The Most Important Decision You

Will Ever Make

A Complete and Thorough Understanding of What It
Means To Be Born Again
The Most Important Decision You
Will Ever Make
A Complete and Thorough Understanding of What
It Means To Be Born Again
by
Joyce Meyer
Harrison House
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture uotations are taken
from the King James Version of the Bi!le"
Scripture uotations marked AM# are taken from The Amplified
Bible, Old Testament cop$right % &'(), &'*+ !$ ,onder-an
Corporation" New Testament cop$right % &')*, &'*+ !$ the
.ockman /oundation" Used !$ #ermission"
10t !rinting
Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e *
A +omplete and Toro%g ,nderstanding of
&at "t Means To Be Born Again
ISB0 12*'3+42'412+
Cop$right % 1996 !$ 5o$ce Me$er
#" 1" Bo6 ())
/enton, Missouri (713(
#u!lished !$ 8arrison 8ouse, Inc"
#" O" Bo6 7)17)
Tulsa, Oklahoma +4&)7
#rinted in the United States of America" All rights reser-ed
under International Cop$right .aw" Contents and9or co-er ma$
not !e reproduced in whole or in part in an$ form without the
e6pressed written consent of the #u!lisher"
Contents
& The Most Important :ecision ;ou Will <-er Make +
3 Are ;ou Born Again= &&
7 Who Is 5esus= &+
4 What Should ;ou Belie-e= 7'
) 0ow That I Am Born Again, What Should I :o= 4+
( Is There An$ Thing <lse= ))
A!out the Author (+
1
& The Most Important Decision You
Will Ever Make
I would like to talk to $ou a!out a -er$
important decision" As a matter of fact, this is the
most important decision $ou will e-er !e faced
with" This decision is more important than where
$ou choose to go to school, $our career choice,
who $ou decide to marr$, or where $ou decide to
li-e" This decision concerns eternit$" Think a!out
it" /ore-er is a long, long time"
So man$ people are onl$ concerned with
toda$ or a few months down the road" At !est,
some are concerned with retirement" I want to go
!e$ond that" I want to talk a!out >life after death">
Are $ou making an$ pro-ision for that=
:id $ou know that $ou are not ?ust a !od$
made of flesh and !ones, !lood and muscle= ;ou
are a spirit !eing, $ou ha-e a soul and $ou li-e in a
!od$" When $ou die, which e-er$one does sooner
or later, $our ph$sical !od$ will !e put in a gra-e"
- . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
It will deca$ and turn to ashes and dust" But what
a!out >the real $ou>@the inner $ou, $our
personalit$, $our mind, will and emotions=
The spiritual part of $ou can !e thought of as
the part of $ou that cannot !e seen with the natural
e$e" This part of $ou will li-e fore-er" And where
the spiritual $ou li-es depends on the decision $ou
make as $ou read this !ook"
There are two forces in the world@good and
e-il, right and wrong" We ha-e a >knowing> of that
inside of us e-en without !eing told" There are two
forces in the spirit realm@Aod and the :e-ilB
good angels, which are spirit !eings created !$
Aod to help 8im carr$ out 8is !usiness, and !ad
angels, called demons"
These !ad angels were once good angels who
made a choice to re!el against Aod" .ucifer, an
archangel Calso called BeelDe!u!, Satan or the
:e-ilE, led these angels in this re!ellion, and Aod
threw them out of hea-en and created a place for
them and their master called hell" CSee Fe-" &3B+2
'E Aod and the good angels ha-e their home in
hea-en" Satan and the !ad angels ha-e their home
Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e . /
in hell"
