Referred to as the “Holy Ghost” by some, the Holy Spirit has been misunderstood as something scary. He has also been resisted, as some people are a bit nervous of Him. 

For a long time in the Church, the Holy Spirit has been ignored. There’s been a much greater concentration on God the Father, God the Son – Jesus – but not so much on God the Holy Spirit.

But if we look through the entire Bible, from Genesis right through to Revelation, we’ll see that the Holy Spirit was always there and we can discover who He is.

1. The Holy Spirit was involved in creation

The Holy Spirit was there at the creation of the world!

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2)

He was waiting to do something new: To bring out of the chaos, the cosmos; out of disorder, order; out of confusion, harmony; out of deformity, beauty; out of oldness, newness.

The Holy Spirit always brings new things to our lives: New attitudes, new desires, new ways of worship, new songs.

2. He gives us ability 

The Old Testament records that the Holy Spirit came on particular people at particular times for particular tasks that He was calling them to do.

For example, he came upon Bezalel in Exodus 31:1-5. “I have filled him with the Spirit of God… to make artistic designs.” You can be a talented musician without the Holy Spirit, but the Spirit of God brings a new dimension to everything that we do.

It’s not just in the past: Today, God is filling people with the Holy Spirit for various abilities.

The Holy Spirit fills us for whatever we’re involved in. It could be music or art, but it could be your workplace, whatever you do in your workplace. The Spirit of God wants to fill you with skill and ability and creativity for what you do.

The Holy Spirit came upon Gideon for leadership in Judges 6:14–15 and Isaiah for prophecy in Isaiah 61:1. Then Samson for strength and power in Judges 15:14. 

Often, what happened in the Old Testament in a physical way happens in the New Testament in a spiritual way. Just as God’s Spirit gave Samson physical strength to break free from his bindings, so the Holy Spirit gives us freedom to break the habits, the addictions, the stuff that keeps us spiritually bound.

3. The Holy Spirit was promised by Father God

As we continue to read the Old Testament, there’s a rising sense of anticipation that something new is going to happen. This new thing is called “the promise” of the Father.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

It’s not going to be just for particular people at particular times for particular tasks; it’s going to be for everyone!

In Acts 1:4-5, while Jesus was eating with the disciples after He had risen from the dead, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you’ve heard me speak about. For John baptised with water; in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”’

And in Acts 1:8, He is recorded saying: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When the Holy Spirit does fill them on the Day of Pentecost, days after Jesus has ascended to Heaven, a violent wind fills the whole house they have gathered in, tongues of fire appear and come to rest on them, and they all start to speak in other tongues.

As the people witnessing got amazed and perplexed, Peter got up and said: Let me explain to you what’s happening – This is the Holy Spirit. This was prophesied.

4. Everyone can have the Holy Spirit 

He quotes from the prophet Joel, who speaks of the Holy Spirit who will poured on the children of God, regardless of gender, age, rank, race and background.

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28-32)

This is the amazing thing: The Holy Spirit is given to everyone who believes in Jesus!

5. He is a Person

Some people think the Holy Spirit is an “it’” or a force. No, the Holy Spirit is a person. Sometimes, He’s referred to as “the Spirit of Jesus”. He’s the way in which Jesus is present within you.

For example, Jesus says in Revelation 3:20: “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in.” If you pray and ask Jesus to come into your heart, the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Jesus – comes to live within you.

Like any person, the Holy Spirit thinks, acts, loves. He’s the most wonderful person in the world who has come to live within you the moment you say: “Jesus, come into my life.”

You will never be alone.

6. The Holy Spirit is our counsellor

What is the Holy Spirit like? Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is “the Counsellor”.

“When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me,” says John 15:26.

The literal Greek word for “counsellor” is Paráklētos, which can be broken down this way: para is “alongside” and kletos is “called”. So it really means the “one who’s called alongside”.

Sometimes this word for the Holy Spirit is translated to be “the Comforter”. He’s the encourager and the advocate, like a lawyer in court who’s on your side.

In the ancient world, if a little ship was in trouble, a big ship would be sent out to draw alongside the small ship and lead it into the safety of the harbour. The big ship was called a “paráklētos”. And Jesus says the Holy Spirit is like that.

All of us face difficulties of one sort or another: Troubles, anxieties, fears, disappointments, discouragements. Whatever it is that you are facing, you don’t have to face those things alone. The Holy Spirit can come alongside to be your comforter, your encourager, your friend.

7. He testifies about Jesus

The Holy Spirit doesn’t point to Himself. His role is to testify about Jesus, to point you to Jesus, to explain Jesus to you so that you understand about Jesus.

In order to do that, the Spirit opens our eyes to understand the Word of God, the Bible. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14).

The Spirit of God gives us understanding of this Word, to help us to develop this relationship with Jesus, so that we can become more like Him. We are transformed into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18).

8. The Holy Spirit changes our lives from the inside

“Jesus answered, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit. You shouldn’t be surprised by my saying, “You must be born again”. The wind blows wherever it pleases.’” (John 3:5-8)

The Holy Spirit is likened to the wind: You can’t actually see the wind, but you can see the effect of the wind.  Maybe you’ve seen His impact on someone else, or on your own life, when you can see something changing.

As when a man and woman physically unite in an act of love and there is a physical birth, when the Spirit of God and the spirit of Man come together in an act of love, there is a new spiritual birth. You are born again.

So when the Spirit of God comes to live in you, that’s the beginning. It’s the beginning of a new life. 

