Contents
         Pre-­‐encounter   INTRODUCTION  
 
LESSON  1   FOUR  WONDERFUL  OPPORTUNITIES
LESSON  2   THE  BENEFITS  OF  THE  CROSS
                               To  an  Encounter LESSON  3   NEW  BIRTH  

 With  God  
LESSON  4   BENEFITS  OF  THE  NEW  BIRTH    
LESSON  5   THE  NEW  BIRTH  AND  LIFE  IN  THE  SPIRIT  
LESSON  6                      UNDERSTANDING  OUR  ENEMY  
LESSON  7   WHAT  YOU  NEED  TO  KNOW  ABOUT  AN  ENCOUNTER  
       A  STEP  INTO  FREEDOM  
 
 
 
STUDENT’S  GUIDE    
   
   
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The ENCOUNTER WEEKEND would help you get
connected with God and unleash His power to
  overcome the problems in your life. You will then be
PREPARING    
able to live a fuller, more contented and satisfying
  YOUR  
FOR   life. You will experience God's blessings in your

ENCOUNTER    
relationships, your family, your career and your
  ministry.
WITH  GOD    
   
As you are preparing for your Encounter Weekend, it

 
is important you do the following suggestions:

 
Marissa and I would
• Allow the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart for
like to thank you for
having interest in   with God. Be sensitive
the powerful Encounter
 
joining our
ENCOUNTER
and be ready to yield to His will for your life.
• Study carefully the  lessons on this booklet. It is
 
WEEKEND PROGRAM designed to help you prepare for your

An encounter with Jesus is the most glorious

Encounter.
 
  • Few days prior to the Encounter weekend, pray

• Expect great things  from God in this season of

experience a person can ever have. He transforms and fast for your breakthrough.
our lives, renews our hearts, and lifts up our spirits.
 
When we encounter Him, sadness disappears, pain your life.
dissolves and depression is broken because the  
 
strength of His Holy Spirit touches our whole being. Congratulation! You are now in your road to a great
Encounter with God.  
  Here are some of the Testimonies from our previous
Encounter. Love and Prayer,
 
  “Simply just want to say Thank you for leading us to
the cross, I am blessed and I could not contained the  
Rev. Simon and Marissa Jularbal
  presence of God...I was so full of His glory” Lina
 
  “Iweekend.
was so blessed coming from the Encounter
It was the greatest Christmas gift I
received in my life more than anything else in this
 
world...” Mildred
   
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 FOUR  WONDERFUL  
am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me
like one of your hired men.” Luke 15:18-19

OPPORTUNITIES   The young man in the parable decides not to stay in his
fallen condition, but to take a risk in order to find a new
opportunity. He recognizes his faults and sets out in
Have you ever experienced the regret of allowing a great search of his father to ask his forgiveness. Likewise, we
opportunity to pass you by? We know that life is full of can have a true reconciliation with God only when we
opportunities, such as an interview, a business deal, or acknowledge our sin, when we repent of and renounce
meeting the person who will become your mate. Many all the evil we have committed, and ask God’s
opportunities present themselves to all of us over the forgiveness. When we do this, God stretches forth his
course of our lives, but the best opportunity you can ever merciful hand toward us, as 1 John 1:9 assures us: “If
abundance (see John 10:10b). Meeting Him and growing in we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will
a relationship with Him includes four wonderful forgive us our sins and purify us from all
opportunities, which we will explore in this lesson. unrighteousness.”

The _______________Opportunity _____________________ Opportunity

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While
all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

No matter how far you may have strayed from God, you All of our sins deserve punishment, but God allowed His
can stop right now and turn back to Him. Just as the Son Jesus Christ to take our place and pay for our sin.
prodigal son made the decision to return to his father’s The father of the prodigal son decided to restore his
house looking for a second chance (see Luke 15:11-20), son’s lost dignity and threw a party for him. He ordered
you can do the same thing by deciding to have an a fattened calf to be a sacrificed in honor of his son’s
encounter with your Father God. return, because this son he thought was lost, was found
(see Luke 15:23-24). The sacrifice on Calvary, and that
God is always close to us, as close as the air we breath. great sacrifice is the only means God has established for
Anyone who desires to have an encounter with Him can us to be reconciled to Him. Sacrifice is the only way to
do so. I his message to the Athenians, Paul declare that, redemption, according to Ephesians 1:7, which says, “In
“God did this so men would seek him and perhaps reach whom we have redemption through his blood, the
out for him and find him, though he is not far from each forgiveness of sins.”
one of us. For in him we live and move and have our
being. As some of your own poets have said, “We are his The ____________________ Opportunity
offspring” (Acts 17:27-28, emphasis mine) “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in
his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
The _________________ Opportunity (John 1:12)
“I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I God treats us as His beloved children and entrusts us

