Foundation class

Foundation Class 10 Week Course Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Schedule of Classes Date Topics Brief Summary of Topics Teacher Time 24-Aug The New Birth: Who we are in Christ. How and why God saved us. Brief introduction of Repentance from Dead Works Akinsanya 10:00-11:30AM 31-Aug The Godhead: We learn about God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit, their different characteristics and the power in their Unity Shokunbi 10:00-11:30AM 7-Sept The Word: The power in God’s Word, how to study and apply it to our lives Udoh 10:00-11:30AM 13-Sept Discipleship Training I &II (Christian Growth): Discipleship, Baptism, Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit All teachers ***Saturday Class 10:00AM-4:00PM 21-Sept Prayer and Fasting: Effective prayers and fasting that bring results, backed up with fasting Shokunbi 10:00-11:30AM 28-Sept Praise and Worship: The power in praise and worship Oguntomilade 10:00-11:30AM 5-Oct Spiritual Warfare: Believers’ authority over the devil Akinsanya 10:00-11:30AM 12-Oct Stewardship: How to apply ourselves to the work of the ministry at every level Akinsanya 10:00-11:30AM 19-Oct The Second Coming: Events leading to the return of our Lord Jesus, signs of the times, how to be sure we are ready Udoh & Shokunbi 8:30-11:30AM 26-Oct REVISION 10:00-11:30AM 2-Nov EXAMINATION 10:00-11:30AM

Foundation Class 1 The New Birth – (Who we are in Christ) Gen 1:26 – “Let Us make man in our image and after our likeness…”

The New Birth – (Who we are in Christ) In the beginning God created man in His image, and after His likeness Gen 1:26 – “Let us make man in our image and after our likeness…” Man was created to have dominion over all God’s creation and to subdue the earth. He was enjoying intense fellowship with God, but something happened…man disobeyed God and sinned. The result of sin and disobedience brought a fall, separation from God, death, hardship, nakedness, sickness, poverty, and every evil thing you can think of.

The New Birth – (Who we are in Christ) Man sought ways to make up for his sin and tried to reach back to God in their sinful state through their own means, but to no avail. Genesis 3:7 As human beings, we have tried to reach God in our own way, e.g. through religion, philosophy, good works, morality, etc., but God had His own plan. To send His son Jesus Christ to deliver man from their sins. God clothed Adam & Eve with coats of skins A pointer to the coming of our Lord Jesus who is the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Gen 3:21 An animal had to be killed which signified the shedding of blood, for God to have clothed them.

The New Birth – (Who we are in Christ) The only way back to God was through God’s own remedy – Jesus Christ The scripture says, “…without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins” Jesus Christ came to restore back to man that which was lost – in all its totality. For since through the first Adam came the fall, sin and death, which affected all mankind, through the second Adam – Jesus, came restoration and life eternal to all mankind to as many as shall receive Him. I Corinthians15:45 and 15:21-22 So, we have stepped out of Adams shoes into a new and living covenant in Christ Jesus. We will now look at the different stages that we were before we accepted Christ and who we are now in Christ.

Different stages before and after accepting Christ What we were before our new birth: In darkness, distant and alienated from God. Eph 2:1-6, Gal 3:22 In sin, not having God in our thoughts Rebellious and disobedient to God’s will Under God’s condemnation, and judgment. Rom 6:23, John 3:18 Children of the devil. How did we get there? From creation, the fall of man. Romans 3:23 – “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God”. What does God have to say? Repent. Acts 2:38, Matthew 3:1-2, Matthew 4:17. [Here introduce Repentance from Dead Works] Be Born Again. John 3:3, John 3:5-7, Matthew 5:20, Ephesians 5:26 Receive eternal life in Christ. John 3:16, John 3:36, 1 John 5: 11-15

Different stages before and after accepting Christ What should we do? Obey God, confess our sins, repent and receive God’s salvation. Romans 10:9-10 Who are we now in Christ? Born again children of God. Justified by faith. Romans 8:29-30 Free from condemnation. Romans 8:1 Right standing before God. Ransomed, washed by the blood of Jesus. 1Corinthians 6:20, Mark 10:45 Heirs to God’s throne, co-inheritors of God’s promises and blessings. Romans 8:17 How are we saved? As Sons and Daughters. John 1:12, 1 John 3:1-3

Brief significance of the Blood of Jesus: In the Old Testament times, blood had an important role to play in the life of the Israelites Various sacrifices were made for different kinds of occasions and situations, but the most serious was the sacrifice for the atonement of the sins of the Israelites An animal was killed and the blood would be sprinkled on the people and on the altar, the blood of the animal was said to atone for their sins Just like the Israelites in Egypt had to cover their doorposts, and lintel with the blood of the lamb which they had killed for the Passover feast, to shield them from the angel of death, so does the blood of Jesus purge our sins and shields us from all attacks of the enemy Therefore, God did away with the first sacrifice of old and replaced it with the sacrifice of His Son – Jesus, the Lamb of God His blood brings eternal deliverance and atonement for the sins of all mankind, past, present and future, and does not need to be repeated yearly like the Israelites did

Note the following about the Blood of Jesus: It is for atonement. Leviticus 16, Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22 It is for Covenant making. Hebrews 8:6, Hebrews 8:7-13, Hebrews 9:15 It is for Access to God. Hebrews 10:19-22.

Foundation Class 2 The Godhead [Father, Son, and Holy Ghost]

The Godhead The Godhead is the complete union of God the Father, God the Son , and God the Holy Spirit. These three are equal and united as one and yet distinct in character/personality and operation . Commonly called the Trinity. It is important for the believer to have a clear-cut understanding of the character/personality and operation of the Godhead, and as a result:

The Godhead Results of clear understanding of the Godhead. a) We build/develop a right relationship with and towards God. (The way to the Father is through Christ, by the Holy Spirit) . b) We are able to identify which personality of the Godhead is at work at any given time in our lives, and also in different aspects of the Scriptures. e.g., - In expression of love-The Father (John 3:16) In redemption- The Son (Rom 3:24-25) 24 - "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus : 25 - Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.“ In comfort - The holy Spirit - John 14:26 The Holy Spirit is our comforter.

The Godhead c) We are able to pray aright . Hosea 4:6 says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.“ Jesus said, "Whatsoever you ask the Father in my name, He will do it.“ John 16:23-24 , John 15:16, Matt 18:19, Eph 2:18. We sometimes do not receive answers to prayer because we ask amiss . James 4:2, 3 Also, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf because he knows the mind of God . Rom 8:26, 27, 1Cor 2:10. d) We become good and effective ministers and witnesses of the Lord. II Corinthians 3:6 "Able ministers of the new testament." , 2 Tim 2:15 "Study to show yourself approved.....“ In preaching the word (Evangelism) In baptism - In the name of the Father...Matt 28:19. In deliverance -Seven sons of Sceva, Acts 19:13 .

