Ever struggled to live by faith? You’re not alone. Today, let’s learn how to kick-start, continue, and build our faith.

Big Idea: Disciples of Jesus live by faith—it’s just what we do! 🙌

Faith in Action 🗣️

This week, Pastor Samuel was sick 🤒—he barely ate for days. By Friday, He still wasn’t well. But he chose to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).

Faith isn’t: “If You healed me, I should feel better.”
Faith is: “You said it, I believe it, so I act on it.”

So, he made pizza 🍕, confessed God’s Word between bites, and believed: “By His stripes, I am healed.”

What Is Faith? 🤔

Hebrews 11:1:

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith = certainty in what you cannot see.Romans 4:17: God calls things that don’t exist as though they do.

Why Live by Faith? 🔍

• The just shall live by faith (Gal 3:11).
• Without faith, it’s impossible to please God (Heb 11:6).
• Faith requires action—Peter stepped out of the boat (Matt 14:31).

Call to Action 🚀

• What has your focus—faith or sight? 👀
• What could change if you truly lived by faith?
• Step out of the boat. Agree with God. Speak His Word.

We have a mission: to fill the world with the knowledge of Jesus—for our good and His glory. 🌍✨ Our faith is what brings Him the glory

🙏 Prayer: Lord, help me to walk by faith, not by sight. In Jesus Name, amen.

Why Disciples of Jesus Gather Together 🙌

One of the key attributes of Jesus’s disciples is this: they always gather together. Gathering isn’t just a tradition—it’s a vital part of living out our faith. Let’s explore why this matters and what happens when we do.

Why Do Christians Gather? 🤝

We gather for many reasons:

• To hear sound teaching 📖
• To encourage one another 💬
• To pray together 🙏
• To share life and burdens ❤️
• To remember Jesus through communion 🍞🍷
• To stir up love and good works 🔥

When we take action to gather—and when we engage fully—the result is powerful:✅ The church is built up✅ You are strengthened✅ Your calling and purpose are fulfilled

Acts 2:41-42 shows the early church devoted themselves to:

• Doctrine (teaching)
• Fellowship (deep sharing, not surface-level)
• Breaking of bread (communion)
• Prayers (corporate prayer)

The Greek word for devoted is proskartereó, which means to persist, endure, and devote oneself—even when it’s hard. Gathering is not optional; it’s essential.

What Happens When We Gather? 🔍

According to Scripture:

• Public reading of the Word (1 Tim 4:13)
• Teaching and exhortation (sound doctrine)
• Fellowship that bears burdens (Gal 6:2)
• Prayer and communion (Acts 2:42)
• Singing and thanksgiving together (Eph 5:18-21)
• Stirring up gifts and good works (Heb 10:24-25)

And don’t forget 1 Cor 14:26:

“When you come together, each of you has something—a hymn, a word, a revelation. Let all things be done for building up.”

The “Always” Lifestyle 🔄

Disciples of Jesus are marked by these rhythms:

• Always praying 🙏
• Always speaking God’s Word 🗣️
• Always making disciples 🌍
• Always ready to give a reason for our hope ✝️
• Always gathering together 🤗

Call to Action 🚀

Ask yourself:

• Are you gathering with the church regularly?
• Are you fully present when you gather?
• Are you bringing what God has given you to share?
• Who are you inviting and discipling to come closer to Jesus?

When we gather, the body of Christ is built up. Let’s See Him, Be Him, Show Him—so that the glory of God fills the church and the world with the knowledge of Him.

Another key attribute of a disciple of Jesus is this: we are praying disciples. Prayer isn’t just an occasional act—it’s a lifestyle.

Pray Always 🙌“Praying always… being watchful.” (Eph 6:18)
Prayer means staying spiritually awake 🕰️. Jesus said:
“Watch and pray, lest you enter temptation.” (Matt 26:41) ⚠️

Pray Without Ceasing 🔄“Rejoice always 😊, pray without ceasing 🙏, give thanks in everything.” (1 Thess 5:16–18)Prayer is our spiritual workout 💪—it means being persistent and steadfast in prayer to be fit and ready (Rom 12:12).

Why Stay Watchful? 👀

“Be vigilant; your adversary the devil prowls like a lion 🦁.” (1 Pet 5:8)
Prayer keeps us alert to God’s purposes and strong against the enemy’s schemes.

Our Posture 🧎"Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant with thanksgiving.” (Col 4:2)
Lifestyle Christianity = prayer-saturated alertness 🌍.

