The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his086/40day.lzh/40DAY.TXT

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DEV:40 Day study

   In all probability someone has shared this study guide with you
immediately following your decision to die with Jesus in water baptism.
You have just come forth from the water and all your sins have been
forgiven and there is now the new power of the Holy Spirit in your
life. You were willing to 'count yourself nothing' and now God has
raised you up to live a new life unto Him. You have now become a
'bond-servant' of the Lord. That is, a servant who serves without
thought of pay.

   One of the things a disciple of Jesus learns very quickly is that
there is much that he or she doesn't know or understand. You too will
learn this, but it should in no way discourage you. It should only
humble you. This study guide is designed to help you have some
direction each day for the next forty days as you start listening to
the voice of God as He begins to direct your whole life.

   Determine right now that you are going to make this a rich and
powerful study. Open wide your heart and let God do with you all He
wants to. Make sure that you have a definite time and a definite place
reserved each day to be studying the Scriptures so you can keep hearing
the Word of God as the Holy Spirit will teach you. God is your only
strength and if you stray from Him you will fall away. Don't let
anything or anyone keep you from this most crucial time. Keep a
notebook and be prepared to share it with an older brother and sister.

   Why forty days? Because right after Jesus' water baptism where He
received the Holy Spirit, He was led into the desert to be tempted by
Satan for 40 days. You too will face temptations. Now just as Jesus was
victorious over those temptations you can too be if you will draw close
to God. Satan will attack you. He knows you are young and vulnerable,
but God is with you and with the weapons of righteousness in the right
and the left hands you can defeat anything that would take your new
life from you.

   "When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.
And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended
on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You
are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.'...Jesus, full of
the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in
the desert, where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil." Luke
3:21-22 & 4:1

   WEEK ONE--'DEAD TO SELF, ALIVE TO CHRIST'

   This week you will be studying passages in the Scriptures that show
us so clearly what the problem is. The problem is the 'self' that lives
for itself. Christ calls us to crucify the old self and he promises to
raise up a new and very different self.

   1st. DAY

   1. Before you actually begin your Bible study program please take a
few minutes and write down in your own words that your baptism into
Jesus Christ meant to you. Why did you do it? What is it going to mean?
If you will keep this in a safe place it will mean a great deal to you
for years to come. As the years pass on it will mean a great deal to
you for years to come. As the years pass it will serve as a reminder to
you of the serious commitment that you made this day.

   2. Turn to Luke 9:18-26. Read and study this passage several times.

   3. Now turn to Luke 18:28-30 and look at the promise that is
attached to discipleship, indeed to the very decision that you have
just made.

   4. These two passages will become very important as you will share
your life in Christ with others. Remember where they are and what they
say. As you continue to go through this study, remember that everything
you learn is something that the Holy Spirit will have you pass on to
others.

   5. Be sure to spend time in prayer at the end of your study
sessions. Learn to deeply communicate with your Father who loves you so
very much!

   2nd DAY

   1. Turn to Romans 6:1-14. Read and study this carefully. Each time
you come to the word 'we' or 'us' substitute your own name. [For
example: vs. 2--'By no means. John died to sin, how can he live in it
any longer.']

   2. Write down some of the things about your old self that caused it
to receive the death sentence.

   3. Write down some things about your new self that you really want
to express.

   4. How do you specifically plan today to live out vs: 13?

   3RD. DAY

   1. Before you start today's study, ask yourself a very important
question: Am I staying in close touch with older Christians? This is
crucial, and all next week the Bible study will focus on this. If there
is anything in you that is not wanting to see or be with other
disciples, then you can be sure that this is something that is not of
God and must be crucified. It is your old independent self, not the new
self God is giving you.

   2. Turn to Romans 7:14-25 and read how powerless we are to live this
new life alone. Do you see why God's Spirit must be the one who
crucifies your sinful nature? Do you see how wicked you are? Notice vs:
24.

   3. But now go on to Romans 8 where we see how we can do the
impossible. You were told at your baptism that you would receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit; now study some of what the Spirit means in
your life. Read and study verse: 1-17, making notes on the things that
strike you the hardest. How do you get sin crucified in your life?
Read, Romans 8:13.

   4Th. DAY

   1. As you have questions about things that you are studying or
things that are happening to you, seek out some of your older brothers
and sisters and let them help you. They have been through many things
you will go through.

   2. For this Bible study you will need both the Old Testament and a
New Testament. If you don't have both, make arrangements to get them
right away.

