Week One

YOUR FIRST FORTY DAYS

You have just come forth from the water and ALL of your sins have been forgiven and there is now a new power at work in your life, the Holy Spirit of God that was given to you as a gift along with the remission of sins. You were willing to "empty yourself," "count your self as nothing," and now God has raised you up to life on a higher plane. To be sure, at your baptism you were "raised from the dead" just like Jesus (Romans 6:3-4).

One of the things a disciple of Jesus quickly learns is that there is much that he or she doesn't understand. You will learn much as you go, so please do not become discouraged. This just means you have a lifetime of growing and developing ahead. That is what the Christian Adventure is all about, it will never become boring. God's love is wide, and deep, and long, and high, and the more we grasp the better things become.

This study is designed to help you have some direction each day for the next forty days as you start delving into the Word of God. Why forty days? We have picked this because that was the length of testing Jesus went through following His own baptism. He passed victoriously through that testing because He knew the Word of God and each time Satan came, He drove him away by using the Scriptures. Satan will make his attack on you. He knows you are young in Christ and more vulnerable, but God is with you and with His weapons of righteousness Satan can be defeated.

Determine right now that you are going to make this a rich and powerful study. Open your mind and let God do with you all that He wants to do. Make sure that you have a definite time and place reserved each day for studying the Scriptures so you can stay immersed in the Word of God. DON'T LET ANYTHING OR ANYONE KEEP YOU FROM THIS MOST CRUCIAL TIME. You will be greatly helped if you buy a notebook to put this booklet in along with your notes. Always have your own personal Bible handy for this study.

WEEK ONE	"DEAD TO SELF AND ALIVE IN CHRIST"
WEEK TWO	"NO LIFE OUTSIDE THE BODY"
WEEK THREE	"GO MAKE DISCIPLES"
WEEK FOUR	"THE FATHER, THE SON, THE HOLY SPIRIT'
WEEK FIVE	"SUBMIT TO EVERY AUTHORITY"
WEEK SIX	"FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH"

May God's richest blessings be on you as you enter into and continue in this study.

WEEK ONE...."DEAD TO SELF....ALIVE TO CHRIST"

All Verses are from the New American Standard Version, except where noted.

This week you will be studying passages in the Scriptures that show us so clearly a major obstacle to our Christian growth. That obstacle is "self" that often rules our lives. Christ calls us to crucify the old self, and He promises to raise up a new and very different self.

1^st Day:

1. Before you actually begin your Bible study program please take a few minutes and write down in your own words what your baptism into Jesus Christ meant to you. Why did you do it? What were you thinking at your baptism? If you will write these things down and put those notes in a safe place this will be invaluable in years to come. As the years pass you will remember more clearly the serious commitment made on the day of your baptism.

2. Now let's read Luke 9:18-26. Read and study these verses several times.

18And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, "Who do the people say that I am?"19They answered and said, "John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again."20And He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."21But He warned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,22saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day."23And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.24"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.25"For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?26"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

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

28Peter said, "Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You."29And He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,30who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.

4. These two passages will become very important as you 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 you are to pass on to someone else. (Matthew 28:19-20).

19"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

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

2^nd Day:

1. Read and study Romans 6:1-14 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?")

1What shall [we] say then? Are [we] to continue in sin so that grace may increase?

2May it never be! How shall [we] who died to sin still live in it?

3Or do [you] not know that all of [us] who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

4Therefore [we] have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so [we] too might walk in newness of life.

5For if [we] have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly [we] shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,

6knowing this, that [our] old self was crucified with Him, in order that [our] body of sin might be done away with, so that [we] would no longer be slaves to sin;

7for [he] who has died is freed from sin.

8Now if [we] have died with Christ, [we] believe that we shall also live with Him,

9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.

10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11Even so consider [yourselves] to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12Therefore do not let sin reign in [your] mortal body so that [you] obey its lusts,

13and do not go on presenting the members of [your] body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and [your] members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14For sin shall not be master over [you], for [you] are not under law but under grace.

