We are not exaggerating when we say that you have just made the most important decision in life; that is to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. It is through Christ that you will develop relationship with your Heavenly Father and gain the strength to walk out the wonderful destiny God has ordained for you since the foundation of the world. Yes, before He created anything, He was thinking about you! You may now be asking yourself - what next?
be baptized
The term Baptism = "Baptizo” which means to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self. Baptism is a public declaration of your faith in Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the death of the old man and the rebirth of the new man. It is to say publicly that I have surrendered the old man, put him to death and I have been spiritually resurrected. After we have made a public declaration of our faith in Jesus Christ, we are clothed in Him. As followers of Jesus we should reflect Jesus in our lives, not just in church, but wherever we are.
Cultivate your new spiritual life
A. Baptism in The Holy Spirit - The Reception of the Holy Spirit
How do I receive the Baptism in The Holy Spirit?
- By Faithful Expectation in Jesus Christ
- Acts 2:36-39 - “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. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call."
- Acts 19:4-6 - Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism," they replied. Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them...”
- By Obedience to Jesus Christ
- Acts 5:29-32 - “Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead - we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
- By Asking Through Prayer.
- Luke 3:21-22 - “When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove.”
- Luke 11:9 - "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
- The effects upon the reception of the Holy Spirit in the life of a spirit filled follower of Jesus Christ based on the Scriptures are:
- The overwhelming reality of God's presence
- The manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
- Boldness in speech and action
- Salvation for others
- Deeper fellowship with other spirit-filled believers
- Prayer
- Praise and Worship
- Miracles
- The evidence of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in a believers life in speech and action
B. Praise & Worship
- Select a variety of praise and worship songs from artist such as Jesus Culture, Housefires, Bethel, Hillsong, Elevation Worship, Kim Walker...
C. Prayer
- The word Prayer is mentioned 365 times in the Bible.
- 200 times in the Old Testament (33 times in the Psalms)
- 165 times in the New Testament (58 times in the Gospels)
- Definition of Prayer in the Bible
- In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term for Prayer is “Palal”. Palal means to intervene or interpose. It is an earnest prayer addressed to God, to intervene or interpose.
- In the New Testament, the Greek term for Prayer is “Proseuche”. Proseuche means an earnest prayer addressed to God.
- Jesus Prayed! - That Jesus was a man of prayer may be seen from His withdrawals for prayer, His blessings at meals and His prayers at exorcisms and healings. He finds assurance in prayer, prays for His disciples and gains help in prayer during the passion. His praying is so much an attitude that individual acts are secondary.
- Mark 1:35 - “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”
- Matthew 14:23 - “After he had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray.”
- Matthew 19:13 - “Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them.”
- Matthew 26:36 - “Then Jesus went with His disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
- Luke 6:12 - “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”
- Luke 9:18 - “Once when Jesus was praying in private and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- Luke 9:28 - “About eight days after Jesus said this; He took Peter, John and James with Him and went up onto a mountain to pray.”
- Luke 22:32 - “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
- John 17:1 - “After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed:”
D. Bible Study Tools
Connect with a coach or mentor
Once you are ready you can be connected to a coach or mentor. We will have men coach or mentor other men; likewise women will coach or mentor other women. The coach or mentor will be there to help encourage you in the discipleship process of living in Christ and connecting you to Church Life here at Gateway. Please contact Pastor Lance Bane.
Join Gateway
Take this opportunity to get to know our Pastors and to become acquainted with the vision that God has given for Gateway. You will learn what it means to be a member of Gateway. This is also a great time to meet the Pastors, Staff, and the Leadership of Gateway. This class is designed to equip you with the proper biblical tools so that you may become a growing disciple and you will be given key components for cultivating your spiritual life.
Serve in one of our ministries