Post e Youth

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POST ENCOUNTER YOUTH

CONTENTS 1. Youth Who are Firm in Their Decisions 2. Finding Our Strength in God 3. The Power of Adoption 4. Relating to God 5. The Bible: The Book that Transforms Your Life 6. Knowing the Will of God 7. Thinking as a Conqueror 8. Strengthening Your Emotions 9. Restoring the Blessing of Sexuality 10. The Importance of Baptism

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INTRODUCTION Dear young person, We would like to congratulate you for showing the strength to conquer in life, and for having a great capacity for perseverance. Now that you know what your mission in life is, you will not only conquer natural dreams, but spiritual dreams as well. We all long to be recognized, valued, and accepted by those around us. When people desire to be successful, they must clothe themselves with inner strength in order to have the capacity to overcome any obstacle that may come along the way. The young people who are successful are those who have learned to grow from their failures. They know that with God’s grace, adversity turns into great blessings in their lives. They learn from each difficulty because they can recognize that every trial is like a trampoline that helps them reach higher heights. We should never allow failure to stop us. Instead, we should take another breath and continue advancing in the race we have before us. God is no stranger to our situation. He was the One who planned the place of our birth, the nation we would be raised in, and the resources that we would have available to us. We have proven that by having the right attitude, difficulties can be turned into lessons that enhance our life. This is also how we can understand those who are going through the same things that we have experienced and lived. In your Encounter, you deserved your new purpose for living. During this special time that we will share together in the Post Encounter, our desire is for you to know how to live a life of purpose. The word “Winner” will become a part of your name.

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This is God’s destiny for you. Each class and teaching will strengthen you and minister to you. You will be formed into a young man or woman of God. Pastors Cesar & Claudia Castellanos

LESSON 1 YOUTH WHO ARE THEIR DECISIONS

FIRM

IN

Biblical Text Acts 9:3-22 Deeper in the Word Exodus 14:15 Galatians 2:18 Ephesians 4:22-32

Isaiah 53:4-5 Ephesians 6:10-11

“As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:3-6 PAUL’S CONVERSION Without a doubt, Paul became one of the most important figures in all of Christian history. He had firm determination to serve Jesus with all his heart. During his supernatural conversion, he received a heavenly vision that allowed him to

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continue Jesus’ mission – making disciples of every nation. What happened to him in Acts 9? •

Paul was confronted with his past (vs. 4-5) Jesus asked, “Why are you persecuting me?” If Paul had possessed the strength to answer Jesus’ question, then he might have responded by saying, “Because the zeal for tradition consumes me.” Jesus revealed Himself to Paul so powerfully and dramatically that all of Paul’s education and theology was knocked out from under him. For the first time, he felt unable to stand on that which had always been his hope and foundation.

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He received a revelation of his own nature (vs. 6). He was trembling and astonished. When God confronts us, the hidden things in our hearts are exposed by the light. We feel ashamed because we see our own nature clearly. This makes us feel weak, vulnerable, and helpless before His majesty. This astonishes us and makes us tremble, because who can stand before His presence.

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He had his first encounter (vs. 9). For three days, Paul had a personal encounter with God. During this time, he had no desire to eat or drink. He was not able to see, and all he wanted to do was pray.

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A man of God prayed for him (vs. 17). He received his sight and was filled with the Holy Spirit in that encounter. God always uses people to bless us.

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He chose to be baptized (vs. 18) Paul was knowledgeable in the law. He knew that God was a God of covenant. He also knew that the way in which God would relate to His people would be through the covenant of baptism, which is represented through Jesus’ death on the Cross.

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He spent time being discipled (vs. 19) The time he spent sharing with Christian leaders gave him the foundation on which to develop the ministry that God had entrusted him.

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He preached diligently about Jesus Christ (vs. 20) Paul’s conversion caught the attention of those who knew of his religious zeal. They were amazed that he converted to Christianity.

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He put much effort (vs. 22). It is imperative for all of those who have had a genuine encounter with Jesus to put much effort to share His love with others. Later on, Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” (Roman 1:16).

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Paul believed that Jesus was the Christ. Even though Saul was familiar with biblical prophecies concerning the Messiah, they were not revealed to him until he had his own personal encounter with Jesus. This personal experience led him to understand biblical teachings. John, in this respect, says that the same anointing teaches us all things (see 1 John 2:27).

STAND FIRM AGAINST THE ENEMY’S ATTACKS “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11) After you have an Encounter where deep and intimate experiences with God take place, the enemy prepares a huge attack that is cunning and quick. The enemy’s purpose for this attack is to rob you of everything you have received from God during those few days. We must understand that it is hard for Satan to accept the fact that those who were once his slaves are now experiencing the freedom of the Christian life. The enemy will try, by any means necessary, to weaken your relationship with God. To do this, he will use things that you have desired in the past. For example, he will tempt you with lucrative, but illicit business deals, a sudden meeting with a woman who was previously uninterested in you, a raise in

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salary at work which now demands more of the time which you were dedicating to serving God, etc. The Israelites had successfully left Egypt in victory when Moses saw Pharaoh’s army coming toward them with the intention of destruction. He threw himself on the ground and called out to God. The Lord said to him, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward” (Exodus 14:15) STAND FIRM AGAINST WORLDLINESS Paul said, “For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor” (Galatians 2:18) I had just started my Christian life when I found out that one of my cousin’s had become a Christian. One day, we met at a family reunion and I was shocked to see him drinking alcohol like other unbelievers. This saddened my heart so much that I asked him why he was doing it and he answered, “I want to enjoy life I’ll repent before I die.” I told him, “You don’t know how much longer you’re going to live!” Although I tried to help him reconcile with God, I was not able to. Two months later, that young man drowned without getting a second chance. Although he had been the light of salvation for his whole family, he was trapped by refusing to turn from his past ways. We should understand that within us exist a nature that tries to rebel against God in order to make us slaves to our own desires and passions. Our carnal nature is as dangerous as a trained lion that only needs to taste a single drop of blood to revive its savage instincts and cause it to rise up against it masters, Paul said in Ephesians 4:22-32: 1. Put off the old man. Which is addicted to deceitful lusts. To be addicted means, “to cling to destructive habits.” The only way to be free is by renewing our minds through the Word of God, which will produce holiness in us. 2. Put away lying. We must speak truth to our neighbor. Bad company corrupts good character. Lies do not come from God.

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3. Be angry, but do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath. Solomon said that harsh words stir up anger, but that a gentle answer turns away wrath. 4. Don’t give way to the devil. A person who is easily angered and resentful opens a door to the enemy. With this, the enemy no longer attacks from the outside, but from the inside of a person. 5. Let him who stole, steal no longer. Instead, let him labor, working with his hands that which is good, that he may have something to give to those in need. Whoever had the habit of stealing must now make up for it by being generous. 6. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth. But only that which is good for edification, so that it may impart grace to the hearers. Negative words or complaints are like a contaminated river. When the Israelites wanted to drink water in the desert, they couldn’t because the waters were bitter. But as they threw the tree into the water as God had instructed them, the water became sweet and the poison disappeared. In the same manner, if the tree of the Cross is in our lives, every word that carries out of our lips will be a spring of living water. 7. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. By whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit come to live in your heart, but He doesn’t want to be treated as though He doesn’t exist. Spiritual indifference makes Him sad and His blessings can be withheld because of this. 8. Let all bitterness be put away from you. With all wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and malice. Be kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving to others, even as God in Christ forgave you. CONCLUSION

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As you can see, we need to remove everything that can become an obstacle to our spiritual development, especially areas in which we have struggled with in the past. There are areas in our lives in which God does not intervene unless you allow Him to. He did His part by taking our sicknesses and pain upon His body on the Cross. He took our rebellions and sins, and that is why He was punished. His wounds became our deliverance and healing (see Isaiah 53:4-5). APPLICATION Determine from this day forward to break completely away from your past and begin to live in a new level of blessing in your life.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 1 Review Paul became one of the most important figures of Christian history as a result of his firm commitment to serve Jesus with all of his heart. 1. Write what Paul had to be confronted with.

2. Write the revelation that Paul received. _______________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE Read Ephesians 6:10-12 3. How must we prepare ourselves to stand against the attacks of the enemy? A. ____________________________________________ B. ____________________________________________ C. ____________________________________________

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4. Complete and memorize the following verse (Ephesians 4:29): “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION 5. In what ways can we confront the world? Explain your answer. A. ______________________________________________ B. ______________________________________________ 6. In which circumstances of your daily life, when you want to be angry, must you give a soft answer? _______________________________________________ 7. If someone who has hurt you in the past continues to offend you, do you believe that you can give place to resentment? Explain your answer. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 8. Analyze and discuss with your companions: a. What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit? ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ b. What type of words grieve the Holy Spirit? ____________________________________________ c. What symptoms does a bitter person manifest? ____________________________________________

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LESSON 2 FINDING OUR STRENGTH IN GOD Biblical Text Judges 6; 12:14 Deeper in the Word 1 Corinthians 15:43 Hebrews 11:34

Judges 7:17 Exodus 14; 15:1-21

“And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, ‘The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!’ Gideon said to Him, ‘O my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, “Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?” But now the LORD has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. ’Then the LORD turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?’” Judges 6:12-14 The people of Israel left Egypt in victory. There was a great celebration for those who had lived in captivity for four hundred years. Even so, Pharaoh sought out to destroy them. When

