Welcome to “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics.” To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series. Are you a designer? Join the design contest for this series here.

What is Witnessing?

‘Witnessing’ plainly put is to introduce Jesus to others who do not yet know Him.

Who is Called to Witness?

Are you among those who believe witnessing is something you are gifted at or you are not? Or maybe you think that’s the calling reserved for your church pastor or leadership team. Well let’s get it loud and clear – Witnessing is a command that every believer ought to follow (Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20). In fact Jesus in His last words to His disciples before ascension speaks about ‘becoming His witnesses’ (Acts1:8).

More than a command, don’t you think it’s a privilege to share the love of Jesus with those who are still in bondage? For a child of God, witnessing or sharing one’s faith should come as naturally as praying, reading the word of God or any other aspect of his spiritual life. I can go to the extent of saying that unless you are witnessing, your spiritual life is dead. Let’s learn to freely give what we have freely received (Matt10:8b).

How to Witness?

There is no standardized or universal way to witness. God has created you uniquely with your own personality, background, and testimony to share Him with others the way you want. Even the same person may witness in different ways at different times. Of course the most important thing is that you should first experience knowing Christ for yourself, before you share Him with others– for you can’t share something you don’t have!

Here are seven keys that can help you to witness fruitfully:

1. It Begins With Love & Compassion for the Lost

A loving and compassionate heart is an indispensable prerequisite to be a witness. Unless you are genuinely burdened for those that are lost, you will never witness or your witnessing will be nothing more than a religious ritual. If lack of motivation is a hurdle for you to witness, pray to God that He would fill your heart with love and compassion for your fellow brethren.

2. Listen to Your Helper

Always be led by the Holy Spirit in when, how and whom to approach when witnessing. Pray and seek God’s direction in leading you to souls that may be in your locality, workplace etc.  And then as God leads, by faith, take the necessary step, knowing that His promise to you is: Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. (Psalm 81:10b).

 3. All Authority is Yours

God never commands us to do anything that His grace will not enable. According to His word, as His child, you are already equipped with the tools and power you will need to succeed while witnessing. Jesus said: All authority is yours – not only on earth, but also in heaven (Matthew 28:18-20). So cast away all your fears, inhibitions and insecurities.

 4. Remember, No Effort is Small

Every effort that you make and every seed that you sow; be it through a word of encouragement, sharing your testimony, prayer etc is invaluable in the eyes of God. Never compare yourselves with others, but keep doing what God is asking you to do.

 5. Be Determined

A witness is like a devoted laborer. Once a seed is sown, it requires much patience, prayer and faith to see it grow. Sometimes you may see fast results, but a lot of times, it may seem that nothing is happening. But then be encouraged knowing that you have done your part.  Continue to pray and follow up. God loves His lost children and is more concerned about them than you. At the right time, God will cause the word that you have sown to bear fruit.

 6. Be Open

Be open to creative ways of witnessing. Apart from the conventional act of giving tracts or sharing of word, there are plenty of opportunities that you can get to witness. How about sending a scriptural birthday card for someone’s birthday, instead of the regular ones? Or sharing Bible-based tweets/status updates on your social media profile? I have received emails from believers who have a scripture in their signature- now that can be a good start. Business people can keep their brand and company names originated from the Bible, which can trigger conversations. The ways are many, but the best way is the way that God leads you to, by His Spirit.

 7. Be a Living Example

Last but not the least, the most effective witnessing I believe is showcased through your life, more than your words. This means to live by the principles taught by Jesus whom you proclaim. Of course, no one is perfect, but be genuine and practice what you preach. Love unconditionally, be quick to forgive, extend grace and speak words that encourage. Imagine what joy it will be when others look at life’s testimony and say, “This has to be God and I want to know Him too”.

Question: What is the biggest hurdle you face while witnessing for Christ?

Next in the series: Spiritual Warfare – Weapons of a Believer

http://www.shyjumathew.com

This post is a part of the “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics” series and hence has been reposted from March 24, 2009. To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series.

The good news is that, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

James 1:12 says that, “Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

¹³Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man ¹⁴But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ¹⁵Then when lust hath conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. ¹⁶Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Verse 13 tells us that, “God does not tempt anyone! But each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” In other words, don’t be a Christian who, whenever he encounters a bad situation will either blame it on God or the devil. James is trying to convey to us that there is some evil in us that manifests from our fleshly nature. That is the reason why you never have to teach children to lie or steal. It’s already in them. According to the book of James, the source or the genesis of temptation is evil desire! If we can tackle the root cause with the help of the Holy Spirit then we will get closer to our victory! Nip it off in the bud!

