THE MUSTARD SEED

The mustard seed is very small, but when you plant it and water it you may witness the miracle of germination, growth and abundant life! You need patience, the actual tree does not spring up overnight! So, what is the lesson? You have to plant and nurture faith for a long while.

There are many people that put their faith in God and see the end result only years later. In the meanwhile we are encouraged when we see the seed germinate. Parents witness how their children grow up slowly but surely, through trails and hardships until one day when they are fully mature and responsible.

Many people wonder about their own potential. Sometimes we feel unworthy and useless. Sometimes life feels meaningless and unfair. God created me to be pleasing to Himself. He loves to watch us grow and to fit into the plan He designed for each one of us.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

a) Look up Matthew 13:31-32. What does it say about the kingdom of heaven? Why?

b) Ephesians 1:4+5 tells us what God planned for you since the beginning of creation. Isn’t that wonderful?

c) Noah was one of many people who found real meaning in life. Genesis 6:6-9 describes this exceptional man to us.

So what is your conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

THE PLAN TO ESCAPE

Listen, you don’t want to be in God’s bad books. God announced destruction over Nineveh through the prophet Jonah and the people panicked hysterically! The king made a law that everybody, even the animals, may not eat and must repent from their sins. God spared them. A city called Sodom was very arrogant and they refused to repent. God destroyed it with fire and sulphur. You may visit Sodom today. You will find clumps of sulphur and burned rocks even now. The place is still desolate.

Sin has corrupted our hearts. Adam and Eve walked with God in the beautiful garden of Eden until sin brought shame and separation between humans and God. At one stage God was so grieved by the rude behaviour of people that He decided to destroy the whole human race with a world wide flood! We see the evidence of this flood all over the world.

“Noah found favour with God. He was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time and he walked with God.” God showed Noah how he and his family could escape the certain destruction. What a pity that no one else believed Noah to enter the ark with him!

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

a) Look up Hebrews 11:6+7. How did Noah receive righteousness (to be right with God. To live right and talk right)?

b) What did the people say about God’s promises according to Peter 3:3-7?

c) There is wonderful news in Hebrews 3:12-15. When will God save us?

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

THE LAMB OF GOD

In the days of Moses every person had to sacrifice a lamb for the pardon of his sins. All sins deserve death. A man would put his hand on the head of the lamb and transfer his sins and guilt onto this lamb and then killed it. The lamb would swop his innocence for the guilt of the man. The warm blood was sprinkled over the man to symbolize forgiveness.

Jesus promised paradise to a scoundrel that was crucified next to Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb of God that swopped His innocence with the shame and wickedness of the scoundrel. “Jesus, please remember me when you get to Your kingdom!” This was a request based on faith; he believed Jesus could save him from eternal hell.

The truth is even better: Jesus gave His innocence to the whole world, to His enemies and to billions of people that lived before and after that day. The blood of Jesus appeased the anger of God, for God hates sin! God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that who ever believes in His Son, shall not perish but have Eternal Life.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

a) What does John 1:29 say about Jesus?

b) What is necessary before forgiveness can take place, according to Hebrews 9:22. ?

c) Look up John 3:15+16. How will people be made right with God?

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

GIFTS

During Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus and people give presents to one another. This reminds us of our generous Father God who bestows wonderful gifts on us every day.

Can you think of some of the gifts we receive from God? Life, health, family, friends, good weather, laughter etc. What I like about gifts is that they are for free! Did you know that Eternal Life is a gift from God? Yes, your ticket to heaven is a gift from God! Wow!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is Eternal Life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

When Jesus died on the cross and suffered punishment for the whole world He bought us a free ticket to heaven. How do I get hold of this ticket? I have to believe it and accept it. That is what Noah did as well as Abraham and millions of other people. We are “believers”. How can I forfeit this gift? When I reject Jesus or when I try to deserve to qualify for heaven. You will never get that right, because only perfect people qualify for heaven. That is already too late for you! There is absolutely no sin in heaven.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

1. What did the believers answer the vicious Roman soldier who wished to be included? Read Acts 16.

2. Memorise Romans 6:23 and repeat it to 5 people.

3. Luke 15:11-32 explains the heart of a father towards his rebellious son. How did the father treat his youngest son?

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

How do I become a child of God? Sincerely repent of your sins and by complete faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to save you and adopt you as family.