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Moses extended the rod, the Red Sea parted in two and the people crossed over on dry land. It was a marvelous act of God. Although He has delivered your life from captivity, He still desires to show you great wonders. JEHOVAH IS OUR STRONG HOLD (Psalm 27:2) A new believer must learn how to put all of his or her strength in God. This will give the new believer vigor to finish the race with success. Vigor is the impulse, the vehemence that causes us to go forward with great intensity and force. It fills us with total confidence in God, who gives us strength to not grow weary along the way. The people of Israel were then able to sing a song of jubilee because they for themselves how God was helping them in their new lives. They had lived under the oppression of the Egyptians, who had been tyrants and mistreated Israel mercilessly. But now they saw all their oppressors destroyed by God’s divine power. In the same way they did not show mercy, they did not receive mercy from God. Pharaoh and his army perished without anyone to help them (see Exodus 14; 15:1-21). DRAW STRENGTH FROM WEAKNESS When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he said, “It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power” (1 Corinthians 15:43). This helps us understand that in order to transform our weakness into strength, the weaknesses must be sown. That is, to release them at the foot of the Cross so the death of Christ can absorb them. When this happens, we experience the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. It quickens us and raises us up with the same power. JEHOVAH IS WITH YOU In the beginning this new walk in Christ, it is required that weakness be transformed into the power to conquer. We find

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one of the greatest examples of this in the life of Gideon. “When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon he said, ‘The Lord is with you mighty warrior’” (Judges 6:12). This produced a very powerful impact in the mind of this man, who had asked himself: “How is God with me if all my family has been rejected? Besides this, we are the poorest family in Israel.” Gideon thought God was mocking him because his family had turned their backs on him. Notice the tense of the verb; it does not speak of the past, but of the present: “Jehovah is with you.” It meant that from now on, from the moment the angel revealed himself, from the moment he received the word, Jehovah was with him. The Lord is saying, “Your past does not matter. From now on, I am with you.” Gideon was weak and insignificant. He had no valor and was rejected by all. But the Word of God was so powerful, that it transformed all his circumstances. BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS The angel not only told Gideon that Jehovah was with him, but he added, “Mighty warrior.” When Gideon heard this, he could not believe it because he was no warrior. He had nothing except the strength to hide wheat so that the Midianites couldn’t come steal it. What was his valor? It was to hide so he didn’t get killed. But the Lord said, “…mighty man of valor” to someone who had lost the strength to conquer when his family was rejected. It was hard to believe that the Lord could be speaking to someone without the courage o confront such a large foe. God does not look at our past, our failures, or our circumstances, God always sees the purpose that he has destined for our lives, and that is what makes the difference. BELIEVE IN THE PURPOSE OF GOD What helped Gideon to see the words of the angel fulfilled? He believed. He did not take the words lightly. He did not renounce them, but he accepted them withal his heart. When someone accepts the Word with all of his or her heart, a miracle takes

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place. The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of the Midian’s hand” (Judges 6:14). The Lord said, “Am I not sending you?” To “send” signifies that you have heaven backing you up. This is similar to an ambassador who has the support of his government. God has decreed that those whom He sends have His support. We have been sent by the Lord.

CONQUERING OUR WEAKNESSES What has your weakness been? Everyone knows what his or her own weakness is. What are the enemies that come against the anointing of God in us? Fear is the greatest enemy of the anointing. Fear is a preacher from hell who stands next o someone. When we are ready to conquer, this voice says, “You can’t do it.” He brings arguments from the past and says, “I know your life.” This preacher may know your past, but he does not know your future. When you say, “From now on, God is with me and His strength is my strength,” a difference is made. All those things in your past happened because God was not with you when you did things in your own strength; however, now God is with you. For this reason, you must tell this preacher, “Before, I feared you. Now, I don’t anymore. I bind you fear. Leave my life in Jesus’ name!” There is sure victory because fear has been confronted, not fled from. Gideon fled all his life, but he had to confront that which he feared most. You can confront what you fear because you are not alone anymore; God is with you now. Inferiority is a spirit that makes you feel incapable. It makes you feel that you have no courage or importance. Today, young person, know that God values you and He has great blessings for your life.

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Negativity is a spirit that controls your thoughts. It makes you see adversity bigger than it really is. To overcome negativity, which has tormented us for years, we must appropriate this promise: “God in your strength.” Accepting god’s strength as our strength is the only way to defeat negativity.

ADVANCING INTO VICTORY What did Gideon do? He didn’t do anything strange. He chose three hundred men to defeat an army of about 135, 000 men. What weapons did he use? He didn’t use anything special. He used an empty earthen pot, a torch and a trumpet. What does this mean? An empty pot symbolizes our weakness; we don’t have anything. The earth represents our life. God wants empty pots. He does not want anything from us, only empty pots that can be broken. The empty pot symbolizes the man who renounces his own wisdom and allows God to break him. The torch symbolizes the flame of the Holy Spirit or the flame of God’s Word. They are the power of God to illuminate our lives. The trumpet symbolizes the proclamation, because through our words we proclaim divine truths. Gideon said, “Follow my lead” (Judges 7:17). The secret of their victory was that all the disciples spoke one language, they waited for God’s time, and they acted and obtained the victory. The young person who is dedicated to God never gets ahead of God’s timing. CONCLUSION Many times when you look at your past, you can find a chain of rejection, of broken dreams, of unfinished projects, and of unfulfilled desires. But, today God says, “Your past does not

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matter. From now on, I am with you.” This is what makes the difference. Everything changes when god comes into your life. APPLICATION Surrender your weakness at the foot of the cross and you will see how the Lord transforms it into great strength.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 2 REVIEW A new believer must learn how to put all of his or her strength in God because this will give him or her the vigor to finish the race with success. 1. Explain what “vigor” means. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 2. Explain this verse: 1 Corinthians 15:43: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 3. What were the circumstances in Gideon’s life when God spoke to him?

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_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 4. Complete and memorize the following verse and place your name in it; “When the angel of the lord appeared to ______________, he said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” (Judges 6:12) REFLECTION AND APPLICATION 5. What are your current weaknesses and how are you being strengthened? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 6. According to Pastor Cesar’s explanation of Gideon’s weapons to defeat a great army, give the significance of each weapon and a personal application. Earthen Pot: _____________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Torch: __________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Trumpet: _______________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION

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7. Develop two strategies to obtain victory in areas of weakness. Share ideas about how you can defeat fear, inferiority and negativity.

LESSON 3 THE POWER OF ADOPTION Biblical Text Romans 8:14-26 Deeper in the Word Romans 8:29-39 James 4:3

Psalm 2:8 I John 3:21-22

“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” –Romans 8:14-15 RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION Dr. Derek Prince and his first wife adopted five children. Later, after she died, he adopted three more children with his second wife. At one time, when he already had eleven children, a poor woman came to him with a tiny baby in her arms. The baby was suffering from malnutrition. The woman pleaded, “I know

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you can help. I cannot feed my daughter, nor can I look after her as I should. Please adopt her.” Dr. Prince replied, “I’m sorry, but my wife and I have decided not to adopt any more children. We just can’t do it.” The woman replied, “I see. Thanks anyway. Even so, please let me stay here and rest for at least for thirty minutes before I go on my way.” When the lady got up leave and was saying goodbye, the little girl stretched out her arms to Dr. Prince. He took the baby’s gesture as a sign that God was telling him that he should adopt the child. He said to the lady, “Wait, please. I’ve changed my mind. We’ll take your little girl.” As a result, they educated her and gave her a family life. She brought so much joy into their lives that they couldn’t imagine their family without her. Today, this girl is an incredible missionary working in Israel. She is motivated by the Lord’s intense compassion for Jewish people. When anyone adopts a child, that adoptive son or daughter is entitled to the same rights enjoyed by biological children. Both natural and adopted children are part of the family. They share an inheritance and they are entitled to identical privileges and treatment. What condition were you in when you came to the Lord? Most of us were in bad shape. It was as if we had no parents. We were suffering from spiritual malnutrition. We were naked, spiritual orphans. The Lord saw us so dirty and hopeless that He could have thought to Himself, “I already have My own children - the people of Israel. They bring Me all the joy I seek.” He could have ignored us, but that would not have been the character of our merciful God, would it? Even though there was no hope for us, he extends his mercy to us and loved us with his infinite grace. Just as the little girl did to the Derek Prince, we stretched our arms out to Him and He was moved by compassion. Eventhough we are not His biological children, He made us His own. Even though we were not born to be His people, He adopted us and granted us the same rights and privileges extended to His beloved people of Israel. SHOW THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD

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“For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19) A security guard, who works the graveyard shift, waits for dawn in eager expectation. An employee can hardly wait to receive his paycheck. A young woman earnestly desires to be married and have a family. The heavens, earth, sea, sun, moon, stars, plants and animals all yearn for one thing – they are waiting to show themselves as God’s creatures. Creation is eagerly waiting for the children of God to show up, and reveal and claim that the only hope for humanity lies in Jesus Christ.

RECEIVE YOUR INHERITANCE “…and if children, then we are heirs –heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:17) God has prepared plenty of spiritual and material blessings for your life. If you are not enjoying them yet, you may be lacking the essential element: faith. Without faith, Hebrews tells us, it is impossible to please God. He has so much more to give, so much more than what we can imagine. While you are focused on the little things, God wishes to give you the great things. He said, “Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession” (Psalm 2:8). James the apostle said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3). John went on to say, “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commands and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:21-22) The adversary has slowly sown greediness in our hearts as the notion of associating prayers for material things. Because of this, many have had to struggle against the spirit of poverty. In

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this way, the enemy seeks to make it known that believers are poor. The enemy also wants it to be known that churches fail in communicating the Good News through lack of resources. But when believers come to understand their rights and privileges and claim them before the Lord, we can have rapid, significant impact among the nations of the world. God wants to shower abundant blessings on your life, home, family church and nation. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHILD OF GOD •

They are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14).

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They are free from the slavery and fear (Romans 8:15).

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They testify of the Holy Spirit in them, who assures them that they are God’s children (Romans 8:16).

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They are aware of God’s design to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).

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They experience the wonderful reality of God having called, justified and glorified them (Romans 8:30).

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They know God is their greatest ally (Romans 8:31).

