Spiritual BootCamp

By
Pastor Travis Moore
This Work Book is distributed by the PRISONERS BIBLE CRUASDE, P O. Box
696, Picayune, MS 39466. You may freely copy it to be used for God's glory. It is designed
as a self help study book for new Converts to the Christian faith! The person completing
this book should keep it for future references. Do not return it to the Prisoners Bible
Crusade for grading! It is not a Bible Study course for grades!
Table Of Contents
Introduction: First Things First - "The
Enlistment"
...Page 2
Chapter 1: Who Is Jesus Christ?
.
.
Page 6
Chapter 2: Assurance Of
Salvation
,
. Page
10
Chapter 3: Getting To Know God
..
..
Page 13
Chapter 4: The Book Of Books: The
Bible
.
..
.. Page 19
Chapter 5: The Power Of Prayer
. Page
27
Chapter 6: The Spirit-Filled Life
.
.
Page 32
Chapter 7: Fellowship Among
Believers
.
. Page 38
Chapter 8: Witnessing - Sharing Christ With Others
.
Page 42
Chapter 9: Overcoming Temptation
..
...
..
..
Page 47
Chapter 10: The Importance Of Obedience
.
Page 52
A Final Challenge: Recruitment
Day
..
.......
.
.. Page 57
The Scriptures in this Work Book are taken from the King James Verison
Introduction: First Things First - "The Enlistment"
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Where will you spend eternity?
Is your heart right with God?
Are you sure you are saved?
Have you been born again?
Do the questions above seem odd to you? Maybe so, but I assure you they
are essential. In fact, you must face these questions and understand the Biblical answer
to them before you leave this life for eternity.
The ten Chapters in this series are designed to give you the "basic
training" {thus BootCamp} you need to get started in a growing,
dynamic, fruitful Christian life. But before you can begin that training you need to make
sure you have settled the question of your eternal destiny. Church Membership, religious
activity, baptism, being a good neighbor & citizen, and other things commonly
associated with "being a Christian", are all good in their place; but none of
these things will prepare you to meet God.
- PURPOSE:
The purpose of this preliminary study is to help you know
without a doubt that you are ready to meet God . The message of Scripture is that you and
I have been created by God for a special purpose. In His infinite wisdom and love, God
determined to bring into existence a people on whom He could shower His blessings. He has
purposed to reveal Himself to us in order that we may know and love Him in return.
- In what three significant ways has God revealed Himself to men?
- Psalm 19:1 -
The _______________ declare the glory of God; and the ____________
showeth his handiwork.
- John 5:39 -
Search the ________________; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of me.
- Hebrews 1:1-2 -
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days ___________ unto us by his
__________, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
As you read the following verses and answer the related questions, ask
God to help you know that you know Him.
- What is one of the reasons God gave us the Bible?
- 1 John 5:13 -
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God; ________ _____ _______ ___________ that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God.
- Why do you think God created you?
- John 3:16 -
For________ _____ ________ the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- Why did Jesus come to the world?
- John 10:10 -
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: __
____ _______ that they might have ________, and that they might have it more abundantly.
- PROBLEM:
While it is true that God loves us and wants us to experience a full,
meaningful and eternal life, it is obvious that something is desperately wrong with us. We
often dont experience the best God has to offer. We have some very serious problems
in our society, and in our individual lives. Among the many problems we face are: pride,
lust, envy, dishonesty, fear, rebellion, selfishness, greed, and a general lack of
direction for our lives.
1. What is the Bible word for these problems?
- Romans 3:23 -
For all have ___________, and come short of the glory of God;
- 1 John 1:8 -
If we say that we have no _________, we deceive ourselves, and the
truth is not in us.
2. Who does this problem of sin affect?
- Romans 3:10 -
As it is written, There is _________ ___________, no, not one:
- Romans 3:23 -
For _____ _______ __________, and come short of the glory of God;
- PERSONAL EFFORTS:
While most people recognize the problems caused by sin, they often try
many different ways of coping with these problems before turning to God. Some of the ways
we attempt to make things better on our own are:
- religious rituals (baptism, communion, etc.);
- religious service (teaching, preaching, witnessing, etc.); or,
- determining to be the best person we can be (New Years Resolutions, helping a
neighbor, giving to charity, etc.).
While these activities may temporarily soothe our conscience, they
often lead to frustration, confusion, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness. And,
frankly, they just dont work.
1. Why are our efforts to solve our sin problem inadequate?
- Isaiah 64:6 -
But ______ ________ all as an ____________ thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as _____________ rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our
iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
- Titus 3:4-5
- But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man
appeared, _____ ____ ________ of righteousness which we have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
- PROBLEM SOLVED:
So, what is the solution to our problem? The Bible declares that God
has provided a way for man to know Him, and have his sin forgiven. That way is a PERSON!
And that person is Jesus Christ. The good news of the Gospel of Christ is
that God has solved our sin problem for us.
- John 14:6 -
Jesus saith unto him, I am the ______, the _______, and the _______: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
It was Jesus death on the cross and resurrection from the grave that made it
possible for our sin to be forgiven and for us to receive eternal life. (Romans
5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
For if, when we were enemies, we were ____________ to God by the
___________ of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be ___________ by his
___________.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also
received, how that _________ _____ ____ _______ ______ according to the scriptures; And
that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The Bible is clear that Jesus died for all men (2 Corinthians
5:14). But it is also clear that not everyone has or will accept His gracious
offer of salvation (John 1:11). We are not automatically saved (John
3:8). Neither are we saved by our own efforts, religious commitment or good works.
(Ephesians 2:8-9) We cannot get to heaven by what we do, nor can we purchase
Gods forgiveness.
- PLAN:
The Bible is equally clear about what is required of us to receive
Gods offer of salvation. If we cant earn or purchase it, how do we get in on
it?
- From the following verses, identify and briefly describe what is required for an
individual to become a Child of God?
- 1 John 1:9 -
If we ________ our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Acts 16:31 -
And they said, ____________ on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house.
- John 1:12 -
But as many as ____________ him, to them gave he power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- What would Jesus like for you to do, right now?
- Revelation 3:20 -
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice,
and _______ the ______, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
- How can you invite Jesus into your heart to be your Saviour?
- Romans 10:9 -
That if thou shalt _________ with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine _______ that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
- Romans 10:10 -
For with the heart man _____________ unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation.
- Romans 10:13 -
For whosoever shall _____ upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
If you have never invited Jesus into your life to be your personal
Saviour, before you proceed with this series of lessons, please settle that issue with
God. A simple prayer of faith, committing your eternal destiny to God could be worded like
this:
"Dear God, thank You for loving me enough to create me. I
realize that Ive ignored You and gone my own way, and that way has led me into sin.
Yet You proved your love by sending Jesus to die for my sins on the cross. I thank You
also for raising Him from the grave to give me eternal life. I now accept your offer of
forgiveness; and invite Jesus into my life to be my Saviour and Lord. Help me to follow
you from this day forward. Amen"
- PROMISES:
Now that you have received Jesus and His gift of salvation through a
simple prayer of faith, there are some remarkable promises for you in the Bible. As you
read the following verses, look carefully for promises that God gives you relating to your
new life in Him.
- What does the person who hears Gods Word and believes its message have?
- John 5:24 -
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath ______________ __________, and shall not come into condemnation;
but is passed from death unto life.
- What will never happen to those who are in Christ Jesus?
- Romans 8:1 -
There is therefore now _____ ________________ to them which are in
Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
- What imagery does Jesus use to illustrate your security in Him?
- John 10:28-29 -
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man ___________ them out of _____ ________. My Father, which gave them
me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.
- What kind of person are you in Christ Jesus?
- II Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man _____ ______ Christ, he is a ______
creature: old ___________ are passed away; behold, _____ things are become new.
CONCLUSION:
If you are not totally confident that you are a Child of God, review
what you have studied in this lesson and ask God to guide you to that truth.
- Read - John 1, 3, 4
- Memorize - John 1:12; 3:16
Personal Notes:
Chapter One: Who Is Jesus?
For many people, Christianity {along with Judaism & Islam} is
nothing more than one of the worlds three great mono-theistic religions. But to a
Christian, Christianity is not a religion, but rather a relationship with Jesus Christ.
It is our belief about Jesus that distinguishes us from other religions, philosophies,
and cults throughout the world.
What you truly believe about Jesus will determine your relationship
with God the Father, and your eternal destiny. You cannot know God without knowing Jesus!
Nor can you spend eternity in heaven without knowing Jesus.
Many know about Jesus, but dont know Him. To them He is an
important historical figure, a good teacher or role model, or maybe a prophet or
"holy man". But they have no personal relationship with Him. They approach Him,
if at all, via religious ritual, attempts at doing good, or through one of the
"saints", as an intercessor; unaware that He is the only possible "Mediator"
(1 Timothy 2:5) to the Father.
Others, who acknowledge that He is indeed the Saviour, have limited or
misinterpreted views of what the Scripture teaches about Him.
It is the purpose of this study to guide you in a discovery of what the
Bible has to say about Jesus Christ. You will discover that the Bible is clear in its
teachings that Jesus is the God/Man; that is, Eternal God in human flesh; 100% God,
and at the same time, 100% man.
- Jesus CLAIMED To Be God.
