Maturity Series

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 MATURITY SERIES
Contents

Lesson 1: Prayer – Part 1

Lesson 2: Prayer – Part 2

Lesson 3: Prayer – Part 3

Lesson 4: The Word of God

Lesson 5: The Foundation

Lesson 6: Repentance

Lesson 7: Faith – Part 1

Lesson 8: Faith – Part 2

Lesson 9: Giving

Lesson 10: The Lord’s Day

Lesson 11: The Holy Spirit – Part 1

Lesson 12: The Holy Spirit – Part 2

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 PRAYER - Part 1
(Maturity Series: Lesson One)

“12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Romans 12:12

“2Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

Colossians 4:2

I. WHAT IS PRAYER?

Being a Christian is not just joining a certain religion. First

and foremost, it is a living relationship with the living God.
Fellowship and constant communication are needed for a
relationship to grow. PRAYER is the way to
communicate with God. It is a two-way process. In
prayer, we talk to Him and He speaks back to us. There
are times when we speak to Him and there are also times
when we simply listen to Him. There are many ways God
speaks to us, but the clearest way is through His living
word that inspires, rebukes, teaches and guides
(Hebrews 4:12).

II. WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

There are two main reasons why we should pray:

1. To deepen our relationship with God

“8Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your
hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8

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 Even though we are God’s children, our
relationship with Him does not become
immediately deep and intimate. A relationship
needs to be worked out in order to grow deeper
and sweeter. Through prayer, we can know God
more. The more consistent we are in our prayer,
the closer we get to Him, just like what Moses and
Joshua did (Exodus 33:11). We must pray so we
make our connection with God stronger.

2. To receive from God

“7Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will

find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

There are more than 3,000 promises of God

written in the Bible, and these would simply remain
as promises if we do not know them. However, we
can claim and receive these promises through
prayer. The Bible says:

“6Do not be anxious about anything, but in

everything, by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Philippians 4:6

III. WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPLES OF PRAYER?

1. Pray in secret

“5And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for

they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on
the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the
truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But
when you pray, go into your room, close the door and
pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father,
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 who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:5-6

The motive of our prayers is not to be a venue for

showing off our spirituality.

2. Pray with a correct understanding of who God is

“7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like

pagans, for they think they will be heard because of
their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your
Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:7-8

Many Christians are acting like pagans. They believe

that through their long and repetitious prayers, God
will answer them. They view God as without concern
nor interest in meeting their needs. This mindset is
wrong. Jesus said, “Before we even ask, God the
Father already knows what we need.” This means
that God is concern and is ready to meet our needs
when we ask Him (Matthew 7:7).

3. Pray with faith

“6And without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to him must believe that
he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly
seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

We can receive from God through our faith (Matthew

9:29). God will only answer prayers coupled with faith
(Mark 11:24).

4. Pray to the Father in heaven

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 “9This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in
heaven, hallowed be your name,” Matthew 6:9

Jesus taught his followers to call directly to the Father

when praying. He instructed them not to look for
images or idols, rather to call to the Father “who
cannot be seen” (Matthew 6:6). We must follow what
Jesus teaches so that our prayers will be effective.

5. Pray in the Name of Jesus

“20always giving thanks to God the Father for

everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:20

Jesus Christ is the only mediator between us and God

because He is the only one who paid for our sins on
the cross (1Timothy 2:3-6). No one can go to the
Father except through Him. Through our union with
Christ, we can go to the Father’s presence using the
name of Jesus who is our Savior and advocate, and
the Father will hear us (John 16:23; Ephesians 5:20; 1
John 2:1).

6. Pray with the guidance of the Holy Spirit

“26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our

weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans
that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26

“18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds

of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert
and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6: 18a

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 Even if we pray directly to the Father, yet we are not
guided by the Holy Spirit, our prayers will not be
answered. Prayer is not asking for what you want,
but it is asking for what God wants for you. Our
prayer will be answered if it is according to His perfect
will (1 John 5:14). We cannot know God’s will on our
own, so the Holy Spirit helps us in this area (Romans
8:26). He is the one who intercedes on our behalf
(Romans 8:27). That’s why before we pray, we must
ask for the help of the Holy Spirit who is our guide.

7. Pray earnestly

“12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to
me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and
find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, who teach the Law

because they worship only with their lips, but not with
their hearts (Matthew 15:8). We need to understand
that God is not impressed with our words when we
pray, but what impresses Him is the condition of our
hearts (1 Samuel 16:7).

APPLICATION:

1. Have you heard the voice of God? When?

2. How do we see God- strict or compassionate?
3. Can you say that your relationship with God is already
deep? Why?
4. Which of the seven principles in prayer have you
taken for granted?

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 PRAYER - Part 2
(Maturity Series: Lesson Two)

IV. HOW SHOULD WE PRAY?

“9This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name, 10your kingdom come, your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven. 11Give us today our daily
bread.12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from the evil one.” Matthew 6: 9-13

This is the pattern Jesus set for all believers to follow. The
Lord’s Prayer is not to be memorized. It is simply a guide or
outline on how to pray. If we follow its pattern, then our
prayer is complete. What are the steps that should
comprise our prayer?

1. Give worship to God

“9This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in

heaven, hallowed be your name,” Matthew 6:9

This step is the most important because we worship our

Father by giving…

…thankfulness for what He has given us (Psalm 95:2).

…praise for who He is in our lives (Psalms 103:1-5).
…reverence for His glory and magnificence (Psalm 95:
6-7).

In this step, we are not asking from God, but we are

giving Him what He seeks-true worship (John 4:23-
24). This kind of prayer stems from a heart who truly
seeks God for who He is, not for what He can do. The
motive of this prayer is to bless God and to dwell in His
presence.

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 2. Intercede for His Kingdom to come and His will to
be done

“10your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is

in heaven” Matthew 6:10

Not all that surrounds us and happens to us are God’s will.

There are happenings caused by the devil and man, and we
are called to pray against these. We must pray that God’s
will be done on earth as it is being done in heaven.

