Why Do Christians Need To Know The Bible?

Why is it so important for each and every born-again believer to know the Bible – to read it and to study it and to feed on it daily? The reading and following of the Bible is so, so much more important than following the traditional liturgical formulae of man! Following the traditional liturgies of man leads to spiritual death, following the Bible in Christ Jesus leads to eternal life!

The Word of God has always been with us, right from the creation of everything! How do we know this?

John 1:1-4 (NIV – brackets mine) 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He (Jesus) was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

In the above verses it is made quite clear that the Word was with God at the very beginning and so was Jesus his Son. If we look a little further down chapter one, we see this in verse 14.

John 1:14 (NIV) 

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

So, here we have it and it couldn’t be any clearer! Jesus is the Word! The Son who came to earth in the flesh to redeem mankind – a living sacrifice through whom man is forgiven and receives eternal life!

When we read and study the Bible we get to know the very essence of our Lord and Saviour and in the power of the Holy Spirit we can do even greater things than he did. Our foundation as a born again Christian is the Bible, God's Word and the Word that became flesh - Jesus Christ!

John 14:12, 15-18 (NIV) 

12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

In verse 15 above Jesus tells us that if love him and keep his commands (the teachings of the Bible) the Father will give us the Holy Spirit to help us forever more! What an amazing comfort that is!

In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 8 in the Old Testament, Moses is talking to the Israelites just before they are about to go in and possess the Promised Land and is exhorting them to be obedient to God’s instructions. In verse three he says this to them:

Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV)
He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Here we see that God humbled Israel in their Wilderness journey in order to teach them the importance of obeying His Word to the T! It is not good enough to have a full belly and have clothes on our backs and then to forget being obedient to the Word which is the bread of life – it feeds our spirit and soul! Physical food keeps the body alive for our period of time on earth, but the Bible (His Word) feeds our spirit and soul unto eternal life and beyond!

It is also interesting to note that this is the same passage of scripture that Jesus uses to overcome Satan during his period of temptation in the wilderness just before He began his ministry on earth. Knowledge of the Bible is a crucial part of the Christian’s armoury in defeating the attacks of Satan and his minions!

Matt 4:4 (NIV) 

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Now let’s carry on in the New Testament and have a look at what the Apostle Paul tells the young man Timothy about the importance of knowing the Bible.

2 Timothy 3:16-17Amplified Bible (AMP) 

16 All Scripture is God-breathed [given by divine inspiration] and is profitable for instruction, for conviction [of sin], for correction [of error and restoration to obedience], for training in righteousness [learning to live in conformity to God’s will, both publicly and privately—behaving honorably with personal integrity and moral courage]; 17 so that the [a]man of God may be complete and proficient, outfitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So, let’s now analyse these two verses piece by piece. The Bible is:

• God-breathed – given by divine inspiration to men under the power of the Holy Spirit who is the breath of God.
• It instructs us in all things.
• It convicts us of sin – we should be measuring our lifestyle against the word of God.
• It helps us to correct wrong things in our lives and restores us to obedience to God.
• It trains us on how to live righteous lives.
• It equips us, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to do the good works that God has predestined us to do.

Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Why else should we know the Bible?

1.  Like Jesus, it is flawless and without error. It guides us to maturity in our faith and our daily Christian walk.

2 Samuel 22:31(NIV)

“As for God, his way is perfect:
    The Lord’s word is flawless;
    he shields all who take refuge in him.

 

Psalm 119:160 (NIV)

All your words are true;
    all your righteous laws are eternal.

 

Proverbs30:5 (NIV)

“Every word of God is flawless;
    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

 

2.  We should live on it – Deuteronomyt 8:3 and Matthew 4:4 (These verses are quoted previously in the article)

 

3.  We need to fix the Word in our hearts and minds so that it will always be with us in our souls.

Deuteronomy 11:18b (NIV) 

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;

 

4.  We should live by it.

Psalm 119:9 (NIV)

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.

 

5.  It leads us and guides us and keeps us on the path of righteousness.

Psalm 119:105, 130

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.

 

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.

 

6.    It brings life, good health and healing.

 

Proverbs  4:20-22 (NIV)

²⁰ My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
²¹ Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
²² for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.

 

7.    It accomplishes what God desires.

Isaiah 55:11 (NIV)

¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
it will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

 

8.    The Word will last forever when all else has passed.

Matthew 24:35 (NIV)

³⁵ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

 

9.    The Word has always been with God – John 1:1 (Verse already quoted)

 

10.  THE WORD IS JESUS – John 1:14 (Verse already quoted)

11.  It is the words of eternal life in Christ Jesus.

John 6:68 (NIV)

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 

 

12.  It is the sword of the spirit to defeat the evil one. Like Jesus did – quote the          Bible to defeat the evil one.