Because we live in a Country that ensures your right to basic freedoms,
and because you have been given freedom of choice by God to accept or reject truth
presented to you, you may choose to believe or not to believe in the Humanity & Deity
Godhood- of Jesus Christ. But you cannot honestly say that the Bible does not claim that
Jesus is the God/Man.
- Jesus is MAN!
The humanity of Jesus is a historical fact. Both Biblical and
extra-biblical writings of the period authenticate the historical record of His life. He
was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, baptized in the Jordan River, preached and
healed the sick in Judea and Galilee, and was tried and executed in Jerusalem. All were
historical events taking place in actual historical places. The Bible clearly presents
Jesus as a man who walked on earth some 2,000 years ago
What four expressions did John use to authenticate the humanity of
Jesus in 1 John 1:1?
- 1 John 1:1
- That which was from the beginning, which we have _________, which we
have __________ with our eyes, which we have __________ upon, and our hands have
_____________, of the Word of life;
Have you ever wondered what type of man Jesus was? Some time ago I came
across the following Portrait of JESUS written by Sherwood Eddy. You may
have read or heard it before, but I think it beautifully describes the Man we call LORD.
Portrait of JESUS
"More than 1900 years ago there was a man born contrary to
the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity
Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived:
that was during His exile in childhood
In infancy He startled a king: in childhood He puzzled the doctors: in
manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if on pavement, and
hushed the sea to sleep
He never wrote a book, yet all the libraries in the world could not
hold the books that have been written about Him.
He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more
songs than all the song writers combined.
He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot
boast of having as many students.
The names of the past proved statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and
gone. The names of the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone;
but the Name of this Man abounds more and more.
Though time has spread more than 1900 years between the people of this
generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy
Him, and the grave could not hold Him.
He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of Heavenly glory, proclaimed
of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living
personal Christ, our Lord, our Saviour and God."
That is the Man the Bible calls "Jesus",
whom we love so dearly and extol so highly.
B. Jesus is God!
The Bible is equally clear in its claims regarding the Deity of
Jesus. He was not more man than God, nor was He more God than man. He was absolutely
man, but He was equally God. "Impossible!", you say. No, not impossible. With
God, all things are possible (Luke 1:37). A mystery, yes! But not
impossible.
As you read the following verses, notice the Biblical truth expressed
concerning Jesus Deity.
- John 1:1 -
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
________ was ________. {See also: John 1:14}
- Matthew 1:23 -
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son,
and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, ______ _____ _____.
- Hebrews 1:8 -
But unto the _______ he saith, Thy throne, O _______, is for ever and
ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
- 1 John 5:20 -
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an
understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in
his Son __________ _________. This is the ________ _______, and eternal life.
- Colossians 2:9 -
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the _____________ bodily.
- 1 Timothy 3:16 -
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness:
__________ was ______________ in the __________, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels,
preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
{For additional information, study these verses: Isaiah 9:6;
Micah 5:2; Titus 2:13; Revelation 1:7-8; John 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:5-6}
Jesus also made many personal claims to be God. Now think for a moment.
What kind of a person would claim to be God? Either He was God, or He wasnt. If He
claimed to be God and wasnt, he had to be either a liar or a lunatic. But
if He claimed to be God, and He is God, then He is LORD!
It is clear in Scripture that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God
(Matthew 26:63-64; 27:43; Mark 14:61-64; John 19:7). But, does that mean that He
claimed to be GOD? Is there a distinction between being the Son of God and
being God? Again we look to the Bible for our answer. How do the claims of Jesus in the
following verses relate to His Deity?
- John 5:18 -
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had
broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, ____________ _________
__________ with __________.
- John 10:30 -
I and my Father are _______. Then the Jews took up stones again to
stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I showed you from my Father; for
which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we
stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a ________, __________
_________ ________.
- John 14:1 -
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in _____, believe also in
_____.
{For additional information, study these verses: John 5:23
14:7, 9}
In addition to the direct claims to Deity that Jesus made, there are
some astonishing claims that Jesus made which could only be true if He is truly God. What
are those claims in the following verses:
- Matthew 28:18 -
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ____ __________ is given
unto me in heaven and in earth.
- Mark 2:5-7 -
When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son,
thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and
reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? _____ _____
__________ ________ but _______ only?
{For additional information, study these verses: John 5:27;
14:6}
So, it is clear that Jesus, and those who knew Him, claimed that He was
God in human form. But, someone might object, "Anyone can claim anything.
Wheres the proof?" So consider this: not only did Jesus claim to be God, but:
- Jesus SEEMED To Be God!
It is obvious that if He wanted to, God, being GOD,
could become a man. If He were to choose to do so, what kind of man would He be? Jesus embodied,
in human form, all the qualities we would expect of a good and gracious God
Personally, if God was to choose to come to earth and walk among men as
a man, I would expect Him to be able to overcome the natural laws of nature and
work miracles, to live a good life, to use his time on earth helping those who were
suffering, to heal the sick, to lift the fallen or downcast, to teach men right from
wrong, and even have power to overcome death, since He is the creator of life.
Doesnt it seem amazing to you that Jesus did just that. His 33 years on earth were
spent doing those very things.
From the following verses, discover the character qualities, or
miraculous power exhibited by Jesus.
- Matthew 8:16 -
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were
possessed with devils: and he _______ _______ the spirits with his word, and _________ all
that were sick:
- Acts 10:38 -
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power:
who went about _________ _________, and _____________ all that were oppressed of the
devil; for God was with him.
- Matthew 8:26 -
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?
Then he arose, and _________ the ________ and the _______; and there was a great calm.
{For additional information, study these verses: Luke
7:14-16;22}
Jesus lived His life exactly as we would expect God to live if He were
to choose to become a man and live among men. Could anyone other than God do all of that?
Certainly not.
Jesus claimed to be God, and He sure seemed
to be God. Now consider:
- Jesus PROVED To Be God!
There are 5 specific proofs used in the Scripture that establish
the Deity of Christ. Although there have been other people who have claimed to be God, no
one other than Jesus has undeniably proven his claims. These accomplishments set Jesus
Christ apart from all other would-be messiahs or saviors.
- His Fulfillment of Prophesy - (John 5:39)
There were more than 300 specific Old testament prophesies
relating the coming of the Jewish Messiah. More than 100 of those were fulfilled by
Jesus while He was on earth. The others are explained in the New Testament as relating to
Jesus Second Coming. His Fulfillment of Prophesy proves that He is God.
- His Virgin Birth - (Matthew 1:21-23)
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was a born by other
than normal human conception. His mother, Mary, though engaged to be married to Joseph,
was in the literal since of the word a "virgin". How could this
be, and what is the significance of His virgin birth? It could only be the result of a
supernatural miracle of God. Its significance is in the fact that through His
virgin birth He avoided the taint of sin passed on from Adam to every person of every age.
He was born without a sin nature. His virgin birth was predicted in the Old Testament
Scriptures and fulfilled in the New Testament. No other person in all of history can claim
a birth like His. He alone qualifies as "Immanuel: God with us".
His Virgin Birth proves that He is God.
- His Sinless Life - (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22)
In addition to being born without a sin nature, Jesus is the
only person in all of history of whom it can be said that He lived a sinless life. All
others are sinners: by birth, and by choice. But Jesus never sinned: either in thought,
word or deed. He certainly was tempted, in greater measure than we could ever imagine. But
He successfully rebuked all evil that Satan threw His way. Only God could do that. His
Sinless Life proves that He is God.
- His Transfiguration - (Matthew 17:2; 2 Peter 1:17)
Near the end of His 33 years on earth, something truly remarkable
happened to Jesus. He took three of His disciples with Him up a mountain. While there, His
very nature changed before their eyes. The Glory of God shined through Him. His
Divine nature was put on display, and for a brief moment those disciples saw Him in His
heavenly Majesty. That could not happen to a mere man. His Transfiguration proves He was
God.
- His Resurrection - (Romans 1:4)
Jesus was violently murdered through the vicious act of crucifixion.
Three days after His savage death, Jesus proved that He was God by coming out of the
grave. The stone that covered the opening of His sepulcher was rolled away to let all the
world know that He had risen. Over the next 40 days, He appeared to more than 500
different people on a dozen or more occasions. After these appearances, men and women who
had fled in fear at His crucifixion, stood boldly in public places to proclaim His
resurrection. His Resurrection is the capstone of all the other evidence in Scripture that
proves He is God.
CONCLUSION:
Jesus Is God. As man, He came to earth to be the Saviour
of men. Only through Him can you experience the forgiveness of sin and the gift of eternal
life. If you have not received His offer of salvation, this would be an excellent time for
you to do that. You can do it with a simple prayer of faith like this:
"Heavenly Father, I acknowledge to you my sin and unworthiness.
I believe what I have learned from the Scripture about Jesus, and I receive Him as my
personal Saviour and Lord. I trust Him to forgive me and give me eternal Life. Amen!"
- Read these chapters from Matthew: 1, 8-9, 17, 27-28.
- Memorize the following verses: John 14:6; Hebrews 1:8
Chapter Two: Assurance Of Salvation
In order to grow in your relationship with God, you must know that you
are a Child of God. "Assurance of salvation" is the absolute
confidence that a right relation exists between you and God. This relationship is
established the moment you "receive" Jesus Christ as your personal
Saviour (John 1:12). The relationship that such a decision establishes is
familial in nature: God becomes your Father and you become His Child.