We must pray that God’s kingdom and will be fulfilled in

our…

1. Life 5. Community
2. Family 6. Government
3. Work/Livelihood/Business 7. Country
4. Local Church 8. Whole World

3. Ask for daily needs

“1Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11

If our earthly father desires to provide the needs of his

children, how much more our Father in heaven desires
it? (Matthew 7:9-11). Jesus encourages us to ask from
the Father for what we need everyday. There are those
who have not received because they simply did not ask
(James 4:2).

There are reasons why our petitions are not answered:

i. Sin (Isaiah 59:1-2; 1 Peter 3:12)

ii. Doubt (James 1:6-7)
iii. Wrong motive (James 4:3)
iv. Strife / Fighting / Discord (1 Peter 3:7)
v. Resistance to God’s Perfect Will (1 John
5:14)

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 vi. Weak Relationship with Christ (John 15:7)

4. Ask for Forgiveness

“12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our

debtors.” Matthew 6:12

It is not God’s desire for us to sin, but if we sin, we are

called to come to Him through our advocate who is
Jesus Christ (1 John 2:1). We are called to confess and
to repent of the sins we committed (Proverbs 28:13).
Don’t confess to God the sins you do not want to
give up. If we sincerely ask for forgiveness, there are
two things that will happen to us: “He will forgive our
sins” and He will cleanse our hearts from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

5. Forgive Others

“12Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our

debtors.” Matthew 6:12

Because God has forgiven us through Jesus Christ, we

too must release forgiveness to others who wronged us
(Ephesians 4:32). This is the ultimate reason why we
should forgive others even if they have not asked for our
forgiveness. Because we have freely received, then
we must freely give. We have no right to ask
forgiveness from God until we learn to forgive others
(Matthew 6:14-15).

6. Ask for Protection

“13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from

the evil one.” Matthew 6:13

God wants to protect us from evil and harm (Psalms 91:

9-10). Protection is God’s will for us, but we must pray

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 for it to happen. We must ask for His angels to cover us
wherever we go (Psalms 91:11). It is equally important
to walk in His will or else our prayer for protection is
useless if we place ourselves in situations where we are
vulnerable to the attacks of Satan (Ephesians 4:27).

7. Give Praise

“13For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:13

If we start our prayer with praise and reverence to God,

then we should end it in the same manner. If we have
started by praising Him for His wonderful deeds, then
we should also end praising Him for He hears and
answers what we ask.

“6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.” Philippians 4:6

In this last step, we also declare His kingdom, power

and majesty. We must acknowledge that everything is
His. If we start with humility in our prayer, we should
also end with the same humble attitude. Worship is our
humble adoration to our glorious God.

APPLICATION:

You may only answer/discuss three out of the following:

1. Out of the seven steps of prayer, how many have
you not yet done?
2. Do you give time to praise and worship God
everyday?
3. Do you give time to pray and intercede for others?
Whom do you pray?
4. What have you asked that has not been answered
yet? Why so?

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 5. What hindrances to prayer do you still have in your
Christian walk?
6. Can we be forgiven if we don’t forgive others?
7. Is it right to pray without giving thanks?
8. What hindrances to prayer do you still have in your
Christian walk?
9. Can we be forgiven if we don’t forgive others?
10. Is it right to pray without giving thanks?

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 PRAYER - Part 3
(Maturity Series: Lesson Three)

V. HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR PRAYER LIFE?

“35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got
up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he
prayed.” Mark 1:35

Our spiritual growth depends on our prayer growth. A

prayerful Christian constantly grows in the things of God.
We will now talk of seven things that will improve our
prayer-life and fellowship with God.

1. PUT GOD FIRST IN EVERY THING

Jesus Christ first talked to His Father before he would

do any thing (Mark 1:35-39). He is our example. We
have so many tasks in our day, but the first thing we
must do is to seek the face of our Father. When we
wake up in the morning, our minds should be focused
on God first before we start thinking about work, family
and other things. He is the one we talk to before we
sleep at night and He must also be the first one we look
for in the morning. Deepening and maintaining our
relationship with God must be our top priority above
other things.

2. TIME TO PRAY

Jesus Christ prayed in the early hours of the morning

(Mark 1:35). We can pray anytime but it is better to give
Him time first thing in the early morning. King David
sought God every morning (Psalm 5:3; 59:16; 88:13).
Prophet Isaiah was also awakened and talked to God in
the morning (Isaiah 50:4). We cannot strictly say though
that morning is the only appropriate time to pray. In fact,

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 Daniel prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10). It is also
very important to set our exact prayer time- 4 o’clock in
the morning, 5 AM, 6 AM or any other time. Peter and
John prayed at 3 o’clock in the afternoon (Acts 3:1).
Setting our prayer time is important so we can impose
discipline to our selves.

3. HOW LONG SHOULD WE PRAY?

Aside from setting our prayer schedule, we must also

determine how long our prayer should be. We need to
have a plan and a goal in our prayer time. How many
minutes or hours must we talk to God? When Jesus
prayed in Gethsemane, He pleaded with His three
disciples to pray with Him even for just one hour
(Matthew 26:40). Maybe some of us could not pray that
long but it is beneficial if we make one hour a day our
goal in prayer. We can probably start with 15 minutes
today, 20 minutes the next day, 30 minutes next week,
45 minutes the second week and one hour after three
weeks of discipline. We start from small then we must
move on to improve our prayer life. Time will come that
even three hours of prayer seems so short.

4. DISCIPLINING THE FLESH (OUR BODY)

Our spirits want to pray but our bodies are weak

(Matthew 26:41). We must overcome the “flesh” so we
can grow in our prayer. The flesh is our number one
enemy in prayer. Our spirit wants to commune with God,
but our bodies wants to sleep, rest, work, eat and play.
So many times a Christian follows the flesh and not the
spirit urged by the Holy Spirit to pray. We need to
discipline and master our bodies like what Apostle Paul
did (1 Corinthians 9:27). To master our bodies would
take about six to eight weeks. It is difficult to discipline
the body but this will lead to a good habit. Our prayer

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 may be forced at the start but time will come when we
will achieve a disciplined prayer life, much to our joy.