9. We become sons and daughters

That’s what the Holy Spirit does: He changes us. Every single one of us becomes a son or a daughter of the King, a prince or a princess.

It’s the highest status: To be a son or a daughter of God. It’s also the closest intimacy.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’“ (Romans 8:14-15)

“Abba” is an Aramaic word. It’s untranslatable, that’s why it’s left in the Aramaic.

It’s also a word that’s never used in the Old Testament of our relationship with God, but Jesus used it of his relationship with God.

He called God “Abba”. And then we are told that we too can call God “Abba”. This word, which is kind of like “Dad” or “Daddy”, it’s very intimate – not childish – but just really close, intimate relationship.

So many people think of him as this angry Judge who’s cross with us all the time. But He’s a loving Heavenly Father, and you can approach him as “Abba”.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t just bring us into the relationship of being a son or a daughter of God – He helps us to develop it, grow in it and grow closer to our Father in Heaven.

10. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray

The Holy Spirit also gives us access to the Father. “Access” is an amazing word. This means you can talk to Him.

And in Romans 8:26-27, we learn that He also prays for us, even when we do not know what to pray for or cannot find the words to express our deepest concerns and desires.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27)

11. He unites the body of Christ

The Holy Spirit brings unity and closeness in relationships, marriages, families, friendships and small groups.

The Apostle Paul says “make every effort to maintain the unity” (Ephesians 4:3). Although not easy to achieve, unity in a church is so important.

12. The Holy Spirit gives everyone spiritual gifts

Every single one of us has been given gifts by the Holy Spirit – not just one but many.

“To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:8-11)

The idea of a community is that we’re meant to use our gifts. That means church leaders shouldn’t be the only ones doing things while everybody watches. We are the Church, we each have gifts – so all of us must use them. 

13. He empowers us to share the gospel

God’s family is a growing family. This is how the Church grows: The Spirit of God gives us His power, and we are his witnesses.

We tell other people about what happened. They see in us the difference the Holy Spirit has made and they’re drawn unto Him.

At the end of the Bible, in Revelation 22:17, it says: “The Spirit and the Bride (the Church) say, “Come!” Let those who hear say, “Come!” Let those who are thirsty come; let all who wish take the free gift of the water of life.’”

The invitation is to everyone. It’s to you. 

Anybody who comes, you will receive the free gift of the water of life, that you may never thirst again (John 4:14). That is the promise for you.

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This article, via Thir.st was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alpha or use the map below to connect with an Alpha group near you. 

• Longing (Acts 2:2-4)
• Receptive (Acts 8:14-17)
• Hostile (Acts 9:17-20)
• Uninformed (Acts 19:1-6)
• Unlikely (Acts 10:44-46)

HOW CAN WE BE FILLED?

1. Long for it 

On the Day of Pentecost there was a group of people who were longing to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They had been praying, and then tongues of fire came upon them.

“All of them” were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. All of them. No one missed out!

2. Be open

Then there were those who were receptive like the Samaritans in Acts 8.

“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 on any of them; they had simply been baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus.

Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:14–17)

If you’re open, you can receive the Holy Spirit today.

3. Don’t remain hostile 

No one in history has been more hostile than the apostle Paul, who was formerly known as Saul.

Saul participated in the marytrdom of Stephen, the first person to be killed for Christ. Thereafter Saul persecuted Christians mercilessly until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. Jesus’ appearance was like a blinding light – so bright that Saul went blind.

Then Ananias, who had earlier been instructed by God to seek out Saul, prayed for him. Saul’s eyes were healed and he became filled with the Holy Spirit.

Once completely hostile to Christ, Saul immediately began preaching: “Jesus is the Son of God!” (Acts 9:17-20)

4. Get informed

Maybe you’ve been around Christian circles for a bit, were baptised as a baby, were confirmed or even go quite regularly to church – but have never heard all this stuff about the Holy Spirit.

But read Acts 19:1-6. Paul encountered some disciples at Ephesus who had never heard of the Holy Spirit. So Paul taught them about the Holy Spirit.

Then when he laid his hands on them to pray, “the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied” (Acts 19:1-6).

5. Don’t doubt

Perhaps you’re thinking: “This would never happen to me” or I’m not the religious type”.

The ancient world was divided into two groups: the religious (Jews) and those who were not religious (Gentiles). In Acts 10, we read of the first occasion when a group of Gentiles was filled with the Holy Spirit.

This was shocking because all the first Christians were Jews. They didn’t think it was possible to be a Christian unless you became a Jew first. So they didn’t believe that someone who was not religious could be filled with the Holy Spirit.

But then God gave a vision to a Roman centurion named Cornelius – a Gentile – as well a vision to the apostle Peter, such that their paths would cross. Peter came to Cornelius’ house where many Gentiles were gathered, and told them about Jesus, the cross and the resurrection.

And then “the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message” and the Gentiles spoke in tongues and praised God (Acts 10:44-46).

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE’RE FILLED?

1. We experience the love of God

When God’s love was poured into the hearts by the Holy Spirit in the early believers, some experienced physical manifestations.

Sometimes when people are filled with the Spirit, they experience fire – a symbol of passion and purity – within them. Such experiences are often described as feeling heat in one’s hands or arms. 

Other times, it’s like wind. The Hebrew word for “wind” is the same as “spirit” – ruach. It’s an onomatopoeic word, like the breath of God coming into a person. It can look like fluttering eyelids or people breathing deeply – sometimes it’s like being blown over by the wind.

