t b a p ti s m b y i mme rs ion,spri nk ling and p o u ri n g . T h e re i s th e b a p ti s m by the Holy S pir it, w h i c h J o h n th e Ba p ti s t s p o ke of, and t he bapt is m me n ti o n e d i n Ma tth e w 2 8 :19. Last, but not lea s t, i s th e b a p ti s m w i th fi re . L et' s begi n t his s t udy b y e x a m i n i n gw a te r b a p ti s m as i t w as pr ac t ic ed b y th e o ri g i n a l N e w T e stament Chur c h. T he m os t c o mmo n me th o d o f b a p tism pract ic ed by p ro fe s s i n g C h ri s ti a n i tyto d a y i s spri nk ling. Y et w h e n w e s tu d y th e Bi b l e , w e fi nd that the word sprinkte occurs only a few times in the New T es t a me n ta n d a l w a y s i n c o n n e c ti onw i th the blood of Ch ri s t - b u t n e v e r re fe rri n gto bapti sm. T he wor d p o u ri n gi s a l s o me n ti o n e ds e v e ralti mes r rt he New T e s ta m e n t- b u t n o t o n c e i n regard to 3 apt is m l T he word b a p ti z e i s n o t a n En g l i s hw o r d per se. : s a G r e e k w o rd . A n d th e N e w T e s ta ment w as & ' : t en in t h e Gre e k l a n g u a g e .In tra n s l ati ngthe 3 : e int o En g l i s h ,th e tra n s l a to rs l e ft thi s w ord - - : ' a' r s lat e d . L i te ra l l y , i n th e Gre e k , th e w ord i s - ' e defi n i ti o n is "immerse." lt means "to : - ^ ge lnto " o r "out into." lt does not mean

"to sprinkle" or "to pour." The Greek word for "sprinkle" is rantizo and "to pour" is cheo.
Therefore, spri nkl i ngor pouri ng are not f or m s ot bapti sm.l mmersi on- bei ng pl aced com plet ely down underwater - is. Water baptism symboli zes the buri al of the ol d carnal , si nful sel f. O nly total i mmersi on can properl y symbol i ze d eat h and buri al ; spri nkl i ngor pouri ng are not symbols of a buri al by any stretch of the i magi nati o n! Let' s noti ce w hat the B i bl e teaches concer ni ng the proper mode or method of w ater baptrsm. 1. W hy w as John bapti zi ngi n A enon near Jer usal em? John 3:23. John w oul d have needed onl y a cupful of wat er to spri nkl e,or a pi tcher ful l to pour - but b apt izi ng requi res " much w ater." 2. H ow does the bapti sm of C hri st prov e t hat H e w as i mmersed?Matthew 3: 16. Jesus had to be put dow n i nto the w ater, f or He " w ent up strai ghtw ay out of the w ater..." lt is ri di cul ous to thi nk H e coul d have com e " up... out" of a spri nkl e or a pour! 3. W hen P hi l i p bapti zed the eunuch, di d t hey both go into lhe water? Acts 8:38. There w as no purposew hateverfor P hi l i pt o go into lhe water, except that there was no other w ay he coul d pl unge the eunuch i nto the r iver . H ad spri nkl i ngor pouri ngbeen the proper m et hod of bapti sm, P hi l i p w oul d have needed on ly t o bend over and scoop up the w ater. The above bi bl i calevi dencecl earl y shows t hat i mmersi on bei ng pl aced compl etel y under water - was the only method of baptism pracand 'led ti ced by the ori gi nalH ol y S pi ri t-i nspi red C hurch of God. W ater bapti sm i s an outw ard si gn of i nw a r d r epentance. l t demonstratesto God one' s willingness and desi re to permanentl yput aw ay his or her ol d l i fe of si n and begi n l i vi ng a new lif e of obedience to God. lts meaning is strictly sym' bol i ci n the sense that w ater bapti sm i tsel f has no mysti cal or magi cal effects on the person who is i mmersed. l ts onl y physi cal effect i s to get t he person thoroughl yw et! N or i s the H ol y S pi rit giv-

Fd F t
Fl H CN

e n by wat er bapt i s m .Y e t b a p ti s m i s c o mma n ded b y G od lor s alv a ti o n(Ac ts 2 :3 8 ). S ur pr is ingly ,t h e re a re s e v e ra l o th e r d i s ti nct b a ot is m s or im me rs i o n sm e n ti o n e di n th e B i b l e. 4. Did J ohn t he B a p ti s t s p e a k o f o th e r k i n d s of 1. b a pt is m ? M at t he w 3 :.1 J ohn had jus t b e e n w a rn i n gth e h y p o c ri ti c a lrel i gionis t st o dem o n s tra tes o me fru i ts o r re s u l ts of th e ir alleged r ep e n ta n c e (v e rs e s 5 -8 ). N o t i ce a g ain what he s ai d : " l b a p ti z e [i mme rs e ]y o u w i th wat er f or r epent a n c e ,b u t h e [J e s u s ] w h o i s c o mi n g af t er m e is m i g h ti e rth a n l , w h o s e s h o e s I a m n o t wor t hy t o c ar ry ; h e w i l l b a p ti z e [i m m e rs e ]you wi th t he Holy S pi ri t a n d Ii mme rs e y o u ] w i th fi r e" (ver s e 1 1, Rev is e d Sta n d a rdV e rs i o n ).H e re J ohn re f er r ed t o t wo o th e r k i n d s o f i m m e rs i o n- n ei th e r of t hem in w a te r. w h a t i t m e a n sto b e b apF ir s t , let ' s und e rs ta n d ti zed wit h t he Ho l y S p i ri t. 5. Did J es us p ro m i s e H i s d i s c i p l e s th a t they would be bapt iz e d w i th th e H o l y S p i ri t? A c ts 1 :45 . W hen did t he H o l y S p i ri t c o m e ? A c ts 2 :1 -4 . O n t hat day o f P e n te c o s t, 5 0 d a y s a fter Chr is t ' s r es ur r e c ti o n , J e s u s ' p ro m i s e a n d the p rophec y of J ohn th e B a p ti s t w e re fu l fi l l e d .G od b e gan His s pir it u a lC h u rc ho n e a rth b y p u tti n gt he Holy S pir it wit hin H i s d i s c i p l e s . N o ti c e h o w t hi s was t he bapt is m w i th th e H o l y S p i ri t. 6. ls G od' s Ch u rc h th e " b o d y " o f C h ri s t? | C ori nt hians 12 12, 1 4 , 2 7 ; C o l o s s i a n s 1 :1 8 . 7. How do we b e c o me me mb e rs o f th a t B o d y? Can we join it ? O r mu s t w e b e " p u t i n to " i t by God' s S pir it ? lCo ri n th i a n s 1 2 :1 3 . Not ic e t hat t hi s s c ri p tu re d o e s n o t s a y w e are b a pt iz edin t he Ho l y S p i ri t - b u t b y i t! T h e re c e i vi n g of t he Holy S p i ri t i n o u r mi n d s a s a s p i ri t ual b e get t ing ac t ual l y p u ts u s i n to l h e s p i ri tu a lB o dy o f Chr is t , whic h i s H i s C h u rc h ! S o jus t being p h y s i c a l l yb a p ti z e di n w a te r d o es n o t put y ou int o G o d ' s Sp i ri t-l e dC h u rc h .Yo u m ust b e put int o t he C h u rc h b y th e S p i ri t o f G o d . I n Rom ans8: 9 , P a u l te l l s u s p l a i n l yth a t u n l ess th e S pir it of Chr i s t d w e l l s w i th i n u s , w e d o not b e long t o Him . A l s o , e a c h " m e m b e r" o f C h ri st' s "body " - His Ch u rc h - i s j o i n e d to th e o th e r by th e c om m on bon d o f Go d ' s H o l y S p i ri t re s i d i ng i n th e m . S o when w e b e c o me C h ri s t' s b y re c e i vi ng His S pir it ,we ar e th e n " p u t i n to " H i s Bo d y - t he Church of God - by the Holy Spirit. T he S c r ipt ur e s p l a i n l y s h o w th a t i t i s th e rece iv ing of t he H o l y Sp i ri t th a t a u to m a ti cal l y p l ungesus " int o" th e C h u rc h o f Go d . T h i s i m m ersi on int o t he Chu rc h b y th e H o l y S p i ri t i s te rm ed b y t he S c r ipt ur e s a s " th e b a p ti s m w i th ," " the b a pt is m by ' ' or " th e b a p ti s m o /th e H o l y S p i ri t."