5. PLACE OF PRAYER

Jesus went to a lonely place to pray (Mark 1:35). We

must look for a place where we cannot be disturbed.
Daniel prayed in his room (Daniel 6:10). There were
times when Peter prayed on the roof deck (Acts 10:9). If
there is no appropriate place inside the house, one may
go out and find a lonely like what Jesus did.

6. KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD

Our knowledge of God’s word affects our prayer life.

Most of what we pray are stated from and guided by the
Bible (Psalm 119:47; 149, 164, 170). The more you
know of God’s words, the more you can converse
with God. If we want growth in our prayer life, we must
increase our study of God’s word.

7. COMMITMENT TO PRAYER

Commitment is needed to build up the prayer habit.

Make it a practice to pray always anytime and
anywhere. We can pray without ceasing
(1Thessalonians 5:17). We can talk with God at all
times, so let’s make prayer a part of who we are.

APPLICATION:
1. Do you have a daily prayer schedule? How long is your
prayer time?
2. What are the hindrances why you can’t pray as often as
you want?
3. Do you read the Bible in your prayer time?
4. Is it appropriate to pray anywhere all throughout your
day or should it be done only at home? Do you converse
with God anywhere?

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 THE WORD OF GOD
(Maturity Series: Lesson Four)

“4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread

alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of
God.” Matthew 4:4

The word of God is our spiritual food. In the same way that
our physical bodies hunger for food, the true children of God
desire to feast on God’s word. What happens if we do not
eat?

1. We get weak

If there is not enough food, our body becomes weak. So

will our spirit be if we neglect God’s word. The scriptures
give us spiritual strength (Psalm 119:28).

2. We get sick

Aside from weakness, we also get vulnerable to many

diseases if we fail to nourish ourselves with God’s word.
There are many Christians who are “sick in attitude and
spirit” because they don’t give time to God’s word. As a
result, they fail to produce the fruits of the Spirit. They
need the Word to be healed inwardly. (Psalm 107:20).

3. We die

Many Christians lose their love towards God because of

many things, and one of these is taking for granted or
forsaking God’s word. The Bible commands us to guard
our lives with sound teachings and doctrines that we may
make it to the end of our Christian walk (I Timothy 4:16).
If we daily meditate on his words every morning and
evening, we will be like a tree planted on a riverside.
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 Such tree always blooms and never dries up (Psalm 1:2-
3).

I. HOW DO WE DIGEST GOD’S WORD?

1. OWN A BIBLE

One must personally own a Bible. When buying it,

make sure it is in the language and version that you
find easy to understand. Choose also a large-printed
Bible to motivate reading. The Bible should be our
most treasured possession because it reveals God’s
purposes and plans for us. The Bible is called the “the
book of all books”.

2. GIVE TIME TO BIBLE READING

No matter how many Bibles we have at home, they

are useless to us if we don’t open and read them. The
first thing to do is to allot our best time of the day for
reading the Bible so that the mind is still fresh to
receive from God. It is also helpful to read first the
New Testament before the Old Testament. It is easier
to understand the Old Testament after reading the
New Testament.

3. RECEIVE GOD’S MESSAGE IN THE BIBLE

Reading God’s word is not only for learning but also

for hearing from Him. The Lord wants to speak to
us through the Bible. While reading, some verses will
seem to jump out of the page to speak directly to us.
These are living words that are sharper than double-
edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). This is called “rhema”
in Greek and translated as “spoken word” or “now
word” in English. This is the voice of God which
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 strengthens, encourages, rebukes, or gives visions. If
there are verses that speak to us while reading the
Bible, receive these as God’s message.

4. MEDITATE ON GOD’S WORD

After receiving the “rhema” word, we must give time

to meditate on it. Meditation is pondering for the
meaning or implication of the message in relevance to
a particular situation in our life. Meditating on God’s
word makes us wise (Psalms 119:98-100). We can
meditate on the following:

1. God’s command that should be followed

2. A Principle to follow
3. A Sin to repent from
4. A Promise from God to receive
5. An Example to follow

5. MEMORIZE GOD’S WORD

It is very beneficial if we can memorize the verses the

Holy Spirit will give us. In the Old Testament, God
commanded His people to keep His words close to
their minds and hearts (Deuteronomy 11:18). The
verses can be memorized if we repeatedly read them
loud. Determine to memorize daily a verse from the
Bible. These words are the sword of the Spirit that
God can use in our lives (Ephesians 6:17).

6. LIVE OUT GOD’S WORD

We must be doers and not just hearers of God’s

word. A person who always listens to the Word but
does not obey what it says is foolish (James 1:22).
We are called not only to listen to God’s word but also

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 to apply it to our lives. Knowledge without application
is hypocrisy in God’s eyes (Matthew 23:2-3).

7. CONTINUE TO LIVE OUT GOD’S WORD

Living out God’s word must be continued until Jesus

Christ returns. There are Christians who started well
in their faith, but they fail to persevere in the long run.
They are full of knowledge, but what they know
cannot be seen in their lives. We must continue to
apply what we know in the Lord even if we are long-
time Christians (1 John 2:24). Application is the mark
of a true disciple (John 8:31).

APPLICATION:

1. What must we do to develop a disciplined Bible- study

habit?
2. What are the hindrances why some people cannot
obey God’s word?

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 THE FOUNDATION
(Maturity Series: Lesson Five)

FOUNDATION

In this lesson we will talk about the importance of building a

strong foundation for our lives. Like a house or a building it
cannot stand without a foundation. The strength of the
house depends upon the strength of its foundation. If the
foundation is weak that house is also weak but if the
foundation is strong that house is also strong. In like
manner, a person who has a strong spiritual foundation will
also live a strong and victorious life. In the book of Matthew
7:24-27, our Lord Jesus talks about two kinds of people who
are building their houses in two different kinds of foundation.
(Please read Matthew 7:24-27)

TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE

Here in this story we see two kinds of people. The wise man
and the foolish man. The basis of Jesus calling this person
wise is not because he is intellectual or a brilliant thinker but
because he has chosen a firm foundation to build his house.
House here speaks of our lives. If we build our life on the
right foundation, we are perceived and called wise by our
Lord.

