Through the teaching of the previous three chapters, you have a foundation of truth that will never leave you. As you apply these truths in your life, you will have an unshakeable confidence and foundation on which to build your life.

However, a foundation is just the beginning of any building, and the construction plan of God for your life involves more than a foundation. It involves a completed building, a habitation of God in the Spirit. This habitation of God involves your fellow believers, the body of Christ in the earth, the church of Jesus Christ.

The church is not a denomination or a building, it is made up of people of all backgrounds, race and nationalities. . . people who have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

This fourth chapter contains some of the most important truths you will ever hear. To ignore or neglect these truths can be fatal to your success in the Christian life. Carefully absorb the scriptural truths on the final pages of this book. Ponder them and make decisions about your future. . . make a quality decision to follow Jesus, no matter what comes up in your life. Continue steadfastly in the things of God.

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42, KJV).

Once these people were baptized, they "continued steadfastly."

In life, we know that persistence pays. In every endeavor of life, steadfastness, commitment, perseverance is required. The Christian life is no exception. The early church "continued steadfastly."

When they faced persecution, they continued steadfastly.

When they faced affliction, they continued steadfastly.

When they faced conflict, they continued steadfastly.

When it didn't seem like their prayers were getting answered, they continued steadfastly.

If you and I are going to be successful in the Christian life, we are going to "continue steadfastly." There are difficulties, obstacles, contradictions and problems in life. When we get to heaven, all that will be done away with. But while we are here, there is a devil to resist and people that will oppose us. There is a fight of faith to fight. The Christian life is not for quitters, so put on your battle garments and get ready. God will equip you and enable you to face every battle victoriously.

The scripture says that they continued steadfastly in "the apostles doctrine."

First of all, the apostles doctrine IS the New Testament. The entire New Testament was written by the early apostles or by people who were closely associated with them. So, praise God, we have the "apostles doctrine" (or teaching) available to us in written form.

Start your reading of the Bible in the New Testament. Often times people get hungry for the things of God and they begin to read the Bible, starting with the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Well, the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God and it's all beneficial. Once you are grounded in New Testament truth, you can delve into the Old Testament for important background material for your faith, but as a new believer, you should do most of your reading in the New Testament, beginning with Matthew.

The New Testament records the life of Jesus in the first four books, or the Gospels. It then relates the history of the early church in the book of Acts. The remainder of the New Testament are letters that were circulated in the early church that provided instruction in how to live the Christian life. It ends with the Book of Revelation, which gives prophetic insight to the fulfillment of all things and the coming of Jesus to the earth again. These beautiful books of the Bible will help you to lay a foundation for your faith that will be with you all the days of your life. Read the New Testament.

We cannot overstate the importance of the Word of God in the life of the believer. When you receive Christ into your life, God does a miracle in your life called the New Birth. In this miracle, you are translated, transformed, and miraculously changed spiritually.

Your spirit (or your inner man as the Bible calls him) is changed. Your mind, however, which has for years been programed to society's way of thinking, remains the same. However, through Bible study, meditation and sitting under the teaching of the Word by anointed ministers, your mind can be renewed.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2, KJV).

By renewing our minds, we can be progressively transformed to be like Jesus and to demonstrate God's will in the earth. Just as a baby must learn to walk and do other things, so we must learn progressively to walk in the things of God. Old habits, negative thoughts, speech and actions, must be progressively changed as we come under the influence of God's Holy Word. He says,

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:2-3, KJV).

To truly continue in the Word of God, we must be willing to OBEY the principles of the Word of God, putting them into practice in our lives. This is God's call to become a disciple of Christ.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32, KJV).

Another aspect of receiving the "apostles doctrine" is receiving ministry from anointed messengers of the Gospel that are operating in the church today.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-12, KJV).

If we are to grow strong and mature, we will need ministry from these ministry gifts. Primarily, everyone needs a pastor, and, of course, the other ministry gifts also contribute greatly to the strengthening and building up of Christ's body, the church.

