3. y Our birth and our life Diet and exercise Privilege and responsibility Upward and outward Maturity and dependency A Fools ’ Guide to Following Jesus

4. Birth and our Our Life selected verses from Luke 1, 3 & 4 y A Fools ’ Guide to Following Jesus

5. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Question: when Jesus was a little boy, was he concerned with the creation of new galaxies in the outer nebulii? Answer: “… (He) made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness ” Philippians 2 7

6. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 “…of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant. He became like a human being, and appeared in human likeness.” GOOD NEWS “When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human !” THE MESSAGE “… he … did not cling to his prerogatives as God's equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as mortal man. JB PHILLIPS

7. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit Luke 1 30 …the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary … 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus … 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you ….” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

8. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit Luke 3 21 When all the people were being baptised, Jesus was baptised too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” … 4 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

9. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit Luke 4 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

10. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit Luke 4 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

11. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit Luke 4 16 (Jesus) went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

12. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor …. The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

13. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit “… He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

14. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit Healing of Healing ofsociety

15. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit Physical Physicalhealing

16. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit Deliverance Deliverance Matthew 11 28 “ …if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

17. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit

18. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit How, then, should we live?

19. For Sale Chain Saw Guaranteed to cut down 50 trees a day! Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 X

20. Born of the Holy Spirit John 3 3 … Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984.

21. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Born of the Holy Spirit spiritual birth is the work of the Holy Spirit … as is the whole process of “ conversion ” : witness, “ divine appointments ”, seeing need, recognising Jesus, scriptures coming alive … it is far, far more than a wise logical decision it is also far more than informed assent + an experience of God ’ s presence “ believing-turning-from-sin-to-Jesus-being- baptised-and-receiving-the-Spirit ” – 1 event!

22. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Have you been born of the Holy Spirit?

23. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Filled with the Holy Spirit Ephesians 5 19 … be filled with the Spirit… The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. filled for the first time … (associated with baptism) … and then again … …and again … continually filled essential that it happens … not so important how it happens

24. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Have you been … and are you being … filled with the Holy Spirit?

25. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Led by the Holy Spirit John 16 13 … when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. learning to hear His voice … welcoming His direction … testing and refining … and then obeying Note that in this process, we do not use the Holy Spirit … the Holy Spirit is using us

26. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Are you led by the Holy Spirit?

27. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Empowered by the Holy Spirit Acts 1 8 … you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. there may often be a waiting … and then a waiting again

28. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Are you empowered by the Holy Spirit?

29. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Empowered by the Holy Spirit Led by the Spirit   Empowered by the Spirit

30. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Preaching by the Holy Spirit Acts 4 31 … they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 984. not a “ human ” ability words to explain the good news words to prompt repentance words to defend the gospel in persecution Note that in this process, we do not use the Holy Spirit … the Holy Spirit is using us

31. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Do you speak out for Jesus through the equipping of the Holy Spirit?

32. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Healing by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. different sorts of healings … distributed as the Spirit wills

33. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Healing by the Holy Spirit 1 Corinthians 12 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit … The New International Version - Anglicised, (London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.) 1984. different sorts of healings … distributed as the Spirit wills Note that in this process, we do not use the Holy Spirit … the Holy Spirit is using us

34. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Are you available to the Holy Spirit for Him to minister healing?

35. Our Birth and our Life Luke 1, 3 & 4 Jesus healed by the Holy Spirit Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit Jesus preached by the Holy Spirit and me?