Groundwalker to GroundShaker

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0 This manual was prepared for GroundShakers by Peter L. Mahase edited by Mbele M. Horoto It is meant for new converts, but can still work to enlighten Christians who’ve since been born­again to know more about the path they’ve taken. Not for sale Big thanks to the GroundShakers family and everyone that has prayed and assisted financially towards the printing of this manual… even those who continue to support. God bless You!! “…go and make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of age.” Matthew 28:19­20
1 Ground Shakers Ground Shakers is an arm of the Apostolic Faith Mission church in Lesotho, which ministers to the youth in tertiary institutions in Lesotho – predominantly NUL. It started in 2003 as a church assisting group, and has evolved over the years to being one of the most vibrant and effective student church groups at NUL. Should you want to join us, we have our meetings as listed below, Bible­study
Tuesdays, 7pm – 8pm, btm110
Celebration
Sundays, 2:30pm – 4:30pm, btm119
And if you would like to join our ministries, we have ministries such as, the Praise and Worship, Evangelists, Intercession, Counselling, and Multimedia, for your effective service in the house of God. You can also find us on facebook, group name: GroundShakers – AFM Lesotho Campus Church Our help lines: Prayers: +266 5868 2345 or +266 5860 8181 Counseling: +266 5809 1664 or +266 5868 2345 Info on GS: +266 5859 2590 or +266 5891 9793 and our e­mail address, [email protected] (please note the underscore between ‘s’ and ‘a’) Should you want to know more about the AFM International family, you check the AFM South Africa website, www.afm­ags.org
2 Preface
This manual has less to do with GroundShakers as a movement, but has much to do with you as a newly born Christian. Our take is that, every born again Christian is a ground­shaker, irregardless of denomination or race. This owes to God’s word to Jacob, when He said, “Do not be afraid, O worm 1 Jacob, O little Israel… See, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff.” (Isaiah 41:14­15) 2 Look, when God comes into your life, your life goes beyond average, you become more than normal, you are no longer just a mere mammal working the ground, but you are a new creation in God, now with the ability to shake the ground – you are no longer a mere ground­walker, but a ground­shaker! Greatness has been vested in you according to the promises of Revelation 3:20 and 1 John 4:4. The manual is designed in such a way that you can read it in a matter of minutes, and have a clear understanding of salvation, and a clear vision of some steps to take after salvation, with some answers to common questions asked pertaining salvation. There are both quoted and cited scriptures in this manual. The quoted scriptures are the basic ones, which put the whole manual together; the cited ones just help you with thorough understanding of what is being discussed, please take time to read them thoroughly. This manual gives the basic concepts behind the written topics. If each were to be discussed in depth, even the mere topic of sin, several huge books would be written; so it would really help if after reading this manual, you join a bible study group, where you can discuss in detail some of these topics. Hope you find this manual fruitful to your first steps in Christ. 1 2 The bolding (and sometimes caps‐ing) of words is not the way it is in the bible, but done by us for emphasis All scriptures in this manual, unless otherwise said, are from the New International Version (NIV) of the bible
3 Actually, what have I Done?? It’s simple really, you have just given your life to Christ, hence been saved. In other words you’ve just been born again! Many of us surrender our lives in mass gatherings, and have not even the faintest idea what we did. We step to the front in response to the alter­call 3 , when all those who want to surrender their lives to Christ are called. Sometimes we just go to the front because we’re accompanying a friend, parent, or even sibling. Oh, the funny one, sometimes we just go to the front for the fun of it… lol 4 ! Well, let’s break it down for you: You have just responded not to the preacher’s call but to God’s greatest call for humanity – a call to salvation! A call to being one with Him! Here is the call, “’Come now let us reason together,’ says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’” (Isaiah 1:18) And you say, “I am no less a sinner than the rest of us; we are all sinners!” Then our answer is, “You are right, we are all born sinners, but God wants to take care of that, he wants to take us from a point where we were sinners to being his children.”