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once again with the privileges we had lost because of I believe a face-to-face encounter with the living God
sin. He dresses us in the best garments, puts the best will change your life too.
shoes on us and gives us the ring that represents the
authority we now enjoy as His children and heirs.
Because of our faith in Jesus, God considers us His dear QUESTIONS:
children, making us participants of the same riches and
glory as Jesus. The apostle Paul explained this when he 1. What does it mean to have a true encounter with God?
wrote: “For it is by grace you have been save through (see Revelation 3:20).
faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; _____________________________________________
not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8, _____________________________________________
9). ________________________
2. What are the paths mankind has chosen that have
I strongly encourage you to make the effort to have a separated him from God?
personal encounter with the Lord. For centuries, He has _____________________________________________
been transforming lives in radical ways. For example, _____________________________________________
when Jacob came face-to-face with the angel of the ________________________
Lord, he said, “It is because I saw God face to face, and 3. What gift do we receive from God when we have a
yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:30, emphasis personal encounter with Him?
mine). (see Ephesians 2:8).
_______________________________________________
The patriarch job, who justified himself because he could _______________________________________________
not understand the “why” of his situation said, “My ears _____________________________
had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 4. Analyze the following verses: Romans 5:8 and Luke
Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and 15:23-24
ashes,” when he came face-to-face with God (Job _______________________________________________
42:5,6) _______________________________________________
_____________________________
The prophet Isaiah was amazed when I saw the glory of 5. Describe each of the four wonderful opportunities along
the Lord, and cried, “Woe to me!...I am ruined! For I am with their corresponding verses.
a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people of a. _____________________________________________
unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord _______________________________
Almighty” (Isaiah 6:5). After being confronted by b. _____________________________________________
Nathan the prophet, King David humbled himself and _______________________________
confessed his sin, begging to be purified. He c. _____________________________________________
experienced a genuine brokenness, saying, “The _______________________________
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and d. _____________________________________________
contrite heart, O, God, you will not despise” (Psalm _______________________________
51:17).

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 THE  BENEFITS  OF    
CONCLUSION

To have a true encounter with God is to know that:

• God prepared redemption for man, but man took the wrong
road and separated himself from God. THE  CROSS  
• Only at the Cross will you be able to experience benefits of
Jesus’ sacrifice and begin to walk in the freedom He THE INCOMPARABLE ___________
purchased for you.
• True repentance is the door to salvation. In all of human time and history, Jesus Christ is the one
You can experience inner healing from all the wounds of person who has impacted the world more than anyone
your past. else. Though there have been others who have been
called great - because of their conquests, exploits,
KEY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER political talents, devout religious lives or even for having
been able to impose their own philosophies on people –
• The Encounter is an opportunity God gives you. you cannot compare anyone of these to Jesus because
• The Reconciliation is your opportunity to return to the Jesus Christ is God Himself who chose to come to earth
Father’s house. and live in human body.
• The Restoration is the feast of joy for your returning o God.
Take hold of it! The apostle Paul writes: “For you know the grace of our
The Provision assures you that God wants to bless you and Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your
take care of both your provision and your family’s provision. sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty
might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). And the writer o
the Hebrews observes: “Since the children have flesh
and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by
APPLYING THE PRINCIPLES his death he might destroy him who holds the power of
death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their
Starting today, I will make a decision to: lives were held slavery by their fear of death” ( Hebrews
• Have an encounter with Jesus Christ by accepting Him and 2: 14-15).
experiencing God’s most beautiful gift for your life.
• Repent of all sin and be reconciled to God. JESUS is ___________
• Receive God’s gift of redemption.
• Repent of all sin. Jesus has always existed; His days had no beginning
Receive God’s full provision for my life. and will have no end. He is from eternity and to eternity.
That is why, simply put, He had to become one of us –
  to show us the way of salvation. God had to become ma
in order to save us. In this regard, Jesus gave us a great

  example because he, “Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be
grasped; but made himself nothing, taking the very

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nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” me harms himself; all who hate me love death”
(Philippians 2:6-7). (Proverbs 8:35-36)

