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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

The Vision of The Love Church

Lesson 1 Understanding Salvation

Lesson 2 The Bible

Lesson 3 Prayer
Water Baptism & Baptism
Lesson 4
of the Holy Spirit
Lesson 5 Praise & Worship

Lesson 6 Stewardship – Basic Giving

Lesson 7 Spiritual Home

Conclusion

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 INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and
Saviour. This is the most important decision you will ever make, even if you have
made this decision some time ago, it is still important to study to show yourself
approved, because faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
2Tim. 2:15 (AMP) Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God
approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly
analyzing and accurately handling [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the
Word of Truth.

Transformation does not occur overnight. It takes TIME, PATIENCE and EFFORT to
develop into the strong, mature Christian that God intended for you to be.
Remember that changes will not happen overnight but as you allow the Word of God
to work in you, these changes will eventually show in your life for everyone to see.
Remember, it is not how fast you progress, but your consistency to remain faithful.
You will be glad you did it. Be patient with yourself. It takes time to learn all you need
to know. We are here to assist you to help you grow in your walk with God by
discipling you through the Word of God and relationship.

Eph 4:11 - 12 (NKJV) And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some Prophets,
some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers, For the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Remember this is only the Beginners Course, it is elementary, therefore, we
encourage you to start with these lessons to familiarize yourself with the basic and
fundamental Biblical truths to set the foundation of your salvation.

Enjoy the JOURNEY because it will transform your life, so God can use you to
transform the lives of others.

Blessings,
Pastors Werner & Michelle Links
The Love Church Lead Pastors

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 THE VISION OF TLC

How Did It Start?

a. From June 2010 the Lord started to speak to my wife and I concerning
"building a House for Him". He spoke to us through dreams, visions,
supernatural confirmations, and mostly through His Word. He spoke to us
from 1Chron. 22:11 - 13

Why the Name The Love Church (TLC)?

a. Prov 29:18 (KJV) "Where there is no VISION the people perish:" What is worse
than having no sight? It is having no vision. You need to have a Vision for every
area of your life.

b. Our Vision is based on Matt 22:36 - 40 (NKJV) "Teacher, which is the great
commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." "This is the

first and great commandment." "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your
neighbor as yourself.' "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the
Prophets." And John 13:34 -35 (NKJV) "A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another." "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for
one another." Jesus declared that the whole Law is summarized in this, "Love
the Lord with all your heart and Love your neighbor as yourself."

c. Vision Statement of TLC: TO TAKE THE LOVE OF GOD THAT WE HAVE

EXPERIENCE AND TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE TO EVERY HUMAN BEING IN
EVERY POSSIBLE WAY.

d. Our SLOGAN: A CHURCH WHERE WE LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE AND LOVE
LIFE!!!!

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e. Mission Statement: Our Mission explains how we will go about to achieve our
Vision at TLC. We have developed our Mission around the word JOURNEY.
J Jesus Christ is the centre of our Lives and Ministry
O Outreach based Church
U Unified in Faith
R Respect each other and other Ministries
N Network with believers to stay Connected to the Body of Christ
E Examples through our lifestyles
Y Yielding to the Holy Spirit daily

What are The Beliefs of TLC?

a. We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and the Final Authority on
every subject matter.

b. We believe in the Trinity. (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) Also that all things are
created by God.

c. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit is important to us and the Holy Spirit gets the
preference in all our meetings and our lives.

d. Salvation comes through Jesus Christ and Him only; John 14:6 (NKJV) Jesus
said to him, "I am the way, the truth and the life." Our good works cannot
save us; we are saved by Grace through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
e. We express ourselves through Praise and Worship to glorify God. King David
declares in Ps 150:6 (NKJV) Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord.

f. There is a Heaven and a Hell and the only way to Heaven is to accept the
Lord Jesus Christ as your savior. No denomination, leader or religion can
save you.

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 g. We take Communion (The Lord’s Supper) to reminds us of His death and
resurrection.

h. We believe that Jesus will return just as He promised. We also believe that
those believers that are still alive in the earth when He returns will be
raptured.

i. We need to work with other denominations to build and extend the

Kingdom of God in the earth because we cannot do it on our own.

Important TLC Information

At TLC we believe it is important that we stay CONNECTED. To stay connected we use
various methods of communication to convey important information to our covenant
partners. We make use of social networks such as Facebook, e-disciples, WhatsApp
and e-mail to stay connected. We also have Life Groups/Connect Groups (Home
Groups) that meet in different areas for Prayer and Bible Study weekly. If you would
more information about a Life Group in your area, please feel free to contact the
Church Office. Please find important information for The Love Church at the back of
this booklet.

NOTES

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 LESSON 1: UNDERSTANDING SALVATION
For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it
is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)

God Wants A Family

We need to understand that God’s original idea for the Church was that it should be
a family of believers.

Ephesians 3:14 – 15 (NKJV)” 14For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 15from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”
2Corinthians 6:17 – 18 (NKJV) “17Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be
separate says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.’” 18I
will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord
Almighty.”

We now want to answer some of the frequent asked questions about this topic.

a. Can I Be Sure I’m Part of God’s Family?

It is most important that each of us is sure of the fact that we are part of the
family of God. John said to his readers that, he wrote the letter to them that
they might be sure. 1John 5:13 (NKJV)

b. How Can I Become Part of God’s Family?

As in your family on earth, for you to become part of that is by birth, so also
to become part of the family of God is by birth. Jesus calls this experience,
“to be born again.” John 3:3 – 6 (NKJV) “3Jesus answered and said to him,
‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God.’ 4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when

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 he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be
born?” 5Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which
is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

c. Can We Earn Our Place in The Family?

This is obtained by grace alone and it is a gift. Ephesians 2:8 – 9 (NKJV)” 8For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it
is the gift of God, 9not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

d. Is Everybody Part of This Family?

No, not everybody is part of the family of God, but only those who has
accepted the offer of God to become part of the family. John 1:12 (AMPC)
But as many as received and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power,
privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe
in (adhere to, trust in and rely on) His name.

e. Why Is This So?