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They receive what God has prepared as best for them (Romans 8:32).

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They are more than conquerors in Christ (Romans 8:37).

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They know they have the best advocate in the universe – the One who intercedes for them: Christ (Romans 8:34).

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They know they are God’s heirs, and co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

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Their relationship with God is so strong and intimate that nothing can separate them from His love (Romans 8:38-39)

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Paul said, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all how He not with Him shall also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) God did not spare His Son. He did not negotiate. He gave His Son on our behalf. Our salvation was bought at an extremely high price. Is not God’s Son worth mush more than a house, a car or any other material thing? CONCLUSION In God’s eyes, you are not a second-class citizen. On the contrary, because of your faith in Jesus, God has raised you to enjoy the dignity of His Son. You do not only partake of Jesus’ privileges, but you are also able to enjoy His inheritance. Besides, you have the best guide: the Holy Spirit. He will reveal the Father and the Son to you. They will lead you along on the righteous path you need to walk. APPLICATION From this moment on, begin to think and behave as true heir of God.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 3 REVIEW 1. What does adoption means? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 2. Complete and memorize (Romans 8:15): “For you did not receive a spirit of that makes you a slave again to fear. ____________________________________ _______________________________________________ 3. Connect the following characteristics of a child of God to the proper corresponding verses of the Bible:

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- Is led by the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:38, 39

- Is freed from the spirit of bondage and of fear

Romans 8:17

- Is heir of God and co-heir with Christ

Romans 8:14

- Has God as their best ally

Romans 8:5

- Is related to God with an Inseparable love

Romans 8:31

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION 4. If you have had difficulty drawing close to God as your Father, do you think this is the proper feeling for a child of God? Explain your answer. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 5. Have you received the inheritance that belongs to you as a child of God? - Yes _____ What have you inherited? ________________ _______________________________________________ - No _____ Why not? ______________________________ _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 6. Gather as a group and make a list of all the spiritual and material blessings we inherit as children of God. Take time to pray specifically to claim these blessings.

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7. Share how you can begin to enjoy your inheritance as a child of God.

LESSON 4 RELATING TO GOD Biblical Text Daniel 6; Psalm 16:11 Deeper in the Word Psalm 100:2-4 John 14:13-14 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Matthew 6:9-15 Mark 11:24

“You will show me in the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 RELATING TO GOD PERSONALLY Prayer is a personal relationship with God, where He delights to hear every word that we say. “Truly, I say to you that

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whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that have received it and it will be given to you” (Mark 11:24). The Lord desires for us to enjoy intimacy with Him in the same way a father enjoys relating to his children. Claudia so powerfully impacted my life when I met her that I had no doubt she would be my wife. One of my greatest desires is to be with her, and I wanted more than anything to always be by her side. I was willing to make any necessary change in my schedule to send time with the woman who made my heart shake. If someone has told me, “Don’t spend time with Claudia. That’s boring.” I would have answered, “It’s exciting to be with her.” When I’m with Claudia, I want time to stop. She makes me feel important and valued. Something similar happens in our relationship with God. Just as the experience of falling in love is unique, so is the experience of prayer. Only he who practices it can live it. An example of this in the Bible is about a man whose highest priority was his devotional life. There was nothing that could rob him of his time alone with God. This man was the prophet Daniel. Three times a day he would make his petitions to God and He received His support. As a result of his devotional life, Daniel was found guilty and was tossed into a lion’s den. The Lord delivered him victoriously. It must be the same for the youth who begin their intimacy with God. Your communion with God can never be boring because every second He allows us to be in His presence is an indescribably powerful experience. He makes us feel important. He shows us His love. He reveals His will to us. He protects us under the shadow of His wing and provide for all of our needs. The only way prayer can become monotonous and boring is when it lacks love and commitment. Have you ever experienced what it is like to show love to someone with reciprocation? Although God has shown us His love in so many ways, He still sees that some of His children keep their distance from Him and treat Him with an attitude of indifference.

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JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY The Lord never taught His disciples how to preach, but He did take the time to teach them how to pray. He gathered them together and said, “When you pray say…” (Matthew 6:9a), and He gave them clear instructions on how to develop effective prayer. If you are a disciple of Christ, you must learn to communicate with God. ENTERING INTO HIS PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING “Come before His presence with singing… Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful to Him, and bless His name (Psalm 100:24).There is no greater joy than being in the presence of our God. The attitude of our heart determines the success we will have in our prayers. To be able to persevere in prayer, we should always be joyful. A person with a thankful heart is the one who recognizes the power of the Word of God in every area of his or her life. Those doors that will take us to the gates of His Majesty are called “thankfulness.” Think about everything for which you should give thanks to god. While Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was counseling a bitter man, he told him, “Get up and walk around this room and make a list of everything you can be thankful for.” The man walked around for a while and finally said, “I don’t see anything.” Dr. Peale responded, “Then you must be nearsighted. What are those two things you are waling on?” “Oh, of course, they are my feet,” answered the man. Dr. Peale asked, “How would you be if you only had one foot, or none at all?” (The Persistent Optimist, page 127). Then the man was able to recognize that there are many things for which we can give thanks to God. We express our gratitude through attitudes or emotions, and there should always be expressions of thanksgiving on our lips. The apostle Paul said, “In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) PRAYER IS THE KEY TO RELATE TO GOD

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When arriving to your house, you generally bring the correct key to enter. In the same way, there is only one way by which we can communicate with God and that is through prayer. Prayer is the master key to opening the door to a direct relationship with God. Ask in the Name of Jesus “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father maybe glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). Scripture teaches us that we can go directly to God the Father. Any prayer you lift up has to be directed to the Father, in the name of Jesus. Jesus is Our Provider God is Lord of everything. In Him there is abundance and He is always generous with each of His children. His goodness and favors are unlimited. You can start to enjoy all the blessings that He has reserved for you. Some years ago, my wife and I began a 15-minute radio program. She asked me, “Why are you going to pray for a 15minute program? We are going to pray for an hour-long program.” So we did. Later she asked, “Why don’t we ask for the whole night?” I answered her, “Great, let’s pray for an all night program.” We agreed, “Why not pray for a station?” We began to ray for the station and said, “Lord, before the end of this year we want You to give us this radio station.” God always answers prayers, and before the year’s end, we had our own radio station. Jesus is Our Only Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5 affirms, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” When you direct yourself to God, you should do so in the name of Jesus. When you do, He becomes the bridge between you and God. Your prayer can be, “Lord, I come before You in the name of Jesus of Nazareth and I present these needs to

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You…(specify each one of them). I believe that I will receive them through Your divine grace.” We must understand that there are two natures within us – the spiritual one and the carnal one. Paul said in Galatians 5:17 that the desires of the flesh are against the spirit and the desires of the spirit are against the flesh. That is why we often struggle to enter into communion with God. In addition to that, our thoughts constantly try to distract us or our minds wander. The more we practice prayer, the stronger our spirit man will grow and the weaker our carnal nature will become. Prayer and thanksgiving should operate together. As we develop our prayer life and integrate it into our daily routine, we will be fulfilling God’s will and fanning the flame of revival. Giving thanks is the best medicine for bitterness, pain and failure.

UNDERSTANDING DEVOTIONAL TIME This is the time when we express to God all that is in our heart through prayer. He reveals His will to us through His Word and by demonstrating His great love for us. Developing your devotional time is a vitally important habit. We must daily dedicate a specific, private, and intimate time to be with God. Make a Book of Dreams My wife and I have developed the habit of writing down our prayer requests. We still have a notebook we used in our devotional time in 1983. We wrote our prayer requests, the date we prayed, and the date that we received the answer. In that same year, the Lord answered 70% of everything we asked of Him, including financial provision and the salvation of relatives. The Lord is pleased when, in prayer, we describe our requests in specific details – even drawing pictures or using graphics. Our daughters have learned this principle. Each one of them has her own notebook and they call this book a “Book of

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Dreams.” In it they write in the details of everything they desire. They even download from the internet many of the images of what they desire and they glue them to the pages of their notebooks. The Lord always answers them; many times much faster than they expect. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (1 John 5:14). Characteristics of a Devotional Time - Find a private and specific place. - Set the time and duration of your devotions. - When praying, be completely sincere and transparent with yourself and God. - Always take your Bible, a notebook and a pen to write what God says to you. - Maintain a list of requests that you present to Him in prayer. How to have a Devotional Time “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2a) 1. Begin with a time of prayer. 2. Take time to read from the Bible (for example: begin with 1st John) 3. Dedicate some time to meditate and apply what you read. CONCLUSION Without a doubt, a personal relationship with God is the fountain of life. Make the decision and start this new stage of your life by following these simple steps. It will give you a successful and abundant life, and allow you to experience God’s greatness in your life. APPLICATION

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Begin your time of devotions tomorrow morning and experience God’s wonders in your life.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 4 REVIEW Just as the experience of love is unique, so is the experience of prayer. 1. In your own words, what is prayer? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

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2. Complete: The only way prayer becomes boring and monotonous is when there is lack of: _______________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 3. In your Bible, find three verses Jesus used to teach His disciples how to pray: A. ____________________________________________ B. ____________________________________________ C. ____________________________________________ 4. Complete and memorize (Mark 1:24): _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ REFLECTION AND APPLICATION Describe your relationship with God. Explain the areas you have had difficulty in developing communion with the Lord. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 5. Fill in the details of your devotional time. Time _________________ Place _______________________

Prayer List Personal Prayer Requests

Date of Request

Date of Reply

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GROUP DISCUSSION 6. Share your personal experience in prayer. Expose any areas of struggle in prayer. Bring your Book of Dreams next week and have a time of prayer.

