As our ministry has led us to help churches that were once considered asleep, even dead, we realize dead churches are made up of people who have faith that is either asleep or faith that is dead. Over the past 9 months, as long as Tammy has been pregnant, I've been working on a series of lessons which I believe is a very important topic.
Matthew 7:20-27 discusses the importance of having a faith that exhibits obedience. There will be many who considered themselves "the Lord's" but will ultimately be rejected for an unacceptable faith. God calls us into an abiding faith and authentic belief.. The walk of one professes Christ as Lord matters. To walk in the Spirit, and not by the flesh, is to be "in Christ".
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| Fruits wrought in God through abiding in Christ or fruits rot, not in God? |
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| Once dead in transgression, but alive in Christ? or not yet made alive in Christ? |
There's a sobering message in the book "The Graham Formula" which should cause the people within the church to pause and consider their ways.
It is so important for us to never underestimate the power of the Gospel, and the power of the blood of Christ, and the love and mercy of God that can't be measured. Yet the Bible warns us not to insult the Spirit of grace, and treat the Cross, and the new covenant as an unholy thing (Hebrews 10:29). It's so important to know the work that God did for us on the cross, and to truly receive Jesus and follow Him.
The honorable Reverend Billy Graham was quoted to say that he didn't believe that every person making an altar call at his crusade will be saved. He thought MAYBE 25% of them, IF they received counseling, and if they heard the Gospel presentation, AND follow up sessions that 1/4th of them may really have truly received Christ as Lord and Savior and the rebirth. He believe 25% of the folks who supposedly came forward for the altar call in response to the Gospel, would WITHIN 5-10 years truly receive the rebirth. Some of them, he believed truly were born again at the altar, others, there would be a gestation time which would lead to the rebirth. There's conception and there's a birth, and sometimes it takes time.
How about for you? How did the "sinner's prayer" work for you? John Macarthur says that the changed life shows that the verbal confession of faith means something... that without the changed redeemed life that Jesus promises, one's confession of faith is meaningless.
The following lessons are included in this series, which may be used as stand alone discipleship lessons, or in a sequence of lessons. The series should only be used in follow up sessions with those who profess belief in Christ, AFTER they have been given an opportunity to know what the Christ Centered Life is, and how to walk in it.
Any of these lessons ought to be taught after the foundational Assurance of Salvation lessons commonly taught. The topic is challenging and inspiring. Surely the Lord's word, and the Gospel will come not only as fine sounding arguments, but with power and with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Any of these lessons ought to be taught after the foundational Assurance of Salvation lessons commonly taught. The topic is challenging and inspiring. Surely the Lord's word, and the Gospel will come not only as fine sounding arguments, but with power and with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
- Examine Yourselves Whether You are In the Faith
- The Sinner's Prayer Did - Did It Work For You?
- How Comfortable are you in Sin?
- The Dangers of the Carnal Life
- Working Out Your Salvation with Fear and Trembling
- Enduring Persecution
- Continuing On Despite Family and Friends Rejecting You for Your Faith in Christ
- You Must Continue In the Faith to Inherit the Kingdom of God
- The Apostates-Departing from the Faith
- Trusting Spiritual Power and Experiences while Walking In Lawlessness?
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