How do I live daily like a child of God? To humble myself before God and to have complete faith in the promises of God.

God gave us the following promises:

1. He promised to forgive us our sins when we confess them (1John1:8+9).

2. He promised to save us when we call out to Him (Psalm 91).

3. He promised to prepare a place for His children in heaven (John 14:3).

4. He promised to give us the Holy Spirit to seal us as His children (2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13, 14).

5. He promised that when the Holy Spirit came over us that we will receive power (dynamite) to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8).

6. He promised never to leave us nor to forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He will always be with us.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

What does God promise us in the following verses:

a) 2Timothy 3:12

b) John 14:12

c) John 7:38

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

BORN AGAIN

Jesus said we must be Born Again. The first birth was needed to become a human. The baby is safe in the mom’s womb until the water breaks and the baby is born into the world. You were born through water! You put in no effort to be born, did you? Children are totally dependent on their parents for food and a place to stay, aren’t they? All babies are eager to explore and to grow!

The second birth is very much like the first birth, but it is SPIRITUAL. You have experienced a spiritual birth through the Holy Spirit into God’s family. This happened when you left your sinful life behind and expressed your faith in Jesus as your Saviour. You put in no effort to be Born Again, it is all the work and miracle of God. God took you out of the kingdom of darkness and put you into the kingdom of Light. You are as a baby child of God totally dependent on your Father God to live this new life. This “new baby” is eager to explore and to grow in God’s ways, aren’t you?

In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God, unless he is born again…I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the Kingdom of God unless he is born of water and of Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.”

John 3:3,5,6

Every Jewish boy had to be circumcised as a sign that he is part of God’s nation and part of God’s blessing. Those who were not circumcised had to be banished. The same counts for each child of God. Your heart has been circumcised by the Holy Spirit when you were born into His family! This is symbolized by baptism; it is God who takes away the old nature (heart) and gives us His Divine Nature, a new life and new hope! This is incredible! My old life is washed away and I come out of the water as a new person. I received a new “heart”.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

a) What is God’s promise in Ezekiel 36:26?

b) What was the Ethiopian’s request in Acts 8:26-40?

c) Explain how Romans 6:4-14 can be applied in your daily life.

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

THE LOVE OF GOD

Jesus loved and prayed for the people who crucified Him. What a wonderful Saviour! 1Corinthians 13 is the chapter of love.

Remember, unforgiveness towards others blocks God’s love and forgiveness to you. You are haunted by hateful memories day and night, until you decide to forgive and become free yourself.

FATHER GOD,

I FORGIVE _______________________

I SET HIM/HER FREE FROM MY BITTERNESS.

PLEASE BLESS HIM/HER ABUNDANTLY.

IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

Perfect love drives out fear. Fear expects punishment, rejection and pain. When we fear the future we live constantly in doubt. Do you doubt God’s love? Do you doubt God’s promises? Will God forget about you? Even when we go through difficult times, He is always with us, because He promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will rescue us when we call to Him. He will speak to us when we sit at His feet and wait upon Him.

Fear makes me to live in a box. I am too scared to take risks. I am too scared to try something new. I am too scared to dream about the future. I am also too scared to obey God and to step out in faith. I fear people’s opinion. I just want to play it safe all the time and feed on people’s approval and compliments. I stay unfulfilled and a disappointment to my Father God.

Father God,

I confess the following fears in my life:

_____________________________________________________

I confess them as sin and hurting to You.

I declare that You are my trustworthy and faithful Father.

I trust in and rely on Your unfailing love. Hallelujah!

Is anything too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17)?

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

a) Look up Matthew 5:43-48. Who must you greet? Who must you love?

b) Look up 1John 4:7-12. What will happen if we love one another?

c) Look up 1John 4:18-21. What does perfect love do for us?

d) Look up Matthew 6:24-34. Why should we not worry?

e) Why did Peter start to sink? Matthew 14:30.

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119: 9 and 105.