 

Ephesians 6:17 (NIV)

¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

13.  It needs to live in us as part of our daily Holy Living.

 

Colossians3:16 (NIV)

¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

 

14.  It moulds us and shapes us into who God needs us to become in Christ Jesus.    The more we read and study the Bible and understand it, the more we will be      conformed to Christ's image.

Heb 4:12-13 (NIV)

¹² For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

 

15.  We need to do what the Word says and not merely listen to it or just read it.        We need to put the Word into action in our lives daily! Jesus blesses us when      we do this.

Luke 11:28 (NIV)

He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

James 1:22 (NIV)

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

16.  When we study the Word we are able to present ourselves to God as those             who are approved because we will be able to handle the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV)

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

17.  Knowledge of the Word will keep us from being deceived by false prophets               and teachers.

Jesus himself warns us against these people. When you know the Truth of the Word, you will be able to spot them easily. Stay away from them!

Matthew 7:15 (NKJV)

 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:24-25 (NKJV)

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand.

The Apostle Paul also give us a stern warning about those that preach a false gospel. If you don't know the Bible you will not know what is true and what is false!

Galatians 1:6-9 (NKJV)

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert[a] the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be [b]accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

When we know the Word for ourselves we will not be deceived by false prophets and teachers. There are many of them in the world today. They are wolves in sheep's clothing and do jot have the things of God in mind. 

If we don’t know God’s Word, then we’ll never know God’s ways and consequently we will never know who we are in Christ Jesus – we will never be truly conformed to His image and we will be easily deceived by false teachings.

Rom 8:29 (NIV) 

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

 

Prayer:

Lord, I pray in Jesus name that your Word would come alive to me. I pray that it would bring me healing, understanding, wisdom and above all your love, love that would be manifest in me and through me to reach the lost. O Lord write your words indelibly on my heart and lead me in all truth by the power of the Holy Spirit that I may truly be conformed to your image and be a blessing to this world. Amen.

 To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is not excuse for you not to read and study the Bible for yourselves. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

Last updated: 22 April 2024

Satan wants your mind!

Guard Your Mind!

Jesus gave us the victory at the cross, but we still have a battle on our hands!

As Christians it is important for us to realise and take very seriously that we are at war with Satan. Satan’s war against man began in the Garden of Eden when he lied to and enticed Adam and Eve to sin. We all know this story but what we have generally not realised is that this war has not yet ended, it still continues to this very day and beyond. It will only end once the Lord has returned and Satan and his followers are consigned to Hell and we are clothed in our resurrection bodies!

In the verse below we see that God has put enmity between Satan and man!

Gen 3:15 

And I will put enmity

between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers;

he will crush your head,

and you will strike his heel.” 

In the above verse we see quite clearly that Satan is our enemy, and he has been at war with us right from man’s fall at in the Garden of Eden. Satan lied to Eve in Eden and he is still lying to us to this very day! Just look at the verse below!

John 8:44 

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

Unlike God, Satan is not omnipresent, he is unable to be everywhere at the same time. So how does he lie to us?

Satan is after our minds; this is the main battleground he chooses in each and every Christian. If he can control your mind, he will control your thought life and everything you do that is ungodly and contrary to the teachings of God’s Word! 

If you allow this to happen it will be impossible for you as a Christian to life the victorious life that God intends for you in Christ Jesus. If you allow Satan to have control of your mind, he will destroy you!

How do we know this? How do we know that we should not allow Satan access to control our minds and thought life?

Before I go into answering these questions with scripture, let me say right now that God is and was always well aware that Satan would go after controlling our minds after man’s fall at Eden!

Dt 6:5 (AMP) 

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being]. 

In the verse above, God commands us to love Him, amongst other things, with all our mind! This whole verse calls us to be fully committed to loving Him! In if our minds are fully committed to loving God there will not be any room for Satan to infiltrate our minds!

And in the verse below Jesus himself commands us to do likewise!

Luke 10:27 (NIV) 

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’” 

God knows and has always known that one of Satan’s favourite battlegrounds would be in our minds. He knows that Satan will always seek to control the actions of man by controlling our minds. He sews lies and deception into our minds.

There are a number of scriptures in the New Testament that instruct us, as born-again Christians, on how to guard our minds against Satan’s attack, and believe me it will come, I speak from experience!

Let’s examine some of these scriptures.