These don’t need to happen for someone to be filled with the Holy Spirit. But if they do happen we shouldn’t be surprised or worried.

We also shouldn’t focus on these manifestations. That’s not what the Holy Spirit is about; it’s about God’s love being poured into our hearts. 

If you were to fall in love with someone and got amazing tingles in your spine, you wouldn’t Google how to recreate the experience. You’d pursue the person.

It’s the same with the Holy Spirit. Pursue the Holy Spirit, not the manifestations. 

On the cross, we understand God loves us: Jesus died for us – that’s how you knowthat God loves us. But through the Holy Spirit, you feel God’s love.

2. We express our love

When we’ve experienced God’s love for us, we want to express our love – it overflows for God and for other people.

That’s what worship is about. That’s why we sing these songs, which are mainly about God’s love for us and about our love for God. It’s okay to raise our hands in worship – that’s how the Jews and Christians in antiquity expressed their worship.

The New Testament also talks about “raising holy hands” in prayer to God. That’s the traditional form of prayer.

Pope Benedict wrote in his book The Spirit of the Liturgy about why we do that: it’s because it’s like opening ourselves to God. It’s like “more surface area” for God!

Emotion is a very important part of our faith, so we need to be free to express emotion in our relationship with God.

3. We can receive a new love language 

Being filled with the Spirit allows us to use the gifts of the Spirit, the first of which is often speaking in tongues.

But not all Christians speak in tongues. There are no “first-class Christians who speak in tongues, second-class Christians who don’t speak in tongues”.

Paul talks about two different types of tongues. Angelic tongues are different from human tongues. Human tongues are where God gives us a language that we’ve not learnt but is a recognisable human language. That’s what happened on the Day of Pentecost.

More commonly people receive an angelic tongue – that’s not one that you would recognise. And Paul says that that is a form of prayer. He says when he prays in tongues, his spirit prays.

In other words, it’s a way of expressing what you feel here, without going through the process of putting it into a language that you know.

You know how it’s like in a human conversation: Sometimes you want to express something but you can’t find the words for it. With God, he can give you this language that frees you up from the necessity of putting it into a language you already speak.

It’s a beautiful gift, offered by God. It comes from his Holy Spirit, and it helps us to express our love in our love relationship with God.

If you’re not sure you want the Holy Spirit, or you’re worried that something bad would happen to you, read on to see what Jesus said.

“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!” (Luke 11:11-13)

Also, don’t let feeling inadequate hinder you from receiving the Holy Spirit.

Don’t think “I’m not good enough” or “I’m not spiritually mature enough”. 

Jesus didn’t say: “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to people who are mature in their faith, or who’ve lived a good life, or who are very advanced Christians”.

He said: “How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

So, shall we ask Him?

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This article, via Thir.st was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alphaor use the map below to connect with an Alpha group near you. 

 

All relationships thrive on communication. The more we communicate, the more we grow in love, the more our love flourishes. And it’s the same in our relationship with God.

Christian prayer is the most important activity of our lives. It’s the very purpose for which we were actually made: to have a love relationship with God.

The power of prayer depends on our grasp of who it is to whom we’re praying. We pray to the Father through the Son because we have access to God through Jesus.

Once we’ve open the door of our lives to Jesus, he comes in by the Holy Spirit – and it’s the Spirit of God living within us that can help us to pray.

Jesus said this: “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)

So what are the rewards of prayer?

WHY DO WE PRAY?

1. Prayer brings God’s presence

Prayer brings the presence of God that satisfies the spiritual hunger we all have. It quenches our spiritual thirst. It refreshes our soul. Prayer is like the soul breathing.

2. Our hearts can be filled with peace 

It might not seem obvious on the outside but everyone has their own struggle with fear, anxieties and worries. Prayer brings us the peace of God.

Holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom said: “Worry doesn’t empty tomorrow of its troubles, but it empties today of its strength.”

And the Apostle Paul says this in Philippians 4:6-7: Don’t be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition – that’s asking for things – with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God that transcends all understanding, will keep your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

The peace of God is not about being in a place where there’s no trouble, problems or hard work – it’s about being in the middle of those things and still having peace in your heart.

It’s like the deep ocean current when there are the winds and the waves on the surface, but there’s stillness underneath.

3. It puts things in perspective 

This is one of the things that happens when you begin to thank God, when you start to say: “Oh, Lord, thank You that…”, “Thank You that I’m alive! Thank You that I’ve got two feet – I can walk. Thank You for the sunshine. Thank You for the blessings. Thank You for family. Thank You.”

It puts your problems and your worries in perspective.

4. There’s power to change lives 

And then the power of prayer. Of course, you can’t prove the existence of God by answers to prayer. But prayer not only changes us; it also changes situations. 

5. He hears all our prayers

Does God always answer prayer? In a sense, yes, He always hears our prayers. But like a good parent, He doesn’t always just say “yes” because a loving parent wouldn’t say “yes” to all the child’s requests.

Sometimes, though, we may not know in this lifetime why God has not answered our prayers.

Corrie ten Boom said this: “When the train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the driver.”

So there’s “yes”, “no” and then there’s “wait”, which is the amber.

Just because something isn’t happening for you right now doesn’t mean it won’t happen. God’s timing is perfect.

HOW DO WE PRAY?

1. There are many different ways to pray

Like all relationships, there are no rules. 

