©2004 César Castellanos D. Published by G12 Editors sales@g12bookstore.com www.g12bookstore.com FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY. Unless otherwise noted, all scriptures quotations are from: The HOLY BIBLE, New International Version® Copyright ©1984 Much of the material in this booklet was adapted from Pre-Encounter Lessons By César Castellanos D. of ICM, Bogota, Colombia and was revised for Buhangin Community Church and now adapted at Living Praise of Zion

My Corner I have questions: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Things I think would hinder me from attending the Encounter: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

When did you seriously start to serve the Lord? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________ What are your expectations in the Encounter? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Encounter

Date ............:___________________

Venue...........:__________________

Assembly Time..... ______________

Assembly Place .... ______________

Registration Fee ...._______________

THINGS TO BRING: 1. Bible, Journal, Notebook, Pen 2. Casual clothes for two days and two nights 3. Toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothbrush, tooth-paste) 4. Flashlight 5. Extra money 6. Snacks (optional) 7. Others: ________________________________

WHAT NOT TO BRING: 1. Guitar/mp3/mp4 player/i-pod/laptop/PSP 2. Books/magazines 3. Kids 4. Work-related materials 5. Others: ________________________________ Note: Cell phones will be collected before at the begin-ning of the Encounter and returned after the last ses-sion.

Welcome ! We praise and thank God for your desire to grow in your relation-ship with Him. The Bible says that the moment you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you begin a new life. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 In this study, we would like to guide you in your journey of growth in a Christian life as we look deeper to some basic issues such as:

The New Birth Benefits of the New Birth The New Birth and Life In The Spirit

Knowing Our Enemy What You need to Know About An Encounter Our prayer is that after this brief study, you would fly free like a butterfly newly hatched from its cocoon, ready to explore the beauty of its new world. May you enjoy your new life as the Master Creator fashion you

into THE NEW YOU. With Much Love, Your LPZ Family

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Life is full of opportunities, but the best opportunity you can ever have is meeting Jesus. 1. The _____________________ “ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 No matter how far you may have strayed from God, you can stop right now turn back to Him. Just like the prodigal son. (Luke 15:11-20), decide to have an encounter with your Father God. 2. The ______________________ The young man in the parable decides not to stay in his fall-en condition, but to take risk in order to find a new posi-tive opportunity. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

3. The _____________________ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 All of our sins deserve punishment, but God allowed His Son Jesus Christ to take our place and pay for our sin. Sacrifice is the only way to redemption. Ephesians 1:7 says In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

FOUR WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES

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Paul’ Encounter Saul of Tarsus was a bitter persecutor of Christians before he had an encounter with Jesus. After experiencing a transformation, it changed his name, and caused him to defend the very doctrine he once condemned. I want to know Christ and the Power of his resurrection and fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10 In his encounter, Paul beheld the light, which was the manifestation of the glory of the Lord. He saw that all of his actions against Christianity were actually committed against the Lord himself. By attending the Encounter, you will: 1. ___________________to open you eyes...” 2. Experience a __________________ “so they may turn from darkness to light”. It necessitates a change of lifestyle. 3. Understand that you have gone from Satan’s control to ____________________

4. Understand that through faith in Jesus, you will receive ______________________

5. Understand your ______________________

If God gave up what he loved most- His own Son-so we could be saved by simply believing in Him, won’t He provide every-thing else we need?

Remember: God asked His people to go to an Encounter (Exodus 5:3) Paul’s encounter resulted in evident changes. God transforms lives completely at the Encounter. Starting today, make a decision to: receive a vision experience a genuine conversion receive forgiveness of sins.

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Would you still let this opportunity get by?

4. The ________________________

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 God treats us His loving children and entrusts us once again with the privileges we had lost because of sin. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; not by works, so that no one can boast. A face-to-face encounter will change our lives! What does it mean to have a true encounter with God? See Revelation 3:20 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ What were some opportunities in the past that you regretted letting by? _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In an encounter

True repentance is the door to salvation! Only at the cross will you be able to experience benefits of Jesus’ sacri-fice and begin to walk in freedom he purchased for you. You can experience inner healing from all the wounds of your past.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AN EN-

COUNTER

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The importance of an Encounter The encounter is a three-day event during which time God will be imparting life to each person who participates. Those in attendance will receive each direction and understand God’s true purpose for their lives. All participants must attend the Encounter with a ______________and with purity and simplicity of a child, in order to receive everything God wants to give them. The Children of Israel Had An Encounter The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword. Exodus 5:3 Pharaoh’s Craftiness I will let you go to offer sacrifices to the LORD your God in the desert, but you must not go very far. Now pray for me. Exodus 8:28. But Pharaoh wasn’t true to his word. He hardened his heart. Remember what Jesus said Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” John 2:19 In the three-day Encounter, allow God to do a deep work of transformation in your life. Experience the death of the old nature and the resurrection to newness of life in Christ.

