KIMALEXANDER

SPIRITLAKEBAPTISTCHURCH32129N.3rdAveSpiritLake,ID83869

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Introduction:Asyoucanseebytheslidebehindmethatwearebeginninganewseries–Believer’sBootCamp:BasicTraining.Thiswillbea13weekseries(justalittleoverthreemonths).Wearegoing tobecovering somevery important topicsover thenextthreemonths.TakealookatthemanualthatIhadprintedup(Oneperfamily).Noticewhatwewillbecovering:Week1:INDUCTION–TheBibleonGodWeek2:FALLIN–TheBibleonSalvationWeek3:DIRECTION–TheBibleonDoctrineWeek4:IDENTIFICATION–TheBibleonOrdinancesWeek5:MARKSMANSHIP–TheBibleonScriptureWeek6:COMMUNITY–TheBibleonDiscipleshipWeek7:DISCIPLINE–TheBibleonPrayerWeek8:CAMARADERIE–TheBibleonChurchWeek9:CONFIDENCE–TheBibleonWitnessingWeek10:SACRIFICE–TheBibleonGivingWeek11:SURVIVAL–TheBibleonWarringWeek12:STRATEGY–TheBibleonProphecyWeek13:GRADUATION–TheBibleonServing

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Believer’sBootCampwillprovideyoutheessentialinstructionsthat every followers of Jesus Christ will need for their entirelifetime.OverthenextthirteenweeksIwillbeyourinstructor–you will be the learner, and the Holy Spirit will instilltransformationinyourlife.

It’sAllAboutGrowthInthesamewaythatfruitsandvegetables(agarden)growinthesummermonths,soI longforustogrowinthemonthsofMay, June, and July. Will you commit yourself to regularattendance?AndifyouareabsentonaSunday,willyouwatchonline? I also want to encourage you to bring your Bible, amarking pen, and use the sermon note-sheets provided eachweekinthechurchbulletin(Iwantyoutostretchyourself).InyourBasicTrainingManual,IwanttodrawyourattentiontotheSpiritualGrowthChartonpage6.Now,Iwantyoutotakeagood look at it. You will notice the smaller inner circle, andaround that circle you will find various levels of spiritualdevelopment:Dead,Infant,Children,YoungAdult,andParent.Whichofthesewordsdescribeyourspiritualliferightnow?Haveyoulocatedwhereyouthinkyoumightbe?Next,IwantyoutomakeacommitmenttoGodthatoverthenextthreemonthsyouwill intentionallyplantomovetowardsspiritualmaturity.Thatyouwillseektomovetothenextlevelofspiritualmaturitythatislistedonthischart.

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Spiritualgrowthmustbeintentional.Believer’sBootCampwillrequireyoutoapplythetruththatyouarelearningtoyourdailylife.

SpiritualGrowthChart

Inthismessagewewanttotakealookatwhattheologianscall,TheologyProper(thedoctrineofGod).WhatdoyouthinkyouknowaboutGod?Well,inthissermonwearegoingtoaskandanswersomebasicquestionsthatpeoplehaveaboutGod.Suchas:IsthereaGod?WhatisGod’sname?HowhasGodrevealedHimself tomankind? Is theresuchathingastheTrinity?And

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finally,what does Godwant from us? This is our INDUCTIONmessage into this series. We begin with God because that iswhere the Bible begins, and because all of us need to beintroducedtoHim.WeneedtocometoKNOWGod.Awonderingmindwillnotlearn.Doallyoucantostayfocus.Showup–keepyourmindfocused–becomemoldable.I. IsthereaGod?

IwanttobeginbystatingveryclearlythattheBibleNEVERtriestodefend theexistenceofGod. It takesGod for granted.WereadintheveryfirstverseoftheBiblethesewords,“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”(Gen.1:1)PleaseunderstandthatthereisnothingbeforeGenesis1:1.Noother biblicalwritings.Whatwehave is the inner sanctumofGod.We have heaven the very abode of God.We have Godbeforeanythingasweknowtoday.• Beforeanything–therewasGod.• Aftereverything–therewillbeGod.