TWO KINDS OF FOUNDATION

We see here that there are two kinds of foundation. A rock,
which speaks of a firm foundation and sand, which speaks of
a very weak foundation.

1. Rock – signifies our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians

10:4). He is the Rock eternal (Isaiah 26:4). Jesus
Christ is pictured in the Bible as a rock because He is
strong and will never ever change. He is the same
yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He is
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 the chosen and precious cornerstone (1 Peter 2:6).
He is the only foundation given by God the Father to
which we can build our lives upon (1 Corinthians
3:11).

2. Sand – speaks of anything that is apart from Christ.

Sand signifies those weak and lifeless foundations
that men have built their lives on. What are some of
these weak foundations?

i. Religion – some people are so proud on

their church that they believed that if you
will not join to their group you will not be
saved. They exalt and magnify their sect
more than they magnify Christ. There trust
is on their denomination and not on God
our savior.

ii. Money – many people are so obsessed on

worldly wealth that their whole life is
focused on gaining material possessions.
The top priority of their lives is money and
not Jesus. They love money more than
they loved God. They based their worth
and identity on there accumulated
possessions. Their trust and focus is on
things and not on the Living God.

iii. Man – some are so dependent on other

people that they feel they could not
continue living if these people whom they
look unto for help and satisfaction are no
longer be there. The foundation of their
lives is based on their spouse, parents,
friend, or others and not on Jesus Christ.

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 iv. Man-made doctrines – some people
based their beliefs and values on man-
made teachings rather than on the Word of
God. Any doctrine that is based to the
teachings of the Bible is not worthy of
listening much more believing.

v. Self – many people are self reliant and

independent of God. Instead of trusting
and living for God, they live a life that is
totally void of the presence of God. They
set their own laws, standards, and visions
instead of walking in the ways of the Lord.
They focus on self and not on Christ.

THE STORMS OF LIFE

In the story, the heavy rain and the strong winds hit both
houses, which simply means that all of us will really
experience problems. It doesn’t mean that if you are one
with God you will not face tribulations. Jesus said, “In this
world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). As long as we are
still in this fallen world we will always be bombarded with all
kinds of pressures. From time to time we will experience
problem in our family, finances, work, and health. Trials
and attacks will always be part of our life here on earth.

HOUSE ON THE ROCK

Our house must be established on the Rock, who is Jesus
Christ, so that we will stand firm in the midst of the storms
that will come to us. The house that we are building can
mean our life, our family, our work, our business, our
ministry or any other endeavor we try to achieve. Everything
we have and everything we do must be rooted in Christ so
that it will flourish and prosper. Apart from Him we are
nothing and can do nothing.

BUILDING OUR HOUSE ON THE ROCK

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How do we build our house on the rock? Jesus gave us this
principle in Matthew 7:24: HEAR AND OBEY. If you take
time to hear the word of God and apply it, then you will be
established in Christ the rock. The more you hear and obey
the Lord the more you will be rooted and grounded in Him.

TAKE TIME TO HEAR THE WORD

Before we can fully obey God we must first know His
commandments and principles. We need to take time in
reading, studying and hearing the word of God. If we are
ignorant to the teachings of the Bible then we cannot really
obey God. We must first hear before we can obey.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU HEAR

Hearing the word of God is not enough we need to apply it.
If we are just fond of hearing the word but we fail to practice
it, then we are called “foolish” by Jesus Himself (Matthew
7:26). We need to be doers of the word and not hearers only
(James 1:22). Wise men practice what they know (Matthew
7:24).

RESULTS OF APPLYING WHAT YOU HEAR

If we constantly hear and obey the word of God our
relationship with Christ goes deeper and deeper. The more
we are established in Him the more we gain spiritual
strength, enabling grace and supernatural power. And when
the storms of life comes to us, it would not affect us because
we are strong on the inside. Our hearts are founded on
Jesus Christ. Doers of the word are possessed by the Holy
Spirit. God is with them. And if God is for us who can be
against us? (Romans 8:31).

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 REPENTANCE
(Maturity Series: Lesson Six)

I. GOD IS LOOKING FOR GOOD FRUITS

THE TWO TYPES OF FRUITS

A. Fruits of Righteousness

 Isaiah 5:1-7 talks about a man who plants good variety

of grapes in a fertile soil. He carefully watches over the
grape vines and tends them with much care in order to
bear fruits. He expects the vines to yield sweet grapes
but the fruits turn out very sour (v.2). The Bible says that
the owner of the vineyard represents God and the
vineyard pictures us His people (v. 7). The Lord has been
so good in taking care of us, and He hopes to see fruits
of righteousness in our lives. Sadly, we do not yield good
fruits.

B. Fruits of Wickedness

“19The acts of the sinful nature is obvious: sexual

immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20Idolatry and
witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish
ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those
who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Galatians 5:19-21

 Apostle Paul wrote the above verses to the believers in

Galatia. It is possible for a believer to still cling to a sinful
lifestyle. But God clearly says that we the “branches”
must produce good fruits, or else, we will be cut off from
Him who is the Vine (John 15:2).

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II. REPENTANCE THAT LEADS TO FRUITS OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS

 A “good character” is a mark that we have truly been

converted to the Lord. These good fruits can only be visible
in our lives if there is true or “genuine repentance”.

Two Types of Repentance:

1. Self-centered - There are people who repent

because their sins have been exposed causing them
much shame. There are also those who repent
because of heavy guilt feelings. Others do so
because of the negative consequences of their deeds.
Still, others repent in order to be blessed. They repent
believing that they can be rewarded with good. The
motive of such repentance is self-centered.

2. God-centered - Repentance comes after a

realization that God is hurt by our sins.

“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what

is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when
you speak and justified when you judge.” Psalm 51:4

This is the prayer of David when he sinned before

God. He repented because He knew that he hurt God,
and he wanted to please God again. This is a God-
centered repentance.

III. FALSE REPENTANCE

 Repentance is not only feeling remorse or being sorry

for sins and mistakes done. There are people, just like
Esau (Hebrews 12:17) and Judas (Matthew 27:3-5), who

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 regret their wrong deed but their actions have not
changed at all. Because not all people understand true
repentance, many repeat the same sin they want to rid
themselves of. Misunderstanding of repentance is also
the reason why many were not able to continue following
the Lord.