By our nature, we are all sinful and separated from God. But in His
love and mercy, He has "begotten" us into his family (John
1:13). The Bible refers to this experience as having been "born
again" (John 3:1-8). When you make a personal decision to receive Christ as
your Saviour, such a decision involves a commitment of your intellect, emotion, and will.
- Intellectual Commitment:
Christianity is not a blind leap of faith. It is a
system of beliefs based upon historical facts. Those facts are truths concerning the
person and work of Jesus Christ. In Chapter 1 you learned who Jesus claimed to be, seemed
to be, and proved to be. You cannot become a Child of God without believing what the Bible
teaches about Jesus. Take a few minutes to review what Lesson 1 taught you about the
Humanity and Deity of Christ.
- Emotional Commitment:
We are all emotional creatures. But our emotions
differ. Emotions are feelings or reactions toward certain acts, events, or experiences in
our lives. Depending on your personality, you may respond similarly or differently to an
experience than someone else. For that reason, we do not seek a particular emotional
experience to authenticate our experience of salvation, nor do we rely on an emotional
experience for the assurance of our salvation. Assurance of salvation is based on the
facts of Scripture, and our faith in the completed work of Christ. The feelings (emotional
experiences) we have at the moment of our salvation will vary from person to person.
However these feelings may be expressed in your life, rest assured that they are the
results of your new relationship with God. What emotions might you experience as a result
of your commitment to Christ?
- _____ Luke 7:37-38..match..
a. conviction
- _____ Acts 8:37-39
..
..
b. rejoicing
- _____ Acts 9:5-6
c. peace
- _____ Romans 5:1
..
d. love
- _____ Romans 5:
5
..
..e. weeping
- Volitional Commitment:
In addition to our intellect and emotions,
assurance of salvation also involves our will (volition). While in no way
undermining the sovereignty of God, the Bible declares that salvation involves an
act of our will. That is, we personally choose to accept or reject Gods offer of
forgiveness through Jesus.
- John 3:16 -
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever ____________ in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
- Romans 10:13 -
For whosoever shall _____ upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
{For additional information, study these verses: John 3:15;
4:14; 7:17; Revelation 22:17}
Since you have committed your eternal destiny into the hands of Jesus
as your Saviour, on what evidence can you rely to establish the assurance of your
salvation? Consider the four foundations upon which Assurance of Salvation is based:
- FOUNDATION 1 - The WORD of God:
The Bible (as we will learn in Chapter 4) is our sole authority in
matters of Spiritual truth. We look there for truth, direction, instruction, and
correction. The Bible reveals Gods truth concerning His gift of salvation. There are
a number of phrases and statements used in the Bible that offer to you Gods promises
regarding your salvation. Your assurance will be strengthened as you read what the
Scripture has to say on this subject.
What promises relating to assurance do you find in the following
verses?
- John 1:12 -
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to __________ the
sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- John 3:18 -
He that believeth on him is ______ _____________: but he that believeth
not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten
Son of God.
- John 5:24 -
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and ______ _____ come into _______________;
but is passed from death unto life.
- Galatians 4:6 -
And because ye are sons, God hath _______ forth the _________ of his
Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Hallelujah! Unshakable, absolute confidence that a right
relationship exists between you and God is yours when you know and believe His Word!
- FOUNDATION 2 - The WORK of Christ:
The Bible declares that salvation is not our work, but Gods. He
has done for us what we could not do for ourselves: replace our sin with His
righteousness. He did this by sending Jesus to die for our sins, and be raised from
the dead to give us eternal life. In the shedding of His blood, Jesus purchased redemption
(the accepted payment of sin) for mankind. The Bible presents a multifaceted view of the
accomplishments of Jesus on the cross on your behalf. Knowing, understanding, and
believing these truths will help establish the assurance of your salvation.
What do you learn about the accomplishments of Jesus for you in the
following verses?
- Romans 5:9 -
Much more then, being now _________ by his ________, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.
- Ephesians 1:7 -
In whom we have ___________ through his ________, the forgiveness of
sins, according to the riches of his grace;
- Hebrews 9:22 -
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and ________
shedding of blood is _____ ___________.
- 1 John 1:7 -
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the _________ of Jesus Christ his Son ________________ us from all
sin.
- FOUNDATION 3 - The WITNESS of the Holy Spirit:
We are assured of salvation because God has given us His Word, and
Jesus has done His work. But, there is further evidence to give us assurance: that is the
witness of the Holy Spirit. The moment we receive Jesus as our Saviour, the Holy Spirit
comes to live within us (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9; Galatians 4:6). Our
bodies became the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). He takes
up permanent residence in us. He begins to work from within us to make of us what the
Father wants us to be (Philippians 2:13). Once He comes to live within us,
there are many things the Holy Spirit does on our behalf. One of the many ministries of
the Spirit on behalf of the believer is to assure him of his relationship with God.
How do the following verses express this truth?
- Romans 8:14 -
For as many as are ______ by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of
God.
- Romans 8:16 -
The Spirit itself _________ ___________ with our spirit, that we are
the children of God:
- Galatians 5:16-18 -
This I say then, ________ in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against
the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things
that ye would. But if ye be ________ of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
- 1 John 5:6 -
This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by
water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that _________ __________,
because the Spirit is truth.
Rejoice at the inner tugging of your heart by the Holy Spirit that lets
you know of His presence, and of His working in your life. As you follow His leading, you
will become more and more sure of your relationship with the Father, and steadily mature
in your walk with Him.
- FOUNDATION 4 - The WONDER of a Transformed Life:
There is one other thing that will give you assurance of your
salvation: the transformation that will take place in your life as you live in harmony
with Gods Word. You will begin to notice a change in your life. You will have new
desires and new goals. Some bad habits will begin to fade. And you will be different. You
wont be perfect, but the overall direction of your life will change.
Notice how Paul described this change.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a ________ creature:
______ things are___________ _________; behold, all things are become new.
- Philippians 2:13
- For it is ______ which __________ in you both to will and to do
of his good pleasure.
- Colossians 3:1-2
- If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ______ _______ _________ on things
above, not on things on the earth.
CONCLUSION:
Now that you know that you know Him,
reinforce that faith by doing the following exercises:
- Read the Book of 1 John.
- Read all five chapters at one sitting.
- Read a chapter at a time and take notes on the different expressions of assurance you
find. (Look for word "know".)
- Memorize: 1 John 5:13; John 1:12
- Discuss with a friend what you have learned about assurance. If the friend doesnt
have the same assurance that you now have, ask if he is willing to study with you.
Personal Notes:
Chapter Three: Getting To Know God
It is with a profound sense of awe that we approach a study of the
person and nature of God. How foolish it would be if we thought we would in any way begin
to understand the fullness of who God is, or the depths of His nature. He is obviously
beyond understanding or comprehension by mortal men. But, the Scripture does give us a
peek into who He is, and what He is like. While we will never understand it all, we can
definitely learn much from a study of what the Bible reveals about God.
If you are looking for conclusive proof that God exists, youll
not find it here, nor elsewhere. While there are definite theological arguments (which are
not the purpose of this study) for the existence of God, we must accept His existence by
faith (Hebrews 11:6). The Bible nowhere sets out to prove that there is a
God, but simply assumes that He is (Genesis 1:1). While it is not the
purpose of this study to force you to believe in God, it would be extremely foolish of you
to dismiss His existence without examining the evidence. If you are having questions of
this nature, please take the time to investigate for yourself.
The purpose of this study is to help you understand what the Bible says
about God. This will not be an exhaustive study, but will examine the basics of Gods
nature.
- The Biblical DEFINITIONS of Gods Nature
If asked to do so, how would you define God? I am sure
youll agree that it would be a difficult task, but go ahead and give it a try.
"To me God is
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________"
While the Bible nowhere gives an actual "definition" of God,
it does give some interesting insights into who He is and what He is like. In trying to
define "God" biblically, we discover that:
- God is Triune. - What is meant by the term "Trinity"? The word
"trinity" is a word coined to explain the existence of God, who is One, in three
distinct persons: Father, Son & Spirit. Please do not misunderstand: There is no hint
in the Bible that there are three Gods. The Scripture is clear, there is only One God (Deuteronomy
6:4). Yet this One God has revealed Himself and His work among men in three
distinct Persons. It is a mystery that is incomprehensible to us. Many attempts have been
made to describe the Trinity, but all efforts fall short. After all, He is God and we are
mere men. Suffice it to say that the Bible reveals Him as Triune. Maybe the illustration
of the Trinitarian Triangle will help you understand the Triune nature of God.
Both the Old & New Testaments testify to the Triune nature of God.
Match the words or phrases used to describe the Trinity with their corresponding verses:
- ____ Genesis 1:26 ..match
..a.
in
the name of the Father
Son
and Holy Ghost
- ____ Luke 1:35
...b.
three
that bear record
these Three are one
- ____ Matthew 3:16-17
c.
God
sent
the Spirit of His Son
- ____ Matthew 28:19
d.
Let us
- ____ Galatians 4:6
..e.
blood
of Christ
eternal Spirit
living God
- ____ Hebrews 9:14
...f.
Holy
Ghost
the Highest
the Son of God
- ____ 1 John 5:7
g.