JESUS is __________ Jesus is the very image of the invisible God, and existed
even before God began to create the universe.
Jesus’ attitude was the complete opposite of the attitude Furthermore, Christ Himself is the Creator of everything
of the prince of this world, who said in his heart, “I will that exists in the heavens and on the earth, of the
ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars visible and the invisible. The spiritual world, along with
of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, its kings and kingdoms, rulers, and authorities, was
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will created by Him and for Him. Christ existed even before
ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself the things that exist came into existence and, in him, all
like the Most High,” (Isaiah 14:13-14). As Jesus chose things are held together (Colossians 1:15-17).
to descend from heaven to earth, Satan expected to
ascend from earth t heaven. But the Lord says, “For The __________ of Redemption
everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he
who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:11). The redemptive work was all done on Calvary’s Cross,
and each aspect of the crucifixion teaches us great
Jesus humbled Himself to the point of dying on the cross lessons. Let’s look at each one see what we can learn.
among thieves. That’s why God exalted Him to the
highest place and gave Him the name that is above The _________: the cancelled curse
every name (see Philippians 2:8-9). God rebuked Satan The Cross was where God took away our curse so that
by saying, “But you are brought down to the grave, to He could give us His blessing. All of our sin - everything
the depths of the pit” (Isaiah 14:15), and “ You have bad that we were – came upon Jesus on the Cross.
come to a horrible end and will be no more” (Ezekiel Everything good that Jesus was, was passed on to us
28:19b). through faith in Him.

Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ

JESUS is the Word_________ Made ________ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live
in the body, I live by faith in the So of God, who loved
Paul said, “Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness me and gave himself for me.”
is great. He appeared in a body,”
(1 Timothy 3:16a). The apostle was not trying to
present a topic of controversy, but an undeniable truth: The Crown of Thorns: ________ from ruin and
“God appeared in a body.” The Lord Himself said, “The ____________
Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us”
(John 1:14). And if Jesus is God Himself, then it’s worth When Adam and Eve sinned and were expelled from
getting to know Him and making Him known because, as paradise, God told them, “…curse is the ground because
Scripture says, “For Whoever finds me finds life and of you… It will produce thorns and thistles for you”
receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find (Genesis 3:17-18). Thorns and thistles represent ruin.

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Jesus took upon His head the terrible oppression that all of the curses upon the Cross; the blood of Jesus has
had whipped and beaten and oppressed mankind for so annulled the decrees against us. From today on you can
long. be made free of guilt. “Having canceled the written
code, with its regulations, that was against us and that
The ___________ of His back: Our Healing stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the
cross.” (Colossians 2:14).
All disease, all pain, no matter how great or how serious
it may be, was all cancelled upon the back of Jesus Nail 3: ______________________
when He was whipped and scourged. The prophet
Isaiah, making reference to Jesus’ crucifixion, said, “And This nail was hammered into the part of the heel under
by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). the ankle. Scientists discovered this was the area where
they would pound a long nail into the person being
crucified and it would go through both feet. In order to
The ________: Our Freedom breathe, Jesus had to put His weight on this nail and get
on His toes so that He could inhale, because his chest
After taking off all Jesus’ clothes, those who crucified was extremely compressed. Because this effort always
Him hung Him on a tree (the Cross). They opened His caused a sharper, more intense pain to the tendon of
arms and nailed each of His hands to the Cross with the leg, simple breathing was agonizing for Him. But,
sharp, cutting nails. Putting both of His feet together, His suffering provided total victory for us and we no
they hammered in the third nail. Each one of these nails longer need to live under oppression.
has a very important meaning:
The _________: Inner Healing
Nail 1: _______________________
After Jesus gave up the spirit, a soldier pierced His side
All the guilt that was upon your life, which would have with a spear and water and blood poured forth. Experts
taken you to eternal condemnation, was erased at the say this happens when a person’s heart has swollen and
Cross of Calvary. There is no longer any need for you to damaged itself. Jesus suffered such agony on the Cross
feel guilty; with the first nail, Jesus took away the curse that His sensitive heart exploded. You might have said
and guilt. at times, “My heart is broken” or My soul is shattered
into pieces.” But today Jesus tells you, “My son, my
Nail 2: ________________________ daughter, my heart exploded so that yours could be
healed and your emotions restored.”
This means that every argument Satan had against your All the punishment that we deserved as sinners fell upon
life has been canceled. Now, what is an argument? It is that man called Jesus, who had not committed any sin.
a legal right that you give to the adversary. How do And all the good Jesus should have received then came
arguments come about? They are formed by cursed upon us, simply for believing in Him. When Cog looks at
inherited from one’s own family and through words us, He look at us through Jesus; and when we desire to
spoken by the parents – words that leave a mark on communicate with the Father, we should do that through
their children’s lives. The good news is that Jesus took Jesus.

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 can say with Paul the apostle, “I can do everything through
KEY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

Eternal life is received when Jesus is received as

Savior.
“By his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5b)
He who believes that Jesus has redeemed him is
freed from all oppression (see Colossians 2:14-
15).