IV. REPENTANCE IS A PROCESS

For a better understanding of true repentance, here are

three terms taken from the New Testament:

1. Revelation - called “apokalupsis” in Greek, this term

means “to remove the covering or to open” (kalupsis-
“covering”, apo-“remove”. This talks about God who
removes the veil or covering in our eyes that we may
receive knowledge that comes from a godly perspective.

2. Repentance - this word which is “metanoia” in Greek

means “new understanding” (meta-“new”; noeo-
“understanding”). It is a new understanding or
perspective that comes after the previous one. It is a new
“mindset”. This means that repentance is a “change of
mind”.

3. Turning - the Greek equivalent of this word is

“epistrepho” which means “turning to a new path”.
Turning is a result of revelation and repentance (Acts
3:19).

 We must include all these three in our repentance

before God. We need to accept God’s view and
understanding on our sinful state that we may be able to
return and walk in His ways.

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  God will remove the covering in our minds by giving us
information that comes from a godly perspective
(revelation) that we may receive the mind of Christ
(repentance) that will enable us to turn away from our
sins (turning). This is the process of true repentance that
brings real change in us. Both we and God have a role in
repentance. God’s part is to reveal His mind and will, and
our part is to accept and live out this new mindset.0

APPLICATION:

1. Have you experienced a real God-centered

repentance?
2. Is there real repentance without God doing His part in
the process? Why?

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 FAITH - Part 1
(Maturity Series: Lesson Seven)

FIVE TRUTHS ABOUT FAITH:

I. Faith calls those things which are not as already

there (Faith Assures)

Faith is trusting that the things you have been hoping for
will happen, even if you have not yet seen it with your
physical eyes (Hebrews 11:1). True faith “calls those
things which are not as already there”. This is the kind of
faith we need so we could claim the things we have
been asking from God. Believing it’s already there even
if we do not see anything yet. (Mark 11:24).

We are called to walk in faith and not through our

physical eyes (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our faith is based on
our hope (Hebrews 11:1). This hope is based on God’s
promises that He impresses on us when we give time to
pray and to meditate on His words.

II. Faith trusts in the ability of God (Faith Trusts)

There are problems that God allows to happen in our

lives, so we will depend on Him instead of ourselves.
This kind of faith brings us to:

A. prayer and asking (2 Corinthians 1:10-11)

B. asking of guidance (Proverbs 3:5-6)
C. the power of God (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

III. Faith is acting upon (Faith Acts)

“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is

dead.” James 2:17

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 Faith without deeds is like a body without a spirit, dead
(James 2:26). Even Satan and his demons believe that
there is one God, however this kind of faith is not
accompanied by obedience to God’s principles (James
2:19). True faith shows actions. This kind of faith leads
us to:

A. Real Salvation and Righteousness (James 2:14; 23-

24)

We cannot be saved by human effort but only through

faith, but we must understand that real faith produces
good works. This is the faith that saves. It means if we
are truly “saved or have faith” it will be clearly seen in
our fruits. If we are attached to the vine, we will really
bear good fruits (John 15:5).

We need to note that bearing fruits is not instantaneous

but gradual. So we must be careful not to judge others
who do not have as much fruits as we have. There are
changes that we already experience but have not been
experienced yet by others, or it may be the other way
around.

B. Helping the needy

“15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and

daily food. 16If one of you says to him, ’Go, I wish
you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing
about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the
same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by
action, is dead.” James 2:15-17

C. Giving God what he desires (James 2:20-22)

Abraham sacrificed his only son to God even if this is

against his will. Because of his faith he was willing to
sacrifice anything for God.

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 D. Service & accomplishment of great things before
God

“31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she

welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who
were disobedient. 32 And what more shall I say? I do
not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson,
Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33 who
through faith conquered kingdoms, administered
justice, and gained what was promised; shut the
mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames,
and escape the edge of the sword; whose weakness
was turned to strength; and who became powerful in
battle and routed foreign armies.” Hebrews 11:31-34

IV. Faith endures and perseveres (Faith Perseveres)

“35Women received back their dead, raised to life again.

Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that
they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers
and flogging, while still others were chained and put in
prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they
were put to death by the sword. They went about in
sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and
mistreated – 38the world was not worthy of them. Thy
wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and
holes in the ground. 39They were all condemned for their
faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.”
Hebrews 11:35-39

True faith enables us to endure and finish the race.

V. Faith based on the power of God (Faith Experiences)

“So that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on
God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:5

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 Real faith is not based on doctrines of men but on the
power of the Living God. If our faith is secured in God, He
will start to reveal to us. There are three ways God reveals
Himself to us:

A. He speaks to us

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on

ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they
know his voice.” John 10:4

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the
right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise
of God.” Revelation 2:7

God will not only hear us but we too can hear Him if we
take time to listen to and recognize His voice.

B. He will reveal Himself through His presence

“1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all

together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the
blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled
the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw
what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and
came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled
with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues
as the Spirit enables them.” Acts 2:1-4

The early Christians did not only preach the scriptures

but they made the presence of God visible to and felt by
the new converts (Acts 8:14-18).

C. He will perform miracles in us and through us

(Hebrews 2:4)

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 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: in
My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in
new tongues; they pick up snakes with their hands, it will
not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well.” Mark 16: 17-18

APPLICATION:

1. Of the five types of faith, which are already in you and

which are not?
2. Why do we need to call the things that God promised as
already there even if they are not yet seen? What is the
difference between truth and reality?

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 FAITH - Part 2
(Maturity Series: Lesson Eight)

“11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and

Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father
because he considered Him faithful who had made the
promise” Hebrews 11:11

 Abraham wanted a child, but He was too old and so was

his wife. There was nothing they or others could do about
their situation. We too have problems in life that cannot be
solved by man but by God alone. Let us now study how God
helped Abraham and Sarah and how Abraham allowed God
to work on his difficult situation. Through this study, we can
learn so much about faith.

I. FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE VOICE OF GOD

“17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message,

and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17

 Abraham did not just instantly believe God, but he first

received a promise from Him (Hebrews 11:11; Genesis
12:7). True faith comes God (Romans 12:3) which we will
receive after hearing His message (Romans 10:17). This
is the “rhema” messages which is not just plain words
but are anointed by the Holy Spirit. The words spoken to
us is relevant to our situation. If we confess our faith and
put it into action, we will accomplish great things in
accordance to what God says. When we received a
message from God (spoken words) faith will be birthed in
our hearts (Matthew 14:29).

II. THE BASIS OF FAITH IS THE CHARACTER OR

ATTRIBUTE OF GOD

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  Abraham had a complete understanding of who God is,
so he fully trusted Him (Hebrews 11:11). A person who
totally understands the character of God will not waver in
faith. There are three things we need to understand
about the character of God.

A. God never changes (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17)

B. God never fails (Job 42:2; 1 Chronicles 28:20)
C. God never lies (Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18)

Because of these, we can be confident that what God

says, He will really do. Our Father does NOT change,
fail, or lie.

III. OUR FAITH WILL BE TESTED

“12We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate

those who through faith and patience inherit what has
been promised.13When God made his promise to
Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to
swear by, he swore by himself, 14saying, "I will surely
bless you and give you many descendants." 15And so
after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was
promised.” Hebrews 6:12-15

 God’s promise to Abraham was not immediately

fulfilled. In fact, it took 25 years before it happened.
Abraham’s faith went through a test of time. If God
promises us one thing, testing will come before we
receive the promise, so our character can be molded to
His own character. We are seeking for our blessing or
reward, but God is looking for a right attitude so that
whatever He will give us will not be wasted. In this test,
we need patience and not merely faith to receive the
promises of God. (Hebrews 6:12-15).

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IV. FAITHLESS ACTIONS

 In the test of time, there were instances when Abraham

and Sarah resorted to actions outside the will of God.
Sarah allowed Abraham to sleep with her servant named
Hagar so they may have a son through her. As a result,
Ishmael was born (Genesis 16:1-16). Ishmael is the fruit
of human effort which brought problems to Abraham and
Sarah (Genesis 16:4-5; Genesis 21: 8-14).

 Sometimes we are like Abraham and Sarah who were

not patient enough to wait for God’s promises. Our
impatience will lead us to actions that are not in
accordance to His will. These ungodly actions can bring
many “Ishmael” or chaos in our lives which can only stop
if we repent of our wrong decisions.

V. FAITH MUST BE NOURISHED

 When doubt attacked Abraham, God visited him to

remind Abraham that he and his wife will definitely have a
son whom they will name Isaac (Genesis 17:1-22).
Sometimes when our faith is weak, God wants to
encourage us by reminding us of His promises. To have
an enthusiastic faith, we need to meditate on God’s
promises to us.

VI. FAITH MUST BE WORKED OUT

 The Bible says that Abraham and Sarah were unable to

bear a child, but God enabled them to receive His
promise of an offspring. The enablement came from God,
but Abraham and Sarah acted their part on the birth of
Isaac. God’s enablement becomes useless unless we act

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 on it. True faith exhibits good deeds, and good deed
result from faith (James 2:14-26)

VII. FAITH BRINGS RESULTS

 In God’s appointed time, the promised son Isaac

was born. The fulfillment of God’s promise gave
much joy to the couple and their friends because they
all knew that Isaac is God’s miracle. The meaning of
Isaac is “laughter”: Real faith brings about the
fulfillment of God’s promise, much to our joy and to
those who hear it. A person full of faith is always
joyful because God’s promises are always
accomplished in his or her life.

APPLICATION:

1. Give two points that move you in this lesson? Why?

2. Have you heard of God’s promises in your life? Are
these already fulfilled?
3. Are there “Ishmaels” in your life as a result of wrong
decisions?
4. Do we take care of our faith by hearing God’s word?

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 GIVING
(Maturity Series: Lesson Nine)

I. GOD IS THE OWNER OF ALL THINGS

“1The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world,

and all who live in it;” Psalms 24:1

 All things seen and unseen belong to God (Psalm

89:11). All animals, birds, fish, vegetation, trees, ocean,
river, moon, sun and many more are all made by God
(Genesis 1). There is nothing we own in this earth. The
air we breathe, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and
the house we live in are all His. All things are owned by
the Creator of all things.

II. MAN IS THE STEWARD

“1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ

and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2Now it is required that those who have been given a

trust must prove faithful.” I Corinthians 4:1-2

 Man is the keeper or the custodian of all God’s

creation. After He finished creating the world, he made
man in charge of everything. God entrusted us with much
- ability, beauty, wisdom, knowledge, time, family, work,
business, ministry, wealth, and our lives.

 God entrusted us according to our ability and capacity

(Matthew 25: 14-15). God wants us to manage well what
He has entrusted to us because a time will come when
we will give an account to Him (Matthew 25:16-30).
Those entrusted with much will give account of much,

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 and those entrusted with much more will also give
account of much more things (Luke 12:48)

III. GOD COMMANDS, WE OBEY

“14 "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should

be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes
from you, and we have given you only what comes from
your hand.” 1 Chronicles 29:14

 If we truly understand that God is the owner and we are

only stewards, it is not difficult to give and let go of what
we have in our hands for the purposes of God. We need
to worship God with our lives, wisdom, worthiness,
possession and all that we have. What He wills, we must
do. He knows what is best for us, and He will not
command us to do what will harm us. Obedience glorifies
God and brings to us many good things in life.

IV. GIVING OF MONEY

In financial aspect, we are called by God to give for His

glory (Matthew 6:4). There are many kinds of giving
mentioned in the Bible, but we will now discuss the main
three. These three types of giving must be done by all of
God’s children.

A. Help to the poor

“2 So when you give to the needy, do not announce it

with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues
and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you
the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But
when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing,” Matthew 6:2-3

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  We are called to help the poor in our community.
God is pleased and moved every time we aid the
needy (Matthew 25:35-40). The bible says that each
help we offer to the poor, we are lending to God
(Proverbs 19:17).