Only those who are free from sin can become part of the family of God.
Romans 3:23 – 24 (AMPC) 23Since all have sinned and are falling short of
the honour and glory which God bestows and receives. 24[All are justified
and made upright and in right standing with God, freely and gratuitously
by His grace (unmerited favour and mercy), through the redemption which
is [provided] in Christ Jesus.

f. We Cannot Save Ourselves

We have seen in previous scriptures that we cannot do anything of our own

to save ourselves. James 2:10 (NKJV) For whoever shall keep the whole law,
and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

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 g. God Can Never Overlook Sin

The Bible says God is too Holy to behold evil or sin. Habakkuk 1:13 (NKJV)
You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness.

h. God Loves Us with An Everlasting Love

Although God hates sin, He loves us with an undying love and does not want
to punish us for our sin. Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV) The Lord appeared to us in the
past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you
with unfailing kindness.”

i. How Did God Solve This Problem?

To solve this problem God could never depend on man to do this. He was the
only One who would be able to solve this problem. John 1:14 (NKJV) And the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory
as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

j. Jesus, God’s Son Died on Our Behalf

Jesus Christ, the Son of God died on our behalf in order to pay for our sin.
Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV)
Hebrews 9:22

k. If Everyone Has Sin, Why Is It A Problem?

Sin separates us from a relationship with God. Isaiah 59:2 (NKJV) But your
iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden
His face from you, so that He will not hear.

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 i. What Role Does the Blood Play?

This whole idea started with God, who in the Old Testament, accepted the
blood of animals to atone for the sin of Israel. However, Atonement could
only mean that the sin was covered and not removed. In the New
Testament the true Redemption were obtained. Redemption means release,
liberated or delivered. Let us see this in scripture: Leviticus 17:11(NKJV)
'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the
altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes
atonement for the soul.’ ' I Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV); Hebrews 9:12

ii. How Is Redemption Obtained?

Redemption is obtained by being saved or being born again. Romans 10:9-

10 (NKJV)9 'that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe
in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made unto salvation. '
Now we are sure that we are part of the Family of God because HIS WORD
SAYS SO. We also know that He honours His Word above His Name.

Father, I thank you for the gift of salvation. I now confess my sins and turns from
them. I accept Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour. He will from today
onwards be the director and guide for my life. I thank you also that I can now be
part of your family. AMEN!!!!!

BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO OUR NEXT TOPIC, WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT A FEW

OTHER QUESTIONS THAT NEED CLARITY AND UNDERSTANDING.

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 a) WHAT IS SIN?

Sin is disobedience to the ordinances and laws of God. Man was created in
the image of God. When he was created man was perfect and like God. The
Bible tells us that God made man in His image and likeness. Genesis 1:26-27
When man disobeyed the direct command of God, he fell from grace and
was band from the presence of God. So, the primary attributes of sin are
disobedience. Since that day when the first man, Adam, sinned, the whole
human race was condemned under the curse. The biggest quest of man
should be to get into a right standing with God again. So, our highest goal
should not be greater faith but greater obedience.

b) WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

The Greek word for repentance means to change one’s mind from a purpose
he has formed or of something he has done. We can then say to repent is to
change direction. This includes to reform. We know that repentance is a
prerequisite for salvation. Jesus said unless we repent, we will perish. Luke
13:5 (NKJV) 'I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise
perish.”' At the time of repentance, the Holy Spirit is the One who brings
conviction to our hearts. John 16:8 (NKJV) 'And when He has come, He will
convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: ' II
Corinthians 7:10 ‘For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to
salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces
death. '

My response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit is called Repentance. Now I

confess my sin unto salvation. So, I need to believe with the heart and
confess with the mouth. Romans 10:9-10

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 c) WHAT IS RIGHTEOUSNESS?

The word righteousness means that I am in good standing with God. I am

acceptable to Him. In right standing with Him. Righteousness speaks about
my relationship with God. We all must endeavor to be in right standing with
God. II Corinthians 5:17,21 (NKJV) 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we
might become the righteousness of God in Him.'

Now that I am saved, what do I still need to know to have a successful Christian
life?

Now that you are a son of God you need to commit yourself to a lifestyle that is
willing to constantly change. A real believer can never settle but must commit
him/herself to migrate. I have submitted myself to be under the direction of the Lord
and have to obey Him in everything that He wants me to do. He speaks to me
through His Word that is brought to me by His servants the preachers. Romans 10:14
(NKJV) 'How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how
shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear
without a preacher? '

God speaks to me through men that He has appointed to be ministers in the Church.
These ministers are there to equip me for my work in the church of God. Ephesians
4:11-16 (NKJV)

NOTES

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 LESSON 2: THE BIBLE
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for Teaching, for Rebuking, for
Correcting, for Training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be
complete, equipped for every good work.
2Timothy 3:16 – 17 (HCSB)

Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth

The Structure of The Bible

a. The Word of God is superior, it is the highest authority. We should

base our lives primarily on the Word of God. Everything we do must
and should be backed up by the Word of God.
b. The Old and New Testament: The Bible was written over a period of about
1600 years. From about 1490BC to about 100AD. The Bible has two major
divisions: The Old Testament (OT) and The New Testament (NT). The Old
Testament deals with the way God revealed Himself before Jesus Christ
came to the earth. The New Testament is centered on the life and teachings
of Jesus Christ.
c. Sections: The books of The Bible are grouped in sections. The first 5 books of
The Old Testament contain the Laws given by God through Moses. This is
also called The Pentateuch. The next 12 books are the History of the nation
of Israel. The following 5 books are classified as poetry and then come the
17 books of the prophets.
d. The New Testament contains the Gospels (Life of Jesus Christ) in 4 books,
Acts of the Apostles (History of the Church in the first century), then follow
the 13 Epistles (or Letters) of the Apostle Paul to the churches or individuals.
Next, we find the 7 general Epistles (Letters written to the churches in