The Godhead The Godhead has always existed , right from time and has also been present at every stage of human existence , from creation to the incarnation of Christ , to the redemption and glorification of the believer. Genesis 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17, Hebrews 1:1-2, John 1:1-3, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22, Hebrews 1:10.

The Godhead The following table is a breakdown of the activities/operations of the Godhead right from Creation Event God the Father God the Son God the HolySpirit Creation of the world Act 17:24 John 1:3 Job 26:13 Creation of Man Malachi 2:10 Colossians 1:16 Job 33:4 Incarnation of the Son John 3:16 Philippians 2:7 Luke 1:35 Redemption John 3:16 John 19:30 Heb 9:14 Justification Roman 8:33 Rom 5:9 1 Corinthians 6:11 Sanctification Jude 1 1 Corinthians 1:30 1 Peter 1:2 Preservation 1 Peter 1:15 John 10:28 Ephesians 4:30 Communion Ephesians 2:18 Eph 2:18 Ephesians 2:18 Prayer John 16:23 John 16:23 Romans 8:26 Resurrection 2 Corinthians 1:9 1 Corinthians 15:22 Romans 8:11

The Godhead The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are distinct in operation. They are united in plan and purpose. Each person of the Godhead always acts dependently on one another. This is why Jesus could say, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do, for whatever things He doeth, these are also doeth the Son likewise." - John 5:19.

The Godhead Therefore… Jesus is not the Father a) Jesus is with the Father as a separate person from the beginning. John 1:1, 18; Philippians 2:5-6 "let this mind..." b) Stephen, the 1st Martyr, saw the Father and Son Separately. Acts 7:56. Jesus is not the Holy Spirit a) Sin committed against Jesus is forgivable, but sin against the Holy Spirit is not forgivable. Matthew 12:21, 32; Act 5:3-5. b) Jesus came before the Holy Spirit came. John 3:16, 7:39 - "Holy Spirit had not yet been given." John16:5-15 - "Comforter to be sent after Jesus departure.” Neither the Father nor the Son is the Holy Spirit a) Jesus distinguished Himself and the Father from the Holy Spirit. John 14:16,17 b) The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son. John 14:26, 15:26, Galatians 4:6.

The Godhead understanding their character/personality

God the Father God the Father is the first person in the Godhead. Normally referred to as God . 1) He is a Spirit - John 4:24 "God is Spirit..." Deuteronomy 4:12, 15, and 16. Exodus chapter 20 "Ten Commandments"; John 1:18. 1 Timothy 6:15-16. God the Father describes Himself as having eyes, ears, hands etc., just for our own benefit. 2) He is the Master Planner (Commander-in-Chief) of all affairs of this life. Genesis1:3., 26;Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:3-11; Acts 1:7-8. 3) He is love, and He loves us. John 3:16; 1 John 4:9-10; 4:16.

God the Son God the son is the second person of the Godhead, known as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 1) He is the image of the invisible God. Colossians1:15, Hebrews 1:3 2) He is the Lamb of God. (Perfect sacrifice) Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29, 36 Read about Passover Lamb, (Exodus12). 3) He is our High Priest. (Blood of Atonement). Hebrews 3:1 "Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession..." Hebrews 8:16 "We have a High Priest set on the right hand of the throne of the majesty in heaven." Hebrews 4:14-16 "High Priest that can be touched by the feelings of our infirmities." 4) He is our advocate. (Intercessor) 1 John 2:1, Hebrews 7:25.

God the Son 5) He is the ultimate Judge. John 5:22 - "Father...committed all judgment to His son." Judgment seat of Christ - Rom 14:10, 1 Corinthians 5:10. 6) He is our mediator. 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrew 8:6; 9:15; 12:24. 7) He is our Savior and Redeemer. Luke 2:11 - Savior is born. John 4:42 - Christ the Savior of the world. 2 Timothy 1:10 - Appearing of our Savior. Timothy 7 1:4, 3:6 - Lord Jesus our Savior. 8) It is his name that we use in prayer, spiritual warfare, salvation, witnessing/evangelism. John 15:16, 16:23 - "Ask anything of the Father in my name..." Acts 4:12 - "No other name given unto man..." Philippians 2:9-11 - "At the name of Jesus, every knee must bow." 9) He is the Word of God. John 1:1-

God the Holy Spirit God the Holy Spirit is the third person in the Godhead. Known as the comforter . He is the part of the Godhead that is most time neglected, or not much talked about. But in the meantime, he is the Power of God at work in the church. Teaching, counseling, convicting and comforting us everyday in our Christian walk. He is God's gift to the church. Acts 10:45 . 1) He is our comforter . John 14:16, John 16:7 - "If I don't go, the comforter will not come." Ecclesiastes 4:1, Lam 1:9 - Where there is no comforter. 2) Teacher - John 14:26 "Holy Ghost shall teach." Luke 12:12, John 2:27 - Anointing teaches. (Still small voice) 3) Glorifies and testifies of Jesus. John 16:14, 15:26 4) He is our seal for the day of redemption. Ephesians 1:13-14, 2 Corinthians 2:21, 22

God the Holy Spirit Other attributes of the Holy Spirit are : Helper/Friend Can be grieved He rebukes and chastises us in love Counselor Convicter Intercessor He is what you see at work in the life of a believer that makes you know that he or she is Born again. He is made manifest by his fruits - Galatians 5:22-23 and gifts - I Corinthians 2:1- 11.

Conclusion The Godhead is a very great mystery and cannot be fully exhausted or broken down in totality, but we must also beware of false teachings in order not to be confused. The Godhead is not Tri-etheism which is the belief in 3 gods. Neither is it Sabellianism - which is the belief of one God manifesting himself in 3 different ways or aspects, in the progressive revelation of the bible. Ephesians 4:14 says we should not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. Romans 11:33 says "The depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out."

Conclusion Scriptures of the Godhead Scripture teaches us that the Lord our God is one God, Deuteronomy 6:4,5. I John 5:7 says "There are three that bear record in Heaven, the Father, the Word and the Holy Ghost, these three are one." Other scriptures and the Godhead are : Act 17:29, Rom 1:20, Col 2:9. Just as husband and wife are united as one, so is the Godhead, also, we as believers are also united with Christ in one spirit. For the scripture say, " But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit . 1 Corinthians 6:17.

