Using ChatGPT to embrace Christian faith and living according to its principles

I was watching a documentary called the Unbelievers that outlines the speaking careers of famous anti-religious atheist. The basic premise I got from them is that belief in God is a cop out because "it isn't true." That asking certain questions that point to God are non sensical like "What is the color of envy?" One thing I do agree with these atheists is the value in questioning your beliefs and even testing them. A great way to do this is through the Alpha Course in community with people, another tool that seems to be "unbiased" is ChatGPT.

See the whole thing here: https://chat.openai.com/share/72f340b0-1905-4fe0-827f-18ec8f036d81

Or do it yourself:

Non Biblical Reality of Jesus Impact on the World you live in:

• What are historical non-biblical sources about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
• Why is modern time (BCE and CE) associated with the birth of Jesus?
• What industries wouldn't work without a shared calendar?
• What industries were developed by Christians because of their Christian faith?
• Expand on Education and it's influence on political forms of government. (PS I'm getting ready for national Day of Prayer in a few days)

Biblical truths on Being a Christian:

• What does the Bible teach are the reasons for all the benefits you listed about being a Christian?
• Why is asking God for forgiveness, accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior and welcoming the Holy Spirit to come into my life necessary to be a Christian?
• According the Bible what makes asking God for forgiveness, accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior and welcoming the Holy Spirit to come into my life a permanent like birth, marriage or dying?

Biblical truths on living a new life with God:

• If I'm a Christian, what are external proofs of my faith that would testify to the world that I believe in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
• What are the reasons the Bible gives for people who are unbelievers? How can an unbeliever become a believer?
• Can you explain how the Father draws us, Jesus knocks on the door and Holy Spirit guides us?
• What does it mean that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved? Saved from what?

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Ways to meditate on the Bible passage your reading.

I'm excited to start BSF Online workshops in our area. BSF has had a tradition of seminars offered for in person groups and include topics like Bible Navigation, Personal Quiet Time, Homiletics, Sharing the Gospel, Leading Small Groups, and Serving in Church. BSF Online will take these materials and make them more into a workshop where participant interaction will take higher priority over presentation. We use the Tell, Show, Let, Coach method of training where 50% of the time is letting people practice the concepts. 

The big idea is to help people understand the Bible and apply it to regular life. In this process we magnify God and mature his people. Maturing as a Christians is the work of God in our lives (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). God gives us a wonderful and compelling spiritual hunger and thirst that Donald S. Whitney explains in his work Spiritual Disciplines:

"all who come to God trusting in the person and work of Jesus to make them right with God are given the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 1:13-14). The presence of the Holy Spirit causes all those in whom He resides to have new holy hungers they didn’t have before. They hunger, for example, for the Holy Word of God—the Bible— that they used to find boring or irrelevant. They have new holy longings, such as the longing to live in a body without sin and to have a mind no longer tempted by sin. They yearn to live in a holy and perfect world with holy and perfect people, and to see at last the One the angels perpetually praise as “holy, holy, holy” (Revelation 4:8).

These are some of the holy heartbeats in all those in whom the Holy Spirit resides. Consequently, when the Holy Spirit indwells someone, that person begins to prize and pursue holiness. Thus, as we have seen in Hebrews 12:14, anyone who is not striving for holiness will not see the Lord. And the reason he or she will not see the Lord in eternity is because he or she does not know the Lord now, for those who know Him are given His Holy Spirit, and all those indwelled by the Holy Spirit are compelled to pursue holiness. And so, the urgent question every Christian should ask is, “How then shall I pursue holiness, the holiness without which I will not see the Lord? How can I become more like Jesus Christ?”

We find a clear answer in 1 Timothy 4:7: “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (nasb). In other words, if your purpose is godliness—and godliness is your purpose if you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, for He makes godliness your purpose—then how do you pursue that purpose? According to this verse, you “discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.”

Some of my favorite Bible study techniques are;

Personal Quiet Time:

• Lectio Divina: Prepare (Silencio), Read (Lectio), Mediate (Meditatio), Pray (Oratio), Contemplate (Contemplatio).
• Four Rs: Read, Reflect, Respond in Prayer, Rest in Silence.

Magnifying God and his will for me:

• Three Questions: 1) What does it say? 2) What does it mean? 3) How will I Respond?
• Homiletics: 1) Content, 2) Divisions, 3) Subject Sentence, 4) Aim, 5) Application
• Internalizing the passage
• One's own words
• Finding the big idea
• Evaluating with with key questions
• Spiritual benefits: Ps. 119:105, Eph. 6:17-18, 2 Tim. 2:15, Heb. 4:12, James 1:22-25 
• Four Squares: 1) Read a passage. 2) Create a foursquare grid with squares labeled: Attribute of God, Human Need, Gospel Connection, and Personal Reflections. 

