1

What a great decision you have made to believe in Jesus!

Whether this is the first time that you have accepted Jesus into your life or a recommitment of your life to him, He will give you a brand new start. Your spiritual journey with Jesus has just begun. Now that you BELIEVE in Jesus we would like to see you BELONG to the family of God and ultimately BECOME all that God has planned and purposed for your life. Our team of pastors and counselors will spend some time with you helping you to understand the decision that you have made today and pointing in the right direction to grow spiritually.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD You are now a child of God by Faith.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DECISION!Your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord (Salvation) will bring positive changes in your life. Each time when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, there is a great joy in the kingdom of God. (Luke 15:7). We rejoice with the angels on your decision. This little booklet will help you understand your new commitment and show you how to grow spiritually.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His Name.” (John 1:12)

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

As a result of your commitment to Christ by faith today, you are now a child of God! Nothing or no one can separate you from God. (Romans 8:38, 39)

Today you made a decision to truly commit your life to Jesus Christ and thereby

2

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD You are now a child of God by Faith.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DECISION!Your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord (Salvation) will bring positive changes in your life. Each time when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, there is a great joy in the kingdom of God. (Luke 15:7). We rejoice with the angels on your decision. This little booklet will help you understand your new commitment and show you how to grow spiritually.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His Name.” (John 1:12)

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

As a result of your commitment to Christ by faith today, you are now a child of God! Nothing or no one can separate you from God. (Romans 8:38, 39)

Today you made a decision to truly commit your life to Jesus Christ and thereby

OUR SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD. “…But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:36b). A genuine gift is not earned or deserved; therefore, no amount of personal effort or “church work” can earn heaven for us. God offers it only as a gift and you

The Bible makes it clear that it must be a gift because MAN is a sinner; not just any man, but ALL men and women. God says, “…ALL have sinned and fall short…” (Romans 3:23). We are separated from God by sin. Thus we cannot save

God says, “…ALL have sinned and fall short…” (Romans 3:23)In spite of our sin, God is merciful. He loves us because “GOD IS LOVE” (1 John

4:8). But the same Bible that tells us God loves us also says that God is just. Being just, He always renders perfect justice. He therefore must punish sin, “by no means clearing the guilty.” (Exodus 34:7)

“GOD IS LOVE” (1 John 4:8)Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God who came in the flesh (John 1:1,14). He came to this earth, lived a sinless life and died on the cross to purchase a place in heaven for us.

God says, “…ALL have

sinned and fall short…”

(Romans 3:23)

“God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). “…The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity (our sin) of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6). “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that

HOW, THEN, DOES A PERSON POSSESS THIS GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE?

We receive God’s gift of eternal life (Salvation) by faith. Faith is the key to heaven. “For by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8)

Faith that saves is not just an intellectual understanding of the biblical facts, nor To express this faith and put our new desires into action, God allows us to talk to Him directly. This is called prayer. A prayer, asking God for eternal life, may be expressed like this:

”Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I am a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But I believe You died and gave Your life for me and purchased a place in heaven

3

To express this faith and put our new desires into action, God allows us to talk to Him directly. This is called prayer. A prayer, asking God for eternal life, may be expressed like this:

”Lord Jesus Christ, I know that I am a sinner and do not deserve eternal life. But I believe You died and gave Your life for me and purchased a place in heaven

This simple prayer expresses your desire to receive eternal life. Have you prayed this prayer which we call commitment to Christ to receive the gift of eternal life which is your Salvation? If you have not prayed this commitment Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” The fact that you prayed the above prayer to commit to Jesus Christ as

YOU

CHOSE

LIFE!An amazing transformation took place the moment you prayed and genuinely committed your life to Jesus Christ. You were spiritually BORN! Jesus said, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD.” (John 3:3). Just as a newborn baby is to grow physically, so we are to grow spiritually. A baby grows with the intake of food and the love of a family. In like manner, a person who is spiritually a newborn will grow with the intake of spiritual food (reading

READ THE BIBLE AND PRAY EVERY DAYGuidance around reading the Bible; start by reading the Gospel of John in the New Testament.

“As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word (of God), that you may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2:2)

“(God’s) Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

4

Proverbs 4:20-22 says, “My son, give attention to My words; … For they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.” Jesus further explains in (John 6:63) “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.” As you read the Bible, you will learn about

“The words

that I speak

to you are

spirit and

You will be built up spiritually, so that when Satan comes against you – as indeed he will, the Bible says that Satan comes immediately to steal the Word that is sown in your hearts, to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior (Matthew 13:3-8, 18-23 & Luke 8:4-8,12-15) you will be ready to deal with him. We thank God that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (fleshly), but mighty in God, As you seek out Scriptures concerning different areas of your life – for instance Scripture about healing, walking in divine provision or who you are in Christ Jesus, you will begin to grow in that area and you will have faith to resist the devil – and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

Study the Scriptures listed below, and meditate on what God has done for you, how He has changed your life. As you do, you will begin to understand that it is this Jesus – the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Son of God who has become the Lord of your life. You will see that in Him you are victorious, you are blessed and more than a conqueror. Listed below are a few Scriptures to