THE  NEW  BIRTH

The financial curse was canceled when Jesus wore
the crown of thorns (see 2 Corinthians 8:9).
Faith in Jesus restores families (see Malachi 4:6).
Only Jesus can free us from the curse (see Galatians
Man’s _________
3:13).
Because of the love of the Father and through the
It pleased God, the Creator of the universe, in all His
blood of Christ we were made fee (see 1 Peter
infinite wisdom, for everything to be governed by laws,
1:2).
both in the spiritual realm and in the natural realm. When
Jesus became man and, out of obedience, He
He gave life and form to man, He made our freedom
accepted death upon the Cross, which was a great
conditional upon obedience to His Word. Although God was
humiliation.
very generous with the first man and woman, giving them
all things in abundance, He established one limitation. He
told them, :But you must not eat from the tree of the
APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES
knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will
surely die” (Genesis 2:17). The Lord did not want man to
Starting today, make a decision to:
obey Him mechanically, like a robot, but desired for him to
• Give Jesus your weaknesses so he can take them upon
obey out of his own free will, using the complete freedom of
himself. Receive His strength in your life.
choice that God had given him.
• Give up your sins through repentance, which is the
doorway to His blessing. Receive His salvation.
The ____________ Is for Everyone
• Give up all sicknesses. Receive His health.
• Give up all your lack. Receive His provision.
Nicodemus was a very respected man in his time. He
• Give up all anguish. Receive His perfect peace.
decided himself to teaching the law to both the religious
• Surrender your whole will. Receive the guidance of the
leaders and to the common people. In addition, he was a
Holy Spirit.
man with high moral values. He fasted twice a week, he
• Give up your human knowledge. Receive His divine
prayed two hours a day, and he had a great zeal for
wisdom.
doctrine. Nevertheless, one night he met with Jesus and
said, “Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come
By doing the things listed above, you are trusting
from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs
completely in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you

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you are doing if God were not with him” (John 3:2). Jesus Through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord said, “I will give you
answered him, saying, “I tell you the truth, no one can see a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from
the kingdom of God unless he is born again,” (John 3:3). If you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I
the Lord had said this Zaccheus, who was a tax collector, or will put my spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees
to Mary Magdalene, who had committed adultery, or and be careful to keep my laws,” (Ezekiel 36:26-27). No
perhaps to the thief on the cross next to Him, our human one on this earth can have two hearts at the same time.
capacity could understand. But notice that Jesus gave this
insight and instructions to a spiritual authority among the
Jews. No one can give part of himself to God and part of himself
to sin. Whoever is on God’s die hates sin; and whoever likes
You can see the _______________ sin does not follow God.

In the same way that we experienced physical birth when God’s promise is a “new heart, new spirit,” When this
we came into this world, we must also experience a happens, God takes away our hard heart and our rebellious
spiritual birth in order to have a spiritual life. The new birth spirit, and we receive God’s own Spirit. Paul understood this
happens only when we accept Christ in our heart as Lord when he said, “don’t you know that you are the temple of
and Savior. This new birth is produced directly by the Holy the Holly Spirit, and that the Spirit of God lives in you?”
Spirit, who, through faith, conceives the spirit of life in the (see 1 Corinthians 6:19). Then Spirit of God is the only one
new man. We are spiritual beings who live in a physical who helps us understand Scripture, the one who gives us
body and we become aware of the reality of this earth the strength to obey it, and the one who prepares the
through our physical senses. But, the physical birth is environment in which His promises can be fulfilled.
simply a step that should lead us to the next one—the birth
of our spiritual nature. Only when we experience this A Life of ______________
spiritual birth do we receive the right to become children of
God. Through this, our spiritual eyes are opened and we Some people struggle to understand completely how the
can clearly discern the kingdom of heaven. new birth works. Even the blessed Virgin Mary had
questions when an angel told her she was going to conceive
God desires our _____________ the Savior of the world.
She asked, “How is this possible since I am a virgin?” The
James the apostle wrote, “He chose to give us birth through angel responded, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the
he created.” (James 1:18). God left the door open so that holy one to be born will be called the Son of God,” (Luke
anyone who so desires can be born into the spiritual life. 1:35). The Holy Spirit becomes part of us when we receive
Jesus said, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground Jesus as Lord and Savior, thereby becoming part of God. He
and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it is a gentleman and He will never try to force things upon
produces many seeds” (John 12:24). The new birth implies us. He will not enter anyone’s life uninvited. He will only
a separation from our sin nature, so that the spirit can be move through our faith in the Word of God. That is why by
fruitful in the spiritual kingdom. simply believing in Scripture and desiring its fulfillment in
You Can Have a _____________ us, the Holy Spirit will cover us with His shadow and

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conceive a holy life that will be born in us. KEY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER

A Personal _____________ God created man with the opportunity to choose (see
Genesis 2:16-17).
The Lord told Nicodemus, “The wind blows wherever it The new birth is for everyone (see John 3:2-3)
pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it The new birth allows us to see the kingdom of God (see
comes from or where it is going. John 3:5)
God desires us to experience the new birth (see James
So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). 1:18).
Sometimes the wind is strong, hurricane-like, devastating
everything in its path. At other times, it is soft, gentle, and
peaceful. The same is true with the Holy Spirit. Some
people’s conversions are accompanied by strong emotions, APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES
while other people hardly even perceive when the new birth Starting today, make a decision to:
took place.
Either way, the new birth means we are given a new life the • Surrender yourself to the Lord so He can give you a new
moment we receive Jesus in our heart as personal Lord and heart (see Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Savior. Jesus said. “I have come that they may have life • Let the new birth conceive something holy in your life (see
and have it to the full.” (John 10:10b). Luke 1:35).
Let the new birth lead you the certainty and security given
A New __________ by the Holy Spirit (see 2 Corinthians 1:22).

