Topic: Walk In The Light [Sunday November 12, 2017]

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Text: Matthew 26:41

How do you walk in the Spirit? The way you do this is through living by, conducting your actions according to, and following the leading of the Word of God as quickened to you by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and the Word of God agree perfectly because the Holy Spirit is the one who inspired the written Word of God.

Denying the flesh will not result in walking in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit will result in denying the flesh. This may seem like a subtle difference to some, but the difference is truly profound. As a whole, false religions teach that as we overcome our flesh, there is a noticeable increase in the presence and power of God in our lives. That was what the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and the legalistic Jews of Paul’s day taught. Just the opposite is true. As we experience more of the presence and power of the Spirit of God, then the influence of the flesh is diminished. Victory must come in this order. We don’t walk in the Spirit as a result of overcoming the flesh, rather overcoming the flesh is the result of walking in the Spirit.

It’s similar to how you fill a dark room with light. You don’t shovel out the darkness and then light appears. No! You simply turn on the light and the darkness flees. Much of religion preaches to stop sinning (get rid of the darkness) and then the Holy Spirit will come and empower you (the light will come). That’s not the way it works. Man can no more get rid of the power of the flesh on his own than he can get rid of the power of darkness without light. We have to receive the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives by grace and then the union with the Holy Spirit breaks the power of the flesh. The key to breaking the dominion of the flesh is to appropriate the power of the Spirit through faith, while the flesh is still causing us problems. Those who are waiting for the Spirit to manifest after they have subdued the flesh, will wait as long as the man who is trying to get rid of the darkness so the light will appear.

This message was written by The Association of Related Ministries International (ARMI) is an extension of Andrew Wommack Ministries (AWM). ARMI is a unique partnership committed to providing resources to help like-minded ministers succeed in a spirit of excellence and to draw from the experience and expertise of both the AWM and Charis Bible College staff. (www.awmi.net).

Topic: Good Things Are Costly [Sunday November 12, 2017]

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. — John 16:33

You should not expect the easy way, for if you do you are certainly destined for disappointment. Any person who knows the Bible knows that the Christian life is likened to an athletic contest or to warfare, and neither one is easy. Jesus warned His followers to count carefully the cost, and that certainly does not speak of an easy way. But there is no good thing that comes without cost.

The Christian life is the most satisfying, but only when we actually go all out and all the way. It is the Christian who tries to compromise who finds life miserable, for he has all the problems, without the fellowship that comes through surrender. For every trial and test, Christ supplies an abundance of grace with which to bear it, and in our weakness we are made strong.

Prayer for the day: Let me never look for the easy way when You, Lord Jesus, gave everything for me.

Written by Billy Graham, Founder of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association(BGEA). BGEA exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ by every effective means and to equip the church and others to do the same.

Topic: Does Our Worship Benefit God? — Sunday 12, November 2017.

Memorise: I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. – Psalm 18:3

Read: Revelation 5:11-13 (KJV)

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Bible in One Year: Job 25-29, Amos 2:4-3:2, Hymn: Sing Hymn 3 – How Great Thou Art

TOPIC: THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT [SUNDAY, 12TH NOVEMBER 2017]

OPENING PRAYER: Father, let my class and church experience fresh fire of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

BIBLE PASSAGE: LUKE 11:9-13

9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

MEMORY VERSE: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” – Acts:2:38

LESSON INTRODUCTION:

Now that we understand the significance and the ministry of the comforter, hopefully, the Holy Spirit would have discovered in us clean vessels and temples, ready for divine occupation. Yo need to receive Him without hesitation.

TEXT REVIEW: Luke 11:9-13

Attempt to obtain the opposite of the commandments of the Lord in Luke 11:9-13 is fearful. Verse 9 gives three conditional statements in the affirmative. Ask, it shall be given, seek, and ye shall find, knock, it shall be opened unto you. If these statements are presented in the negative they could be expressed as follows:

Do not ask for anything and nothing shall be given to you; do not seek for anything and you shall find anything. Do not knock at any door and no door shall be opened to you. This passage could be explained in the light of FAITH and WORK. That is when you prayed the prayer of faith (James 5:15), you must work the work of faith. 1Thess. 1:3. Take a step of faith to support it. Apostle Paul combined the duo of ‘FAITH’ and ‘WORK’ in this passage: “Wherefore also, we pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of his calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of this goodness and the work of faith with power”. 2Thess. 1:11. Although, the Holy Spirit is available, (Luke 11:13) yet, believers must ask. Asking is the work of faith. A son must ask his father for bread. A son must ask his father for fish. A son must ask his father for egg. Luke 11:11-12.

Similarly, a son/daughter of the kingdom must not take the Baptiser for granted. He/she must ask, seek and knock to find. Luke 11:9-10.

LESSON OUTLINE 1: HOW TO RECEIVE THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The following steps will guide any sincere candidate for the baptism of the Holy Ghost:

i. Be born again. Jn3:3; Acts3:19

ii. Be desirous and thirsty for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Ps37:4; Ps42:1; Isa55:1

iii. Believe that the promise of the baptism of the Holy Ghost is for you and all believers. Acts2:33

iv. Identify the Lord Jesus Christ as the right source of the baptism in the Holy Ghost. Matt3:11.

v. Have confidence also in His word, which will never fall to the ground but is forever settled in Heaven. Jn7:37-39; Ps119:89

vi. Then ask Him and He will answer, for “He that asketh receiveth”. Luke11:10

vii. Praise and thank God in advance for your baptism because He is the giver of good gifts. Joshua1:17; 1Thess5:18.

Class Activity 1: Class should discuss why some members have not received the Holy Spirit. Practical examples could be used to support the reasons.

LESSON OUTLINE 2: THE ACTUAL BAPTISM, THE BAPTISER AND THE EVIDENCE.

i. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Baptizer. Matthew3:11

ii. To be baptized, you must come to God’s presence

iii. You must woship God with praise, thanksgiving and right mind

iv. You must focus on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Heb12:1-2;11:6

v. You must ask God in prayer and in faith

vi. Prepare to release your tongue to the Holy Spirit utterances. Acts2:1-4; 10:44-46

vii. The Holy Spirit baptism brings power to the believers. Luke24:49

viii. The Holy Spirit endues the believers with the divine ability to do “grater works” or exploit. John14:12

Class Activity 2: Discuss the benefits which your class stands to gain if all members are baptised in the Holy Spirit.

SUMMARY:

You need the Baptiser to be baptized in the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

EVALUATION:

List the steps to baptism in the Holy Spirit.

CONCLUSION:

If you ask God in faith, you will receive the baptism of the Holy spirit and you will have the evidence of speaking in new tongues

CLOSING PRAYER: Father, baptize me today, in the name of Jesus.

ASSIGNMENT:

Set hours/days apart this week and pray until you receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. You may see your teacher or Pastor to lay hand on you to receive the baptism. Acts 8:17