So then how is a desire formed? A desire is formed through our senses. If I was blind and had never seen the colour red, how could I desire for the colour red? If I was a deaf man who had never heard a single musical note before, would it be possible that I would desire to listen to music? What we feed our mind through our senses is what births in us a desire for the same.

Here’s how we can deal with temptation:

Guard Your Senses

If there is something that you are struggling with, (be it smoking, pornography, foul language, alcoholism, video games, physical/emotional relationship outside of the will of God), make a check list determining where are the sources to that sin that you have access to. Could it be bad company? Or is it too much TV, wrong books, being in the wrong social set-up?

Find it, and shut it off without mercy! Notice that in verse 14, James talks about evil desires saying that they first draw you away and then enticed. The words “draw away” to me seem like a process.

Humanly, it’s not possible that we won’t have to face challenges when on earth. But from the point of initial contact with temptation, you have to be careful to resist because if you allow it to linger even a little longer then before you know it, the temptation would have caught you by the collar and you would be on your way being dragged into its pit!

Resist temptation and flee from evil. Sound familiar? Do you flee or just hang around temptation?

Acknowledge and Confess

Acknowledge your weakness and confess it quickly and continuously. Don’t allow guilt to question your relationship with God. Remember that as long as we are on this earth, we are going to face continuous battles against this flesh. Therefore, it is important that you, on a daily basis, wash yourself with the blood of Jesus.

If you are questioning whether God would be tired forgiving you, then the answer is NO! This is the greatest lie of the enemy. Don’t let him fool you into thinking God has run out of forgiveness for you. Get up and keep running till you don’t fall anymore! When God sees that you do not take His grace for granted and that you are earnestly seeking His help then God will help you and rescue you!

Battle It in the Spirit

Most of the times, the temptation is brought by an evil spirit. But that in no way implies that you can blame the devil and do nothing about it like mentioned earlier. Even Jesus prayed, lead us not into temptation and deliver us from all evil! This is a clear direction from the Spirit that every believer must put on the spiritual armour and engage in spiritual battle against those areas of your weakness. The spiritual battle includes not just prayer but also confession of the word of God and your status in Christ which the devil hates to hear!

Verse 15 paints us a picture of the vicious cycle of sin. Desire conceives sin. Now if a desire is formed in the mind and lingers long enough, it then becomes a disease of the heart. Before you know it, you are bound to it. It starts off as a passing thought and then if you allow it to stay longer it’ll argue over your consciousness or the conviction placed by the Spirit.

Many a times we allow ourselves to debate with sin. Mostly the wicked one that visited our ancestor Eve comes to us trying to tell us about how this is a small risk or that it is not going to hurt anybody. But like I usually say, we are not called to debate with sin; we are warned to flee from sin. But for those of us who try debating with sin, we mostly end up giving birth to sin! And now when sin stays, it gives birth to death!

What we must do in the face of temptation is use the free will given by God to us. Many of us Christians are today basing our decisions on our emotions/feelings. If it doesn’t feel right, it ain’t right! Right? WRONG!!!

Absolute Surrender to God

Remember to not make decisions based on your feelings. Rather we must make a decision to surrender ourselves in the presence of the Holy Spirit by seeing the joy come through the eyes of faith! Make a decision based on the Word and the instructions of God. Yes, it may be painful; it may mean giving up things out of your control but you will at least have the assurance that you will not lose your soul.

Let me simplify this for you, for those of us grappling with this point: Let’s say you are beginning to fall in love with somebody. Now that is not wrong in itself but if that somebody is not single but married and has a family and children, do you still go ahead? Your heart says “YES! YES! YES” but the word of God says “NO!” So what do you do? Resist! FLEE! Don’t hang around! When your mind starts thinking about that person – Say STOP! In Jesus Name, I take every thought captive and submit it to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

My dear friend if you have found yourself trapped in a situation like this; seek all the help you can from spiritually mature leaders/elders in your church. We have matured leaders in our ministry who can help you with advice if you are ready to open up. Break free. Save your soul. The devil will time and again come to steal, kill and destroy. Refuse his lie. There is a way out. Confess your sins, set yourself free and surround yourself with prayer and strong Bible based believers.

Do not be deceived my dear friends. May God bless you to make the right decision and not be moved by feelings alone. Guard your heart with prayer and the word.

Question: What has been your experience in handling temptation? What was the point of victory in your life? We would love to hear from you.

Next in the series: What, Why and How to Witness

http://www.shyjumathew.com

Welcome to “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics.” To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series. Are you a designer? Join the design contest for this series here.

Before we look at how to receive the gift of speaking in tongues, allow me to quickly take you through what speaking in tongues – otherwise known as “the unknown tongues” - means.