Where it all went wrong – the fall of man
God’s ultimate purpose for mankind was to make a symbol of Him on earth. He says, “…Let us make MAN 5 in OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS, and LET THEM RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the earth.” (Genesis 1:26) We were made to be like God in power (not absolute power though) and makeup. The power part is revealed in verses 28­31, of the same chapter, and 3 Alter‐call is that invitation made for people who want to be prayed for to step to the front and be prayed for lol – acronym for “laugh out loud”, just shows that we are laughing 5 Man is used in this context, as well as the whole manual to say mankind, both male and female
4 4 will be even clearer when you read the last part of the manual – The Rights of the Sons of God. In makeup, as God is triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and man is also body, soul, and spirit, and the three make one. There is no way of separating one from the other and remain with a human being. For example, a body without the spirit is called a corpse, a soul without a body is called a ghost, and so on and so forth; but to have a human being, the three have to be there to complete it. God did not just end there, He made man a friend. He had communion with man. Genesis 3:8 shows that God would visit the Garden of Eden and meet with Adam and Eve. A problem came when Adam and Eve ate the fruit that God had exclusively told them not to eat. This gives our general definition of sin – doing anything that is against God’s will (Romans 8:7; 1 John 3:4). It was this sin that made a separation between God and man (Isaiah 59:2). God covered the nakedness of Adam and Eve by clothing them in sheep skin. This was a symbol of His son who would come and cover our sinful life with His blood. From that day forth man had to sacrifice a lamb (or animal) to God every time they needed atonement 6 of sins, or in worship, because the communion was distorted. But God promised a solution, an answer for all humankind to restore the broken relation! God said, “…and I will put enmity between you 7 and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel…” (Genesis 3:15) This was the promise of salvation for the broken union between God and man. The promised offspring of the woman was Jesus Christ himself, whom when John saw at Bethany said, “…behold the Lamb of God, which TAKETH AWAY the sins of the world…” (John 1:29; KJV) Get this: Christ does not atone our sins, like it was done with the blood of the animals that were sacrificed before the times of Christ, rather He takes the sins away from you totally, so that you are a new man, all the past sins are no more, and everything is new (II Corinthians 5:17). Now back to the question, you have just offered your life to Christ to cleanse your sins and made you a new creation. Paul says, 6 Atonement was the act of using animals as sacrifice to God, to seek favor with Him, either as worship, or asking for forgiveness of sins. The blood of the animals would act as a cover for one’s sins and present them pure before God 7 the serpent, which was the devil
5 “…we implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (II Corinthian 5:20­21) You have been reconciled with God through Jesus, and now dear friend, you have started a new love relationship with God, where God and you are like two lovers who are in constant communication, and everyday is a new learning experience with God. This is what Christ explained to Nicodemus (John 3:3) as being born again.
6 Assurance of Salvation Wrong thinking: “We are all sinners! NO ONE CAN BE PERFECT!!” That is a twisted human psychology, in their attempt to oppose God’s perfect plan of salvation. Actually this is what the bible says, “…for ALL HAVE SINNED and fall short of the glory of God, AND ARE JUSTIFIED freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:23) So, yes, all of us were born to sin, but it is a lie from the devil to say that we can never be right with God, and by saying that, we are actually calling God a liar because Jesus says, “…no one can see the kingdom of God UNLESS HE IS BORN AGAIN.” (John 3:3) So dear, if you have taken that step to give your life to the Lord, he is faithful to redeem you from that sin; there is no doubt about it! “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart that God 8 raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” (Romans 10:9­10) And Jesus affirms, “…whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37) Here is the thing, the assurance of your salvation is your first step in this journey you are taking with God. It is not about how you feel, because salvation is not a physical thing, it is spiritual. So, don’t focus on how you feel, it’s about believing in what God has promised, and believing in that promise, and the bible tells us that He who has promised is faithful (Hebrews 10:23). Reinhard Bonnke in his booklet, Now that You Are Saved gives an illustration that we’d like to relay to you here, 8 God is used in this case to refer to God the Father
7 The court case scenario A sinner stands before the highest
Throne
of
Grace.
