The Way Of Obedience: The Christian Way, #2

By Zacharias Tanee Fomum

A practical guide for pastoral ministry to young convert.

The Way of Obedience presents simple and deep fundamental truths about Baptism in Water, Baptism Into the Holy Spirit, and Soul Winning as found in the Word of God.

The main goal of this book is to bring the young convert to enter and experience these truths. For the mature believer, it is not only material for his personal edification, but also a guide for his pastoral ministry.

May this book lead all twice-born people into obedience on basic issues. May God the Holy Spirit lead all its readers into immediate and continuous obedience.

God bless you as you read and obey its contents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books4revival
• Release date: Jul 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781311062536

Zacharias Tanee Fomum

For FREE books from Zacharias Tanee Fomum: https://books.bookfunnel.com/ztf-free-ebooks. Professor Zacharias Tanee FOMUM was a man of uncommon spirituality, a leading voice for revival, a workaholic, a prophet-teacher, and a world-shaping spiritual genius. He was a bestselling Christian author (with over 350 books, over 10 million copies in circulation in over 100 languages) and a professor of Organic Chemistry (with over 160 published scientific works of high distinction (earning him the award of a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Durham, Great Britain). His books and the millions of people he influenced in more than 40 years of Christian ministry continue to impact the world with the Gospel today. He founded Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI), a missionary movement that has planted churches in more than 120 nations on all continents. He believed in a life of simplicity and with the support and dedication of his wife and their seven children, his all—time, money, heart, and soul— was dedicated to spreading the Gospel. He carried out exploits for God through the making of disciples for Christ, planting of churches, building spiritual leaders according to the model of the Bible, and serving the body of Christ, especially as a teacher on prayer. Learn more and read exclusive excerpts at: https://ztfomum.org

Book preview

PREFACE

This book is the second in the Christian Way Series. The books in this series are:-

The Way Of Life

The Way Of Obedience

The Way Of Discipleship

The Way Of Sanctification

The Way Of Christian Character

The Way Of Spiritual Power

The Way Of Christian Service

The Way Of Spiritual Warfare

The Way Of Suffering For Christ

The Way Of Victorious Praying

The Way Of Overcomers

The Way Of Spiritual Encouragement

The Way Of Loving The Lord

The truths in Book Two had very profound effect on my life. Since I received the Lord JESUS as my Saviour and Lord, I have felt in an increasing way that I was compelled to tell the whole world about His salvation.

When in 1970 the HOLY SPIRIT came upon me, ministry was given to me by the Lord for His Body. I would never have gone far without that indispensable anointing that took place in the privacy of my room, on a Saturday afternoon, at 5 pm.

When in 1978, I bore testimony to my union with the Lord JESUS in water baptism, I got much of hell into violence, while heaven rejoiced.

In this book, by the grace of GOD, I present these three basic truths of baptism into water, baptism into the HOLY SPIRIT and witnessing as they are set forth in the Word of GOD.

This book goes out with prayer that it will bring all twice-born people into obedience on basic issues. May GOD the HOLY SPIRIT lead all its readers into immediate and continuous obedience.

GOD bless you as you read and obey its contents.

Yaounde, 21st November, 1982.

Zacharias TANEE FOMUM

P.O. BOX 6090, Yaounde

CAMEROON

1

BAPTISM INTO WATER

When someone has passed from death unto life in the Lord JESUS, the first thing that he should do is to be baptized. Baptism is the answer of a clear conscience towards GOD. We shall begin our study by looking at the example of the Lord JESUS, since He is our supreme example.

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD JESUS.

The Lord JESUS was not baptized as a baby. As a baby He was dedicated. The Bible says,

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (Luke 2:22).

The Lord Himself followed this pattern in His ministry. When babies were brought to Him, He blessed them. He did not baptize them. The Bible says,

And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant, and said to them, Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it! And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them" (Mark 10:12-16).

The Lord JESUS asked to be baptized. It was not forced upon Him. He insisted on being baptized, refusing to be dissuaded from it. The Bible says,

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented (Matthew 3:13-15).

The Lord JESUS was baptized in the Jordan. He actually went right into the water. The Bible says,

And when Jesus was baptized, HE WENT UP IMMEDIATELY FROM THE WATER (Matthew 3:16).