8. A nother " bapti sm" referred to i n the S cri ptures, and di recti ;' ccnnectedw i th the bapti sm of the H ol y S pi rrt s menti oned i n Matthew 28: 19. E xactl y w hat d:es l hi s verse say? B e sure to read verse 19 The key exo' ess l r n verse 19 i s the phrase ^ 3' eek i t i s ei s to onoma, an " i n the name :' n:,,,' ' e' ? se :rsed i n the N ew Testaexoressi on ment. Other ' .e" = ' -' . - 3' eek from that ti me peri od has bee^ ' :--r J,:^ thi s expressi on and show s i ts fL -a-:- -; -^ s phrase... i s frequent i n the ca:.. - ,' ,' - ' .i e' ence to payments . . The usage made ' to the a:-' --: :' :-, :" e .' .:^ l " ' l atthew 28: 19, i s of i nteres: - ::--::' :w here the mea- -l r,: - : ::+ - :: be ' baP ti zed
i n t o t h e r t . q s p <: - - - ' - - a =. " a ' e t C . ' " ( J . Moulton an: -; t,' )-1- --: - ': i : - " ) o f t h e ' = -= Greek Tes:e-a-' =: : : '- : . -: :f the : - ' '. : The Bibre ::a--:,:

H ol y S pi ri t :: :,r - ; i ng on of ha" cs -' begets us as :-: 8:14;l Johri ' sons at the' :s-"

,l O e f S O n a S S : - Z - , '^ =, a a " : 'e : -S .. 3SS..rmeO 9 . B u l w r a : : : : - ' '- : : : 3 : s - * t '^ 'r e ? S h o u l d i '- z ' : : i:ir, the Baptist a C h r i s t i a r s e =. " - :: '- r , ': " ^ e * nrnnheqv 3 11.

The pop- a:: :a-= - j ' eat crow ds to see John - rrJS : -, : -: :' :ut' rosi ty.B ut John w as rel i gi on speaki ng n ca' : : , ?' :) the unrepentant i sts, as w e 3s i rJS e w ho di d repent. N oti ce careful l yl hat s3-:e 3f those to w hom John spoke - the repe!r' i ari- w ere to be bapti zed w i th the H ol y S pi rrt a' ter B ut the cl hers present-among them many hypocri ti cal . unrepentantP hari sees and S addu cees-w ere goi ng to be bapti zed w i th fi rei mmersed i n hel l fi re-unl ess they repented. They w oul d be burned up as chaff (Matthew 3:12). Thi s fi re i s the ul ti matefate of al l the i ncorri gibl e w i cked (R evel ati on21:8; Mal achi 4: 1-3). S urel y no one w i l l seek the bapti sm w i th fi re once he or she understandsw hat i t real l y i s!

HowbuCanBear thcSpirit thcFruitof

w i th th e C o rr eT he G ood News ,i n c o n j u n c ti o n sp ondenc e Cour se D e p a rtm e n t, p re s e n ts b rief mo nt hly ex c ur s io n s i n to th e s tu d y o f th e B i b l e, d e l ving int o t opics re l e v a n t to th e d e v e l o p m e nt o f fu tu re me mb ers a n d inc r eas ed und e rs ta n d i n g o f the G od F am ily . Bi b l e s tu d y i s o n e m e a n s by wh i c h Chr is t iansa re re n e w e d d a i l y (l l C o r.4 :1 6), so l et ' s r ef r es h ou rs e l v e s w i th m o re o f th e p reci o u s t r ut hs of G o d ' s W o rd ! lns t r uc t ions : T h e fo rm a t o f th e s e mi n i s tu d ies i s sim ilart o t hat of th e Amb a s s a d o rC o l l e g e B i bl e Co rr es pondenc eC o u rs e . L o o k u p a n d re a d i n yo ur B ible t he s c ri p tu re re fe re n c e s g i v e n i n a nsw er t o t he ques ti o n s . C o m m e n ts fo l l o w i n g the q u es t ions elabor a te o n th e s c ri p tu re s j u s t re a d. Th a t ' s all t her e is to i t! (T h e s e s tu d i e s a re b a s e d o n t he K ing J am e s V e rs i o n o f th e B i b l e , u n l ess o th er wis e s t at ed. ) The B ible c learl y te l l s u s th a t th e p re s e n c e of Go d ' s S pir itin one ' s m i n d ,o r th e l a c k th e re o f, i s the so le f ac t or t hat de te rm i n e sw h e th e ro r n o t a n i n di vi dualis r eallya Ch ri s ti a n(R o m .8 :9 ). T h e re fo re,i t j u s t h o w th e H ol y i s i m per at iv e t hat w e u n d e rs ta n d Sp ir itis m anif es t e di n a C h ri s ti a n ' sl i fe . 1. Did J es us Ch ri s t c l e a rl y i n d i c a te th a t a p e rso n is k nown by h i s " fru i ts ," o r w o rk s ? Matt. - 2: I n what way d i d H e c h a ra c te ri z e H i ms e l f , - r = a' her and t he i r fo l l o w e rs ?J o h n 1 5 :1 -8 .D o es ;:: e' c ec ' i Chr is ti a n sto b e a r o n l y a l i ttl e fru i t? ,:"s : : 5 : - - i s : - ; ' eas 3n C h ri s t c a l l s a n d c h o o s e s Hi s
i : : : -: :-- te : ' :-:s e' Ye hav e not c hc s e n "t it . ' ar d or dained y 3u. ia a : .,:-

H
H SZ

B r t *ha! wr ii Q 3 6 s Sp rrrtl e a d a n d g u i C ey o u to c:? lV hat s pir it ua lf ru rt.o r re s u l ts ,d o e s th e H o l y Sp r r r tpr oduc e in o n e w h o i s s tri v i n gto d o th e w i l l o f G od?

Frui t i s cl assi fi edas the edi bl e, usabl e porti on of a ol ant or vi ne. C hri st i s the " vi ne," and w e i f w e are H i s S pi ri t-begottenchi l dren - are the " branches." Our frui t i s w hat w e produce as C hri sti ansthat i s usabl e to Jesus C hri st. N ow the good w e produce comes from the vi ne - from C hri st. Let' s understand. A vi ne produces grapes, not thorns. A n appl e tree produces appl es, not thi stl es. The vi ne determi nes w hat frui t shoul d be borne. B y thi s si mpl e anal ogy w e see that i t i s C hri st w ho determi nesw hat ki nd ol frui t w e shoul d bear as C hri sti ans.That frui t i s a resul t of havi ng the mi nd of C hri st (P hi l . 2:5) at w ork i n us as made possi bl e by the S pi ri t of God. 2. H ow di d the apostl e P aul , w ho w as i nspi red of C hri st, outl i ne the frui t that the H ol y S pi ri t produces i n a C hri sti an? Gal . 5:22' 23. The H ol y S pi ri t i mparts to you the trai ts of God' s character. l f w e Iack these characteri sti cs i n our l i ves, then w e are Ii kel y to be produci ng many of the opposi te frui ts cal l ed the " w orks of the fl esh." These undesi rabl ew orks are menti oned i n Gal ati ans 5:19-21. They i ncl ude stri fe, di vi si on and vari ous obj ecti onabl e states of mi nd A l l the w orks of the fl esh contri bute to the general mi sery and unhappi ness ot the i ndi vi dual ,bei ng thoroughl y unsati sfyi ng and unful fi l l i ng. 3. W hat i s the fi rst frui t P aul l i sts? Gal . 5:22. A i so ncl i ce R omans5:5. l s l ove the basi c charac' :er strc of God' s nature? | John 4:16. l s i t the greatest attri buteGod transmi tsto us by the H ol y S prri t?| C or. 13:13.B e sure to read al l of chapter :3 (C hari ty i n the K i ng James V ersi on i s an ol d E ngl i sh w ord tor l ove.) The fi rst and rnost i mportantfrui t of God' s S pi ri t dw el l i ng i n the mi nds and hearts of converted humanbei ngs i s l ove. l t i s not j ust anotherform of humanl ove, but the di vi nel ove that comes di rectl y from God! 4. l s thi s the same l ove that w i l l enabl e us to ful fi l l - to obey - God' s l aw ? R om. 13:10. The l ove of God i s i mparted to human bei ngs by the H ol y S pi ri t. Metaphori cal l y speaki ng, God' s S oi ri t runs dow n the ri verbed of H i s l aw -