Foundation Class 3 DISCIPLESHIP (Part 1) Sanctification and Consecration

Sanctification and Consecration God works in us through the process of sanctification and consecration to deliver us from the pull of the flesh, so as to make us more like Him: Ps 22:2, 145:17, Lev 19:2. "Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy." Our God is a holy God and therefore, we his children must be holy in order to remain in a relationship with Him: Is 6:3, Rev 4:8.

Sanctification This is the process of being made holy unto the Lord. Sanctification is an ongoing process in the life of a believer. we need to be sanctified on a daily basis. Another word for sanctification is Holiness ( Holiness is a state of the heart, which is pure: Jeremiah 17:9 ) Holiness is not rules and regulations e.g. Do not smoke Do not lie Do not wear earrings "The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked,” Galatians 5:16, 18. Sanctification removes the bondage created by rules and regulations - Laws This is because a sanctified believer seeks only to do those things which are pure because his/her heart is pure. Sanctification must be a conscious effort made by every believer so as to remain sanctified at all times.

Sanctification How we are sanctified: By His word John. 15:3; Eph 5:26 and John. 17:17 By our conscious effort Leviticus 19:2; Lev 20:7, Philippians 12:1b; I Thessalonians 4:4 By the Spirit of God II Thessalonians 2:13b Sanctification comes as a result of deep fellowship with God. by the Holy Spirit, and studying the Word of God. God's word is like a mirror that exposes all our ungodliness, and causes us to repent and be transformed.

Sanctification Why must we be Sanctified Because God commands it Leviticus 19:2; Hebrews 12:14 To be able to enjoy fellowship with God Psalm 24:3-4 For God to hear and answer our prayers Isaiah 1:15-16

Sanctification God can use us Become Vessels of Honor: 2 Timothy 2:20-22 Come boldly before God - "Who shall ascend“ Psalm124:3-4 Principalities and powers can identify us. Acts 19:15 - "Jesus I know, Paul I know…” Matthew 8:29, Mark 3:11, Luke 4:41 – “Demons acknowledge Christ Jesus…” What are the effects of Sanctification?

Consecration Consecration is the act of being separated and reserved for the Lord. Another way to view consecration is like saving one's life for God's service. There were also vessels and utensils that were consecrated for the service of the Lord: Zech 14:20-21. We that have been bought of the lamb must remember that our bodies are no longer our own but the Lord‘s. Body is the temple of the Lord - Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:16.

Consecration There were vessels and utensils that were consecrated for the service of the Lord. Zech 14:20-21. We that have been bought of the lamb must remember that our bodies are no longer our own but the Lord's. Body is the temple of the Lord. 1 Cor. 3:16-17, 6:19, 2 Cor. 6:16

Consecration As Children of God We cannot be unequally yoked. 2 Cor. 6:14 Use our bodies as our own, but to glorify God, 1 Cor. 6:20. Our speech must be holy. Eph 4:29. Our thoughts must be holy. Our actions must be holy. We must always be constantly aware of God's presence around us.

Sanctification and Consecration Proof of a Sanctified and consecrated life. Loves God above all things. Obeys God in all things. Does not count his life important anymore. Gives of himself and substance to God and his work. (Tithes and offerings).

Sanctification and Consecration Tips for living a Sanctified and Consecrated life Beware of where you go. Watch who you relate with. Mind what you occupy your time with. Mind what you watch. Mind what you listen to. Mind what you meditate on: Ps 19:14, Josh 1:8.

Foundation Class 4 DISCIPLESHIP (Part 2) Holy Ghost Baptism

When Jesus was on earth, there were some things that He could not do because He was limited by the flesh. But after He resurrected, He gave His apostles a command to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit , whom He will send to: Teach, Strengthen, Encourage, Comfort, but most especially, Empower them: Acts 1:4-8. Holy Ghost Baptism

Acts 2 The Holy Spirit rested upon 120 saints The Holy Ghost empowered the apostles with faith, boldness and wisdom Peter, who once denied Jesus, preached a powerful sermon that drew 3000 men to Christ Holy Ghost Baptism

Holy Ghost Baptism Acts 19:1-6 Paul laid hands on certain disciples in Ephesus who were not yet baptized with the Holy Ghost. Paul knew that having been endued with the power of the Holy Ghost, you were wrapped up in God’s power to do exploits.

Why must we be Baptized in the Holy Ghost ? To be endued with Power - Acts 1:8 To enter into ministry (Jesus, the Apostles, etc.) Must we be baptized with water first? No - Act 10:44-48 "Cornelius encounter" Holy Ghost Baptism

Who is the Baptizer? Jesus - Luke 3:16 (Jesus will baptize us with the Holy Ghost and Fire) Who can be Baptized (Holiness)? Every desiring believer - Luke 11:13b (Father will give the Holy Ghost to them that ask Him) Holy Ghost Baptism

What are the effects of Holy Ghost Baptism? Supernatural Power (Gifts) 1 Cor. 12:1-11 Christian Character (Fruits) Gal 5:22-26 Holy Ghost Baptism

Supernatural Power (Gifts of the Spirit) The Holy Spirit has divers gifts, administrations and operations, but all by the same Spirit. The gifts are manifested in every believer to profit the whole body of Christ and also those who do not know Christ: 1 Cor. 12:1-11. Holy Ghost Baptism

Gifts of the Spirit: Revelation Gifts: 1) Word of Wisdom 2) Word of Knowledge 3) Discerning of Spirits Vocal Gifts: 4) Prophecy 5) Diverse kinds of tongues 6) Interpretation of tongues Power Gifts: 7) Faith 8) Gift of Healing 9) Gift of Miracles Nine Gifts In Three Categories

Christian Character (Fruit of the Spirit) Gal 5:22-26 The Fruit of the Spirit is the manifestation/demonstration of the character/life of God in every believer. It goes a long way to show how much of the nature and character of God has been built up in our lives. Holy Ghost Baptism

There are nine Fruits of the Spirit. 1) Love 6) Goodness 2) Joy 7) Faith 3) Peace 8) Meekness 4) Longsuffering 9) Temperance 5) Gentleness Holy Ghost Baptism

L O V E Love is caring and seeking for the highest good of another person without motive for personal gain. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 John 4:7-16.

J O Y Joy is the feeling of gladness based on the love, grace, blessings, promises and nearness of God that belongs to those who believe in Christ. "The joy of the Lord is your strength”: Nehemiah 8:10. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”: Hebrews 12:2.

P E A C E Peace is the quietness of heart and mind based on the knowledge that all is well between the believer and his or her heavenly Father. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ“: Romans 5:1. "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“: Romans 15:13.

LONGSUFFERING (Patience) Longsuffering (patience) is endurance, patience, being slow to anger or despair. We are "strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness”: Colossians 1:11. "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”: Ephesians 4:2.

