Salvation

Man was the crown prince of creation. We were made in God's image and given dominion over all creatures.

Adam had close fellowship with God and walked in the wisdom of God. Every thing was perfect…

What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: Psalms 8:4-6

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis 1:27-28

Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. Genesis 2:19

2. Adam disobeyed God and died spiritually. And what was worse, the entire human race became corrupt. God could not relate with man directly anymore as before. His fall gave the devil the power over the earth and sin ruled.

And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." [Gen 2:17 NIV] 

The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.[Gen 3:6 NLT] 

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Luke 4:5-6

"I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me. John 14:30

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12

Yes, Adam's one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Romans 5:18

The seed of Adam has already corrupted every man born and preclude him from being a worthy sacrifice.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. [Romans 5:12 NLT] 

3. The justice of God requires that the punishment must be fully paid but the love of God wants to extend the goodness of God to man and restore him to his rightful place. The seed of Adam has already corrupted every man born and preclude him from being a worthy sacrifice. 

A temporary solution was found. The offering of a spotless lamb/sheep once a year, every year was sufficient to cover man's sin but could not remit sin as the remembrance was there yearly. So on the basis of the offering, God could justly extend his goodness to man.

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship... But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. [Hebrews 10:1-4].

But only the high priest entered the inner room, and that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.[Hebrews 9:7]

4. God, the Master strategist, had a perfect solution for man's salvation before the foundation of the world and implemented in time.

At just the right time, a virgin conceived and thus bypass Adam's seed. The child was born as a man thus fulfilling the requirement for a perfect like-for-like substitution; hence, Jesus' frequent reference to himself as the son of man.

But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David... 

How will this be, Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.[Luke 1:30-35 NIV] 

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law Gal 4:4

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. [Revelation 13:8 NIV]

5. Jesus was killed the most gruesome way possible without committing a sin nor having the nature of sin.

An innocent man was punished so that anyone who comes to him is declared guiltless no matter how much his/her sins were.

Salvation is the love-story of God paying the price of sin for us.

Justice miscarried, and he was led off-- and did anyone really know what was happening? He died without a thought for his own welfare, beaten bloody for the sins of my people. They buried him with the wicked, threw him in a grave with a rich man, Even though he'd never hurt a soul or said one word that wasn't true. Still, it's what GOD had in mind all along, to crush him with pain. The plan was that he give himself as an offering for sin so that he'd see life come from it--life, life, and more life. And GOD's plan will deeply prosper through him. Isaiah 53:8-10

For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 2Co 5:14-15  

  If that had been necessary, he would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But no! He came once for all time, at the end of the age, to remove the power of sin forever by his sacrificial death for us. And just as it is destined that each person dies only once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time he will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for him. Heb 9:26-28

6.  But the story did not end at the grave, dying alone will not have been sufficient to give us life.

He overcame death and rose again from the dead becoming the first born from the dead.

In believing we not only have our sins forgiven and our account wiped clean, we also become a new creature, reborn with the life of God.

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. [1Corinthians 15: 4]

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.[1Corinthians 15:17 NIV]. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.[1Corinthians 15:19-20 NIV]

7. How then does one become saved? It is by believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and confessing his lordship over your life.

At that point, you are born anew(again) with a brand new spirit that can relate directly with God without any sense of guilt. All records of past deeds are wiped clean. Moreso, you (are able to) receive the Spirit of God.

It is a brand new start indeed.

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.[Romans 10:10 NLT] 

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God.[1John 5:1 NLT] 

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.[John1:12 NLT] 

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun![2Corinthians 5:17]

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do [them.] [Ezekiel 36:26-27 NKJV]

Christian Family

Some people have stopped going regularly to our Christian meetings, but we must not stop going there. Then we can help each other to be strong Christians. You should do this more and more, because the *Lord’s great day is coming. You know that the *Lord will return soon. Heb 10:25 EasyEnglish

If this scripture was true in the days of the Apostles, then it is not less of a truth today. More than ever before, we need to pay attention to the coming of our Lord because we are closer to it than any generation before us. The coming of the Lord should drive us to more fellowship with one another. 

The value we placed on our Christian gatherings needs to be restored. From our opening scripture, we see how that even at the time of the Bible, there were already Christians taking spiritual meetings lightly and they were told to stop. You will be depriving yourself of help that you could have received or shared to others when you continue that way.

There is nobody who can successfully live the Christian life in isolation of other believers. We were fashioned by God to be together because that way, we can be strengthened by others who are stronger. It's the reason some Christians who relocate to another State or Country without finding a new local assembly will drift back to their former life.

Going to Church faithfully can literally make you stay from some sinful tendencies. Imagine what happened to a lot of Christians because of the lockdown. Many have become lukewarm and justifying staying away from physical meetings now that lockdown has been eased with the excuse of watching online. As much as technology is there to help us make living better and effective, online technologies cannot take the place of carrying your Bible and notepads and finding your way to Church. 