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 general by several authors, Peter, James, John and Jude), Hebrews
(uncertain author) and Revelation (Prophecy of the End Times).
e. One of the most amazing and miraculous things about all this, is that after
1600 years and 40 different writers, they all talked about the same thing,
with no contradictions and no errors (in the original language of Hebrew and
Greek). They all spoke about the plan of God for man. Most of these men
never even read the writings of the others. Everything recorded between the
opening pages of the book of Genesis and the closing pages of Revelation
was Divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The Importance of The Bible

a. Matthew 24:35 (HCSB) “Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My Words
will never pass away”, Isaiah 40:8 (NKJV) “The grass withers and the
flower fades, But the Word of our God shall stand forever.” Psalms 138:2c
(KJV) “…. for thou has magnified thy Word above all thy Name.” From the
above 3 scriptures we can see the emphasis that God place on His Word and
the Bible is the highest and final authority in the Kingdom of God.
b. The Bible reveals the WILL of God and it is imperative for us as believers to
know the will of God on different matters. Isaiah 55:9 – 11 declares that
God’s ways are higher than our ways. “For as the Heavens are higher than
the Earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than
your thoughts.” We need to lay down our plan/will for the plan/will of God
for our lives because His plan is to prosper us (Jeremiah 29:11).
c. Hebrews 4:12 (RSV) “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper
than any two - edged sword……” The Holy Spirit brings life to the Word of

God and it will become Revelation to us, and we will read the Rhema Word
of God and not just the Logos Word of God.
d. Faith comes to our hearts through the Word of God according to Romans
10:17 and we read in Hebrews 11:6 that without FAITH it is impossible to

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 please God. If you want more Faith you need to study the Word of God
because it is the Word of God that will increase your Faith level.
e. In Romans 12:2 the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be transformed by the
renewing of our minds. The mind is the place of battle and many times the
enemy will attack you in your mind with all kinds of lies and accusations. The
only way to win the battle in your mind is to meditate on the Word of God
and to “download” (memorize) the promises from the Word of God onto
your “hard drive” (mind) and it will become reality. We can overcome the
lies of the enemy with the truths of God’s Word.
f. The Word of God is our weapon during Spiritual Warfare, and we need to
use it against Satan and his demons, Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV) “and take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of
God.” There is power and authority in God’s Word and when we speak it
then the enemy will flee from us. We need to speak the Word of God with
Faith, Boldness and Authority and the demons will tremble just like they did
when Jesus spoke the Word, (Mark 5:8). It is not enough just to listen to the
Word or to read the Word, but we need to take it to the next level and
SPEAK THE WORD over our lives, children, marriage, business, ministry and
future. When you hear the Word there comes a release of Faith but when
you speak the Word there comes a release of Power.
g. It will empower you to preach the Word of God to others in and out of
season because His Word will never return empty or void. 2 Timothy 4:2.
h. 2Timothy 3:16 – 17 (HCSB) declares “All Scripture is inspired by God and is
profitable for Teaching, for Rebuking, for Correcting, for Training in
righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for
every good work.” If you want to be capable and equipped, you need to
make the Word of God the foundation of your doctrine and faith. Your walk
as a Christian must be based on the Word of God and you must make every
effort possible to obey the Word.

How to Get Started

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 a. You must grow in your discipline of reading the Bible. Start in the New
Testament, maybe in the Book of John. This will help you develop an
understanding of the scriptures before you go to the more complex books in
the Old Testament. Here you can start with the Psalms or the Book of
Proverbs in the Old Testament before you continue to the Prophetic Books.
b. You must ask the Holy Spirit to quicken the scriptures to your spirit and
make it alive to you. It is crucial to read the Bible with Faith and Imagination
and not like a story book. It is also advised to translate the scriptures and
examples into the equivalent of today’s time.
c. Join a Bible Study group and discuss the scriptures with other believers
because in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom. Prov 11:24.
d. Make use of technology (research) to increase your exposure to scripture,
for example listen to the audio bible on your cell phone, tablet or pc/laptop
because faith comes by hearing the Word of God. These are times when we
all get terribly BUSY in live. Yet it is crucial that we find ways to feed your
spirit man with the Word of God or else your spirit man will die, and you will
back slide in your walk with God. Matt 4:4 (AMP) “…… Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.”
e. Realize that the Bible is not a “dead” book, but alive to those who believe in
Jesus Christ. Remember that ONE Word from God can change your life
forever. Ask the Holy Spirit to take the Logos word and turn it into a Rhema
word for you.

How Can Reading the Bible Help Me?

a. The Word in you will help you in the time of temptation. Psalms 119:11
(NKJV) “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not SIN against
You.”
b. When you obey the Word of God the LOVE of God will be perfected in you
because it is the Word of God that enables you to walk in the love of God.

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 (1John 2:5)
c. Luke 11:28 (NIV) “…… Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God
and OBEY it.” You will be blessed by the Lord if you hear and obey His
Word.
d. The Word of God will give you direction in life and will help you to get to
your destiny in Christ Jesus. Psalms 119:105 (KJV) “Thy word is a lamp unto
my feet and a light unto my path.”
e. Psalms 119 is the longest Psalm, and it has 176 verses. Every verse speaks
about the Word of God. Each verse declares the benefits that will come to
those who read and obey the Word of God. In this Psalm alone you can read
of 176 benefits that will come to those that obeys the Word of God. The
time has come for us to make God’s Word a priority in our lives so we and
our children can reap these benefits. One of my personal favorite verses in
Psalm 119 is verse 165 (NKJV), “Great peace have those who love Your law,
and nothing causes them to stumble.”
f. In Matthew 7:24 – 27 (NKJV) Jesus declares that if we build our lives on
anything else but the Word of God, when the storms comes to our lives it
will fall apart but if we build our lives on the Word of God it will stand strong
even during the storms. I have made up my mind to build my life on the
Word of God, what about you?

NOTES

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 LESSON 3: PRAYER
'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may
be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. '
James 5:16

We sang a powerful chorus in the past that says, “Prayer is the key to heaven, but
Faith unlock the door.”
Jesus said in Mark 11:24 (AMPC) For this reason I am telling you, whatever you ask
for in prayer, believe (trust and be confident) that it is granted to you, and you will
[get it].

Why Is Prayer Important?

a. In answering the question, it is important to understand the role that prayer

is having in our spiritual life. Prayer is the sustaining power of my spiritual
being. So, therefore the Apostle Paul said, 1Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) Pray
WITHOUT CEASING.