Rom 12:1, 2 (NIV) 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

In the two verses above Paul urges us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God because it is the fitting way, the right way, and the only way for us to worship God. He then goes on to say that we must not be enveloped by the ways of the world but to be spiritual transformed by the renewing of our minds. When we do this, we will be able recognise what is God’s will for us!

How do we renew our minds? By throwing of our old nature and washing (cleansing) our minds by reading and studying the Bible!

Eph 4:22-23 (AMP) 

22 that, regarding your previous way of life, you put off your old self [completely discard your former nature], which is being corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be continually renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh, untarnished mental and spiritual attitude], 24 and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation]. 

Eph 5:26-27 (NIV) Brackets are mine. 

26 to make her (we, the church) holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

In Philippians 4, Paul tells us to train our minds to think about things that are pure and holy!

Php 4:8 (NIV) 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 

Col 3:1-2 (NIV) 

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 

This is not just a New Testament teaching. Just look at what the prophet Isaiah says in the verse below.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) 

You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast,

because they trust in you. 

When our minds are fixed on the Lord we will be kept in His perfect peace! When we do this, we will be able to block out the lies and deception that Satan would bombard our thoughts with and take them captive!

2 Cor 10:3-5 (NIV) 

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 

In the verse above not only does Paul instruct us to take every though captive, but he also reminds us that we are at war with Satan and his followers and that with our renewed minds and knowledge of the Word, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can demolish anything that sets itself up against us!

So, my friends, in closing this little narrative, I would encourage you to fully immerse yourselves in these things:

• To love God with all your being.

• To allow yourselves to be conformed to the image of Christ!

• To immerse yourselves in the reading and studying of the Bible and be obedient to is teachings.

• To immerse yourselves in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit and to be continually filled by Him.

• To clothe yourselves in the full armour of God and never take it off!

Eph 6:10-18 (NIV) 

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 

1 Cor 2:10-16 

10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. 

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. 15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, 16 for, 

“Who has known the mind of the Lord

so as to instruct him?” 

But we have the mind of Christ. 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father

I pray that you would keep me safe from the evil one and that by your Spirit you will help me to keep myself clothed in the full armour of God. Holy Spirit fill me anew each day, I pray, and lead and guide my feet on the path of righteousness in Christ Jesus. Help me Lord to immerse myself in studying your word that I may be more and more conformed to your image and that my life will bring glory to your name. Amen.

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise! 

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself! I am flawed the Bible is not!

Last updated: 10 April 2023

Be Holy because I am Holy: What is holiness?

Hebrews 12:14-15 (NIV)

What is holiness?

In the verses below we can see that it has always been God’s intention for His people to be holy because He is holy. The Lord tells us to consecrate ourselves and be holy.

To consecrate oneself means to dedicate oneself to a higher purpose, for a Christian today this means our purpose is to dedicate ourselves to God through Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

The Apostle Peter quoted this scripture in 1 Peter 1:15-16 and thus we know without a shadow of doubt that this instruction still applies to Christians today!

Lev 11:44 (NIV)

I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

1 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

Holiness is a characteristic of who God is, and as such holiness should be of paramount importance to us as believers, because without it we will never see God!

Hebrews 12:14 (NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Before we can look at what the Bible teaches on being holy, let’s first understand what the word means from the original Greek text of the New Testament.

Holiness in the verse above is from the Greek word ‘hagiotes’ meaning holiness or sanctity. Hagiotes is derived from the Greek adjective ‘hagios’ which means set apart (for God) for the specific purpose of being holy and sacred.

From this we can safely conclude that God expects us, as Christians, to set ourselves apart to be holy to Him. In fact, Hebrews 12:14 above states quite emphatically that the we won’t see the Lord unless we pursue holiness.

Also, as we endeavour to pursue holiness, we will experience a measure of pain as He chastises us for our own good, through the process of dying to self.

Nevertheless, this chastising process will yield within us the peaceable fruit of holiness and righteousness in Christ Jesus.

Hebrew 12:9-11 (NLT)

9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

In other words, that which is holy belongs to God, and conversely whatever belongs to God is holy. We are sanctified and "set apart for a holy use or purpose" by God, and to find out what our use and purpose is in Christ Jesus we need to live life in the Spirit.

God has selected us to be His servants and has called us to come out of this world, to be different and separate from the rest of the world. Jesus said,

John 17:14-16 (NIV)

14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.

The Christian must live in this present evil world, but his life must he different from the lives of the other people that are in the world – who are not born-again, who do not know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In other words, our lives and the way and manner in which we live, must reflect God’s holiness

We, as born again believers in Christ Jesus, must come out from any of this world's ways that are sinful and evil out from the religious and spiritual "Babylon" that is this whole world.