This is why it is so vitally important that everyone gets involved in a good, strong local church where the uncompromised Word of God is preached and taught. This is God's environment for learning and without it God's people become weak, sickly and disoriented.

Find a church that first of all preaches the born again message (that we are saved by grace through faith, not by church membership, baptism or ritual). Find a church that believes in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and miracles, where Jesus is presented as Savior, Healer, Baptizer in the Holy Ghost and the coming King. Find a place where Jesus is exalted as Lord and people are encouraged to live a holy life of obedience to God. Find a place where there is freedom and encouragement to grow in the Christian life.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, KJV).

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17, KJV).

God has placed spiritual leadership in your life to help you to grow and mature in Christ. It is important that you respect godly leadership in order to receive the maximum benefit from their instruction and influence in your life.

Today, we live in a very rebellious society and many people have and anti-authority attitude in their lives. Rebellion to authority is unscriptural and will hinder your spiritual growth.

Obedience to authority, however, is never to be a substitute for following the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit in your life. You are not to yield your will without question to any human authority. While leaders provide an important role to encourage, teach and guide, Jesus alone remains your Lord and Master. Seek and follow God will and guidance for your life and at the same time keep a healthy respect toward God-ordained authority.

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11, KJV).

Some people are gullible and will accept anything that they are told; others have a tendency to resist all new truths. Those who received the Word of God in Thessalonica had a healthy balance in receiving the Word of God. They searched the scriptures daily to see if these things were true. Be more noble, like the Thessalonicans and search the scriptures daily. Make it your daily practice to read, study and meditate God's Word and to put the principles of the Word into practice in your life.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25, KJV).

God has not called any of us to be "lone ranger" Christians. We need fellowship with other believers in order to grow and to remain strong in the Lord. Fellowship (sharing) with other believers serves to strengthen our values and commitment to the Lord and enables us to experience the Lord's presence in a special way.

God in His wisdom has made us dependent upon one another and He moves in a special way in services involving groups of believers.

As you experience fellowship with the Lord's church, you will soon find that everyone in the church is in a process of development, just like you. You will find problems, troubles and difficulties in your relationships, but persevere, because God has chosen this method to bring growth and development in your life. Not every member of Christ's body will always build you up. In fact, some will let you down, but learn to walk in forgiveness and pray for others and you will grow in your love walk with the Lord.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:1-2, KJV).

Make it your lifetime goal to walk in love towards all people, both in and out of the church. In this way you will progressively grow more and more Christlike in your attitudes, speech and actions.

Many people have left the church and strayed from the Lord because they have been offended in a church situation. I know one man that ended up with seven addictions after having been saved because he allowed an offense to dominate his life. Fortunately, he later repented and became a strong witness for the Lord. Guard your heart from offenses and try to realize that everyone, just like you, is imperfect until the Lord comes back and we are all totally changed.

Remember, Jesus is the only perfect one. He died for you. Your relationship with the body of Christ is because of Him.

Faithful attendance and commitment in a local church is absolutely essential to your success as a Christian. We need the encouragement of our fellow Christian and the teaching of the Word of God, and we need a place to serve God in a practical way.

Satan will use every method possible to keep you out of the fellowship of a strong local church, including family, work commitments, entertainment and social pressure. You must make up your mind to not allow anything to stand between you and God's will for your life. Make a stand. Resist the devil and he will flee. (James 4:7)

Through relationship with other believers, giving of your tithes and offerings, and serving in place of ministry in your local church, you are becoming part of God's plan for reaching the world for Jesus Christ.

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26, KJV).

Communion is an ordinance of the church of Jesus Christ which is to be continued until Jesus' return. Through communion, we remember what He has done for us and renew the consecration of our lives to Him. It is a time to examine our hearts for any wrong attitudes, actions and speech. . . to repent of our sins, and to receive a cleansing by the blood of Jesus.

I once read an article by a minister that stated that he felt a great deal of the problems in the church today were a result of either neglect or an improper approach to the Lord's Supper. I believe that this is true. Through the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus through the communion meal, we can keep ourselves on track for God and in step with the Holy Spirit.