B. Tithe to the House of God

"10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there
may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the
LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi
3:10

"30 A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain

from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the
LORD; it is holy to the LORD.” Leviticus 27:30

 Ten percent (10%) of our income belongs to God.

Our tithe is sacred to Him. If we use this amount for
our needs, we are robbing God and putting curse
upon ourselves (Malachi 3:8). Giving our tithes
brings two benefits: protection from the curse and
opening the door to God’s blessings (Malachi 3:10).
We must bring the whole tenth to the house of God or
to the church where we are planted.

C. Offering to God’s work

"6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also

reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will
also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he
has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or
under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2
Corinthians 9:6-7

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 “8 ‘Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.’ But you ask,
'How do we rob you’ In tithes and offerings.” Malachi
3:8

 We can see from Malachi 3:8 that the tenth is

different from the offering. The offering must be taken
from the 90% of our income after we have set aside
the tithe. In giving the tithe, it is God who
determines how much-10%, but in giving the
offering, it is we who decide how much to give.
The giving of offering is our investment in God’s
kingdom. If we sow little, we also reap little, but if we
sow much, we also reap much (2 Corinthians (:6-7).
When we pay our tithes, we are not actually giving to
God; we are simply returning what is His (Leviticus
27:30). But in offering, we are giving to God from what
we have.

 The tenth must only be given to our local church

(Malachi 3:10), but the offering can be given in any of
God’s work as the Holy Spirit leads us (Philippians
4:18). We may also give our offering, together with
our tithe, to the local church. Paying of tithes is not
enough. We must also give our offering.

IV. GUIDELINES FOR GIVING

A. Give with joy

“7Each man should give what he has decided in his

heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

B. Give with faith

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 “4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than
Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous
man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by
faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.”
Hebrews 11:4

C. Give with right motive

“4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your

Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward
you.” Matthew 6:4

V. THE REWARDS OF GIVING

“25 A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others

will himself be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25

“38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,

pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be
poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will
be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

 Progress, blessings, protection, and favor are the

rewards of giving!

APPLICATION:

1. Do you accept that you are only a steward, and God

is the Master and Owner?
2. Which of the three types of giving have you not done
yet? Why?
3. What are the reasons why some cannot give their
tithes and offering?

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 THE LORD’S DAY
(Maturity Series: Lesson Ten)

I. MUST WE SET ASIDE A DAY FOR THE LORD?

“5One man considers one day more sacred than another;

another man considers every day alike. Each one should
be fully convinced in his own mind. 6He who regards one
day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat,
eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who
abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.”
Romans 14:5-6

In the above passage, we are free to choose which day

we consider as sacred. What is important is that this day
be set aside to glorify God. Actually, all days are special
because these are made by God (Psalm 118:24). But it is
important that we should set aside a day which is distinct
from the other days of the week. This is the day when we
stop working to worship God together with our family and
other believers. This is the Lord’s Day which is Sunday.

II. WHY SUNDAY?

A. This is the resurrection day of Jesus Christ

“1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still

dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that
the stone had been removed from the entrance.”
John 20:1

 Jesus was buried but on the third day, which was

Sunday, he rose up. Apostle John called the
resurrection day as the Lord’s day (Revelation 1:10).
We worship Him on the Lord’s day because this is the
day when death was defeated.

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  Sunday is not the Rest Day. In the Old Testament,
Saturday is the day of rest, but in the New Testament,
our rest is in Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30;
Colossians 2:16-17). Our rest is not on a day but is
found in a person, the person of Jesus Christ. He is
the God of Rest (Mark 2:27-28). This is not a physical
rest but a rest of our souls. We do not only rest on
Saturday but we find rest everyday in Jesus Christ.

B. This is the first day of the week

 The first day of the week is not Monday but Sunday.

This is proven in the Bible which states that Saturday
(day of rest) is the 7th day of the week and the 1 st day
is Sunday (Matthew 28:1; John 20:1). Our calendar
also shows this. We must therefore worship God on
the first day of the week in order to follow the principle
of “seeking first the Kingdom of God”(Matthew 6:33).

 If Sunday is the 1st day of the week, then it is

appropriate to give it to God. Sunday is not the time to
work or play, but this is the time for God and His
family. If we give the first day to God, then we can be
assured that the remaining days of the week will be
blessed. Many things will be added to us if we put
Him first.

C. This is one of the days when the early Church

gathered

 There are verses in the bible which show that the

early Church met on a Sunday for the “Lord’s Supper”
(Acts 20:7). The church in Corinth met every Sunday
to give financially to the Lord’s work. This does not

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 mean though that the early church met only every
Sunday. They met every day (Acts 2:46).

III. WHAT HAPPENS AT EVERY SUNDAY MEETING?

There are four good things that believers do on Sundays

as shown in the bible. As long as these are all present,
they need not to be systematically ordered.

A. Worship through songs

“1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2Worship

the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful
songs.” Psalms 100:1-2

B. Worship through tithes and offerings

“10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there
may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the
LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the
floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing
that you will not have room enough for it.” Malachi
3:10

C. Worship through listening of God’s words

“7On the first day of the week we came together to

break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because
he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until
midnight”. Acts 20:7

D. Ministering to the needy

“14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of

the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in
the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith
will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him
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 up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.” James 5:14-
15

IV. WHERE SHOULD WE WORSHP EVERY SUNDAY?

A. Where we can be satisfied with spiritual food?

“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on

bread alone, but on every word that comes from the
mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4

B. Where we can feel the presence of God?

“2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your

power and your glory.” Psalm 63:2

C. Where we can be changed, grow and used for

service?

“12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will
grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13planted in the house
of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our
God. 14They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay
fresh and green,” Psalm 92:12-14

APPLICATION:

1. Is it your habit to worship in church every Sunday?

2. Have you experienced change and satisfaction in the
church where you worship every Sunday?
3. What are the reasons why others do not give time to
worship every Sunday?

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 HOLY SPIRIT – Part 1
(Maturity Series: Lesson Eleven)

“16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another
Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. The
world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be
in you.” John 14:16-17

God said that the unbelievers do not know the Holy Spirit, but
we know Him because He lives in us. We need to know who
the Holy Spirit is. We will discuss three things about Him.