Between hea-en and hell is the earth and the
atmosphere a!o-e the earth" Aood and !ad angels
patrol the earth at all times" Satan also roams a!out
seeking whom he ma$ de-our" The Bi!le tells us
that in & #eter )B*" The 8ol$ Spirit of Aod CAodGs
own SpiritE also dwells on the earth as well as in
the hea-enlies, and the ?o! Aod has gi-en 8im is
to seal, keep, preser-e and protect AodGs people
Cthose who ha-e chosen to ser-e AodE" The 8ol$
Spirit also has the ?o! of wooing and winning
people who ha-e not $et chosen Aod and 8is wa$
of li-ing"
0a(e yo% made yo%r coice1 The choice is
$ours" 0o one can make it for $ou" Aod created
$ou with a free will, and 8e will not force $ou to
choose 8im" 8e did not force the angels" #art of
them re!elled, and 8e let them do what the$
wanted to do" But remem!er, bad coices bring
teir own penalty2
2
3 Are You Born Again
Are $ou !orn again= What does it mean to !e
!orn again= What does the Bi!le sa$ a!out !eing
!orn again= In 5ohn 7B7 AM# 5esus said,
3" ass%re yo%, most solemnly " tell
yo%, tat %nless a person is born again
4anew, from abo(e5, e cannot e(er see
4)now, be ac6%ainted wit, and
e7perience5 te )ingdom of 8od23
0icodemus, the man 5esus was speaking to,
said, 30ow can a man be born wen e is old1
+an e enter is moter9s womb again and be
born13 C5ohn 7B4 AM#E" #erhaps $ou are thinking
the same thing" 8ow can a person !e !orn who has
alread$ !een !orn= 5esus is speaking a!out a
spiritual !irth" <arlier I said $ou are a spirit, $ou
ha-e a soul and $ou li-e in a !od$" ;our !od$ has
alread$ !een !orn, !ut the Bi!le teaches that our
spirit and soul are dead and dark !ecause of sin"
1: . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
Diagram: Body, Soul and Spirit
;ou ma$ go look at $ourself in the mirror,
mo-e $our head, arms and legs" ;ou are !reathing"
;ou can sa$ $ou are ali-e" But is >the real $ouGG
ali-e= Are $ou ali-e and full of light inside1 :o
$ou ha-e peace= Are $ou at peace with $ourself=
:o $ou like $ourself= :o $ou ha-e ?o$ and hope=
Are $ou afraid to die= These are all uestions $ou
need to ask $ourself" $o% can p%t a smile on yo%r
face and not be smiling inside2
When 5esus spoke of !eing !orn again, 8e
was teaching that the inner man must come ali-e to
Are $o% Born Again1 . 1;
Aod" 5ohn 7B( AM# sa$s, 3&at is born of HfromI
te fles is fles Hof the ph$sical is ph$sicalI< and
wat is born of te =pirit is spirit23
When mothers gi-e !irth to !a!ies, the$ are
flesh !orn of flesh" When AodGs 8ol$ Spirit comes
into $our human spirit, $ou are then spirit !orn of
Spirit" This is referred to as >The 0ew Birth"> The
8ol$ Spirit onl$ comes to $our spirit one way2 ;ou
can onl$ !e !orn again one way2 5ust as ph$sical
!irth can onl$ take place one wa$, so it is with
spiritual !irth"
;ou cannot impart spiritual life to $ourself
an$more than $ou could cause $ourself to !e !orn
ph$sicall$ apart from the natural !irth process"
There is a natural ph$sical process that has to !e in
operation for a !a!$ to !e !orn, and there is a
supernatural CspiritualE process that must !e in
operation for $our spirit to recei-e new !irth"
What is the process= If $ou decide toda$ that
$ou want to !e !orn again, what do $ou need to
do=
/irst, recogniDe and admit that $ou are
spirituall$ dead due to sin in $our life" Fomans
1> . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
7B37 sa$s, 3?or all a(e sinned, and come sort of
te glory of 8od23 No person is wito%t sin@ :onGt