GENTLENESS (Kindness) Gentleness is not wanting to hurt someone or give him or her pain. We should live "in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left”: 2 Corinthians 6:6-7.

GOODNESS Goodness is zeal for truth and righteousness and a hatred for evil; it can be expressed in acts of kindness or in rebuking and correcting evil. "Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power”: 1 Thessalonians 1:11. "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth”: Ephesians 5:9, Psalm107.

FAITH (Faithfulness) Faith (faithfulness) is faithfulness, firm and unswerving loyalty and adherence to a person to whom one is united by promise, commitment, trustworthiness, and honesty. "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth“: Isaiah 25:1. "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith“: Ephesians 3:16-17.

MEEKNESS (Gentleness) Meekness (gentleness) is restraint coupled with strength and courage; it describes a person who can be angry when anger is needed and humbly submissive when submission is needed. "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”: Galatians 6:1. "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”: Ephesians 4:2.

TEMPERANCE (Self-Control) Temperance (self-control) is having control or mastery over one's own desires and passion, including faithfulness to one's marriage vows; also purity and chastity "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love”: 2 Peter 1:5-7).

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT Revelation/Seeing Gifts

The Word of Wisdom The gift of the Word of wisdom is defined as the supernatural manifestation of the will God which reveals to the beneficiary, in a flash, the mind and the purpose of God for the future. The gift of the Word of wisdom is not wisdom i.e. it does not connote human wisdom, it is not about how brilliant or intelligent one is. Gifts of The Spirit

Purpose of the gift of Wisdom: It reveals something that is yet to happen. It comes for a specific or particular purpose. It brings about spectacular results. Acts 11:28-30, 1 st Kings 22: 1-28 This gift most of the time operates with virtually all the other gifts. Gifts of The Spirit

The Word of Knowledge The gift of the Word of knowledge is the supernatural manifestation of the knowledge of God, which reveals to the in a flash, the mind and the purposes of God for the past and present. The gift is called ‘Word of knowledge’ and not gift of knowledge. The striking difference between the word of knowledge and word of wisdom is that the word of knowledge deals with the past and the present while the word of wisdom deals with the future only. The Holy Spirit does not reveal everything to you but gives you a word. Since a word is a fragment of a sentence, a word of knowledge is simply a fragmentary part of the knowledge of God.

Purpose of the gift: It enlightens someone who is discouraged. 1 st Kings 14:18-26. It exposes hypocrisy e.g. Annanias and Sapphira. Acts 5: 1-5, 2 nd Kings 5:1-5. It warns a child of God of an impending danger. 2 nd Kings 6: 8-12 . It helps to recover lost property including human beings. 1 st Sam.9: 3-20 . It reveals sickness and demonic possession. The Word of Knowledge

Discerning of spirits It is the supernatural enablement so see, hear, taste or smell into the realms of the spirit and these realms include: Angels, demons, human spirits and the Spirit of God. The discerning of spirits gives us insight into the spiritual world. This gift is very important because if Eve could discern the true identity of her tempter, the human race might not have fallen.

What Discerning of Spirit is not: It is not the ability to see faults in others. Matt.7: 1 It is not mind reading i.e. one should not become a spiritual detective. It is not a psychological insight or penetration of mind. Discerning of spirits

Purpose of the gift: It enables on to see into the spirit world. 2 nd Kings 6:16, John 1:48 . It is used to discern an evil spirit or any spirit. 1 st John 4:1, Acts 16:16-18. To discern evil and hypocrisy among God’s people e.g. Annanias and Sapphira – 1 st Cor. 12:1-11 Discerning of spirits

B) POWER WORKING GIFTS The gifts under this category do or accomplish something. These gifts are of special importance to the body of Christ in the preaching of the gospel. They are the means by which God advertises the gospel of Jesus Christ. The power gifts will gain increasing prominence in these last days and as the church approaches the coming of the Lord.

The gift of faith could be defined as the ability to receive a little fragment of God’s faith supernaturally imparted by the Holy Spirit in a moment of need to meet a specific need situation . This is different from working of miracles although both gifts produce miracles. The gift of working of miracles is active whereas the gift of faith is passive . The difference between the two gifts is that one does and the other receives; the gift of faith is more of a process while the working of miracles is action. The presence of faith is necessary for miracles to be performed. Gift of Faith

What the word knowledge is not: It does not mean all of the knowledge of God. Learning and studying the Word of God do not acquire it. It can also be manifested through vision and can also be manifested through an inward revelation. Several other ways of manifestation of the gift of word of knowledge can be through tongues and interpretation and through prophecy. The word of knowledge however, works in line with the Word of God. All manifestations of the gifts of the spirit must be in line with the Word of God otherwise, it is not of God. The Word of Knowledge

There are four different types of faith: The natural human faith, which is based on the five senses. Saving faith – Acts16: 31, Eph.2: 9 Faith as the fruit of the spirit – Gal. 5:22-23 Gift of special faith or faith as a gift of the Spirit. God’s kind of faith – Gen.1: 1, Hebrews 11:8-10. Gift of Faith

Characteristics of faith: The recipient looks at the situation from God’s perspective. It operates along with gifts of healing and working of miracles. It could operate through anyone who is living in the spirit. It could be released at anytime even when you are not feeling spiritual. Gift of Faith

Uses: It can be used for supernatural blessings. The patriarchs of old used this. When they were dying, they laid hands on their sons and blessed them. It could be used for personal protection. Dan.6:16-27 It is used for supernatural sustenance. 1 st Kings 17:2-6 It is for raising the dead. 1 st Kings 17:23 It is used to cast out evil spirits. Acts 6:16-18, Matt.17:18-20 It is used to minister the Holy Spirit. Gal. 3:5 Gift of Faith

Gift of Working of Miracles It is a supernatural intervention in the ordinary course of nature and a temporary suspension of the accustomed order. It could also be defined as a temporary suspension of normal physical laws by divine intervention. The working of miracles stimulates the faith of God’s people.

Manifestation Joshua 10:9-13 The sun and the moon stands still. 2 nd Kings 6:1-7 The floating axe head. 1 st Kings 17:12-16 The barrel of meal and the cruse of oil Mark 4:39 The stilled storm.

Gift of Healing Gift of healing is the supernatural ability given to the recipient to cure illness and restore health without he use of natural means. It is pertinent to note here that the Lord is the healer. Exodus 15:26 . At least 3 ways of Healing from God: By personally claiming the promises of God – Psalm 103:3, Matt.8:17, 1 st Peter 2:24 Through the elders prayer of faith and anointing with oil – James 5:13-16 Through the operation of the gift of healing.