LESSON 5 THE BIBLE: THE BOOK THAT TRANSFORMS YOUR LIFE Biblical Text 2 Timothy 3:16

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Deeper in the Word Mark 11:22-24 Matthew 12:36-37 John 1:1-3 Psalm 18:13 Psalm 33:6 Hebrews 11:3 2 Peter 1:21 Isaiah 30:8 Daniel 12:4 John 20:30-31

Romans 10:17 Hebrews 4:12 Matthew 24:35 John 6:63 Isaiah 55:11 Colossians 3:16 1 Peter 2:1-2 Ephesians 4:31 Matthew 4:4 Hebrews 5:12-14

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of god, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” 2 Timothy 3:16 THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I have faith in God. For assuredly, I say unto you, whoever says to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea”, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them’” (Mark 11:22) Everything about the way we live is filtered through the spoken Word. What we say determines what we do and what we become. With the words of our mouths, we chart the course of life or death. The Lord Always Acts According to His Word Before God created the earth, He said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1-2). When God purposed in His heart to create the world and mankind, He simply sent His Word.

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Each Word Given by God is Sent Full of Power The word “power,” in Greek, is “dunamis,” which when translated, means, “dynamite.” “The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice…” (Psalm 18:13). Just one word from God can give life, can create, or can cast down. “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6) Before the angels existed, before there was a world, before there were beings, there was God. He created the heavens and the earth through His Word, and we can only comprehend this through faith. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3) What could be seen today was created by what could not be seen. Behind this visible world exists another world that is invisible, where all beings are of a spiritual nature and God rules them all. THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). From the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation, is the complete Word of God. The Bible was written within a period of 1,600 years. The sacred writers, who participated in this great work, were approximately 40 men, who came from different ages, cultures and social classes. These writers were powerful monarchs, famous statesmen, virtuous women, judges, rulers, prophets, farm workers and fishermen. God used the lives of these men, whom He had an encounter with and they surrendered their lives completely to Him as vessels that bring forth His Word. These men recorded God’s Word centuries ago and it has been preserved for us. The apostle Peter wrote, “For prophecy never came by the will of

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man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:21). It was Written and Preserved Until the End The Lord told Isaiah, “Now go, write it before them on a tablet, and note it on a scroll, that it may be for time to come, forever and ever” (Isaiah 30:8). God commanded Daniel, “But you, Daniel shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4). It Helps Us to Know and Believe in Jesus John said, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:30-31). “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). DETAILS OF THE MOST MPORTANT BOOK The Bible was the first book printed by Gutenberg. It has been translated into almost every language. It is the most important book of all time, for all people. We never get tired of reading it, and we always find new teachings, instructions and revelations in it. Its richness is so abundant that we will never finish understanding it in its entirety. In the Holy Scriptures, we find the answers to all of life’s problems. The Word gives us the guidelines for working miracles. It instructs us on the path of salvation and it’s the map that will lead us to success. Jesus is the Main Character The main character of the Bible is the Lord Jesus Christ. In times past, each aspect of His ministry, death, and resurrection had already been prophesied. Scripture also reveals the events

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that will take place leading up to His second coming to this world. It is Our Hope The Bible is the only book that can take us from darkness to light, and from death to life. It rescues us from the power of Satan to transfers us to the power of Jesus. It frees us from oppression so that we can be flooded with a glorious peace, and it rebukes sickness so that we can enjoy complete health. It is the only book that can bring wisdom to our lives, hope for our families and an understanding of eternal glory. •

•

If you read the Bible for only five minutes a day, you will have read all of it in less than one year. In only 70 hours and 40 minutes, a person can read the whole Bible. You can read the Old Testament in 52 hours and 20 minutes, and the New Testament in 18hours and 20 minutes. If you read ten chapters a day (four chapters in the morning, two at noon and four at night), you will have finished reading the Bible in only 18 weeks (the Old Testament in 14 weeks and the New Testament in 26 days).

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORD OF GOD “Because the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of souls and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12)

The Word of God is: Alive The Word of God has so much life that the Lord Himself said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35). Effective

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The word “effective” is derived from the Greek word “energues,” which means, “operative” or “dynamic.” This means that the Word is charged withal divine energy and fulfills the purpose for which God has sent it. Sharp The Word of God is an emphatic discerner. It is sharper than a two-edged sword (from the Greek word makhaira). It is like the surgeon’s scalpel and is designed to heal the heart. When the Word of God is released, it reaches the most intimate part of your being and heals the deepest wounds of the soul and spirit. When we confess the Word of God with faith, we are releasing the spirit of life. Paul said, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). THE WORD OF GOD IS OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD Just as natural food strengthens and sustains our physical bodies, God’s Word strengthens and sustains our spiritual lives. A. Milk “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:1-2) The mother’s milk is to a baby what the Word of God is to the newborn Christian. When there is something wrong with the milk, it decomposes and begins to go sour. If you allow wrong things in your life, the milk of the Word can become sour and you will not be able to receive its nourishment. These wrong things can be malice, anger, deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, unforgiveness and slander. Paul told the Ephesians, “Let all bitterness, wrath and anger, clamor

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and evil speaking be put away from you, with every form of malice” (Ephesians 4:31). It is important that we must choose to eliminate these things from our lives. When we do so, the milk of God’s Word becomes the richest nourishment we can receive. B. Bread Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). There comes a time in our Christian lives when we learn to depend on God for all of our needs. We see God’s provision every day, just like the Israelites saw it in the desert. C. Solid Food “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk, and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are full of age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14) Solid food is for those who have reached maturity through exercise. Likewise, when an athlete desires to win a championship, they must be completely dedicated to the sport. Continual practice is what makes them a professional champion. CONCLUSION A believer can reach spiritual maturity if he or she exercises by studying the Word. The more he or she studies and goes deeper in the Scriptures, the stronger his or her senses will grow into a normal and healthy spiritual development.

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APPLICATION Together with your students, design a list of Bible lessons in chronological order so it can be read in the least time possible. Assign it according to their level of maturity.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 5 REVIEW When God purposed in His heart to create the world and mankind, He simply sent forth His Word, and every Word given by God goes forth in power. 1. Give the biblical reference for the ‘inspired Word of God’. _______________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 2. Find and write the biblical meanings of: A. Teaching. ____________________________________ B. Reproof. _____________________________________ C. Correction. ___________________________________ D. Instruction in righteousness. _____________________ ____________________________________________ 3. Complete and memorize (2 Timothy 3:16). “All Scripture is God – breathed ______________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 4. Write why the Bible is the most important book. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ REFLECTION AND APPLICATION 5. What benefits have you receive from studying the Word?

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A._____________________________________________ B._____________________________________________ C._____________________________________________ D._____________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 6. Give a person application of the three aspects of the Word of God. 7. Share your experience of your Bible studies with your peeps.

LESSON 6 KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD Biblical Text I Thessalonians 5:24

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DEEPER IN THE WORD Genesis 25:23, 32 32:26, 31; 33:4, 10 Romans 8:5-8 Psalm 73:27 Romans 8:9-11 Jeremiah 1:5 Matthew 4:3-4 Job 2:4

Hebrews 12:16-17 2 Corinthians 12:9 Esther 5:2-3 Romans 2:2; 2 Corinthians 3:18 1 John 2:17 Psalm 40:8

“He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 Even after I had been reading the Bible for a few months, I still didn’t know Jesus personally and I continued being a slave to vices and sin. On one particular night, a thought came to my mind. Later, I understood that it could only come from the Holy Spirit. The thought was, “What good things have your vices given you?” My answer was, “No vice can result in anything good.” Later another thought came: “Try prayer, and see what answer you’ll get.” This proposal seemed so simple that I told myself, “I don’t think I have anything to lose if I try to pray.” That same night, I made the decision to have an appointment with God. The following day, in the living room of my house, I opened up my heart and allowed Jesus to take complete of my life. That night, Jesus came into my heart. He transformed my heart and filled me with the Holy Spirit. The will of God came to my life as a seed through an idea. That seed fell on good ground because as I accepted and embraced it, it produced the fruit of salvation. Had I allowed doubt to come in, I would have strayed from God’s will and been out of His purpose. Paul said, “He who calls you is faithful. Who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24) I.

THE CARNAL MAN “Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; one people shall be stronger

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than the other, and the older shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23) Rebecca felt the oppression of two natures struggling within her womb. Both of them fought continually. So, she sought divine guidance because the conflict exhausted her to the point that she wanted to die. But in the struggle, God revealed to her that the firstborn would be the second to be delivered. Jacob represents the spiritual man. Esau represents the carnal man. We should understand that the spiritual man is the one who is willing to live by the Spirit of God and can know and follow His will. The carnal man is the man who desires to depend on himself without taking God’s will into consideration. Often, because he knows that God does not approve of what he does, he keeps his distance from the Lord. The carnal man is characterized by: • Thinking evil thoughts. • Living separated from God. • Being an enemy of God. • Obeying his evil desires and not pleasing God. • Rebellion that leads to spiritual death. II. THE SPIRITUAL MAN “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Romans 8:9-11) The spiritual man is characterized by:

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Living according to the spirit. This is when you completely render your will to the will of God. Thinking about what the Spirit desires to do. This occurs when the spiritual man has overcome the carnal nature. To have eternal life and peace. Having the Spirit of Christ dwelling in him.

God knows us even before we are born and has sent us to this world with a specific mission. The Lord said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5, NIV) III. FREEDOM TO CHOOSE “But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright as of this day.’ And Esau aid, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?’” (Genesis 25:31-32) Esau’s decision to sell his birthright was not a result of pressure he felt from God. God gave each human being a free will. Man’s behavior is determined by the thoughts he accepts in his mind. Esau stood before two roads: his physical desire of hunger and his birthright, by which he would inherit all the blessings of Abraham and of his father Isaac. God should have been remembered as “the God Abraham, of Isaac and of Esau.” But since he did not see an immediate response, Esau despised his birthright. He believed the thought that came directly from the adversary, which was, “What have you received by being the firstborn? It’s best if you sell it before you starve to death!”

