The Catalyst Community

Jesus made Himself of no reputation, so that He could save the world from sin. God literally became a man for this reason. This was a choice that God had to make and it cost Him something.

God choosing himself to die does not excuse the moral weight of this action, because it involves death. No one who truly understands the sacrifice of Christ will go about living their lives ordinarily.

The gospel is not a cost-free one. Salvation is free, but loyalty to Jesus is not. Living for Jesus will therefore cost you something. You cannot pay Jesus with your loyalty, but your loyalty is the deserved response for what He did.

There is a cross to pick up, chains to take up. The three intentional chains which every believer must pick up are:

1. Identify with the sufferings of Christ.

2. Identify with the sufferings of the Apostles.

3. Identify with the sufferings of the saints today.

Burdens for unbelievers who are yet to experience the saving grace of Jesus, are a way to check how much you are growing in God.

Understanding the gravity of one accepting or not accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ, must spur you to tell others this truth. It is a necessity to preach about Jesus, as it is a life or death matter.

Your identity as a child of God, your role, and responsibility for the Kingdom of God is what should precede your conduct towards the spread of the gospel- evangelism. There must be a result of the impact of the gospel in your life because you did not only receive the gospel, the gospel transformed you.

Choose to reject the possibility of leaving this world without people seeing the light of God in you. "No one lights a candle to be put under a bushel." The souls of the lost are counting on you.

Evangelism is one crucial aspect of the Christian faith, which can be used as an indication or a mark of one's spiritual growth.

Paul, speaking to the church in Philippi, told them that it would be beneficial for them if he remains with them, because they will experience joy and progress. Progress here refers to advancement. 

Being a member of a church does not make anyone spiritually mature. What makes people grow is a plan and a curriculum, progressive overload and keeping a log. 

In the Christian faith, there are markers of growth:

1. Prayer 

2. Worship

3. Joy walk

4. Burden

In the miracle of turning water into wine, the massive catch of fish, the calming of the storm and more, creation responded to the king of all creation. 

Miracles are a pointer to the one who can save souls- Jesus. Every miracle Jesus performed was not random, neither were they for entertainment. It was for the purpose of the redemption of man to God.

Miracles declare that the reign of God has come, and it has come to stay forever. 

God has also delegated authority over the Earth to man. This however, is not for self-gratification but for the glory of God.

We are given a guide on how to handle performing miracles:

1. Settle in your heart what you believe about the will of God

2. Speak what you believe.

3. Lay your hands and act in faith.

4. Be discerning.

5. Have tenacity.

When Jesus gave the great commission in Matthew 28:18, He declared that He has all authority. He was talking about the reign of a new kingdom. Then He specifically said to make disciples. But we’re not just going to educate them, we’re going with power! So the working of the miracles is in our kingdom and is part of our mission.

Here are a few points about the miracle of healing:

1. Healing is first about salvation. The Bible doesn’t separate healing and salvation. They go together. Healing is first about salvation, in priority and in root. And though God can heal the body, He wants to restore completely.

2. Healing is the children’s bread. God wants to heal diseases. It’s a benefit of our kingdom. God doesn’t try you or teach you with sickness, and no disease is beyond His power.

3. Healing requires the faith of the believer. God is sovereign and can bypass your faith. But He wants to work with you. He wants your faith to invite His work into your life.

4. Jesus never showed doubt. Yes, Jesus can work with our inadequacies, but He never doubted. We are to have faith like Jesus, and boldness also.

5. Healing requires discernment. There are different ways that God healed. For some Jesus spoke, and for others He laid hands.

When God sends a man, He does not give him power only for the work; He also gives him authority. There is no other way to do ministry than through power and authority.

Ministry is a battleground of authority. It is the reclaiming of territories for the Kingdom, and the devil is not happy about that. Therefore, there will be opposition.

In Ephesians 6, Apostle Paul describes the forces working against the believer using strict governmental language; an organized system working against the believer.

In the same way, the Bible often presents God's relationship with us using legal and governmental concepts. There are certain terms and roles we must understand:

1. There is a King and He is Sovereign. God is the King. He possesses absolute authority and sovereignty.

2. There is a usurper. The devil is not a king, nor is he equal to God. He is not God's rival or an equal opposing power.

3. There are angels. Messengers.

4. The Bible presents you as an heir. You are a citizen and an heir of the Kingdom.

The “wilderness” is the preparation place for the restoration of the kingdom.

Hard times and bad things can happen and will happen. But understanding the ways of God shows us that He turns our purpose to pain.

God has placed a call over your life that needs to go through seasons of training and being schooled in the Spirit.

It takes prayer, building capacity, honing your skills, and strengthening to gain mastery in the Spirit.

Never make the mistake of comparing where you are in your journey with God to where He has saved you from.

If God has sent you, He has made the resources available already. He is the God who causes food to fall from the sky and birds to bring food for a man.

Continuing from the last session taught, we learn about the wilderness- how the wilderness is a preparation for the kingdom.

Wilderness seasons are the most sensitive for man. We learn never to compare where you are coming from to where God is taking you because comparison is a killer of purpose.

The same Gospel that got you saved is the same Gospel that will cause you to mature.

The history of the Israelites is our theology. When we look at how God related to them, we can know what to expect from Him.

David’s cry in the wilderness (Psalm 63) was not just random; it was part of a cycle of events repeated in the Bible: the Exodus.

Points to note about the Wilderness:

• The Wilderness is the consequence of rejecting God’s wisdom.

• Everyone who has not submitted to the wisdom of God will remain in the Wilderness.

• The Wilderness is not just a consequence of sin but also an opportunity for repentance.

• God can find you in the wilderness.

Purpose in God is His unique imprint on your soul through which you would be able to serve on the earth- the part you play in God’s redemptive plan. 

God showed Abraham in the book of Genesis that his life was more than his situation. 

Camp meetings exists to remind us, shape us, and get us ready for who God wants us to be.