Jesus
Spirit
of God
voice from Heaven
- God is Spirit. (John 4:24) - From the Greek word for breathe or wind, the
Bible uses the word "Spirit" to describe the invisible and
immaterial nature of God.
- God is Light. (1 John 1:5) - While not actually a definition,
the Bible says that "God is light" in order to identify Him as the
spiritual illuminator of those groping in the darkness of sin.
- God is Love. (1 John 4:8) - "Love" is the term used in
the Bible to express the essential nature of God which has prompted Him in all His
merciful and kind attitudes and actions toward man.
- God is a Consuming Fire. (Hebrews 12:29) - This term is used to
speak of Gods holiness, consuming all that is inconsistent with His character.
- The Biblical DECLARATIONS of Gods Nature
The Bible also reveals who God is and what He is like by declaring His
essential attributes or characteristics. Some of these attributes belong exclusively to
God, while others are reflected in varying degrees in the lives of those He has created.
But God alone possesses these attributes to their fullest extent. The following list of
Gods attributes are in no way intended to be exhaustive. But it will give you
insight as to Who we worship and call LORD. Identify the phrases which present the
essential attributes of God in each of the following verses.
- God is Sovereign. - The word "sovereign" means chief,
highest, or supreme. As the Sovereign Ruler of the universe, there is no authority
equal to, or greater than, His. No one can depose Him, or vote Him out of office. He alone
is Sovereign!
- 1 Chronicles 29:12 -
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou __________
________ _______; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make
great, and to give strength unto all.
- Psalm 103:19 -
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom
___________ ________ ______.
- God is Eternal. - There has never been a time when God did not exist. He
had no beginning, and He has no end. He alone is eternal!
- Deuteronomy 33:27 - The _________ ______ is thy refuge, and underneath are the
everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say,
Destroy them.
- 1 Timothy 1:17 -
Now unto the _________ ___________, immortal, invisible, the only
wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- God is Omniscient. - God possesses all knowledge. He has always known
everything there is to know. He never had to be instructed, nor was He ever surprised by a
recent discovery. He alone is Omniscient!
- Psalm 147:5 - Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is ________.
- 1 John 3:20 -
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and
____________ _____ __________.
- God is Omnipresent. - His personal presence is everywhere, all the time.
You cannot find a place to hide from Him. Neither can you ever get into a situation where
He is unavailable for help. He alone is Omnipresent!
- Psalm 139:7-9 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy
presence? If I ascend up into heaven, ______ ____ ________: if I make my bed in hell,
behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost
parts of the sea; _________ _________ shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall
hold me.
- Proverbs 15:3 -
The eyes of the LORD are in _________ ________, beholding the evil
and the good.
- God is Omnipotent. He is all powerful. There is nothing too hard for Him.
He has more than enough strength to do the sum total of all things He would ever need or
want to do. He alone is Omnipotent!
- Revelation 19:6 - And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the
voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the
Lord God _____________ reigneth.
- Ephesians 3:20 -
Now unto him that is _______ _____ ____ exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- God is Immutable. His essential nature and attributes never change. He may
express Himself in different ways, but He is always the same. He is never hypocritical,
nor two-faced. He never changes His mind. He always keeps His promises. He alone is Immutable!
- Malachi 3:6 - For I am the LORD, ___ _________ ______; therefore ye sons of Jacob
are not consumed.
- Hebrews 13:8 -
Jesus Christ the _________ yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
- God is Holy. - As Holy, Gods essential nature is that of
purity, majesty, and glory. His Word is Holy. His ways are Holy. His desire for us
is that we be Holy. While that is also our goal and desire, God alone is Holy!
- Leviticus 11:44 - For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore ___________
yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for ___ _____ _________: neither shall ye defile
yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16 - But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for ___ _____ _________.
- God is Righteous. - He always does the "right" thing. It is
impossible for Him do or cause anything that is wrong. Since He is "perfect", He
demands "perfection" of those who would dwell with Him. An impossible standard?
Absolutely! That is why Jesus came. Through faith in Him, we can be made "righteous".
In fact, when we are "in Him", His righteousness is given to us. God
alone is Righteous.
- Deuteronomy 32:4 - He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are
judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and ___________ is he.
- Psalm 7:9 -
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the
just: for the ______________ God trieth the hearts and reins.
- God is Just. - He is absolutely fair and equitable in all His doings. It
is impossible for Him to do anything unfair either to Himself or to man. As the Judge
of the universe, His judgment and justice is fair, and right. Though we
often see things that seem unfair, as these things relate to God, we must realize that we
are limited in our understanding of the "whole picture". Ultimately, we will
understand that in all His doings, God is Just.
- Romans 3:25-26 -
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his
blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be
________, and the _____________ of him which believeth in Jesus.
- Revelation 15:3 -
And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song
of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; ________ and
true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
- God is Kind. - He is never mean-spirited, harsh, vengeful, or hateful. His
holiness is always against sin, but His love and kindness is always available to the
sinner. His kindness is great and everlasting. And it comes to us through His Son, Jesus
Christ. God is Kind.
- Ephesians 2:7 - That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his
grace in his _______________ toward us through Christ Jesus.
- Titus 3:4 - But after that the __________ and _______ of God our Saviour toward man
appeared,
- God is Merciful. - As the "Father of mercies", He
reaches out to the suffering with compassion. While "grace" is God doing
for us what we could never do for ourselves, "mercy" is that quality of
God that causes Him to withhold from us the just punishment we deserve for our sins. God
is Merciful.
- Psalm 103:8 - The LORD is _____________ and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous
in mercy.
- 2 Corinthians 1:3 -
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
Father of ______________, and the God of all comfort;
- God is Jealous. - He deserves and expects complete loyalty. He will not
share His glory with any other; man or "god". To place anyone or anything on an
equal or higher plane with Him is idolatry, and totally unacceptable. God is Jealous.
- Exodus 34:14 - For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is
___________, is a ____________ God:
- Nahum 1:2 -
God is ___________, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is
furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his
enemies.
- The Biblical DISTINCTIONS of Gods Nature
The Bible reveals to us Gods character by telling us what He is
NOT. With our limited understanding, it is only natural that we may sometimes think of Him
in human terms. But God definitely is not a man. Also, many different views of God have
been presented by various religions. But the Bible makes it clear what God is NOT.
- God is not a man. - Although that may seem like a very obvious statement,
the Bible is clear to point out that although God possesses life and personality, He is
substantially different from men.
- Numbers 23:19 -
God is ______ __ ______, that he should lie; neither the son of man,
that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall
he not make it good?
- Isaiah 55:8-9 -
For my thoughts are _____ _______ ___________, neither are your ways
my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
- God is not an image. - Although historically, man has attempted to fashion
God according to the imaginations of his own mind, and although he has used the finest
materials and the most skilled artisans, all attempts at representing God are totally
inadequate. He transcends and far exceeds the best man can even imagine.
- Exodus 20:4 -
Thou shalt not make unto thee any _________ _________, or any likeness
of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the
water under the earth:
- God is not one of many. - Modern cults, like ancient pagans, worship a
variety of gods. They have many lesser or greater gods. But the Bible declares that there
is only one God.
- Isaiah 44:6 -
Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of
hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and _________ ______ there is no God.
- 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 -
For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or
in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but ______
_________, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ,
by whom are all things, and we by him.
IV. The Biblical DESCRIPTIONS of Gods Nature
Although it must be remembered that God is Spirit and therefore has no
physical body except for special occasions when He has chosen to manifest Himself to man
in physical form-, the Bible often used various body parts and functions of the body to
describe the way God works among men. There is a big word for this: it is ANTHROPOMORPHISM,
which means the representation or depiction of God in human form. As you read
the following verses and match the descriptions used of God, consider how each describes a
unique function of Gods character.
- ____1 Peter 3:12
.match
..a.
The Face of the
Lord
- ____ Isaiah 41:2
..b. The Eyes
of the Lord
- ____ Exodus 15:8
.c. The Ears
of the Lord
- ____ Exodus 33:11,20
..d. The Mouth of
the Lord
- ____ Isaiah 59:1
e. The
Nostrils of the Lord
- ____ Isaiah 40:5
f. The
Arm of the Lord
- ____ Psalm 34:15
..g. The Hand
of the Lord
- ____ Isaiah 53:1
h. The
Foot of the Lord
- The Biblical DYNAMICS of Gods Nature
Another unique quality of God is that, as God, He can do anything He
desires and there are some things that only He can do. These dynamic acts of God
reveal many aspects of His nature and character. As you discover these qualities of God,
you will no doubt be moved to worship Him more fervently and know Him more fully.
- God Foreknows all things (Acts 15:18). God knows all things that
will happen before they happen. What specific items of Gods foreknowledge do the
following verses reveal?
- _______ Jeremiah 1:5
..match
..
a. who will be justified
- _______ Acts 2:23
.b. who
the elect are
- _______ Romans 8:28-29
.
.c. the
direction our lives will take
- _______ 1 Peter 1:2
...d. the
death and resurrection of Jesus
- God Created all things (Genesis 1:1). Everything that exists is the
direct result of the creative thoughts and actions of God. The three Person of our Triune
God were each involved in Creation. As you read the following verses, identify which
Person of the Trinity is active in Creation.