Revelation 18:4 (NIV)

4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her (the world), my people,’[Jer 51:45)

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not receive any of her plagues;

Making such a distinction and living by it is one of the many ways that God's true servants are different from the rest of the world.

Instead of being immersed in the lawless and sinful ways of the world, we should put our thoughts on better things:

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

This scripture makes is very clear that we should avoid filling our minds with entertainment that is sinful: void of (God’s) love, lustful, sexually illicit or that is filled with murder, hatred, evil and all other such things.

We often justify our sinful actions by saying things like: "It’s only a song — it's only make-believe, it's only a movie, that’s who I am."

On the contrary, the Bible says this:

2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

We cannot call ourselves Christians and continue to walk in the ways of the world – we must walk in the way of the Spirit (be holy)! Christians need to be different from the rest of this world — to say no to sin, to evil and to wrong things as it is written:

2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

We will continue to be holy if we live a life of holiness. That is the way of obedience and conformity with God's ways and His Word. That is living life in the Spirit.

God wants a glorious Church without spot or blemish. Jesus gave his life for the Church in order to make her holy:

Ephesians 5:26-27 (NIV)

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless

Prayer

Dear Father

In the name of Jesus I pray that you would continually fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to be holy just as you are holy. Amen!

To Jesus belongs all glory, honour and praise

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for reading and studying the Bible for yourself. My word is flawed the Bible is not!

What does a 'devoted' Church look like? Acts 2:42

The start of the Church just after Pentecost

The New Testament Church was started just after Pentecost with the first mass outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We can read about Pentecost and the Apostle Peter’s bold address to the crowd of his very first gospel message from verses 1 – 41. In verse 41 we read this:

Acts 2:41 (NIV)

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

This was the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It was established in the power of the Holy Spirit. It was pure and, unlike today’s Church, without sect or denomination – just Jesus Christ and him crucified!

This is the model Church that today’s Church should be imitating in every way, but sadly does not!

It was the Church that God himself wanted, conformed to the image of His Son, our Lord and Saviour – the King of kings who never changes!

Hebrews 13:7-8 (NIV)

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Let’s examine how the Church (including today’s Church) was structured and were ministering in faith and in accordance with the Word of God brought by the Apostles in the power of the Holy Spirit and let’s not forget these word spoken to the Apostles by Jesus himself.

John 14:26 (NIV)But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

The apostles’ teaching was directly from Jesus who is the Word – taught to them by the Holy Spirit!

The Fellowship of the Believers

What were these new believers doing? 

What did their lifestyle look like? 

How was the Holy Spirit binding them together in unity to bring glory to the name of Jesus? How did they respond to the Holy Spirit’s leading and to the apostles’ teaching?

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

What does ‘devoted to’ mean

Verse 42 in Acts 2 starts off like this: “They (the Church) devoted themselves to……….”

Let’s examine what they were devoted to and how they were devoted.

Today’s dictionary meaning of ‘devoted to’:
Being devoted to something means being focused on that particular thing almost exclusively. When you are devoted to a cause, you work to achieve its goals. When you are devoted to a person, you place their needs above your own. Being devoted doesn't have to refer only to personal relationships.

So that’s how today’s modern dictionaries define ‘devoted to’, but in order to have a clearer picture of what the early Church would have understood by this we will need to examine the original Greek meaning of being devoted to.

Original Greek meaning of ‘devoted’ in Acts 2:42:

Proskartereo (pron: pros-kär-te-ray-o):

· to join together with

· to adhere to

· to be ready

· to give attention to

· to be fully committed to

· to spend much time together

· to be faithful

This is what the early church would have understood by the term ‘devoted to’ so let’s like at each term on an individual basis.

To join together with:

What were they joined together with?

• With Jesus as the head of the Church

• With each other as the family of Christ

• The Apostles and their teaching - The Word

• And through this they were being unified as one Church in the power of the Holy Spirit

To adhere to:

The early church stuck together and did not deviate from the apostles’ teaching.

To be ready:

They were being made ready to put into practice what they were being taught and to walk the Christian path as Jesus intended. A path of love, unity and self-sacrifice.

To give attention to:

They were focused on the Word, prayer, breaking of bread, fellowship with each other and with God.

To be fully committed to:

The were fully committed to God, to each other and to the teachings of The Word and in putting them into practice.

To spend much time together:

They spent a lot of time together – devoted to each other in the love of Christ. They didn’t shrink back from fellowshipping together as often as they could. They helped each other and encouraged each other.