   3. When we are children, we need to be taught things we don't know;
and we need correction when we are wrong. You are a baby in Jesus
Christ. There is much you don't know how to live and much you will need
to be corrected in. How you take correction is going to affect your
spiritual walk with God. Read, Proverbs 12:1-2, 12:15 & 10:17.

   4. Write down your own attitudes toward being corrected. Distinguish
between those things that are left over from your old self and those
things that Jesus Christ is putting in your heart. Be praying for the
Holy Spirit to give you wisdom here.

   5. Go to the New Testament now and read 2 Timothy 3:16 and answer
this question: Why are older brothers and sisters to bring the word of
God to you? What is going to be your attitude when they do?

   5Th. DAY

   1. In your new life you will find that 'attitude is everything'. If
you develop a critical or negative or pessimistic attitude, you will
put out the Spirit's fire in your life. Today the Bible study will
focus on the reason you can keep a great attitude even in the worst of
circumstances.

   2. Read and examine each of the following passages: John 16:33,
Romans 8:23, Philippians 4:12-13 & 19, and James 1:2-4.

   3. When does this fit with having a good attitude regardless of what
is happening?

   4. When these are all put together, what are they promising you
about everything in your life?

   5. List anything that is tending to cause you to have a bad
[negative, complaining, pessimistic] attitude. Confess these right away
to another disciple and ask for their prayers and encouragement.

   6Th. DAY

   1. By today, you have certainly realized that you are not doing all
for Jesus Christ that you determined to do five or six days ago. You
want to love him with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. But you
have failed in some specific areas. What you will study today will be
very important in dealing with this for the rest of your life.

   2. Turn to 1 John 1:5-10. Read it carefully.

   3. Think of the difference in light and darkness. Think of the
difference between a bright open room with lots of windows and a
totally dark basement area. In one, things are out in the open. You can
see them as they really are. In the other, things are hidden and
covered by the darkness. With this in mind, what does he mean when he
calls us to 'walk in the light'? Do you see how this fits with verse: 9
and the call to confess our sins?

   4. We all [from the oldest to the youngest in Christ] sin. If we
claim that we don't, we lie, [v. 10]. How then are we to handle all
this? Do we cover and hide our sins? Or do we bring them out into the
open through confession where the blood of Jesus can cleanse us?

   5. Look at the two results of walking out in the light as described
in vs: 7. How will this cause a deeper fellowship with the brothers and
sisters?

   6. Remember this trustworthy saying: Satan's only ground is
darkness. When we confess our sins and bring them out into the light,
we take away from him his power over us.

   7Th. DAY

   1. As you come to the end of this first week as a committed disciple
of Jesus Christ, go back to the most basic idea of discipleship. Turn
to Galatians 2:20.

   2. Every time your old nature tries to assert itself you can say, 'I
have been crucified with Christ'. Concerning what things do you
especially need to say that today? Write them down.

   3. As you determine what you should do with your day remember: 'I ,
no longer live, but Christ lives in me.' Meditate on this great truth
in scripture and then determine to let the Holy Spirit make it a
reality. Let Jesus Christ use you to meet His needs and desires.

   4. Focus on Paul's words today. 'You are not your own; you were
bought with a price', [1 Corinthians 6:19-20] Believe that with all
your heart. You are not your own. You no longer go where you want to go
or do what you want to do. You are a bond-servant, a slave unto Jesus.

   Reminder

   As a new baby, you need to be daily in touch with others who are
ready to give you encouragement and guidance. If you have been avoiding
that contact, determine now to deal with that wrong attitude that is
developing.

   SECOND WEEK- 'NO LIFE OUTSIDE THE BODY'

   8Th. DAY

   1. Begin today by reading Matthew 28:18-20 concentrating on v. 18
and v. 20. What do these two verses say to you?

   2. Jesus Christ who has all authority taught us that the church is
very, very important. In Matthew 16:16-18, Jesus hears Peter confess
him to be the Christ, the Son of God; and immediately Jesus said, 'Upon
this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not
prevail against it.' Jesus saw the church as the center of his plan. He
wanted to build it and he intended to make it so strong that the forces
of Satan could not stand against it. What Jesus counted as so
important, we too must count as so important.

   3. For a true picture of what the church should be striving to
become every day, look at Acts 2:40-47

   4. What can you do today and the rest of this week to contribute to
this kind of life among God's people, [the church]?

   9Th. DAY

   1. Paul describes the church as the 'Body of Christ'. Read Romans
12:1- 8 and see how giving yourself first to God leads to giving
yourself to other people in the Body of Christ.