Are you aware that anthropologist try to convince us thatpeople started out as polytheistic (belief in many gods), andgradually evolved into becoming monotheistic (belief in OneGod)inhisthinking.Thisisnottrue!Fromtheverybeginningof

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timemanstartedoutbelievinginOneGod.Itwasn’tuntilafterGenesis3,theFall,thatmankindbegantobecomepolytheisticinhisthinking(towerofBabelonward).ManturnedawayfromtheOneTrueGod,anddevelopedabeliefsystemofmanygods.Traveltheworldoverandyouwillfindreligiouspeopleoneverycontinent, and youwill find that theyworship everything andanything.ManhaslefttheOneTrueGod,andcreatedgodsfromstones,wood,metal,andothermaterials.In the book of Actswe have Paul saying thesewords to thepeopleofAthens.Hesaid,“Foras Iwaspassingthroughandconsideringtheobjectsofyourworship.Ievenfoundanaltarwiththisinscription:TOTHEUNKNOWNGOD.Therefore,theOnewhomyouworshipwithoutknowingHim Iproclaimtoyou:Godwhomadetheworldandeverythinginit,sinceHeisLordofheavenandearth,doesnotdwell in templesmadewithhands.Nor isHeworshippedwithmen’shands,asthoughHeneededanything,sinceHegiveslife,breath,andallthings.AndHemadefromonebloodeverynationofmentodwellonallthefaceoftheearth,andhisdeterminedtheir appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings”(Acts17:23-26)Yes,thereisaGod!II. WhatisGod’sName?

ThefirstnamewehaveforGodfoundintheBibleis:

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A. Elohim–Gen.1:1(2300timesinScripture)“InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.”Elohimisapluralnoun.Inourlanguage,pluralistwoormore.However, intheHebrew,plural isthreeormore.What isveryinterestingaboutthenameElohimisthat it isbothpluralandsingular.Itisbothone,andthree.SowhatwehaveinGenesis1:1istheTrinity.ElohimisnotthepersonalnameofGod,butitisGod’sofficialtitle.I’ll talkabit laterabouttheTrinity,butfornowIwantustounderstand the name of God. The first two letter found in“Elohim”-“El”isthesingularformofElohim.WediscoverthissingularforminmanyothernamesthroughouttheBible.Suchas:• “Bethel”whichmeans,houseofGod–Gen.12:8• “Samuel”whichmeans,askedofGod-• “Daniel”whichmeans,Godismyjudge–Daniel1:6• “Elijah”whichmeans,MyGodisJehovah–Ikings17:1• “Immanuel”whichmeans,Godwithus–Isaiah7:14

Sothen,whenyouarereadingtheBibleandyouseeanamebeginningorendingwith“el”italwaysmeans,God.ElohimisthefirstnamewehaveforGodintheBible.

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B. Jehovah–thisisthepersonalnameofGod.WhenyouseeLORD(allcapitalletters)youknowthatyouarereadingaboutJehovah.JehovahisthepersonalnameofGod.Itisthenameaboveallothernames.IhavereadthatAlthoughthisnamewaswritten, itwasneverspokenbytheJews.TheJewsfearedthattheymightsomehowdisgraceGod’sname.Sothen,whenascribewouldwritethisname,theywouldimmediatelysethispendown,andgotakeabath.ThenameJehovahmeans“Redeemer”and isalwaysused inconnectionwithredemptionand/ordeliverancebyGod.Placeswherewefindthismostsacredname:• Burningbush-JehovahappearedtoMosesandsaidtohim,“IAmthatIAm”–Ex.3:13-14

• Exodus20:2–“IamtheLordyourGod”.Thismeans,“IamJehovahyourGod.”

• Deut. 6:4 - Makes it very clear that there is only oneJehovahGod.

In Hebrew there are no vowels, and Jehovah name actuallylooks like this: JHVH. Vowels were added later to help us trypronounceitcorrectly.Thewaywemightrenderit is likethis:Jeheveh,Jihivih,orJahavah.

