For these 2 months....

THE BURNING, CLEANSING FLAME
May-June 2008

'For he will be like a refiner's fire ...’
Malachi 3:2

In the universe two fires burn. Both passionately compete for our attention; both seek to engulf us and set us ablaze. One is destructive, the other divine.

In this issue, Selwyn asks ‘Which fire consumes us?’ Are we caught up with the scorching passions of this world, or are we set alight with the passion of Jesus?

Our Father longs to give good gifts to His children, and is ready to help us with our struggles. He asks us to repent of our lack of trust, take Him at His word and ask for His help.

Through the burning, cleansing flame of the Holy Spirit we can live life as God intended.

Click here to download PDF of first week

Gold seekers - or God seekers?

Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35

1. What was the practice of the Early Church?

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

1 John 2:15-17

2. What was John's warning?

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Fire! Fire! Fire!

Joel 2:28-32

1. What did Joel promise?

Joel promised that in the day of the Lord, God will pour out His Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Even on servants, both men and women, He will pour out His Spirit in those days. The Lord will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke.

And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved;

Luke 11:9-13

2. What did Jesus promise?

Jesus promised, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

A life change - life-changing

Galatians 1:13-24

1. Why did the churches praise God?

Paul, in his previous way of life in Judaism persecuting Jesus Christ, was called by God's grace. God revealed Christ in him so that he might preach Christ among the Gentiles. Paul did not consult any man, nor did he go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before he was, but he went immediately into Arabia and later returned to Damascus.

The people only heard the report: "The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy." And they praised God because of Paul.

Philippians 3:3-14

2. How did Paul view his old strict religious life?

For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.

But whatever was to Paul's profit he now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, he consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord, for whose sake Paul have lost all things.

Paul wants to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, Paul press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called him heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Do we get all at conversion?

Acts 8:4-23

1. What happened when Philip went to Samaria?

Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city. Even Simon the Sorcerer believed and was baptized.

2. Why did the apostles go to Samaria?

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.