LOST IN THE CHURCH: [GETTING LOST IN CHURCH] Part Seven Worshipping the Word of God/Scripture. The Word of God, together with the Church, are among the things given to us for the purpose of salvation, to bring people to God, although they themselves are not God. Therefore, I can say that the Word of God is like a signpost pointing us to where Christ is. When a person ends up building his life upon the Word of God without going to Jesus Christ, this becomes the foundation of one of the greatest deceptions of religious spirits and idolatry in the Church. If you read John chapter five, you will see how the Lord spoke to those who had fallen into this kind of deception: > “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” John 5:39–40 Today, many people have ended up in religious institutions, while others have ended up in Scripture, yet they have never truly come to Jesus to receive life. Jesus did not come to establish any religion or bring a system of laws to the world; rather, He came to restore the RELATIONSHIP between humanity and God—the relationship that was lost in Eden. It is within this relationship that salvation and eternal life are found. > “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3 A person can know all the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, and may even teach them with great skill and accuracy, yet never have encountered or truly known the Lord. It may be easy for someone to explain things about the Lord based on what they have heard from other people. However, it is completely different to know the Lord personally. Jesus is the Way and the Life. There is no way for anyone to come to the Father except through Him. And when He says that He is the Way, many people picture a dusty road, a gravel road, or a paved road. But the Way He is talking about here is a Person. To know the way to heaven is to know a Person. And you cannot truly know Him without having a relationship with Him. > “Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:23 It is entirely possible for someone to preach, teach the Word of God, cast out demons, and perform many works of the Kingdom, yet still not know the Lord—and likewise, not be known in Heaven. It is easy for a person to build a name for himself and become famous on earth, but it is very different to be known in Heaven. Many of the things we glorify on earth are often considered worthless before God. Therefore, it is possible for someone to be well-known in Heaven while having no name or recognition on earth. Glorifying the Word More Than the One Who Gave the Word There has been a very strange tendency among people to glorify the Word of God more than God Himself, who gave the Word. In this way, many people hold on to what God said yesterday against what He is saying today. For example, it is possible for God to say “Yes” yesterday concerning a particular matter and say “No” today, according to His will and timing. If we have not learned how to walk with the Lord, it is very easy to cling to a dead word, which undoubtedly becomes an idol. In this way, we have many churches today that have died because they continue holding on to a dead word. The Apostle Peter is one of the examples in Scripture of someone who almost made such a painful mistake. He resisted the Lord’s command concerning the animals, relying on the earlier word from the same God who had declared those animals unclean. However, by His great mercy, the Lord corrected Peter and told him: > “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” Acts 10:15 #ToBeContinued..! Mwl. Ernest Nyalula WhatsApp: +255 616 609 885 #LostInTheChurch #JesusChrist #WordOfGod #Christianity #ChristianLife #FaithInChrist #KnowJesus #RelationshipWithGod #BibleTruth #SpiritualGrowth #KingdomOfGod #ChristianTeaching #FaithAndTruth #GodsWord #JesusIsTheWay #ChristianYouth #GospelTruth #WalkWithGod #KnowGod #ToBeContinued

🔥 WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PROPHECY MEETS DESTINY? Can the words spoken over one generation become reality in another? Can a person become a victim of a spiritual consequence they did not personally create? Can someone become a beneficiary of a prophetic word because of what someone before them did? These questions take us into some of the most fascinating accounts in Scripture. 📖 Hiel rebuilding Jericho. ⚔️ Ahaziah becoming entangled in the consequences surrounding Ahab. 🔥 Amalek facing a trans-generational conflict with Israel. 👑 Jehu receiving a prophetic promise concerning his dynasty. ⚔️ Amaziah confronting a dynasty whose prophetic foundation he apparently did not understand. 🙏 And the Canaanite woman confronting what appeared to be a spiritual and covenantal barrier through extraordinary faith. What happens when the words spoken over one generation collide with the choices of another? Tonight, we go into Scripture to discover the: VICTORS & VICTIMS OF PROPHECY. 🎥 Watch the full teaching on GSIM TV: 🔗🖇️📎https://youtu.be/9DgVY2fQNnc?si=jHAliHjAKP5-arkg 💬 What does this subject make you think about? Don't merely watch. Listen. Think. Search the Scriptures. Pray. And share. Someone somewhere may need this revelation. #VictorsAndVictimsOfProphecy #BiblicalProphecy #ChristianTeaching #SpiritualWarfare #ChristianFaith #GSIMTV