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Starting today, make a decision to: Have an encounter with Jesus Christ by accepting Him and expe-riencing God’s most beautiful gift of your life! Repent of all sin and be reconciled to God. Receive God’s gift of redemption. Repent of all sins. Receive God’s full provision for your life.

THE BENEFITS OF THE CROSS

The Incomparable Christ In all of human time and history, Jesus Christ is the one person who has impacted the world more than anyone else. Jesus Christ is God himself who chose to come to earth & live in a human body. 2 Corinthians 8:9- For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Jesus is _______ Jesus has always existed; He is from eternity to eternity. He had to become one of us-to show us the way to salvation.

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, tak-ing the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. Philippians 2:6-7

Jesus is _________ Jesus humbled himself to the point of dying on the cross among thieves. That’s why God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name above all names. Jesus is the ___________________________ John 1:14 says, “the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us... “And if Jesus is God himself, then it’s worth getting to know Him and making Him known because, as scripture says.” For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death .” Prov. 8:35-36

When people are full of God, their words are always words of faith and optimism, full of hope. They always lead to success. Cancel all _______________ against you. Don’t let the enemy attack you with them. Joshua said in Joshua 24:15b, ...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. He made a decision that his whole house will consecrate their lives to the Lord. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground... Ephesians 6:13

PREPARATION FOR DELIVERANCE 1. ________________to live freedom. (Matthew 11:28) 2. ________________of the bondage (Psalm 139:23-24) 3. ________________does not replace repentance 4. ________________(Hebrew 11:6) 5. ________________________________(John 8:31-32,36) 6. ___________________________ (Matthew 17:21)

Remember: We should understand who our battle is against-Satan. HIS GREAT TRICK IS TO MAKE LIGHTLY OF SIN TO SEE IT AS A GAME

Starve the flesh, feed the Spirit.

Starting today, make a decision to: 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 spir-itual realm.

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The Power of Redemption The redemptive work was all done on Calvary’s Cross, and each aspect of the crucifixion teaches us great lessons. THE CROSS: ____________

--Where God took away our curse so that He could give us His blessing.

I have been 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 God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 THE CROWN OF THORNS: __________________ THE WHIPPING OF HIS BACK: ________________________ By His wounds we are healed.. ISAIAH 53:5 THE NAILS: _________________________________ NAIL 1: _____________________________________ NAIL 2: _____________________________________ NAIL 3: _____________________________________ THE SPEAR: ___________________________ All the punishment that we deserved as sinners fell upon that man called Jesus, who had not committed any sin. And all the good Je-sus should have received then came upon us. When God looks at us, He looks at us through Jesus. Remember: Eternal life is received when Jesus is received as Saviour. He who believes that Jesus has redeemed Him is freed from all oppression. ( Colossians 2:14-15) ONLY JESUS CAN FREE US FROM THE CURSE OF SIN AND DEATH (Galatians 3:13) Starting today, make a decision to: Give Jesus all your weaknesses. Give up your sins through repentance. Give up all sicknesses by receiving health and healing. Give up all anguish by receiving his perfect peace. Give up your human knowledge by receiving His divine wisdom Give up your will and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

KNOWING OUR ENEMY

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. Satan’s Organization & Character Satan imposes a reign of fear in the hearts of people. He is char-acterized as being: SLY OR CRAFTY (Genesis 3:1) A MURDERER (John 8:44) A LIAR (Genesis 3:1-3) THE FATHER OF ALL LIES (John 8:44) VENGEFUL (Psalm 8:2) THE DRAGON (Revelation 12:7-9) DESTRUCTIVE (ISAIAH 54:16) A ROARING LION (1 Peter 5:8) TEMPTING (Matthew 12:24) AN ACCUSER (Revelation 12:10) PRINCE OF DEMONS (Matthew 12:24) PRINCE OF THE KINGDOM OF THE AIR (Ephesians 2:2) ONE WHO DISGUISES HIMSELF AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT (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 ________________and bind the strong man The Word of God declares that no one can enter a strong man’s house unless they first bind him. (Matthew 12:29) Live a Life of ______________________ Make a tree good and its fruit will be good. Or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad. For a tree is recognized by its fruit. Mat-thew 12:33 Watch your_________________ For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. Matthew 12:34b-35

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The New Birth 3

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Man’s Free Will It pleased God, the Creator of the Universe, in all His infinite wisdom, for everything to be governed by laws, both in spiritual realm. The Lord did not want man to obey Him mechanically, like a robot, but desired for him to obey out of his own free will, using the complete freedom of choice that God has given him. The New Birth is ____________________ Jesus answered him saying, “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3 You can see _______________________ In the same way that we experienced physical birth when we came into this world, we must also experience as spiritual birth in order to have spiritual life. The new birth only happens when we accept Jesus Christ in our heart as Lord and Savior. The physical birth is simply a step that should lead us to the next one -the birth of our spiritual nature. God desires _________________________ James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. The new birth simply implies a separation from our sinful nature, so that the spirit can be fruitful in the spiritual kingdom. You can have ________________________ Ezekiel 36:26-27 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to follow my laws.

