THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF62 Lieve THE BEST EXPERIENCE “Very truly | tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3) This week, we will be learning about a man named Nicodemus, His Conversation with the Lord Jesus is one of the most famous conver. sations in the world, and is found in John chapter 3 Nicodemus was a highly respected man in his day. A teacher of the law for both religious leaders and ordinary people, he was a man of morals, He fasted twice a week, prayed lengthy prayers, and was Zeal- ous for the Scriptures. Yet one night, he came to Jesus anc said “Rab- i, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly | tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:2-3) Had the Lord given such a reply to Zacchaeus (the tax collector and thief (Luke 19:2-3a)), to Mary Magdalene (who had been delivered Cross next to Him, His words may well have seemed reasorable to us. However, Jesus was speaking to a man of spiritual authority among the Jews - someone who appeared to be close to God, This proves that each and every one of us needs to be born again, regardless of who we are,Week $ Dey 15 63 What did Jesus mean when He said we must be born again? He was referring to the new nature we all need to receive through faith and the Word of God. In his book, Foundational Truths for Christian Living: Derek Prince uses the following analogy: ’ corn seed produces corn. 2 barley seed produces barley; an orange seed produces an orange. ‘Go itis also in the new birth, The seed is the divine, incorruptible, eter- hal Word of God. The life this produces, when received by faith into the heart of the believer is like the seed - divine, incorruptible, eter” nal) That was what the Lord Jesus was teaching us when He said, “The Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:66), Life in fe in ruin ee) Dryness Fullness SEED of sin 3 - SEED of the Werd of God ‘This is the new birth - we receive a seed in our hearts that produces new life in us, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because Goa's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they hove been born of God!” (1 John 3:9). When we are born again, not ust ‘one part of our lives improves - we are made completely new All that we are benefits from this change. This new nature opens the spiritual eyes of a believer and enables them to see the kingdom of heaven. That was why Jesus told Nico” demus that only by being born again could a person see the kingdom of heaven. You too have the opportunity to be born again, right here and now. The prophet Jeremiah taught us that the mercies of God are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). The most important thing 9 receiving His mercy is that we accept It by faith. “And 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),64 uteciass What if | do not have faith? The Word teaches us that faith can be obtained: this means that it does not matter if you feel you do not have enough faith yet. As you read the Word of God, faith will be born in your heart, because “. faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” Romans 10:17). Live the Lesson 1. Since coming to church, have you met anyone whose life reflects genuine faith? What outcomes have you seen in their life as a result of their faith? Remember the Lesson We all need to be born again. xia ( i) stu cly the Word SA OPsaimn 27 OPsaim 28 CPsalm 29 CProverbs 15 CQsohn iWeer $_Day 16 65 RECOVERING OUR SIGHT In The Glass Castle: a Memoir, the author and journalist, Jeannette Walls, tells the story of her upbringing. She re~ veals that her family were both deeply dysfunctional and somewhat colorful in their outlook on life. Her father was 2 highly intelligent man, but he was an alcoholic. Rarely sober, he became a dishonest and destructive person. Her mother was a “free spirit.” who fought against the idea of domestic life and institutions, and did not want the responsibility of raising a family: As @ result, the children learned to fend for themselves. They fed themselves, dressed