The Faith of our Fathers What Does it Mean to Have the "Faith of Our Fathers"? When we open Hebrews 11 often called God’s "Hall of Faith" we aren't just reading ancient history. We are looking at a masterclass on how to walk with God in a hostile world. Looking closely at Hebrews 11:23–28, we see the faith of Moses and his parents. Their lives reveal 3 core characteristics of real faith and an actionable model we can live by today: S.E.E.F. Let’s dive deep into what God’s Word teaches us! 👇 Characteristics of the Faith of Our Fathers 1. A Faith That Protects (v. 23) "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents..." True faith doesn't throw up its hands in fear when society or government laws contradict God. Moses’ parents (Amram and Jochebed) faced a decree from Pharaoh to kill all male babies. Yet, their faith drove them to protect what God had entrusted to them. Application: Faith acts as a shield over our families, our calling, and our spiritual lives against the enemy’s attacks. 2. A Perceiving Faith (v. 23) "...because they saw he was a beautiful [proper/special] child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command." Physical eyes only see problems; eyes of faith perceive God’s divine purpose. Moses’ parents didn't just see a newborn baby—they perceived by faith that God had a specific destiny for his life. This perception cast out their fear of Pharaoh. Application: Faith gives you spiritual vision to see God's plan hidden inside difficult circumstances. 3. A Faith That Perseveres (v. 24) "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter..." Notice that Moses' faith matured as he grew up. He didn't just rely on his parents' religion; he developed a personal, enduring faith that stood the test of time and temptation. Application: Real faith lasts. It carries you through childhood into adulthood, through changing seasons, and through life's trials. The Faith of Moses — The "S.E.E.F." Model Moses' life gives us a 4-step blueprint for walking in victorious faith: S — Self-denying Faith (v. 24–25) Moses gave up royal status, boundless wealth, and the top position in Egypt. Why? Because faith chooses to suffer with God’s people rather than enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin. True faith knows when to say "NO" to the world so it can say "YES" to God. E — Expectant Faith (v. 26) "...esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward." • Moses wasn't focused on what he was losing in Egypt; he was focused on what God promised in eternity. Expectant faith keeps its eyes on God's ultimate reward, making present sacrifices feel small. Faith measures value by eternity, not by worldly success. E — Enduring Faith (v.27) "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible." Moses faced the rage of the most powerful ruler on Earth, yet he stood firm. How? Because he saw the invisible God as more real than the visible king. When you can "see" the Invisible God, you can endure any visible trial. F — Faith in God’s Message of Salvation (v. 28–29) Moses kept the Passover and applied the blood of the lamb so that the destroyer would not touch Israel. He led the people through the Red Sea by trusting God's word. Ultimate faith always anchors itself in God’s plan of salvation through the Blood of the Lamb! PERSONAL REFLECTION: Faith isn't passive, it protects, perceives, perseveres, denies self, expects God's best, endures hardship, and rests in Salvation. Which of these area(s) is God challenging you to grow in this week? BibleStudy #Hebrews11 #FaithOfOurFathers #Moses #SpiritualGrowth #WordOfGod #DeepDive #ChristianTeaching

💥💥 THE DANGER OF THE CHURCH: REPLACING GOD’S PRESENCE WITH PROGRAMS Perhaps this is one of the greatest warnings for the Church today. We can become so passionate about the activities of God that we eventually neglect the God of those activities. We can have: * prayer programs * all-night prayer meetings * conferences * retreats * crusades * church services * concerts * evangelistic campaigns * and much more… and yet gradually lose our hunger for God. The program is not bad. But the program must never replace God’s presence. The Early Church was not simply looking for ways to organize meetings. They were seeking to live with Christ. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.Acts 2:42 And the result? And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 Notice the order:God transforms people, and then God adds people. We must therefore ask ourselves:Are we truly seeking the growth of the Church, or are we simply seeking the growth of our gatherings? 