Some people use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) as a structure for prayer, while others pray a different way.

But what’s common to all these ways of praying is three things: “Thank you. Sorry. Please.”

2. Start with “thank You”

It’s really important to cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

There’s so much to thank God for. You know, “count your blessings, not your problems”.

3. Say “sorry”

Why do we need to confess our sins? Jesus died on the Cross for us and He took all our sin.

When we prayed to ask Jesus into our lives, we received total forgiveness. But as we go through life we pick up dirt on the way, and daily we need to receive forgiveness.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

4. Ask with “please”

Jesus said: “Pray, ask for your daily bread.”

In other words, ask for anything you need. Anything that matters to you matters to God. Pray for others, but also pray for yourself.

There’s nothing that you’re concerned about which God does not want to hear about.

5. We can pray anywhere, anytime 

You don’t have to go into church to pray; you can pray on the train, on the bus, pray walking, you can pray in any situation.

If you find yourself sleepless at night, try praying for other people. It’s a really good time to do that.

Jesus talks about praying on your own. He talks about going into your room and shutting the door. That just means find somewhere you can be by yourself.

Find a time or a place where you love to get away and be by yourself and in conversation with God.

And then pray with others. Jesus said: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst.” There’s a power in praying together (Matthew 18:20).

Here are three tips to end with. First of all, keep it real. Be honest. Be vulnerable with God. Say what’s on your heart. He doesn’t want to hear about what you think ought to be in you; he wants to hear what is really in us.

And then, keep it simple.

Finally, keep it up. Prayer is two-way. You know, the main way God speaks to us is through the Bible. But he speaks to us as we pray.

Prayer really is the most important activity of our lives – and it works!

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This article, via Thir.st, was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alpha or use the map below to connect with an Alpha group near you.

 

Sometimes people say: “Well, isn’t that the best kind of Christians – the ones that just live it out?”

And often they talk about a member of their family who is this amazing Christian that never talks about their faith.

So really, should we tell others?

1. STEP OUT IN OBEDIENCE

Well, first of all, Jesus told us to. The word “go” appears in the Bible 1,514 times.

Jesus was always saying to people: “Go! Go and tell! Go and invite! This is such wonderful news! I’ve come that you might have life and have it abundantly! Go and tell people about it. Go and make disciples.”

2. BE MOTIVATED BY LOVE 

The second reason is because of the needs of other people out there. If you were in a desert and you came across an oasis, you would want to tell people about it. And Jesus satisfies that inner hunger for meaning, for purpose. He died for us to set us free!

This is amazing news that we can bring to other people who are often in such desperate need. 

Essentially you could sum up in one word: it’s love. 

3. MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH OUR LIVES

To share our faith, our presence – being out there in the world – is key. 

In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus said this: “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

In other words, Jesus is saying if you want to make a difference, you’ve got to be out there. 

Salt, of course, flavours, but in the ancient world it was a preservative – it stopped meat from going bad. So He is saying you’re the people who are going to stop the society from going bad. You’re going to have a wide-ranging influence.

Jesus also calls you the light. Martin Luther King once said: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Jesus said you’ve got to be out there in the workplace, among your friends, in your community, acting like salt and light.

And we do that just by the life that you lead, by the love that you have for people, by little acts of kindness, by your integrity, by your authenticity, honesty – just by the kind of people that you are. Gracious. Trustworthy.

4. DO GOOD 

Jesus also says “that people may see your good deeds”. To paraphrase, how you respond to hunger, homelessness, poverty; what we do about the injustices of the world, the gross inequalities, the inhumanity.

Today we have massive needs out there: AIDS-related diseases, modern-day slavery, human trafficking are just a few.

We can make a difference for one person at a time.

5. BE PREPARED TO REASON

Christianity is not a blind leap of faith; it’s possible to persuade people by showing them good reasons to believe.

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…” (1 Peter 3:15)

Gentleness is the opposite of arrogance. Respect because every human being is created in the image of God.

And one of the ways we show respect for people is by listening to them. Most people aren’t ready to listen until they’ve first been heard. It’s so important to listen.

But what you could also say is: “I don’t know the answer to that, but I’ll go away and I’ll look it up and I’ll come back to you.”

It’s also a good idea to read up so that if somebody asks you that question, you can say: “Well, have you thought about this?”

6. BRING SOMEONE TO JESUS

There’s an almost infinite variety of ways in which you can communicate the message of Jesus to other people, but here are some of the ways in the New Testament.

First of all, people said : “Come and see!” That’s what Jesus did.

He said to people: If you’re interested, come and see! And then when people followed him, they went and said to their friends: “Come and see!” (John 1:46) 

There’s no greater privilege than introducing someone to Jesus. In the beginning of John’s Gospel we read about one of those disciples who was invited: Andrew.

The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon (Peter) and tell him: “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.” (John 1:41–42)

We don’t know that much about Andrew except that he was always bringing people to Jesus. 

Simon (Peter) was probably one of the greatest influences on the world in the history of humankind.  You just have to go to Rome, to St Peter’s, and see the influence that he has had in human history.

Not all of us can do what Peter did, but we can all do what Andrew did: bring people to Jesus.

7. SHARE YOUR OWN STORY 

That’s what the apostle Paul did over and over again. He said: Look, this is how I was. Then I met Jesus, and this is how I am now. When you tell a friend what happened to you, they can’t say “no, it didn’t”.

It’s like the blind man who Jesus healed. The Pharisees came and attacked him and there were all these questions.