V)

F(

H H

Fl

th e T en Com m an d me n ts . l t i s e x p re s s e d fi rs t of a l l in ador at ion a n d w o rs h i o o f Go d a n d l i teral o b edienc et o Him ; a n d th e n i n o u tg o i n g c o n c e rn, co m pas s ion,k ind n e s sa n d s e rv i c e to w a rd o u r fel l o wm an ( s ee M at t. 2 2 :3 7 -4 O ). The or iginalG r e e k w o rd tra n s l a te d /o v e i n Gal a tians 5: 22 is a g a p e . In c o n te x t i t m e a n s devo t ednes sor k ind l y c o n c e rn - a n i n te n s ed e si re to s er v e G od an d m a n . J o h n s a i d : " B y th i s w e kn ow t hat we lov e th e c h i l d re n o f G o d , w h e n w e l o v e G od, and k e e p H i s c o m m a n d m e n ts . F o r t hi s is the love of God, that we keep his commandme nt s " ( l J ohn 5:2 -3 ). 5. W hat is one o f th e p ri n c i p l ew a y s i n w h i ch God' s lov e m ani fe s ts i ts e l f to w a rd o n e ' s n e i ghb or ? T ur n t o Rom a n s 1 3 :1 0 o n c e a g a i n . D id y ou not ic e th a t? T h e k i n d o f l o v e i m p a r ted b y G od' s S pir it w o rk s n o i l l to a n y b o d y ! R a th er, God' s lov e is jus t th e o p p o s i te - a d e e p c o n c ern a n d an int ens e de s i re to s e rv e , h e l p a n d e n c o ura g e ot her s . W hen y ou r ec e i v e th e H o l y Sp i ri t, th e l o v e of God is t he f ir s t fru i t y o u s h o u l d b e g i n to s h ow . Yo u s houldt hink o r w o rk n o i l l to w a rd a n y o n e ,b ut ra t her lear n, dev e l o p , th i n k o n a n d a c t o n a p rofo u nd c onc er n an d a fe rv e n t d e s i re to s e rv e God a nd m an. A t f ir s t t hat ' s a ta l l o rd e r! B u t o v e r a p e ri o d of ti m e - not all at o n c e - y o u w i l l b e g i n to n o ti ce th i s wonder f ul f r u i t i n y o u r l i fe a s y o u e x e rc i se a n d us e G od' s Ho l y Sp i ri t. T he ot her f r uit s o f th e Sp i ri t,m e n ti o n e db y Paul i n G alat ians5: 22-2 3 ,a n d w h i c h w e w i l l n o w b e gi n to c ov er , am plif y th i s b a s i c c h a ra c te ri s ti c of Go d' s nat ur e - th e d i v i n e l o v e g i v e n to th ose whom G od beget s w i th H i s H o l y S p i ri t. 6. W hat is t he s e c o n d fru i t th a t P a u l l i s ts i n Ga lat ians5: 22? ls i t Go d ' s w i l l th a t w e b e l i te ral l v filled wilh joy? Rom. 15:13. Som e people th i n k o f j o y a s th e e n d re s u l t of - a n e w to y , n ew so m e k ind of s elf-g ra ti fi c a ti o n ca r , new hom e, n e w b a b y . Ph y s i c a l l y s p e a k i ng, when t hings go y o u r w a y , th e e mo ti o ny o u fe e l i s loy. 7 - Does t he B i b l e g i v e ri c h , d e e p m e a n i n g to th i s v it al f r uit of G o d ' s S p i ri t? L u k e 1 5 :7 , 1 0 . W hat c aus es th e a n g e l s to h a v e j o y ? l s i t so m et hing per s on a l th e y re c e i v e ? l s i t a d d i n g to o r gr at if y ingt he s e l f i n s o m e w a y ? l t i s n o n e of th e s e. T heir joy is i n s e e i n g o th e rs re c e i v e s o meth i ng good f or t he m - i n th i s c a s e a s a re s u l t of p e oples ' r epent a n c e ,w h i c h e v e n tu a l l y l e a d s to e te r nal S ons hip i n Go d ' s K i n g d o m. T h e a n g el s d e light in s eeing h u ma n b e i n g s b e g i n to l e a rn t he

w ay of l i fe l hat w i l l resul t i n the good, l asti ng, permanentbl essi ngs of God' s K i ngdom. 8. W hat ki nd of j oy does Jesus C hri st experi ence? H eb. 12:2. of the C hri stw as w i l l i ngto suffer i n anti ci pati on real j oy H e w oul d experi enceafterw ardi n seei ng fel l ow hei rs born i nto God' s K i ngdom.Thi s w as madepossi bl eonl ythrough the sacri fi ceof H i s l i fe. i s onl y Joy recei vedfrom personalgrati fi cati on temporary. The car w ears out, the bal l game i s over, the baby grow s up, the stomach empti es. N one of these physi cal thi ngs - though perfectl y al l ri ght to enj oy for the ti me - can ever bri ng permanent,l asti ng j oy. C hri st and the ri ghteous angels receive joy from lhe outgoing giving of themselves to God and others! This kind of joy l asts for al l eterni ty and does not requi re constant bol steri ng and rej uvenati ngw i th more and more obj ects and thi ngs. 9. W hat i s the thi rd frui t that God' s S oi ri t w i l l mani fest i n a C hri sti an' sl i fe? Gal . 5:22. P eace of mi nd i s w hat everyone w oul d l i ke to have, but w hat so few real l y possess. Many vai nl y attempt to achi eve peace of mi nd through escape i nto al cohol , other drugs, bi zarre acti vi ti es , etc, A person w ho trul y has peace of mi nd has greater control over hi s emoti ons - even i n tryi ng ci rcumstances.H e enj oys greater tranqui l i ty and cal m, qui et sereni ty, together w i th orderl i ness of mi nd. 1O. D oes peace of mi nd come from keepi ng P s. 119:' 165. the Ten C ommandments? N o one w ho consi stentl ybreaks God' s l aw can have real peace of mi nd. H e w i l l have fears and frustrati ons,as w el l as a gui l ty consci ence. N oti ce how D avi d' s w ords appl y. D oes a thi ef have peace of mi nd w hen he sees a pol i ce car dri vi ngby? l s he cal m and serene? l f he i s a good actor, he may appear to be outw ardl y, but i nsi de he i s a seethi ng cal dron, hotl y acti vated by hi s adrenalgl ands. A l w ays he has to be prepared to run and escape or cover up i n some w ay. Thi s man can never fi nd real peace unl ess and unti lhe repentsot - qui ts - breaki ngGod' s Ten C ommandments, especi al l y the E i ghthl he i s The person w ho keeps God' s l aw knouzs doi ng the ri ght thi ng. H i s goal s and purposes are stabi l i zed.H i s l i fe i sn' t fraught w i th frustrati ons, and he i s not pl agued by a gui l ty consci ence.H e i s at peace w i th God, w i th hi msel f and w i th hi s nei ghbor. H e has " the peace of God, w hi ch passeth al l understandi ns" (P hi l . 4:7). (Thi s subj ect to be continued.)