💥 LEARN TO EXAMINE THE FOUNDATIONS Acts 19:40 ultimately pushes us to ask an essential question:What is the foundation of all this? Test everything. Hold on to what is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 A mature believer does not follow blindly. 👉🏽 *They examine. 👉🏽 They discern. 👉🏽They pray. 👉🏽 They verify. Then they act. 👉🏽 Before sharing information, ask: Is it true? 👉🏽 Before following a movement: Is it biblical? 👉🏽 Before joining a cause: What are its motives? 👉🏽 Before accepting a manifestation as coming from God: What fruit does it produce? 👉🏽 Before seeking an experience: Does it truly draw me closer to Jesus? Because our ultimate reference should never be an experience. Our ultimate reference must be the Word of God. #God #Jesus #HolySpirit #Bible #GodsWord #Christianity #ChristianLife #ChristianFaith #Church #BodyOfChrist #PresenceOfGod #SeekGod #BiblicalTruth #BibleTruth #Discernment #SpiritualDiscernment #ChristianTeaching #ChristianInspiration #ChristianMotivation #Prayer #Faith #KingdomOfGod #JesusChrist #Acts1940 #Acts242 #Acts247 #1Thessalonians521#ThesecretBible

LOST IN THE CHURCH Part Three CIVILIZATION / RESPECTABILITY One of the greatest things religion could achieve at its highest level is to try to make a person extremely good and civilized. However, being civilized is not a fruit of the Spirit, it is not holiness, and it is not Christianity. A civilized person may be someone who believes that he can calm God's anger through good behavior and by keeping religious laws. The origin of this kind of civilization is the attempt to please God by conforming to the spirit of this world—by obeying human expectations more than the will of God. Many people assume that being loved and accepted by the world is the same as being loved by God. But Jesus Himself was not "civilized" according to the standards people often use today. How could He be, when He called Herod, the ruler of His country, "that fox"? (Luke 13:32) Where have you ever seen a "civilized" person make a whip of cords, drive people out of the Temple, overturn the tables and chairs of the merchants, and scatter their money? (John 2:15) Tell me, where have you ever seen a civilized person behave like that? It amazes me that today civilization and politeness are sometimes mistaken for Christianity. THE GRACE OF GOD > "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17 Jesus did not come to establish salvation through the Mosaic Law. And if the Law given through Moses could not accomplish God's ultimate purpose of restoring humanity to Him, then holiness cannot be achieved merely by keeping laws. Rather, it is through the grace of God, freely given to the person who looks to the Lord. However, I am not saying that there is no law under grace. What I mean is that the law operating within grace is the law of love. Love must come first, and obedience follows. To put law before love is slavery. And the Lord clearly said that God's children are free. (Matthew 17:26) Therefore, we do not obey God's commandments in order to create love within ourselves. We obey because we have already begun to love God. Remember what the Word says in John 14:15: > "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Notice the order of the words. The order matters. Love comes first. He loved us first. (1 John 4:19) Therefore, when we obey His commandments, His laws, or His truth, it should be because His love has taken root in our hearts. Otherwise, we risk falling into the very spirit of deception and error that has existed throughout history—the spirit of religion. If you read 1 Corinthians 13, beginning from verse 1 onward, you will see the Apostle Paul explaining how empty it is for a person to perform even something apparently spiritual or divine when there is no love in his heart. SALVATION: GRACE AND WORKS Salvation is by grace, and it is freely given because of the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore, any attempt to offer our own achievements as payment for acceptance before God is essentially an insult to the Cross, because it suggests that Christ's sacrifice was insufficient. And the Lord will not accept anyone who attempts to approach Him on such a basis. GRACE VS. WORKS Today, a large number of believers are lost in the Church because they have failed to properly distinguish between these two concepts: works and grace. The way of life often passes through truths that appear to be in tension. I do not mean grace alone while completely rejecting obedience. Neither do I mean works alone while ignoring grace. It is not everything done by God, nor is it everything done by us. Some have gone too far into the direction of legalistic works. Others, after thinking they have understood grace, have been pushed to the opposite extreme and become lost in a distorted understanding of grace. If you approach Scripture with a distorted "grace-only" mindset, you can become lost in that extreme. Likewise, if you approach