The Holy Spirit sows within us the life of Jesus when we are
born again. That sees germinates and develops,
 
manifesting itself progressively in us. The new birth carries
the certainty of the Holy Spirit, and that is why it cannot be  
 
invalidated nor revoked (see 2 Corinthians 1:22). God
Himself seals each believer with His Spirit, guaranteeing
him eternal life and a heavenly inheritance, which will be
fulfilled when we go to the Father. Therefore, we should
always try to obey Ephesians 4:30, which says, “And do not
 
grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed
for the day of redemption.”  
 
 
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   1. _______________

BENEFITS  OF  THE  NEW   Justification means to declare just. It is the act by which
God declares that the sinner, who believes in Jesus and

BIRTH confesses his faith accepting His sacrifice for sin on the
Cross, goes on t be made just and acceptable before Him
(see Romans 3:24).

When we are born in the flesh, everything within us is 2. ________________

already established: our sex, our skin color, our height and
weight, our temperament, our habits, and our desires. But To be sanctified means to be separated unto God. A person
when we are born again, there is the implication of getting is sanctified through grace. Sanctification means
a spiritual body and a spiritual mind – the body and mind of consecrating yourself completely to God, morally and
Christ. spiritually. This holiness is an aspect of the divine essence
and is produced within the believer through the work of the
Although many studies have attempted to define and Holy Spirit (see 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
identify the source of man’s problems, and everything has
been blamed on the social crisis, the heart of the matter 3. _______________
lies in a spiritual battle. It is important to understand that
change must first come from within, before it is visible on Regeneration means to change the way you think about sin
the outside. Therefore, if we prioritize the spiritual solution, so that your mind can be open to the things of God,
then the spiritual victory will impact all the different areas especially to the incarnation of His Son and His redemptive
of society. work. The Holy Spirit is the one who allows this
The prophet Ezekiel said, “I will give you a new heart and regeneration to take place within a person, both morally an
put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart spiritually (see 1 Corinthians 2: 14).
of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
4. ________________
The new birth is a creative event in which God takes the
believer’s faith and joins it to the power of the Holy Spirit, Redemption means paying a ransom for someone who is
which produces the miracle of a new heart and spirit. “But enslaved. Salvation, as it has been expressed, is associated
the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John 3:6b). directly with man’s redemption. Not having anyone on earth
who could pay the price of rescuing (redeeming) man from
THE _______________OF SALVATION his sins with their own life. God sent His only Son to do it
thereby freeing humanity from eternal condemnation (see
The plan of salvation, as designed by God, provides for the Galatians 3:13).
following: justification, regeneration, sanctification, and
redemption.

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 saturate our minds with the Word of life, which never
THE PRIVILEGES OF LIFE IN THE SPIRIT changes and maintains the same power through out the
ages. Then, we will be surprised by everything we will be
The privilege of ____________ able to do when we believe God’s words and exercise our
faith.
Only spiritual people have the ability to see the kingdom of
God; their spiritual eyes are opened and they can perceive The privilege of speaking the word of ___________
what is hidden from the natural man.
The Lord said, “If you had responded to my rebuke, I would
As the apostle Paul said, “No eye has seen, no ear has have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts
heard, no mind conceived what God has prepared for those known to you” (Proverbs 1:23). The Lord longs to share His
who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9). thoughts with us, but we can only understand the Word of
God when the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. This is why the
The spiritual life I a world in which we find all kinds of Bible should be read in an attitude of prayer. David said,
riches and favors available only to us. They aren’t visible, “Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth, for I have
but they do exist. In other words, they are not perceptible o put my hope in your laws.” (Psalm 119:43).
the human eye; they can only be seen by those who have
been born of God and have developed their spiritual sight. The Word of God is as powerful now as it has always been;
Through faith, we can perceive and enjoy God’s blessings. and since it was powerful in the mouths of the prophets of
old, it is also mighty in our mouths today. We need to
The privilege of ____________ understand that the Word of God is not subject to time or
space and He is not governed by human laws. Time was
“Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is established by God, but time does not limit God.
heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). God
has given us the ability to believe, so as to change When the Word of God leaves our mouths, it will not return
circumstances in a positive way. If we want to see this kind until it has fulfilled the purpose for which it was sent out.
of change, we must listen to see what God says about it, This means that every word we speak will become a decree
because everything we want to conquer must be backed by in the spiritual realm. Every word we speak will return only
His Word. The seed of life can be found within His Word and when it has fulfilled every purpose for which it was spoken.
when the seed falls on a healthy heart full of faith, the seed
germinates and produces the fruit of the miracle we long
for. The entire power of God is contained in His Word, and KEY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER
our faith is the only thing that activates it and sets it into
motion. The plan of salvation provides the following:

We need to understand that our ears are capable of hearing • Justification: to declare just or righteous (see Romans
many sounds at the same time, but being able to hear and 3:24).
understand God’s voice depends on our commitment to • Sanctification: separated unto God (see 1 Thessalonians
understand and fulfill His divine purpose. We should 5:23).

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 Understanding  our  enemy
• Regeneration: change the way you think about sin (see 1
Corinthians 2:14).
Redemption: payment for the rescue of someone who is
enslaved (see Galatians 3:13).
Satan’s primary purpose is to cause a person to harden his
heart toward God and block his mind so that the message
of salvation will not be heard or accepted. Paul said, “And if
APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES
our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
Starting today, make a decision to:
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so
• Accept the privilege of seeing (see 1 Corinthians 2:9).
that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of
• Accept the privilege of believing (see Romans 10:17).
Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4,
Accept the privilege of giving the word of authority (see
emphasis mine).
Proverbs 1:23).
Satan’s ___________ and Character

Satan has the organizational skills of a military strategist,

and he imposes a reign of fear in the hearts of people.

  Under his authority, there are rulers, authorities, powers of

darkness and spiritual forces of evil in heavenly realms (see

 
Ephesians 6:12).
He is characterized as being: sly or crafty (see Genesis
3:1); a liar (see Genesis 3:1-3); vengeful (see Psalm 8:2);
  destructive (see Isaiah 54:16); tempting (see Matthew
4:7); an accuser (see Revelation 12:10); prince of the

 
demons (see Matthew 12:24); a murderer (see John 8:44);
the father of all lies (see John 8:44); prince of the kingdom
of the air (see Ephesians 2:2); the dragon (see Revelation
  12:7-9); a roaring lion (see 1 Peter 5:8); and one who
disguises himself as an angel of light (see 2 Corinthians

  11:14).

Satan is _____________
  When believers understand the redemptive work of Jesus

  on the Cross of Calvary, a veil is removed from their mind.

Our Lord said, “For judgment I have come into this world”
(John 9:39).
  When Jesus was on the earth, His presence tormented the
demons. For example, a demon-possessed man screamed

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at Him saying, “What do you want with us, Jesus of anointing and the ability to bind kings with shackles.
Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you Believe it and walk in it!
are – the Holy One of God! ‘Be Quiet!, said Jesus sternly.
Come out of him!” (Mark 1:24-25). Live a life of _____________

In Matthew 12:28, the Lord said, “But if I drive out demons In Matthew 12:33 the Lord said, “Make a tree good and its
by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be
upon you.” bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.” This verse refers
to our lives as trees. When Satan departs from someone,
the life of evil that was inside the person leaves. And this is
God’s kingdom is not divided. N order for the kingdom of a miracle, because when evil leaves, God replaces it with a
God to be established in any city or nation, it is of utmost life of good – and that life of good is Jesus Christ. If you are
importance that the church rise up in authority against one of Jesus’ trees – a person who has His life – then the
demons and cast them out. fruit you produce should include integrity, justice and truth.
There should be no such thing as, “I am a Christian, but I
How do you exercise the judgment of God against the fornicate.”
enemy? Look at the points below.
Are you a “tree” of Jesus or not? When you want to know
Use your _____________and bind the strong man what kind of tree a person is, look at the fruit in this life –
and make sure your life bears the fruit of the Lord.
The Word of God declares that no one can enter a strong Some people get confused about this issue. They go to
man’s house unless they first bind him (see Matthew church, but they really aren’t Christians. Going to church
12:29). Studying this verse, I came to understand that does not guarantee salvation. We go to church because we
Satan was that strong man that had bound the lives of are fruit, because we are new trees, different people; and it
men, women, young people, and children, making them is there that we express our worship and gratitude to God.
slaves to sin. When I received this revelation, we started The life of the Father is shown in people through the fruit
binding Satan and the forces of evil. Psalm 149:5-6 says, they bear.
“Let the saints rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their
beds. May the praise of God be in their mouths and a Watch Your _____________
double-edged sword in their hands.” The doubled-edged
sword is the Word and it is used to execute judgment Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth
among the nations and punishment among the people in speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good
order to bind kings with shackles. stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of
the evil stored up in him.” (Matthew 12:34b-35). Your
words express what is in your heart. When people
complain, their fruit is bad. When they grumble, their fruit
is bad. When they curse, their fruit is bad.
These “kings” are the demonic principalities of evil that When people are full of God, their words are always lead to
operate in the spiritual realm. God has given you the success. They encourage those who are fallen. These