   2. Notice particularly v. 5 which says, 'each member belongs to all
the others' or 'we are all members of one another'. How does this fit
with or conflict with the American ideal of individualism?

   3. List three things that you know already that you can do for other
members of the Body of Christ. Share these with another brother or
sister.

   4. List at least three things that you know you need from the Body
of Christ in order to grow in Christ. Share these also with another
person.

   10Th. DAY

   1. Read Ephesians 4:1-5. Why does it seem to you that God is so very
concerned about the Body of Christ being in unity and peace?

   2. Turn to Romans 14:12-15:3 and read how far we should go and how
much we should bend to keep the Body of Christ together.

   3. Is there anything in your life that is so important to you that
you would not give up even if it was keeping people from coming to
Jesus Christ or growing in him? If there is, look back at v. 21 and
seek help in dealing with this sin in your life.

   11Th. Day

   1. God is greatly concerned about the unity of the church, but he is
also greatly concerned about the purity of the Body of Christ. We are
called to a holy life and a pure life, and sin in the Body that is
being hidden or ignored will destroy the power of the church.

   2. Check out the tape, 'The Fellowship of Believers' from the SOUND
DOCTRINE CHURCH and listen over it writing down your comments.

   3. Read Ephesians 5:1-14. List those things which are described here
as improper for God's holy people.

   4. How would living as 'children of the light' be totally different
from these things you have just listed? What is the basic difference?

   5. You are a young Christian, but what should you do if you see
brothers or sisters falling into some sin? Read Galatians 6:1-2.

   12Th. DAY

   1. What is the one thing that must be in the church and in our
relationships above all else? Read the following passages: John
13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Galatians 5:6 and 13-14, Ephesians
5:1-2, Colossians 3:14, 1 Peter 4:8

   2. For a more precise definition of love, compare John 13:34-35 with
1 John 3:16. List all the things you can think of that describe the way
Jesus loved us.

   3. How are you progressing in your relationships with your new
brothers and sisters in Christ? Are they seeing your love for them?
Many new Christians just want to be loved and to be served. Ask the
Holy Spirit to crucify this self centered Christianity.

   13Th. DAY

   1. One of the things we can all do for one another in the Body is
give encouragement. Read a powerful statement about his in Hebrews
3:12- 14.

   2. According to this passage, what is to be the specific purpose of
our encouragement? What do you think will be involved in giving this
kind of specific encouragement? Ask an older brother and sister how the
Spirit might lead you to do this.

   3. Look at 2 Timothy 4:2. Notice that we can encourage people by
bringing the Word to them. In your relationships try to share with
someone every day something you have found in God's Truth that is
inspiring and encouraging to you.

   14Th. DAY

   1. When problems develop in the Body between brothers and sisters,
they must be dealt with so that Satan is given no opportunity to enter
in. Read Matthew 18:15-20 which gives us the right way to deal with
such situations.

   2. Determine early in your Christian life that you will not complain
or grumble behind someone's back about what they have done. Determine
that you will always go to them and resolve the problem with God's
Spirit, vs:20.

   WEEK THREE-'GO MAKE DISCIPLES'

   This week we want to look at how God plans to use you to bring
others into the freedom from sin that you have found in Christ. First,
we will consider how important your own life is in sharing with others.

   15Th. DAY

   1. To be a disciple is to come under the discipline of Jesus Christ.
To be a disciple is to let Jesus Christ be Lord in all the areas of
your life. Examine carefully the following items and make sure that you
are opening up and working on those that are applicable to you. Are you
hearing the voice of the Spirit directing you on the following areas?
Sexuality, greed, money, time management and gentleness? Read 1
Thessalonians 4:1-12.

   16Th. DAY

   1. Turn to 1 Peter 3:13-17 and especially note vs. 15 & 16.

   2. What is involved in each of these statements: a. 'In your hearts
acknowledge Christ as the Holy Lord' b. 'Always be prepared to give an
answer...' c. 'With gentleness and respect' d. 'Keeping a clear
conscience'

   3. Who are the people around you? Write down their names. They need
to hear the answer about Jesus Christ as Lord. Stop now and pray for
them.

   17Th. DAY

   1. The last words a person speaks usually tell us a lot about the
major things on the heart. Turn to Matthew 28:18-20 and read again the
final commission of Jesus before he left this world.

   2. What does it mean to you that 'all authority has been given to
Jesus Christ'? What does it mean that he has given all authority over
to you?