HowbuCanBcar of thcSpirit thcF'ruit

w i th th e C o rre The G ood News , i n c o n j u n c ti o n sp o n denc e Cour s e D e p a rtm e n t, p re s e n ts b ri e f mo n thly ex c ur s ions i n to th e s tu d y o f th e Bi b l e d e l ving int o t opic s re l e v a n t to th e d e v e l o p me nt o f fu tu re m e m b e rs a n d inc r eas ed unde rs ta n d i n g :f th e G c d F am ily . B i b l e s tu d y i s o n e me a n s b v ,'.- :' Cr ' r s t r ans ar e re n e w e d d a i l y (l l C o r. 4 : 1 6 ) s: :: s ' { . es h ours e l v e s w i th m o re o f th e p re ' : :-s:' - : ^s of G od ' s W o rd ! In s t r uc t ions : T he fo rm a t o f th e s e m i n i s tu d i e s s s - a' : o t hat of t h e Amb a s s a d o rC o l l e g e Bi b l e l :'-e s c c ndenc e C o u rs e . L o o k u p a n d re a d tn l o u r B t ble t he s c r ip tu re re fe re n c e s g i v e n i n a n ' sw e r t o t he ques t i o n s . C o mme n ts fo l l o w i n g th e q u e st ions elabor at e o n th e s c ri p tu re s i u s t re a d Th a t' s all t her e is t o i t! (T h e s e s tu d i e s a re b a s e d o n the K ing J am es V e rs i o n o f th e B i b l e , u n l e s s o th e rwis e s t at ed. ) 1 1 . W hat is t he fo u rth fru i t o f th e H o l y S p rr' :r Ga l .5: 22. L ongs uf f er ingis a n o l d E n g l i s h w o rd fo r c a ' ti e n c e. lt is als o f o rb e a ra n c e a n d c l e m e n c y wh i ch is t he abilit y to h a v e me rc y . O n e w h c s sh o rt - t em per edand e a s i l y u p s e t w i th th e fa u :s a n d inadequac iesof o th e rs i s i n v i ti n gre a l tr3 -a e fo r h im s elf ,as hum a n re l a ti o n s h i p sw i l l i n e t' ,ta : .' su ffer . He m ay als o fi n d h i ms e l f s u ffe ri n gl ' .- ? va ri et y of em ot iona l l yi n d u c e d i l l n e s s e s l Pa t ienc e is t hat s te a d i n e s s c f mi n d b v w ' rra ^ yo u w ait f or t he r es u l t to b e a c h i e v e d O^ e !t' 3 i s o a ti e nt does not b e c o m e fru s tra te d b e c a u s e p ro b lem s don' t alwa y s l e n d th e m s e l v e sto i m m e (c r p a d i a te s olut ions .T he g o d l y l o n g ' s u tfe rrn g ti e n c e) P aul is r ef er ri n gto c a n c o me o n l y tn rc u g h the Holy Spirit. 1 2. ls gent lenes s a l s o a n i m p o rta n t fru i t o r re su lt of hav ing t he H o l y Sp i ri t? Ga l . 5 :2 2 . Gent lenes sm ean s fi rs t o f a l l u s e fu l n e s s ,th e n wi l l i ngnes s ,gr ac iou s n e s s ,a ffa b i l i ty - o n e w h o o b l i ges . A gent lem a n a n d a l a d y k n o w h o w to a tte nd' t o ot her peo p l e ' s n e e d s , th e y h a v e ta k e n th e t im e t o lear n th e s o c i a l g ra c e s , th e y a re co u rt eous . But gent lenes s i s mu c h mo re . N o ti c e P a u l ' s sta tem ent t o t he Th e s s a l o n i a n s ," Bu t w e w e re gentl eamongyou, even as a nursecheri shethher chi l dren" (l Thess. 2:7). fhe apostl e used thi s anal ogy to descri be how he and others of God' s mi ni sters deal t w i th the members of God' s C hurch.A nurse must be fi rm and l ovi ng,ki nd and sure. abl e and compassi onate - al l at once! l t takes a qual i fi edas w el l as a w i l l i ngperson to be a good nurse. to take extra steps to The gentl epersoni s w i l l i ng to H e or she i s w i l l i ng l cck outf or the needsof others. i s necessary. l ,rty the handsto do w hatever 13. l s goodness al so a remarkabl eattri buteof l ne H ol y S pi ri t? Gal . 5:22. Goodness descri bes a person possessi ng godl i ke qual i ti es of vi rtue, upri ghtnessand true .haracter. Thi s frui t of the H ol y S pi ri t coul d probabl y be descri bed as a summaryfrui t - summi ng the characterof a person w ho i s exhi bi ti ngthe -o :ther frui ts l i sted by P aul , and as a resul t i s dai l y cecomi ng more godl i ke. 14. l s fai th one of the vi tal frui ts of the S pi ri t of God? Gal . 5:22. l s thi s the very fai th of Jesus C hri st? Gal . 2:2Q;P hi l . 3:9. Mountai ns of w ords have been w ri tten and spoken about fai th. For many, fai th i s nothi ng more than an el usi ve soi ri tual essence. B ut i n real i ty,the fai th P aul i s tal ki ng about i s a gi ft from C od (E ph. 2:8) i mparted through the H ol y S pi ri t from Jesus C hri st. '1 5. H ow w as the fai th of C hri st mani festedby the great men of God? R ead al l of H ebrew s, chaoter 1 1. The patri archsand prophetsof God possessed God' s H ol y S pi ri t, w hi ch w as admi ni stered by C hri st (l P et. 1:10-11).These men (and w omen) thus exerci sed the fai th of C hri st i n performi ng ri ghteousdeeds. " B y fai th Moses . . . refused to be cal l ed the son of P haraoh' s daughter . . . forsook E gypt . . . kept the passover. . . passed fai th throughthe R ed S ea . . . [and others]through subdued ki ngdoms,w rought l w orked] ri ghteousness, obtai ned promi ses,stopped the mouths of l i ons" (excerptsf rom H eb. 1 1). Fai th to these men and w omen w as not j ust a mere w ord. Fai th w as acti ve and al i vel They had before God to keep. a charge - a responsi bi l i ty

I
a
hJ

t4l

H Fl

Eac h one had a o a rti c u l a rW o rk to d o - a n d he or she did it! A f t er ponder in gth e s e re m a rk a b l ee x a mp l e s of fa i t h, one c an be tte r u n d e rs ta n dw h y H e rb e rt W . Arm s t r ongs ay s s o mu c h a b o u t th e W o rk o f God th a t m us t be don e to d a y . H e h a s b e e n g i v e n a sp ec ial c om m is s i o nb y Go d th a t h e h a s b e e n a n d now is - f ai th fu l to c a rry o u t. A n d i t i s b e i ng done by the very faith of Christ! T he or iginal G re e k w o rd fo r fa i th i s p i s ti s which means firm conviction, assurance, fidelity. Fi d elit y is anot he r w a y o f d e s c ri b i n g o n e w h o i s ca r ef ul t o pr es er v e th a t w h i c h h a s b e e n c o mmi tte d t o his t r us t . Ye a rs o f e x p e ri e n c eh a v e s h ow n th a t t hos e who are i n c re a s i n gi n th e fru i t o f God' s Spirit are the ones who remain faithful to God's ch ar ge - who h a v e th e i r w h o l e h e a rts i n t he ve r y W or k of G od - th o s e w h o , i n w h a te v e r w ay th e y ar e able, ha v e a n a c ti v e p a rt i n h e l p i n g to fu l f illChr is t ' s c om m i s s i o nto H i s C h u rc h . 16. W ill m eek n e s sa l s o b e o n e o f th e tra i ts o f a Sp ir it - led indiv id u a l ?Ga l . 5 :2 3 . W h o s e t a n outsta nding ex am pl e i n th i s re g a rd ? N u m . 1 2 :3 . M any f als ely a s s u m e th a t me e k n e s s i s a l w ays synony m ouswit h w e a k n e s s . M o s e s b e c a me so d e dic at ed t o G od a n d fi l l e d w i th th e H o l y Sp i ri t, h e was c ons ide re d to b e th e me e k e s t m a n on e a r t h. No longer d i d h e s e e k to e x a l t h i ms e l f,but b e c am e lowly an d h u m b l e i n a tti tu d e . W hen G od was a b o u t to d i s i n h e ri ta n d d e s t roy th e c hildr enof ls ra e l b e c a u s e o f th e i r ma n y re bel l i ons , M os es - i n s p i te o f ma n y fa l s e p e rs o nal a c c us at ions aga i n s t h i m - e n tre a te d Go d to sa v e t hem ( Num. 1 4 ), a n d i n me e k n e s s h e i nstruc t ed t hos e w h o " o p p o s e [d ] th e ms e l v e s " (a re ouir ed t r ait of a s e rv a n t o f Go d - s e e l l Ti m. 2 :2 4- 25) .A m eek p e rs o n i s n o t re v e n g e fu l . 17. W hat is t h e l a s t, a n d o n e o f th e l e ast u n der s t oodf r uit s o f th e H o l y S p i ri t me n ti o n e dby Pa ul? G al. 5: 23. th e meanT he wor ld has o fte n m i s u n d e rs to o d i n g of t he wor d te m p e ra n c e .T e m p e ra n c e d oes n o t m ean abs t in e n c e ! T e mp e ra n c e me a n s se//control, continence, self-governmenl,moderation - par t ic ular lyin re fe re n c eto s e n s u a l a p p e ti t es. The pr ov er bs of So l o m o na re re p l e te w i th e x horta tions about t emp e ra n c e - a v i ta l a ttri b u te of God' s S pir it . 18. W hen one r e c e i v e sth e H o l y Sp i ri t,w i l l th ese p rec ious f r uit ss ud d e n l y a p p e a ro v e rn i g h t a l most a l l at onc e? ll P e t. 3 :1 8 ; Ma tt. 5 :4 8 . (R e c a l l from previousstudiesthat the sense of Matthew 5:48 is " Becomeperfect" - a gradualprocess.) F r uit does not a p p e a r o v e rn i g h t o n a tre e. l t ta kes f ir ne. wat e r. th e n u tri e n ts o f th e s o i l and