Satan
the
Accuser
judge of all. The accuser is there, Satan,
retires in baffled rage. The judge beckons
and dazzling ranks of sinless angels look
to the accused person and hands him a
on. The sinner knows his guilt. The judge
document called “The New Covenant.” He
of all the earth must do right. Then the
opens it. There he sees that it carries the
sinner’s advocate appears, Jesus, and
red seals of the sprinkled blood of Jesus. It
challenges the Accuser. “Where is your
is a royal exoneration declaring. “This
evidence?”
Court finds no evidence and therefore no
case
That causes a stir indeed! The
Accuser
is
embarrassed.
He
against
you.”
“There
is
no
condemnation to them which are in
cannot
Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
produce evidence, no damning exhibit, no
deposition, no record. Not a single scrap
The Judge has signed it saying: “I
of proof. In all the universe no sign of this
will
man’s wrong can be discovered. What has
(Hebrews 10:17)
happened to it?
remember
their
sins
no
more.”
The prisoner is free, “justified by
I’ll tell you – our sinful evidence
grace.” Then the whole Court rises and
has been destroyed! Christ gathered it all
applauds – there is joy in heaven over
around Himself and took it to Calvary.
one
There He held it in his own heart and
Anybody can see that you are “justified
hand, and carried it Himself into the
by grace,” God the judge would not want
fires of Divine judgment which swept
you to be left guessing about it. Those who
across that hill. After those awful hours,
wait for the Day of Judgment to reveal
the record had been consumed without
whether they are saved or damned, don’t
trace. Colossians 2:13-14 describes it: “He
understand salvation at all. Knowing the
forgave us all our sins, having blotted out
promise of Jesus in John 5:24 that we
the written code, with it’s regulations,
“shall not come into judgment,” is part of
that was against us and that stood
salvation. He lifts that fear from us when
opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it
we get saved.
to the cross.”
sinner
The
‘Blotted out’ means not just crossed
who
word
repents.
(Luke
‘judgment’
in
15:7)
that
Scripture is the Greek word ‘krisis’, from
out, but wiped out.
which the English word ‘crisis’ derives. So
we can say that a born-again believer
In the Court of God, Jesus the
will never know a ‘crisis’ hour, standing
Advocate puts in His sensational plea,
in the judgment, waiting to see whether
“There is no evidence against this man.”
he is saved or lost. The matter is settled.
Then the Throne of Justice becomes the
8 The Perfect Manual ­ The Bible We said you are a new being, right?? Yep! We did. Now we know in our modern world of technology that every new equipment has to have a certain operating manual, which you have to align your use of the equipment with in order to get the equipment functioning at its absolute best, without failure. Likewise with the bible, it is your manual as a Christian into effective Christian living. David says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11) And further says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The bible is one way in which God talks to his children in written word; where they can learn about God’s purpose for their lives, and ways in which He wants us to live so that we may attain the inheritance of heaven. Salvation is not just a one day thing, where you give your life to Christ and that’s it. After the event (given your life), is a process of sojourning with God. The bible then is your guide throughout this journey, to help you stay on the right track. “All Scripture is God­breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16­17)
Embrace this manual (bible), read it daily, and read it prayerfully. Here is the basic way to read the bible: take time out to pray before you start reading it. You may say, “Father, I’m about to read your word. Speak to me through it. Open up my spiritual ears and eyes that I may hear what you say to me today, and see the direction you guide me to…” then start studying the word. You may get a bible study guide, but in the case you don’t have it, the books of the bible, are broken into different headings depending on what is relayed in it. Read the contents under each title daily, and at the end try to understand what it is saying to you, how it relates to or your life, and jot it down in your special bible study book/journal. In the journal, write the day, the scripture you read on that day, and the revelation 9 you got from it. Do this daily, and on certain days you can look back into the journal, and you will be amazed at how God is really speaking to you. 9 By revelation we mean, whatever area of your life that you felt the scripture pointed to as you read it 1 Go ahead, start reading the bible today. At our counseling meetings, we usually tell people to start reading from the book of John, since it says more on the issue of salvation. We’d say the same for you now, if you don’t have a bible study guide, and if you follow the method we prescribed above, the first heading you are likely to find in the book of John from the NIV version is, The Word Became Flesh, so, start now to embark on this journey. Join millions of people around the world who have decided to follow Christ, and set their hearts on getting to heaven. Illustration of Jesus’ redemption as picked from John 5:24, Ephesians 2:1, and 1 John 3:14,