UTTERANCE/INSPIRATIONAL/VOCAL GIFTS

Prophecy This is the special ability that God gives to receive and communicate an immediate message to His people through a divinely anointed utterance in a known language. This gift causes the recipient to speak the mind of God in known language, not from his mind but with the help of the Holy Spirit. It does not come by the will of man. 2 nd Pet.21.

What the Gift is NOT: It is different from prophecies recorded in the Bible because the main purpose of the gift today is not to foretell future events but to edify, exhort and comfort believers. The gift cannot take the place of the written Word of God.

Characteristics: Prophecy must edify , exhort and comfort (1 Cor. 14:3) . If it does not fulfill these three conditions, then it is not from God. It must not put people in bondage – Rom. 8:15 It must agree with the Scriptures. The life of the person prophesying must measure up – Matt.7:15-18 The fact that someone prophesies does not make him a prophet. The gift of prophecy is needed for this end time hence Paul’s injunction to covet this gift. Prophecy should be judged because it is given through a human vessel that has infirmities – 1 st Thess.5:20-21.

Diverse Kinds of Tongues This is a special enablement to receive and communicate an immediate message of God to His people through a divinely anointed utterance in a language they have never learnt. It is not the gift of tongues from the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Diverse kind of tongues cannot be exercised at will but at the discretion of the Holy Spirit – I Corinthians 14:15. Although the gift of diverse tongues involves speaking in other tongues, it is at a different level.

Characteristics It comes like any other gift of the Spirit – in a flash, along with a special anointing. It is different from the prayer language received at baptism of the Holy Spirit. It may even be a mixture of languages and virtually all of the time, it sounds very different from tongues of regular prayer language.

Interpretation of Tongues When a message is given in tongues, it cannot be understood by everybody until it is interpreted in a language that is known to all present. The gift of interpretation of tongues serves this purpose. This gift is not ordinary translation. Translation is giving the word for word meaning of a foreign language while interpretation of tongues is giving a general summary of what was said in tongues. The interpretation may not require as many words as the original message.

The Word The life of any believer is never complete if he/she does not have an in-depth or experiential knowledge and understanding of the Word of God. Every born again child of God must desire to know more and more of God’s word on a daily basis, for this is our necessary spiritual food that we are nourished by. The Word of God must reflect in the way we think, reason, respond to situations, take decisions, and live our lives as a whole. The more of the Word that a believer has resident in him/her, the more possible it becomes to live according to God’s principles. Our Lord Jesus is our perfect example; He always referred to God’s Word throughout the course of His life on earth. God does not do anything outside of His Word, He is bound by His Word. He esteems His Word higher than His name. Every believer must ask the Father to teach him/her from His Word by His Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit (our Teacher) we will not be able to fully understand or apply God’s Word in our lives.

The Word God's Word is not simply something written down or spoken out, but it is something active. It has the power of God, so that when God expresses His will, it will be carried out! When God said, “Let there be light, there was light” (Genesis 1:3); through the active Word of God, the universe was created (Genesis 1:26). God's Word does not fail. Whatsoever God says, will happen (Isaiah 55:10-11). God's Word has such life and power that people of the old testament often thought of it almost as if it were a person, the living agent or messenger of God (Psalm 33:6, 107:20). In the New Testament Jesus is called the Word (Greek: Logos); (1 John 1:1-3) which is the Living and Active agent of God. It existed before creation and was the means by which God created all things. The New Testament shows that this Word is more than merely likened to a person; it is a person, no longer ‘it’ but 'He'. He is not only with God, He is God. This word is Jesus Christ who became man. He is the Living Word, the living expression of God. His words and deeds are the words and deeds of God (John 1:1-4) because God has spoken to mankind through Jesus Christ, The Word. Similarly, because God has spoken through the scriptures, the scriptures are the Word (Psalm 119:105, Matt. 15:6). Hence, the Word of God is still living and active today and has the ability to transform the hearts and lives of those who hear it, study it, and act on it! (Heb. 4:12).

The Word of God (Definition) The Word of God is the mind of God, spoken to us through the Holy Scriptures and confirmed in our hearts by His Spirit. It is Inspired by God, Accurate, Authentic, a final Authority, for every believer and is not lacking in any aspect of its context. It is balanced and complete. Psalm 119:89, 2 Pet 1:20-21. The word of God is also called, the Holy Scriptures and the Law of the Lord. (Psalm 119 dwells so much on the Word of the Lord. Read it when you get home).

How to Study the Word of God There are various ways in which the word of God can be studied; these methods may be based on the individuals’ need: Situational : based on the individuals’ circumstances e.g. when going through pain, lack etc then you look for the appropriate scriptures to back it up e.g. “My God shall supply my needs according to His riches…in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19) Interest/Research : General interest about certain things e.g. faith, love, giving. Unlike situational needs you are not going through any challenges but eager to learn more about the Word of God. Personal Revelation : Here, God may direct you to certain scriptures during prayer, praise & worship, meditation or in your quite moment.

Tools for Studying the Word of God The Word of God is found in the Holy Bible and there are various tools available that we can use to learn from it: One year Bible The Concordance The Dictionary Tapes/ CD's / Videos Daily Bread Magazines/Literatures.

How should we handle the Word of God? To increase in the Word of God, there must be a hunger & a thirst after it , after which it must be meditated upon like our daily food (Jn 6:51). Meditation simply means thinking over, ruminating, engage in thought, cogitate, to ponder or to study. Joshua 1:8 commands us to meditate on the Word of God day & night. A true believer cannot live outside the Word of God because It is the power of God unto salvation unto those who believe, hence it must not depart from our mouth (Psalm: 1). The word of God tells us, "Like new born babes we should desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2). In order to grow, we need to study the Word , obey it , {James 1:22-23), speak it , (Mark 11:23), act on it , (James 2:17-22), believe it (James 2:23, Hebrews 10:36-37). On a daily basis the Bible tells us to examine ourselves whether we are still in faith (2 Corinthians 13:5). Hence we overcome the accuser (Old serpent, devil, satan, ancient dragon), by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony, also to overcome in spiritual warfare we need all the whole armor of God, of which the Word of God is the sword of the Spirit.