- _______ Genesis 1:1
.match
a. Jesus
- _______ Genesis 1:2
b. The
Father
- _______ Colossians 1:15-17
c. The Spirit
- God Calls all men to salvation (Isaiah 1:18). Having created us
because of His love for us, it seems reasonable that God would do whatever is necessary to
bring us into a right relationship with Him. Those acts begin with His calling of all men
to know Him. In the following verses identify who is calling and the essence of the
invitation.
- _______ Isaiah 1:18
match
a. The Spirit
- _______ Matthew 11:28-30
b. The Father
- _______ Revelation 22:17
..c. Jesus
- God Saves all who come to Him through faith in Christ (John 1:12). Salvation
from the penalty and power of sin is the work of God, not man. Nothing we can do will
effect the purging of the stain of sin on the human heart. Only through Gods mercy
and grace, the sacrifice of Jesus and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit can such
salvation be accomplished. The word "save" is used in its various
forms 560 times in the Bible. Every time it is used in relation to spiritual
salvation from sin, it clearly testifies that God is the One who saves.
- God Equips all Believers for service (Ephesians 4:11-12). Just
as salvation is a gift to us of Gods grace, so also is the various personality and
character traits that make us who we are. In addition to natural abilities that we are
born with, the Bible teaches that God also gives each Christian special abilities that
enable us to function with others in His Body, the Church. Although our gifts differ, they
are equally important. This too is a work of God, not man (1 Corinthians 12:11).
- God Sanctifies all Believers through faithfulness to His word (John
17:17). Whereas salvation is an instantaneous work of God the moment we believe,
sanctification (cleansing) involves a growing, maturing, life-long process of God bringing
us into line with His Word and will. But it too is Gods work, not ours. (1
Thessalonians 4:3; Galatians 3:2-3; Philippians 2:12-13)
- God will Glorify all Believers (Romans 8:30). One other
action that God will perform on our behalf is to make us "like Him". We
will one day be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Our present
bodies will be significantly changed, fashioned into a body like that of Christ after His
resurrection (Philippians 3:20-21). Only God can do such a thing.
CONCLUSION:
Now that you have studied this lesson and read many verses on the
nature of God, rewrite your own definition incorporating the ideas you have learned.
To me God is
________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
I realize that what you have just studied probably seems beyond
comprehension. And believe me, the more you learn, the more you will realize how much you
dont know, especially as it relates to God. But as you continue your Spiritual
BootCamp, you will grow in your understanding of who God is, and how you can walk in
closer fellowship with Him. For closer intimacy with Him, do the following exercises:
- Read
the following: Psalms: 1, 8, 19, 22, 23, & 24
- Memorize
the following verses: Psalm 48:14; 19:1
Personal Notes:
Chapter Four: The Book Of Books - The Bible
The most remarkable Book ever written is the Holy Bible. When you hold
it in your hand it looks ordinary enough, but when you open its cover, and pore over its
pages, you discover it is no ordinary Book. Depending on its binding, quality of printing,
and additional study helps, a copy of the Bible can cost between a couple of dollars to
upwards of $100.00. But its message is invaluable.
While it is one Book, the Bible is actually a compilation of 66 Books
written by about 40 different men over a period of 1500 years. They wrote from the Sinai
Desert, the cliffs of Arabia, the hill-sides and plains of Palestine, from river banks,
sea shores, immoral Greek cities, a dreary dungeon in Rome and the lonely Isle of Patmos
in the Aegean Sea. The writers of the Bible came from a wide variety of backgrounds.
Kings, statesmen, herdsmen, farm workers, scribes, priests, prophets, tax collectors,
fishermen, physicians, and learned men of old wrote down the very words given them by God.
No other Book in all history has been so compiled, and yet the Bible
has an amazing sense of continuity and harmony, absence of contradiction, and singleness
of purpose and message. The process by which they received the "Word of God"
and recorded it for mankind is known as "inspiration". And every word of
Scripture was divinely inspired. (2 Timothy 3:16)
As Christians, we believe the Bible. The Bible is our final authority
in matters of faith and practice. Scriptural testimony determines our doctrinal beliefs
and our basis of fellowship with others. To the extent that people believe and follow the
Scripture, to that extent we are in fellowship with them. While human limitations hinder
us from understanding everything recorded in the Bible, one of the joys of the
Christians life is to discover truth revealed therein. This Chapter is designed to
give you a feel for the Bible, and provide you with some practical ideas on how to get the
most from your Bible Study time.
- The AUTHOR of the Bible
The Bible has both human & Divine Authors. As noted above, the
Bible was written by about ______ different men over a period of about ___________years.
It was originally written in three different languages: Hebrew, Arabic, and Greek.
1. How would you describe the character of the men God used to write
the Scripture?
- 2 Peter 1:21
- For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but
_______ ________ of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- We often speak of the inspiration of the Scriptures, which means they were "God
breathed". What portion of the Bible is inspired?
- 2 Timothy 3:16
- ______ scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
- What important truth did Peter recognize about the Letters written by Paul?
- 2 Peter 3:15-16
- And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also ____________ to the ___________
__________ unto ________ hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in
them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own
destruction.
- What did Gods symbolic touch of Jeremiahs mouth imply?
- Jeremiah 1:9
- Then the LORD put forth his hand, and __________ _____
__________. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
- When God spoke by David, whose word was on Davids tongue?
- 2 Samuel 23:2
- The spirit of the ______ spake by me, and his word was in my
tongue.
- From where did Paul get his message?
- Galatians 1:12
- For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it,
but by the ________________ of ___________ Christ.
- The ARRANGEMENT Of The Bible
Have you ever wondered who compiled the Bible, and how its many Books
fit together? It is really quite interesting.
- Canonicity
: The decision concerning which Books would be included in the Bible was
made by a group of scholars about 300 years after Jesus ascension back to Heaven.
That decision is called canonicity. Though it was quite an involved and complicated
process, simply stated, for a Book to have been included in the Old Testament, it had to
have been written, edited or endorsed by a Prophet. For a Book to have been included in
the New Testament, it had to have been written or endorsed by an Apostle.
- Content
: The Bible consists of _________ Books, divided into two major
sections; The Old Testament with _________ Books, & The New Testament with
_________Books. In Luke 24:44 JESUS divided the Old Testament into 3 parts.
- Luke 24:44
- And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto
you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in
the ________ of Moses, and in the ___________, and in the __________, concerning me.
We basically follow that same pattern of divisions in the current
arrangement of the Bible. There are 17 Books that deal primarily with history {The
Pentateuch, & Historical sections-. These are followed by 5 Books that are primarily
poetic in nature. Next are 17 Books that are primarily prophetic {Major & Minor
Prophets}. In the blanks below, write the Old Testament Books in order. Then begin
memorizing them by sections.
Pentateuch {Five Books}
- _______________________________ 4. __________________________________
- _______________________________ 5. __________________________________
- _______________________________
Historical
- _______________________________ 7. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 8. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 9. _________________________________
- _______________________________10. _________________________________
- _______________________________11. _________________________________
- _______________________________12. _________________________________
Poetical
- _______________________________ 4. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 5. _________________________________
- _______________________________
Major Prophets
- _______________________________ 4. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 5. _________________________________
- _______________________________
Minor Prophets
- _______________________________ 7. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 8. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 9. _________________________________
- _______________________________10. _________________________________
- _______________________________11. _________________________________
- _______________________________12. _________________________________
The New Testament Books can also be broadly divided into 3 major
divisions: a historical section (Matthew-Acts); a doctrinal section (Romans-Jude); and a
prophetical section (Revelation). But, probably a better way of dividing the New Testament
Books would be according their General themes. In the blanks below, write the books of the
New Testament in order. Then begin memorizing them by sections.
Gospels & Acts
- _______________________________ 4. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 5. _________________________________
- _______________________________
Church Epistles
- _______________________________ 6. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 7. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 8. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 9. _________________________________
- _______________________________
Pastoral Epistles
- _______________________________ 3. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 4. _________________________________
General Epistles
- _______________________________ 5. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 6. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 7. _________________________________
- _______________________________ 8. _________________________________
Prophecy
- _______________________________
- The APPLICATION Of The Bible
The fact that you have enrolled in this Spiritual BootCamp would imply
that you already accept the Bible as the Word of God, and desire to make it a more
integral part of your life. But the question remains, how can we know the Bible, and apply
its message to our lives? The following is from a pamplet by Rick Warren on "How to
have a quiet time."
There are 6 steps of "internalizing" (or learning) the Bible.
These steps can be compared to the fingers and palm on your hand. If you hold your Bible
with one or two fingers, it is easy to lose your grip. But as you use more fingers, your
grasp of the Bible becomes stronger. The same is true spiritually. As you apply the
following 6 methods of learning the Bible, your grasp of its message will become stronger.
- Hear it
. (Romans 10:17)The first step to getting a good grasp of the
Word of God is to hear it. As you listen to others read and explain the Scripture your
mind will be enlightened and your faith strengthened. You can hear the Word in Church
services, Bible classes, on the radio or TV, on tape, etc. But be sure that those you
listen to have a firm belief in the essentials of Biblical truth.
- What kind of heart will best hear and use the Word?
- Luke 8:15
- But that on the good ground are they, which in an __________ and
________ heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
- Whom did Jesus say would be blessed?