The promise of our Lord to His disciples – They shall speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17) – was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost when cloven tongues-like fire rested upon the disciples, and “every man heard them speak in his own language” (Acts 2:1-12). This is the first recorded instance of speaking in tongues when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance (Acts 2:4).

The gift of tongues that came with an ecstatic burst of worship is definitely understood to be a fulfillment of the prophetic Word of Joel 2:28 which says: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Has Speaking in Tongues Ceased?

One of the most contentious debates today is whether speaking in tongues has ceased. On the contrary, the Lord told the disciples that they shall speak with new tongues.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17).

And from the epistles of St. Paul, it is evident that this prophecy does not refer to Acts 2 alone. We read in 1 Corinthians 12:10 that in the apostolic Church, spiritual gifts included that of tongues:

to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues  (1 Cor. 12:10).

Different Tongues

1 Corinthians 12:10 clearly states that there are different kinds of tongues as well as the interpretation of tongues. This explains how visitors from various countries were able to recognize the tongues that were spoken; as recorded in Acts 2.

So it is possible that some tongues may be a language from another continent, or it could be an unknown language that only God can understand. At times – depending on the need – the Holy Spirit allows people to interpret it as a word of encouragement or prophetic direction.

Can I speak in Tongues in Public?

This argument comes from the Apostle Paul’s perspective. He suggests that those who speak in tongues should pray that he may interpret it so that people might understand what is spoken (1 Cor. 14:13). Notice that he says: Pray that he may interpret it.

And if he could not do this, he would not excel in his gift to the edification of the church. This is essential so that there may be order in the service and that it does not cause unnecessary commotion with people trying to speak in tongues when the ministry of the Word is happening.

However, that does not nullify the fact that in speaking in tongues, he edifies himself (1 Cor. 14:4). The same Paul goes on to clarify and say in 1 Corinthians 14:18: I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

How Does God Move Through the Gift of Speaking in Tongues?

1. We just read in 1 Cor. 14:4 that speaking in tongues edifies one’s spirit man. The Holy Spirit grants the gift of speaking in tongues to educate, empower and enlighten our walk with Jesus.
2. Mark 16:17 states that speaking in other tongues is supposed to be a sign of those who believe. I can’t find a greater reason to speak in tongues than in knowing the fact that Jesus gave that as a gift to those who believe.
3. When you believe in Jesus and accept Him, He wants to fill you with the heavenly language of Heaven.
4. Acts 2:4 refers to the Spirit giving utterance. Paul also mentions how he prays in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit uses the gift of tongues to pray through you. For instance, to warn about dangers that lie ahead, what to avoid, and all kinds of issues that our eyes, ears and hearts do not perceive. These are some of the types of prayers that the Holy Spirit says through us when we speak in tongues.
5. You are declaring the unknown into the Spirit realm. 1 Corinthians 14:2: For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God: for no man understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. Sometimes we don’t need to understand everything God is doing but when we pray in the Spirit, we are declaring the mysteries of God.

How to Receive the Gift of Tongues?

Now, it is very clear in the Bible that it is the Spirit that gives you utterance. In others words, it is not something you can make up.

Here are some practical steps that can help you in receiving the gift of tongues:

1. Obedience to God. Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).

2. Ask! Tongues belong to those that have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Yes, it starts by being hungry for God. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13).

3. Stop thinking about what to say. One of the greatest hindrances to the operation of this gift happens when the person wishing to speak in tongues keeps on wondering what to say. I have noticed that people who use a lot of thinking to comprehend tongues find it harder to receive it. You need to stop thinking, pondering and planning; and simply believe that you will open your mouth and the Holy Spirit will fill it.

4. It comes from within. What many people don’t realize is that the Holy Spirit gives them the speaking utterance from within them. You may or not feel anything in your body, but it flows from within your belly. It’s simple: 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? So it is not something that comes from around you or above you. When you have Jesus inside you, the Holy Spirit dwells in you, and you need to let it overflow from within you.

5. Believe. Remember Jesus said this is for those who believe. It is good if someone can pray for you but no one needs to lay hands. You will receive it if you believe it. So why don’t you ask the Lord and begin to allow the Holy Spirit to give you the utterance from within you right now!

6. Let go! Some get the first words easily, and then they start to ponder and wonder if it is really from God or if they are making it up; which hinders them from receiving the overflow. It can be normal for you to wonder what you are saying, but do not let that stop you from speaking it. Continue speaking by faith and it will overflow.

7. Practise it. Just like any language, you will need to speak it often. You may not lose the language, but it is possible for you to lose the confidence to speak it. While traveling; when you wake up; whenever possible; make it a practice to speak in tongues.