THE PRIVILEGES OF LIFE IN THE SPIRIT The privilege of _________________________ Only spiritual people have the ability to see the kingdom of God; their spiritual eyes are opened and they can perceive what is hidden from the natural man. The privilege of _________________________ Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 The privilege of _________________________ The Lord longs to share His thoughts with us, but we can only understand the Word of God when the Holy Spirit reveals it to us. If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you. Proverbs 1:23

Remember: The word of God is not subject to time or space and is not governed by human laws. Time and space were established by God, but they do not limit God. When the Word of God leaves our mouths, it will not return until it has fulfilled the purpose for which it was sent out. Isaiah 55:11

SALVATION BRINGS OUT Justification Regeneration Sanctification Redemption

Starting today, make a decision to: .Accept the privilege of seeing (1 Corinthians 2:9) Accept the privilege of believing (Romans 10:17) Accept the privilege of giving the Word of Authority (Proverbs 1:23)

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A Life of Holiness The Holy Spirit becomes part of us when we receive Jesus as Lord and Savior, thereby becoming part of God. He is a gentleman and He will never try to force things upon us. He will not enter anyone’s life uninvited. He will only move through our faith in the Word of God. By simply believing in scripture and desiring its fulfilment in us, the Holy Spirit will cover us with his shadow and conceive a holy life that will be born in us. A ________________ experience The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8 A New Person The Holy Spirit sows within us the life of Jesus when we are born again. The seed germinates and develops, manifesting itself progressively in us.

Remember: God created a man with the opportunity to choose The new birth allows us to see the kingdom of God. (John 3:5) God desires us to experience the new birth. (James 1:18)

Starting today, make a decision to: Surrender yourself to the Lord so He can give you a new heart. Let the new birth conceive something holy in your life Let the new birth lead you to the certainty and security given by the Holy Spirit.

Many studies have attempted to define and identify the source of man’s problems, and everything has been blamed on social crisis, the heart of the matter lies in a spiritual battle. It is important to understand that change must first come from with-in, before it is visible on the outside. Therefore, if we priori-tize the spiritual solution, then the spiritual victory will impact all the different areas of society. 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, which produces the miracle of a new heart and spirit. “BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES BIRTH TO SPIRIT” John 3:6b THE PROVISIONS OF SALVATION The plan of salvation, as designed by God, provides for the following: JUSTIFICATION means _____________________________. It is the act by which God declares the sinner, who believes in Jesus and confesses his faith accepting His sacrifice for sin on the Cross, goes on to be made just and acceptable before Him. SANCTIFICATION means ____________________________. It is consecrating yourself completely to God. REGENERATION means _____________________________ so that your mind can be open to the things of God, especially to the incarnation of His son and His redemp-tive work. REDEMPTION means ____________________ for someone who is enslaved.

The New Birth and Life in the Spirit

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Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 God has given us the privilege of being born into a new life, a life in the Spirit, where we discover that those things that did not get our attention in the past, such as praying, reading the Bible, going to Christian meetings, etc., have now become a part of our daily lives.

Life becomes more interesting because we find a world ready to be conquered.

Just as a newborn needs the milk the mother provides, a spiritual infant needs to nourish himself with the Word of God because it’s the only thing that can help him grow. Like newborn babies, crave for spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. 1 Peter 2:2

We should love the Word and its teachings, obeying its directions just as the captain of a ship does with a compass.

The Bible is the greatest of treasures, having answers to all our needs. It contains God’s voice and the revelation of Christ. (John 1:1-2;14) It contains the divine laws (Psalm 119:17-19) The Bible is the revelation of God to man (John 14:6-10) It reveals the plan of salvation for man (John 3:16)

HOW TO GET CLOSER TO THE WORD Listen closely to the voice of God _____________________________ Deuteronomy 11:18-20) Read it with the right attitude and obey (Deuteronomy 13:4) Meditate on it after searching it out (Joshua 1:8) Put its commandments to practice (Psalm 119:105) Share its message to others, confessing it. (Mark 16:15, Psalm 71:15) HOW TO STUDY THE WORD 1. Pick an appropriate place. 2. Establish a study habit. 3. Start a devotional Notebook. Include: God’s _____________________for me today ____________________to keep ____________________ to obey _____________________to be taken account The_____________________ The ______________________to memorize. BENEFITS OF GETTING CLOSE TO THE WORD it __________________________________(doctrine) It __________________________________(reproof) It _________________________________(restores to a correct state) It __________________________________(guides) Remember: Feed yourself with spiritual food. Have daily contact with spiritual food. Communicate with God through prayer. Share to others what God has done in your life. allow God to use your life. Learn to handle life’s worries. Starting today, make a decision to: Get close to the Word of God. Study it daily. Communicate with God continually through prayer. Obey God, so that your strength can be continually renewed.

The Benefits of The New Birth

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