Conclusion We will conclude by taking a look at a few important characteristics of God’s Word: 1 It is a Spiritual Guide Psalm 119:105, 130, 131 2 It brings wisdom and revelation - 2 Timothy 3:15 3 It keeps us from sinning - Psalm 119:11, 133 4 It creates - Genesis 1: 1-; Rom 4:17 5 It brings Salvation - 1 Corinthians 1:21 6 It brings Healing and Deliverance - Luke 7:7; Ps 107:20 7 Never returns unaccomplished. - Is 55:11; Heb 4:12; Matt 5:18 8 It brings Joy - Acts 8: 5-8 9 Brings correction and reproof. - 2 Timothy 3:16 10 Brings comfort and good news - Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:15 11 It does not lie - Heb 6:16-19, Numbers 23:19 12 It is cleanses us - John 15:3

Foundation Class 6 Prayer and Fasting

Prayer and Fasting Dwelling in God’s presence is an act of abiding (i.e. waiting, tarrying, or remaining) in the presence of God at every moment of our lives so as to be in constant communion with Him. One of the major ways that we dwell in God’s presence is through Prayer and Fasting.

What is Prayer? Prayer is a form of communing with God. In other words, prayer is a time when we speak to God and God speaks back to us. In prayer we make our request and supplications known to God, we thank Him for the things that He has done in our lives and will yet do, we intercede on behalf of others, and above all it is also a time when we worship God by exalting His name. To understand prayer as an act of dwelling in God’s presence, we must understand more clearly what it means to dwell in God’s presence… When we come into the presence of our God and King we must first acknowledge His Greatness and Power, with humility and reverential fear. We do not need to be in a hurry to leave His presence. It is a time to lay aside all our cares and burdens and begin to seek after the Lord with our whole heart. Psalm 27:4 says, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple”. There is so much to receive through dwelling in God’s presence, the bible says, “In His presence is fullness of Joy, and at His right hand pleasures forever more. There is revelation knowledge, answers to prayers, blessings of all sorts, promotion in every area of our lives. God Himself wants to fellowship with us, therefore we should learn how to be still in God’s presence so as to hear Him speak to us in return.

What is Fasting? When we talk about Prayer and dwelling in God’s presence , we must not fail to mention Fasting . Fasting is an act of denying ourselves of our necessary food so as to spend time with God in prayer. It is normally referred to as Waiting on the Lord! When we fast, we put our fleshly bodies under the control of our spirit man and we have a focus of something we are praying about or believing God for, so as not to turn our fasting into Hunger Strike! Fasting is not a time to look dull or feel grouchy and worn-out but rather, it is a time to receive renewal of strength from God – Isaiah 40:29-31, Matt 6:16-18. Fasting does not compel God to answer your prayers, but He honors as many as do wait upon through prayer and fasting – Matt 6:18.

What is Fasting? God intended for us to maintain our fellowship with Him through prayer, He is the One that commanded us to call upon Him – Read Isaiah 55:6. In Matt 7:7 He said we should ask of Him and we shall receive, if we do not wait to receive, God may bring answers when you must have left His presence (maybe through unbelief or lack of patience), so let us learn to abide in His presence. Our Lord Jesus is our perfect example, while on earth He was a man of prayer and even now at the right Hand of God He is still making intercessions for the whole church. Also our Lord Jesus also fasted for a period of forty days and forty nights, in preparation for His public ministry on earth. So we must learn a lesson from our Savior and Master Jesus as we run the race on this earth. In Matt 6:9-15, Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, this prayer should serve as a guide to our own prayer pattern so as to help us to have a focus when we come into the presence of the Lord.

Prayer and Fasting The breakdown of the Lord’s Prayer is as thus, (Read Matt 6:9-15): Worship (i.e. acknowledge and exalting the One true God) Ask God to establish His rulership and government here on earth even as it is in heaven Make our requests or petitions known unto God, and ask for blessings and grace in our lives Ask for forgiveness of our sins (but we must forgive those who have offended us) Ask for God’s protection and guidance over your life, your family, your church, etc. Round up with Praise, Worship and Thanksgiving once again This may serve as a guide for us to go about our daily prayers, but it does not have to be followed rigidly, with exception of points 1 and 6. These have to do with Worship and Adoring God and must not be skipped.

Prayer and Fasting There are other forms of prayer that when we begin to get into them, we will discover that our prayer time even becomes longer in God’s presence, for example there are: Prayer of Supplication - Acts 1:14, Eph 6:18 Prayer of Intercession - Acts 12:5, Eph 6:18 Prayer of Thanksgiving - Eph 5:20 Praying in the Holy Ghost (unknown tongues) - Rom 8:26, Jude vs.20 We will still learn more about other forms of prayer as we progress in our walk with God, but these are just a few that we can apply to various situations of our lives or that of those around us. It is good for us to know that to dwell in God’s presence does not mean that we must be on our knees (or whatever position we take while praying) 24 hours of the day, but to have a constant level of communication with Him throughout the course of the day while we go about our normal affairs. Nevertheless, we must allocate a period of each day that we spend quality time in the presence of the Lord!

Foundation Class 7 Praise and WOrship

Praise and Worship Praise and Worship are both forms of expressing our innermost feelings towards God, so we will look at them separately so that we can understand their importance.

Praise Praise is the channel by which we enter into God’s presence so as to express our appreciation towards Him. It is a higher, level of prayer, and can be done in the form of singing, clapping, dancing, rejoicing, and lifting up holy hands to the Lord . It is a time when we tell the Lord of His Greatness, Glory, Goodness, Almightiness and so on. The bible says, “Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant and praise is comely” - Psalm 147:1.

Worship Worship is a deeper form of praise. It is an expression of love, awe, adoration, intimacy and reverence towards God. In worship we enter into God’s presence forgetting ourselves and concentrating on Him. It is at this point that we begin to behold the Beauty of the Lord, His Glory, Honor, and Majesty. At this point God’s presence becomes more evident, and we begin to realize how sinful and insignificant we are to a Great and Mighty God (Read Isaiah 6:5), but we have confidence to come into His presence by the blood of the Lamb - Jesus!

Points to note on Praise and Worship. Why should we praise the Lord? - Because God inhabits our praise - Ps. 22:3 When should we praise the Lord? - At all times (i.e. in good times and in bad times) - Ps. 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth”.

Read the stories of : Joshua (The walls of Jericho) - Joshua 6 King David (Return of the Ark of the Covenant.) - 2 Samuel 6:13-23 King Solomon (Dedication of the Temple) - 1 Kings 8:11 King Jehoshaphat - 2 Chronicles 20 Job’s affliction - Job 1:20-22, 13:15 Jonah in the Belly of the whale - Jonah 2:1-10 Paul and Silas - Acts 16:25-26

How Should we praise and worship the Lord? With our whole heart - Matt 15:8-9 With a pure heart - Ps 24:3-5 In Spirit and in Truth - John 4:24

What are the Benefits/Effects of praising and worshipping God? - We enter into God’s presence. - He pours out His blessings. - We defeat our enemy - the devil.