Scripture entirely through the lens of works, you can also become lost. The Bible clearly says: > "Faith without works is dead." Yet it is also a great deception to perform works merely so that you can be considered a person of faith. Yes, the Lord carried the Cross for us, and that is grace. But have you ever asked yourself why He also told us to take up our own cross and follow Him? (Luke 9:23) That is where we discover that we also have a part to fulfill. Once you understand that it is not grace without responsibility, do not overreact and jump with both feet into legalism. If you do, you will fall into another dangerous deception: believing that God can be found through human effort. Some people believe that if they pray for extremely long periods, jump up and down, give this or that offering, perform certain religious activities, or do particular things, then God will finally hear them. Sadly, such ideas have become widespread in the house of God today. I have often wondered about the prophets of Baal and how they cut themselves with swords and knives until blood flowed while calling upon their god in the days of the prophet Elijah. Could that not also be a picture of people who would arise in our generation, believing that God's goodness can be obtained through religious effort and works of the law? May God bless you greatly. #ToBeContinued... Mwl. Ernest Nyalula +255 616 609 885 #LostInTheChurch #GraceVsWorks #GraceOfGod #Christianity #ChristianFaith #BiblicalTruth #BibleStudy #JesusChrist #ChristianLife #SpiritualGrowth #GodsGrace #FaithAndWorks #TheWordOfGod #KingdomOfGod #ChurchLife #ChristianTeaching #KnowTheTruth #WalkWithChrist #Holiness #FaithInJesus

LOST IN THE CHURCH Part Three CIVILIZATION / RESPECTABILITY One of the greatest things religion could achieve at its highest level is to try to make a person extremely good and civilized. However, being civilized is not a fruit of the Spirit, it is not holiness, and it is not Christianity. A civilized person may be someone who believes that he can calm God's anger through good behavior and by keeping religious laws. The origin of this kind of civilization is the attempt to please God by conforming to the spirit of this world—by obeying human expectations more than the will of God. Many people assume that being loved and accepted by the world is the same as being loved by God. But Jesus Himself was not "civilized" according to the standards people often use today. How could He be, when He called Herod, the ruler of His country, "that fox"? (Luke 13:32) Where have you ever seen a "civilized" person make a whip of cords, drive people out of the Temple, overturn the tables and chairs of the merchants, and scatter their money? (John 2:15) Tell me, where have you ever seen a civilized person behave like that? It amazes me that today civilization and politeness are sometimes mistaken for Christianity. THE GRACE OF GOD > "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:17 Jesus did not come to establish salvation through the Mosaic Law. And if the Law given through Moses could not accomplish God's ultimate purpose of restoring humanity to Him, then holiness cannot be achieved merely by keeping laws. Rather, it is through the grace of God, freely given to the person who looks to the Lord. However, I am not saying that there is no law under grace. What I mean is that the law operating within grace is the law of love. Love must come first, and obedience follows. To put law before love is slavery. And the Lord clearly said that God's children are free. (Matthew 17:26) Therefore, we do not obey God's commandments in order to create love within ourselves. We obey because we have already begun to love God. Remember what the Word says in John 14:15: > "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Notice the order of the words. The order matters. Love comes first. He loved us first. (1 John 4:19) Therefore, when we obey His commandments, His laws, or His truth, it should be because His love has taken root in our hearts. Otherwise, we risk falling into the very spirit of deception and error that has existed throughout history—the spirit of religion. If you read 1 Corinthians 13, beginning from verse 1 onward, you will see the Apostle Paul explaining how empty it is for a person to perform even something apparently spiritual or divine when there is no love in his heart. SALVATION: GRACE AND WORKS Salvation is by grace, and it is freely given because of the finished work of the Cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore, any attempt to offer our own achievements as payment for acceptance before God is essentially an insult to the Cross, because it suggests that Christ's sacrifice was insufficient. And the Lord will not accept anyone who attempts to approach Him on such a basis. GRACE VS. WORKS Today, a large number of believers are lost in the Church because they have failed to properly distinguish between