!e afraid to admit $ou are a sinner" /irst 5ohn &B*
AM# sa$sB 3"f we say we a(e no sin Hrefusing to
admit that we are sinnersI, we del%de and lead
o%rsel(es astray, and te Tr%t Hwhich the Aospel
presentsI is not in %s Hdoes not dwell in our
heartsI23
Jerse ' AM# sa$sB
3"f we AfreelyB admit tat we a(e
sinned and confess o%r sins, 0e is faitf%l
and C%st 4tr%e to 0is own nat%re and
promises5 and will forgi(e o%r sins
Adismiss o%r lawlessnessB and
Acontin%o%slyB cleanse %s from all
%nrigteo%sness23
Belo-ed, that is good news" 0o wonder the
gospel is referred to as the good news" So we see
=tep 1 toward !eing !orn again is to admit $ou are
a sinner" That means face the truth a!out $ourself"
It is hard to face the truth" It hurts to admit our
faults" Satan wants to keep $ou in deception" Aod
Are $o% Born Again1 . 1D
wants $ou to face truth"
=tep : is confess $our sins" +onfess means to
speak forth" It has a cleansing effect if $ou speak
forth out of $our mouth the things $ou ha-e done
wrong and want to get rid of" Those things are
lodged inside of $ou, and it is those -er$ things,
the memor$ of those things, the sensing of them
!eing wrong, that ha-e filled $ou with darkness"
Confess them to $our /ather in hea-en" It is
AodGs wa$ of deli-ering $ou from them" ;ou get
rid of them !$ confession, and 8e replaces the sins
with forgi-eness" 8e cleanses $ou" It is like getting
a !ath inside"
I was !orn again at age nine, and I -i-idl$
remem!er feeling like I had ?ust !een scru!!ed on
the inside" I felt clean, light, new and fresh inside"
Belo-ed, $ou can get in the !athtu! or shower and
gi-e $our !od$ a !ath" ;ou can scru! $our outside
clean, !ut onl$ 5esus can cleanse $our inside"
!
7 Who Is "esus
I ha-e mentioned 5esus a few times !ut ha-e
not told $ou a!out 8im" it is -er$ important that I
tell $ou a!out 5esus !ecause it is impossi!le for
$ou to get right with Aod without knowing 5esus"
It is impossi!le to !e !orn again without knowing
5esus"
I said in the !eginning that $ou ha-e a -er$
important decision to make" <-er$thing a!out that
decision depends on $our understanding who 5esus
is and knowing what 8e has done for $ou" Then
$our decision is simpl$ whether $ou want to
!elie-e it and recei-e it or whether $ou want to
continue in darkness the wa$ $ou are Cif $ou are
not !orn againE"
I am getting read$ to tell $ou something that
will not make much sense to $our head, !ut $our
heart will want to !elie-e it" So get read$ to hear
an amaDing true stor$ that can change $our life
fore-er"
1- . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
The Bi!le sa$s in the Aenesis chapters & and 3
that in the !eginning, Aod created the first man
and called him Adam" Aod formed his !od$ out of
the dust of the ground and !reathed into him 8is
own life and Spirit, and Adam !ecame a li-ing
soul" In other words, he came ali-e inside as Aod
!reathed into him a portion of 8is -er$ Self" AodGs
!reath was put into the man, and he came ali-e" 8e
was full of the >.ife of Aod">
Aod called him >Adam"> The Bi!le sa$s
Adam was created in AodGs image" CAen" &B3("E
There were things a!out Adam that were like Aod"
8e had AodGs !reath" 8e had AodGs nature and
character" 8e was hol$ and good like Aod" 0o e-il
was in Adam at all" 8e and Aod could fellowship
!ecause the$ were alike"
The Bi!le sa$s light cannot fellowship with
darkness" Aod and Adam were !oth light, so the$
could fellowship together" Adam was comfortable
wit 8od2
Are you comfortable with God?