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD

 The Bible shows that our God has three persons - the
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Just like a married couple, they
are two but one (Genesis 2:24). God is not God if He is only
one or two persons. There are many verses in the bible that
prove that these three persons are part of one God, and
they cannot be separated (Matthew 28:19; 1 Corinthians
12:4-6; 2 Corinthians 13:13).

 We have the God the Father (Ephesians 4:6), God the

Son (Hebrews 1:6-8), and the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4), but
there is only one God. This is difficult to understand, but this
is what the bible says, so we must believe it. We cannot
fully grasp everything about God, but what He reveals about
Himself belongs to us. What He doesn’t reveal though we
must not bother with (Deuteronomy 29:29).

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS GOD BECAUSE…

A. He is everywhere (Omnipresent) - Psalm 139:7

B. He knows all things (Omniscient) - 1 Corinthians
2:10-11
C. He is all powerful (Omnipotent) - Psalm 104:30
D. He has no beginning and no end - Hebrews 9:14
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  The Holy Spirit is not less than the Father and the Son but
is equal (Matthew 28:19). Because the Holy Spirit is God,
He can be glorified, worshipped, and praised just like what
we do with the Father and the Son. The Father and the Son
will not be jealous if we do this because there is no rivalry
among them. In fact, they will be pleased because we know
the Holy Spirit for who He is- God.

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON

 God is three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit. We do not have three Gods; we have one God
having three persons. Many do not find it hard to believe
that the Father and the Son are persons, but they cannot
accept that the Holy Spirit is a person too. They look at the
Holy Spirit as merely the power of God. This is a false
unbiblical teaching.

 True, the Holy Spirit has power, but first, He is a person. He

does not have a physical body because He is Spirit, but He has
a personality. The Holy Spirit is a person…

A. He has a mind - Romans 8:27

B. He has a will - 1 Corinthians 12:11
C. He has emotion - Ephesians 4:30
D. He speaks - Revelation 2:7

 The Holy Spirit has a very sensitive character. This

means that He has emotions that can be affected by our
actions and attitudes. This is why the Bible warns:

A. Do not lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)

B. Do not disobey the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 63:10; Acts
7:51)
C. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30)
D. Do not quench the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
E. Do not insult the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 10:29)
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 F. Do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-
32)

 The Holy Spirit is a person. He has emotion and will, so we

need to give Him importance. We are called to fellowship
with Him (2 Corinthians 13:13,14; Philippians 2:1. We should
make Him a close friend. We cannot see Him, but we can
feel His presence and hear His voice. We must learn to walk
with Him (Galatians 5:25).

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE “GOD OF THE NOW”

 The Father and the Son are in heaven (Mark 16:19) but
the Holy Spirit is here with us (John 14:16). He is the God
who is here with us and dwells within us (1 Corinthians
3:16). Through Him, we can experience real change and
liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17).

“18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-
increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the
Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

“22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-
control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians
5:22-23

APPLICATION:

1. What new thing do you learn in the lesson today? Why?

2. What must we do to get close to the Holy Spirit?
3. Can we experience the Father and the Son without the
Holy Spirit?

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 HOLY SPIRIT - Part 2
(Maturity Series: Lesson Twelve)

We have learned in the previous lesson that the Holy Spirit is

God, and we need to worship and praise Him. He is also a
person who has feelings, so we must fellowship and be
intimate with Him. The Holy Spirit is the God who goes with
us. We can feel the presence of the Father and the Son
through Him. He is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son
(Matthew 10:20; Romans 8:9). Now, let’s continue to learn
more about the person and acts of the Holy Spirit.

IV. THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES

A. The Holy Spirit testifies deep inside us that we are

God’s children

 If we have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior,

the Holy Spirit already dwells in our hearts and testifies
that we belong to God.

“16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are

God's children.” Romans 8:16

B. The Holy Spirit enables us to pray

 It is important to ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance on what

to pray and how we should pray. He is the one who
intercedes in our behalf.

“26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our

weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans
that words cannot express.” Romans 8:26

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 C. The Holy Spirit conveys God’s word to us

The Holy Spirit helps us…

1. Understand and remember God’s word

It is difficult to understand the bible in our own

understanding, so we need to rely on the Holy
Spirit who is our teacher.

“26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the

Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have
said to you.” John 14:26

2. Live out God’s word

The Holy Spirit compels and empowers us to

obey the Word.

“27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you

to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my
laws.” Ezekiel 36:27

D. The Holy Spirit helps us live holy lives

The Holy Spirit is the one who sanctifies and makes

us remain blameless. Through Him, we can overcome
temptations and carnal attitudes.

“13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will

die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds
of the body, you will live,” Romans 8:13

”16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify
the desires of the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16

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 E. The Holy Spirit teaches and guides us in all things

There are instances when we cannot distinguish what

is Godly and what is of the flesh. The Holy Spirit then
comes to our rescue. His guidance is not only limited
to the spiritual aspect. He is our counselor in all things
such as our family, business, study, work, marriage
and more. He reveals and teaches us what steps to
take in accordance to God’s will.

“13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will

guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own;
he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you
what is yet to come.” John 16:13

F. The Holy Spirit reveals the secret things of God

If the Holy Spirit is our close friend, we are filled with

heavenly wisdom and knowledge. He reveals God’s
will in our lives if we give enough time to seek and
listen to the Holy Spirit.

“10but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The

Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of
God.” I Corinthians 2:10

G. The Holy Spirit reveals what is to come

The Holy Spirit will not only reveal secret things but
also things that are to come. His revelation may not
be complete in details but He surely gives visions and
prophesies on what God will do in our lives, family,
and ministry and even in our working place. Vision is
the language of the Holy Spirit.

“13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will

guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own;
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 he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you
what is yet to come.” John 16:13

APPLICATION:

1. Mention two things that are impressed to you in this

lesson. Explain.
2. Is it possible to befriend the Holy Spirit even if He
cannot be seen?
3. Can we successfully live Christian lives without the
Holy Spirit?
4. What must we do to have close fellowship with the
Holy Spirit?

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