He said: Look, I’m so sorry, I can’t answer all your questions. But I can tell you one thing: “I was blind but now I see”. (John 9:25)

8. RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 

Remember that it is the Holy Spirit that has the power to transform. 

This is not just about words or intellectual arguments; it’s about the experience of the Holy Spirit. We experience God’s love being poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. And that is transforming. 

9. PERSIST IN PRAYER

Pray for others as others have prayed for you. 

The apostle Paul said: My heart’s desire and prayer to God is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

Finally, don’t give up: The message we have is so important!

Whenever you pass on the good news of Jesus, it has an effect. The gospel is the power of God.

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This article, via Thirst, was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alpha or use the map below to connect with an Alpha group near you. 

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WHY BOTHER WITH THE BIBLE?

1. The Bible reveals who Jesus is

Sometimes people say: “If there’s a God, why doesn’t He show Himself to us? Why doesn’t He reveal himself?” And the answer is: He has.

God has revealed Himself in creation

The fact that we’re here, that there’s something rather than nothing, that this universe is so amazing and finely tuned – this is basically the study of science. Science is the exploration of how God has revealed Himself in creation.

And importantly, God is revealed in the fact that there is this hunger in every human heart that searches after God.

God has revealed Himself as a Person 

He’s revealed Himself in Jesus, the ultimate revelation of God.

And how do we know about Jesus? We only know about Jesus because of the Bible. The New Testament, of course, is all about Jesus, and the Old Testament, when you look at it through the lens of Jesus, is also about Jesus. This is the study of theology.

So while science is the exploration of how God has revealed Himself in creation, theology is the exploration of how God has revealed Himself in Jesus, in the Bible. 

2. The Bible reveals who we should be

2 Timothy 3:16 says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true; to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

In other words, the Bible is our authority for what we believe and for how we live. It’s full of lots of practical wisdom, advice and guidelines for how we live our lives: It gives us boundaries. 

Sometimes people say: “Oh, it’s a rulebook! I really don’t want a rulebook – that will take away my freedom. Surely, if I follow this, I’ll lose my freedom.” But actually, we all need boundaries.

You know, if children grow up without boundaries, they’re insecure, they’re unhappy. It’s the same with us. 

God didn’t say “you shall not murder” because He wanted to ruin our fun. He didn’t say “don’t commit adultery” because He’s a spoilsport. He doesn’t want people to get hurt.

True freedom comes when we know that God is in control, and there are boundaries to protect us. This is God’s love for us. He’s given us this book. It’s inspired by God. It’s authoritative. It’s the word of God. God has spoken.

3. The Bible is God’s love letter to us

The Bible is like a love letter from God. When you get a letter from someone you love, you treasure that letter – not because of the letter because the letter itself is nothing, in a way. It’s because of the person who wrote it.

And it’s the same with the Bible. This book in itself is nothing; it’s because of the author, and because the author wants to be in a relationship with you. He wants to speak to you. That’s why it’s precious.

4. The Bible builds our relationship with God

Supposing you were to get a new car and it arrived with a manual inside. And you got out the manual and went: “Wow! What a great book this is!”

And you start studying it, underlining the bits that really interest you and you think: “Wow, this is such a great book! And, you know, we should learn this by heart!” So you learnt certain sections by heart. 

And maybe other people love this manual as much as you do! So you look for a club that you could join and talk to other people about your love for this manual.

But that’s not what it’s all about! The point of the manual is to drive the car. The point of this book is to have a relationship with Jesus.

John says in John 20:31: “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life.”

In other words, He says: “The whole point that I’ve written this gospel is so that you can have faith, and through believing you can have life!”

The whole point of the Bible is so that you and I can be friends of Jesus – in a relationship with Him. That’s the purpose. The book itself is only a means to an end.

HOW TO GET STARTED

1. Set aside a time and place to read the Bible

So, how do we hear God speak to us through the Bible? Make a plan. Time is our most valuable possession. We can get more money, but we can’t get more time. So set aside a time: Maybe 15 minutes a day.

And then find a place. Jesus went to a solitary place. A solitary place is a particular place in a room where you go each day, and you go there expecting that God is going to speak to you. 

2. Commit to reading the Bible despite difficulties

Find a pattern for reading the Bible. There are many, many different ways that you can do this. For example, a Bible reading plan. Or join a Bible study fellowship group.

But most importantly, always check back on how what you’ve read applies to your life.

Of course, if you’ve ever tried reading the Bible, in particular the Old Testament, you’d have come across things and you say: “Ah, this is shocking!” There are moral difficulties, there are historical difficulties, there are apparent contradictions – there are all kinds of stuff and you might say: “How can this be inspired by God?”

It’s not easy. But it’s a bit like a crossword puzzle: You start with the clues and sometimes you come across one you just can’t answer. But you don’t stop; you move on to the next clue and maybe that’s a bit easier. Then you start to fill in a number of the clues, and that gives you the letters that you need to help you to understand the more difficult ones.

Getting to know God is a journey and reading the Bible is the start. Do you think the Lord may be trying to speak to you through His word? And if so, will you let Him?

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This article, via Thirst, was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alpha or use the map below to connect with an Alpha group near you. 

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What does it mean to be a Christian?

Thanks, Mum.

To be really honest, I didn’t appreciate that gift for almost two decades after I got it. I look at it now and there’s not that much wear and tear – it was barely read, back then, as I spent years wandering in the wilderness – another story for another day.