5

The Lord is my Shepherd Psalm 23:1The Lord is the strength of my life Psalm 27:1In Him I have everlasting life John 3:16In Him I live and move and have my being Acts 17:28In Christ I am a new creation 2 Corinthians 5:17I have become the righteousness of God in Him 2 Corinthians5:21In Him I am holy and without blame Ephesians 1:4In Him I am complete Colossians 2:10In Him I have perfect love 1 John 2:5

PRAY EVERYDAYWe encourage you to spend time in prayer before the Lord on a daily basis. Any meaningful relationship is based on communication, and in order to communicate effectively, a person should be prepared to both talk and listen. So it is with God, we should spend time talking to God (praying), praising and worshipping Him, and then allow Him to talk to you. Fellowship with God in

prayer will draw you into a sensitive and truly personal relationship with Him. Prayer is our direct communication line to God in heaven. You can and should pray about everything, God loves you and HE will never leave

God’s Word says: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6 -7)

“And all things, whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”(Matthew 21:22)

6

ATTEND A CHURCH THAT TEACHES YOU THE BIBLEAttending church is a vital aspect of growth. God loves you and wants to spend time with you. God the Father seeks people to worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23). The Bible clearly teaches the benefits and blessings of worship.“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the

Lord.” (Psalm 122:1)

“Not forsaking the gathering the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.” (Hebrews 10:25)

“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and

We are all members of one body and as we gather together and fellowship one with another, we are able to build each other up, to stand together in agreement against attacks that come against us, and to encourage each other in the Word of God. As you are involved in a church that preaches the Word of God, you will have the opportunity to become committed to serving the Lord Worshipping and fellowship with other Christians is essential for your spiritual well-being and it will be an encouragement to you in times of stress as well as in times of victory. We learn and are encouraged by one another. “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24)

We all need people with whom we can be completely open and share our lives and burdens. The Bible tells us to do so. “Bear one another’s burdens, so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

The early church understood this need “And they continued steadfastly in the

7

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT A natural progression of spending time reading the Bible, praying and worshipping before the Lord will be to be filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. This is a special gift from God especially for you as new believer. In salvation, every believer is born again by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit dwells in us.

The Holy Spirit in us represents the fact that we belong to God. However, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from

salvation that every believer should seek and receive. John the Baptist said in (Matthew 3:11), “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to

God wants to bless you with a unique prayer language that will enrich your life and make your prayer life effective for God. (Jude 1:20) says, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Every day can be an exciting adventure for you as a new Christian who starts to know the reality of being filled with the Holy Spirit and who lives constantly, moment by moment, under His gracious direction.

8

The Amplified Bible uses six names to describe the person of the Holy Spirit, who is now living in you from the moment you prayed and accepted the gift of eternal life, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life.

(John 14:16).”And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter

(Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby) that The Holy Spirit’s powerful resources are now available for you to live a life that is honoring God and helping you conquer / overcome the challenges of life:Making choices - pray with your indwelling Counselor, the Holy Spirit. Daily stress - wrap yourself in the indwelling Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Difficult situations - call on the Helper, the Holy Spirit.Hurting relationships - trust the One who stands at God’s right hand - your Intercessor, the Holy Spirit. Mistakes - you have an Advocate, the Holy Spirit.

Acts 10:38 “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”

God would not have needed to anoint Jesus with the Holy Spirit if He was walking in the fullness of His Deity. Jesus came to the earth as a human being, and as such, God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit to do His Father’s The Holy Spirit directs our lives as we continue to trust Jesus Christ moment by moment: be able to live out this new life you chose in Christ Jesus today.

Our prayer lives and study of God’s Word will become more

meaningful.

You will experience His power in witnessing (Acts 1:8).

You will be prepared for spiritual conflict against the world (1 John

2:15-17); against the flesh (Galatians 5:16-17); and against Satan (1

Peter 5:7-9; Ephesians 6:10-13).

You will experience His power to resist temptation and sin (1

Corinthians 10:13; Philippians 4:13; Ephesians 1:19-23; 2 Timothy

1:7; Romans 6:1-16).

9

The Holy Spirit is the One who does the work on the earth and glorifies Jesus. We encourage you to invite Him; the Holy Spirit, into your life and then welcome Him the same way you prayed and accepted Jesus Christ in your life. The Holy Spirit knows all things – as you speak to Him you will no longer be working in the natural, but you will have tapped into the supernatural. Pray this simple prayer to ask Jesus Christ to baptize you with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking in other tongues:

“Dear Father, I ask You in the Name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour, for Your Holy Spirit power to come upon me, to help me daily to live this new life. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit. By faith, I receive Him right now!

Congratulations! Now you’re filled with God’s supernatural power. It doesn’t really matter whether you felt anything or not when you prayed to receive the Holy Spirit. If you believed in your heart that you received, then God’s Word promises you that you did. “Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mark 11:24).

God always honors His Word; believe it! (Luke 11:11-13) “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will you give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask Him!”

