Sweet Fellowship in Christ Jesus

A fellowship is a group of people who have similar interests. To fellowship, you need to join others to express your faith and be blessed by their presence and contributions.

Ecc 4:10 -12 

10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no-one to help him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
 In this study we will examine verses from the bible to bring to the fore the advantages of Christian fellowship. We will make some time to touch on fellowships we should avoid. Let us remember that where we fellowship, how we fellowship when we meet together is what will make it loving, attractive and long lasting.

Read the scriptures below and discuss what Christian fellowship is all about.
1. Heb 10
 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

2. Prov 27:
17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.18 He who tends a fig-tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honoured. 19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

Humble Beginnings, Praise And Patience

Scripture: Luke 2: 1- 35

Luke 2: 1 – 7

Our Lord and King was born in a manger. That is a humble beginning. The Bible in Job 8:7 says though your beginning be small your latter end shall be greatly increased. God has a beginning for every one of us and he usually starts from the very bottom and gradually takes us to the top. Therefore, it is important that we do not despise where we are right now because we know that the Lord will greatly increase our latter end. Phil. 2: 6 – 11.

Discuss how believers can appreciated their present state while trust God for their future greatness.

Luke 2: 8 – 20

The company of angels appeared praising God. Likewise the shepherds gave glory to God for Christ’s birth. It’s all about praising God.

God's Word And His Prophecy

Scripture: Luke 1: 57- 80

Luke 1: 57 – 66

Elizabeth, who was barren for so many years, now gives birth and the Bible says her neighbors and relatives shared in her joy, they were amazed at God’s greatness and even wondered what else lies ahead. We are surrounded by many who have lost hope and are discouraged, all they are waiting for is a barren Elizabeth (you and I) who will give birth thus announcing to them that God is mighty to deliver. No matter the barrenness that we may face, God is able to turn it around and bring joy.

Discuss why believers run from trials and want the easy way out, instead of trusting in God who is able to DELIVER them from all barrenness.

  

Luke 1: 67 – 75

Zechariah the priest angered angel Gabriel and his mouth was shut for a period till his son John was named. The Bible then said he was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied. In the house of God is rebuke, correction, exhortation and more. These may bring about offenses. But when this happens what do we do? Many of us go away bitter, but let’s learn from Zechariah who allowed himself to be filled with the Holy Spirit and continue the work of God.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit and God’s word is an important ingredient to deal with offenses. Discuss

Luke 1: 76 – 80

Zechariah prophesied into his son’s life and John grew to fulfill this prophesy.  As believers filled with the Holy Spirit we can also speak to the dry bones, they will hear and rise again. The Bible says we should ask and we shall receive, seek and we shall find, knock and the door will be open. Most often we do not do persist in these. Zechariah’s word of prophesy did not fall to the ground but accomplished the purpose for which it was sent.

God’s words of prophesy will eventually come to pass. What part do believers play in achieving this? Discuss

ATTRACTING GOD'S FAVOUR

Scripture: Luke 1: 26 – 56

In Nazareth where many virgins but only one particular virgin found favour before God. Favour is like a bright spot light that God shines on you and singles you out among many people.

Mary must have done something to attract such favour. God’s eyes are always going to and fro to favour his children. His Spot light shines on those who draw his attention through their acts of service from a pure heart.

Luke 1: 26 – 33

Discuss things that believers can do to attract God’s favour.

Luke 1: 34- 38

Mary’s question “How will it be” and Zechariah’s question “How can it be”. One question threw doubt on God’s ability to do what he said he will do. Many of us today repeat Zechariah’s question by doubting God’s promise for our lives. Heb. 4:2b tells us how we can miss God’s blessings

CHAPTERS OF LIFE

Introduction:

Your life is a book containing many chapters. From beginning to end, each chapter plays a role in making you who you are. We have closed chapters that need to be opened, opened chapters with hidden blessings and also chapters which should be maintained.

Scriptures:

Luke 1: 1 – 18; Luke 1:26 – 33; Math. 1:18 – 25.

