The CROSS

Stage 1
Lesson 5: The Cross

*In the days of Christ, those who is being crucified is only for criminals, the only reason that He has been crucified is that He has been changing the culture at that time.

When Jesus Christ was nailed to a wooden cross, wicked men thought they were just executing a man who was disturbing their way of life. They did not realize that the cross was planned by God form the beginning.

Rev.13:8
Isa.53:4-6 (Isaiah was written 700 years before Christ) Jesus died in place of everyone of us.


Significance of the Cross

1. Demonstrates God's Power (Col.2:15). In the cross, Jesus already disarmed the authority of the devil.

2. Demonstrates God's Love (Rom.5:8)

3. Demonstrates God's Holiness (Col.2:14)

4. Demonstrates God's Wisdom (1 Cor.2:7-8)


IT'S POWER

Rom.8:3-4. Our sins seperates us from God. At the cross, Jesus died in our place so that God's judgement would be satisfied. Through the cross,

God accepts us (2 Cor.5:21; Eph.1:4-6)

God forgives us (Col.1:13-14; 1 Jn.1:9)

We enter God's family (Heb.2:11-12, Jn.1:12)


IT'S VICTORY

The Cross has on great freedom for us! Freedom From:

Satan's power (Col.1:13)

Past sins (Jn.8:36)

Old Self (Rom.6:6-7)

Sickness (Matt.8:17)

Curse of the law (Gal.3:13)

Judgement (Heb.9:26-27)

Everlasting death (Jn.3:16)


ITS IMPACT ON HISTORY

The cross of Jesus Christ is the center-point of human history. From the time Adam sinned, people looked forward in faith to what God promised - Salvation.

Today, we look back and , by believing what Jesus has don for us on the cross, receive forgiveness and new life.

The cross is the center of human history and the center of our lives.

Gal.2:20 The cross of Jesus Christ is the turning point of your life.

2 Cor.5:17 On the cross, God dealt with your old life once and for all. You have died with Christ and have begun a new life with Him.

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JESUS

Stage 1
Lesson 4: JESUS

Heb 1:1-2
In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.

2000 years ago, Jesus was born into the world and grew up like any other person, but He was no ordinary man. He was called the "Son of God" and the "Word of God".

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Col.1:13
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves

...Why?
1. To give His life as a ransom for many (Mt.20:28)
2. To destroy Satan's work (1 Jn.3:8)
3. To give us eternal life (1 Jn.5:11-12)
4. To give us birth into God's family (Jn.1:12)
5. To restore fellowship with God


What did Jesus Do?
1. Jesus represented God (Heb.1:3). Jesus is called "the Word of God" (Jn.1:1-4; 14), He existed eternally before He took on human nature (Phil.2:6-7). As the Word, He communicated the heart of God to mankind. In Jesus, we see what God the Father is like.
John 14:7-11. He showed God's wisdom and power...

2. Jesus represented Man (Rom.8:3). In Jesus, we only not see the perfect image of God, we also see the perfect image of man, as God intended us to be. He shared totally in our humanity. Phil.2:6-8; Heb.4:15

3. Jesus died for us (Heb.2:9). Jesus could have saved himself from the cross, but He did not because it was through His death on the cross that God was going to save the world. 1 Pet.2:24; Isa.53:5-6

4. Jesus rose for us (Eph.2:4-6). Jesus opened heaven when His work on earth was completed, Jesus returned to heaven to be with His father, but this too was for us, for He opened the way into God's presence, where we can live now and forever. Heb.10:19-22


THE NAME OF SALVATION
Acts 4:12
Jn.14:6
Heb.6:19-20


MEMORY VERSES:
Acts 4:12
John 14:6

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THE GOSPEL

Stage 1
Lesson 3: The Gospel

6 steps to have a good grasp of the Bible:
Hear, Read, Study, Memorize, Meditate, Apply

The GOSPEL means "the good new". It is not religion or philosophy. Religions teach people to be good but the Gospel is different. It focuses through a single person - JESUS.
*It's not being good, but the relation we have in Christ.

1 Cor.1:22-24
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.


In the beginning...

God created the first man and woman who were totally God-centered, God-conscious and God-dependent.

Satan tempted them to rebel (Genesis 3:4-5)

From that time on, SELF became the center of everything.

We all fall short of God's glorious standard (Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6)

Rom.5:12
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned



THE GOOD NEWS
The Good News of the Gospel is that God sent Jesus to take our judgement for us.