(NIV) Pray CONTINUALLY

(AMPC) Be UNCEASING in prayer. [Praying PERSEVERINGLY]

When Jesus taught His disciples to pray it seemed that He also implicated to us that
prayer is the way to get God to work on our behalf. Remember He taught us in
Matthew 6:11 (NKJV) Give us this day our DAILY BREAD. In teaching us to ask for
our daily bread Jesus was also teaching that prayer should be daily. So, God can do
great things daily in our lives on our behalf.

b. Prayer is a weapon against any enemy that you are facing in your life. We
can therefore wage war through our prayers. James 5:16b (AMPC) The

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 earnest (heartfelt, CONTINUED) prayer of a righteous man makes
TREMENDOUS POWER available [DYNAMIC in its working].

c. When we pray it can bring healing and health to our friends and love ones.
James 5:15 (AMPC) And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is
sick, and the Lord will RESTORE him; and if he has committed sins, he will
be forgiven.

We have to remember that for us as believers, prayer has to be a necessity. Prayer is

what sustains the believer. We need to have a healthy and strong prayer life. That
can only be achieved when we consistently spend time in prayer.

Is There Any Power in Prayer?

a. Any question that we have about the Bible should be answered by the Bible.
James 5:16 (HCSB) 'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for
one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much. '

b. The Bible tells us the powerful story of Elijah and how he prayed that it
should not rain. We then read that it did not rain for three years and six
months. Then he prayed again, and the heavens opened, and the rain came.
Now here is the awesome encouragement. James 5:17-18

c. Abraham prayed and although the city where Lot stayed was destroyed, we
read that Lot and his family was saved. (Genesis 18:16 – 32 Abraham
intercedes for Sodom and Gomorrah). Let us look at how God answered our
father, Abraham. This to me is a powerful scripture. Genesis 19:21 – 22
(NKJV)21 'And he said to him, “See, I have favored you concerning this
thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken.
22
Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.”
Therefore, the name of the city was called Zoar.' Because someone
prayed, the angel said to him, Lot, “I can do nothing unless you are safe.”

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What Is Important to Know When I Pray? (ACTION)

a. When you pray ensure that you have forgiven all and that there is no offense
in your heart. Mark 11:25 (AMP) 'Whenever you stand praying, if you have
anything against anyone, forgive him [drop the issue, let it go], so that
your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions and
wrongdoings [against Him and others]. '

b. Pray according to God’s will. God’s will is written in the Bible. I John 5:14
(NKJV) 'Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask
anything according to His will, He hears us. '

c. Pray with faith. James 5:15-16 (NKJV) 15And the prayer of faith will save the
sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be
forgiven. 16'Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one
another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much. '

d. Be specific and do not be double – minded. James 1:6-8 (NKJV) 6'But let him
ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea
driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man suppose that he will
receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all
his ways.'

e. Pray with the help of the HOLY SPIRIT. Romans 8:26 (NKJV) 'Likewise the
Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should
pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered. '

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 f. Don’t be anxious while praying. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6'Be anxious for
nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving,
let your requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.'

What are The Results of Prayer? (TESTIMONY)

This is a personal Testimony. Just a week ago, today (the moment of this writing), the
lady that normally does the caring and outreaches in our area, send a message to my
wife telling her how she is struggling to swallow and speak and feels very weak for
some days. As we received the message my wife, myself and another brother
immediately prayed for her over the phone. Just the next day she thanked us for
praying for her and testified that not long after the prayer she felt better was strong,
up, and about, and could again do everything. PRAISE GOD!!! HE IS AWESOME. HE
NEVER STOP WORKING.

a. Peter was released from prison through the prayers of the believers. Acts
12:12-17 (NKJV)
b. King Hezekiah got a message from God through the prophet Isaiah that he was
going to die. Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed. Isaiah 38:25
(NKJV) 2'Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the
Lord, 3and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before
You in truth and with a loyal heart and have done what is good in Your
sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4And the word of the Lord came to
Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of
David your father: “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears; surely
I will add to your days fifteen years. '

c. The lions lost their taste for meat, because someone that loved prayer was
thrown into the dungeon. Daniel prayed three times a day. Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)

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 'Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in
his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on
his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God,
as was his custom since early days.' Daniel 6:10,16-22

The ACTS Principle of Prayer.

When we come before The Lord in Prayer it is very important that we come with a
pure heart and a good attitude. The Word declares that God knows the intention of
every heart and He knows what we are going to ask before we even open our
mouths. I would like to teach you the ACTS Principle of prayer which would help us
to stay focused when we approach God in Prayer.

• ADORATION – The A is for Adoration which reminds us that we need to

Adore and Worship God before we ask anything. You can just Worship or
use a few minutes to tell Him how much you Love Him.
• CONFESSION – Now we need to confess our sins and even the sins of others
like our political leaders before the Lord because He says if we confess our
sins He will heal our land. This is the time to ask God to forgive you and also
to forgive others who sinned against you.
• THANKSGIVING – The time has come to thank the Lord for everything He
has done and are still doing in your life. God wants us to remain faithful in all
things because this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians
5:18)
• SUPPLICATION – Only now we bring our request before the Lord and we
always ensure that our requests are according to the Word of God. When we
ask, we do that with FAITH in our hearts because Hebrews 11:6 declares that
without FAITH it is impossible to please God.

Final Comments on Prayer.

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 • The best way to learn to PRAY is to start and talk to God because that is
what PRAYER is all about. Start today and don’t PROCRASTINATE because
procrastination is the assassination of your motivation that takes away your
inspiration and leads to no dedication. God has created us for fellowship
and communion and that is what our prayer time is. Fellowship and
Communication with the LORD.
• Prayer is the Key to your growth and stability as a believer. Let us start today
to develop a strong and consistent Prayer Life that will cause problems in
Hell and bring growth to the Kingdom of God. Jeremiah 33:3 (AMPC) ' Call
to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced
in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize,
have knowledge of and understand).'

REMEMBER OUR OPENING CHORUS: “PRAYER IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN BUT FAITH
UNLOCKS THE DOOR.” I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU – PRAY, PRAY, PRAY BECAUSE
GOD ANSWERS PRAYER.