sunl i ghtto groi .; Lrkew i se,i t takes ti me to grow spi ri tual l yand mani festthe " frui t of the S pi ri t" ! S pi ri t must be used and renew ed One i s sprrrl -a -, " r,ndedto the degree that he has and uses G:: s S c .' t i n hi s l i fe.Y ou must draw on and usethe ., S c ' i everyday to producethe " f rui tof the S c -: ' : r. tl t 19. E ven tF:-:- :^a -e-rbers of the C hurch of God i n C orrnt^ * e' ? :e-t:::en by the H ol y S pi ri t .r' eremanyofthemnot fromtheFathe' i l :' :' i ) show i ngthe i ' ' - ::' l : : -. S : ' ,t? V erses 1-3. There w as s:" : = -: = ' ;- ^g debati ng,contenl :ri nthi an brethren. ti ons and di vrs :^s -= r' r' (S of the fl esh" :' ' ' . These are sr-e --:-;' menti onedrn 3a a ' : . ' ' ..' :e w hy they w ere mani festi ngtf' ese --:: -' -: :-:' ::teri sti cs. 20. Must l ae -: . S : - - :::- , :e put l o use? l l Ti m. 1:6-7 :' l :: s l nurch at E ven thouE -:-i -:-:= ' . C ori nthhad tf.e S : ' : a: : :: = -:' -: ' - e.. seemed - - - r S ci ri t to have l ost s j ' : :' ' -i ' ::' ' -:' = ' ::-:e :s :' 2A ' must afso be -* ct--' = ' : -::-' : -; = = s- .. A :' . s ::frui t. They w e' e :' .:-: - : -! .. !t3" S i ng w hat cc-es - 2' -" = . they w ere no: :: ' - -: -: :-e -i : -: :' J" ,s; anc :i :he mrndof draw i ngon ::: :' ::-:::-:' ?s-:s C hri stl (P n, 2 a A nother p:3:3: a z' : ae" ecs cbvrousreason * e' f a::rng carnal w as besome i n tha::---:cause they a s: a:(el e su?pl y of the S pi ri t of C hri st i n the 5' s:: a:e N :trce: 21. D oes l ' e' e:e .e al l at once enoughof the S pi ri t of C hr s: :: asl as l ong as he or she l i ves, or must the srco y be repl eni shed every day? P hi l . l :19. i l C :. 4 t6 A l so noti ce Jesus' profound anal ogy rr John 7:37-39. The S prrr:cf C hrrsti s acti ve - dynami c!l t i s a movi ng force that can' t be bottl ed up w i thi n you. Jesus compared i t to " l i vi ng w ater" that comes into you, and then flows oul from you.lt circulates l i ke el ectri ci ty rn a compl ete ci rcui t - from God, i nto you, and then oul from you mani festi ngthe " frui t of the S pi ri t," and then back to God. S i nce the S pi ri t must fl ow i nto and out from us, then obvi ousl y i t must be conti nual l y suppl i ed. Therefore,the suppl y of the H ol y S pi ri t must be renew ed i n us dai l y through contact w i th God i n bel i evi ngprayer (Luke 11:13). To put i t i n the vernacul ar,our spi ri i ual battery must be conti nual l ycharged up. W e must dai l y pl ug i nto the pow er source. That source of the H ol y S pi ri t i s GOD !Once pl ugged i n, and as w e use the H ol y S pi ri t,w e can i ndeed bear the " f rui t of the S oi ri t."

Livingby

F.AITH

The G ood News , i n c o n j u n c ti o n w i th th e C c re sp o n denc e Cour s e D e p a rtm e n t, p re s e n ts b r e ' mo n thly ex c ur s ions i n to th e s tu d y o f th e Brb ,e d e l ving int o t opic s re l e v a n t to th e d e v e l o p me " : a n d inc r eas ed unde rs ta n d i n g o f fu tu re m e m b e ' s o f th e G od F am ily . Bi b l e s tu d y i s o n e me a n s c - , wh i ch Chr is t iansare re n e w e d d a i l y (l l C o r. 4 :1 6 ) so l e t ' s r ef r es h our s e l v e s w i th mo re o f th e o re ci o u s t r ut hs of G od ' s W o rd l In s t r uc t ions : T he fo rm a t o f th e s e mi n i s tu d re s i s si milart o t hat of th e Amb a s s a d o rC o l l e g e Bi b l e Co rre s pondenc eCo u rs e . L o o k u p a n d re a d tr yo u r B ible t he s c r ip tu re re fe re n c e s g i v e n i n a n sw e r t o t he ques t i o n s . C o mme n ts fo l l o w i n g th e q u e st ions elabor at e o n th e s c ri p tu re s j u s t re a d Th a t' s all t her e is t o i tl (T h e s e s tu d i e s a re b a s e d o n the K ing J am es V e rs i o n o f th e Bi b l e , u n l e s s o th e rwis e s t at ed. ) What is f ait h? E xa c tl y w h a t k i n d o f fa i th d o w e n e e d t o pleas e G od - to l i v e th e o b e d i e n t,o v e r co mi ng Chr is t ianlife o u tl i n e d i n th e B i b l e a n d b e b o rn as glor if ieds on s o f Go d i n th e ru l i n g F a m i l y o f God? Fi r s t . we m us t un d e rs ta n dth a t fa i th i s n o t th e p o wer of pos it iv e t h i n k i n g - try i n g to p u l l y o u r se l f u p by y our own b o o ts tra p s . In o th e r w o rd s. tryi n g t o im pr ov e a n d o v e rc o m e b y y o u r o w n stre n gt h alone. Ma ny people als o m a k e th e mi s ta k e o f c o n fu si n g fait h wit h em ot io n s .T h e y try to w o rk u p fa i th . wh i ch t o t hem m ean s a n e mo ti o n a lfe e l i n g .T h e s e fe e l i ngs ar e not t h e e v i d e n c e o f h a v i n g fa i th . Th e y ar e in t he c las s o f w h a t c a n b e s e e n , h e a rd, ta sted, s m elled or f e l t - i n o th e r w o rd s , th e y ' re of the f/esh. Fait h is a s pir it ua l ma tte r - n o t p h y s i c a l !L e t' s u n d e r s t and G od' s d e fi n i ti o no f th e k i n d o f fa i th re q u ir ed f or s alv at i o n ,a n d h o w w e m a y re c e i v e a n d r et ain it . 1 . A r e S pir it - be g o tte nC h ri s ti a n s to w a l k l i ve t heir liv es - b y fa i th ? l l C o r. 5 :7 ; R o m. 1 .1 7. 2 . Do t hey s eek a n d l o o k fo rw a rd to o b ta i n i n g p ro m is es and r ewa rd s th a t a re n o t s e e n ? C o l . 3 1 -2 Did P aul els e w h e re v e ri fv th e f a c t th a t