But eventually, at 26, I started going back to church, and taking God seriously. At 26, I was finally, finally reading the Bible for the first time in living memory.

There is a passage in the Bible which describes a similar situation: Nehemiah 8.

At that time, Israel had been so messed up for so many hundreds of years that many of those alive at the time of Nehemiah hadn’t heard the Book of the Law of Moses – their Bible, at that time – publicly read out in their lifetime, because they were always under some foreign king who hated the Jewish God.

In Nehemiah 8, the nation finally had a public reading of their Holy Book. They gathered with a hunger and desire for the Word not seen in that country for many generations.

What can we learn from the Israelites about how to approach God’s written Word?

HOW DO WE READ THE WORD OF GOD?

1. With the right attitude

All the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. (Nehemiah 8:1)

The hunger of the Israelites – their thirst – was evident. They wanted to hear the Word of God. They were hungry for it! They told Ezra, come out, we’re waiting, we want this.

If you’re a coffee addict, you may have said this before/daily: I need a coffee or I don’t feel alive. I need a coffee or I can’t function. I need a coffee NOW.

What if we took out these passions and replace them with the Word of God? I need the Word of God or I don’t feel alive. I need to hear from Him or I can’t function. God, I need you NOW.

Why can’t we do without our daily caffeine shot, but not without our creator’s voice?

That’s the attitude that would really please God: Where we can function without our coffee, our caffeine shot, but not without our creator’s voice. Not without the Word.

The Israelites came hungry and expectant; one principle that’s repeated throughout the Bible is that a hungry Christian will be fed (Matthew 7:7-8, Proverbs 8:17, Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 4:29-31).

In Psalm 14:2, it says that “the LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand – who seek after God”.

Does this describe you? When God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men, looking for those who seek after Him – will He find you waiting, or will He find you wanting?

2. With the right arrangement

He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand.(Nehemiah 8:3a)

There was a when, a where, and a who about this arrangement. The setting is important!

1. The people prioritised the reading of the Word. They set aside the best time for everyone, while they were still fresh, and there was sunlight to read off.

2. They gave it sufficient time. I know many people whose daily Word intake is reading the Verse of the Day that pops up on their YouVersion app. I suppose that’s better than nothing, but the truth is, if that’s all you’re hearing from God, that is your loss. He’s got so much to say about everything you’re facing in life – He gave you this life, remember? – and you limit Him to 1 sentence?

3. They found the right place. Now, the right place will differ between people. Some people are early birds, some are night owls. Some prefer being indoors, some outdoors. Kinesthetic learners may want to read on the move, while auditory learner might want to consider an audio Bible.

I’ve written previously about my personal arrangement – my happy place.

Not because of the teh, or the toast, which I love, but that’s just the supporting cast. The main act is that book in the middle. The kopitiam isn’t your traditional recommended QT spot – but it works for me.

I don’t want to be prescriptive – the key is you find the right time and place, where you have minimal distractions, and then just get started.

3. With the right attention

And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:3b)

Each time you open the Bible, God is clearing His throat to speak. Pay attention! Turn off the TV! When you’re doing your QT, put down your phone, turn it upside down, turn it off!

Also, from my personal experience, I’d advise you to read the Bible slowly. How slow? As slow as you need to fully absorb and understand what’s going on. Don’t rush through it. Enjoy it. Like fine dining, or a good wine. Soak it up. Chew on it. Savour it.

And reading with the right attention means that when you find something that catches your attention – a verse that speaks right into your situation in life, a word that jumps out at you – don’t let it go. God is speaking!

Grab a pen and dirty your Bible.Highlight it. Underline it. Put an asterisk***. Whatever it takes to remind you that THIS IS IMPORTANT.

I know the OCD in you is appalled. Your poor pristine Bible! But here’s the truth: The worse shape your Bible is in, the better shape your life is in.

4. With the right assistance

The Levites … instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read. (Nehemiah 8:7-8)

Sometimes, the Bible just completely stumps you. Befuddles you. Confounds you. Parts of it are just way too cheem – especially when you read Paul’s letters.

Even Peter says about Paul, “his letters contain some things that are hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16). If Peter, who walked and talked with Jesus, has trouble understanding the letters written by Paul, what hope do we have?

From the example of Nehemiah 8, that’s where the Priests came in. Find a spiritual elder – a cell leader, a pastor, or just someone whom you trust correctly handles the Word of God – and wrestle with the truth. Find someone who can help you make God’s Word clear, so that you understand what you’re reading.

As iron sharpens iron, be part of a fellowship of believers that sharpens each other on right understanding and grasp of the Word.

5. With the right awe

Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. (Nehemiah 8:9)

You might think this is a slightly strange response. The Word is being read out and everyone’s crying? Kinda awkward.

But the truth is, this was the fulfilment of a prophecy issued in Jeremiah 50:4. Hundreds of years before, Jeremiah had released a Word from God that Babylon would be captured, and Israelites return to their Promised Land.

“In those days and at that time,” declares the LORD, “the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the LORD their God they will seek.” (Jeremiah 50:4)

This is why the Israelites were crying: They were finally realising the fullness of the true goodness and glory of God. As they hear His Word – Genesis, about the promises made to Abraham, through to Deuteronomy, and the concept of obedience bringing blessings and disobedience reaping curses – they are realising how God’s promises always come true, and that His love and faithfulness reach to the skies.

In the revelation in the Word, comes reverence – awe – for the power and sovereignty of God.