Adam was also created with >free choice">
&o "s Jes%s1 . 1/
Aod told him what was right !ut ga-e him the
a!ilit$ to choose" Adam was good, !ut to sta$
good, he had to contin%ally choose Aod and AodGs
wa$s"
Aod realiDed Adam needed a helper, a mate"
So 8e put Adam to sleep and took out one of his
ri!s, then 8e closed up his side" CAen" 3B3&,33"E
/rom AdamGs side, 8e made woman to !e !eside
4beside5 Adam as a help, a companion" 0otice that
woman was not taken out of AdamGs feet !ecause
he was not to stand on her" She was not taken out
of his head to !e o-er him, !ut she was taken out
of his side to !e !eside him in life as his partner"
0ow we ha-e a couple li-ing on earth in a
paradise, a !eautiful garden Aod had created ?ust
for them" It is prett$ o!-ious that Aod wanted them
to en?o$ life"
Are yo% enCoying life1 There was another
creation on the earth, an unpleasant one, Satan,
who had pre-iousl$ fallen from AodGs original plan
for him as the archangel of praise and worship" 8e
fell through re!ellion and through wanting more
than what Aod had gi-en him" 8e wanted to !e in
control, not under AodGs leadership"
:0 . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
8e said he would e6alt his throne a!o-e
AodGs, and Aod threw him and the angels who
were in re!ellion with him out of hea-en" 8ell was
made for them, !ut Satan plus multitudes of other
demon spirits were still gi-en access to earthGs
atmosphere for a time"
There is a time set aside in AodGs plan for all
of them to !e eternall$ confined in hell, !ut at this
time, Aod is still allowing the :e-il CSatan,
.uciferE access to the earth !ecause men and
women are still in the process of coosing whom
the$ will ser-e" In order to ha-e choice, there has
to !e more than one thing !eing offered"
Aod offers life, light, ?o$, faith, peace,
righteousness, hope and all good things" Satan
offers death, darkness, despair, depression,
de-astation, dread, fear and e-er$thing !ad"
<-en as I write these things, I think wy
wo%ld anyone choose Satan and his wa$s= ;et
multitudes do" Man$ people are decei-ed" The$ are
choosing the wrong wa$ !ecause the$ lack
knowledge" 8osea 4B( sa$s, 3My people are
destroyed for lac) of )nowledge23 #erhaps $ou
&o "s Jes%s1 . :1
ha-e not had enough knowledge to make a good
choice until now" I am making this truth a-aila!le
with the hope that multiplied thousands will
!ecome euipped with the knowledge needed to
make a right choice"
.etGs go on with our stor$" Adam and <-e Cas
Adam named herE were en?o$ing life in the garden"
Aod ga-e them charge of the earth" 8e told them
what the$ could do and could not doK remem!er,
the$ had free choice" Aod was telling them what
8e wanted them to do, telling them how their life
could !e !lessed, !ut not forcing them to do it"
8e had placed a lot of fruit2!earing trees in the
garden for them to eat freel$ of, !ut one tree 8e
told them not to eat the fruit of@3te tree of te
)nowledge of good and e(il23 CAen" 3B&+"E ;ou
might !e wondering wh$ Aod e-en put the one tree
there and told them the$ should not eat its fruit"
Femem!er, in order to ha-e choice, $ou must ha-e
more than one selection" If the$ were going to
choose to o!e$ Aod, the$ had to ha-e something
the$ could choose to diso!e$"
Aod wanted their lo-e and o!edience"
O!edience is actuall$ a fruit of lo-e" 8e wanted it,
:: . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
!ut it meant nothing to Aod if it was not freel$
gi-en as an act of their free will, as" a result of
their own choosing"
Would $ou !e e6cited and !lessed if others
lo-ed $ou !ecause $ou forced them to !$ lea-ing
them no other choice= Aod created man with free
choice, and 8e left a few -er$ important choices"
;ou are in the same situation toda$" ;ou ha-e a
free will, free choice, and a -er$ important
decision to make"
To go on with our stor$" Adam and <-e were
en?o$ing life, en?o$ing Aod, the garden, the good
fruit, each other and all the other things Aod had
made" Aenesis ) tells us that Satan appeared to <-e
in the form of a serpent" She was not afraid of the
serpent CsnakeE like $ou or I might !e toda$" The
serpent was not a !ad animal" Satan was using it or
it appeared to her in that form"
Through the serpent, 8e !egan to pose
uestions to her that made her wonder Creason@
the kind of >reasonings> that 3 Cor" &1B4,) talks
a!out which set themsel-es up against the true
knowledge of AodE wh$ Aod told them not to eat
&o "s Jes%s1 . :;
of the tree of the knowledge of good and e-il"
Actuall$, Aod did not want them to e-er know
an$thing a!out e-il" But remem!er, the$ had to
ha-e a choice"
Aod had told Adam that if he ate of the tree of
the knowledge of good and e-il e wo%ld s%rely
die2 CAen" 3B&+"E 8e meant that the$ would die
inside, not their ph$sical !od$" 8e meant the life in
them would die out" The light would go out, and
the$ would !e dark"
Fecentl$ a man who had li-ed a terri!l$ sinful
life was !eing operated on"
8e thought he might die, and he wanted to get
right with Aod" As :a-e and I talked to him, he
said, >I feel dead inside">
Think a!out it" 8e wanted to !e !orn again
!ecause he was afraid he was going to die
Cph$sical deathE on the operating ta!le, $et in
realit$, he had !een dead all of his life inside, and
he said so with his own mouth"
Are you alive or dead?