- Luke 11:28
- But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that _________ the
word of God, and __________ it.
- Read it
. (Revelation 1:3)The second step to getting a good grasp on
the Word of God is to read it for yourself. Taking time to read the Scripture is essential
for your spiritual growth. Some practical helps for reading include: (1) Read in a quiet,
well-lighted place; (2) Read daily! Just as you need daily food for your body, you need
daily nourishment for your soul from the Word of God. (3) If possible have a dictionary
and concordance to help with words you don't unterstand.
- Explain Ezras approach to reading the Scripture.
- Nehemiah 8:8
- So they ________ in the book in the law of God ___________,
and gave the __________, and caused them to ______________ the reading.
- What are some reasons for reading the Bible daily?
- Deuteronomy 17:19
- And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all
the days of his life: that he may _________ to __________ the LORD his God, to _________
all the words of this law and these statutes, to ______ them:
- What instruction did Paul give Timothy?
- 1 Timothy 4:13
- Till I come, __________ ____________ to ___________, to
exhortation, to doctrine.
- Study it.
(Acts 17:11) In addition to hearing and reading, to get the
most from your time with the Bible you will need to learn to study it. Study is not easy,
but it is vital. As you study, remember this important key to understanding the Bible:
"If the literal sense makes good sense, Seek no other sense, Lest it result in
nonsense."In other words, accept the Bible for what it says. Accept it as being
literally true. Of course, there are places where the Scripture uses figurative language,
and those places will be clear as you study. But the vast majority of what you read is to
be interpreted and understood literally. Dont get caught up in the fad of trying to
spiritualize everything. Accept the Bible at face value, unless there is a clear
contextual reason for doing otherwise.
- What should be our goal of studying the Bible?
- 2 Timothy 2:15
- Study to show thyself __________ unto God, a workman that
needeth ______ to be _____________, _____________ dividing the word of truth.
- When we "search the Scriptures", what will we find to be the theme?
- John 5:39
- Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:
and they are they which testify of __________.
- Memorize it
. (Psalm 119:9,11)The 4th step to internalizing
the Word is to memorize it. The obvious reason for memorizing selected verses from the
Bible is so you can call them to mind when you need them most. Verses that you memorize
will be a "shield" for you to use in your spiritual battles. They will give you
strength you need in stopping Satans attacks. So I urge you to begin today to hide
the Word of God in your heart.
- What does God want you to do with His Word as expressed in the following verses?
- _______ Deuteronomy 11:18
.match
...a.
write them on your heart
- _______ Psalm 119:11
b.
eat them
- _______ Proverbs 7:3
.c.
bind them on your hand
- _______ Jeremiah 15:16
d.
hide them in your heart
- In Colossians 3:16, what does the phrase, "Let the Word of Christ
dwell in you richly" mean?
______________________________________________________________________________
- Meditate
on it. (Psalm 1:1-3) In addition to hearing, reading,
studying, and memorizing the Scripture, you should develop a habit of meditating on it.
What is meditation? Meditation is prayerful reflection with a view to understanding and
application - giving prayerful thought to Gods Word and your life, with the goal of
conforming your life to His will. Asking these two questions will help you in your
meditation: (1) What is the meaning of this verse based on its context? (2) How should
this verse affect my life?
- What promises are made to the person who continually meditates on the Word of God?
- Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt
meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way ___________, and then thou shalt have
good _______________.
- Psalm 1:2-3 - But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate
day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
_____________ forth his _________ in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and
whatsoever he doeth shall _____________.
- What effect do you think meditating on the Word of God will have on your life?
- Luke 6:45 - A good man out of the _______ __________ of his heart bringeth forth that
which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that
which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
- Obey it - The Bible is not intended to be merely a Christian ornament to be displayed on
the table or carried to Church. It is to be heard, read, studied, memorized and meditated
on. It is also to be obeyed! Obedience to the teaching of Scripture is vital.
NOTE: While the previous six steps will be critical to your
understanding of the Bible, what other steps can you take to help you get the most out of
your Bible study time?
- _______ Psalm 119:18
match
a. Use your own reasoning to
figure things out.
- _______ Psalm 119:73
..b. Ask God to give
you understanding.
- _______ Psalm 119:125
c. Ask God to open
your eyes to His truth.
What are some benefits you can expect from your Bible study time?
- _______ Psalm 119:165...match
a. Illumination
- _______ Psalm 119:9
.
b. Wisdom
- _______ Psalm 119:105
.
c. Peace
- _______ Psalm 119:98
.
..d. Cleansing
- Your APPROACH To The Bible.
By now you are, hopefully, convinced that the Bible is Gods Word, and that it is
important for you to spend time learning what messages God has for you as you study His
Book. But you may be like many who wonder where to start and how to do it. Let me urge you
to begin to develop a habit of having a Quiet Time with God on a daily basis. If you are
ready to make such a commitment, the following information should help you develop that
habit. (REMEMBER: It takes a minimum of 21 days of consistent practice to develop a
habit.)
- Start With A Proper Attitude - In many things, the why is more important than the what.
It is possible to do the right thing with the wrong motive. (1 Samuel 16:7; 2 Chronicles
25:2) Ask God to help you develop these proper attitudes as you meet with Him in your
daily Quiet Time:
- Expectancy - Come before God with anticipation and expectancy.
- Psalms 63:1 - O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my
soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no
water is;
- Reverence - Come before Him with quietness of heart and a humble spirit.
- Psalms 89:7 - God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had
in reverence of all them that are about him.
- Habakkuk 2:20 - But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence
before him.
- Alertness - Wake-up! Be rested and alert! After all, you are coming into the presence of
your Creator & Redeemer. (Psalm 57:7-9; Proverbs 6:22; Luke 9:32)
- Psalms 17:15 - As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied,
when I awake, with thy likeness.
- Willingness to Obey - Meet with God having already chosen to do His will, not yours, no
matter what it is.
- John 7:17 - If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of
God, or whether I speak of myself.
- John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- 1 John 2:3 - And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
- Select a Specific Time
- General thoughts:
- The best time is when you are at your best. Give God the best part of your day.
- Your best time may be different than someone elses.
- Early morning seems best for most people.
- Biblical examples of spending time with God in the morning include:
- Jesus Mark 1:35 - And in the ___________, rising up a _________ ________ ______
______, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
{Consider also these examples: Abraham - (Genesis 19:27);Job - (Job
1:5); Jacob - (Genesis 28:18); Moses - (Exodus 34:4); Hannah & Elkanah - (1 Samuel
1:19); David - (Psalm 5:3; 57:7-8); Ezekiel - (Ezekiel 12:8)}
- Biblical instruction includes:
- Psalms 90:14 - O satisfy us _________ with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad
all our days.
- Psalms 119:147 - I prevented the __________ of the __________, and cried: I hoped in thy
word.
- Psalms 143:8 - Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the _____________; for in thee do
I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
- Isaiah 26:9 - With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within
me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the
world will learn righteousness.
- How much time?
- If you are new to this, start with 7 to 10 minutes.
- Aim to gradually increase your time to at least 15 minutes a day; {That equals 1 hour 45
minutes out of a total of 168 hours every week.}
- Dont watch the clock! Determine what you are going to do during your Quiet Time,
then do it. Sometimes it will take a little longer than other times. But dont watch
your watch.
- Emphasize quality, not quantity! It is not how much time you spend, but how you spend
the time that is important.
- Be flexible! You may at times sense God leading you to spend the entire time in prayer.
At other times He may want you to stay with Him longer than usual. Be sensitive to the
leadership of the Spirit.
- Choose A Special Place - Biblical Examples of people with a special place for meeting
God include Abraham (Genesis 19:27), and Jesus (Luke 22:39).
- It should be a secluded place. A quiet place where you:
- can pray aloud without disturbing others;
- have good lighting for reading;
- are comfortable. Warning: Do not have your quiet time in bed. Thats too
comfortable.)
- It should be a special place. After all, you are going to meet the King of the Universe
there. As time goes by, this place will begin to mean a lot to you.
- It should be a sacred place. You are meeting the living God in this place, and getting
to know Him intimately. It will become more and more sacred to you.
- Follow A Simple Plan - "If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit it." If you
have no specific plan to follow, your quiet time will soon become meaningless. If your
plan is too complicated, you will soon get frustrated and quit. The following three books
will help keep this time meaningful and rich: (1) A Bible - Thats easy for you to
read, with good clear print. (2) A notebook - To write down insights you receive from the
Scripture, or questions you want to ask a more mature Christian, and for making a prayer
list. (3) A hymnbook - Sometimes you will want to sing praises as you worship before the
Lord. Make copies of Hymns or Choruses that you especially enjoy and intersperse private
worship with your Bible Study and prayer (Colossians 3:16).
The following 6 steps will help you organize your quiet time for
maximum benefits:
- Relax - Take a moment to be still & quiet before God and put yourself in a reverent
mood. (Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 30:15; 40:31)
- Request - A brief prayer to ask God to prepare your heart to receive what He has for you
in your time together. Also use this time to confess any sin that He brings to your mind.
(Psalm 119:18; 139:23-24; 1 John 1:9)
- Read - A previously selected passage of Scripture where you let God speak to you through
His word. You should read the Bible:
- Slowly - Dont get in a hurry; and dont try to read too much.