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C. Adonai-LordForfearthattheywouldtakethenameofGod invain,Jewsdecided not to speak the name of God, and replaced it withAdonai,whichmeans“Master”or“Lord”.IntheBiblewhenyouseethename“LORD”inallcapitalletters,youknowthatwriterwasreferencingthemostsacrednameofGod.However,whenyouseecapital“L”andsmallcase“ord”itisAdonai.IsGodyourLORD?IsHeyourmaster?D. CompoundNamesofGod:

WhatisinterestingisthatGodrevealsHimselftomankindbyusing compound names, and these compound names revealadditionalinsighttoGod.Hereareafewexamples:• ElShaddai–AlmightyGod–Gen.17:1• ElOlam–EverlastingGod–Gen.21:33• JehovahElohim–LordGod–Ex.34:6• Jehovah-jireh–theLordwillprovide–Gen.22:14• Jehovah-shalom–theLordourpeace–Judg.6:24• Jehovah-shammah–theLordisthere–Ezek.48:35

ThenamesofGodareveryimportant.WecanlearnsomuchaboutourGodjustbystudyingHismanynames,andwhattheyactually mean. I would encourage you to do a further study

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yourselfonthemanynameofGodfoundthroughouttheBible.God’smanynamesshowusHisvariouscharacteristics.III. IsthereOneGod,orThree?

Now, let’s turn our attention to the Trinity. Does the BiblereallyteachtheconceptoftheTrinity?ThewordtrinitymaynotbefoundintheBible,butitdoesn’tmeanthattheconceptnotthere.WehavealreadyseenthatGodisbothsingularandplural.Howcanwebetterunderstandthis?WhereintheOldTestamentdoweseetheideaoftheTrinity?• Creationofman-Genesis1:26–“ThenGodsaid,“LetUsmakemaninOurimage,accordingtoOurlikeness;letthemhavedominionoverthefishofthesea,overthebirdsoftheair,andover thecattle,overall theearthandovereverycreepingthingthatcreepsontheearth.”

• Fall of man - Genesis 3:22 – “Then the Lord God said,“Behold,themanhasbecomelikeoneofUs,toknowgoodandevil.Andnow,lestheputouthishandandtakealsoofthetreeoflife,andeat,andliveforever”

• TowerofBabel-Genesis11:7–“Come,letUsgodownandthereconfusetheirlanguage,thattheymaynotunderstandoneanother’sspeech.”

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• Numbers6:24-26(Tripleexpressions)-“TheLordblessyouandkeepyou;TheLordmakeHisfaceshineuponyou,Andbegracioustoyou;TheLordliftupHiscountenanceuponyou,Andgiveyoupeace.”

• Psalm45:6-7–“Yourthrone,OGod,isforeverandever;AscepterofrighteousnessisthescepterofYourkingdom.Youlove righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God,YourGod,hasanointedYouWiththeoilofgladnessmorethanYourcompanions.”

WhereintheNewTestamentdoweseetheideaoftheTrinity?IbelievethatwehavequiteafewexampleswherewereadofideaoftheTrinity.Wereadabout• GodtheFather–John6:27;IPeter1:2• GodtheSon-JesusChrist–John1:1;Titus2:13• GodtheHolySpirit–Acts5:3-4

I have encouraged people to draw a triangle next to BiblepassagesthatspeakoftheFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit.Herearesomeexamples.YoumightwanttodrawatrianglenexttothesepassagesinyourownBible.• AtJesus’Baptism–Matthew3:16-17• AttheGreatCommission–Matthew28:19-20(intheNameof–oneinthree).

• DayofPentecost(Peter’ssermon)–Acts2:32-33• Paul’slettertotheRomans-Romans8:8-11• Paul’sbenediction–IICor.13:14

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Although the word, Trinity is not found in the Bible, theconceptoftheTrinityisfoundthroughouttheBible.However,GodisstillONEGOD!IV. HowisGodDescribed?

Ifyouwerehandedablankpieceofpaperandwere told towritedowneverything youknowaboutGod,whatwould youwrite?What does the Bible teach us about God? We learn thefollowinginsights–hereishowGodisdefinedforus:A. GodisaSpirit–John4:24

“God is a spirit: and they thatworship himmustworship inspiritandtruth.”Godisinvisible.WecannotseeHimwithournaturaleyes.“Noman has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son,whichisinthebosomoftheFather,hehasdeclaredHim.”(John1:18)B. GodisLight–IJohn1:5

“This then is themessagewhichwehaveheard of him, anddeclareuntoyou,thatGodislight,andinhimisnodarknessatall.”