   3. What are the implications for your life of this statement to
'Go'? What is the Holy Spirit telling you this means for your life?

   4. When we 'go', what does Jesus want us to do?

   5. Look back over the list of people you wrote down yesterday. Begin
praying for them specifically that you may 'go' to them with the
message of Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit for the words and then step out
to share what you know.

   18Th. DAY

   1. Start today with Colossians 4:2-6.

   2. List all the things you find here that relate to sharing your
faith with others.

   3. What does it mean to 'Make the most of every opportunity'?

   4. How did you use the opportunities the Lord gave you this week?

   19Th. DAY

   1. We tend to think that certain situations are not good ones for
sharing the Gospel. Most of us would find being in prison and in chains
a terrible circumstance for evangelism. Read Acts 16:22-34.

   2. What situations are you in right now? Write down why these
situations make sharing the Gospel difficult. Having done this, now
give all these excuses up to the Lord and claim the fact that he is
able to work powerfully in all circumstances. Turn over to Philippians
4:4-6 for encouragement.

   20Th. DAY

   1. To 'Go make disciples' we need great boldness and courage. In
ourselves we don't have what it takes. The Holy Spirit will fill us
with the boldness we need. Read Acts 4:8-13.

   2. Also notice the message we must proclaim. It is found in verse:
12. Don't water this message down. It is the only thing that can change
men's lives.

   3. Look also at 2 Timothy 1:7. When you find yourself being timid,
you can be sure that it is your self. For God has not given you a
spirit of fear. Deny your fear and God will give you courage.

   21st. DAY

   1. No real evangelism or discipling takes place until we have
brought a person into the body of Christ. As you share with people,
make every effort to introduce them to the members of the Body.

   2. Look at Acts 2:42-48. This is to be the spirit found in our
fellowship. Then those who visit will know that God is really alive.

   3. You have now been a disciple for three weeks. You should be
having an impact on others for Jesus Christ by now. If this is not
happening, or if you see that it could be happening much more, get with
an older brother or sister and share what is going on. Let them help
and encourage you.

   WEEK FOUR-'THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT'

   During this week of the study, we will look at the God we worship
and the way he expresses himself in the Father, the Son, and the Spirit.

   22nd DAY

   1. Turn to Mark 14:32-35. Notice the word Jesus uses for God. It is
the Aramaic word 'Abba'. It was an intimate word and no Jew ever used
it before Jesus to describe God. It was the word little boys and girls
used for their daddies. Look at Romans 8:15-17 and Galatians 4:6. Do
you see the kind of God we have and how we can approach him?

   2. Read John 1:1-18. According to these passages, what is it that we
find in Jesus Christ? What does it mean to your personal life that he
is this way?

   3. Look closely at what he went through for you. Take an Old
Testament and read Isaiah 53 and see the statement made about him even
before he appeared on earth.

   24Th. DAY

   1. When you were baptized into Jesus Christ, you received the gift
of the Holy Spirit. Today and tomorrow we want to look at some of the
ministries of the Holy Spirit in your life.

   2. Turn to John 16:5-15 and read carefully, looking for teaching
about the work of the Spirit.

   3. Notice he is, the Spirit of Truth; will be with you forever; and
will live in in you. What is this going to mean to your life?

   4. Read John 16:5-11. The work of the Spirit involves convicting us
of sin, righteousness and judgement. How would you relate this passage
to the ideas found in Ephesians 6:17, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and Hebrews
4:12-13?

   25Th. DAY

   1. Continuing to look at the work of the Holy Spirit, turn to Romans
8 and read verses: 1-17.

   2. Focus in on verses 9-11. What kind of promise is made to you here?

   3. In our lives we have been enslaved to various passions and
desires. On our own we found we had no real power to break free from
those. Notice the message vs. 12 and 13 How do we put to death the
misdeeds of the body?

   4. Notice vs: 14-17 how the Spirit of God in us brings us into an
intimate relationship with God.

   26Th. DAY

   1. It is important to learn all you can about Jesus Christ because
of what the following scriptures teach: 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Romans
8:29. What do these passages teach about our relationship to Jesus
Christ?

   2. Look also at 1 John 3:2-3. What is the 'hope' referred to in
verse:3?

   3. List at least three things that are found in Jesus Christ that
you want to work on in your own life.

   4. How would you respond to someone who might say, 'Trying to be
like Jesus Christ is an impossible dream. It can only frustrate you'?