If you have already asked the Holy Spirit for tongues, allow me to pray for you to be filled with the gift of speaking in tongues now. If you believe, you can receive this as you pray with us here.

Dear Father,

I pray with this reader who is believing to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Thank You for Your Word says that You desire to fill them more than their desire to be filled. Thank You because there are no barriers to receiving the blessings of God. And I pray right now, in the Name of Jesus, be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive the gift of speaking in tongues right now.

Be loosed in Jesus’ Name! Be fruitful and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit; in Jesus’ Name!
Thank You, Father, for hearing our prayer.

In the Name of Jesus we pray,
Amen!

Now, continue to yield yourself unto the Holy Spirit to grow in this gift. There’s more to come!

Question: How and when did you receive the gift of speaking in tongues? What was your greatest hindrance and how did you overcome it?

Next in the series: Dealing With Temptation

http://www.shyjumathew.com

Welcome to “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics.” To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series. Are you a designer? Join the design contest for this series here.

‘Gifts of the Holy Spirit’ is one of the highly debated issues in the Christian world today. However how much ever one may argue or debate, let us understand the truth that the God of the Bible is still the Lord of the universe and the Jesus of the apostles is still the Lord over the church, and the Spirit that equipped and empowered the Apostles still equips and empowers those that surrender to Him. And like Paul said our preaching should not just be a use of plausible word of wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. (1 Cor 2:4). That is why the devil fights the use of these gifts inside the church and outside.

What is a Gift of the Holy Spirit?

The gift of the Holy Spirit is a supernatural ability given to an ordinary human being through the infilling and the empowering of the Holy Spirit in order to fulfill his/her functionality within the church. Paul explains it very beautifully in 1 Cor 12, where he mentions how a person with these gifts are like different parts of the body that have different functions but all are part of the same body–the Church and empowered by the same agent–the Holy Spirit and serving the same Lord Jesus who is the head of the Church.

Gifts Not Talents

Many a time we confuse between our God-given talents and the Spirit empowered gifts. God has blessed us with many natural abilities and resources like singing or organizing or networking or a great intelligence which are talents and He expects us to be good stewards of these talents as mentioned in Matthew 25:14-30. However gifts are supernatural and are much above and greater than our natural capabilities. You discover a talent at anytime during your life, but you receive a gift through the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Gifts vs Fruits

This has been the greatest challenge with many ministers and churches alike. There are many who focus on gifts and thus ignore the fruits that fuel and sustain the character of the minister and the ministry. And then there are others who emphasize on the fruits and completely ignore the importance of the use of gifts which is equally foolish. What is the use of a very healthy body that doesn’t talk, walk or work? That’s the state of a church that ignores gifts. You know the tree by its fruits, but it is the gifts that keep edifying the church and pushing into forward direction.

The Purpose of the Gifts

Why do we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit? While some of the gifts are for the edification of an individual believer or a church as a whole, others are a sign for the unbelievers that God is alive and present in that place. (1 Cor 12:7, 1 Cor 14:22-24). However none of these gifts are for personal gains or marketing purposes. That is the abuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Please understand that the gifts of God are irrevocable. (Rom 11:29) Even if you abuse the gift, God might not necessarily take away the gift, but it could cost us our destiny in God like Moses couldn’t lead the people into Canaan. Hence we ought to be extremely careful as to how to, and where to use these gifts.

Here, are few of gifts of the Holy Spirit that are mentioned in different places in scripture. Each of the gift is very essential and integral part of the church. In fact some of the gifts are a full time calling of some ministers, this we will discuss later in detail in, “The Five Offices of the Church”.

The mentions of gifts in the scriptures

“All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.” (1 Cor 12:11)

In conclusion, it is not really enough that we be baptized by the Holy Spirit, but it is essential that we be endowed by the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we can be of benefit to the body of Christ. Let us earnestly desire for these gifts and its your hunger that the Lord will fill.

Have you had questions about the gifts of Holy Spirit? If yes please discuss them in the comments below, How has the Lord used your spiritual gifts for the edification of another believer or your church? We would love to hear about it!

Next in the series:  All You Need to Know About Speaking in Tongues

http://www.shyjumathew.com

Welcome to “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics.” To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series. Are you a designer? Join the design contest for this series here.

God gives special powers for His children, when they face extraordinary challenges in living the life of a believer, and in the process of witnessing the Gospel of Jesus.

Before His ascension, Jesus tells His disciples to wait on Him to receive power before going out to witness about Him.

Luke 24:49 , “You are witnesses . . . but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8, “And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”

A child of God needs the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to live victoriously. The power of God is vital for the challenges that we face when we spread the gospel of Jesus. And, certainly this power that Jesus speaks about is not a one-time phenomenon. In fact, the Bible talks about how the disciples repeatedly sought God from time to time for refreshing.