Final Thought ✅Disciples of Jesus need a posture of watchfulness—active, vigilant, and persevering in prayer. This strengthens us, builds faith, and leads us to walk in the Spirit.

👉 Let’s commit to being praying disciples—alert, steadfast, and full of faith!

One of the greatest marks of a disciple is this: we are filled with His love.

Jesus gave us a new commandment to love others the way He has loved us, but this isn’t about copying Jesus or trying harder—it’s about receiving His love first.

You can’t give what you haven’t received. But when you encounter the love of Christ, you can love others with His love.

Why Is It Hard Sometimes?

We know we ought to love, but tiredness, offense, self-interest, and feeling people don’t deserve it can make it hard. Jesus said forgive—even seven times a day (Luke 17:4)! The apostles asked, “Increase our faith!” Why? Because faith makes love possible (Mark 9:23).

Three Ways to Build Faith in His Love

• 1. Remain in His Love 🌿Meditate on His love daily (John 15:12). Keep the “law of love” in your mouth and heart (Joshua 1:8).
  2. Stir Up What’s Inside 🔥Be continually filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). Worship, give thanks, and pray in the Spirit (Jude 20).
  3. Live By Faith 💬 Declare: “I walk in love. God’s love is in me.” (Rom 10:8). Act like the Bible is true—love is already in you (Rom 5:5).
• Final Thought
• Love is the fulfillment of the law. It’s simple: remain in His love, stir it up, and live by faith. Let’s declare it, live it, and share it ❤️.

One of the key attributes of a disciple of Jesus is this: we are filled with His love ❤️🔥.

Jesus said:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you.” (John 13:34)

This isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a commandment 📜. We’ve received new orders from Heaven: love one another as Jesus has loved us. And here’s the good news—His commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). The love we need is already inside us! Romans 5:5 says, “The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.” 🙌

Why Is This So Simple?

God made it clear: His word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (Rom 10:8). We live by faith, not by striving. Faith says:
✅ “I walk in love because His love is in me.”
✅ “Christ has already loved my neighbor for me.”

How Do We Stay Filled With His Love?

1. Remain in His love 🌿 – “Abide in Me… as I have loved you.” (John 15:4,12)
2. Walk in love 🚶 – “Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us.” (Eph 5:2)
3. Pursue love 🏃 – “Earnestly pursue love.” (1 Cor 14:1)

And keep stirring it up! Pray in the Spirit (Jude 20), worship together (Eph 5:19), and speak words of faith: 💬 “I am full of God’s love. I follow the way of love.”

Final Thought

Love is the fulfillment of the law. It’s not complicated—it’s Christ in us. Let’s remain in His love, walk in it, and pursue it every day ❤️.

We’ve been asking a really important question recently: What does it actually mean to be a disciple of Jesus? One key attribute stands out—disciples are baptized with the Holy Spirit 🙌.

Why Does This Matter? 🤔

In Acts 19, Paul meets some believers and asks them a question:

“Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2)

Their answer? “We haven’t even heard there is a Holy Spirit!” So Paul explains, baptizes them in Jesus’ name, lays hands on them, and immediately the Holy Spirit comes upon them—they speak in tongues and prophesy. (Acts 19:4–6)

This wasn’t a one-off event. Throughout Acts, the apostles made sure believers didn’t just hear and believe—they received the Holy Spirit. It was essential then, and it’s essential now ✅.

Why Do We Need Him? 🙏

Here’s what the Bible says the Holy Spirit brings into our lives:

• Power to Witness – Acts 1:8 says we’ll receive power to share Jesus boldly 🔊.
• Spiritual Gifts – 1 Corinthians 12 lists gifts that build up the church 🎁.
• Deeper Prayer Life – Romans 8:26 reminds us the Spirit helps us pray when words fail 🕊️.
• True Worship – John 4:24 calls us to worship in Spirit and truth 🎶.
• Joy, Peace, and Righteousness – Romans 14:17 describes life in the Spirit 😊✌️.
• Help and Guidance – John 14:26 says the Spirit teaches and reminds us of Jesus’ words 📖.

Living Spirit-Filled 🌟

And that’s just the beginning! The Spirit brings intimacy with God, vibrant devotion, and abundant life (John 10:10) 🌱.

Receiving the Holy Spirit isn’t the finish line—it’s the starting point of a Spirit-filled life. We’re called to step out in faith, pray in the Spirit, and operate in spiritual gifts. This leads to boldness in sharing the gospel and strength to live out God’s kingdom 💥.