The enemy’s great strategy is to plant seeds into your mind in the form of thoughts. He uses thoughts as “bait” so that he can gain control of your life. Satan applied an old principle he used against Job. He told Job, “All that a man has he will give for his life” (Job 2:4).

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The adversary has used the desires of the flesh to blind people’s spiritual eyes. In doing so, he blocks the understanding in order to prevent a person from hearing the voice of God. The writer to the Hebrews warns us, “Let there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears” (Hebrews 12:16-17). IV. HOW TO MOVE THE HAND OF GOD “And he said, ‘Let me go, for the day breaks.’ But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’” (Genesis 32:26) Jacob’s most distressing night was when he knew his brother Esau was coming after him. He remembered Esau’s threats against him and started to feel the terror of death overtaking him because he thought the destruction of his house was imminent. This desperate situation led him to take refuge in prayer. This was a decisive moment for Jacob. Either God was going to intervene or evil was going to triumph over him. Jacob’s prayer was intense that night, but in the end, he felt the deliverance of his soul. Jacob gave an interesting name to that place; he called it “Peniel”, which means, “face of God.” All the pressure that had been brewing in the spiritual realm disappeared. Jacob’s fear was gone, and his anguish and despair disappeared. Such a peace and confidence came to him that he felt as though millions of angels were with him. The next day, when he met with his brother, Jacob finally had victory over his circumstances because he had spent the whole night battling to obtain the blessing, and he did. “But Esau ran to meet him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4). What caused Esau’s attitude to change so abruptly? It was the kind of miracle that prayer produces because prayer changes circumstances.

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Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me” (Genesis 33:10). In other words, Jacob was telling him, “I am experiencing the same thing I lived last night. While I was praying, I saw this favor with which you are blessing me today.” V. LEANING ON GOD “Just as he crossed over Peniel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip” (Genesis 32:31). Jacob had always done what he wanted to do. He always accomplished what he would set out to do without considering the means he would use to obtain his desire. His experience with the angel changed his life in a radical way. One of the things the angel had to do with Jacob was leave him limping. This implies that from that day on, Jacob had to use a cane in order to walk. This speaks to us about a life of faith, in which we can no longer lean on our own strength. We must rely on the Lord. Just as God said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians12:9). “The sun rose on Jacob” (Genesis 32:21b). The sun is a symbol that we have found grace in the eyes of God. In the same way, the King Ahasurus extended his golden scepter of favor to Queen Esther and said, “What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you – up to half the kingdom!” (Esther 5:3). When we have found favor with God, we begin to live in a period of mercy, where the power of God and legions of angels are at our disposal and will help us to win the victory. VI. RENEWING OUR WALK WITH GOD “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is

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that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2) One of the greatest dilemmas in a person’s life is having to confront the unknown because it may produce fear, uncertainty and doubt. From the moment God created us, He gave us a spirit of victory. In order to win in the spiritual realm, we must keep our minds renewed constantly. The Swiss were the pioneers in watch making; however, since they didn’t take the risk of innovation when they had the opportunity to produce digital watches, the Japanese beat them to it. We must understand that many things that were very useful in the past may not be useful today. Renewing our minds always keeps us active, just like the river that runs downstream maintains fresh water at all times. Each day is different than the next. That is why Paul said, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE IS: -

Good. God has prepared the richest blessings for you to enjoy in the same way a loving father wants to give his children the best.

-

Acceptable. God is very careful and everything He gives His children is satisfying and fulfilling. God does not give a man a woman who will make his life miserable, nor does He prosper him financially and let him be afflicted with a disease. We know that God’s blessing enriches and is not accompanied by sadness or sorrow.

-

Perfect. The word perfect speaks to us about something that is complete. God never leaves anything undone. He has given us all things so we may enjoy them abundantly. He has not given us His Spirit in an incomplete measure. He never gives us small

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blessings. All of His blessings are immense. David said, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8). The apostle John said, “And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:17) CONCLUSION Finding the way to perfection in the Lord depends on your willingness to hear the sweet voice of the Holy Spirit and to follow His ways without reservation until you see that the will of God in your life is good, acceptable and perfect. With this, you will behave as a spiritual being and will be able to start living in the supernatural dimension. APPLICATION Each student is to turn in a written list of at least five attitudes he or she needs to change in order to stop being a carnal man and to help him or her become a spiritual man.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 6 REVIEW 1. We must understand that the will of God is known only by those who are committed to live a life in the Spirit. Between

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Jacob and Esau, which one represents the spiritual man and which one represents the carnal man? A. Jacob represents: _____________________________ B. Esau represents: ______________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 2. Describe three characteristics that distinguish the spiritual man and the carnal man. Give three biblical references (see Romans 8:9-11). A. Obedient to the Holy Spirit. ______________________ B. Has eternal life and peace. ______________________ C. The Spirit of God dwells in him. ___________________ 3. Describe the significance of the following aspects of the will of God. A. Good. _______________________________________ B. Pleasing. ____________________________________ C. Perfect. ______________________________________ 4. Complete and memorize the following Bible verse. “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, _____________________________________ _______________________________________________ ____________________________” (Romans 8:11). REFLECTION AND APPLICATION Esau’s decision to sell his birthright was made without any pressure from God.

5. Think about this: Does God give you the freedom to choose the road you wish to take? Explain your answer. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

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6. Write down which areas of your life still need to be submitted to the will of God. _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 7. Comment and discuss the meaning of this phrase found in Genesis 32:36: “I will not let You go unless you bless me.”

LESSON 7 THINKING AS A CONQUEROR

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Biblical Text Philippians 4:8 Deeper in the Word Proverbs 23:7 1 Corinthians 15:33 1 John 5:4 John 3:5 Ephesians 3:17 1 John 3:9 Romans 12:2 Philippians 4:6 1 Corinthians 2:11-12

Luke 4:8 James 4:7 1 Corinthians 2:16 Psalm 45:7 Numbers 13:30-31 14:8-10, 24, 28, 37, 38 Proverbs 12:14; 18:7 Ecclesiastes 10:12

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 Everything we think becomes our lifestyle. “To think is to live,” sentenced Cicero. Marcos Aurelio said, “Your life becomes what your thoughts convert it to be.” Today your life is a reflection of your thoughts. GUARDING OUR THOUGHTS Solomon said, “For as (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). We are the end result of our thoughts and our thoughts are expressed through our words. The enemy works through our thoughts because he knows that if people accept his ideas in their mind, he can easily conquer their will. He then begins to shoot all kinds of darts at our minds. If we don’t accept them in our mind and our will remains firm, we will suffer no damage. But whoever falls into the devil’s traps and believes his lies will not be able to stand against the enemy because his lies can be powerful enough to eventually break a person’s will. When this occurs, that person is left spiritually

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unprotected and he or she becomes as a city without walls-very easily conquered. TV – Choose programs that influence you in a positive way and that edify you. Internet – Use this tool in a proper way. It is now one of the most widely used mediums of communication. Avoid sexual contamination through relationships with people you do not even know. For example, a young woman was once so emotionally involved in an internet relationship for a whole year, that when the relationship ended, and because she didn’t guard her emotions, she committed suicide. Radio – Watch out for the type of music you listen to. Its message can contaminate you and affect your behavior. Friendships – Choose people who edify and bless your life (see 1 Corinthians 15:33). BEING A WINNER “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – even our faith” (1 John 5:4). The apostle John represents us with two basic characteristics of a conqueror: a. Born of God b. Our faith 1. BORN OF GOD Jesus taught us how to be born of God when He said, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5) Water speaks about baptism, while being born of the Spirit results from accepting Jesus in your heart as Lord and Savior of your life. This step of faith and obedience conceives something spiritual within our hearts, and the

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very nature of Jesus begins to grow in us through faith (see Ephesians 3:17a) 2. OUR FAITH Faith is not human; it is not material; it is not emotional or intellectual. Faith can only come from a spiritual nature, and it can only grow in those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ. Faith makes us partakers of Jesus’ nature. Everything that occurs in the life of faith pertains to the spiritual nature. Faith cannot be fabricated and you cannot imitate it. When trials come, only those who have faith can withstand them. We know that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). The smallest faith can move the largest mountain. A conqueror only needs to have faith the size of a mustard seed to do great exploits in Jesus’ name. We should have faith for everything we do. Faith believes what God says; it believes the word of God. 3. CHANGE YOUR THOUGHTS AND DO NOT ACCEPT FAILURE “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” (Romans 12:2). Your mind is a treasury of riches. Do not allow the enemy to bombard you with destructive and negative thoughts. Even if it were possible to build a computer as big and powerful as the largest building ever, it would not be able to produce a single thought. God gave man the capability to create ideas, and we should direct these ideas towards God’s blessings. In this way, you are becoming a conqueror. Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6) Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “What is ahead of us and behind us is insignificant, compared to what is within us.” Within our minds is the potential for life. Thoughts and ideas are fertilized in our minds.