C hri sti ansseek after the real , but unseeneternal rew ards and promi ses of God? l l C or.4: 18. 3. D o the above scri pturesconfi rmGod' s defi nrti onof fai th found i n H ebrew s 11:1? Fai th i s the " substance" - more accuratel y ' i i l e assuranceor confi dence- " of thi ngs hoped " B efore you recei ve w hat you hope for, you ' :r ai ready have i t i n substance,and that substance - that assurance or confi dence that you shal l ocssess i t - i s fai th!Fai th i s your evi dencethat .,cu shal l havew hal you do not yet see. 4. l s i t possi bl e to pl ease God w i thout fai th? H eb l 1:6. A s thi s verse expl ai ns, fai th tow ard God i s expressed i n absol ute recogni ti on that God exrsts and that H e bl esses us both i n thi s l i fe and q the l i fe to come - as l ong as w e si ncerel y serve and obey H i m. Thi s fai th i s acqui red. Y ou :annot cause yoursel f l o have that ki nd of f ai th :' trcugh autosuggesti on!(More about acqui ri ng tnrs fai th l ater.) 5. Must obedi ence to God and other good ' ,vcrkscl earl y accompany one' s fai th i n order to nake i t al i ve and acceptabl e to God? R ead James 2. verses 14-26. 6. H ow does one demonstratehi s fai th? V erse 18 W hat does one' s fai th become i f i t i s not accompani edby w orks? V erses 17, 20, 26. S ome have l et a dead fai th creep i nto thei r i i ves. Fai th to them has become a mere bel i ef i n C hri st' s exi stence and H i s sacri fi ce for the si ns of manki nd.They have l ost si ght of the fact that there i s somethi ngGod requi res them l o do! W e dare not al l ow oursel ves to dri ft i nto a passi ve condi ti on. W e are not excused from keepi ng God' s commandments(Matt. | 9: 17- l 9) - from stri vi ng to l i ve a ri ghteous l i fe (Matt. 5 48). W e' re not excused from overcomi ng, grow rng i n spi ri tualcharacter and enduri ngi n spi te of opposi ti on, persecuti on, tri al and l est unto the end. God expects us to actual l y do these thi ngs i n order to i nheri t eternal l i fe. 7. D i d N oah express l i vi ng fai th w hen he obeyed God by bui l di ng the ark H e had commanded?H eb. 11:7. W as there any physi cal evi dence that a fl ood w oul d come? S ame verse.

F
F3 H
H

(Not ic e t he wor d s , " th i n g s n o t s e e n a s y e t." ) Noah had a t ru s t a n d c o n fi d e n c e i n th e i n vi si b le G od t o per f o rm w h a t H e h a d p ro m i s e d . A nd h e pr ov ed his f a i th b y h i s w o rk s ! F a i th a n d o bed i enc e went ha n d i n h a n d l o p ro d u c e l i vi ng f aith. 8. Did G od p ro v e ri g h te o u s Ab ra h a m to be fa i t hf ulor f ull of fa i th ? N e h . 9 :7 -8 . W h a t d i d A b rah a m dot o pr ov e h i s fa i th ?G e n .2 6 :5 ;J a s . 2 :2 1 ' 23. G od t es t ed A b ra h a m' s w i l l i n g n e s sto o b e y i n a n d t hr ough f ai th . Ab ra h a m h a d th e k i n d of fait hf ul obedienc e Go d re q u i re s o f a l l C h ri s ti a ns. But what a sad lack of that kind of living faith ther e is t oday ! A l l to o ma n y d o n o t b e l i e v e G od will k eep His pr o m i s e s . C o n s e q u e n tl yth e y d o n' t re ally want t o ob e y H i m. O ne of t he m o s t th ri l l i n g e x a mp l e s o l l i vi ng fait h is t hat of Da n i e l ' sth re e y o u n g fri e n d s , S had rac h, M es hac h a n d A b e d -n e g o .R e c a l lth a t N ebu c hadnez z ar , k i n g o f Ba b y l o n , h a d e re c te d a g reat golden im a g e a n d o rd e re d e v e ry o n eto worsh ip his idol at c e rta i n d e s i g n a te d ti m e s . T h ose who r ef us ed were to b e th ro w n a l i v e i n to a f i ery fur nac e ( Dan. 3: 3 -6 ). a d n e z z a r d o w h e n i n9. W hat did N e b u c h for m ed by S had ra c h , Me s h a c h a n d A b e d -n e9o that t hey would n o t w o rs h i p h i s g o l d e n i d o l ? D an 3 : l9- 23. W hat would y o u h a v e d o n e h a d y o u b e e n i n their plac e? W ou l d y o u h a v e s a i d , " We l l , I h ave to bow down t o t h i s i m a g e - | h a v e to d o i t o r be ki lled" ? A nd pe rh a p s y o u m a y h a v e e x c u sed yo ur s elf t hus , " l d o n ' t th i n k G o d w o u l d b e fa i r i f He punis hedm e fo r b o w i n g d o w n b e fo re th i s i dol , when He k nows I a m fo rc e d to d o i t." Y es , it ' s eas y to u s e h u ma n re a s o n i n g to excu s e dis obedien c eto Go d . B u t Go d i s n ' t l o o k i ng for c hanc es t o p u n i s h u s , b u t ra th e r fo r o p p o rtunities to save us through faith in His power! T hes e t hr ee y o u n g m e n k n e w th a t " w e o u g h t to o b ey G od r at her th a n me n " (A c ts 5 :2 9 ). By fa i th they k new t hat G o d m a k e s i t p o s s i b l e fo r u s to o b ey Him . Not ic e t hat G o d a l l o w e d th e m to g o b e y o n d the p o int of hum an h e l p . N o o n e c o u l d h e l p n o w , but God. He had t o s e e th a t th e y w o u l d n o t o n l y be willing t o s ay t he y w o u l d g o a l l th e w a y , b u t H e a l lowed t hem t o g o a l l th e w a y b e fo re H e s a ved them f r om t he t r i a l . H e e x p e c te d th e m to g o t hat o n e s t ep f ur t he r - to b a c k u p th e i r w o rd s by their ac t ions . 1O . T o his am a z e me n t,w h a t d i d th e k i n g fi nd when he look ed i n to th e fu rn a c e ? Ve rs e s 2 4 '25. W hat did Nebuc h a d n e z z a (s a y to th e th re e men a s t hey and one " l i k e th e S o n o f Go d " w a lked