themselves, and looked out for each other. In her book, Jeannette speaks about the time when her sister, Lori, got her first pair of glasses. The nurse at schoo! test- ed her vision and told her mother that Lori was increai- bly short-sighted. At first, her mother refused to buy her glasses, but the nurse said that without them, she would ‘not be allowed to continue at school. When Lori finally received her glasses, she looked around in amazement. She immediately ran outside and started to marvel at the sight of the trees and the individual leaves on each of the branches. Jeannette asked her what she was fooking at. Lori started to cry: she cried because of the beauty oFwhat she was seeing, and she cried because of all that she had been missing up until that day. 66 Litectoss ‘Something similar happens when we are born again. Our spiritual eyes are opened and we start to see the world in a completely new way. Just as we had to go through physical birth to enter the world, we also need to experience spiritual birth to enter the kirgdom of heav- en. New birth can only take place when we accept Christ in our hearts as our only Lord and Savior. The Holy Spirit is the Cne who brings about new birth; through our faith, He births the spiritual life of a new Person in us. Physical birth is only the first steg in life and should lead us toward the Next: the birth of our spiritual nature. Only when this happens do we attain the right to became children of God. That is when our spiritual eyes are opened and we can clearly see the kingdom of heaven, When our spiritual eyes are opened The Bible tells us about a man named Paul, who was formerly known as Saul of Tarsus, He had made it his mission and passion in life to find everyone who followed Jesus and put them in prison. Yet while he was on his way to persecute the believers in Damascus, he had an encounter with Jesus Himself “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a fight from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why o you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “lam Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied” (Acts 9:3-5),Week 5_Day 16 67 Paul was completely blind when he got up from this encounter - he had no idea whether he would ever be able to see again. Three days later, however, God sent a man named Ananias to come and pray for him. Once Ananias had prayed, Paul recovered his sight. This is a clear example of what happens in the life of a believer when they encounter the true light - Jesus Christ. Jesus is so pure and so holy in nature that when someone sees Him, His light causes all darkness to leave. The person becomes blind to sin and their spiritual eyes are opened to a world they had never known before. ‘Once, when Paul was sharing the gospel with a proconsul, a false prophet confronted him in an attempt to keep the governor from the faith, Paul was able to see that there were evil spirits operating through the false prophet; he rebuked them so that the proconsul could come to faith (Acts 13:4-12), Without having experienced the new birth, Paul would have found it impossible to understand what was happening, and much less, to have known how to deal with the situation. New birth was immediate in Paul and the change in him was dramat- ic. Everything he had been, his priorities, and his reason for living, changed completely after a genuine encounter with Jesus. Live the Lesson 1. What is the biggest change you have experienced since coming to know Jesus?68 uteciass (A) Remember the Lesson New birth will open my spiritual eyes, (m) Study the Word Psalm 30 Cesalm 31 (Crroverbs 16 OC sohn 19Week Day 17 6 CREATED TO GROW “Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion. It is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ." Billy Graham Take a moment to think about the life of a baby. It is a wonderful thing when a child is born! The parents get excited and spend nine months preparing for the arrival of a new family member. But what would happen if their baby did not grow? No parent