NOTES

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 LESSON 4: BAPTISM
'Then Peter said to them, “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 2:38

What is Baptism?
The word baptize in the original language of the Bible means to submerge, to
immerse or to dip.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV) 19'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, 20
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.” Amen.' These were the last words of
our Lord Jesus Christ before He ascended to heaven. This is also called the Great
Commission.

Why Must I Be Baptized?

a. The act of Baptism is defined as an “outward symbol of an inward

expression”. It is a public testimony that symbolizes an experience in the
heart of the believer.

b. When I get baptized, I am demonstrating to the world that I have

committed myself to Christ and that He is now the Lord of my life. Baptism
says I am now placing myself under His command. By doing this I am also,
like Jesus, fulfilling all righteousness. Matthew 3:13-17 (NKJV) 13

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 c. It is our public acceptance of the Lordship of Jesus over our lives. Matthew
10:32 (NKJV) ‘“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will
also confess before My Father who is in heaven. '

d. It represents the death and burial of the ‘OLD MAN’ and the resurrection
of the new spiritual man. Romans 6:3-5 (NKJV)

Can I Be Baptized as a baby?

In answering this question, let us look at what the Bible say about it. We must always
know our faith is not based on the traditions of men but on the Word of God. Acts
2:38 (NKJV) 'Then Peter said to them, “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 8:36-38 (NKJV) 36 ‘‘.' Acts 16:30-31 (AMPC)

Looking at these scriptures we will see a very clear trend which is important for us in
answering our question. For me to be baptized the biblical requirements is that I
should believe. It also mentioned that I must be saved. Unfortunately, a baby cannot
believe and hence, cannot be saved. According to these scriptures also, we see that it
appears that both he who is baptized and he who baptizes are getting into the water.

Does Baptism Have Any Scriptural Significance?

Yes, because the Apostle liken baptism to a funeral service. So, when I get baptized,
it’s like attending my own funeral service. When I got born again a death took place.
The death of my old man. II Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) 'Therefore, if anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have
become new.’ Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) ‘I have been crucified with Christ; it is no
longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ' Hence, it is
now clear that the sin man in me has died. The dead, however, needs to be buried.

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Romans 6:3-7 (NKJV)

Your water baptism is a testimony to the world that you are no longer living that
dimension, but you are under a new dimension. Romans 6:11-14

Other Facts on Baptism

a. A person should seek to be baptised as soon as possible following his/her

conversion and after they have received some teaching and understanding
on the meaning of Baptism. Acts 8:36 (NKJV) 'Now as they went down the
road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water.
What hinders me from being baptized?”'

b. The Israelites walking through the open Red Sea in the Book of Exodus is a
type/symbol of our baptism. They came from Egypt/World and had to go
through the waters to get them to their destiny in the Lord.

c. Our obedience in Baptism is pleasing to the Father because it displays our

willingness to obey His instruction no matter what. Matthew 3:17 (NKJV)
'And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved
Son, in whom I am well pleased.”' God only made this statement after
Jesus Christ obeyed Him by being baptized.

d. Jesus Christ got baptised in water and He has instructed us to follow His
example. The time has come to take your commitment to a greater level
and make a public confession for the Lord by being baptized.

NOTES

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 SPEAKING IN TONGUES
' But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make
progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit;'
Jude 1:20 (AMPC)

There is another level of PRAYER that we call be part of. This we call Praying in the
Spirit or Speaking in Tongues. This is an awesome experience every believer should
be part of and can enjoy. The Apostle Paul says that He prays more in the Spirit than
anybody else. Which means that he enjoyed this type of praying more. I Corinthians
14:18 (NKJV) 'I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; '

What Type of Beings Are We?

This is an important question and one we have to carefully study and answer. The
Bible is clear that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Genesis 1:26 (NKJV)
'Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,
over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” '

So then, what is the image and likeness of God? John 4:24 (AMPC) ' God is a Spirit (a
spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth
(reality).' This is so important that we realize and understand that when the Bible
says that we are made in the image and likeness of God, that we are made as a
spiritual being. Hence, we are spirit beings in the image of our Father. Then it’s also
obvious that in order for us to communicate with the Father we ought to
communicate in the spirit.

What Is Speaking in Tongues?

Speaking in tongues is communication in a frequency that is different to the normal

intellectual level. Hence when we speak in tongues the natural mind of a personal

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will not be able to understand or decipher and interpret it. 1 Corinthians 14:2
(AMPC) ' For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to
God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he
utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].'

What Are the Benefits of Speaking in Tongues?

If I speak in my home language, I am speaking with my mind, but when I speak in

tongues, I’m speaking by the Holy Spirit who is in me. I’m then speaking the
mysteries and divine secrets of God. 1 Corinthians 14:2 (AMPC) ' For one who
speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one
understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret
truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].' Can you see what the
scripture says here, when you speak in tongues you speak directly to God. This is
truly awesome, because now you have direct access to the Father and can also speak
very confidentially to Him.

There are many more benefits when we speak in tongues. Let us look at a dew more.

a. 1 Corinthians 14:4a (AMPC)' He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies

and improves himself, ' This means that he who speak in tongues recharge
himself.

b. I can also build up my faith by praying in tongues. Jude 1:20 (NKJV) 'But
you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in
the Holy Spirit, '

c. Sometimes we do not know how to adequately praise God. Acts 10:46

(NKJV) 'For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then
Peter answered, '

d. Speaking in tongues can help my prayer life. Romans 8:26-27 (NKJV

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How Can I Receive This Gift?

Receiving this gift is the same as receiving Salvation and that is by faith. We need to
understand that the Holy Spirit is a free gift from God, and I can never work for or
earn it. Acts 2:38 (NKJV) 'Then Peter said to them, “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. '

We also need to know that this gift of the Holy Spirit is not only for a few special
people, but God has given it for ALL believers. Acts 2:39 (NKJV) 'For the promise is to
you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God
will call.”'