- Repeatedly - Read the same passage over and over until you get it clearly in your mind.
Read the same passage daily for 1 month and you will know it.
- Without stopping - Dont stop in the middle of your reading and daydream or
"chase rabbits".
- Aloud but quietly - Reading aloud improves your concentration.
- Systematically - Read through Books of the Bible in an orderly fashion.
- Reflect & Remember - By memorizing selected portions of Scripture and meditating on
what you read and learn, you will begin to see the Word of God do a powerful work in your
life.
- Record - Write down what God has shown you. This will help you to both remember what you
are learning from the Word, and apply it in your daily life.
- Request - Close your quiet time in the same way you started it, talking to God in
prayer. Especially use this time to ask Him for wisdom, guidance, and strength to apply
what you have learned from Scripture.
CAUTION: Dont approach your quiet time in some legalistic
fashion that would cause you to go on a guilt trip for missing a day. Be consistent, but
be flexible. Allow for as few exceptions as possible until the pattern is firmly
established in your life: about 6 weeks. Rely on God for the strength you need to keep it
up.
CONCLUSION:
The Bible is the Word of God. It was given to us by God for our
benefit. It has been arranged by godly scholars to present an orderly, systematic
presentation of Gods redemptive plan for man. When we take the time and put forth
the effort necessary, we can understand and apply the teaching of Scripture to our lives,
and benefit greatly by doing so.
- Read Psalm 19 & 119 at least twice.
- Memorize: Psalm 119:11 & 2 Timothy 3:16
Personal Notes:
Chapter Five: The Power Of Prayer
What a joy it is to be able to pull up a chair or dial a number and
chat with a good friend, or a parent about some exciting news or painful experience in our
life. How helpful it is to be able to "unload" your burdens on a sympathetic
individual whom you know loves you and is genuinely concerned about your well being. Being
able to talk to someone about your problems is often therapeutic, and we appreciate those
who listen, and are able to help in our times of need.
The help that friends are able to offer at such times varies. Sometimes
our friends can really do little more than listen. At other times they can offer advice
based on their particular expertise or previous experiences. A really close friend may
even be able to rebuke us when needed-, and get us started on the right path again. But
none of this help comes until we feel close enough to them to be able to "share"
with them our pain, burden, or need for help.
Sometimes we may feel that there is no one with whom we can be so open.
But as Christians, we always have Someone with whom we can talk, pour out our heart, and
share our burdens and joys. That Someone is not only able to help, because He is God; but
He is also willing to help, because He is our Father and Friend.
The experience of talking with the Father that Christians enjoy is
commonly called prayer. Effective prayer really isnt intended to be a complicated
matter. Prayer is simply talking to God and listening for His answer. No, you wont
hear him answer with your ear, but you will hear Him loud and clear with your heart; if
you listen.
Prayer is one of the most prominent topics in Scripture. There are many
examples and precepts in the Bible to guide us when we pray. This lesson will be an
introduction to a life-long journey of intimate conversation with the Almighty.
- The PRIVILEGE of Prayer
What a blessed privilege it is to be able to pray. Imagine, actually
talking to God, and knowing that He is listening. He who created the universe is so
interested in me that when I call on His name, He pays attention to my request and comes
to my aid. I could never pick up the phone or just drop by and talk with the President of
the United States, or the Governor of California. But I can talk with the Supreme Ruler
of the universe. That is truly a great privilege.
How can I have such audacity as to claim that I can talk to God, and
that He listens when I do? Simple, I find His gracious invitation to come into His
presence throughout the Scriptures.
- What invitation do you find from God in the following verses?
- Isaiah 1:18 - _____________ _________,
and let us reason together, saith the LORD:
though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Matthew 11:28 - ___________ _________ ________,
all ye that labour and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.
- Hebrews 4:16 -
Let us therefore ________________ _______________ unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
How could anyone refuse such a wonderful opportunity? Make your time
with God a priority. Meet with Him often and stay as long as you need.
- The PURPOSE of Prayer
Some may question, "Since God is all-knowing and
loving, why is it necessary to actually tell Him what we need or are faced with? Surely He
knows, so why doesnt He just come to our aid without our having to ask? And besides,
can we hope to change Gods mind about a matter? Isnt He just going to do what
He wants anyway?"
So, why do we Pray? Is it to change Gods mind? Is it because He
doesnt know what is going on in our lives unless we tell Him? Is it so we can set
forth our most persuasive arguments to get Him to do what we want? What is the purpose of
prayer?
- Glorify God -
It is clear in the Bible that Christians are to live in such a way
that our lives bring glory {honor & praise} to God. Obviously that would include our
prayers. So the primary purpose of prayer is to give glory to God.
How does Jesus glorify God when we pray?
- John 14:13 -
And whatsoever ye shall ______ in my name, that ______ ___ _____, that
the Father may be glorified in the Son.
- Obedience - Another purpose of prayer is obedience. Not only are we invited to pray,
we are commanded to pray. If we dont pray, we are disobedient. So we pray to be
obedient.
What do the following verses teach you about the command to pray?
- _______ 1 Samuel 12:23
match
a. We should pray everywhere for all men.
- _______ 1 Thessalonians 5:17
.b. It is a sin not to pray for
people.
- _______ Luke 22:40
.c. We should pray
without ceasing.
- _______ 1 Timothy 2:1,8
.d. We should pray when
tempted.
- Fellowship -
A third reason for praying is to maintain our fellowship with God.
Regularly communicating with God in prayer will keep us close to Him. While this is a joy
for us, it is also something that our Father delights in as well. So there should be no
reluctance on our part to approach our Father as often as we desire.
What is our Heavenly Fathers desire?
- Proverbs 15:8 -
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the
____________ of the __________ is his delight.
- The PERSON of Prayer
You may ask, "To whom should I pray?" While the answer may
seem obvious to you, some people still get it confused. Some pray to angels, others to
Saints, others to Mary, and still others to some pagan deity. But, as Christians we pray
to the Father, in the Name of the Lord Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- From the following verses, identify the phrases that teach that our prayers are to be
directed personally to God the Father.
- Nehemiah 4:9 -
Nevertheless we made our __________ ________ ______ _______, and set
a watch against them day and night, because of them.
- Matthew 6:9 -
After this manner therefore pray ye: ________ ______________ which art
in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
- Acts 12:5 -
Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing
of the church_________ _________ for him.
- What is the work of the Lord Jesus in our prayers?
- 1 Timothy 2:5 -
For there is one God, and one ___________________ between God and
men, the man Christ Jesus;
- Hebrews 7:25 -
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make ____________________ for them.
- What role does the Holy Spirit have in prayer?
- Romans 8:26-27
- Likewise the Spirit also _____________ our infirmities: for we know
not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh ____________________
for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth
what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh _____________________ for the saints
according to the will of God.
- The PEOPLE of Prayer
Who has the wonderful privilege of prayer? Who is it that can approach
the throne of God with confidence that he will be given an audience? Can anyone pray, or
just Christians? Or maybe just "spiritual" Christians have the privilege of
prayer.
Would it surprise you to learn that anyone can pray? But while it is
true, there are some qualifications to that statement. God desires fellowship and
communication with everyone. But only those who approach Him in faith and in the Name of
Jesus, have the assurance that He will hear and answer. In His sovereignty, He may choose
to answer the prayer of a lost person, but He has promised to answer the prayers of
Believers.
- What should be the first prayer an unbeliever prays?
- Luke 18:13 -
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his
eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying,
________________________________________ to me a sinner.
Other than a prayer of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, a person
without a Father/Child relationship with God has no assurance that his prayers will be
effective. Obviously, from a Biblical perspective, prayer is intended to be a
spiritual exercise for the people of God.
- What do the following verses reveal about the type of people who can pray with power?
- _______ Hebrews 11:6
.match
.
a. People who forgive can pray
with power.
- _______ Psalm 66:18
.
..b. People who believe
can pray with power.
- _______ Mark 11:25
c. People who repent
can pray with power.
- _______ Matthew 21:22
- The POSTURE of Prayer
Have you ever considered what posture you should be in, or gestures you
should make when you pray? Some people pray on their knees, others standing, others with
hands folded or raised, or their eyes closed, and still others after making the sign of
the cross. Are any of these things necessary? Or even beneficial? What does the Scripture
say?
When Jesus taught His disciples to pray (Matthew 6), He
made no mention of the posture of prayer. The reason? Posture is not what is important.
God is concerned with the attitude of the heart, not the posture of the body, when we
approach Him. Having said that, let me add that bodily posture does often reflect the
attitude of the heart. In the following verse, what examples of posture in prayer do you
find? (Also, consider what attitudes may be expressed by each.)
- _______ Genesis 24:12-1
.match
..
a. with raised hands
- _______ Exodus 34:8
b. with face
between the knees
- _______ Judges 20:26
...c. kneeling
down
- _______ 1 Kings 18:42
.d. standing
- _______ Daniel 6:10
e. looking
up to heaven
- _______ Matthew 26:39
f. with bowed
head
- _______ Mark 1:40
g. kneeling
toward Jerusalem
- _______ Luke 18:13
..h. sitting
- _______ John 17:1
i. standing
with eyes lifted toward Heaven
- _______ 1 Timothy 2:8
.j. falling on
your face
- The PROMISE of Prayer
God has promised that if we will pray as we ought, He will hear and
answer our prayers.