God placed you on the narrow road which leads to heaven. God’s way is the best way for your life, it is designed to make you feel fulfilled and at peace. When we start to follow our own way, then we will get into trouble! The pleasure of sins at a certain moment is not worth the feelings of guilt after wards! Do you agree? How can we stay on God’s road? How can we keep our lives pure now that He has cleansed us? By living according to the Bible! The Bible is like a torch light in the darkness. Without it we will stumble and fall and get lost.

We recommend you start at the Gospel of John. Read every day one chapter prayerfully. Wait on the Lord and He will speak to you and guide you in wonderful ways. This is the adventure when you walk close to God like Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel and many more.

Find Christian friends and share with them your experiences with God. Pray for one another and support one another. It is wonderful to go to church and celebrate your new life in song and fellowship. Make time to worship God and to express your love for Him.

“So I tell you this and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.” Ephesians 4:17

God changed your life. It will be silly to return to your old lifestyle as if nothing happened to you. You are a new creation. You are not the same anymore. You will feel uncomfortable to mingle with friends that swear and talk ugly. You will feel uncomfortable to watch bad programmes on TV. You need to find other friends. Ungodly friends will pull you down and away from God. Ask God to give you the right words and tell them what had happened to you. Invite them to share in your experience. If they refuse to listen to you, you need to get Christian friends. Your old friends become your mission field. Keep on praying for them and witness to them, but you cannot hang out with them like in the past. They must understand that you are dedicated to Jesus in speech and in thoughts and in purity. Can you pass this test? Is the friendship of Jesus precious to you?

You need to change your whole life style. How do Christians talk to their parents? How do Christians conduct themselves in the class at school? What music do Christians listen to? What do Christians wear? Is God glorified in your schoolwork? Is God glorified in your bedroom? Pray about it and ask God to show you what makes Him happy and what makes Him sad in your life.

People will look at you and see you are different, that you found peace and contentment. They may ask you about your “secret”. Then tell them about the love of God in Jesus.

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS

a) Look up Matthew 5:13-16. What is God’s instruction?

b) Look up 2Timothy 2:20-23. What must we clean ourselves from?

c) Look up James 4:4-10. May we be friends with the world? Explain.

d) Look up 1Peter2:9-12. What is your new identity?

e) Look up 1John 1:3+4. What do we proclaim to our friends? Why?

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?

BEAR MUCH FRUIT

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8

We are like a fruit tree. How do you know what kind of fruit tree it is? Look at the fruit! A fruit tree should bear fruit. The more fruit the better!

Galatians 5:22 tells us what fruit we should produce: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

There are Christians that are very impatient and others who have no self-control. What went wrong? These fruit are produced when we are filled by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God each day. The Holy Spirit activates the Word of God in us. The more we study God’s Word in His Presence the more the Holy Spirit will produce lovely fruit in our lives. The Word of God shows us how wonderful God is and our faith in Him becomes stronger.

The Holy Spirit blesses us with GIFTS also, so that we will become a blessing to fellow Christians. We are not supposed to fight each other or to irritate each other or to gossip about fellow Christians. No, we should encourage each other. The gifts the Holy Spirit gave to the church are encouragement, wisdom, giving, leadership, mercy, serving, knowledge, faith, healing, administration, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment, angelic languages and others have the gift to interpret angelic languages (See 1Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12 and Ephesians 4). Pastors, Evangelists, teachers and apostles are also gifts to the church.

The Holy Spirit was poured out on the first church (120 people); the building shook and there was a sound of a mighty wind. The people saw the Holy Spirit on each person like tongues of fire and each one started to speak in different languages.

People that are baptised in the Holy Spirit receive also lots of courage, power and determination to speak and act for God. People that were usually shy and scared are suddenly very brave to lead their bad friends with words of godly wisdom, knowledge and life to God.

These gifts are given to any Christian who asks for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Spirit builds the church to become mature and effective for God in a dark and evil world. You need to be baptised in the Holy Spirit. You need to bear good fruit to glorify God.

Make this your prayer: Father God, please baptise me in the Holy Spirit.

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

a) Look up Psalm 1:1-3. Name three characteristics of this tree.

b) Look up John 15:1-4. What is needed to bear much fruit?

c) Look up Acts 1:4,5 and 8. What will we receive from the Holy Spirit? Why?

d) Look up Romans 8:5-8. What is so important about our minds? Explain.

So what is the final conclusion?

What is the prayer of your heart?