A Compelling Testimony: Maintaining a Disciplined Walk, Christlike Character, and Godly Relationships as God's Servant

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A Compe l l i ng Tes t imony

f. The individual receives leading, blessing, and instruction from God in the midst of his people.

(1) Through the ministry of prophecy, 1 Cor. 14

(2) Through the ministry of teaching, Eph. 4.8ff.

(3) Through the mutual exhortation of the body members, Heb. 3.12-13 – Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. [13] But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

B. The Personal Dimensions: God offers us guidance as we walk personally with him, filled with the Holy Spirit of God, in fellowship with him through Jesus Christ.

1. We are called to a life in the Holy Spirit, to be guided in and through life in him.

a. We were born again by the Spirit, John 3.5-6 – Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

b. We have been anointed and sealed by the Father through the Holy Spirit.

(1) Anointed, 2 Cor. 1.22 – . . . and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

(2) Sealed