1 Fellowship Let’s face it; we are a product of the way the people around us think and behave. The way we talk, the way we walk, the way we think, is basically a breath of who is around us at what time. Relatively, as a new baby in Christ, who you keep around you is important. Well, about the church, the church is not just the building that we go into for worship on chosen days. The church is actually, a unit of all born again believers working together as the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12­31). The importance “How good and pleasant it is of fellowship…? The bible says, when brothers live together in unity! It is like oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” “…you are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God’s people and MEMBERS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD, built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone. IN HIM THE WHOLE BUILDING IS JOINED TOGETHER AND RISES TO BECOME A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD.” (Ephesians 2:19­21) (Psalm 133:1­2)
Correlating the contents of 1 Corinthians 12:12­31 with those of Ephesians 2:19­21, it is infeasible for us to operate independently, but the whole body of Christ is a unit, working together in worship to the most high God. It becomes important for us to meet and fellowship, for as the bible puts it, fellowship is important for edification of all the saints, “LET US NOT GIVE UP MEETING TOGETHER, as some are in the habit are in the habit of doing, but LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER…” (Hebrews 10:25) Furthermore, it says, “Speak to ONE ANOTHER with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs…” (Ephesians 5:19) 2 The latter scripture is a letter that Paul was writing to the church of Ephesus. So dear friend, it is unbiblical to think that you can become a Christian by just seating at home reading your bible, listening to sermons and gospel music on your computer, iPod, radio or whatever means, and that’s it. You have to fellowship. Like we said, you are a product of who you keep around you. Now a short illustration before we bring an end to this manual: after Paul was converted, the bible tells us he spent many days with the disciples in Damascus, getting the teaching of the word, before he could begin his ministry (Acts 9:19). Likewise, for you dear friend, now that you have joined the new family in Christ, you have to join with saints, get some bible teaching on what God desires for your life, and how to become the best God wants you to be. Join a bible study group of people who believe in God’s purpose for salvation, and start discussing God’s word and start working on your spiritual growth. Our last words to you fellow brethren, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the son has life; he who does not have the son does not have life. I WRITE THESE THINGS TO YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” (I John 5:11­13)
3 Some Common Questions and their Answers Q: If God is such a loving God, why would he punish his people by taking them to hell? A: No, God does not send us to hell, but we send ourselves by refusing to take the alternate way out, which is the salvation through his son Jesus Christ. God showed his love and mercy by sending Jesus as a way for all men to come to Him (John 3:16), but man in their stubbornness refuse to take salvation… but God is still gracious and waiting for man to repent, but one day He will return to judge the world, and condemn all those who did not take salvation (Romans 2:1­16). The bible says, “…I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…” (Deuteronomy 30:19), so, it’s about choice! Q: Come on, I’m self­righteous, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t sleep around, why do I need to be born again? A: Funny, haha! Well, the bible says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in you.” (1 John 1:8) but goes on to say, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) So, stop deceiving yourself dear friend, just accept