To be faithful:

In all these things they were faithful as Christ is faithful to his Church! The unity of living life in the Spirit as Paul was later to describe in Romans 8!

What was the early Church devoted to – Acts 2:42?

1. The apostles teaching – The Word of God via the Apostles led and taught by Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit after the Lord’s ascension:

• Jesus – The Word – God

• Love for the family of believers – agape

• Salvation in Christ Jesus

• New Covenant (apart from the Law)

• Freedom in Christ

• The Holy Spirit

2. Fellowship – from the Greek word Koinónia, meaning:

• in partnership with

• Being a contributory help

• Participation in

• sharing in

• Communion with

• spiritual fellowship

• a fellowship in the spirit

3. The breaking of bread

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.“

1 Cor 11:26

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

In the verse above, Paul tells us exactly what we are doing, apart from remembering the work of Jesus on the cross, when we break bread together. We are proclaiming his death until he returns.

Now here it will be good for us to have a look at the meaning of the word ‘proclaim’ from the original translation of the word ‘proclaim’ comes from the Greek word ‘kataggello’.

Proclaim – Kataggello

• to proclaim

• to declare openly

• to preach

• to laud (praise)

• to celebrate

• to announce a message in a definite way

So, here we see that when we break bread together, at least two significant things happen that only the Church, the true born-again believer, can do.

a. We remember the significance of the pain and suffering the Lord went through on our behalf that we may become born-again and thus reconciled to the Father.

b. We announce to each other and to the world in an evangelical way that there is only way to the Father and that is by Jesus Christ His son and that we are committed to Jesus and to each other.

4. Prayer

· Corporate prayer

Acts 1:14

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

• Corporate prayer by the Church in unity, ushers in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is our prime example!

When the Church is devoted to God and to each other in this way, supernatural things happen:

• People get saved, people get healed, people are delivered from demons!

Acts 2:47

praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

• We receive favour with the people

• Miracles signs and wonders follow us

Are you a devoted Christian and is your Church a devoted Church?

Today’s Church should look like the Acts Church for Jesus is the same yesterday, today and always! Amen!

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven

Help me by the power of the Holy Spirit and in the Name of Jesus to become a devoted Christian and to be devoted to a fellowship in which you place me. Help me, O Lord, to help my brothers and sisters in Christ to do the same and help us all to be good and faithful servants to you and each other out of reverence to Christ! Amen.

To Jesus belongs ALL glory, honour and praise!

Jesus the Name above all names!

Remember: Reading this article is no substitute for you reading and studying the Bible for yourself. I am flawed, the Bible is not!

Last update: 9 January 2023 

Getting to know the Holy Spirit: Fellowship with the Holy Spirit - Part 2 Practical Fellowship

 Practical fellowship with the Holy Spirit

1.     Break bread together – communion

Focus on Jesus and give thanks with a grateful heart.

1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (NIV)

²⁵ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

 

2.     Soak in the presence of God.

Psalm 16:11 (NLT)

You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

 

God releases power in us through the Holy Spirit when we are in close and intimate fellowship with him.

3.     Pray in the Spirit – Worshipping in Spirit and in truth

Let your heart and your spirit become one as you pray and worship in the Spirit.

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

 

John 4:24 (NIV)

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

 

4.     Meditate on the Bible and be doers of the Word

Soak up the Word as often as you can, but don’t be readers of the Word only, be doers of the Word as well.

Psalm 119:15-16 NIV)

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

 

James 1:22 (NLT)

 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

 

5.     Keep in fellowship with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ

Make a point of attending Sunday worship celebrations and mid-week Home Group meetings. Let it become a joy and not a drudge!

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT)

²⁴ Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. ²⁵ And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

 

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

6.     Let your faith and belief rise up from within

Don’t just believe in God but BELIEVE GOD! Be prepared to step out of your comfort zone and – conquer fear and unbelief and move in the gifts of the Spirit. Be willing to serve others.

Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

 

Mark 10:45 (NIV)

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

7.     Submit to those in authority over you and one to another out of reverence for Christ

Be a true servant to the body of Christ just as Jesus is.

Hebrews 13:17 (NLT)

Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

 

Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

8.     Don’t give up!

Be sure of your calling and don’t give up!

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

Let’s read 2 Peter 1:3-11 together: Growing in Faith!

³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When we are born-again and living life in the Spirit, we will be able to do the same things Jesus did.

Mark 16:17-18 (NIV)

¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

To Jesus let there be all glory, honour and praise!

Jesus alone is worthy – the Name above all names!

An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Amazon Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1798692120

Next week: Spiritual Warfare