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4. MAINTAINING AN OPEN MIND FOR INNOVATION Let’s not look for the shortest route. If we want success, we have to invest time. In this way, we will see the reward for every effort we make to achieve something. I have learned that our minds need to be open to change on a daily basis. God has shown me that the day in which we do not renew will be the day we become legalistic. We should be very open-minded in order to understand what God wants us to do. Innovation prevents man from falling into monotony. Each day bring new challenges. We must understand that there is a spiritual being behind every thought. The thoughts we allow in our minds determine our personality. Paul said, “For what man knows the things of a man except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by god.” What a great blessing it is to know that our thoughts can be in God’s control. 5. HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST Consider this: What did the Lord Jesus think about? Everything Jesus thought about was connected to the Word. That is why you will find Him saying, “To do Your will is My desire.” Every word Jesus uttered already had the Heavenly Father’s approval. He never allowed his mind to be idle. When Satan came along to try to influence Jesus’ thoughts, He commanded him: “Depart from Me for it is written…” (Luke 4:8). On three occasions, He spoke the words: “It is written,” until the adversary left Him. James said, “Therefore submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The Word also says, “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). “You loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your god, has anointed you with the oil of gladness

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more than your companions” (Psalm 45:7). Among the things the prophet could see about Jesus’ nature was that Jesus was the happiest man on earth and His joy was an anointing from the Lord. In other words, joy comes as a result of a life of holiness, where the love righteousness has grown and we have determined in our hearts to stay away from every form of evil. A. Think as a Conqueror “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, ‘Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.’ But the men who had gone with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we’” (Numbers 13:30-31). A conqueror always sees the solution to every problem because he or she knows that with God, everything is possible. B. Speak as a Conqueror Joshua presents seven steps to take in order to take hold of that which God wants to deliver into your hands: The Strategy of Joshua: 1. Let us go up A life of faith implies an effort on our part and is completely opposite to the life of sin. Sin always takes people down the easy road, which implies a downhill life. Faith demands effort. 2. Let us take possession. Joshua was completely sure his army could defeat their enemies because he knew that the power of God had weakened them. In addition, the Lord had already assured them that they would have a great victory. This was a wonderful opportunity for the Lord to make His promises a reality to His people! 3. We are more able than they.

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In other words, the ones with us are more than the ones with them. Joshua was completely convinced in his heart that God had already given them the victory. The spirit of discouragement had come to prevent the triumph. This is the reason Joshua put himself in the gap. He knew that he needed to encourage the people to reconsider so that they would not let this great opportunity pass them by. Unfortunately, everything was in vain because discouragement had already taken its toil on most of the people. “But the men who have gone with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people for they are stronger than we’” (Numbers 13:31). The lesson God wanted to teach the people of Israel was that although they would confront people much stronger than they. God would move his angelic armies on their behalf and their enemies would fall easily and be reduced to nothing. But the enemy had already used the circumstances in the minds of these ten princes of Israel. Due to this fact, they though they were going to have to confront these giants in their own strength. When they took their eyes off of God and did not think about the help He would give them, they became discouraged and grew faint. Their faith decreased as they tried to apply logic to their situation. We know that without faith it is impossible to please God. “If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; the protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. And the entire congregation said to stone them with stones” (Number 14:8-10).

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4. Find favor We can only please God when we live a life of faith. A life of faith implies total dependency on God. When we do this, the best blessings will be ours. 5. Do not be rebellious Rebellion is the unwillingness to do things according to God’s will and plan. Discouragement came to the people because of their negative attitude, and this led them to rebellion. 6. Do not fear the people Do not be afraid of the people you have to confront. This means that you accept what is dominating their life. You cannot conquer that which you fear. 7. They are bread for us This expression illustrates how easy victory would be, and that Joshua’s army could defeat their enemies without much effort. Joshua already knew God was on his side and that no one could stand against him. But, the people’s response to Joshua’s faith-filled words was to have him stoned death. The language of faith is always unpleasant to the ears of unbelieving, discouraged and complaining people! C. THE POWER IN WORDS OF FAITH “As I live, says the Lord, just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you” (number 14:28). Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies who disagreed with the other ten. They decided to believe God, and they tried to get the people to move in faith and take possession of the land. God was so pleased with them that He told Moses, “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it” (Numbers 14:24). D. THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF COMPLAINING

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On the other hand, the majority of the people had complained against God, saying, “If only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” (Numbers 14:2-3). God’s answer to the people was, “Each word you have expressed, has become a creed. And that is exactly what I’ll do; you will die in the desert” (Numbers 14:28). “Those very men who brought the evil report the evil report about the land, died by plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land” (Numbers 14:37-38) Have a Grateful Heart Thanksgiving is the doorway to God’s presence. No one can enjoy God’s presence until thanksgiving rests in his or her heart. By confessing God’s promises before the people, Joshua and Caleb were honoring Him before the whole congregation. Consequently, after forty years, they were the leaders who brought the people of Israel into the Promised Land. Words of the Wise and the Foolish Solomon said, “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth, and the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him” (Proverbs 12:14). “The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up” (Ecclesiastes 10:12) “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul” (Proverbs 18:7). CONCLUSION Being able to live the desires of our heart depends largely on our attitudes and thoughts. Let’s make an effort to obtain and retain the mind of Christ. This will result in having a renewed

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mind of a conqueror. It will also produce an eager heart to have God’s will established in our own lives, in our families, in our jobs and our health. APPLICATION Having the mind of a conqueror should lead a life of success, victory and the possession of the promises that our God has given us in the different areas of our lives. This includes our relationship with God, our relationships with our families and everyone around us-our ministries, our finances, our jobs and our health.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 7 REVIEW 1. The enemy wants to bombard our minds with images to the point of getting us to act on them. By what means can your mind be contaminated it you are not on your guard? A. ____________________________________________ B. ____________________________________________ C. ____________________________________________ D. ____________________________________________ “Don’t live like the rest of the world. On the contrary, change your way of being and thinking” (Romans 12:2, NLV). 2. How can you change your thoughts and not accept failure? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 3. Write the meaning of “legalism”.

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_______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 4. Complete and memorize the following scripture (Corinthians 2:16). “For who has known the mind _______________________ ______________________________________________. REFLECTION AND APPLICATION 5. Write down a list of some words of faith that you should daily confess. ____________ _______________ ______________ ____________ _______________ ______________ ____________ _______________ ______________ ____________ _______________ ______________ 6. Explain how words of complaint have negatively affected you. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 7. Look up five Bible verses that will help you to have the mind of Christ and write them down.

LESSON 8

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STRENGTHENING YOUR EMOTIONS Biblical Text Judges 16:19-20 Deeper in the Word Genesis 37; 39, 45 Judges 14:1-3, 17 Judges 15:1-2

Proverbs 4:23 1 Peter 5:8

“Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, ‘The Philistines are upon you, Samson!’ So he awoke from his sleep, and said, ‘I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself fee’ But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.” Judges 16:19-20 The book of Judges tells us the story of a young man named Samson. He did not know the true meaning of love. God had a great dream for him – he was called to save the whole nation of Israel while many enemies were threatening them. For Samson to accomplish his calling, he had to be a Nazarene. This meant that he had to be consecrated to god, and holiness had to be the center of all that he did. GUARDING MY EMOTIONS Even though God had a great plan for Samson’s life, his great weakness was being controlled by his emotions. Whenever someone does not surrender this important area of his or her life to God, it affects the call of God on his or her life. It is so important that you learn now how to guard and protect your feelings because God has a great plan for your life. Solomon wrote, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23)

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THE ENEMY IS ALWAYS LYING IN WAIT (Judges 16:1-3) One day Samson’s enemies found out that he had entered Gaza to spend the night with a certain woman and they closed the gates of the city to trap him. But, Samson got u in the middle of the night and took the gates of the city, lifted them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of a hill. When the power of God’s spirit is upon a person, he conducts himself in a different manner. Samson did not guard this precious communion when he began to flirt with one woman after another. Finally, he met a very evil and clever woman who was being used by the enemy to lead Samson to his own destruction. “Be self-controlled and alert.” THE ENEMY’S PURPOSE The Bible says that Samson “fell in love” with a woman named Delilah, and he opened the door for the enemy to destroy god’s plan for his life. The enemy’s plan was to pay this woman to deceive Samson, bind him, and dominate him (see Judges 16:5). The enemy’s plans are never for your benefit; his purpose is to draw you away from God, and this why you must guard your heart as the most valuable treasure. THE DANGER TERRITORY

OF

TREADING

IN

THE

ENEMY’S

What caused Samson’s destruction? Was it the weaknesses of his emotions? Even though we have tried to blame Delilah for Samson’s fall into sin, we cannot ignore the fact that Samson was no ordinary man. He has been chosen by God. He had a holy covenant. Samson had been set aside for God’s holy use. THE DANGER OF PLAYING WITH SIN Self-gratification caused this young man to play with sin on numerous occasions; it caused him to risk his anointing and future (see Judges 16:6-15). PRESSURE CAUSED HIM TO LOSE EVERYTHING (Judges 16:20-21)

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Delilah was bait used to trap Samson. She had no agenda of her own. She was controlled by the prince of the Philistines. She pressured Samson until she got what she was sent to get. Demonic powers use beautiful bait to trap the unsuspecting and lead them to their destruction. Sin caused Samson to lose the anointing of God. The anointing was represented in his physical strength. He lost his vision when they plucked out his eyes. He lost his honor and became an object of mockery for his enemies. He lost the great opportunity God had given him to raise up a generation for him. Samson’s lack of self-control led him to prostitute his feelings with various Philistines women. In the end, Samson died next to three thousand Philistines that had mocked him. They had trapped him and taken out his eyes. But, in his last breath, the Spirit of God gave him strength to take down the pillars that held up the place where they were and brought down the entire building upon them. LEARNING FROM SAMSON Let’s learn from Samson’s mistakes from not waiting on God. 1. Samson allowed himself to be led by what he saw (Judges 14:1). Many of us allow ourselves to be led by appearance. We only look at the exterior, but God looks at the intents of the heart. 2. When he saw her, he wanted to marry her (Judges 14:2). He really did not know her. He did not know her morals, her past, or what she wanted to be in the future. It is so important for us to each area of the life of the person we want to marry. We especially need to know if their dreams and desires are pleasing to God. 3. He looked at a person who did not belong to the people of God (Judges 14:3). Delilah not only had different spiritual principles, but she belonged to the enemies of God. She was a Philistine!