these two concepts: works and grace. The way of life often passes through truths that appear to be in tension. I do not mean grace alone while completely rejecting obedience. Neither do I mean works alone while ignoring grace. It is not everything done by God, nor is it everything done by us. Some have gone too far into the direction of legalistic works. Others, after thinking they have understood grace, have been pushed to the opposite extreme and become lost in a distorted understanding of grace. If you approach Scripture with a distorted "grace-only" mindset, you can become lost in that extreme. Likewise, if you approach Scripture entirely through the lens of works, you can also become lost. The Bible clearly says: > "Faith without works is dead." Yet it is also a great deception to perform works merely so that you can be considered a person of faith. Yes, the Lord carried the Cross for us, and that is grace. But have you ever asked yourself why He also told us to take up our own cross and follow Him? (Luke 9:23) That is where we discover that we also have a part to fulfill. Once you understand that it is not grace without responsibility, do not overreact and jump with both feet into legalism. If you do, you will fall into another dangerous deception: believing that God can be found through human effort. Some people believe that if they pray for extremely long periods, jump up and down, give this or that offering, perform certain religious activities, or do particular things, then God will finally hear them. Sadly, such ideas have become widespread in the house of God today. I have often wondered about the prophets of Baal and how they cut themselves with swords and knives until blood flowed while calling upon their god in the days of the prophet Elijah. Could that not also be a picture of people who would arise in our generation, believing that God's goodness can be obtained through religious effort and works of the law? May God bless you greatly. #ToBeContinued... Mwl. Ernest Nyalula +255 616 609 885 #LostInTheChurch #GraceVsWorks #GraceOfGod #Christianity #ChristianFaith #BiblicalTruth #BibleStudy #JesusChrist #ChristianLife #SpiritualGrowth #GodsGrace #FaithAndWorks #TheWordOfGod #KingdomOfGod #ChurchLife #ChristianTeaching #KnowTheTruth #WalkWithChrist #Holiness #FaithInJesus

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In this Bible study, Patrick looks at Judges 6:1-10 and the opening of the Gideon narrative. Before Gideon ever steps onto the scene, Scripture shows us the spiritual condition of Israel, the oppression of Midian, and the mercy of God in sending His Word to confront His people. https://youtu.be/PgGJGjxKFAI Bible used in this study: https://amzn.to/4oyiBD8 This passage reminds us that Israel’s greatest problem was not Midian. Their greatest problem was their disobedience to God. Before deliverance comes, God speaks truth. Before Gideon is called, Israel must be reminded of the LORD’s faithfulness, their covenant responsibility, and their failure to obey His voice. In this study, we will examine the historical background of the Midianite oppression, the repeated cycle of sin in the book of Judges, and the deeper spiritual lessons found in Judges 6:1-10. God disciplines His people when they turn from Him, but in mercy He speaks truth to call them back. Judges 6:1-10 is not only a story about ancient Israel and Midianite oppression. It is a warning and invitation for us today. It calls us to examine repeated patterns of sin, remember the faithfulness of God, reject modern idols, and listen carefully to the voice of the LORD. Subscribe for More Bible Studies If this Bible study helps you, please like the video, leave a comment, and subscribe for more verse-by-verse Bible teaching. Share this study with someone who wants to grow deeper in God’s Word. Let us know in the comments: What stood out to you most from Judges 6:1-10? 🌐 Stay Connected – A Guy And His Bible Website: https://www.patrickryanlewis.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGuyAndHisBible LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aguyandhisbible X (Twitter): https://x.com/aguyandhisbible TiTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aguyandhisbible allthingsforHim.pl@gmail.com Text: (681) 534-3585 Venmo / CashApp @PatrickRyanLewis Paypal: https://bit.ly/3TMgPRa Stripe: https://bit.ly/3TL5j8F Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/aguyandhisbible Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/AAQACSNG7QKZ?ref_=wl_share #BibleStudy #BookOfJudges #Judges6 #Gideon #Midianites #HereComeTheMidianites #OldTestamentStudy #VerseByVerseBibleStudy #ChristianTeaching #BibleTeaching #ScriptureStudy #JudgesBibleStudy #GodsWord #BiblicalTruth #FaithAndObedience #ChristianYouTube #BibleLesson #JesusChrist #GospelMessage #OldTestament #NETBible #StudyTheBible #ChristianDiscipleship #Faith #Repentance #obediencetogod https://youtu.be/PgGJGjxKFAI