wants that for their child! Our goal is similar as children of God. Billy Graham once wrote: “The goal of a child's life is maturity - and the goal of a Christian's life is spiritual maturity [see Hebrews 6:7). [J Don’t let anything - or anyone - stand in the way of your ‘growth in Christ. [..] Never forget: Goo's will is for us to become more like Christ." How does a baby grow? They often feed every two to three hours. Peter encourages us to desire spiritual food just as a baby craves milk (1 Peter 2:2). As you study this book and read the Bible every day, you will see great things begin to happen in your life. Here are some examples of what will take place:P'UOM ay Jo UoAdNu0D aUy Wo, SN SBOURISIP OSIE 3! “WHI ©} JeS0|9 sn SBULIG AIUC 3OU POD Jo PIM UR YIM 3DEIUOD “eINJeU AJOY e UC B42} aM ‘SPM J84}O UI “auNJeU SUINIP SIH Ul Sdeye}ed aLucseq 8M PUE POD Jo JaMod s/q\pa:oU! PUA S9US}H8GxXe OMA 'Sanl| INO U! [ee1 epeW s| asIWOId e Vay (iL 118d Z) «SE1ISBP 11A9 AQ PASNED PUOM BYR UI YORDN4OD ey2 PadeDse BuIAeY ‘eunjeu suinip axa UI azedionied Kew NOx wey) YBNOLU) ey) Os ‘Sa “SIMIOJA snoj2a0 pue J€a/6 AIBA Siy”, SN ANB POD JeUR ples 19}0q qi ques SeY POD YoIUM 10) asodund |iny 843 SIlJINy PUE Jemod UO sexe? 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SI a/q1g au BuIpeay (ELT LYOP 1) IA@P @4y aLUODIAAO 0} JaMOd AneY IJIN NOA “y (87Z1 AWoUoa;NaQ) dn yINg aq JIM NOA*E CLELL UUOP) (Pos 404 Wed 388) paysnoueS aq jm NOA-Z (GEL WIeSd) Pasuee|> aq |jIM NOA “L sse09)7 onweek 3_ay 17 n Live the Lesson Read the following verses and describe the effects that come from studying the Word!) 4. When Jeremiah fed on God's Word, what did it become to him? (Jeremiah 15:16). 2. How important were God's words to Job? (Job 23:12), 3. How can a young person lead a clean life? (Psalm 19:9) 4, What'two results does God's Word produce in young people when it lives in them? (1 John 2:14). Remember the Lesson The Word of God transforms me so that the nature of God can be formed in me and I can become more like Jesus. Study the Word OPsaim 32 Oesaim 33 OProverbs 17 (Qsohn 20 (John 21HIESUIH Pod 40 UIs e4R Ss! axleD01 am quIds SUL Ids snol|jeqay pue yey P1eY sno SEAWAY PO9 ‘esayy anloDde1 Om UBYUM “UIs Mau e PUe WeEY MAU e SN Sas|LOWd P107 at, -PoS ‘*OI|OJ OU SBOP BUIUUIS Solus OYM BUCAUE PUP “UIs Sa}eY POS URIM S1 OUM BuOKUY “UIs p1eMO} LEC Je420UE PU POD 1049q YO YLesY 1194) 40 Hed iNod ued auo ou ‘Swi suLes 24) 12 Sy1eaY Om AneY JOULES aM, (22-9298 janez3) «SMe} Auy 1827 07 /nJa1ed aq ue $98/23p Aw MO}IO} 02 NOK Brow PUe NOK UI UIDs Aus INK! jm | PUY Ysay JO WeEY & NOK ani6 pue auoIs Jo HEBY INOA NOK Woy BAOUIAL IIMA | NOK UI UIDs Mau e Ind pue LeEy Mau @ NOA aAi6 jWM |, ‘PIES P07 BUA ‘1814823 JYdod ayy YBNOIyL {UaAeEY JO WOPBUD} B43 UI YsliNOY Led qs sno Jey OS UIS Ky Paloeye aumieu ino Jo 06 Bune} sayiduu yig Many “ayll jengusIds e OU) jog 8q ued 2uIsep 0s OYM IIe 3643 OS Uado 100p 243 149} Seu POD “AL:L sewer) paresis ay ye Jo syN4SUy JO. Pupr © ag ]YBIW am eY3 ‘YINW] JO 10M 247 YONOAY. YUuIG SN AAI6 0} BS0YO aH, ‘810M SET apsode ou (ezi wuor) 4/9885 fueus S89NPOsO 31 ‘$80 J141,ING PIAS a/BuIs & AjUO suIewaL J) ‘Salp pue punoi6 ay2 03 sy/e4 1e8yMm Jo joUsay e SsaIUN, Lav3H MIN V sseai7 zz.Week 3_Day 18 cy Paul understood this when he said, “Don’t you know that you your- selves are Goa’s temple and that Goa's Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Spirit of God is the One who helps us under- stand the Scriptures, who gives us the strength to obey them, and who prepares the atmosphere so that His promises can be fulfilled, Proof of a new heart As we read in Ezekiel 36:26, when God creates a new heart in us, He also gives us a genuine love for the Word of God - not only to read it, but also to put it into practice. After having read the Bible through some one hundred times with increasing delight, the preacher and missionary, George Miller, made this statement: “I consider it a lost day when I haven't had! a good time over the Word of God. Friends often say, "/ have so much to do, so many people to see, | cannot