The serpent lied to <-e" 8e said" 3$o% sall
:> . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
not s%rely die3 CAen" 7B4 AM#E" What he said was
the opposite of what Aod saidB therefore, it was a
lie" AodGs Word is truth" And here in the !eginning,
$ou can see the nature of Satan" 8e is the e6act
opposite of e-er$thing Aod is" Aod wants $ou to
ha-e e-er$thing good" Satan wants to destro$ $ou"
8e accomplishes this through lies and deception
toda$, the same as he did with <-e"
8e continued to decei-e and lie and pose
uestions to her that caused her to get into
reasoning C>reasonings> which set themsel-es up
against the true knowledge of AodE" <-entuall$ she
followed the :e-il's ad-ice and talked her hus!and
into doing the same" The$ !oth diso!e$ed Aod !$
eating of the fruit 8e told them to sta$ awa$ from"
The result was e6actl$ what Aod said@the$ died
spirituall$"
The ne6t time Aod came into the garden to
-isit Adam and <-e, the$ hid from 8im !ecause
the$ were afraid"
&o "s Jes%s1 . :D
Have you been hiding from God because
you are afraid?
As soon as Aod realiDed the$ were afraid, 8e
knew the$ had sinned" The$ had !elie-ed SatanGs
lies" The$ had fallen into the temptation and were
now ha-ing the fruit of their choice" /ear is the
fruit or result of sin"
ou may have the fruit of your choice!
But remember, some of it may be bitter
in your mouth"
Aod !egan to deal with them concerning their
sin, !ut 8e also had an immediate plan for their
redemption and deli-erance from this mess the$
had gotten themsel-es into" In Aenesis 7B&), Aod
told the serpent that the offspring Cseed of womanE
would !ruise his head, and he CSatanE would !ruise
the heel of the offspring"
8e was speaking of 5esus, 8is onl$ !egotten
Son, who was alread$ in e6istence spirituall$" Aod
is a Triune Aod" We refer to 8im as >The Trinit$>B
one Aod in three persons@/ather, Son and 8ol$
Spirit" <ach one of the 8ol$ #ersons of the
Aodhead has a ma?or role in $our life"
:E . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
5esus alread$ e6isted spirituall$, !ut in order
to help man out of the mess he was in, 5esus would
e-entuall$ need to come to earth" 8e would need
to get inside a natural human !od$ like $ours and
mine" 8e would need to hum!le and lower 8imself
to !ecome a human !eing" Femem!er, 5esus is all
Aod, the Son of Aod" In other words, (ery 8od of
(ery 8od2 8e certainl$ was and is -er$ much Aod"
A plan was !irthed, !ut it would not occur
until the e6act, right timing in AodGs o-erall plan"
<phesians 7B&1 Cas !ased on the wording in Te
Amplified Bible5 re-eals the purpose of Aod, which
is that through the Church
&
, AodGs wisdom C8is
man$ faceted and infinite -ariet$ of wisdomE and
greatness might !e made known to the
principalities and powers which are the demon
spirits and their ruler, Satan, who re!elled"
In plain <nglish, we are in a warFa war
between =atan and 8od@ It is alread$ esta!lished,
and alwa$s has !een, who wins the war" Aod does"
The -ictor$ part$ is planned"
& The Church is not a !uilding" It is made up of all !orn2again !elie-ers who e-er
li-ed"
&o "s Jes%s1 . :G
#hose side are you fighting on?