The communion table is God's ordained method of helping us to remember both the benefits and responsibilities associated with the cross of Jesus Christ. The bread represents His body that was broken for us. The fruit of the vine (grape juice) represents His blood. When we partake of the Lord's supper with an attitude of repentance, humility and thankfulness, it causes a cleansing and empowerment to take place in our lives. It renews us spiritually.

It is also a time of reflection concerning our relationship with Christ's body, the church. It is a time to let the Lord set our heart right from the disagreements and disunity that might be in our heart towards other believers. It is a time of both releasing and receiving forgiveness and recognizing our unity with all members of the body of Christ. Also, we need to understand that the communion that we share is with the whole body of Christ worldwide, not just our local church.

"The continued steadfastly in. . .prayers."

The Bible tells us that in the garden of Eden after Adam sinned, he hid himself from God. He was afraid, because of his sin.

When God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross, his purpose was to restore us to fellowship with Himself. We were separated by sin, but by the precious blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven and we now have access to God. In fact, the scripture states,

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17, KJV).

So, we have been joined (brought into close contact) with the Lord. He also states,

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (Hebrews 10:19, KJV).

The holiest is the place where God dwells. So, by the work of the cross, we can enter into the closest kind of fellowship with the Lord.

Now, if you have been given this great privilege of fellowshipping, spending time with, and talking with the Lord, it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to live your Christian life without enjoying intimacy with the Lord. We were created for intimacy, united with Him for intimacy.

Prayer is simply talking to God. It is not necessarily religious. It is not a certain acceptable phraseology that touches the heart of God. It is simply a believer that is willing to live close to the Lord and visit with Him frequently.

It is through prayer that we receive that spiritual interchange and infusion of life from God. We can receive wisdom and strength and courage to live the Christian life. So pray early and pray often. Learn to maintain a spirit or attitude of prayer in your life. I have found it easiest to do this when I spend time with Him early in the day. Then throughout the day, whether working or driving or whatever, you can fellowship and live close to the Lord. This constant communion with the Lord will help you to overcome temptation and resist the devil's evil influence upon your life.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:19-20, KJV).

Look for opportunities to pray with other believers. There is power in agreement in prayer and a special presence of Jesus that comes when believers gather in unity.

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. (John 16:23, KJV).

Learn to direct your prayer to your heavenly Father. Jesus did not teach us to pray to Him. He taught us to pray to the Father in His name. The name of Jesus gives us access to the ear and heart of the Father just as if Jesus was petitioning the Father Himself.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV).

When Jesus gave this teaching to His disciples He was not giving them a prayer to recite, He was giving them instruction in the manner of their prayers. Make it a goal in your life to study the Word of God concerning prayer and to learn from the Holy Spirit how to be effective in your prayer life. There are many aspects of prayer, including worship, intercession, petition, thanksgiving and praying in the Spirit. As you grow in the Lord, seek to learn more about each area of prayer. You will become a vessel that is used by God to bring forth His will in the earth.

So I encourage you to continue steadfastly in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer, and you will find tremendous things happening in your life. Notice the results of the faithfulness of the believers in Acts chapter 2:

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:43-47, KJV).

Like the early church we can see a strong work of the Spirit in our lives and in our churches as we repent, are baptized, filled with the Holy Ghost, and continue in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer. We can see signs and wonders, reverence for God, unity, joy, favor and people getting saved all around us.

This is the vision of the Christian life-not only for you to be personally blessed and eternally saved, but also to be a part of bringing change into the earth, and helping others to find Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The early church heard the Word of the Lord and continued steadfastly in the things of God. As a result many others in their communities found Jesus as Lord and Savior. You are part of the greatest movement in the history of humanity. As a member of the Body of Christ, your faithfulness to the cause of Christ will bring powerful spiritual results, both in this life and the life to come.

I encourage you to enjoy your life with God. When you face trials and difficulties, look to the Lord and find strength and keep on going. Don't let the devil stop you from fulfilling your destiny in God. God bless you!

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. (Acts 20:32, KJV).