find time for Scrio- ture study.” “Perhaps there are not many who have more to do than I For more than half a century | have never known one day when I had not more business than | could get through. For four years, | have had annually about 30,000 letters, and most of these have passed through my own hands. “Then, as pastor of a church with 1.200 believers, great has been my care. Besides, ! have had charge of five immense orphanages; also, at my publishing depot, the printing and circulating of millions of tracts, books, and Bibles; but | have always made it a rule never to begin work until | have had! @ good season with God and His Word. The blessing | have received has been wonderful"? This insight into his life helps us understand his triumphs in the faith and his ministerial fruit.“ueoy mau e aus Uan/6 sey poo uossa] ays Jaquiawisy 'SPIOM UMO INOK UI IUBLURILULUOD JNOK UMOP aL “PUIYaq areal 0} NOK Bulyse $1 POD SBulyy ayy Jo 06 BUIE| 0} WWWOD “¢ ‘UMOP 3! BI pue 'UBIeJ JO Sul] ANOK UI PA!NIO} BAO 0} NOA BuIMO|Ie JOU Ss! 3243 Bulyrdue 0} aIp 0] pasU NOA J! NOK MOUS 0} POD HSE PUL Kei *Z 49/0 0} UBL 31 SBOP JEYM "pZZ1 UYOP 0} BUIPIOI2y “L UOSS9] OUI BAIT (ZLO6 WeSd),, WopsiM Jo TIEAY e UIEB AeW am Jey ‘SAep ino Jaquinu 02 SN Y>PAL,, 'SESOW 8] KES 0} B|GE aq II! NOK pue SaNLOLIG MAU NOK @NI6 |IIM po ‘SW BUNSEM AlduUIS ‘eIPSLL [e!90s UO JO UOISIAEIO ay J JUOY UI S’NOY PUAdS 0] NOK 40) ASea SEN 1! SdeYJad “Op 0} pasn am SBUIU] 84 OP 0} BABY 0} PASN am aUISAP O43 SBAOUIEY OS|E PIOAA OL 'SP8BU ANO |Ie UI SN day pue sn e6ueys ‘sn @pIN6 jI|M FELA PAM SIH S13] ‘BUIBG INO Jo sIAdEP Au9A Buy 0} 87243 -2Uad 0} POD JO PIOM BU Mo|Ie BA JUY JUEYOALL! SI “suAAaIINg SY sse097 veweet 5__Day 8 15 Study the Word OPsaim 34 CJproverbs18 = (_JActs1 Oaets 2PO9 Jo UaupIiYD eUJ099q 0} IYBu [e689] 94} Sn AAIB [11M BH SUE SIU, ’sN UI aUNZeU AjoY ‘MoU e OY YuIg @N6 pue sn UOdN aLUOd jI1M UIs AJOH 843 ‘SN UI JUaLUIIIJINY JIBUy Buulsep pue seinydiios 94) U! BuInaljag Jo ye ejdWS ayy Jo SUeDW! Ag POD 40 JOM Uy UI U2!ey 4NO YR!M eoUEPIOIE UI! JOE AJUO |]! OH ;PaxIAUIUN ay!j S,Uossed @ 49]U0 20U IM 3H SBUlY} 82104 J8A8U |)Im PUR UWIA]LUAG 2}8|dWOD € S| BH POD YAIN BUC awoD8q 0} BPD BM UBYM IIS KOH 82 YIM BUO BpeW O10 AMA (S8-PE1 247) ,POD JO LOS ay} ATED 2q IIIm WO Bq 0} BLO AjOY ay) 05 NOK MOPeYSAAd jWiM YBIH ISOp BY JO 2MOA ay) PUL ‘NOf UO BUIOD MM AUIS ACH eU.L, Paiamsue [aBue ay ,cUIBUIA e We J aoUIS, /e6Ue U7 PaySe AleWy ¥'3q SIR IJ/M MOH, “OUOM BU} JO JOINES 84 BABDU0D 0} BuIOB sem ays eu) 484 PIO} jeBue Ue UEYM 3)a AeW Moy sem Jey ‘SHOM UI MAU BUA MOY PUBYa!dLUOD AIRY 03 KSEE SKeMIe IOUS! 3) Jefe; eofor (a, B89S @ Se SN UF pazuEld $1 Ss@Uyfoy Jo WIAs BY) [“] ‘WeBe Wi0g ae am VEU, SSINITOH OLNI NYO@ 6. AWwd 9087 erWeek 3_ Day 19 7 Every believer must have their own experience The Lord said to Nicodemus, “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 with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). Sometimes the wind is strong like a hurricane, laying waste to every- thing in its path; at other times, the wind is calm and gentle. It is the same with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, strong emotions accompany salvation; at other times, the person does not even realize at what point their new birth took place. Being born again means we receive a new life as soon as we ac- cept Christ in our hearts as our personal Lord and Savior. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” ‘ohn 10:10b). The Holy Spirit bears witness to the creation of the new man When we are born again, the Holy Spirit sows the life of Christ in us; this seed grows and develops, becoming progressively evident in our lives. The new birth carries the seal of the Holy Spirit, meaning it can- not be invalidated or revoked (2 Corinthians 1:22), God Himself seals every new believer with His Spirit, guaranteeing them eternal life and @ heavenly inheritance, which we will attain when we go to be with the Father. We must therefore avoid grieving the Holy Spirit. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). When we are born into a new life in Christ, we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit. As @ result, our priorities change and everything in life takes on new meaning. We should make it our goal to daily maintain a passion for holiness so that the Holy Spirit can clothe us with power.yspyC] espvl) el squeroig(} Se wiesd(_} Prom ous Apnis “yuig mau 5N SaA/B OYM BuO 24) SI IHIAS AJOH 2UL Z uosse] ay Jaquuaway ( eoueliadxe 1184) ynoge WAL Se pue UleBe Log Usa sey OYM YDINYO Je APOGSWOS PU “L uossa] ayy @Ar] secuWeek 3_ Day 20 79 BORN OF THE SPIRIT “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 with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again is to begin anew, as those who had been living amiss or to little purpose. We need a new nature, new principles, new affections and new aims. By our first birth we are corrupt, shaped in sin and iniquity; we need to become new creations. This new birth comes from heaven. A major change takes place by the power of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the sinner - this means that something happens inside us and in our favor, something that would be impossible to bring about ourselves. The wind blows wherever it pleases, and God directs it. The Spirit dispenses His influ- ences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree He pleases." Paul explained that Jesus is the second Adam when he said, ““The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giv- ing spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45). He was speaking about the nature that must die in us (the living soul that reigned through “/ want,” “/ feel,” “! think"), and the nature that needs to come to life in our old‘AujeoISAUd Usyy pue Aljenauulds ysulp “yjeep Jo Jamod ayy sqOsge ayl| SIH} esned9q UIeEp 4eAO ALOJDIA sn ANB sey pod ‘eyl| PeMaUAL e ani 0} BIGe Aq jI1M am ‘SSOID BY} UO 3/94 snsar Jem 198) KIn43 PUE YSaly a4 02 aIp 0} aIGe a1e aM LYM ‘euNjeU UeLLNY JNO J8NO A4O391A B3BjGLWUOD SN UBAIB SeY P07 BYR JeUY SSOI9 O43 y6no.u3 s! 3! esneoaq ‘ssou9 sy} Jo Jamod 84) PUeISIepUN am AYA aiqissod spew si UoHedy!OURS Jo Ssad01d au (PS-E9'G1 SUEIYIULIOD D AIOI0IA U! AN PaMoyeMs uBE Sey YIEAQ, ‘874 BUIOD JM UAIIUM S} Jey] Busfes ay) vay) *yeZOUIUN YIM /e20W a4} PUP ‘@IqeysuEdw a4 (him peyjojo ve|g sey aiqeysuad ay) UayyA AYjeLOUULU YjI/n JeUOUL ay pue 1GeYsUBCW! B47 YIIMA 49S}! BUIOIO ISN a/qeysuEd 24) 404, paynoasied Bulag aiam YM pue WI alas © Papioap pey OYM aSOU YIM JJ9SLUIH BUIAWUAP! SEM snser (ap: Siw) ,aW ayN2asIEd NOf Op AyM,, ‘PIES PUE WIY 07 Paieadde P4107 UR ‘SUeRSUYD eindasied 0} snoseWe 07 AEM SIL, UO SEM Ineg UU (aug meuneW) JOYDEAL SIY JO IU} 0} Je|IUUIs A\qypeiDU! sem yUBdde sIy asneseq “Sem By OUM SPIY 0} WIY 404 PYeY Aden sem 3) ‘AIIQUAP! Si [es0UOD 0) paLy ay YBNoYrIy ‘snsar Jo JeMoI}OJ © Sem BY] 41 (SB|MIOSIP eAjomy YR JO BUO) JazEd Se 0} payieys ajdoad ay] yseue snser Jo A10\s ui INoge Peal am UayM 9IQIG AU} UI SIL Jo aldWIeXa Jee; © PUY aM (6y'S1 SueIAULIOD L) .UCU AjUaneay ay) JO aBew! ay} Jeag am |jeys Os ‘UeW AjYyUueEa ay) 40 aBEwy ay; BUsOG aney am se Jsnif PUY, ‘PIES INed “WIds AJOH aUy pue snser seuje4 AlUeAeay ano JO ainyeU 9UJ auInboe sje am ‘sjUa -s0d 4J84] WO4y SUOISsaddxe PU s}qeY dN syd pPIIyD e se ysnr POM SIL} Ul LUIH @>I] 8G 03 PAIIED B4e BA POS JO PIOM aL YBNo1Uy aj!| 8Se8)81 03 JeMOd SiH BABY OO} AM ‘SN UI BAI] OYMA SUD BUD ‘81 8H PUP afl] SN AEB IS SIH JY UAAID ‘WIH Ul eAaIIaq OYM IIe 1 24!) N16 0} 141i au} UAAIB Sem a} ‘aneuB ay] Wy SOI sNser LAY “(SAAI| 4NO Ul POS JO |IIM BLA JO 89Ue}d822e UNO PUR jIIM 4NO Jo JapUB.INS aug YBnouyy sn UI sUBIas YUM yids BuIA ayy) 2d8I0 seinyeU sse8i7 o8Week 3_Day 20 81 Live the Lesson Read the passage and answer the questions below. ‘Jesus answered, “Very truly | tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 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 with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:5-8) 1, When we are born again, we have access to enter into 2. The only way to be born again is through 3. Being born of the Spirit means that