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Many who feel the need to be cherished, when looking for love, choose a person who is not committed to God and are involved in things that are displeasing to Him. 4. The woman Samson chose was neither faithful nor honest (Judges 14:17). During their wedding, Samson gave a riddle to his Philistines friends. Since they could not find the solution, they persuaded his bride to trick him for the secret answer. She began persuading Samson and cried tears of manipulation for seven days until he gave her the answer to her question. What kind of love uses manipulation to take advantage of her husband? 5. He played with God. Even though he saw suffering for the consequences of his sin, he did not repent (Judges 15:1-2). He played with fire by pursuing sin. He met another Philistine woman, one who did not share his spiritual principles (see Judges 16:1) Delilah was bribed to deceive Samson through sex to learn the secret o his strength. She told him, “How can you say you love me, but don’t trust me? This is the third time you’ve mocked me” (Judges 16:15). She insisted so much that he revealed his whole heart to her. (see Judges 16:20) What an extraordinary experience. In reality, many people fall into this same pattern. This is the result of relationships where God is excluded. There is deception, betrayal, pain, lies and no blessing or fullness of God. SOMEONE WHO KNEW HOW TO WAIT Joseph was a young man who went through may trials from a very young age (see Genesis 37). He suffered rejection and was despised by his brothers They attempted to take his life and sold him as a slave. Nevertheless, the blessing of God was upon his life. The Lord prospered him in all he did. Because Joseph did not give in to the seduction of his master’s wife, he went to prison. Joseph understood that in order to stand firm in

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your decisions, you must flee from temptation. Even during his time in jail, he had to guard his heart and remain honest with God. That is why the king entrusted him with the entire kingdom. Joseph ended up being a man used by God to bless nations (see Genesis 45). CONCLUSION The enemy’s plan is still the same (see Judges 16:21). He wants to deceive you through your emotions. He seeks to take you away from the Vision, to bind you and mislead you so that you will not fulfill God’s plan for your life. Even though the Lord had great plans for Samson, he played with God and lost his blessing. Today, you must surrender your heart to God completely, and you will obtain great blessings. APPLICATION Today, you must restore the altar of your emotions. If you have allowed impurity into your heart or have been involved with things that are not pleasing to God, He is waiting for you. If you repent with your whole heart and give you a new one. Then, you can begin to guard and protect your heart so that you can fulfill God’s great plan for your life.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON 8 REVIEW Samson was the hope for Israel’s liberation, but he made a grave mistake. 1. What was the cause of Samson’s downfall? a. b. c. d.

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

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GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE “With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death” (Judges 16:16). 2. Looking at this verse for practical application, what types of methods did Delilah use to pressure Samson? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 3. Describe what Samson lost when he got emotionally involved with Delilah? A. B. C. D.

____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

4. Complete and memorize the following scripture (Proverbs 4:23).: “Above all _______________________________________ _______________________________________________ 5. Samson allowed himself to be led by what he saw. When have you been led by appearances? _______________________________________________ 6. How will you protect your emotions? Give a biblical example. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 7. Share what your emotional life was when like when you first started coming to church. What decisions did you have to make? What blessings have you experienced since you made that decision?

LESSON 9

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RESTORING THE BLESSING OF SEXUALITY Biblical Text Genesis 3; Proverbs 6:23-29 Additional References Deuteronomy 18:9; 27:19 2 Samuel 12:9-10 Proverbs 5:18-19; 6:23-26

1 Corinthians 10:3 James 1:16-17

“For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you wither eyelids. For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.” Proverbs 6:23-29 We must understand that we live in a difficult days. The life of a young person is Satan’s target and he is using every means to pervert his mind. Every film, every magazine, every song, every image transmitted over the Internet contains a message of mental slavery. The media seeks to make man think that sexual impurity is a normal part of life. Satan wants to make a man believe that it is impossible to live in righteousness and integrity. Satan wears down the mind of man with this continuous bombardment. It is a psychological attack meant to weaken man, to tire him and to make him think that he cannot fight against the temptation. It is meant to convince him that temptation is stronger than he is, that: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you

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are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). There is always a way of escape for man to be free of sexual oppression. BREAKING THE CURSE OF INAPPROPRIATE SEXUALITY Adam and Eve stood before the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A few moments before this, God placed them there pure and innocent and covered by a robe of holiness. In the next scene, the Lord looked for them in the garden and could not find them. His voice shook the whole universe. It carried as much authority as when Christ told Lazarus who was already dead for four days, to come out of the grave. God’s voice pierced the heavens, reached the dwelling of the first couple, and asked three questions. He asks these same questions of us today. I.

“WHERE ARE YOU” The Lord asked them, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). I ask you today: Where is your sexuality? When he received instructions from God, Adam never suspected that he would have to confront a spiritual force that would try to seduce him into disobeying the divine command. It is important to understand that at that moment Adam was predominantly a spiritual being, who, with his word of authority could destroy any of the adversary’s schemes. However, the enemy was very cunning and foresaw all of this. He did not approach man in an aggressive or challenging way. Rather, he astutely chose to be the most charming and cunning creature in the garden. Through it, he managed to establish a dialogue and softly carry them to the trap he had set for them. That was one of the saddest days for God. The man He had created to be like His own son, the one created in His image and likeness, had sinned. That day, the heavens shook, the angels cried and God

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was saddened because the spirit of His son had died as a result of sin. Satan had managed to turn the first couple’s gaze toward the wrong tree. He caused them to see it differently. He did this so that he could inspire them to rebel against God. Now, the Heavenly Father calls you and says, “My child, where is your sexuality?” It does not matter how far you have gone, what mistakes you have made, or if you have mishandled your sexuality. God wants to give you a second chance. GOD CONFRONTED DAVID WITH HIS SIN God had to prompt David through the prophet Nathan to turn back to him. David came to be known as the sweet psalmist of Israel. He had a pure and innocent heart, but everything in him changed overnight. He began to commit the most heinous sins, all because of looking at the wrong thing. From his royal palace and while resting on his balcony, he saw a very beautiful woman named Bethsheba undressing to bathe. A powerful desire to be with her was aroused in him. Without regard for anything else, he took her, satisfied his own desire and then sent her away. THERE ARE ALWAYS CONSEQUENCES When he found out that she was pregnant, he tried to cover his own sin. He had her husband killed and then married her. Nevertheless, the voice of the Lord came to David saying, “Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight? You have killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword; you have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the people of Ammon. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife” (2 Samuel 12:9-10).

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David’s sexuality was in the wrong place – with another man’s wife. This brought on serious consequences that affected his descendants. When he put his own desires over the Word of God, he opened the door to a curse that allowed the adversary to lift up strong arguments against the royal family. David had to confront his sin when he saw death take his newborn son. He could not do anything to stop it. He had to confess before Nathan the prophet, “I have sinned.” Even though David’s transgression was grave. God extended His mercy and decided to forgive and restore him. II. “WHO HAS BEEN YOUR TEACHER?” God wanted to hear from Adam’s mouth where he had received the information concerning his decision to defy Him. Therefore, God asked Adam the question, “Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11) By this, the Father was asking; “Who has been your teacher?” The apostle James said, “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of light, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:16-17). There are only two sources from which we can receive information about our sexuality. The first comes from the Father of Light, who does not waver in His opinions or change His mind. The other comes from evil error accompanied by seduction and deceit. King Solomon said, “For the commandment is a lamp, and the law of a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; and an adulteress will prey upon his precious life” (Proverbs 6:2326). We must understand that the teaching we receive from God is the right source; it is what provides us with life. Each

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one of the parameters established by God has the purpose of teaching us and protecting us from error. Sexuality, within the parameters established by God, produces great satisfaction. Only those who heed the divine laws will come to know it. Everyone who makes the Holy Spirit his or her teacher will never have guilt, remorse, frustration or bitterness because God will bless every area of his or her life. III. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” The third question that God asked of Adam and Eve was, “What have you done?” (Genesis 3:13). The question that God is asking you is, “What have you done with your sexuality?” History tells us of times when mankind lost its bearings and restraint and gave it to impure desires. For that reason, God decided to eliminate mankind all together. Nonetheless, there was a man named Noah who found favor in the eyes of the Lord. Because of this man and his testimony, God decided to extend his mercy to mankind. God only needs one man who will swim against the current of this world, someone who will keep covenant with Him. Through this man, God will judge the city, the nation and the world. Many will remark, “It’s impossible to live a life of holiness.” But God, through us, has a message for each of them. He wants to say to them, “You are wrong. Here are My children who have been able to live a holy life in righteousness. They have believed My Word. I will judge the world through them.” In the same manner that God used Noah to judge the world through a life of holiness, God will do the same through each one of us. BREAKING THE CURSE OF INJUSTICE “Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. And all the people shall say, Amen! (Deuteronomy 27:19). The weak are those who cannot defend themselves or who are disadvantaged. In that group, we can include foreigners,

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orphans and widows. There is one more group we need to consider: the unborn babies in their mother’s womb. No one is as defenseless as a developing baby. How many couples agree to have abortions? This is an injustice toward the weak. “Lord, keep me from bloodshed.” It doesn’t matter if you went to bed with a young lady and want to cover your sin. If you consented to an abortion, there is a curse on your life. The blood of that child cries out for vengeance. Only the blood of Christ can break the curse. Today, if you will genuinely repent before God. He will give you a new opportunity. CONCLUSION We know that God created sexuality and that is blessed within its divine parameters. God Himself gave man sexual enjoyment, but when man moves away from God, his sexual life becomes completely distorted. Today, God wants to instruct you on how to live your sexual life in holiness. His desire is for young people to know the true happiness that can only be found under His designs and commandments. APPLICATION Surrender your sexual life to God. Renew your mind and trust completely that God desires the best for you.