Rom.5:6
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

He didn't just save us, He became salvation for us (1 Cor.1:30)


THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL
Rom.1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes....

The Gospel is the salvation of God in action. It describes how we enter into God's salvation.

Rom.1:17
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

This verse reveals three things about the Gospel:
1. It is from God-to-you direction not the other way around (1 Cor.8:6)
Religion - us finding God
Gospel - God finding us

2. It is by faith. God has designed the Christian life in such a way that as we release our faith toward God, He releases His power to work in our lives. (Heb.11:6)

3. It is from first to last. The Gospel embraces the whole Christian life from start to finish. We begin as Christian by faith in the saving power of God and we live as a Christian in that same saving power. The Gospel does this things: a) It introduces us to Christ (Eph.1:13) b) It establishes us in Christ (Rom.16:25)

Satan deceive Christians into thinking that after receiving the Lord, we must try to live the christian life in our own strength. Self-effort puts us back into self-centerednesss. The christian life is all by faith and all by grace.

Col.1:6
All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.

Memory Verse: 1 Cor.1:30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

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The Right Giving

June 17, 2012 Sunday Service

The Right Giving (2 Cor.9:7-15)

What motivation does it take for us to give? We heard the teaching to give in order to receive and does to give more is to receive more, but is this really the right way of giving or at least the right attitude for giving?




"We believe that the church is trust by God to preach the gospel to all nations. This it can accomplish by planting churches and supporting mission through tithes and offerings."
-Statement of Faith on Giving-



Why should we practice the RIGHT WAY OF GIVING?

1. I will give because I love God (2 Cor.9:7-11)
2. I will give because I am part of the church (1 Cor.16:1-3)
3. I will give because I love the sinners (2 Cor.8:1-5)
_________________________________________________________________

1. I will give because I love God.

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give. A believer must settle in his heart how much money he will give even before leaving his house.

Each man should give not reluctantly or under compulsion. When we give it should be a deliberate giving, not because we see others are giving and so we are forced to give.

God loves a cheerful giver. In giving it is not only the one giving who is involved, God is watching every one in the church. He sees the one who is not giving anything, the one who is giving according to what he has decided in hi heart, the one who is giving reluctantly or under compulsion, the one who have deducted an amount from the money that he or she is supposed to give to the church. Now check, Is God happy at all to our giving?

God is able to make all grace abound to the cheerful giver. Prosperity or poverty is not dictated by our giving, but rather in God's ability to make grace abound to the cheerful giver.

God supplies the need of the cheerful giver abundantly, exceedingly, and more than enough not only for his necessity but for every good work. Besides God owns the heaven and earth, He has everything, right?

God will make a cheerful giver rich so that he can be generous on every occasion and his generosity will result to thanksgiving to God.


2. I will give because I am part of the church

Do what I told the Galatians churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come, no collections will have to be made."

Paul gives general directives to all the churches concerning giving. Each one should set aside a sum of money to be given every week. This weekly giving is their participation as a member of the local church.

When we give, we are proclaiming that we are a member of the church, we are saying that we are part of God's family, we are saying that we are obedient to God.


3. I will give because I love the sinners

God gives grace to the Macedonian church, an extremely poor church and it resulted in generosity. To be generous is not necessary becoming a rich person or a rich church.

It is more on believing on what God can do through your life. It is more on the willingness to be part of God's work.

The Macedonian church literally gave to the Christians in Jerusalem who were starving because of famine. These gifts were not limited to simply providing for their needs, but we should bear in mind that we are part of it, if you faithfully give your tithes.

*We are doing our mission works because of the faithfulness of those who came before you.

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OUR GOD

DISCIPLESHIP 05-18-2012

Stage 1: Living with God

Lesson 2: Our God

What is the importance of memorizing verses of the Bible? If we abide to His word, we should know His word. There are times when we do not have our Bible and this helps us so that the Holy Spirit can minister to us through the memorized verses.

Nehemiah 9:6

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

Everything in the universe was created by God and that includes you. (Psalms 139:13-14). God is far too great for us to fully understand. He has no beginning and he has no end. But what is God like?

God is Infinite and man is finite. We cannot fully grasp into understanding about what He is.

THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (The Macros)

· He is all-Powerful (Omnipotent). Matt. 19:26; Eph. 3:20

Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

There is no limit to His power, and He can use it to any way He can

· He is Everywhere (Omnipresent). Psalms 139:5-7; 8-10

Psalms 139:5-7

You hem me in—behind and before;

you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

Psalms 139:8-10

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will

If we understand that God is everywhere, we can assume that He can always know what we do anywhere we are, we can never hide from God.

· He is all Knowing (Omniscient). Psalms 139:1-4

Psalms 139:1-4

O LORD, you have searched me

and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you know it completely, O LORD.

Hebrew 4:13

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Nothing we can keep from God that He doesn’t know. No secrets can be hidden from God.

IF FROM ONLY HERE IS OUR LIMITATION OF WHO GOD IS (His attributes) WE MIGHT FEEL SCARED THEN, WE MAY FIND IT A RELIEF IF WE TRY TO KNOW HIS NATURE INSTEAD.

THE NATURE OF GOD (The Micros)

· God is Holy. God is absolutely holy. God cannot do evil; nothing evil is allowed to enter into His presence. 1 Samuel 2:2; Exodus 33:20 – Perfect Holiness

1 Samuel 2:2

“There is no one holy like the LORD?

there is no one besides you;

there is no Rock like our God.

Exodus 33:20

But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

God is Holy, and heaven is holy, no one can go into His place that is not holy and with sin, he will die then if he does. But God gave Moses the opportunity to see His back while on a cleft in the rock.

· God is Love. He is perfect in love. He is moved by compassion for His creation. John 3:16; Ps. 145:17-18; Jas 4:8; 1 John 4:16) – Perfect Love

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Psalms 145:17-18

The LORD is righteous in all his ways

and loving toward all he has made.

The LORD is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.

James 4:8

Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

1 John 4:16

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

A BALANCED NATURE

It is important to see God’s whole nature, not focusing on just one part. He is Love but he is also Holy. He is compassionate but He is also just. Exodus 34:6-7; Jer. 9:23-24; Romans 5:8

Exodus 34:6-7

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says:

“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom

or the strong man boast of his strength

or the rich man boast of his riches,

but let him who boasts boast about this:

that he understands and knows me,

that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,

justice and righteousness on earth,

for in these I delight,”

declares the LORD.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

SEEING THE UNSEEN GOD

· In His Creation

Creation reveals the attributes and character of God. This is like a rough sketch of the image of God. Romans 1:20

Romans 1:20

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

· In His Son

In Jesus, we see the nature of God expressed. He is the perfect image of God, not a rough sketch, but an exact likeness. In Christ, we see everything that God is – His love, His Holiness, His wisdom and His power – all in perfect balance. John 1:18; 2 Cor. 4:6

JESUS is the perfect expression and image of God.

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Be a disciple (student) of Christ

MEMORY VERSE: Hebrews 4:13

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

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The Word of God

DISCIPLESHIP 05-11-2012

Stage 1: Living with God

Lesson 1: Word of God

Matthew 7:24-25

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

Just like a house, our lives need a strong foundation. The world around us changes, but God’s word – the Bible never changes. It is the absolute foundation for our lives.

Most people rely on other things as their foundation such as power, wealth, business, even their spouse and other things – these things aren’t permanent and can all be lost, but not the word of God and the Bible.

Ephesians 4:14-15

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

By the word of God, we can never be fooled by false teaching, and by any other authorities, no other greater authority there can be other than the word of God – The Bible.

THE CREATIVE WORD

When God created the world, what He only does is to utter words and the world came to life.

The word of God has great creative power. God created the universe by His word (Hebrew 11:3) and sustains the universe by His word (Hebrew 1:3) It has the same kind of creative power in our lives.

Hebrew 11:3

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

Hebrew 1:3

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Why all the planets aren’t bumping to one another can somehow be explained by science but not fully. Only by God’s word then that all these was being sustained on its position.

The Word of God is like water (Eph. 5:25-27; John 15:3; John 17:17)

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

John 15:3

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

John 17:17

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Just how we bathe every day to be cleaned, is also the way we should be cleansed by the Word of God.

The Word of God is like light (Ps 119:105)

Psalms 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Light can be used to lighten and focus an area to see things for clear vision. When we have to decide on something we need the word of God to clear everything else. Most of the world’s geniuses don’t know much about God, they tend to have spiritual darkness, that’s why we need the word of God to lighten up our life.

The Word of God is like a seed (1 Peter 1:23; James 1:21-22)

1 Peter 1:23

For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

James 1:21-22

Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

(See the parable of the sower), seeds when planted sprouts and grows. The same happens to the word of God into us, depending on the condition of the heart.