The Lord was anointed with the HOLY SPIRIT after His baptism and not before.

And behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon him (Matthew 3:16).

When the Lord JESUS was baptized to fulfil all righteousness, the heart of the FATHER was satisfied with the SON’S obedience in baptism and He said,

This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17).

In some sense the FATHER says the same words, This is a son of mine in whom I am well pleased, when a believer, in obedience to the Lord, enters into the waters of baptism, and is baptized.

The Lord had it in His mind that all His would follow the same path of obedience. He told John, It is fitting for us... (not for me) to fulfil all righteousness. He, as the Head of the new humanity, led the way into baptism so that all who are His would follow suit.

THE COMMAND TO BAPTIZE AS GIVEN BY THE LORD JESUS

The Lord JESUS Himself gave the command that believers should be baptized. He said to His disciples,

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the close of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).

The disciples were thus commanded by the Lord to:

make disciples

baptize these disciples.

teach these disciples to make disciples and

baptize them.

He again said the same thing to them in other words saying,

Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He who BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED; but he who does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16).

Again, the disciples were to:

go into the world.

preach the gospel to the whole creation.

Some would believe.

Such as believed would be baptized.

Such as believed and were baptized would be saved.

Those who did not believe would be condemned.

So we infer from this passage that for a person to be saved, he had to believe and be baptized. Those who believed but were not baptized would not be condemned. Those who did not believe would be condemned.

BAPTISM AS PRACTISED BY THE CHURCH IN THE BIBLE TIMES.

It was the day of the first Pentecost. Peter had just preached the gospel. The Bible says,

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brethren, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:37-38).

Peter gave this command to people who:

heard his message.

were convicted of sin (cut to the heart).

asked intelligently what they should do.

Peter asked them to do two things:

Repent.

Be baptized.

So the people who were being addressed had to be able to repent. They had to put that ability into action. They had to repent. After repentance, they had to be baptized. They had to do both things - repent and be baptized. They were neither allowed to repent and not be baptized nor to be baptized without repentance.

When they did these two things, Peter promised them that they would receive two things from GOD:

Forgiveness of sin.

The gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.

It was obvious that if they failed to do their part, GOD would also withhold His own part.

Peter further said to them,

For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him (Acts 2:39).

We immediately ask, Which promise was for them, their children and all who are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him? It was the promise that they would receive the forgiveness of sin and the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT if they repented and were baptized. The promise had meaning only to those who could fulfil the conditions that it demanded. It offered absolutely nothing to those who could or who would not repent. The promise was for those whom the Lord our God calls to him. The Lord calls those who are able to hear His call and are able to respond, if they so desire.

Of those who were pricked to the heart and asked the question, Brethren, what shall we do? Some received Peter’s words. They fulfilled the conditions by repenting and being baptized that same day. These who were baptized, were added to those who had believed before and had been baptized.

These people were added to the Local Church by believing and being baptized. Had they believed but not been baptized, they would never have been added to the Local Church. They would have been justified before GOD because of their repentance towards GOD and faith in the Lord JESUS but they would have had no place in the life, conflicts, victories... of the people of GOD on earth.

THE BAPTISM OF THE FIRST AFRICAN ACTS 8:26-39).

The first African whose baptism is mentioned in a distinct way in the Bible was the Ethiopian eunuch. The Lord sent Philip the evangelist to go and witness to him. Philip

opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told the good news of Jesus (Acts 8:35).

This good news must have included the need to repent and be baptized. This is evident from the fact that the Bible says,

And as they went along the road they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized? (Acts 8:36).

Had he heard a Gospel that did not include the need to repent and be baptized, he would never have asked that question. He would also not have received the ministry of baptism into water. He would have received an incomplete message and an incomplete experience!

When the Ethiopian eunuch asked why he should not be baptized, Philip said to him,

If you believe with all your heart, you may. And he replied, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:37).

Philip did not say: "Look, this very important man has asked to be baptized. How wonderful that he should condescend to ask!

Reviews for The Way Of Obedience

[JORDAN TONGA LEMBE · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a life changing book, I wish everyone may experience what I have experienced. Praise the living God!!!