I need to ask for it from God in FAITH. Remember that He promised that if I ask
anything from Him in Faith, He will give it to me. (Luke 11:11-13)

The Holy Spirit will give you new and different words and sounds, words that might
be strange and sounds that you might not be familiar with, but do not be afraid. Just
utter and speak whatever He places on your tongue. You need to cooperate and
work with the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:4 (NKJV) 'And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.'
Also, please do not let your mind get in the way and try to analyze or figure out what
is happening. I Thessalonians 5:19 (NKJV) 'Do not quench the Spirit. '

When Jesus spoke about this experience, He equates it with someone drinking water.
He said this is spiritual water. John 7:37-39 (AMPC)
NOTES

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 LESSON 5: PRAISE & WORSHIP
' Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts
with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His
name!'
Psalm 100:4 (AMPC)

What Is Praise and Worship?

a. Praise: Dictionary definition – to command; to applaud; express approval or
admiration of; to extol in words or in song; to magnify; to glorify (to honour,
celebrate). Psalms 48:1 (NKJV) 'Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God, In His holy mountain.' Our praise should be in
proportion to God’s greatness – which means it must be measureless. The
more we praise God the more we acknowledge His greatness. I Peter 2:9
(NKJV) 'But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him
who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; '

b. Worship: It is the act of recognizing God for who He is with an attitude of

reverence, devotion, and adoration. Worship is the human reaction to the
glory, majesty, and power of God. John 4:24 (NKJV) 'God is Spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”'

c. There is a progression from praise to worship just like the High Priest used
to move from the outer court to the Holy of Holies. The big difference
between Praise and Worship is, during Praise we talk about God (look what
the Lord has done), and during Worship we are talking to God (there is none
like You). This is the reason why we shout (loud) during Praise and
sometimes whisper (softer) during Worship.

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 d. Psalms 100:1-2,4 (NIV) 1'Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2Worship
the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 4Enter his
gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and
praise his name. ' From the above scriptures we can see how important it is
to approach the presence of God with Praise and Worship in your heart.

e. King David is called “a man after God’s own heart” in Acts 13:22, because
he was a man of Praise and Worship. If you want to be a man/woman after
God’s heart you need to embrace Praise and Worship as a daily discipline
and enjoy it.

f. Praise and Worship just like the other Christian Disciplines of, Prayer, Bible
Reading, Giving, and Fasting will help you to draw closer to God and to
mature in your walk with Jesus Christ. Remember if we draw closer to Him,
He will draw closer to us. Praise and Worship will also help you to grow in
the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and will make you extremely sensitive to the
voice of God’s Spirit.

g. Praise and Worship is not there to fill up the program on Sunday, but it is the
way God will prepare the soil of your heart for the seed of the Word.

h. It is also a mighty weapon during spiritual warfare for as we lift up the Lord
the enemy will be confused, and we will draw strength from His Presence to continue
on the Christian Journey. II Chronicles 20:22

How Do We Praise and Worship?

a. Psalms 47:1 (NKJV) 'Oh, CLAP YOUR HANDS, all you peoples! Shout to
God with the voice of triumph!' We praise God by clapping our hands
because He wants us to Praise Him with our bodies.

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 b. Hebrews 13:15 (RSV) ' Through him then let us continually offer up a
sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his
name. ' From this scripture we see that sometimes Praise does not come
naturally but we must continue to make a sacrifice of Praise.

c. The power of life and death is in the tongue and the power of our Praise and
Worship is not in the “beat” of the song but the WORDS we declare into the
atmosphere when we sing. Sometimes we sing a song that is prophetic
declarations over your future and your family and thus the enemy will fight
you because of the power of your words.

d. It is important to keep our focus on Jesus Christ and not on people during
Praise and Worship. This will allow you to “enter into the Holy of Holies”. Do
not allow anyone to become a distraction to you during the time of Praise
and Worship. The enemy will use any kind of distraction to prevent you from
experiencing the presence of God in a tangible way.

e. Psalms 63:4 (NET) ' For this reason I will praise you while I live; in your
name I will lift up my hands.' We lift our hands normally during Worship as
a sign of complete surrender to the Lord. Remember the posture of the
heart is more important than the posture of the body. Do not forget that
you are on a Journey and some things will be easier for you to grow into and
others may be more difficult. Do not be hard on yourself and do not
compare your Worship with anyone else.

f. Music can change the atmosphere over your life, and it is important that
you have good gospel music playing in your car, house and whenever you
have the opportunity. When you saturate the atmosphere with good gospel
music, an anointing is released that will bring growth to your spirit man.
g. You must place a priority on the presence of God and understand that

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 Praise and Worship will release the presence of God. (Exodus 33:15). It is
only in the presence of God that we can be restored and made whole.
(Psalms 42:1 – 2).

h. Psalms 149:3 (NET) ' Let them Praise His name with dancing! Let them
sing Praises to Him to the accompaniment of the tambourine and harp!'
We can Praise God with dancing and with instruments in the assembly. It is
important that our dancing does not draw the attention to us, but our
dancing needs to bring glory to God.

i. Praise and Worship is about GIVING God all the Honour and Glory that is
due to Him. It is not time to ask Him for what you need because He knows
what you need before you even ask Him. Take this time just to tell Him how
much you love Him and what He means to you. I have learned that when
you touch His heart, His hand will move in your life, but do not just seek His
hand. Worship the Lord for Who He is and not just for what He can do for
you.

Different Times of Worship

a. Public Worship: Public or Social Worship usually takes place in a church service
or a gathering of believers (Connect/Life Group). The Bible exhorts us, Hebrews
10:25 (NLT) 'And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but
encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing
near.' Jesus Christ also promised, Matthew 18:20 (RSV) 'For where two or
three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
b. Private Worship: Your Private Worship will prepare you for Public Worship
because if you can’t Worship the Lord on your own you will struggle to
Worship Him in a crowd. Your Public Worship is just an overflow of your
Private Worship and thus we need to develop strong Private Worship times.