- What promises do you discover in the following verses?
- 2 Chronicles 7:14 -
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
_______________ from heaven, and will ______________ their sin, and will ______________
their land.
- Jeremiah 33:3 -
Call unto me, and ____ _________ ____________ thee, and show thee
great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
- Matthew 7:7-8 -
________, and it shall be given you; ________, and ye shall find;
___________, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh
_______________; and he that seeketh _____________; and to him that knocketh it shall be
________________.
{For further encouragement, study the following verses: John
15:7; Philippians 4:19; James 1:5; James 5:16}
So the promise is clear: GOD ANSWERS PRAYER! Sometimes God
answers "YES". Sometimes He answers "WAIT". Sometimes He
answers "NO". But, He always answers.
- In what way may we be sure of a "yes" answer to our prayers?
- 1 John 5:14-15 -
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, _______ ________ ______: And if we know that he hear us,
whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the Petitions that we desired of him.
- What should your attitude be when you receive a "wait" answer from God?
- Psalm 27:13-14 -
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the
LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: _______ _________ ________________
________________, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
- hat are some reasons you might receive a "no" answer to your prayer?
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 -
And lest ____ ___________ _____ _________ above measure through
the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the
messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
- James 1:6-8 -
But let him ask in faith,______________ ________________. For he that
wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man
think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A _____________ ___________ man is
unstable in all his ways.
- James 4:3 -
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask _______________, that ye may
consume it upon your lusts.
- The PROCEDURE of Prayer
Are there any guidelines to follow when we approach God in prayer? YES!
Effective prayer should include at least four elements:
- A
doration - Always begin your prayer time by praising God for who He is, what He
has done, is doing and will do. (1 Chronicles 29:11)
- C
onfession - Openly and honestly admit your failure and sin to God,
and ask Him to cleanse you and restore your fellowship with Him. (1 John 1:9)
- T
hanksgiving - Dont forget to thank God for His answers to your
prayers, and His provisions for daily needs. (Psalm 100:4)
- S
upplication - Ask God boldly for the things you need for lifes activities
and for effective spiritual service. (Matthew 7:7-8)
CONCLUSION:
Memorize the following short poem and remind yourself often of the
wonderful privilege of prayer.
"I know not by what methods rare,
But this I know, God answers prayer."
- Read the following prayers of Jesus & Paul.
- Matthew.6:9-13;John 17;Ephesians 1:15-23;Ephesians 3:14-21;Colossians 1:3-15
- Memorize the following verses.
- 1 John 5:14-15;James 5:16
Personal Notes:
Chapter Six: The Spirit Filled Life
Someone once observed, "It is hard to live a truly
Christian life". To which a wiser man responded, "It is not hard, it is
impossible! by yourself." It doesnt take long after we come to Christ
for us to learn that though our souls have been saved, our bodies, and lives have a lot of
work yet to be done. We are made new and whole the moment of conversion; but it takes time
for our daily life to catch up with the change that has taken place on the inside.
How do we get to the point where our daily experience equals what we
know has happened to us spiritually? That is what this series and this study in
particular, is all about. It will only happen as a result of the "filling of
the Holy Spirit" in our lives. In this study you will discover what it means
to be filled with the Holy Spirit, how it can happen to you and what you can expect when
it does. Our approach will be to ask some questions pertinent to this topic and look to
the Scripture for our answers. You may be surprised at what you find.
- DEITY -
How do we know that the Holy Spirit is GOD?
In Chapter three of our BootCamp series, we learned that the Bible
reveals God as being One, yet at the same time as Triune. We have already learned that the
Trinity is one of the great mysteries of Scripture. Having studied in detail the Deity
of Christ (Chapter 1), and the Attributes of God (Chapter 3), we now turn our
attention to the Person of the Holy Spirit. In this study we will discover Who He
is, and what He is doing in our lives as believers.
The first thing to establish is that the Holy Spirit is God!
This truth is proven in Scripture on three fronts:
- His Divine Names. Scripture clearly uses names of Deity in connection with the
Holy Spirit. Here are just a few:
- Genesis 1:2 -
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep. And the Spirit of _______ moved upon the face of the waters.
- Isaiah 40:13 -
Who hath directed the Spirit of the _________, or being his
counsellor hath taught him?
- Luke 11:13 -
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the _____ Spirit to them that ask him?
- Romans 8:14 -
For as many as are led by the Spirit of _____, they are the sons of
God.
- Galatians 4:6 -
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of _____
______ into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
- His Divine Nature. The Scripture describes the Holy Spirit as possessing all the
qualities of God as do the Father and the Son. Notice the following:
- Omniscience
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-11 - But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the
Spirit _________________ all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the
things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth
no man, but the Spirit of God.
- Omnipotence
- Genesis 1:2 - And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep. And the _________ of God moved upon the face of the waters.
- Omnipresence
- Psalm 139:7 - Whither shall I go from thy _____________? or whither shall I flee
from thy presence?
- Eternity
- Hebrews 9:14 - How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the
___________________ Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from
dead works to serve the living God?
- Truth
- 1 John 5:6 - This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by
water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the
Spirit is ____________.
- Love
- Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is ___________, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
- Holiness
- Luke 11:13 - If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:
how much more shall your heavenly Father give the ___________ Spirit to them that ask him?
- Life
- Romans 8:2 - For the law of the Spirit of ____________ in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the law of sin and death.
- Wisdom
- Isaiah 40:13 - Who hath _____________ the Spirit of the LORD, or being his
counsellor hath ____________ him?
- His Divine Associations. The Deity of the Holy Spirit is also exhibited in the
associations which He has with the Father and the Son.
- Matthew 28:19 -
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
_______________ of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- 2 Corinthians 13:14 -
The ___________ of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the _________ of
God, and the _________________ of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
- DEEDS -
In what way is the Holy Spirit at work among men?
You may question, "What exactly is the work of the Holy Spirit? Is
he personally involved in my life and those around me?" The activities of the Spirit
of God as revealed in Scripture are presented in three realms:
- His work in creation. The Bible identifies the Spirit of God as actively involved
in creation in a variety of ways. Consider these verses:
- Genesis 1:2 -
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the
face of the deep. And the Spirit of God _____________ upon the face of the waters.
- Job 26:13 -
By his spirit he hath _______________ the heavens; his hand hath formed
the crooked serpent.
- Job 33:4 -
The spirit of God hath mad __________, and the breath of the Almighty
hath given me life.
- His work in conviction & conversion. The Spirit is actively involved in
bringing men to saving faith in Christ. In fact, without the Spirit no one would ever be
saved.
- John 3:5 -
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be ________
of water and of the __________, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- John 16:8-11 -
And when he is come, he will ____________ the world of ________, and
of ________________, and of ______________: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of
righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the
prince of this world is judged.
- Revelation 22:17 -
And the ___________ and the bride say, _____________. And let him
that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely.
- His work in Christians. The most significant Biblical revelations concerning the
work of the Holy Spirit has to do with His working in the lives of Believers. In the
section that follows, match the verse with the reasons why the Holy Spirit came.
- _______ John 3:5
..match
..
a. to empower us for
witnessing
- _______ John 16:13
..b. to
effect the new birth in us
- _______ John 16:14
..c. to guide
us into all truth
- _______ Acts 1:8
d. to
glorify Christ
- _______ Ephesians 1:13
e. to
give us love
- _______ Romans 5:5
..f. to
baptize us
- _______ Romans 8:26
g. to seal
us
- _______ 1 Corinthians 12:13
h. to help us pray
What do the following verses reveal to you about the Holy Spirits
special relationship with believers?
- Galatians 4:6 -
And because ye are sons, God hath ________ forth the _______ of his
Son _________ your ____________, crying, Abba, Father.
- Romans 8:9 -
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man _________ ______ the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
- John 14:16 -
And I will pray the Father, and he shall __________ ________ another
Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world
cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
____________ with you, and shall be ______ __________.
- DYNAMICS:
What has the Holy Spirit come to do in your life?
- The concept: Are you "filled with the Spirit"? You are
probably familiar with the term, but do you understand what it means? The Biblical concept
of being "filled" means "to be controlled, directed, or
empowered" by whatever is filling the person. From the following verses, what are
some things that may "fill" (control) a person?
- _______ Luke 2:40
..match
.
a. filled with fear
- _______ Luke 4:28
.
b. filled with wrath
- _______ Luke 5:26
.
c. filled with joy
- _______ Acts 13:52
d. filled with wisdom
- The command: As I am sure you understand, there are many things that can fill our
lives. But God wants to be in control of the things we do, and the way we feel. What
positive command does Paul in the following verse?
- Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but _____ _______
with the Spirit;
- The consequence: Since all believers are indwelt with the Holy Spirit (John
14:16-17), and this indwelling Spirit is the Spirit of Christ (Galatians
4:6), what type of life does the Holy Spirit produce within us when we are under
His control?
- Galatians 2:20 -
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
__________ _______________ in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
___________ of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- DIFFICULTIES:
What hindrances are there to a Spirit-Filled life?
I think it is obvious to all that not everyone is on the same
"spiritual wave length". Some seem more "in tune" than others. The
Bible indicates that people the world over operate on one of three levels or planes of
"spiritual life". How does the Apostle Paul identify these "spiritual
p