Acts 2:4  That they were “filled with the Holy Spirit.” And after receiving this power, they came back to God for a refreshing against the new threats that they were facing.

Acts 4:31, “And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken and they were all filled with the Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.” See more about that here.

And not only the book of Acts, the epistles of Paul talk of this same extraordinary power available to a child of Jesus.

Ephesians 3:14–21

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.”

Now that we know we need the power of the Holy Spirit, here are five ways to receive it:

1. Consume the Word of God

God equips you with His power to enable you to proclaim His word successfully. Therefore, it is important that one must soak himself in His Word, which is life in itself. John 6:63 Jesus said, “It is the Spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” The Bible is the Word of God and when you read it, you are reading the life-giving power of the Spirit. By soaking in God’s word, we activate our faith that helps us walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Pursue God’s Face

We need to seek the face of God diligently and pursue His presence relentlessly. The more we wait on God, the more we renew power to walk this life in the Spirit. Acts 1:13 “All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer.” It was only when the disciples devoted themselves to prayer in Jerusalem during the ten days of waiting in the Upper Room that the power of the Holy Spirit fell on them.

We must also take time few hours in every day, few minutes in every hour, and few seconds from every minute to withdraw from the world around us to seek His face. Bible says Jesus came with full of power after His 40 days of fasting. Extended fasting and prayer with undivided devotion is certainly a key to receiving God’s power. (See more on fasting here.)

Those times that we seek God should be a time of surrendering and learning to yield to the plans and purposes of the Holy Spirit.

3. Believe the Promise in the Word of God

Galatians 3:5 Paul says, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?“
“It is impossible to please God without faith.” (Hebrews 11:6). We cannot walk in the power of the Holy Spirit if we do not walk by faith. We need to develop a child like faith to walk in the power of God.

Luke 11:13 Jesus says to his disciples, “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good things to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Start by asking today! Ask God to increase your faith. The Lord desires to fill you with His power.

4. Abide in Him

Here’s an important phase that we tend to forget. It is not enough that you receive God’s power once. We need to continue to dwell in Him. You need to take time to study the Word and abide in it. John 14 is a chapter that you should take extended time to meditate, pray and believe.
John 14: 12- 23 explains how obeying God and keeping His commandments is essential to having a life filled with God’s power. It is that unadulterated life that has access to God’s power.
Jesus says in John 15: 4,5  “4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.“

5. Love One Another

No I did not get it wrong. If you go on reading that verse you will see Jesus gives the commandment, John 15: 12, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” It is interesting how then Jesus goes on talking about bearing fruit in verse 16 and then comes back to talking about loving one another in verse 17.

Towards the end of the ministry of Jesus, He took much efforts talking to them about loving each other and even showing them service by washing their feet.

In other words, Jesus does not want us to simply walk in His power but want us to walk in His love. Truth is walking in His love is to walk in His power! If we are mightily used by God and do not love one another, the fruits that we bear are sour and do not glorify God wholesomely!

Therefore my friends, let us immerse our self in His word and put to death every unbelief and commit ourselves to fast and pray for His power to manifest through our lives. Continue pursuing God every single day of our lives. Live to make His name renown!

Question: Is there any point you want to add? When was the last time you experienced the tangible power of the Holy Spirit within you at work?

Next in the series:  What are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

http://www.shyjumathew.com

This post is a part of the “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics” series and hence has been reposted from April 20, 2011. To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series. Are you a designer? Join the design contest for this series here.

One of the most asked questions, from the time I’ve been blogging, is, “How do we know what the will of God for our life is?” I’m glad we are able to do this together without anymore delay.

When there are no specific direction on whom you should marry or which car you should buy and how and where you should plan your business, what do you do? How do you know what is the course of action to follow?

I’d like to start by explaining the two kinds of the Will of God. God used Johnathan Edwards, a pastor and a profound theologian in New England in the early 1700s to discover these truths. For a comparatively simpler read, try and get the book ‘Desiring God,’ a book by John Piper where he clearly explains these magnificent truths in detail. (If you are interested, you can download the PDF of the same at the bottom of this post)

The Sovereign Will of God

There are instances that occur under God’s sovereign plans like the crucifixion of Jesus. Even though crucifying Jesus was an act of sin, it was predestined by God. In Acts 4: 27-28, it says “for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”  Also seen in the fact that the Lamb of God was slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8)

Another example is God allowing persecution. In 1 Peter 3:17, Peter talks about suffering for doing good, if that should be God’s will. Another verse to explain this is, “He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” Daniel 4:35.