around i n the mi dst of the fi re' i ' e' ses 26' 28. (N oti ce the w ords, " del i vered hi s se' .a" :s that trusted i n H i m" i n verse 28). Thi s i s an astoundi ngexampl e ol i ,t :E ' e !.' A fai th that trusted Godl o make i t possi b e:: obey H i s l aw l l ever God tel l s us through P aul that H e * test us beyond w hat w e are abl e to bea' (l C cr. 10:13). Y et i t w oul d seem that i f anybcdy ever came to the breaki ng poi nt, these men drd' B ut they never even broached thei r breaki ng pornt n thi s tri al because they had absol ute fai th i n God A nd the God they fai thful l yobeyed di d i ntervene to save them! Let' s understandnow exactl y how i t i s possi bl e for us to have the l i vi ng fai th necessary to pl ease Goo 11. l s tt' e ta th through w hi ch w e recei ve sal vati cn a gtl i t.3" ' Gcd? E ph. 2:8. l s thi s fai th an attri bute:' the H tr!,S pi ri t that al l true C hri sti ans must cassesst 3a a 22 l s thi s tai th i n real i ty the f a th :, j es_s ^-. i . t P h 3:9: R om. 3:22. 12.C 2Fac a- j s:3l e:hai C h!' i stl i vedi n h,1' " 1 Ga 2 2a .a,.. :: l ^. S : ,.9 n hl m? P hi l . 2 5 R :* 8 3-' : r-e' I s P au ' !e ci ' the very fa,!:2' C ^' ,s' ) tl ::,:e Ga;al rans 2.20 once aga,n P aul drdn t i i ve by hrs ow n f ai th. Jesus C hri st dw el t i n P aul through the H ol y S pi ri t, and the S pi ri t of God from C hri st i mpl antedi n P aul ' s mi nd the same ki nd of fai th that can be i n your mi nd! That faith - the very faith of Jesus Christ - will enabl e you to l i ve a ri ghteousl i fe of obedi enceto God as di d the apostl e P aul and al l of the ri ghteous men and w omen of God. l f w e w ere abl e, of oursel ves,to suppl ythe fai th to obey God, w e w oul d earn our ow n sal vati on.l t that w oul d be the resul t of sel f-ri ghteousnesses are as " fi l thy rags" to God (l sa. 64:6). B ut the above scri ptures speak onl y of the fai th of C hri st. Y es, C hri st' s fai th - not your fai th. Jesus had l i vi ng, acti ve, dynami c fai th God' s fai th! A nd C hri st i n us i mparts H i s ow n strong fai th to you and me that trusts God to make our spi ri tualobedi ence possi bl el 13. S i nce our recei vi ng of God' s promi ses hi nges on the fai th of Jesus C hri st at w ork i n our l i ves, how do w e assure our conti nuedrecei pt of the H ol y S pi ri t and the fai th of Jesus C hri st?A cts 5:32; R om. 12:1-2.l s thi s how P aul retai ned the fai th of C hri st? Gal . 2:2O. ft i s by yi el di ngto God, and aski ng H i m dai l yi n earnest,perseveri ngprayer to gi ve us the fai th of C hri st to trust and obey H i m, that w e shal l i ndeed have i t.

The Christianfight

HC\MYOT]CAI{wIN
a '.': - . : : ' y c u hav e re a d mu c h , i t n o t a l l , o f o u r ':'::- ' e and s om e h a v e s tu d i e d th e Amb a s s a ' ::' l : ege B ible C o rre s p o n d e n c eC o u rs e . Yo u . - : ,., : nuc h about t h e te a c h i n g s o f th e W o rd o f l :: B ut c an y ou t u rn to th e p a g e s o f th e Bi b l e :-: re adilyf ind t he sc ri p tu re sth a t fo rm th e b a s i s ':' :h e belief s and p ra c ti c e s o f Go d ' s C h u rc h ? T: help y ou ac c o m p l i s h th i s , T h e Go o d N e w s , - :rn junc t ion wit h th e C o rre s p o n d e n c eC o u rs e l e o a r t m ent , pr es en ts b ri e f m o n th l y e x c u rs i o n s ^:r th e s t udy of t he B i b l e , d e l v i n gi n to to p i c s re l :.a n t t o t he dev elo p m e n ta n d i n c re a s e d u n d e rs:a n d ing of f ut ur e m e m b e rs o f th e G o d F a m i l y . 3 cl e s t udy is one me a n s b y w h i c h th e C h ri s ti a n 4 :1 6 ), s o l e t' s b e 'e n ewed daily ( ll C o ri n th i a n s ^ to r ef r es h our s e l v e s w i th s o m e o f th e p re :-s t r ut hs of G od ' s W o rd ! In s t r uc t ions : T h e fo rma t o f th e s e m i n i s tu d i e s s s -ilar t o t hat of t h e Amb a s s a d o rC o l l e g e B i b l e :"e spondenc e Co u rs e . L o o k u p a n d re a d i n :-' B ible t he s c r ip tu re re fe re n c e s g i v e n i n a n -i ,!e ' 1c t he ques t io n s . C o mme n ts fo l l o w i n g th e r-:s: lns will elab o ra te o n th e s c ri p tu re s j u s t 'e :: r aat ' s all t here i s to i t! (T h e s e s tu d i e s a re ::se : : n t he K ing J a me s Ve rs i o n o f th e Bi b l e .) -^ i r d ol G od t e l l s u s th a t a l l w h o w i l l fo l l o w " ':fian way o f l i fe w i l l h a v e to fa c e th re e :-e l ^ ' s d e a : _.er em ies . T h e s e e n e mi e s te n d to d i s c o u ra -re - s " : m ov er c o m i n g s i n a n d d e v e l o p i n g th e ch a i a: : e. r f Chr ist. T h e y p u t w e d g e s i n to o u r mi n cs : - a: ir ill gr ow, g ra d u a l l ys e p a ra ti n gu s f ro m th e g u . a^: e and po w e r o f G o d ' s H o l y S p i ri t - /F we a l lar +: ^em t o. G o d s a y s th e s e d e a d l y e n e m i e s mu stbe de{ eat ed.an d H e te l l s u s h o w to d o i t! 1 . Does P aul s h o w th e re i s e ffo rt i n v o l v e d i n l i vi n gt he Chr s t r anli fe - th a t e te rn a l l i fe i s w o rth fi g h ti ng f c r ' ) | f im ol h y 6 :1 2 ; l T i m o th y 1 :1 8 -1 9 . Wh o s e " s oldr er " wa s T i mo th y ? l l T i mo th y 2 :3 -4 . 2 . Did P aut s t ead fa s tl yfo l l o w Go d ' s w a y o f l i fe - d id he k now s ho rtl y b e fo re h i s d e a th , th a t h e h a d w on t he Chr is ti a nfi g h t? l l T i m o th y 4 :6 -8 . 3 . ls t he Chr is t ia n ' s w a rfa re a g a i n s t p h y s i c al a rmi es ? O r is it a s p i ri tu a l w a rta re ?l l C o ri n th i a ns 1 0 :3 -4.J us t what is i t th a t a C h ri s ti a n i s to fi g ht a g a i ns t ? V er s e 5. The fi rst enemy i n the C hri sti an' sdai l y w arfare i s hi s ow n nature w i th i ts i nordi natel usts (Gal ati ans 5: 19-21).Thi s nature i n us rati onal i zescl everl y, someti mes produci ng decei tful and degradi ng i mpul ses - vani ty, l ust, greed. W e are enti ced to si n, to break God' s spi ri tual l aw , thus cutti ng us off from H i m. Our nature can destroy us spi ri tual l y,unl ess w e resi sl i ts w rong i mpul ses. 4. W hat i s the second deadl y enemy ol al l C hri sti ans?Gal ati ans 1:4. W hat shoul d a C hri sti an' s atti tude be tow ard the w orl d' s soci al order w i th i ts gl i tter, gl amour and status-seeki ng appeal ? | John 2:15-17. John i s speaki ng about thi s w orl dl y system aroundus - thi s " cosmos." l t i s from the ori gi nal Greek w ord kosmos, transl ated " w orl d" i n I John 2:15, that E ngl i sh w ords such as cosmopol i tan, cosmography and cosmopol i te are deri ved John w as referri ng to the soci eti es of thi s w orl d, many of w hi ch are l i teral l ybui l t on and moti vated by the vani ty, l usts and greed of man' s nature. B ecause most peopl e have been decei ved (R evel ati on 12:9), they don' t understand how so many of the w orl d' s w ays coul d be w rong i n God' s si ght. Thi s w orl d' s w ays bombard C hri sti ans conti nual l y w i th temptati ons that can seduce them from fol l ow i ng C hri st! 5. S houl d C hri sti ans stri ve to avoi d the evi l that i s i n the w orl d? l l C ori nthi ans6:14- l 8, R evel ati on 18:4. D oes thi s mean that any w ho w oul d l ove God and seek to l i ve the C hri sti anw ay of l i fe shoul d therefore move aw ay from popul ated areas? John 17:15-18. N oti ce especi al l y the fi rst part of verse 15. C hri st' s prayer i n the 17th chapter of the gosoel of John show s that God does not expect C hri sti ansto move to the mountai nsand deserts to escape the w orl d' s di stracti ons.R ather, they shoul d stri ve to be separal e spi ri tual l y and abstai n from i ts w ays that are defi ned as si n i n the B i bl e. 6. W hat or w ho i s the thi rd great enemy of every C hri sti an? | P eter 5:8-9; James 4:7. l sn' t S atan the devi l ul ti matel yresponsi bl e for i nspi ri ng the i nordi natecharacteri sti csof humannature 4:4; and for al l the evi l i n thi s w orl d? l l C ori nthi ans c-'l
Fl