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God is perfect light! This is speaking about God’s moralcharacter.ThereisabsolutelynodarknessinGodatall.Godis100%holy,untouchedbyanyevilorsin.C. GodisLove–IJohn4:8

“HethatlovesnotknowsnotGod;forGodislove.”Mankindknowlittleaboutlove.Wethinkwedo,butinrealitywereallydon’t.However,Godislove.Heistheentiredefinitionofloveinallofitsperfection.If you reallywant to experience love for the very first time,thenmakesurethatyouputyourfaithinJesusChrist,theSonofGod.D. Godisaconsumingfire–Heb.12:29

“ForourGodisaconsumingfire.”Godisnotonly love,butGodisaconsumingfire.Godloves,yes,butGodwillalsojudgerighteously.E. Godisaperson(variousScripture)

ItisimportantforustounderstandthatGodisaperson.Whatdoes this mean? It means that God loves, grieves, hates,provides,andcares.Allofthisindicatespersonality.Godisnota

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cosmic force (like in StarWars).No,God is apersonwhohaspersonality.V. HowhasGodrevealedHimself?

HowhasGodrevealsHimself?HehasrevealedHimself intwoverydistinctandveryclearways.Whatarethosetwoways?• GeneralRevelation–throughnature-Psalm19:1-6

• SpecificRevelation–throughtheScripture-Psalm19:7-11

Since God has revealed Himself both through Nature andScripture,howcanweknowHimtoday?IwouldliketosuggestthreewaysthatyouandIcangettoknowGod.Theyare:

1. ThroughCreationCreationoughttogetyouonthesearchforGod.Youshouldn’tbeabletolookatcreationandnotthinkthatitwasn’tmadebyanintelligentdesigner.CreationshouldsetyouonajourneytofindingGod.“ForsincethecreationoftheworldHisinvisibleattributesareclearlyseen,beingunderstoodbythethingsthataremade,evenHis eternal power and Godhead, so that they are withoutexcuse.”(Romans1:20)

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YoucannotsayGodhasnottriedtorevealHimself.CreationprovidesyouNOexcuse.ThereisasecondwayGodhasrevealedHimselftous.

2. ThroughScripture–OldandNewTestamentWhenIsayScriptureIamtalkingfirstabouttheOldTestamentbooks, which include the, writings of Moses, the Historicalbooks,thePoeticalbooks,andthePropheticalbooks.Thirty-nineOldTestamentbooks.AllwrittensothatyouandIcouldcometoknowGod.ThefirstbookoftheBible-Genesis1:1startswithGodcreatingeverything,andthelastbookoftheBible-Malachi3:6concludeswithGodtalkingaboutjudgmentupontheearth.TheBibleisallaboutGod.AsweenterintotheNewTestament,theGospelsbreakGod’s400 hundred years of silence between the two Testaments.Immanuelisborn–Godwithus(Matt.1:23).ThebookofActsshowsushowGodusedtheearlydisciplestobuildHisChurch.The writings of Paul go into great details about God’sinvolvementinthelifeofthebelievers.EverybookoftheN.T.has God has its main subject matter. The last chapter ofRevelationremindsusall–WorshipGod(Rev.22:9).

3. ThroughHisSon,JesusChrist–Hebrews1:1-2“God,whoatvarioustimesandinvariouswaysspokeintimepasttothefathersbytheprophets,hasintheselastdaysspoken

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to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,throughwhomalsoHemadetheworlds.”WehavethelifeandtimesofJesusChristwrittenforusinthefourGospels.MatthewpresentsJesusastheking.MarkpresentsJesusasaservant.LukeshowsusJesusasaman.JohnshowsusthatJesusistheSonofGod.ReadtheGospelsandyouwillseeJesusinallofHisglory,andinHisgloryyouwillseeGod.The restof theBible–Acts throughRevelation showus theaffectthatJesusmadeontheentireworld.Weseethebirthandthe awesome growth of the Church. And in the book ofRevelationweseethatoneday–nooneknowsthatday–Godwill create a newheaven and a new earth. Godwillmake allthingsnew!WecometoGodthroughJesusChrist(QuoteJohn14:6).VI. WhataretheAttributesofGod?