Conclusion We must get into the attitude of praising and worshipping God; we need to make it a part of our lifestyle. God desires that we praise and worship Him at all times. We can also use praise as a weapon of warfare against our enemy - the devil - Ps 149:6-9. Praise and worship does not consist of singing and dancing only, it could be in a form of a prayer, it could be just telling God who He is, and reminding Him of what He has done.

Foundation Class 8 Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual Warfare Once we become Born Again children of God, we must realize that we have enlisted into God’s Army therefore, we have become soldiers and if soldiers, we must prepare for battle. The moment we gave our lives to Christ, a battle began in the Spirit Realm ; this battle is between the forces of evil i.e. the devil, and God Himself and we must realize that we born again Christians have become the target. To the devil, we have become a target for him to wreak havoc, destruction and all sorts of evil but to God, we have become a target for His blessings, love, mercy, protection and every good thing.

Spiritual Warfare There are two realms of operation that we must be aware of as Born Again Christians: The Spirit Realm The Physical Realm The Spirit realm is the level where God and the devil operate. It is the unseen realm and the Physical realm is the manifestation of everything that has taken place in the spirit realm. Although we as human beings live in the physical realm, we have the ability as believers to handle situations in the spirit so that they will come forth for our good in the physical realm. The Bible says that “ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh…” (Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 )

Spiritual Warfare Points to know: We must realize that our Lord Jesus has already won the battle on the cross of Calvary. Col. 2:14-15 . We have an assurance that the victory is already ours. We must know that our Lord Jesus has given us the Power and Authority over all the forces of darkness. Luke 10:19 . We must maintain the victory. Eph. 6:13 We must recognize who our enemy is – the devil. If you cannot locate your enemy, you cannot dislocate him so we should not be ignorant of his devices. 2 Cor. 2:11

Spiritual Warfare Who is Satan? A fallen angel, The anointed covering cherub appointed of God in heaven, Beautifully fashioned from precious stones and musical instruments. His heart was lifted up because of his beauty, for he said in his heart that he will ascend into heaven and exalt his throne above the stars of God; because of this sin and rebellion satan and one-third of the angels in heaven that supported him, were cast out of heaven. Satan is also known as Lucifer and is often referred to as “the devil”; ( Read Ezekiel 28:11-19; Isaiah 14:12-15; Revelation 12:7-9). There are certain things that we need to know about satan: He is not omnipresent i.e. he cannot be in more than one place at a time but he has demons or agents who have various assignments. He has an organized system of various principalities, territorial spirits, demons of oppression, depression, sickness and the list goes on ( Read Eph.6: 10-18 )

Spiritual Warfare What are demons? Demons are the fallen angels that joined Lucifer the devil to rebel against God and were driven out from Heaven with Lucifer as their leader. They are evil spirits, therefore; they do not die. They can take possession of someone’s body, and can influence people to do evil, therefore; we must resist them and satan. ( James 4:7)

Victory in Christ Jesus We do not need to spend our time and energy dwelling on the works of the devil, rather we should concentrate on the victory we have in our Lord Jesus. We do not need to be afraid of the devil or his agents because we have the power in the name of Jesus to restrict their movement and silence their activities.

Satan’s Greatest Weapon Fear is the major thing that the devil operates on to keep the believer constantly harassed and threatened. Fear is the absence of Faith and it gives room to demons of depression, anxiety, and despair and so on therefore, we must learn not to fear but to have faith in God and in His Word!

The Weapon’s of Our Warfare The Bible says, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal...” 2 Cor. 10: 3-5 ; let us take a look at some of the weapons: Prayer: This is an invisible offensive weapon that the enemy cannot attack. Faith: This neutralizes doubt and fear James 1: 1-7. Holiness: This is a defensive weapon as well as an offensive one. Prov. 28:1 These are our main weapons but we have some other ones such as: Fasting (this must go along with prayer for it to be effective) Praise and Worship The Spoken Word of God The Name of Jesus The Blood of Jesus

Foundation Class 9 Stewardship

Stewardship (Laborer’s in His Vineyard) Matthew 25:14-30 The purpose of this class is to encourage each and every one of us as members of the body of Christ to apply ourselves wholesomely to the work of the ministry. Also, we need to know that each of us have been called to be custodians or treasurer’s of the things of God. In God’s Master Plan, man had been created to walk and work with Him. Gen 2:15 says, “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it”.

What is Stewardship? Stewardship is the management of another's property, finances, or other affairs; therefore, as a child of God, stewardship simply means the management of God’s own things on earth by his redeemed people.

Who is a Laborer in God’s vineyard? A laborer in layman’s definition is anyone that is given to work, anyone that gives himself voluntarily to serve another or perform a particular service. A laborer is a person that works very hard at whatever he/she does. In the vineyard of God, a laborer is anyone who is born again and has given himself willingly to the work of God.

What do we mean by God’s vineyard? Simply put, God’s vineyard is anywhere that requires the work of God to be done be it at home, abroad, in church, on the streets, in stores, etc. All these places are God’s vineyard. As children of God and members of the body of Christ, we need to inquire of the Lord in what ways He would have us to work in His vineyard. The Bible says that we are laborers together with God, meaning we are co-laborers with Him and this means that we are in partnership with God therefore; we are all working together to establish His Kingdom here on earth.

Stewards and Laborer’s Anyone that has been entrusted with responsibility in the Kingdom of God is a steward. A laborer in God’s vineyard, works hard to propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, hence he/she is a soul winner. In John 15 , Jesus says He is the vine and God is the vinedresser who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Christ and the fruitful branches are true believers who, by their union with Christ, produce much fruit so we see that there is a difference in being a branch and a fruitful branch. Some are unproductive branches and such branches; Christ has said will cut off (John 15:2).