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STUDY GUIDE LESSON 9 REVIEW We know that sexuality was created by God and is blessed within the parameters He has set. 1. Write in which way the enemy tries to contaminate the mind of man. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE Memorize the following verse: “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide you a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). 2. Studying this verse, would you recommend it to someone who is oppressed by temptation? Why or why not? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 3. Write the answer to the question God asked Adam after he had sinned: “Where is your sexuality?” _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________

4. Describe David’s steps in his process of committing the errors we mentioned, and how he came to confess his faults. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 5. There are only two sources for receiving information about sexuality. Which one would you say has been yours? Explain. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 6. In your personal situation, what parameters must you set to live in sexual purity? a. ____________________________________________ b. ____________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 7. Write ten biblical parameters that are vital in times of temptation.

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LESSON 10 THE IMPORTANCE OF BAPTISM Biblical Text Mark 16:16 Deeper in the Word Matthew 3:15-17 Galatians 3:27 Romans 6:3,5 Acts 8:12; 36-38

Acts 10:47-48 Luke 3:12 Matthew 28:19-20 Acts 2:38

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:16 God is a God of covenant and He relates to His people according to covenant. In the old days, God established with Israel the covenant of the circumcision. With the coming of Jesus to this world, He established water baptism as one of the ways in which we seal our faith and our commitment to Him. I.

JESUS GAVE US THE PERFECT EXAMPLE Before starting His ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ went to the Jordan River so that John would baptize Him. After Jesus was baptized, three things occurred:

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The heavens opened. The Holy Spirit descended like a dove and came upon Him. There was a voice from heaven that said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

In this teaching, we see three blessings that cover those who are baptized: A. The heavens will be opened This means that man’s relationship with God, which had been separated by Adam’s sin, has been restored in Jesus Christ. Now, God moves the heavens and tends to His children’s needs. B. They will be filled with the Holy Spirit Just as Jesus received the fullness of the Holy Spirit after His baptism, when the believer steps out in obedience, he or she is clothed by the power of God. “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). C. They will be adopted We can hear an inner voice telling us, “You are my beloved child and I am pleased with you.” This statement brings tremendous security to our lives because we can feel that we are truly and deeply loved by the Father. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3). Baptism symbolizes burial. The Lord no longer asks us to go through the ordeal of the Cross because He already carried out guilt, sin and curse. The only thing He demands is for us to go down to the waters of baptism, which is equivalent to dying on the Cross. We can leave our carnal nature completely crucified there.

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II. BAPTISM IS A DIVINE COMMAND Before the Lord went up to heaven, He told His disciples, “Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 218:19). III. BAPTISM TAKES PLACE AFTER REPENTANCE After hearing Peter’s anointed message on the Day of Pentecost, the Jews who heard him where convicted. They came to the apostles and asked them, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Peter answered them saying, “Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:37-38) THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO HIS DISCIPLES WERE: • • • •

Make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey all the things that Jesus had commanded them. Impart in them the security that He is with us everyday, even till the end of the world.

The Apostle’s invitation was: •

Repent. They knew exactly what Peter was trying to say. They were to turn their hearts back to God, leave their evil ways behind, and purpose to walk down the right path.

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Be baptized. Being baptized was a personal covenantal decision. All believers should enter this burial covenant with the understanding that although we

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deserved to die, Jesus did not ask us to. Instead, baptism replaces our burial. •

Be willing to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We know that the most important person in the whole universe is the Holy Spirit. God has given Him to us as a gift so that we would guard our relationship with Him as the pearl of great price.

IV. BAPTISM MUST BE AN IMMEDIATE DECISION FOLLOWING CONVERSION “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized” (Acts 8:12). Philip was the one who shared the Word with an Ethiopians. This man received the revelation that the Scriptures are the Word of God and that Jesus is the true Messiah. “As they were walking, they came to some water, and the eunuch said to Philip, ‘See here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Philip said to him, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ An h answered saying, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ And he ordered the chariot to stop; and they both went down to the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him” (Acts 8:36-38). After Philip makes the Scriptures clear to him, and he understands that Jesus Christ is Lord, the eunuch decided to partake of that blessing and ordered the chariot to stop so that he could be baptized. The only requirement that Philip demanded was that he had faith. V. BAPTISM IS ALSO FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT JEWS The apostle Peter preached the Gospel of Jesus in Cornelius’ house, and while he was speaking, the Spirit of God descended with power upon all those who heard the message and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter’s experience with that Gentile family was:

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That God approved of them. If God has incorporated them into His people and has made them equal to us, who can refute what God has approved?

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He acted quickly. Peter didn’t want to hear the opinions of the other Jews; he acted in faith. Through baptism, he broke the barrier of separation that existed between the Jews and the Gentiles.

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He consolidated them. Peter stayed with them for several days in order to instruct them in the Christian faith.

VI. BAPTISM IS ALSO FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY When the apostle Paul was put in prison for preaching in the city of Philippi and began praising God in his cell, the prison doors flew open. When the jail keeper saw this, he thought that all the prisoners had fled, and because of this, he almost killed himself. Paul said to him, ”Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’ Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (Acts 16:28-34) Paul represents the following truths: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Salvation is extended to the whole house. They preached the Word to the whole family. They baptized the whole family. They placed their entire house at Paul’s disposal.

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VII. WHOEVER IS BAPTIZED MUST SHOW FRUITS OF REPENTANCE When the multitudes went to John the Baptist to be baptized, he exhorted them strongly: “Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8). Our words and our actions are our fruit.

When the people asked him what they should do, he answered them saying: A. Be generous. “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise” (Luke 3:11). B. Be upright. Then some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, “What shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than what is appointed for you” (Luke 3:13). C. Do not complain about anything. “Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, ‘falsely, and be content with your wages’” (Luke 3:14). CONCLUSION If Jesus Christ Himself, never having sinned, fulfilled the requirement of baptism, how much more do we, who need a new start in life, need to exchange our old nature for the blessings God has in store for those who obey His Word. APPLICATION Together with the group, set a date to baptize all the students.

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STUDY GUIDE LESSON 10 REVIEW Before beginning His ministry, the Lord Jesus Christ came to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 1. What were the three signs that occurred after the Lord Jesus was baptized? A. ____________________________________________ B. ____________________________________________ C. ____________________________________________ 2. According to Mark 16:16, what are the two fundamental steps to receive salvation? A. ____________________________________________ B. ____________________________________________ GO DEEPER AND MEMORIZE 3. What does water baptism signify? A. ____________________________________________ B. ____________________________________________ 4. Complete and memorize (Mark 16:16). “He who believes and is baptized shall be save, _________ _______________________________________________

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_______________________________________________ 5. According to Matthew 28:19-20, write down the four instructions the Lord Jesus gave to His disciples. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION 6. What is required of you to be baptized? _______________________________________________ 7. When you are baptized, what fruits must you bring forth? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ GROUP DISCUSSION 8. Gather as a group and discuss the significance of water baptism.

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NEW TESTAMENT BIBLE READING GUIDE DA Y

B O O K

Day 1

Matthew 1 - 4

Day 2

Matthew 5 - 7

Day 3

Matthew 8 - 10

Day 4

Matthew 11 - 13:23

Day 5

Matthew 13:24 - 15

Day 6

Matthew 16 - 19

Day 7

Matthew 20 - 22:22

Day 8

Matthew 22:23 - 24

Day 9

Matthew 25 - 26

Day 10

Matthew 27- Mark 1:34

Day 11

Mark 1:35 - 4

Day 12

Mark 5 - 7:23

D A T E

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Mark 7:24 - 9

Day 14

Mark 10 -12:34

Day 15

Mark 12:35 - 14

Day 16

Mark 15 - Luke 1:45

Day 17

Luke 1:46 - 3

Day 18

Luke 4 - 6:36

Day 19

Luke 6:37 - 8

Day 20

Luke 9 - 10

Day 21

Luke 11 - 12

Day 22

Luke 13 - 15

Day 23

Luke 16 - 18

DA Y

B O O K

Day 24

Luke 19 - 21

Day 25

Luke 22 – 23

Day 26

Luke 24 – John 1

Day 27

John 2 – 4

Day 28

John 5 – 6

Day 29

John 7 – 8

Day 30

John 9 – 11:27

Day 31

John 11:28 – 13

Day 32

John 14 – 16

Day 33

John 17 – 19

Day 34

John 20 – Acts 2

Day 35

Acts 3 – 5

Day 36

Acts 6 – 8

Day 37

Acts 9 – 10

D A T E

83 Day 38

Acts 11 – 13

Day 39

Acts 14 – 16

Day 40

Acts 17 – 19

Day 41

Acts 20 – 22

Day 42

Acts 23 – 26

Day 43

Acts 27 – Romans 1

Day 44

Romans 2 – 5

Day 45

Romans 6 – 9

Day 46

Romans 10 – 14

Day 47

Romans 15 – 1 Cor. 2

Day 48

1 Corinthians 3 – 7

DA Y

B O O K

Day 49

1 Corinthians 8 – 11

Day 50

1 Corinthians 12 – 15

Day 51

1 Cor. 16 – 2 Cor. 4

Day 52

2 Corinthians 5 – 10

Day 53

2 Cor. 11 – Gal. 2

Day 54

Galatians 3 – 6

Day 55

Ephesians 1 – 5

Day 56

Eph. 6 – Philippians 3

Day 57

Phil. 4 – Colossians 4

Day 58

1 Thes. 1 – 2 Thes. 2

Day 59

2 Thes. 3 – 1 Tim. 5

Day 60

1 Tim. 6 – Titus 1

Day 61

Titus 2 – Hebrews 4

Day 62

Hebrews 5 – 9

Day 63

Hebrews 10 – 13

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D A T E

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Day 64

James 1 – 5

Day 65

1 Peter 1 – 2 Peter 1

Day 66

2 Peter 2 – 1 John 4

Day 67

1 John 5 – Rev. 2

Day 68

Revelation 3 – 9

Day 69

Revelation 10 – 16

Day 70

Revelation 17 – 22