They were kept alive as a nation by the grace of God alone.

In the revelation in the Word, comes reverence – awe – for the power and sovereignty of God.

When you read the Bible, be conscious of who is speaking. Not merely a Very Important Person. Not merely a king. The King of kings is talking to you!

So take His love letter out of the bottom of the drawer where it’s been buried, brush off the dust of the years, and peel it open. God is speaking – are we listening with the right attitude, amid the right arrangement, paying Him the right attention, guided by the right assistance, and with the right degree of awe?

1. He was a real person who existed 

No serious historian would suggest that Jesus didn’t exist. We know from evidence outside of the New Testament that Jesus existed, from historians like Tacitus and Suetonius.

The first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote this about Jesus: “There was about this time Jesus, a doer of wonderful works.”

And he then goes on to talk about the crucifixion of Jesus and His alleged resurrection.

2. The Bible tells us about Him

Now, of course, the New Testament was written a long time ago and people say: How do we know that what we have here hasn’t been changed over the years? The answer is: Through a science called ‘textual criticism’.

Essentially, the way textual criticism works is like this: the more manuscripts that you have, and the earlier they are, the more you can be sure about what the original said. Take a look at the graphic below.

3. He was more than a great human being

Many today would say: “Yes, He was a human being. We know He existed. Maybe He was a great human being. Maybe He was a great religious teacher – but no more than that. To suggest He was the Son of God, to suggest he’s God, that’s going too far.”

Jesus’ teaching was centred on Himself. Great religious teachers point away from themselves. They say: “Don’t look at me. Look at God.”

Jesus, who personified humility, said: “Look at Me. Come to Me.”

4. He came to satisfy

This question of ultimate meaning and purpose: What is our life about?

This sense of what you might call a spiritual hunger; this sense that other things don’t quite satisfy. However good these things are, there’s always this slight void, this sense that something is missing. 

Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.” (John 6:35) If you want that hunger satisfied, come to Jesus. 

 

5. He gives us freedom 

There’s stuff in our lives that we don’t like. There are things and habits that can be addictive.

Jesus said: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Then there’s all the stuff we carry around: worry, anxiety, fear, guilt.

Jesus said: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) If you want peace, come to Jesus. 

6. He forgives 

Jesus made certain indirect claims: He claimed to be able to forgive sins. He went up to people and said: “Your sins are forgiven.” When Jesus did that, the lawyers said: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 

Forgiveness is at the heart of what Jesus came to do: to make forgiveness possible. It’s at the heart of Christianity.

7. He claimed to be God 

Jesus claimed to be more than a great religious teacher – He claimed to be “the way, the truth, the life”. He considered himself to be the Son of God.

Jesus also made direct claims like “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30-33)

He said: “If you receive me, you receive God.” “If you welcome me, you welcome God.” (Matthew 10:40) He said: “If you have seen me, you have seen God.” (John 14:9)  

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I can see it, but by it I see everything else.” (C. S. Lewis)

Have you ever noticed the difference between seeing without glasses, and seeing with them? Perhaps you could see before, but you can really see with these glasses. And that is the difference Jesus makes.

Jesus is like a lens through which we see God. He’s the way to Father God. He’s the lens by which we see the world in a totally different dimension and clarity. 

Jesus said He is the truth. It’s astonishing how much evidence there is for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. 

When Jesus said “I am the truth”, the Hebrew understanding of “truth” was not just intellectual truth or head knowledge – but heart knowledge.

In other words, truth as experienced. It means beyond examining the evidence for the resurrection, to actually experience a relationship with the risen Jesus Christ.

 

He said: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” And Jesus came to deal with the stuff that stops us from having that. 

This is the amazing news: God loves you. We are loved by God.

And He came in the person of His son, Jesus, to die on a cross for you and for me. And He took all of our guilt and sin in our place, so we could be free to enjoy life to the full. 

8. His teachings are acknowledged as the greatest of all time 

What evidence is there to support His claims? His teaching. Many of our laws were originally founded on them. 

• Love your neighbour as yourself. (Mark 12:31)
• Do to other people as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)
• Love your enemy. (Matthew 5:44) 

In 2,000 years no one has ever improved on the moral teaching of Jesus.

Think how much we’ve advanced in the last 10 years in science and technology. Yet in 2,000 years no one has ever improved on the moral teaching of Jesus. They’re the greatest words ever spoken. They’re the kind of words you’d expect God to speak.

9. The things He did supported His claims

Jesus performed miracles. He loved the marginalised. He fed the hungry. He healed the sick. Ultimately, He laid down His life for us. Jesus said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for His friends.” (John 15:13)

Often the real test of character is when we’re under pressure. And when Jesus was being tortured he said about His torturers: “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

And think of His fulfilment of prophecy. No one else in the history of the world has had a whole collection of books written about them before they were born. Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies, 29 of them in a single day.

 

“Well,” you might say, “maybe He got hold of the Old Testament, read all these prophecies and thought, ‘Right, I’d better go around fulfilling all of these!’”

The problem about that idea is the sheer number of prophecies. And humanly speaking, He had no control. The exact manner of His death was prophesied. The place of His burial. His resurrection. Even the place of His birth was prophesied. 

10. He was raised to life 

When Jesus died and was buried, He was raised to life. Jesus’ conquest of death is the cornerstone of Christianity.

There’s hope beyond this life.

Looking at what Jesus claimed about Himself, it’s clear that He did claim to be a man whose identity was God.