The sovereign Will of God is in control of all things. It cannot be cancelled and it will come to pass.

The Will of God’s Commandment

Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven“. This will of God is based on the obedience of the Word of God.

And throughout the Bible you will see God’s giving specific commandment to His children. Examples: Loving your neighbour as yourself – Mark 12:33, Loving God with all your heart, soul and mind – Matthew 22:37, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you – 1 Thessalonians 5:18. In another verse, 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality.”

Thankful hearts, rejoicing in God, holiness, fleeing from sin, purity, etc. are God’s commanded will for us. And unlike the sovereign will of God, which cannot be broken, not many obey the will of God’s command.

God’s Sovereign Will must always come to pass whether we believe in it or not. His Will of Command can be broken and sadly, it is broken every day. The Bible says that as long as we love Him and are called according to His purpose, he turns all things for our good (Romans 8:28). This is the reason why we as His children and disciples have hope in our sufferings.

How Do We Really Know His Will?

That being said, how do we know specifically what exactly is the will of God in each situation?

One of the most powerful scriptures in the Bible and a clear direction to our questions is found in Romans 12:2. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

The first thing Apostle Paul talks about in this verse is that we need to have a renewed mind to understand the things of God. For this you have to test it in line to the Word of God. The Word of God is the supreme authority for every work. (2 Timothy 3:16) The verse also implies that when you are renewed in your mind and in line with the word of God, you will discern what the will of God is in a particular situation.

We get many emails to our ministry asking for specific prophetic word on whether to get married to a particular person or not. Whether God can reveal it? Yes, God can. However, we need not pursue prophets for knowing the future but the scripture calls us to be transformed by the renewal of our mind.

Bible Application

The word of God, the Bible, is the revealed will of God. Sadly, in today’s Christian culture, we have too many people listening to too many voices. I want to strongly make this statement that, “There are no prophets (or prophetesses), prophecies, visions or dreams that is above the Word of God.”

No matter how anointed you are, no matter how audible the voice you heard, you cannot go against the Word of God. The Lord desires that we be transformed by the Word of God and not by voices we hear around us. This happens when we as children of God devote ourselves to reading, loving and mediating on the Word of God. Hebrews 5:14

Start by understanding that you cannot do it on your own and that you need the Holy Spirit that will lead you through the Scriptures. Through that time of soaking yourself in God your actions and thoughts will be in line with the plan and will of God for your life.

[You can download Desiring God book HERE (1.3mb, PDF format)]

Have you been able to walk with God in complete trust? Share your thoughts below.

http://www.shyjumathew.com

Welcome to “Featured Bible Study: 30 Christian Basics.” To see all the authors and titles in the series, and to suggest a topic, please go here. Subscribe today to receive the ebook on this series. Are you a designer? Join the design contest for this series here.

Christianity is the largest religion in the world with about 2.2 billion followers. Today, one quarter of the population of the entire world are Christians; it is the state religion in several countries, but what is it about Christianity that makes it so special? Why do 1 out of every 3 people living on planet earth claim to follow this belief system?

The answer lies in two important reasons. One reason is a historical/political one while the other is a spiritual one.  When we study history, we will understand that certain political regimes helped bring Christianity to the forefront and caused its spread on a national and global scale. History teaches us that several religions have been spread by the use of political force; however, they are by no means as popular as Christianity.

History also bears witness to the fact that Christianity wasn’t always so popular; over the ages people and nations have rejected it, waged war against it and resolved to wipe it off the face of the earth. Nevertheless, ever since its humble inception in the obscure villages of the Judean countryside, no human or demonic power has been able to destroy it or stunt its growth by any means.  It has always flourished and bloomed in every corner of the globe it has been taken to regardless of how it was initially received there. This brings us to the second reason. There has to have been an invisible supernatural force propagating and advancing it through the centuries. Let’s trace through this very interesting journey that Christianity has travelled on, through the centuries.

Why is It Important to Study History?

You may think to yourself that studying history is irrelevant to us or even ‘unspiritual’. However the reason why every Christian should know this history is because, Christianity, unlike any other religion, is deeply rooted in history. The fact that God came to earth as a man – Jesus Christ, is central to Christianity. He lived, loved and taught amongst humans over 2000 years ago. The historical reality of Jesus’ sacrifice upon the cross, His burial and glorious resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christianity. They are facts that history cannot deny. The Holy Bible is not a book written based on fairy tales or man’s imagination; it is a divinely inspired historical record of God’s plan of redemption for the world.