the free gift of salvation. Oh, in fact, Isaiah 64:6 says, “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” hm! Ok, Galatians 2:16 further says, “…know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” Case closed! ] Q: So what if I fall into sin again? A: Well friend, we fall down, but we rise up, that’s just how we grow! By that we’re not condoning sin, intentional falling and rising; we’re just saying one set back does not mean you have backslidden 10 . It’s just a set­back from which you can learn from. The bible says, “If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall…” (Psalm 37:23­24), and further says, “…though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again…” (Proverbs 24:16), so, you are like a young baby in a parent’s hand learning how to walk, they trip and fall many times but the parent holds them and carries them forward. In this case, God is the parent. Don’t focus on your failures, focus on Christ, and never give up! 10 Backsliding means going back to one’s sinful ways and forsaking their salvation
4 Q: What about my friends who try to discourage me? A: The bible says, “Do not be misled: ‘bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33), and further says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers…” (2 Corinthians 6:14). This serves to say, if your friends do not share your faith, it is best to dissociate yourself from them. This does not mean hate them, and start calling them names like “sinner” and the likes, but chose better company, and set them an example, and by so doing you are being a light to them, like Christ instructs (Matthew 5:13). Q: Now that I am born again, should I change from my former church? A: The answer to this question is neither a “yes” or a “no”. It all depends on whether the church believes in the step that you have taken, because just like in the case of friends above, we are advised not to be equally yoked with unbelievers. So, you have believed, why would you want to seat in the company/church of people who are following only religion, not the Christ himself. If they don’t believe in Christ and the message of salvation, how can they help you grow spiritually and guide you well in the steps you have taken? Join a church where they can help you grow in salvation. Q: Now the bible uses old English, and I hardly understand what is being said… A: lol. Please note that the bible has different versions. Examples are King James, New International Version (NIV), Good News, New Living Translation (NLT), Amplified, etc, all for the convenience of the reader, for them to understand the bible in a language they are familiar with. If you find one version difficult, you can switch to the other. We’d recommend you use NIV, or NLT, or if you are fortunate enough, you can use the Amplified. Q: What about people who died sinners because they never heard the gospel, are they going to hell? A: Not that it’s any of your concern, lol, but about those, the bible says they will be judged based on their conscience because their conscience bears witness (Romans 2:15). Otherwise, don’t worry much about them, the concern is with you who has heard the gospel…
5 The Rights of the Sons of God Don’t get it twisted; being born again is not accepting a big scroll of a list of do’s and don’ts! As you will see, one of the rights is the right to be free! Just that, for you to walk this journey with God successfully, you need to know your stand. That is how Jesus, worn against the devil, when he was challenged in his fasting (Matthew 4:1­11). Jesus knew his stand. Likewise, you need to know your rights in God,
·
right to be called the children of God (John 1:12­13, Romans 8:14­16)
·
right to inherit heaven (John 3:3; Revelation 21:27)
·
right to be baptized in water (Matthew 28:19; Acts 10:47­48)
·
right to be baptized in the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4­5. 2:38­39)
·
right to be free (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 8:36; 1 Peter 2:16)
·
right to live by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:38, 11:6)
·
right to cast out devils (Luke 10:19; 2 Corinthians 10:4­6)
·
right to preach the gospel and make disciples (Matthew 28:19­20)
·
right to run your own race/carry your own cross (Ezekiel 18:20; Luke 9:23; Hebrews 12:1)
·
right to praise God (Psalm 150:6)
·
right to worship God (John 4:23­24; Philippians 3:3)
·
right to good health (Isaiah 53:5; 3 John 2)
·
right to prosper (Job 22:21; Proverbs 10:22)
·
right to be corrected and disciplined by God (Job 5:17­18; Hebrews 12:7­8)
·
right to submit to authority (Romans 13:1­2)
·
right to effective/answered prayers (Psalm 2:7­8; John 9:31, 15:7) “…you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32
6