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 c. Family Worship: It is important for families to Pray and Worship together.
We need to build family altars where we can read the scripture, sing a
Worship song and Pray together. Families that Pray together are just
stronger and more unified in what they want to do for the Lord. Joshua
24:15

Other Important Aspects of Praise and Worship

a. Nehemiah 8: 10 declares that 'Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the
fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is
prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy
of the Lord is your strength.” ' This Joy is released to us by the Lord when
we are in His presence during times of Praise and Worship. This is why the
enemy is trying to steal your “song” because he knows that if you cannot
Praise you will lose your joy and ultimately your strength. Do not let the
Devil steal your joy but sing your song even when you do not feel like it
because Praise and Worship is something we do by Faith and Obedience.

b. Your Praise and Worship must not be determined by the quality of your
voice rather by the attitude of your heart because God is looking at your
motive when you Worship Him.

c. We need to be thankful as people of God for your Praise will flow easier
from a thankful heart than a complaining spirit.

d. Psalms 22:3 declares “God inhabits the Praises of His people”, if you want
God to inhabit your life you need to praise Him at every opportunity you get.

e. During our Worship we can also sing in the Spirit and even sing a “New
Song”. We need to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

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 f. Jesus Christ declares in Luke 19:40 (NKJV) 'But He answered and said to
them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would
immediately cry out.”' I have made up my mind that no stone or rock will
cry out in my place, but I will Praise Him while I have still breath in my lungs.

NOTES

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LESSON 6: STEWARDSHIP – BASIC GIVING
' But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you
power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your
fathers, as it is this day.'
Deuteronomy 8:18 (AMPC)

Who Is the Owner of Everything?

This is an important matter that we really need to look at very earnestly and
seriously. The very foundation of Christian Stewardship is the concept that GOD is
the OWNER OF EVERYTHING. Let us look at what the Bible says about it. Psalms
24:1; Psalms 89:11, Psalms 50:10-12 (NKJV), Haggai 2:8 (NKJV) '

It is clear from these scriptures that the ultimate ownership of everything belongs to
God. Hence, we can never claim ownership of anything. We therefore need to
make some adjustments in our minds right from the start to regulate our thinking
and understanding of our possessions. The Bible is clear that we are to be stewards
of everything. King David had it right when he said: 1 Chronicles 29:12-14 (NIV)

The definition of a steward is a person who administers or manages finances,

property or interests that belongs to another person. Stewardship implies
Accountability, and accountability requires Faithfulness: Romans 14:12 (NKJV) 'So
then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ' 1 Corinthians 4:2 (KJV)
'Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. '

If GOD Then Owns Everything, Why Does He Need My Money?

The first thing to understand is that GOD was, and will never be after our money, but
will always be after us. So, He does not want your money, but He wants you.
Proverbs 23:26 (NKJV) 'My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my
ways.' The heart here speaks of the controlling centre of our lives. So, God is after

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the control of my life. It is also obvious if we read the verse correctly that this is not
control in a negative or abusive sense, as in manipulation, but as in trusting Him.
Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV) 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding.' He does not want me to trust in my abilities, but in His abilities.

My money speaks of my strength and my power. So, when I give my money then I am
in reality giving to Him my strength and my abilities. In giving my money to Him I am
showing Him that I no longer trust in my abilities but in Him and His abilities.
Matthew 6:33 (AMPC) ' But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom
and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things
taken together will be given you besides.'

How Much Then Does God Requires from Me?

It is important that we understand that everyone that lived in the times of the New
Testament had no other scriptures that could regulate their lives, but the Old
Testament. So, if we should ask the Apostles during those days what was the
requirements, they would obviously have told us what was stated in the Law. 1
Corinthians 10:11 (NASB) 'Now these things happened to them as an example, and
they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. '
So, what is important is that we should be careful to apply the principles laid down
by God for them and not to make the mistakes they did. It is also important that
Jesus said that He did not come to alter or change the Law but to fulfil it. Matthew
5:17 (AMPC) ' Do not think that I have come to do away with or undo the Law or

the Prophets; I have come not to do away with or undo but to complete and fulfill
them.'

So, let us look at what God said. Malachi 3:7-12 (NKJV) ' Remember, we need to
apply the principles. Also note that the mistake that the people of Israel and their
fathers did is that they have gone away from the principles. Now it seems that the
principles they have gone away from were TITHES AND OFFERINGS. The offering is
fine, but what is the TITHE? The word tithe means 10%. So, it means 10% of whatever

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comes into your hands. God says 10% of my income is His. That is why it would be
stealing if I do not give or return to Him what is His. Leviticus 27:30 (NKJV) 'And all
the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the tree, is
the Lord’s. It is holy to the Lord. '

So, if I steal the tithe I am cursed, not because God cursed me, but because I did
violate the principle set out by God. So, the first principle was the tithe and the
second was the offering. According to the Bible it seems that there were different
types of offering that the believers took part in. we need to make it clear, however,
that when I have returned the tithe, I have not given anything yet. When I have
returned THE TITHE, I have only given that WHICH ALREADY BELONGS TO GOD in the
first place. Luke 6:38 (NKJV).”' So, it is clear then, while the tithe is owed by God, my
giving (offering) over and above the tithe will determine what will come back to me.
We therefore need to grow in progressive giving. Paul exhorted the believers to set
money aside and safe up and bring it to the service on the first day of the week. I
Corinthians 16:2 (NKJV) 'On the first day of the week let each one of you lay
something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I
come. ' They were also encouraged to help other believers who were struggling
financially and otherwise.

Scripture teach us that the culture of every believer should be that of giving. Our
blessing is in giving. Acts 20:35 (NKJV) 'I have shown you in every way, by laboring
like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord
Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”' There were also
giving to the poor and widows which were a regular practice among believers.
Proverbs 19:17 (NKJV) 'He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will
pay back what he has given.' Proverbs 28:27 (NKJV) 'He who gives to the poor will
not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses.'

Is There Any Benefits in Returning the Tithes and Giving Offerings?

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We must always remember our aim must never be to give to get. Our attitude must
continually be that we will never be able to compensate for the things God have
done for us. Psalms 116:12-14 (NET).' So, I giving should always be an act of worship
and in an attitude of gratitude. I should always be cheerful in my giving. II
Corinthians 9:7-8 (NKJV) '

Where Should I Return the Tithe To?

It is clear from scripture that you should return the tithe to the storehouse. Also, that
the storehouse is not a building, but a person. The storehouse is the place where
you get your spiritual food from.

You should therefore return the tithe to the storehouse where you get your spiritual
food from and where you are planted.

Some Other Important Aspects of Stewardship.