you are no longer the one directing your own life and you depend completely on the di- rection of the Holy Spirit instead. What will you do this week to help you depend completely on Him?osov() sspv(} 02 saencud 7) 9¢ wiesd (1) Paomy ous Apnis C) qUIdS 02 Yung SenIb $US ay, uosse] ayy Joquiawiey seanWeek Day 21 83 A LIFE OF FAITH “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperish- able; it is sown in dishonor. it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised 2 spiritual body.” (J Corinthians 15:42-44a) What happens in the natural also takes place in the spiritual. Fruit has to emerge from inside the seed; but to allow this to happen, the seed needs to be deposited in the ground, so that it can be broken and die. Your life is like a seed that is deposited in the hands of the Lord as a living offering, holy and pleasing to the Lord. God begins to work with you in the deepest parts of your heart, until you experience complete detachment from your carnal nature. That is when you can see things from another point of view. ‘Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bod- ies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly boaies is another” (1 Corinthians 15:40). We can compare this to the fact that there are also different types of believers: spiritual believers and earthly “be- lievers.” Earthly believers may well go to church, but have not had a genuine experience of God. Spiritual believers are guided by the HolySSB]DeUILU PUe SBUI}EaY YEN. 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MAU e OU! LIEBE og ave Koy2 Uaym aINJeU MEL e YIM JaNaljaq any AteAd seUJO|D POg JEABMOH "SAAII 1!BL} 40J POD JO LEIA 24 02 AIENIUOD S| JA URI aidoad Bunuasaid Aq S} S40M JIA’ BY YDIYM UL SAEM aUy JO BUD Ssnsaf Jo aBeU! a4 s]Daye1 seme uosiad Ajuaneay ¥y “2160) Aq Jem 48272] 843 SIUM YIIEY Aq yJEm JALIL UL SUOIUIdO UMO J18\) Aq paralip ale sianaljag Aiypuee allym ‘yids sea" eeDay 21 85 Before he became known as a great pioneer in modern day Christianity, there were people who said * "Oral Roberts will never be a preacher. In fact, he can’t even speak without stuttering.” * "Oral Roberts will never amount to much because his family is so poor” * “His healing ministry will last only two months because nobody is doing what he is doing in ministry.” * "Oral Roberts University will never be built because Oral Rob- erts doesn't know how to build a university. Many people may have said many things about Oral Roberts, but what really mattered to him was what God said, Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord said, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). When we believe in the promises of God, extraori- nary things can happen. Roberts wrote, “/ decided to believe God's thoughts about me and go for something higher than what others had! planned for me. The results have been miraculous!" Oral Roberts met God through a very difficult situation indeed. As ‘a high school sophomore, he was diagnosed with tuberculosis and was told that he was already in the last stages of the horrible dis- ease. In 1935, there was no medical cure. Oral spent five months bat- tling death, until his sister, Jewel, said seven words to him that would change him forever: "Oral, God is going to heal you."* God did heal him and he became one of the men most used by God in his time. Oral Roberts learned to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit The new birth produces a nature of faith in us. It was the seed of faith that produced healing in Oral Roberts’ life. The voice of the Holy Spir- it later spoke to his heart and said, “You are to build Me a university. Build it on My authority and on the Holy Spirit." Today, Oral Roberts University is one of the most renowned Christian universities in the world.zspvl] iz squeroig 1] eg wiesd (1) o> Prom ous Apnis ( Ci} \ = “BulyzAsane saGuey> Yyoiym ‘pop Jo ad/0A ay} seay 0} SN SMOI]E YUIG MON Z uosse] ayy Jaquiaway ( 3411 NOK uy paoeid a} sey sweep maU JEM EUESY INOA 07 UayOdS yids AJOH BUI seu YM “*L UuOss9] OY) BAIT ss000)7 98