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Principles and applications in praying for others

John 17

• Jesus prays with eyes toward heaven. When I pray what is my focus on?
• Jesus praying for glory, in order he may glorify the Father. When I pray in my hour of need how will I glorify God? 
• Jesus was given authority over all people. When I pray, will I focus on the author and perfecter of our faith? Hebrews 12
• Jesus was granted authority to give eternal life to everyone given to him. If eternal life is knowing and abiding in God (John 15-16), how great is living under the authority of Jesus?

Studying the Gospel of John in  BSF this year has given me a new perspective on "the least of these" Jesus speaks about in Matthew 25. 

I've learned in serving my Father in Law after the stroke that faith grows daily. I've watched him go from crippled to walking, healing is a miracle and motion in medicine. While all this was happening I was studying John 12-13.

• Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me (John 12:44).
• Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me (John 13:20)."

John listened to our recommendations and accepted our help. Often in life we shy away from receiving love from others. Advanced Neurologic Therapy has been wonderful. "So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me (Philemon 1:17)."

I would thank God for John's healing every day with him. Now John started praying with us over meals. "You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:6)."

I've known for a long time that faith comes by hearing the message about Christ but over time I'm seeing that faith comes when we love people as though they are Christ. "and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself (Galatians 4:14)"

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me (Matthew 10:40)."

"Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me (Luke 10:16)."

Grateful to God for answered prayers. Salvation, mercy, loving kindness, faith, hope, and love. 

How Much Power Are You Using? | “Your Prayers” by Pastor Robert Morris | Gateway Church

God has deposited His power in us

Luke 24:49 NLT

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

We must release His power through prayer

John 7:37-39 NKJV

37 On 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. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Daniel 10:2-3 NKJV

2 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3 I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Daniel 10:12-13 NKJV

12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

God adds His fire (power) to our prayers

Revelation 5:8 NKJV

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Revelation 8:1-5 NKJV

1 When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. 3 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.

Luke 3:16 NKJV

16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

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Jesus demonstrates agape Love by washing disciples' feet (John 13:1-30)

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you?...  If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them...  I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. - John 13:12‭, ‬17‭-‬17‭, ‬19 ESV

1) Passover celebration, Jesus knew his death and glory were near

1b-3) Jesus loved his disciples, even Judas with authority from God

4-5) Jesus washed his disciples feet as a servant would

 - We see all the Love Languages together: Gifts, Physical Touch, Words, Acts of Service, Quality Time

6-7) Peter questioned, Jesus "You don't understand now, someday you will"

 - Because the Holy Spirit will help understand: John 15:7-8; John 15:12-13; John 15:26-27

 - When we intercede for others we wash their feet: Intercessory Prayer as an elder

8-11) Peter, like us, doesn't want love from others, including God, until we understand.

 - Principle: You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving. Love in this way must be received. 

Application: How much of my giving is a loveless transaction? Do the receivers of my gifts feel loved or insulted? 

12-17) Jesus "do you understand what I've done for you?... Teacher, Lord... so wash each others feet as I've shown the example, knowledge is blessed in the doing."

18) not everyone who hears understands

19) knowledge before it happens, so when it happens you'll believe Jesus is Lord and Savior

20) Whoever accepts a messenger, accepts Jesus, accepts his Father

• John 12:44-48, light of the world, shift your focus - raise your level of understanding
• Matthew 10:40-42, Matthew 25:40, life of the Christian 
• Cornelius proves all people hear God, Peter proves our ministry of reconciliation (Acts 10)

21-30) Judas is found to be the betrayer. 

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What does Believe mean? Faith comes by hearing the message about Christ

 John 14:1-14

Doing a word study on "Believe" found in these verses; John 14:1,10-12

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 

Dictionary says believe means;

• accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of. (be convinced by, trust, have confidence in, consider honest, consider truthful, regard as true, accept as true, accept, give credence to, credit, give credit to, put confidence in, count on, rely on, depend on, swallow)

The Bible has a lot to say about and these are the popular ones in vote order for believe;

Summary: To believe God means we have faith to draw near, seek, ask and receive eternal life, joy, peace, Holy Spirit hope, Lord Jesus salvation without seeing him.

Application: It only takes a moment to reach God in prayer, draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

• And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. - Hebrews 11:6 ESV 
• Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe (have faith) that you have received it, and it will be yours. - Mark 11:24, Matthew 21:22 ESV 
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16 ESV 
• May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. - Romans 15:13 ESV
• And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” - Acts 16:31 ESV
• Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” - John 20:29 ESV

Genesis 15:6 - Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

• Romans 4:3, 20-24 explains this: "What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness...Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Isaiah 53:1 - Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

• Romans 10:3-4,9-11 explains this: Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes...If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Jonah 3:5 - The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth (repented).

• Matthew 12:38-39, 16:14 Jesus explains the sign of Jonah: One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah... Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign, but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Then Jesus left them and went away. 

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