It is important to realize that Stewardship involves more than just money.

• TIME: Time represents life. What we do with our time is an indicator of our
PRIORITIES. Are you a good steward of the time that God blessed you with?
• GIFTS/TALENTS: 1 Peter 4:10 (NET) ' Just as each one has received a gift,
use it to SERVE one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. '
Gifts are given by the Holy Spirt to enable the Church to fulfil its function and
mission in the world. There are many different gifts in the body of Christ. It
is important as a Christian to discover what you have to offer in the service
of God. It does not always need to be a frontline gift if it is all you have to
offer. Some people render an important service by using their broom to
keep the church building clean.

• MATERIAL THINGS: For example, our house should always be available to

God for His purposes. If you own a means of transportation you can use it

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 for the extension of the Kingdom of God. Even tool, machines or office
equipment can be used to advance God’s Kingdom in the Earth. A good
steward makes everything he/she has available to God for His use.

• ENERGY: Even our physical strength comes from God. He provides the food,
sunshine and even the oxygen that makes energy possible. We use that
energy for work and recreation. Should we not use a portion of that to the
glory of God?
• THE GOSPEL: The Gospel itself (God’s Plan of Salvation) is one of the most
important things God has given us. As good Stewards it is our responsibility
to share this treasure with others as the Holy Spirit leads us.

NOTES

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 LESSON 7: MY SPIRITUAL HOME
' [Come] and, like living stones, be yourselves built [into] a spiritual house, for a holy
(dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [those] spiritual sacrifices [that are]
acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.'
1 Peter 2:5 (AMPC)

What Is A Spiritual Home?

We all know that when we are born into earthly natural family, we are taken in as
part of that family. The same is supposed to happen when we get born again. We still
remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus. John 3:6 (NKJV) 'That which is born of the
flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ' so, we are now born of
the spirit, hence we need a spiritual home. Also, remember no one is born an adult
or a matured man, we are born babies. My spiritual home is the place where my
spiritual man is being trained, fed, nurtured, and being cared for. As with my natural
home, we need to understand that this is a lengthy and tedious process.

Why Do I Need A Spiritual Home?

As spiritual home is necessary for fellowship, growth and discipleship. As a new-born

baby is totally dependent on its parents so we also now need spiritual parents for our
spiritual growth and mentoring. My natural parents are chosen for me by God and in
the same way my spiritual parents are chosen for me by God and are responsible to
help me to mature. I Corinthians 12:18 ‘I Peter 2:2 (NKJV), ' Ephesians 4:13 (NKJV)

My spiritual home has a vital role to play in my forming and maturing into the fulness
of Christ. It’s also important to know that in the home there is protection from the
dangers of life outside. This protection is provided primarily by the father. Being in
the house I know that there is nothing that can harm me. The father is like the
shepherd not only providing protection but also providing pasture for his flock. '

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John 10:11 (NKJV) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for
the sheep. ' John 21:15-17 (NKJV). ' every father of a spiritual house is called to this
responsibility to take care of the house as Jesus instructed Peter to do.

What Happen in My Spiritual Home?

As we have indicated previously, the spiritual house will be the place where you will
find care for your total life. This will be the place of education and training so that
you can grow to a mature son in the Lord. You need to understand that the ultimate
goal of every activity is so you can become a perfect man. Ephesians 4:13 (NKJV) 'till
we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; ' For this to
happen I need to patiently apply and discipline myself to not be in a hurry to venture
out on my own. This will destroy my spiritual future and cripple my growth as a son.
Jeremiah 18:1-6 (NKJV) ' Please, noted that your spiritual home is the place where
you are formed and moulded to fit into the Kingdom of God. For bricks to become
part of a building they sometimes need to be chiseled. I Peter 2:5 (NKJV) 'you also,
as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. '
So, as children in a natural house need to trust the wisdom and guidance of their
parents, so we also need to submit and trust our spiritual parents. This will also mean
that from time to time I need to be disciplined in order to stay in line and to become
more and more the person that God intended for me to be. Hebrews 12:7-11 (NKJV)
7
' My spiritual home is also the place where I am loved by my family and where I can
feel the warmth of caring, oneness, camaraderie, and friendship. John 13:34-35
(NKJV). This is also the place where I find nourishment, food, and sustenance. I Peter
2:2 (NKJV) 'as new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may
grow thereby, ' Hebrews 5:12-14 (NKJV)

Where Is My Spiritual Home?

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Your spiritual home is the home (church) to which God has called you to. Where he
has planted you (Psalm 1:3). It is important that you honour and serve at your
spiritual home, the place (home) from which you get fed. The Lord will give you
peace, a confirmation and a word of where He wants you to be planted. Ephesians
6:1-3 (NKJV) 1'Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2“Honor
your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3“that it
may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”' Please, take note that
Paul speaks about our parents, “IN THE LORD”.

NOTES

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 CONCLUSION

God’s aim for us is to become matured sons. This will happen as you and I
apply the Word daily to our lives. Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) 'But He answered
and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) ' As we are confronted by the word, we need to adapt
to the requirements of the word so that I can become that person God had
planned for me to be. II Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV).'

We pray that the Father of all the families in heaven and earth will give you
the desire of your heart and bless you with enlightened eyes of your
understanding. We also pray that you may grow to your full potential in Him
and be in a migratory mode for the rest of your earthly life. Now may the
peace of God guard you mind and heart forever.

Much Love

Pastors Werner & Michelle Links

Lead Pastors
The Love Church

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 IMPORTANT INFORMATION

TELEPHONE 021 949 8288

OFFICE
FAX 086 658 9841
E -MAIL admin@thelovechurch.co.za

WEBSITE www.thelovechurch.co.za
SOCIAL FACEBOOK TLC_thelovechurch
MEDIA
INSTAGRAM TLC_thelovechurch
You Tube The Love Church Network

FIRST NATIONAL BANK

ACCOUNT NAME THE LOVE CHURCH
BANKING
DETAILS ACCOUNT NUMBER 623 – 162 – 529 – 73
BRANCH CODE 250655
REFERENCE Surname/Initials

Compiled by:

Pastor Reginald Moss

Lead Pastor Werner Links

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