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people don’t let themselves be influenced by circumstances, 13:3).
but always speak according to the Word of God. • Have faith (see Hebrews 11:6).
• Take hold of the truth (see John 8:31-32, 36).
• Pray and fast (see Matthew 17:21).
Cancel All _____________ Against You

Don’t let the enemy attack you with them. Pray sincerely, KEY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER
“Lord, free me from any demonic bondage. Grant me
complete authority to rebuke demons in the Name of We should understand who our battle is against – Satan.
Jesus.” You must cancel all argument against you. Decide The enemy’s main purpose is to harden people’s hearts
to sanctify your life starting right now. When Joshua said, against God and block their minds so they cannot
“As for me and my house, we will serve he Lord.” (Joshua receive the message of salvation.
24:15b), he made the decision that his whole house would His greatest trick is to make people think lightly of sin, to
consecrate their lives to the Lord. I hope you will do the see it as a game.
same.

Paul said, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES
when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground.” (Ephesians 6:13). What is “the evil day”? It is the Starting today, make a decision to:
day of adversity, the day of trial. • Use your authority to bind the strong man.
• Live with integrity.
• Watch your words, because your fruit depends on them.
• Cancel all arguments that may exist against you in the
Preparation for Deliverance spiritual realm.

• Have a real desire to live in freedom, God is willing to

give us freedom, and, through Jesus, he has given us
the means by which to obtain it. But of his own free will,
man needs to desire it with all his heart (see Matthew
11:28).
• Identify the causes of the bondage (see Psalm 139:23-
24).
• Repent and confess sin. Deliverance does not replace
repentance. Because of sin, Satan gained certain rights
over our lives.
• These rights can only be cancelled through a genuine
repentance and a complete renouncing of sin (see Luke What  you  need  to  know  about  an  
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encounter began to afflict the people of Egypt with different plagues
so that they wanted the children of Israel to leave!

Pharaoh’s _____________
The Importance of an ______________
Pharaoh called for Moses and said, “I will let you go to offer
The Encounter is a three-day retreat, during which time sacrifices to the Lord your God in the desert, but you must
God will be imparting life to each person who participates. not go very far. Now pray for me,” (Exodus 8:28). But
Those in attendance will receive direction and understand later, Pharaoh asked them, “But just who will be going?
God’s true purpose for their lives. Moses answered: “We will go with our young and old, with
our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds,
All participants must attend the Encounter with a because we are to celebrate a festival to the Lord.” (Exodus
completely open heart and with the purity and simplicity of 10:8b-9). But Pharaoh responded bluntly: “The Lord be
a child, in order to receive everything God wants to minister with you – if I let you go, along with your women and
to them. children! Clearly you are bent on evil. No! Have only the
men go; and worship the Lord, since that’s what you have
During the Encounter, it is crucial that they lay aside all been asking for.’ Then Moses and Aaron were driven out of
types of arguments, wrong concepts, and prejudices about Pharaoh’s presence.” (Exodus 10:10-11).
God because those things may hinder tem from receiving
everything God wants to offer them. _______________What Jesus Said

I have seen lives so completely transformed during these Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in
three days than they might otherwise be in a full year. three days.” John 2:19

The Children of Israel Had an ________________ The Encounter should last three days, allowing God to do a
deep work of transformation in each life. There, you will
You may recall when the people of Israel were oppressed in experience death of the old nature and the resurrection to
Egypt and God had to raise up a deliverer. His name was newness of life in Christ. What the Lord wants is for us have
Moses and He went before the king of Egypt with a request a quiet time, where we isolate ourselves from our activities
from God. “Then they said, ‘The God of Hebrews has met for a short time and avoid any distraction in order to hear
with u. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert the voice of God clearly. Why does God ask for three days?
to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us Because that is the time necessary for the Holy Spirit to do
with plagues or with the sword.’” (Exodus 5:3). a complete work of transforming hearts. The psalmist said,
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do
As we can see, Moses’ request reflected God’s desire to this.” (Psalm 37:5). Only at an Encounter can we entrust,
meet with His people for three days. Pharoah did not accept give, and surrender our whole life to the direction of God.
the proposal, but hardened his heart and called them lazy.
He burdened them with even more work so that in this way
Paul’s ___________________
they would have no time to think about God. But then, God