The Word of God is like a food (Matt. 4:4; 1 Pet 3, 23)

Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

Without food for our soul, we’re helpless against temptation.

The Word of God is like a sword (Eph. 6:17; Luke 4:1-14)

Ephesians 6:17

Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

The word of God can be used for offensive attack against the devils schemes.

A LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD

Does the Bible is one thing that you’re not going without? (As the same way we usually treat things like cellphone?) How valuable does a Bible to us?

1 Pet. 2:2-3

Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,

now that you have tasted that the Lord is good

Many Christians have been just contended after salvation in the Lord, and don’t grow up into the knowledge of Him.

It is important to receive God’s word regularly so that we can grow in the Lord. We do this in 3 ways:

1. We sit under regular teaching (Acts 2:42; 2 Tim. 3:16)

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness

2. We read God’s word each day (Ps. 119:9, 11)

Psalms 119:9

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

3. We share God’s word with each other (Col. 3:16)

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

1. As we absorb God’s word, we became familiar with God’s will and God’s ways. This gives us special authority in prayer (John 15:7; 1 John 5:14-15)

John 15:7

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

1 John 5:14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

We can only ask whatever we desire, only if we remain in Him and His words to us.

2. Through the word of God, we discover God’s nature, and the Holy Spirit works in our lives to change us into the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:29)

Romans 8:29

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Christlikeness we should attain

3. God does this by changing the attitude of our mind, so that we see things the way God sees them (Romans 12:2)

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

People’s mind aren’t changed yet, the reason why some struggles into changing themselves. The way we see things depends on how we think, and the way our belief is change.

4. As we respond in faith, the HS changes us into the image of Christ. This is the power of God’s word in our lives (John 8:32)

John 8:32

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

THE WORD BECAME FLESH

John 1:14

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. Jesus Is called “the word of God”.

Jesus before was called “the Word”. Jesus was His earthly name.

2. When he “became flesh”, God’s message took on human form in the life of Jesus.

3. Then people will not just hear God’s word in word form. Like Jesus, they will see the word of God as a daily reality in your life.

Jesus’ life is a demonstration of God’s word, just how He loved us by giving Jesus, His son.

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

MEMORY VERSE: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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A Well Balanced Christian Life

June 10, 2012 Sunday Service

Please read 3 John 1:2-4

[v.2] (a) Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health (b)and that all may go well with you, (c) even as your soul is getting along well.

(a) Physical Well-Being
(b) Material Well-Being
(c) Spiritual Well-Being

*All this three should have equal attention to us.

(a) Physical Well-Being (...I pray that you may enjoy good health)

Good health is very important to the church workers, because we are representing the God who promised physical healing, therefore good health for christian is a good testimony to what we preach.

Part of the great commission is to heal the sick. God is so concern with good health and our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that we should take good care of (1 Cor.6:19). Sometimes we abuse our body and do not take rest. If we christian couldn't take care of our body, we are no different to the drunk who are slaves of liquor.

It wouldn't be good to pray for good health if we don't really take good care of our body. Praying for it would be useless then.

(b) Material Well-Being (...and that all may go well with you)

We are living in the world where money is used as the instrument for all transactions. In fact the ministry of Jesus was amply supplied with finances and Judas was the treasurer of the group (John 12:6). The church can effectively manage the ministries and programs if it is financially capable and the church can only be financially capable if the members are financially healthy. All the members are part of the financial program of the church through their tithes and offerings.

For one thing the God we serve is the owner of the earth and all that is in it. Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the LORD'S, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it"

All blessings that we ask for should be connected with the purpose of the will of God and with the expansion of His kingdom.

(c) Spiritual Well-Being (...even as your soul is getting along well)

Our spiritual well-being will be properly fed if we will make the Word of God the priority of our lives.

Do we understand when Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word remains"? This means that the real need of a person is the Word of God, more than anything in this world. Romans 12:2 (NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

*Let's schedule our time for everything especially for spiritual matter, how much time do we spend with facebook, watching TV, or Chatting online and how much time do we spare for reading the Bible. Think of it!

CONCLUSION

Let us examine our christian life. Which of the three things needs to be improved and developed? Start now!!!

Physical well-being (proper rest, proper exercise and proper food)

Material well-being (trust, depend and obey God, give tithes and offering)

Spiritual well-being (The Word of God and prayer)

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