Truth is, the kind of people we associate with often influence our Christian walk. If you interact more with the world and less with fellow saints, they will rub their ways of living on you. It's the more reason why any Christian that knows that his/her work involves more association with unbelievers should pay special attention to the fellowship of the saints. It's no wonder why you see Christians who join politics loose themselves to the world. 

While we are in this world, scripture tells us, we are not of this world and our Christian gatherings have a way of making us live true to this. It's time to go back to Church and return to your Christian service if you have drawn back.

If you have not given your life to Jesus, now is the time to do so. Please say this prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in you, I believe you died for my sin and you took it away. I believe that God raised you from the dead for me on the third day and I am free now. Thank you Lord because I am a child of God and the Spirit of God lives in me. Amen!

 

Congratulations because you have Jesus in your life. You will need to start attending a Bible believing Church for growth. For more directions, please, contact us via the mail address below:

lothshine@gmail.com

 

Faith In God

Faith is the currency of the kingdom of God. With it, we transact in the things of God.

Faith is based on the word of God. 

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Heb 11:1

or we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. 2 Cor 5:7

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Rom 10:17

2. Faith is toward God

Our Faith must be in God and not things or people or processes. The difference is sometimes subtle. 

What sorrow awaits those who look to Egypt for help, trusting their horses, chariots, and charioteers and depending on the strength of human armies instead of looking to the Lord, the Holy One of Israel... For these Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! Isaiah 31:1-3

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21

"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.  Mark 11:22

3. We live by Faith

The Christian life is a continuous walk of faith. Every thing we do must be done by faith in God. 

Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4

This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Romans 1:17

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. Hebrews 11:6

And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." Hebrews 10:38

So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life." Galatians 3:11

But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because [he does] not [eat] from faith; for whatever [is] not from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

4. Faith is based on God's word

Faith is not bold face (agidi) or positive confessions. It is based and must be anchored on God's word revealed to you. Faith starts where the will of God is revealed. 

So then faith [comes] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets." Luke 5:4-5

I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it." When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel!" And when the officer's friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed. Luke 7:7-10

5. All Christians have Faith and our faith can grow

When we became born again, we had a measure of faith. It is then our responsibility to grow our faith through God's word and listening to anointed vessels. 

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. Romans 12:3

Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand 2 Corinthians 10:15

Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. 1 Thes 3:10

6. Faith must be with corresponding actions  

Faith without action (works) is dead. One primary action is you confessing what you believe. There is no silent faith. Also, acting in line with your believe is of paramount importance.

We're not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, "I believed it, so I said it," we say what we believe. 2 Cor 4:13

So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead). James 2:17

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Heb 13:5  

7. Your Faith needs patience  

Sometimes Christians mistakes Faith for instant noodles. Faith works with patience (steadfastness). It is instructive that the 2 major scriptures that introduce faith were preceded by words on patience. 

In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness 2 Peter 1:5-6

Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. "For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away." Hebrews 10:36-38

For the vision [is] yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. " ... But the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:3-4

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:3-4

Integrity of God's Word

In relating with God, understanding the value and worth of his word is very important. It determines how far we can walk with him.

 God means what he says and says what he means.

Then the Lord said to Moses, "I have heard the Israelites' complaints. Now tell them, 'In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God. That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground.'' *Exodus 16:11-13*

Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, Doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry, So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them. *Isaiah 55:10 -11*

2. Jesus is the word of God

God's word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. 

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him... John 1:1 

So the Word became human and made his home among us. John 1:14

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2

3. God and his word are one

To believe God is to believe his word. The integrity of God is dependent on his word.

I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name. Psalm 138:2

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. John 1:1

 4. God's word is God's power

Everything God will do in and for you will be done through his word.

For the word of God [is] living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

who being the brightness of [His] glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high Hebrews 1:3

Now I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends. Acts 20:32

 5. We live by God's word

God's word is the substance of a Christian's life; our values, ideals and actions must be shaped by his word. 

Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3

And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Joshua 1:8

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and [they] are life. John 6:63

6. God's word is for you

God had you in mind when he gave the word. Your identity is defined by it. Your duty is to find your word and meditate on, declare and insist on it.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." Luke 4:20-21

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16

On finding God's word, there are general and specific words for you.

All the promises of God are for you (2 Cor 1:20), so while finding and working on your specific word, get a hold of your  known promises and put them on your mouth.

Let's try one now

Lets declare God's promise from Isaiah 60:1-3.

'I arise, I shine; For my light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon me. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over me, And His glory will be seen on me. Nations shall come to my light, And kings to the brightness of my rising.''

And we keep saying it until it comes to physical manifestation.

 7. God cannot lie to you

God is faithful to his word, he cannot deny himself. What he has told you will surely come to pass. Wait for it. 

God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good? Numbers 23:19 

If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. 2 Timothy 2:13

We often times see 'God cannot lie' as a choice God is making not to lie (like humans).