In I Corinthians 10:1-13, the apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthian church to learn from the examples of Israel’s past, and learn from their mistakes. Similarly, we can learn from the history of Christianity today. In today’s world we often find new and bizarre practices and doctrine appearing everywhere and even claim to be a part of Christianity. This is nothing new. History is filled with examples of times when heresies and false teachings tried to infiltrate the church and destroy the sanctity of Christianity. Learning Christian doctrine with an understanding of Christian history will help us separate fiction from facts and give us good appreciation of sound doctrine.

Christianity’s Origin and Rise

The first chapter in the two thousand year long story of Christian history is the glorious century that began with the arrival of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. Most of the events that took place during this century have been meticulously recorded in the book of Acts by Dr. Luke (the Gospel writer). Just as the book of Acts records, the Christian Church was born on the day of Pentecost as three thousand people were saved and added to the Church. Soon five thousand more people were saved and added to the Church. As we continue reading, we find that the church continued to grow rapidly. God was doing some amazing things in and through the Church. Things however, didn’t remain so rosy for too much longer. Satan soon began to stir up trouble for the first believers in very much the same way he does today. The early church faced a lot of trouble, but God was with them and in them! God was building His church (Matthew 16:18) and just as He had promised, not even men or demons or Satan himself could stop what God was doing!

Persecution in the Church however intensified to the point where they killed Christians. Stephen was the first Christian who died for his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It was a terrible, yet glorious way to die. As we read on in the book of Acts, we see that following the death of Stephen, trouble against the Church began to severely intensify. Up until now, we learned that the Church is Jerusalem faced problems, which the enemy stirred up against it, in order to destroy it. Now however, the word ‘trouble’ isn’t sufficient to describe what the believers faced; these faithful followers of Jesus faced persecution. There came a point when it was no longer safe for them to remain in Jerusalem because their men and women were being thrown into prison.

Christianity is Persecuted, Yet Spreads

The Church in Jerusalem was therefore scattered and demolished. The once amazing and beautifully growing Church in Jerusalem, now laid ruined because after all the Church, we know is the people; since the people had fled the city, the Church became empty! Scholars say that there had been approximately eight to ten thousand believers at the Church in Jerusalem at that time. The pastoral team (consisting of the apostles and designated leaders) of the Church had worked very hard, preaching the gospel in spite of threats, imprisonment and even martyrdom; now however, it seemed as if all their labour had been in vain and their beloved Church had been reduced to rubble. Satan must have been rejoicing, thinking that his plan to destroy the Church had succeeded. The Lord however, was still very much in control; He had an amazing plan for the Church in the midst of all of their suffering. Even though the Lord never brings suffering to His children, if He allows it in their lives, it always has a purpose. What Satan meant for evil, God turned it around for good (Genesis 50:20).

The Bible tells us in Acts 8:4, ‘Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.’ As they carried whatever little belongings they had gathered together on their hurried escape from their homes, they did exactly what caused them to lose their homes and lands!  The devil was again the loser here because even becoming refugees could not shut them up. So everywhere they went throughout Judea and Samaria, all the believers took the gospel with them and preached it. They had been effective witnesses in Jerusalem all this while, and it was time for God to fulfill the next step of His plan through their lives.

Sure, the Church in Jerusalem looked very good with nearly ten thousand amazing believers all together worshipping Him as one; but God was interested in His precious gospel spreading to the four corners of the globe so He allowed them to be scattered. The seed of the gospel planted on the day of Pentecost had grown beautifully into a large tree bearing ten thousand fragrant fruits; however, it was now time for each of those fruits to scatter its seeds to the farthest ends of the earth so that more beautiful trees would spread the fragrance of Christ.  Those who persecuted them could separate the Christians and scatter them out of one Church but they could not separate Christ from out of the Christians’ hearts!

The Roman Anger

As they saw Christians growing in spite of persecution, the Roman government was angered. In the first 250 years of the church, the Romans put hundreds of Christians to death. Some were even fed to the lions in Roman colosseum as spectators watched (much the same as people go to watch football games today for entertainment). History tells us that Peter was crucified upside down for the Lord. Many others were split in half by being tied to horses, which then galloped in opposite directions, tearing them apart; while still others were dipped into giant vats of boiling oil. In the time of the Roman emperor Diocletian, coins were released bearing the imprint “The Christians are completely destroyed, the worship of our gods has been renewed.” He built a monument in memory of the “destruction of Christianity”.

The Church and the State

It wasn’t long before they realized that the Church could not be suppressed. No matter how intense the persecution became, the growth of the Church and the Christians did not stop. At end of the persecution, it has been calculated that there were approximately 120 million people living in the Roman empire. It is believed that half the population was Christian (60 million). The enemy realized that he could not destroy the church by simply persecuting it.  He came up with a far more crafty and cunning way to carry out his plans. He used Christians to destroy Christians. Constantine, the great Roman emperor was amazed by the steadfastness and truthfulness of the Christians. One day he saw a shinning cross in his dream with a voice saying, ‘receive victory through the symbol’. He implemented this and was victorious therefore he became a Christian. He proclaimed himself to be the custodian of the Christian religion.