·         Which chapters have you closed?

·         Which chapters are you opening?

·         Which chapters are you maintaining?

Closed Chapters: -

Luke 1: 1 – 18

In this scripture Zechariah had closed the chapter of ever having a child with his wife Elizabeth.  He was a priest of God but had given up with regard to having a child and even doubted the angel that brought him good news about having a child.

Be encouraged because God is capable of opening every

Arise And Shine, Rev.Dr. Jacob Vanderpuye

Commitment to Christ's Church

What is commitment?
Commitment in general terms means dedicating ones full efforts and resources to a particular course.
Commitment to something means regarding the thing as very important and attending to it every time no matter the cost.
For example, many of us are committed to some general things such as dressing, eating, sleeping and wearing shoes .All these are things we do irrespective of our feelings or emotions without any pressure from any source. No one needs to be called several times on the phone or chased around by anyone before he/ she attends to these commitments. Sometimes we are so committed to these things that we feel awkward when we do not fulfil these obligations.

Showing Commitment to God
God also requires us to commit ourselves to His work and His church. A typical example of commitment to church and the work of God in the New Testament is that of Paul and his son Timothy (I Thessalonians 3:2, Hebrews 13:23, Romans 16:21).

The Need for Commitment To Christ

 
In our previous study we discovered that commitment is not anything that requires any new skill or special abilities, in actual fact we were all born with an ability to get committed. Everyone has this potential and can develop it to a higher level. When we become born again, Christ puts into our spirits the ministerial offices and the nine major spiritual gifts.
Every child of God can function in any of these ministry offices and operate these gifts. The new birth opens the door for these spiritual weapons to be formed in our spirit. The spiritual weapons needs to be DISCOVERED, DEVELOPED AND USED (D.D.U). One can only successfully D.D.U when there is a commitment to Christ’s Church.
Commitment is inborn; it comes naturally in various areas of our lives, in the same way the ministry offices and spiritual gifts are deposited in anyone who becomes born again. Spiritual gifts are special abilities given freely by God to every born again .Just like natural gifts, believers do not need to work for the gifts. God gives the gifts and He chooses who to give what to. The ministry offices and spiritual gifts require commitment to Discover, Develop and Use.

CONSIDER THIS
How can one D.D.U his / her spirituals weapons?

The Believer’s Armour

We discovered that the authority we have is vested in our spiritual armour and we must learn to use them if we are going to be able to stand against Satan and his wiles.

The purpose of putting on Gods armour is to be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. Without Gods armour believers will be defeated by the strategies of their adversary.

1. Belt of Truth: Ephesians 6:14b
Paul begins his teachings on the spiritual armour with the Belt of truth; this is very important because the belt was the central part of the armour that held all the armour together. Without the belt the whole armour would go loose. Jesus is the truth, and He has revealed himself through the word of God, in essence the truth is the word of God. Without Jesus and a strong word base it is impossible to hold all the armour together. Having the belt of truth in place in

The Weapons Of Our Warfare…

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled
Ephesians 6: 1-12
Our last lesson on commitment focused on discovering, developing and using (D.D.U) our gifts in church. We also discovered what it means to be committed in Christ’s Church and the things you can do in Christ Home to show your commitment and hence aid you in discovering, developing and using your gifts.
In this lesson we are going to discuss the relationship

The Supernatural

Hebrews. 11: 1 – 34, Leviticus 26:3-13, Exodus 23:20-30, Colossians 1:15-23, Colossians 4:17, 1 Timothy 2:14-26

Faith in the Supernatural

It is human to use our five senses to predict what is about to happen. That is called walking in the flesh. That is opposed to walking in the spirit better still walking in the supernatural.

2 Kings 3:17 For this is what the Lord says; You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water,

Expecting the Supernatural

Many are called into the faith, they give their all, read the Bible, attend services including revivals, sow their seed, give offerings yet lack one major thing “ Expectation”, an expectant heart, anticipation.