15What then? Shall [we] sin because [we] are not under law but under grace? May it never be

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

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

4. How do you specifically plan TODAY to fulfill the injunction of verse 13?

3^rd Day:

1. Before you start today's study, ask yourself a very important question: “Am I staying in touch with older Christians?” This is crucial, and all next week the Bible study will focus on this; but we can't wait until then to say a few things concerning this matter. If there is anything in you that is not wanting to see or be with other disciples, then you can be sure those thoughts and ideas are not from God and must be crucified. Those things are from you old independent self, and not the new self that God is giving you.

2. Read Romans 7:14-24 to see how powerless we are to live a new life alone. In verse 24, we see why we must deny self.

14For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.15For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.

16But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good.17So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.19For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.21I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good.22For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,23but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.24Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?

3. Now read Romans 8 where we see how we can do the impossible. You are told that at your baptism you received the Holy Spirit; now study some of what the Spirit means to your life. Read and study verses 1-17, making notes on the things that strike you the hardest. Remember to keep substituting the pronouns were possible.

1Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.10If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.11But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raisedChrist Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.12So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh--13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you areputting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!"16The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,17and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

4^th Day:

1. As you have questions about things that you are studying or things that are happening to you, seek out some older brother or sister and let them try to help. They may have been through many of the same things you are experiencing. Learn from their wisdom and understanding.

2. For this Bible study you will need both an Old Testament and a New Testament. If you don't have both please make arrangements to acquire them now.

3. When we were children, we needed to be taught things we did not know; and we needed to be corrected when we were wrong. Once again, you are a baby, "In Christ." There is much you don't know and there are some areas where you will probably need corrections. How a person takes corrections says something about their attitude and how well they will grow In Christ.

Now read Proverbs 12:1-2; then look at Proverbs 12:15 and finally go back to Proverbs chapter 10:17.

12:1-2

1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
         But he who hates reproof is stupid.
    2A good man will obtain favor from the LORD,
         But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

and: 12:15

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

and: 10:17

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

4. Write down your own attitude toward being corrected. Distinguish between those things that are left from your old self and those things from Jesus Christ that you are learning.

5. Go to the New Testament now and read 2^nd 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?

16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 2nd Tim. 3:16

5^th 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. Today, our Bible study will focus on the reasons why you ought to have a great attitude even under the worst of circumstances.

2. Let's look at and examine the following passages.

John 16:33

33"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world."

Romans 8:28

28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Philippians 4:12-13

12I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.13I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

James 1:2-4

2Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,3knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.4And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

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

4. How does this fit with having a good attitude regardless of what is happening?

5. List on a separate sheet of paper, anything that might cause you to have a bad (negative, complaining, pessimistic) attitude. Confess these things right away to your fellow Christians, and seek help praying for encouragement.

6^th Day:

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

Please read 1st John 1:5-10 [Amplified Version]

5And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way].6[So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].7But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].8If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts].9If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].10If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts].

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 room things are out in the open and you can see those things as they really are. In the other room things are hidden and covered by the darkness. With this in mind, what does it mean when He calls us to "walk in the light?" Do you see how this fits with vs. 9 where we are called to "admit" we are sinners and then confess those sins?

4. We all (from the oldest to the youngest in Christ) sin. If we claim that we don't we lie (vs.10). Ηοw do we handles this? Do we try and cover and hide or sins, or do we bring them into the light by confessions? James tells us that we are to confess our sins to "one another."

James 5:16 [Amplified Version]

16Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

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

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 his base of operation.

7^th 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 in discipleship. Read Galatians 2:20.

20I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

2. Every time your old person tries to assert itself you can say, "I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST." Are there some things in your life today that need your attention?

3. As you determine what you should do with your day, remember: "I (your name), no longer live, but Christ lives in me." Meditate on this great idea and then determine to let your life be used for those things of Jesus Christ.

4. Focus on Paul's words today. "You are not your own; you were bought with a price." (1^st Corinthians 6:19-20) Believe that with all your mind. YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. Jesus Christ purchased you for His use with His death on the cross. Carefully distinguish between your purposes and His purposes and live as one who has been “bought with a great price.”

IMPORTANT REMINDER: As a new baby, you need to be in daily touch with others who are ready to give encouragement and guidance. If you have been avoiding that contact, determine now to deal with that improper aspect of your attitude.