   REMEMBER: GET HELP FROM AN OLDER DISCIPLE AS YOU MOVE DEEPER INTO
THIS STUDY. LET HIM OR HER CHECK OUT WHAT YOU ARE FINDING.

   27Th. DAY

   1. Look at the picture of Jesus Christ found in Hebrews 4:14-16.

   2. Write down what each of these statements means to your life: a.
Jesus is the great high priest who has gone into heaven. b. Jesus is
able to understand and relate to our weaknesses since he was tempted in
every way like us. c. Because of Jesus, we can approach God's throne [a
throne of Grace] with confidence.

   3. How does this understanding of Jesus Christ affect you right now
at school, on the job, in the home? Write down the way it changes your
attitude.

   28Th. DAY

   1. There may be some things that will happen to you to make you
wonder if God is for you or against you. Read Romans 8:31-39 to see the
kind of God you worship.

   2. Go back to verse 28 for still another promise.

   3. Paul lists in the first passage a number of things that might
seem to cut us off from the love of God. What are some things in your
life that are difficult or threatening? Write out verse 37 just as Paul
says it and then write verse 38 substituting the things in your life
that might interfere with your relationship to God.

   4. What role do you play in keeping this victory?

   WEEK FIVE-'SUBMIT TO EVERY AUTHORITY'

   This week you will study one of the keys to the Christian life. It
is totally opposed to worldly wisdom, but it is something we see
perfectly in Jesus and he wants to see it in us. It is the principle of
submission.

   29Th. DAY

   1. Already you have studied passages that tell you who really has
all the authority today. It is Jesus Christ, but God has set up certain
orders in society. These maintain order and teach us to be submissive
and obedient in spirit so we can ultimately and basically submit to and
obey Jesus Christ.

   2. To follow Jesus Christ one must have an obedient spirit. One must
be willing to submit to another's authority. Read 1 Peter 1:2 and 1
Peter 1:14. What kind of children does God want?

   3. Read Ephesians 2:1-2 to determine what kind of spirit God is
opposed to.

   4. Look at Hebrews 5:7-9 for an important statement about Jesus
Christ who is our example in all attitudes. What did he learn? How was
it learned? What does God want us to learn? How will it be learned?

   30Th. DAY

   1. Return to 1 Peter where yesterday we learned that God wants
obedient children. Now look at 2:11-17.

   2. Our old self with its sinful desires as described in vs. 11, does
not want to obey. It wants to do things 'my own way'. It doesn't like
to be told what to do. That's why Jesus says 'deny yourself'. It is not
willing to cooperate with God's plan.

   3. Notice in vs: 13 why you submit to every authority.

   4. List all the authorities that you can think of that are in your
life, meaning all the people that are in some role where they can tell
you what to do or strongly expect you to do what they ask. What is your
attitude toward these authorities?

   31st. DAY

   1. The question is often asked, 'Do I have to submit to these
authorities in my life even when they are wrong?'. What do you think
the mind of Christ would say here.

   2. Continue the passage you started yesterday. Read 1 Peter 2:18-23.
What does it contribute to the question raised above?

   3. What we are being told here in Ephesians 5-6 and Colossians 3 is
that we should have a submissive and obedient attitude all the time. We
should be ready to obey those God has put over us. However, there will
come times when we cannot obey. See Acts 4:18-20 for a clear example.
Study this carefully.

   32nd DAY

   1. In the body of Christ, God has placed certain men over you. First
there are the elders or overseers in the body and then those who have
been given special authority by elders. Look at what Hebrews 13:17 says
about your responsibility to these men.

   2. Does this passage say we have to agree with everything a leader
does before we can submit to him?

   3. Make sure your relationships with all your leaders are good ones.
If there is an anger or resentment or hurt in you toward any one of
them, don't put off sitting down with that leader and opening up your
heart. If you see others in the body developing rebellious and
disobedient attitudes go to them and encourage them to deal with that
and to get with the leader.

   33RD. DAY

   1. Go to Ephesians 5:21 and start reading and go through chapter
6:4. Regardless of who you are, you are most likely in some kind of
family relationship. In these relationships you can show the love of
God...the kind of love that is willing to lay down its life for others
in the family.

   2. If your spouse, parents, or children have not been seeing in you
the things described in Ephesians 5 & 6, then confess to them your sin.

   3. Remember, your ultimate concern is that your family members come
to know the living God through your life in a deeper and deeper way.