Questions to Think About ❓

• How is Spirit baptism different from water baptism? (Hint: Acts 19:1–6)
• Why is praying in tongues important? (See 1 Corinthians 14:4, Jude 20)
• Have you experienced the baptism in the Holy Spirit? How did it change your life?

Final Thought:
The baptism in the Holy Spirit isn’t just for “super Christians”—it’s for every disciple. It empowers us, transforms us, and draws us closer to God. Let’s hear, believe, receive, and live fully immersed in His Spirit 🔥🙌.

At Restoration Church, our vision is simple yet profound: to restore the glory of God to the Church and fill the world with the knowledge of Him. Why? Because we were created for His glory (Isaiah 43:7). The Hebrew word kabowd speaks of God’s honor, splendor, and divine presence—His very nature.We were created to display forth His splendour, and encounters with Him are fundamental to knowing who He is, and who we are in Him.

In this final episode in this mini-series, we take a look at the origin story of mankind, how we got into the mess we are in, and the journey to get back to displaying forth His glory with ever increasing impact.The Twist in Our Story

Sin broke our relationship with God and distorted His image in us. Humanity chose to rule itself, becoming a law unto itself. The result? Chaos and wickedness (Genesis 6:5). So God gave the Law—not to save us, but to reveal our need for Him (Galatians 3:19, Romans 3:20).

✝️ The Solution: Jesus

Romans 8:2-3 tells us that Jesus set us free from the law of sin and death. Now, we can return to our original purpose: to know God and reflect His divine attributes.

✨ Why Encounters Matter

To achieve this, encounters with God are mission-critical. They help us see Him, be transformed into His image, and live out His nature. As we behold Jesus, we are changed “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

🧭 A Personal Encounter

Pastor Samuel once asked God two questions:

1. Is Jesus really The Way?
2. What is my direction in life?

During a prayer retreat in Llandudno, God answered through Romans 12:1-2—calling him to worship and renew his mind. The next day, the same scripture appeared in church. Later, a prayer he had prayed the day before for clear skies was answered in an unexpected, beautiful way—not whilst he was out for that walk on top of the Orme, but in an unexpected visit to a medieval castle, where from the ramparts he was looking out to sea and up an estuary with beautiful clear skies and boats dotted about. It was a reminder: God answers us in just the way we need Him to.

🔄 Transformed by Being With Him

We become who we’re meant to be by being with Jesus. Transformation comes through:

1. Looking at Jesus
2. Reading His Word
3. Talking to His Spirit
4. Seeking Him daily

🙌 Application

Ask yourself:

• Have I cut out distractions?
• Am I reading the Bible daily?
• Do I talk to God in everything?
• Am I setting aside time to go deeper?

Let’s be a people who see Him, be Him, and show Him—everywhere we go.

Episode Summary: In this episode, we continue exploring the first core value at Restoration Church: Encounters. What does it mean to encounter God daily, and why is it so vital to our faith journey?

Through personal stories, scripture, and practical steps, we unpack how encountering God transforms our understanding of who He is, who we are, and what we’re called to do. Encounters are more than emotional—they’re mission critical.

🗝️ Key Takeaways:

• Encounters are transformational: They shift head knowledge into heart experience.
• Knowing God deeply: Encounters lead to epiginóskó—a thorough, experiential knowledge of God (Matt 11:27).
• We reflect His glory: As we see Him more clearly, we become more like Him (1 Cor 13:12).
• Encounters align us with purpose: They amplify our voice, faith, and calling (Eph 2:10).

📖 Scriptures Highlighted:

• Deuteronomy 32:9–10
• Matthew 11:27
• 1 Corinthians 13:12
• Ephesians 1:4 & 2:10
• James 4:8, Jeremiah 29:13, Hebrews 11:6, Isaiah 55:6

🛠️ How Do We Encounter God?

1. Through Jesus – the only way to know the Father.
2. By giving Him our full attention.
3. Through the Word and the Spirit—working together.
4. By drawing near and seeking Him with all our hearts.

This Week’s Story: A simple walk on the beach turned into a divine reminder as Pastor Samuel simply picked up a stone to take home for his children: You are chosen, treasured, and created for a purpose. God speaks when we seek.

Reflection Questions:

• Are you making space to encounter Jesus daily?
• What lies might God want to break off through an encounter with Him?
• How can you move closer to Jesus this week?

Practical Steps:

• Cut out distractions
• Read the Bible with intention
• Talk to God about everything—even the small stuff
• Set aside time weekly to go deeper

🙌 Final Thought: Encounters help us see Him, be Him, and show Him. They’re not just a value—they’re the heartbeat of our mission.