In 324 AD, he combined the church and state. He granted several privileges to the churches and to Christians. Large sums of money from the empire’s treasury were given to pastors to build their Churches. Elders of the church were given exorbitant, building called ‘basilicas’. Ceremonies for religious conversion were carried out. The persecution of Christians finally stopped. It became a great privilege to be a Christian. Scores of people became Christians in order to receive government benefits and privileges. People became pastors and leaders in order to receive a better life style and more money. Even though Christianity began spreading the world over, the church started to lose its holiness a little by little. People who had not repented or truly accepted Christ started to fill the pews of the Church, while those who were not truly called by Christ became preachers and pastors and filled the pulpits. Everyone chose Christianity for other reasons.

Therefore, the power of the Holy Spirit declined and money increased in power. Preaching from the pulpit became a mere show of oratory skills. The Word of God was forgotten and churches were filled with unrepentant people. The government met all of the Church’s needs. Many temples to pagan gods were converted into Churches. In order to bring people from foreign religions to church, they started adapting pagan practices into the church. Foolish rituals from these pagan religions became sacred ceremonies within the church. The foundational truths of the Bible were no longer being preached. Therefore, no one was able to differentiate the true foundational Christian doctrine and false teaching against the fundamentals of Christianity. The church of Jesus Christ was pushed to state where they practiced all the practices of the foreign pagan religions. When the hundreds of people started entering the church, they brought their Babylonian rituals into the church. Church leaders were eager to incorporate foreign and pagan practices into sacred church ceremony just to bring new people to church.

As we keep go through history, we see that during the Middle Ages, most of the remainder of Europe was Christianized. Christians also soon became a large religious minority in the Middle East, North Africa, Ethiopia and parts of India. Following this, through missionary work and colonization, Christianity spread to the Americas, Australasia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the rest of the world. Missionary work had a huge impact in making Christianity so prevalent. Spreading the word of the Lord was considered both an honour and a duty; history is overflowing with the names of Christian missionaries and evangelists who travelled the world, sacrificing their lives to convert people to the way of the living God.

Conclusion

The story of Christianity is very exciting to study but what makes it special is this: it is much more than a religion; it is a relationship, a way of life and a commitment. It is the only religion that is based on your personal relationship with God (through Jesus). Many factors contributed to the rise of Christianity. No one factor can be said to be the reason for Christianity’s overwhelming success. However, through everything, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit helped spread Christianity into places where other religions faded away. Heaven and earth will pass away but Christianity, founded on the life-giving words of Jesus Christ will endure forever. We have a choice, we can either be inspired by the story of Christianity and be inspired to further the Gospel realizing that victory will be ours; or we can shrink back into our complacency and fear a lead nominal Christian lives. Whatever we choose, one thing is a fact: The kingdom of our God will be established on this earth and those who served Him faithfully will be given their fair reward.

A Simple Timeline of Christian History

Christian history isn’t very simple, it is very intricate and complex; therefore for everyone’s benefit let’s go through the following simplified timeline:

30-70 AD – The Time of Jesus Christ and the Apostles

• The death and resurrection of Christ.
• The Christian faith is birthed and the gospel of grace is preached.

70-312 AD – The Persecution and Spread of Christianity

• The spread of the Christian faith; martyrdom of the early believers.
• Early heresies sprouted; first church councils and the canonizing of scripture.

312-590 AD – The Era of the Christian Empire

• Constantine declares Christianity the official religion of the Roman empire;
• Christianity became a faith for the masses;

590-1517 AD – The Middle Ages

• The pope becomes the ‘ruler’ of the church.
• The crusades: The church gains the world but loses its soul.

 1517-1648 AD – The Age of Reformation

• Martin Luther, protestant movement; start of denominationalism (Lutheran, Anglican etc.)
• The Vatican loses its power and influence.

1648-1789 AD – The Time of Scientific Advance and Revival

• On one hand, rise of secularism: people begin to ask, ‘Who needs God?’
• Many revivals, especially the ‘Great Awakening’ tries to restore God to public life.

 1789-1914 AD – The Age of Progress

• The message of Christ is carried to distant lands, but the faith continues to leave public life.
• Pluralistic and totalitarian societies see no relevance for Christianity.

 1912-current AD – The present Church…

 Share your thoughts on this post below. What information can you add? 

Next in the series:  5 Ways to Receive the Power of the Holy Spirit.

http://www.shyjumathew.com