For instance, if we can all see a white chair and we ask God what the colour of the chair is? If God says blue, then who is correct?

Of course, we will all say God because we want to assume that God must be seeing something in it that we are not seeing (religion).

The truth is all you need to do is to look at the chair again and it will have turned to blue. 

His words have the inherent power to change the colour of the chair to conform with what God says. God cannot lie because his words create what he says.

So hold on to his words it will surely come true for you.

Esther, The Woman On Assignment

Est 4:16 Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

The book of Esther is the only book in scriptures that has no mention of God, even though in our Bible text above, Esther and her people were going to pray and fast, but no mention of whom in particular they were praying to. However, it's not unclear to us who they were praying to. The same God who delivered them from other nations could deliver them from that particular challenge.

The matter that is of interest to me is the role Esther played in the deliverance of her people which I believe would be of great lesson to us especially when we are privileged to occupy positions of authority in our different spheres of endeavor. She thought it wise enough to lead her people in prayers to God so deliverance would come from Him for them. You probably might not see the point I am making until you bring it home.

Have you seen or heard of someone who was a 'nobody', someone nobody paid attention to except maybe their immediate family but by divine providence, then occupied a position or wields certain amount of societal influence? That was Esther for you. In fact, her biological parents were no more and she was living with her uncle when the opportunity to become queen came to her.

She probably didn't grow up like other girls of her age. She was living with her uncle and might not be privileged to enjoy all the pleasures of life like having your own parents. But her uncle gave her a good upbringing. Esther became a queen, and did something differently.

It is easy to dissociate yourself from the same people that you have lived most of your life with in the past. We see this play out every time in our society. People who rise to leadership positions by divine mercy forget about the same people and place where they come from. Some even begin to inflict pains and sufferings on their people. 

Esther didn't follow this common path, instead she was ready to pray and fast with them and even speak with the king for her people. 

No matter where you find yourself, don't forget where you came from or the people you have been with. If it's in your power, pray for them, stand up for them, speak for them and God will grant you victory. 

The Holy Spirit

 1. He is the third person of the trinity. He is not a wind or fire or dove.

 He is the Spirit of God: He came upon those of the old testament but lives in us believers.

When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. *1Sam 10:10*

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God... *Ezekiel 11:24*

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. *Romans 8:14*

The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. *Romans 8:11*

2. He is God's gift to all believers: He makes his abode in us. 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. *Act 1:4-5*

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! *Matthew 7:11*

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. *Acts 10:45*

Peter replied, "Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. *Acts 2:38*

3. He is our counselor, guide and revealer of truths/secrets: We have access to the mind and plans of God because of the Holy Spirit.

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God's deep secrets. No one can know what anyone else is really thinking except that person alone and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own Spirit. And God has actually given us his Spirit (not the world's spirit) so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. *1 Corinthians 2:10-11*

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do… *John 14:16-17*

Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. *John 16:12-13* 

4. He empowers and helps us: Our lives as Christians can only be lived with the help of the Holy Spirit.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;.. *Acts 1:8*

And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. *1 Corinthians 2:4*

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.... but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. *Acts 16:6-7*

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. *Romans 8:26-27*

5. Speaking in tongues is the evidence of receiving the Holy Spirit: When we speak in tongues, we build up ourselves (innerman) like an edifice and communicate mysteries with God. 

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

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. *Acts 2:4*

Then when Paul laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied. *Acts 19:6*

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues... *Acts 10:44-45*

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit... Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves. *1 Corinthians 14:2-4*

6. We need to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit: Praying makes us filled with the Holy Spirit and we are thus in tune with him.

 

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God's right hand. *Acts 7:55*

After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness. *Acts 4:31*

7. He gives spiritual gifts for the profit of the church and produces fruits in our lives.

A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. *1 Corinthians 12:7-11*

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! *Galatians 5:22-23*

*Note*

The special faith, healing and diverse kinds of tongues mentioned here(1 Corinthians  12) are spiritual gifts given at the discretion of the Holy Spirit(in heavy dose) and should not be mistaken with the faith, healing and tongues that is for every believer(Mark 16:16-18 and others).

JESUS

 "You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!" John 5. 39

He is at the center of it all.

1. The promise of the messiah

The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Gen 49:10

All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means 'God is with us'). Ishaiah 7:14

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7

2. The son of God

All who confess that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1John 4:15

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:16

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy." Matthew 3:17

But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name. John 20.31

3. Our access to God

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:16

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe..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. Hebrews 4:14-16

4. He died and rose again for us

The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:15

5. He is our righteousness: we have right standing with God

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5.21

For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.    Hebrews 10:10

The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Romans 4:24

... I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. Phillipians 3:9

6. He is our substitute: he became a curse for us, bore our diseases and died to give us life

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus... Galatians 3:13

Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

7. Our coming king

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. Matthew 25:31

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matthew 24:44

Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

Matthew 24:30-31