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Paul the apostle is one of the greatest men in Christianity. In his defense as he stood before king Agrippa, Paul said,
He was previously known as Saul of Tarsus. Before “About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw the light
converting to the Lord he was a bitter persecutor of from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and
Christians. But then, he had an experience that transformed my companions. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a
his life completely, changed his name, and caused him to voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you
defend the very doctrine he once condemned. persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “I am Jesus, whom you
What brought about his change of heart? The answer is are persecuting,” the Lord replied. “Now get up and stand
simple: he had a revelation of the Cross. Everyone who has on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a
a personal encounter with God will have the Cross of Christ servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and
revealed to them, and this revelation is the only thing that what I will show you. I will rescue you from your own
can transform hearts. Paul said, “May I never boast except people and form the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to
in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the open their eyes and turn from darkness to light, and form
world has been crucified to me, and I to the world”. the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive
(Galatians 6:14). forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are
sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:13-18).
Paul also said, “I want to know Christ and the power of his Paul beheld the light, which was the manifestation of the
resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, glory of the Lord. When he had a personal encounter with
becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain God, he saw that all of his actions against Christianity were
to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10). actually committed against the Lord himself.

Paul’s desire was to feel what Jesus felt while He was on On that day, God called Paul to serve Him, and gave him
the Cross. He wanted to suffer the same agony that Jesus instructions concerning what to do and how to develop his
suffered during His crucifixion. He understood that if he had ministry.
this experience, he would also be able to experience the
power of resurrection. God answered the desire of the By _____________the Encounter, you will:
apostle’s heart and allowed him to experience the
revelation of the Cross. This is why he said, “I have been Receive vision. “…to open your eyes…”
crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in
me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of We know that without the vision, people perish. Those
God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians who convert to Christianity must first receive a vision of
2:20). the crucified Christ. Whoever is able to see the Cross, in
the true revelation, will be able to understand their
calling.

Truths You Will ______________ at an Encounter ______________ a genuine conversion. “…so they
may turn from darkness to light…”

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 graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). If God
This conversion must be full and complete. God rejected gave up what He loved most, His own Son, so we could
the people of Israel because their conversion was just be saved by simply believing in Him, won’t He provide
from their lips, and not form their heart. John the everything else we need? I can tell you that God has a
Baptist would tell those who would come to him for lot more to give us than we can actually ask for.
baptism. “…produce fruit in keeping with repentance…” We can enjoy His inheritance here on earth and also in
(Matthew 3:8) Our conversion is leads to and the eternal life to come.
necessitates a change of lifestyle, so the believer should
strive to do those only things that please God.
KEY PRINCIPLES TO REMEMBER
Understand that you have gone from Satan’s control
to the _____________ of Jesus. “…and from the God asked His people to go to an Encounter (see Exodus
power of Satan to God…” 5:3).
Pharaoh’s craftiness (see Exodus 8:28; 10:8b-9;10:11-12)
In the past Satan took advantage of man’s weakness in Remember what Jesus said (see John 2:19).
order to make him a slave. But in Jesus every believer Paul went to an Encounter (see Galatians 6:14; Philippians
was rescued from enemy’s control over his life. The 3:10).
success of a victorious Christian life depends on our God transforms lives completely at the Encounter.
personal relationship with Christ. To convert to Jesus is
to live completely in love with Him.
APPLYING THESE PRINCIPLES
Understand that through faith in Jesus, you will
receive _______________ of sins. “…so that they If you decide to experience the joy and the blessing of
may receive forgiveness of sins…” attending an Encounter, you will be able experience the
following truths:
One of the devil’s strategies is to enslave people with • You will receive vision.
guilt, making them believe that their sins have not yet • You will experience a genuine conversion.
been forgiven. In this way, he retains control over their • You will go from Satan’s power into the lordship of
lives. The sins we have committed deserve punishment, Jesus.
but Jesus carried all of them upon His body and took • You will receive forgiveness of sins.
them for us, receiving the punishment we deserved. • You will understand the privileges of your inheritance.

Understand your ___________ in God. “… a place

among those who are sanctified…”

Paul said, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave
him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, What person has made an impact on your life to such

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a degree that he or she has left quite an impression
on you?

I personally met someone who had such an extraordinary

influence on me that He changed the direction of my life,
turning it around one hundred eighty degrees. That person
gave such meaning to my life that I was convinced that up
to that moment, I had been wasting my time and now I
wanted to redeem every minute of my existence. Perhaps
you are wondering who that person is. Well, his name is
Jesus Christ.

The impact of that encounter face to face with Jesus, which

I describe in this Pre-encounter guidebook, was so glorious
that form that moment on, Jesus was no longer an abstract
and unsearchable person but as real as the air I breathed
or the sun that sets. I am sure that He wants to reveal
Himself t you in the same way that He revealed himself to
me.

Through this material that I have prepared with much love

and dedication, you will learn to prepare your heart to
experience a true encounter with Jesus of Nazareth, who
has prepared beforehand many great things for your life.

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