"Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.
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Discipleship Training Course Come… Follow Me!
Lesson 30: Communicating with the Father:
Review
1. The Cross -
1 Corinthians 1:17, 18 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but
to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross
is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God.
2. Brokenness -
1 Peter 5:5, 6 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your
elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed
with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the
humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand
of God, that He may exalt you in due time...
3. Temptation -
1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little
while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the
genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that
perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour,
and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...
4. Suffering -
1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while,
perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
5. God's predetermined
plan -
Romans 8:28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are the called according to His
purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born
among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He
also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He
justified, these He also glorified.
In this lesson we shall consider...
1. The ways God
communicates His plan for each disciple;
2. The necessity to
test every spirit that communicates with the believer;
3. The warning about
false christs and false prophets.
Our objective is...
to lay the foundation for understanding the ways the Father uses to
communicate His will,and also to begin to consider the ways the enemy
uses to deceive God's children.
1. The ways God speaks to us.
a. Through the Word of God, the
Scriptures.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Psalm 119:9-11
How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You!
Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Through the Written Word, the Bible.
The fourfold function of the Word of God.
a. Doctrine (teaching
the right direction)
b. Reproof
(reprimand when one takes the wrong direction.)
c. Correction
(redirecting the believer's walk.)
d. Further instruction
in how to go on.
b. Through the holy Spirit.
Acts 11:12
Then the Spirit told me to go with them, doubting nothing. Moreover
these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered the man’s house.
Acts 13:2
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now
separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called
them.”
Acts 16:6-7
Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they
were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the
Spirit did not permit them.
c. The inner voice of God in the
heart.
1 Kings 19:12
and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and
after the fire a still small voice.
Isaiah 30:19-21
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk
in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the
left.
d. Through an audible voice.
Acts 9:4-5
Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying tohim, “Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who
are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are
persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
e. Through dreams.
Mat 1:20-21
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be
afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in
her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a
Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people
from their sins.”
f. Through visions.
Acts 10:9-18
The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city,
Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth
hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to
eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw
heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four
corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
g. Through angelic messengers.
Luke 1:26-38
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of
Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was
Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her,
“Rejoice, highly favoured one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you
among women!” ...Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord!
Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from
her.
h. Through the gifts of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
There are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. There are differences of ministries,
but the same Lord. And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all in
all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
each one for the profit of all: for to one is given
the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge
through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to
another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the
working of miracles, to another prophecy, to anotherdiscerning of
spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the
interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all
these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
i. Through the desires God
puts in the heart.
Psalms 20:4
May He grant you according to your heart's desire, And fulfil all your
purpose.
Psalms 37:4
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of
your heart.
2. Test the spirits.
1 Corinthians 14:29
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
The believer's responsibility
1 John 4:1
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether
they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the
world.”
The believer's authority
3. The problem of false christs and
false prophets.
Mat 24:22-26
"And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for
the elect's sake those days will be shortened. Then if anyone
says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe
it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great
signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I
have told you beforehand. Therefore if they say to you,
'Look, He is in the desert!' do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the
inner rooms!' do not believe it.
pseudochristos, psyoo-dokh'-ris-tos; = a spurious Messiah = false
Christ, or a person with a false anointing.
christ = the anointed one.
Malcolm Vine, Cornerstone Ministries. September 2004.
To contact the Bible School email: bibleschool@cornerstoneministries.org.uk
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