When you look at the evidence of His teaching, the things that He did, His character, His fulfilment of prophecy and His resurrection, it would be absurd, illogical or unbelievable to say Jesus was insane or a fraud.

On the other hand, it provides the strongest possible supporting evidence that what Jesus said about Himself was true.

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This article, via Thir.st, was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alpha.

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Why go to church?

1. A Christian is someone who follows Jesus

The Apostle Paul says: Those who become Christians become new persons (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT). They’re not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! 

What does the word ‘Christian’ mean? A Christian is a Christ-ian: Someone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ. 

2. It’s about an intimate relationship 

In John’s Gospel, it’s said: “To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)

What John is saying there is this is the closest possible intimate relationship of love. It’s like a child and a parent. In other places it’s talked about like a lover or a friend. And sometimes the New Testament even uses the analogy of a husband and wife – it’s that close: an intimate relationship.

3. We can have confidence 

You can know that you’re a Christian; you can know that you have faith; you can know that you have eternal life.

John says: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13)

So what is this faith, this confidence, this assurance based on? Like the legs of a tripod, the Christian faith is based on three things.

4. Our faith is based on the word of God

The first is this: the word of God. It’s based on facts and not on feelings. Because our feelings go up and down. But the facts remain the facts.

Paul says that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. (Romans 10:17 NKJV)

You can have faith by just reading the Bible on your own. This is a way we can interact with God; God speaks through the Bible.

 

5. We can invite Jesus to be part of our lives

An example is the famous verse in Revelation 3:20 where Jesus says: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Imagine that your life is like a house and Jesus is knocking at the door of your life and he’s saying: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. I’d like to come into your life, into the house of your life, and be part of your life. I want to come in and eat with you.”

Eating together is a sign of friendship. And effectively Jesus is saying: “I want to be your friend.” That’s what it means to be a Christian: it’s to be a friend of Jesus. 

Jesus is not going to force his way into your life. He stands at the door and knocks, and he leaves it up to you and me to decide whether to invite him in, to be part of our lives.

6. Our faith comes from the work of Jesus

The second leg of the tripod is the work of Jesus. It’s done, not do.

Sometimes people say: “Well, I don’t think I could be a Christian because I’m not good enough. And if I was going to be a Christian, there are lots of things in my life I’d just need to sort out first. I need to change things.” 

No, no, no. You come exactly as you are. It’s not about what you do or what you can achieve; it’s about what has been done for you by Jesus on the Cross. You receive total forgiveness. And you receive it as a gift.

7. We have the gift of eternal life

Paul wrote this: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT)

We’re deeply suspicious of anyone who offers us a free gift. We think: “God is offering this free gift. There must be a catch.” There isn’t a catch. It’s free. But it’s not cheap.

It cost Jesus his life. He died so that we could be forgiven and receive this gift of eternal life, this gift of a relationship with him. 

8. We receive this gift through repentance and faith 

Repentance sounds a really heavy word, but all it means is turning away from the bad stuff in our life, changing our mind about that stuff and saying: “Actually, that doesn’t do us any good anyway.”

God loves us. He never asks us to give up things that are good for us. He just says: “Get rid of that junk. Turn away from it.”

Faith is just trust. Everyone exercises faith. You’re exercising faith by sitting on these chairs – you’re trusting that the chair will hold you up. We can base our life on faith in what Jesus did on the Cross for us. 

 

9. Our faith is based on the witness of the Holy Spirit

The third leg of the tripod is the witness of the Holy Spirit: it’s him and not us.

In Revelation 3:20, where Jesus is knocking at the door of our lives, he says: “If anyone opens the door, I will come in”.

He comes in by his Spirit. It’s the Spirit of Jesus who comes to live within you.

And Jesus says about the Holy Spirit the Holy Spirit is like the wind. Has anyone ever seen the wind? No. Do you believe that the wind exists? Yes, of course. Why?

Because you can see its impact. You can see what happens to the leaves. You can see the power of the wind.

10. We will start to bear fruit

It’s the same with the Holy Spirit.  You can’t see the Holy Spirit, but you can see its impact.

Paul says “the fruit of the Spirit” – the things that start to change when the Spirit comes to live within us – is this: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Being a Christian doesn’t make you better than anybody else, but hopefully it makes you better than you were before.

 

11. We can experience His love 

The Spirit also brings a subjective experience to our hearts. Paul writes that the Holy Spirit “testifies with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16 NASB).

As you take a step of faith – as that experience begins to take place – it moves us from faith to knowledge of a relationship, knowing a person.

Another thing about the wind is you can also feel it. You can feel the Holy Spirit – not physically feel, but you can feel his love for you.

The love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We experience his love for us.

To know that you are loved – that’s what it means to be a Christian. That’s what it means to have the Spirit of God living within you. That’s what it means to be living in a relationship with God.

12. You can pray to open that door to Jesus

If you would like to open that door, here’s a prayer that you can echo in the silence of your heart:

Lord Jesus Christ, thank you that you love me so much. I now turn away from everything that I know is wrong – all the bad stuff.

Thank you that you died so that I could be forgiven. I put my trust in you and in what you did on the cross.

And now I open the door of my heart, and I invite you to come into my life by your Spirit to be with me forever.

Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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This article, via Thir.st was adapted from the Alpha Transcripts and has been republished with permission. If you have more questions and would like to further explore the basics of the Christian faith, find out more about Alpha or use the map below to connect with an Alpha group near you.