r3

Ep h e s ians 2: 2. Ha s n ' t h e i n d e e d d e c e i v e d th e wh o le wor ld? Rev e l a ti o n 1 2 :9 . Sa t an, lor m er ly th e g re a l a rc h a n g e l L u c i fe r, wh o was or iginall y c re a te d p e rfe c t i n h i s w a ys (Eze k iel 28: 15) , ac q u i re d h i s s a ta n i c n a tu re b y h i s own r eas oning a n d c h o i c e . H u ma n s , i n tu rn , a cq u ir e S at an' s natu re ,w h i c h w e c a l l " h u ma n n atu re ." Not ic e how P a u l d e s c ri b e d th i s n a tu ral fra m e of m ind: " . . . th e c a rn a l m i n d i s e n m i ty a g a i ns t G od: f or it i s n o t s u b j e c t to th e l a w o f Go d , neit her indee d c a n b e " (R o ma n s 8 :7 ). Bu t onc e t he Ho l y Sp i ri t o f G o d i s a d d e d to a p e rson' s m ind,he h a s th e p o w e r to re s i s t th e a tt i tu d es of s elf - c ent e re d n e s s ,l u s t, g re e d , v a n i ty, j e a l ous y , env y , r es e n tm e n t,b i tte rn e s s a n d h a te , wh i c h ar e " br oadc a s t" to th e mi n d b y Sa ta n . No per s on is co mp e l l e d to re s p o n d to a n d o b e y t hes e im puls e sf ro m S a ta n .T h e d e v i l h a s no p o wer lo f or c e any o n e to th i n k o r d o w ro n g ! But a u to ma ti c a l l yd o s o w i th o u t re th e u ns us pec t ing a l i zing what is t ak i n g p l a c e i n th e i r mi n d s . M o s t p e o p le jus t dr if t a l o n g , re s p o n d i n g to e m o ti o ns a n d im puls es ,whic h o fte n fi n d e x p re s s i o ni n th ei r fl e sh ly dr iv es and v a i n p u rs u i ts . 7 . A f t er y our be g e tta l b y G o d ' s H o l y S p i ri t, wh i c h m ak es y ou a C h ri s ti a n (R o ma n s 8 :9 ), w i l l th e dev il c onlinueto try to b e g u i l e y o u - to d e ce i v e y our m ind - a n d l e a d y o u a w a y fro m C h ri st a n d His way s ? ll C o ri n th i a n s 1 1 :2 -4 . D i d s o me Ch ris t iansin P aul' s d a y b e g i n to fa l l v i c ti m to the d e vi l' s pr om pt ing s o n c e a g a i n ? V e rs e s 1 3 -1 5; Ga l at ians 1: 6- 8:3: 1 . C onv er s ion do e s n o l d i s c o n n e c t S a ta n 's "wa v elengt h. " He c o n ti n u e sto b ro a d c a s t th e a tti tu des of his nat u re a n d w o rk th ro u g h o th e rs to su b v er t our lif e in C h ri s t. Wh e n J e s u s s p o k e of o ve rc om ing,He r ef e rre d to o v e rc o mi n gth e w a ys o f S at an,whic h ar e c o n tra ryto Go d ' s w a y . T h o se wh o hav e lur ned f r o m S a ta n ' s w a y a re to b e on g u ar d agains t him a n d fi g h t to o v e rc o me h i s s u b tl e u r gings and r em a i n tru e to G o d ' s w a y . B ef or e J es us C h ri s t c o u l d q u a l i fy to re s to r e th e gov er nm ent of G o d a n d ru l e a l l n a ti o n s , H e h a d t o wit hs t and Sa ta n ' s mo s t s e v e re te mp tati o ns . T hat s upr em e s tru g g l e i s re c o rd e d i n the fo u r t h c haot er of Ma tth e w . N o ti c e h o w th e d e vi l a tte m pt ed t o dec e i v e a n d i n fl u e n c eJ e s u s C h rist to s in agains t G od . 8 . A f t er J es us h a d fa s te d 4 0 d a y s i n th e w i l d e rn es s , how did t h e d e v i l a p p e a l b o th to h u man va n i t y and s ev er e p h y s i c a l h u n g e r?Ma tth e w 4 :1 4 . And t o t he hum a nd e s i re fo r p re s ti g e ,g l o ry a nd p o wer ? V er s es 5- 9 . Wh a t w e re J e s u s ' i mme d i a te re sp ons es ? V er s e s 4 ,7 , 1 0 Wh a t w a s th e o u tco m e of t his t it ani c s o i ri tu a l b a ttl e ? Ve rs e 1 1 .

C hri st overcame the ae, W hen Jesus gave the devi l an order. he hac :: :ce., H e sl unk aw ay, know i ng he w as defea:e: - :^ s supreme spi ri tual encounterof al l tr.ne C hri st overcame the de' 3 ,' . ?s cy' the W ord --:' :' r' e the devi l of God. H e knew Gcc s * :: i he devH ,n' r,:e' -3:--::: not coul d decei ve i l ' s temptati ons by cr: ^y- :- a z= = ' ::' a:e scri pture that appl i ed i n eac^ s :-a: : - -= <-e* the W ord of God thorougn ,' ' :-r -< :' -? te' I 9. A re C hri sti anst3:a. = :-' ' e' :: :: ' : ' -:- - = z' .e' w i th the trul h Goo ' ' as 5:9. W hat must the ce. :: ' -:: s' :: :' :.:' :s:l y? James 4:7. 1O. W hat i nstruc::-: :- ' l -' -= - :j : -s::.e :::s 3::; te :i . i mpul sesand atl rt!:e-< :" -i r' r-3i 3r through P aul " E c' e: = - -. : ' -' ' 2 C hri sti ansto pi ,i :- ^ --:.' ' : ' ;-- :- s spi rrtual battl e? V erses " ' ' i l ' r-= : :::s God s spi ri -.l ' -21 tual armor cons' s:1 .:-::' -: -:: ' eo W ord of God " Truth" refe' s :: ,.' . ' ' s: :3: (John 17' 171 n the C hri sti an' s . :' i as:ci ate of ri ghteousspi ri tual armc' --+ ness" i s obe: e-:= :: 3:o s commandments (P sal m 1 19.l ' 2) :-= ;:scel i s the message of :' 3:: w hen C hri st w i l l rul e the comi ng K ' ;::thi s earth ar: :- --- : :eace. The " shre c :" a :- r' efersto the fai th of Jesus C hri st. * - r^ :a. be w i thi n us (Gal ati ans 2:20; P hi l rpca' s 3 3) - not j ust to our ow n human, physi ca ' e tn Thi s f ai th i s God' s gi ft i mparted by t^e h:' ' , S prri t (Gal ati ans5:22). A nd i t i s thi s f ai tt - j i rrst ' s f ai th put w i thi n us - that w i l l enabte -s :3 ccnquer and overcome si nl The " he,l .er cf sal vati on" i s the know l edge of w hat sal \al ron rs, w hat i t i nvol ves, w hat i t' s al l aboul - the purpose of l i fe, l he true goal and potentraldestrny of manki nd - becomi ng di vi ne members of the Fami l y of God! The sw ord of the S pi ri t" refers to the w ri tten W ord of God (H ebrew s 4: 12) - i l i s the C hri sti an' s onl y otfensi vew eapon i n fi ghti ngthe devi l and hi s w i l es. The fi nal thi ng P aul menti ons i n fi ghti ng S atan and hi s w i l es i s " prayer." C hri sti ansare to draw cl ose to God i n perseveri ng prayer (l Thessal oni ans 5:17), prayi ng for al l of God' s peopl e, the mi ni stryof God' s C hurch and themsel ves. Thi s i s the w ay l o overcome S atan and force hi m to fl ee! Thi s i s the perfect strategy for defeati ng human nature and thi s w orl d, si nce they are both i nspi red and moti vated by the devi l . l f you w i l l di l i gentl y fol l ow thi s formul a, your success i n overcomi ngal l three deadl y foes w i l l be guaranteed.