   34Th. DAY

   1. Turn to and read Romans 13

   2. List as many clear teachings in this passage as you can find.

   3. Is there anything wrong with a bitter, complaining attitude about
the government one lives under?

   4. Again, when must a Christian say 'no' to the government? In what
way should he say 'no'?

   35Th. DAY

   1. One of the great texts in the New Testament is Philippians
2:1-11. Read this carefully, looking for the deeper teaching about the
power of submission.

   2. In what ways can you 'empty yourself'? The word literally means
'made himself to be nothing'.

   3. In what ways, being specific, can you this week take the form of
a servant to your brothers and to those who are lost?

   4. What happens to those who submit? What does God do?

   WEEK SIX-'FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH'

   36Th. DAY

   1. You are over a month into your life as a disciple of Jesus
Christ. If you have been serious about it, this month should have been
one in which you have faced many things about yourself that need
changing. It also should have been one filled with joy because you know
that God is for you and Jesus Christ is with you to help you become
like him.

   2. Look at Paul's words about joy in Philippians 4:4-6. How often
does it say we should 'rejoice'? Compare this with 1 Thessalonians
5:16- 18. When should we rejoice? Be thankful?

   37Th. DAY

   1. The image of a soldier or a warrior is often employed in the New
Testament. The reason is: we are at war. The ways of God and the ways
of men are totally opposed to each other. Our culture is constantly
bombarding us with its message of how to find life, but God's message
is totally different. One cannot survive in warfare unless he is
equipped and knows how to do battle. For the rest of this week we will
look at this matter.

   2. Start with Ephesians 6:10-18. There is enough here for several
days of study, and we will take a little time.

   3. First of all in warfare, we need to clearly identify the enemy.
Verses 10 & 11 make that identification very clear to us. Who is the
enemy? What are some of the schemes that you can see him working out in
your life to take you out of God's love?

   4. Please realize now and always that your boss is not the enemy,
your parents aren't the enemies, your husband or wife are not the
enemy. Flesh and blood people are not the enemies, and any time we
identify them as enemies, we fall into Satan's scheme and begin
shooting at the wrong person. List some times recently when you may
have done this or come close to doing this.

   5. Set your mind against the real forces of darkness that Satan
commands. Pray for strength and for God's mighty power to overcome it.

   38Th. DAY

   1. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 again.

   2. Satan's power is described in real terms and you will be so
vulnerable to it if you are not aware of his power. However, why do we
not need to be afraid?

   3. We don't have to be afraid, but we do have to put on the full
armor of God. Without protection and the spiritual weapons he supplies
we will not overcome. Let us look at them one at a time:

   A. the 'belt of truth'- where do you find the truth? John 17:17 B.
the 'breastplate of righteousness' - read Philippians 3:8-9 C. the
'gospel of peace' - read Ephesians 2:14-18 D. the 'shield of faith' -
how does it put out the fiery darts of Satan? E. the 'helmet of
salvation' - read Romans 8:1-2 F. the 'sword of the Spirit which is the
Word of God' - Hebrews 4:12 G. and 'pray in the Spirit' on all
occasions - how has your prayer life developed? What does this mean?

   You now know what the armor of God looks like, but please realize
that like any good soldier, you will have to put the armor on anew
every day. You will have to be taught how the Spirit uses you with the
armor on... be listening!

   39Th. DAY

   1. Begin today with 2 Timothy 2:1-7.

   2. Focus in especially on vs: 3 & 4. To be a Christian is not like
going to a picnic. It is enrolling in an army. If you really belong to
Jesus you are going to face hardships. 2 Timothy 3:12 says we are
promised what?

   3. What did Jesus promise here in, John 15:18-21? What does Jesus
say about the Christians who are well liked by the world? Read Luke
6:26.

   4. Returning to 2 Timothy 2:4 we see that the warfare is going to be
so serious and so intense that the Christian soldier must not get
involved in 'civilian affairs'. There are a lot of things to do in the
world that are not wrong. But they are wrong for us if they take us
away from the front lines and doing what Jesus wants us to do at that
time. Are there some things in your life that need to be given up
because they are 'involvement in civilian affairs'?

   40Th. DAY

   1. Your study guide ends today, but may your study and love for God
never end. You are on your way to things too glorious and enriching to
even describe. Never, never, never, never, give up!

   2. Read carefully the call of these passages: 1 Peter 2:1-12,
Hebrews 5:11-6:3, Colossians 2:6-10

   3. In relation to the above passages give your final thoughts.

   SOUND DOCTRINE BBS