STEPS OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK Read Romans Chapter 1-5 - talks about history of salvation. DISCIPLESHIP Discipleship is a person after God’s own heart.  It is a conscious decision to say yes to grace (or even at times when we have no strength to allow grace to say yes for us) and follow in faith in the footsteps of Christ Jesus (See Romans chapter 2-4).  In our grace filled decision to follow Christ Jesus we embrace the Lord’s heart through faith, knowledge, believe, and trust.   In our decision to follow Christ Jesus we are blessed with seven work oriented spiritual gifts – gifts that remind us of the irrevocable covenant of faith and discipleship between us and God.  The seven gifts are: Ø      Prophecy – speaking the truth Ø      Ministry – serving Ø      Teaching – Explaining the word of God Ø      Giving – sharing Ø      Leadership– Ø      Mercy In Corinthians 1:12 we are told to find our spiritual gift and follow it through the promptings of the Holy Spirit. This faith covenant is irrevocable because we are told it is in the Bible – read and meditate on Genesis 12, 1 Chronicle 17:10-11, and Romans 1-5.  Our decision (will, mind) to accept grace and faithfully invite Christ Jesus in allows the will of the  Father to be irrevocably sealed by the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:9-11).  This sealing action gives birth to a covenant where His will becomes our will and our will becomes His will.  We become heirs – rightful heirs to the kingdom of God.  This rightness is rooted in faith – rooted in the cross and blood of Christ Jesus.  While we were still sinners – not right with God due to the fall of Adam and Eve – Christ became man died and rose from the cross.  We are indeed rightful heirs through faith in Christ Jesus.  ACTION Our discipleship with Christ Jesus will lead us to action – action and works that is accomplished and made perfect through the various spiritual gifts.  We are drawn to action by faith – a faith that allows our will/mind and heart/soul to do the works of mercy – works of God.  The Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit inspire this action.  Our faithful discipleship leads us to Godly action – action that is inspired by the trinity.  The Trinity that continual guides and speaks to our human will and soul.  Our mind and heart imitate and makes our discipleship perfect and complete as it relates to the Father’s will, the Son’s ministerial action, and the Holy Spirit’s gift of prophecy.  The Father’s will is this that we continue to believe and hope in faith.  STRENGTH Our decision to believe and become a disciple of Christ Jesus is both sealed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  In Ephesians 1:13-14 and Ephesians 3:16 we are told that once we faithfully believe we are both sealed and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.  As the Holy Spirit strengthens us, we are wrapped in the armor of God.  In Romans chapter, 12 we are told that the armor of God consists and is made up of the following: Ø      Total commitment Ø      Obedience Ø      Teachable spirit Ø      Speaking and proclaiming the Word Ø      Creating and protecting a Godly home This decision to believe is further strengthened every time we submit (our will) to God.James tells us in 4:7 resist the devil – draw near to God and he will draw near to you.  PRAYER  Power and strength is embodied in prayer -- including family prayer (Ecc 4:11-12).  The Holy Spirit convicts us in prayer.  John 17:18 remind us that it is the Holy Spirit that will convict us in regards to sin and righteousness. Therefore, the Holy Spirit through prayer as manifested by the seven spiritual gifts strengthens our resolve to be a disciple of Christ Jesus because the Holy Spirit speaks to our mind/will, heart, and soul.    The Lord calls us to love one another.  I wonder why Christ Jesus asks that of us throughout the gospel. I think it has something to do with what our hearts need for continued nourishment.  Our heart is nourished with vibrant love when we open our lives to others.  When we begin to share, open, and make ourselves vulnerable to our friends – we are touching the very heart and soul of our friends.  In return our heart is being nourished with the vibrant joy of Christ Jesus. It is in that very sharing and open exchange that we find our hearts are being nourished – nourished with love.  It is through love that we discover our inner beauty.  Our beauty shines when we love.  Love with all of our heart will lead us to find true joy – a joy that is everlasting; a joy that is indescribable. Enjoy the reading 12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 This I command you, to love one another