As you grow in love with Jesus Christ your Lord, you will learn to know and trust more in the person of the Holy Spirit in your life. The Spirit’s power is there- learn

10

UNDERSTANDING THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRITOn one occasion while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John truly baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.....But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;

(1)JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A SEPARATE EXPERIENCE FROM SALVATION AND WATER BAPTISM..On one occasion while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift My Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John truly baptized with water, but in a few days you

Therefore, if you are saved, you do not have to seek the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence because He lives and abides in you. However, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a separate experience from salvation that every believer should seek and receive.

John the Baptist said in (Matthew 3:11), “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire”.

(2) JESUS MAKES IT CLEAR THAT THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A GIFT TO YOU FROM THE FATHER.The Baptism in the Holy Spirit is one of many gifts that God has given us. We should receive and partake of every gift God has given us. We do not have to be afraid of any gift that God wants to give us. (James 1:17) says, “Every good and

GIFTS FROM GODEphesians 2:8 “The gift of salvation”Roman 5:17 “The gift of righteousness”Romans 6:23 “The gift of eternal life”1 Corinthians 12:7-11 “The gifts of the Spirit”Ephesians 4:11 “The five-fold ministry gifts”

(3) WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU RECEIVE A SUPERNATURAL LANGUAGE AND A SUPERNATURAL POWER.

11

(3) WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU RECEIVE A SUPERNATURAL LANGUAGE AND A SUPERNATURAL POWER.

(D) WHEN YOU PRAY IN TONGUES, YOU PRAY SPIRIT DIRECTED PRAYERS. THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTS YOUR PRAYERS ACCORDING TO THE PERFECT WILL OF GOD.Romans 8:26-27In 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 with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.

(5) FIVE STEPS TO RECEIVING THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT WITH THE EVIDENCE OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES.

(A) YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

John 3:3In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”

Acts 2:38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

(B) YOU MUST BELIEVE THAT IT IS FOR YOU.

Acts 2:39The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call.

Acts 2:17-18In the last days, God says,” I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

(C) YOU MUST DESIRE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

John 7:37-39On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; because the

(6) THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND A BELIEVER’S PERSONAL PRAYER LANGUAGE.

1 Corinthians 12:4, 8-11There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit ......To one through the Spirit the message of wisdom, toby means of 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 another the interpretation of tonguesSpirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines.

The Gift of Tongues is one of the manifestations of the Holybelievers as the Spirit determines. It is when the Holy Spirit gives a believer a

PRAYER LANGUAGE IS:

Speaking to GodSpeaking mysteriesEdifying yourselfHas no interpretationIs for believers

GIFT OF TONGUES IS:

Speaking to man

12

.

The Holy Spirit will not talk through your mouth. You will do the speaking. You will sense the Holy Spirit giving you the utterance, but you have to take a step of faith and speak forth what the Holy Spirit gives you in tongues. It may sound strange to you, but allow that supernatural language to flow out of you.

You have to remember that you cannot speak two languages at one time. Begin to worship God out of your heart in your own language, and then stop speaking your BE A WITNESS

As the people see the change that Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit have made in your life, they will want to hear your message.

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Witnessing is sharing the joy of your salvation with others. It is perhaps more important as a new believer that you share Christ. Why? Because Jesus said,

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My

Once you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and begin to engage in regular Prayer, Bible reading and get plugged into a local Church, it is important to develop a deeper, personal relationship with Christ. “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to

God wants us to grow in our “knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). The Bible encourages you as a new believer to grow spiritually. “When I was a child, I talked like a child; I thought like a child, I

13

“for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten

Son that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but

have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Our spiritual journey starts when we BELIEVE in Jesus and accept Him into our lives. (John 3:16) says “for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

We continue the journey when we get into a community of other like minded believers and start growing in our faith. This is where we start to BELONG. Where we can learn and grow together in God. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. (Romans 12:5) As we grow and mature in God a natural reaction is that we want to start using the gifts that God has given us to serve others. This is how we BECOME all that God wants us to be. We start to fulfil the destiny that God has for our lives and use our gifts and abilities to help others in a way that brings honour and glory to God.

14

As we grow and mature in God a natural reaction is that we want to start using the gifts that God has given us to serve others. This is how we BECOME all that God wants us to be. We start to fulfil the destiny that God has for our lives and use our gifts and abilities to help others in a way that brings honour and glory to God.

Rhema Church is guided by the BIBLE, empowered by the HOLY SPIRIT and undergirded by PRAYER. It is a church in which every new believer is on a rewarding journey and enjoys a growing relationship with Jesus and with fellowship with other believers.

RHEMA BIBLE CHURCHCorner Rabie and Hans Schoeman Streets | Randpark Ridge | Randburg | South Africa

GPS Coordinates: -26º 5’ 34.22” +27º 57’ 46.56”Phone: +27 11 796 4000 | Email: church@rhema.co.za Postal Address: Private Bag X3062 | Randburg 2125 | South Africa

15

16