Why must we be Stewards and Laborers in His vineyard? Because it is a recommendation from Christ. Luke 10: 1-3 Because Christ is counting on us. 1 st Cor. 12: 12-15 So as not to disappoint God. Isaiah 5: 1-7

What are the requirements for being a Steward in His vineyard? We must offer ourselves willingly to be used of God. Rom.12: 1 We must be Holy vessels fit for the master’s use. 2 nd Tim.2: 20-22 We must be examples to others. 1 st Tim.4: 12 We must be available for God’s work. Luke 5: 1-4 We must stir up God’s gift in our lives. 2 nd Tim.1: 6 We must possess integrity. Prov. 20: 7 We must be humble. Phil. 2: 3-4 We must be diligent. Prov.21: 5 We must be faithful, accountable, dependable and reliable. 1 Cor 4:2 We must make good use of our time. Eph 5:15-16 We must maintain healthy habits and don’t overwork ourselves. Mark 6:31

What are the rewards of Stewardship? God will make us to rule and reign with him (Divine Promotion). Luke 12:42-44 we will have blessings in abundance both in this life and in the life to come. Matt 25: 28-29

Conclusion Rom. 12: 3-13 tells us that God has given every man a measure of faith so we are not called to the same kind of work in the household of God, therefore, in whatsoever way we have been called to minister in the household of God, we must do so according to the measure of faith that God has given us. God gives grace to as many as He has called to work with Him. He also rewards our labor so even if we are working in His vineyard and it seems as if no one is taking note of our commitment, God Himself is keeping a record of it. Another way of committing ourselves to God’s work is by giving our Tithes and Offerings! God commands us in Malachi 3: 8-12 to bring all our tithes and offerings into the storehouse. Tithing is an act of obedience to God; therefore we need to handle all other aspects of obedience to God. It also shows that we have surrendered our all to God Almighty. Finally, as a warning, let us be careful not to be unfaithful or unprofitable stewards Matt 25:24-27, 30 shows us what happens to such stewards; this will not be our portion in Jesus’ Name! 1 st Cor.15: 58 says “ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” Therefore, let us continually ask the Lord for grace to remain steadfast as we labor in His vineyard!

Foundation Class 10 Second Coming

Second Coming Events in the world today are showing more than ever the imminence of the coming of our King and our Lord. He is coming again and we shall soon hear the sound of the trumpet. However, it is worthy of note that His coming shall be in two phases. In this study, we shall learn about these and the various events, which shall occur under them.

The 1 st Phase of His Coming Revelations 18:4 During this phase, the Lord Jesus Christ will be coming for the saints, to remove them from the world and take them unto Himself so that they will not partake in the ‘Great Tribulation’ which will unfold itself immediately after the 1 st phase of His second coming. The various events that will be witnessed within this 1 st phase are as follows: The Lord Jesus shall appear in the sky to take home His own. 1 st Thessalonians 4: 16 The saints who slept shall be resurrected and the living saints transformed and translated to meet the Lord in the sky. This event is referred to as ‘The Rapture’. This event also signals the beginning of the ‘1 st Resurrection’. 1st Thess. 4: 13 – 19; 1 st Cor.15: 44, 51 – 53. There shall be seven years of great tribulation on earth when the anti-Christ shall be the head of government of the world. It is a seven-year period of great deceit, bloody war, violence, crime, lawlessness and terror. There shall not be such times before it or after it. Matt. 24: 21; 2 nd Thess. 2: 5-8 .

The 1 st Phase of His Coming In the sky however, the raptured saints who will remain there with Christ for seven years will witness events such as ‘The Judgment Seat of Christ’, which incidentally, is the period of accountability. Rom.14: 10; 2 nd Cor. 3: 11-15. ‘The Marriage Supper of the Lamb’, which is the marriage between Christ – the Bridegroom, and the Church – His Bride will also be witnessed at this time. Rev. 19: 7-9 . The second death shall have no power over raptured saints. 1 st Cor.15: 54; Rev.20: 6; 2: 11. The church, the undefiled brethren and the saints shall not partake in the ‘Great Tribulation’.

The 2 nd Phase of His coming At the round up of events in the air and after the seven-year period, Christ and His bride shall return to the earth, which will be the concluding part of His 2 nd coming. He shall be coming with the saints. The following events will unfold during this phase: The battle of Armageddon. This is the war that will be fought at the descent of Christ and the saints to the earth. The anti-Christ will institute this battle using his confederated army, which he would have gathered from all nations. Revelations16: 13-16; Zechariah14: 1-5; Revelations19: 11-19. The anti-Christ’s armies will be defeated and destroyed with the sword that comes out from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelations19: 20-21.

The 2 nd Phase of His coming The Millennial Reign of Christ. Rev.20: 4-6 . The victory at Armageddon heralds the 1000-year reign of Christ and His saints here on earth. The following will be the features of this period: The government of the millennial period will be a theocratic form of, or system of government; that is God ruling. It is going to be a period of Golden age i.e. a time of lasting peace on earth – no war, no crime, divine health for all, no infant death and many other wonderful events shall be the order of the day. Is.2: 4; 11: 6-9; 60: 18; Jer.30: 17. Christ will be manifested to take possession of David’s Kingdom according to the covenant made with David. 2 nd Sam.7: 8-16. It is the time of restoration of Israel back to their land of conversion unto their righteous and rightful King. Jer.31: 10; Amos 9: 14-15 . Satan shall be held bound in the bottomless pit during the entire period. Rev.20: 1-3.

The Tribulation Period: The time between His coming to receive the bride or saints into heaven and His coming to administer judgment will be the time of tribulation. Matthews 24: 21; Revelations 9; Revelations16; Isaiah 26: 20-21.

The Millennial Reign Christ’s thousand-year reign After Christ appears upon earth, He would set His Kingdom with the Holy people for 1000 years. Revelations 20: 1-6; Revelations 2: 26-27. These 1000 years will be entirely different from any kingdom ever set on earth. Satan in Prison: At this time, which is also the millennial period, Satan will be chained. Revelations 20: 2-3 , and it will be a time of peace and blessings to mankind also. Isaiah 11: 6-9, 65: 25; Hosea 2: 18; Zechariah 14: 9-20; Isaiah 2: 2-4.

The Coming Judgments: There will be three special judgments: The judgment of the believers – this would start immediately believers are caught up in the sky. They will stand before Chris tin judgment. After this judgment, they will descend down with Christ on to the earth. 2 nd Cor.5: 10; 1 st Cor.3: 3, 11-15;James 1: 12;Rom.2: 16. The judgment of the Nation – This will be the time when Jesus appears on the earth between the millennial reign and final judgment. Acts 17: 31; Joel 3: 2; Eze.14: 15; 2 nd Thess.1: 7-10. The judgment of the unbelievers or the White Throne Judgment – This will happen after Christ’s 1000-year reign at the White Throne. Rev.20: 11-15; 2 nd Peter 3: 7; Dan.12: 2.

New Heaven and New Earth: The Word of God teaches us that after judgment, this wicked world will be removed and God will create a new Heaven and a new earth in which holiness will exist. Matthew 24: 35; II Peter 3: 12-13; Revelations 21: 1-3.

Eternal Life and Eternal Punishment: The bible teaches that there is eternal punishment as well as eternal life – Matthew 25: 46. The wicked people will be sent to a fiery hell made of sulphur, to be tormented both day and night. This place is also referred to as the ‘ Lake of Fire’. The punishment will continue here forever and ever. Revelations 14:10-11; Luke 16: 24; Mark 9:43-44.

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