A. Godisall-powerful

Thisisthetheologicalterm–Omnipotent.• HeisAlmightyGod–Rev.19:6• Hehaspowerofmenandnations– IKings11:11;Daniel4:17;23-32,IITim.2:13

• Hehaspowerovernature–Job28:5-6;25-26,Psalm33:6-9

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• Godhaspoweroverangels–Psalm103:20,104:4• GodhaspoweroverSatananddeath–Job1:12;2:6,Rom.16:20,Rev.20:2,10.Thedayiscomingwhen“death”shallbedestroyedbythepowerofGod(Rev.20:14).

B. Godisall-knowing

Thetheologicalterm-omniscient.God isall knowing.There isnothing thatGoddoesn’t know.Godcan’tlearn!Heknowsitall!• Godknowseverythingthereistoknow–Job37:16• Godknowseverythingabout science (natural laws)– Isa.40:28

• Godknowseverythingaboutmankind–Matt.10:30• Godknoweverythingfrometernitypasttoeternityfuture–Acts15:18,IPeter1:20

C. GodiseverywherepresentThisisthetheologicalterm-omnipresent.Godispresenteverywhere.ThereisnotaplacewhereGodisnotpresent.Note:Wearenotteachingpantheism,thatGodisineverything.No,allwearesaying isthatthere isnotaplacewhereGodisnotpresent.• Godiseverywherepresent–Jer.23:24

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• Goddwellsinheaven–Eph.1:20,Rev.21:2• Godisinallbelievers–John14:16-17;15:26-27;16:12-14

D. GodisImmutable(GodneverChanges)

ThewordImmutabilitymeans“unchanging”.GodisalwaysGod.GodwillneverceasefrombeingGod.Godwillneverchange!TheBibleteaches:• “God is thesameyesterday, today,and forever.”– James1:17

• “ThusGod, determining to showmore abundantly to theheirsofpromisetheimmutabilityofHiscounsel,confirmeditbyanoath,thatbytwoimmutablethings, inwhichit isimpossible forGod to lie,wemighthavestrongconsolat-ion,who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope setbeforeus.”(Hebrews6:17-18)

Pleasehearthis–Godneverchanges,butthewayHeworkedwithpeoplethroughouttheagesdidchange.Godworkedwithpeopledifferentlyatdifferentperiodsoftime.VII. WhatdoesGodwantfromus?

GodwantsustobeinRELATIONSHIPwithHim.

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According to the Westminster Catechism, the chief-end ofmankindisto:“loveGodandenjoyHimforever.”Question:DoyouKNOW theGodthat Ihavebeenspeakingabouttoday?DoyouhaveaRELATIONSHIPwithHim?TheBiblesays,“Therefore,havingbeenjustifiedbyfaith,wehavepeacewithGodthroughourLordJesusChrist.”(Romans5:1).WecometofaithinChristfirst,andthenwehavepeacewithGodtheFatherbecauseofthedeath,burial,andresurrectionofJesus Christ. Jesus died so that we could be restored into aproperrelationshipwiththeFather.• Admitthatyouareasinnerinneedofforgiveness.• Believe that Jesus Christ died for your sin, and offersforgiveness.

• Call upon Jesus Christ to save you, and receive yourforgiveness.

TheBiblesays,“behold,nowisthedayofsalvation.”(IICor.6:2)Conclusion: In this INDUCTION message are you now morefamiliarwithGodthanwhenwebegan? Ihopeyouare. IalsohopethatthismessagehascausedyoutowanttogrowinyourunderstandingofGod.KnowledgeaboutGod isnot sufficient,

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we must KNOW God. Please make sure that you have aRELATIONSHIPwithGod.Don’tleaveearthwithoutKNOWINGHim.Whatdidwelearntoday?• ThereisaGod• HisNameisJehovah• GodexistsinTrinitarianform:Father,Son,andHolySpirit–thesethreeareOne.

• God is clearly defined for us in Scripture – Spirit, Light,Love,ConsumingFire,andaPerson.

• GodhasrevealedHimselfthroughCreation,Scripture,andHisSon,JesusChrist.

• Godisall-powerful,all-knowing,everywherepresent,andimmutable(Godneverchanges).

• GodwantsaRELATIONSHIPwitheachoneofus.Whatyouneedtodo:AdmitthatyouareasinnerBelievethatJesusChristdiedforyoursinsCalluponJesusChristtosaveyou“For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall besaved.”(Rom.10:13)