If $ou are ser-ing Satan and are !elie-ing his
lies, $ou are working for a loser" Aod has the
winning team"
An$wa$, this is ultimatel$ AodGs plan" 8e will
use !orn2again people@people who lo-e, o!e$ and
ser-e 8im willinglyFto defeat and completel$
o-erthrow Satan and his demon hosts"
;ou ma$ wonder wh$ Aod dragged us into
this war" Femem!er, Satan defeated AodGs man in
the garden and stole from him what Aod wanted
him to ha-e" Actuall$ man, through deception,
ga-e it to the :e-il" It would !e illegal for Aod to
take it awa$ from the :e-il and gi-e it !ack to
man"
What Aod is doing and has !een doing since
the garden and will keep doing until the ?o! is done
is thisB 0e is e6%ipping man wit te ability to
regain wat =atan stole from im2
$esus is the %ey to the whole plan!
.et me continue our stor$ from Aenesis 7
when Aod told the serpent that e-entuall$ his head
:- . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
would !e crushed" CThat means his authorit$
destro$ed"E Aod had spoken forth what would
happen, and if Aod sa$s it, e-entuall$ it happens"
But !efore it happened, 3,111 $ears went !$
while men and women multiplied on the earth" Sin
multiplied and trou!le multiplied" Where sin
multiplies, trou!le alwa$s multiplies"
Man was unhol$ now, unrighteous, and no
longer right with Aod" The sin principle dwelt in
manGs flesh" 8e had a sin nature" In other words,
that was the natural thing for man to do" Sin was
natural for him" 8e did not ha-e to tr$ to sinK he
?ust would" In fact, he could not stop himself"
<-er$ time children were !orn, the$ had the
nature of sin in their flesh"
3

Children are not
accounta!le for sin until the$ reach an age of
accounta!ilit$, which is not at a certain num!er of
$ears" This refers to whene-er the$ reach an
awareness that their actions are actuall$ sin against
Aod, and the$ ha-e an opportunit$ to choose Aod
or turn 8im down"
3 ManGs flesh euals his !od$ and soul"
&o "s Jes%s1 . :/
I ha-e a sin natureK $ou ha-e oneK e-er$
person has one" We get it at !irth" We !ecome
accounta!le to Aod as we !ecome aware of our
sin"
&he 'aw
Aod lo-es 8is people -er$ much, and 8e
instituted a temporar$ plan that would suffice for
those who lo-ed 8im and were choosing 8im and
8is wa$s@a plan that would ena!le 8im to
fellowship with 8is people again" ;ou see, when
sin came in and man died spirituall$, man could no
longer ha-e proper fellowship with Aod" Aod is a
spirit !eing, and we must fellowship with 8im in
our spirit"
Aod is light" Man was now full of darkness, so
the fellowship, oneness, unit$ and the relationship
!etween Aod and man was !roken" The Bi!le sa$s
there was now a !reach !etween Aod and man@a
!reak in their compati!ilit$" ;ou might sa$ a wall
came down !etween them@ a wall of sin"
Aod de-ised the law, a s$stem of written rules
and regulations that man had to li-e !$ if he
wanted to !e hol$ enough, right enough to !e
;0 . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
AodGs friend" The law was perfect and hol$, ?ust
and good" It stated clearl$ what man had to do in
order to !e hol$"
Before Adam sinned, he instincti-el$ knew
what Aod wanted and did not want" The$ were one
in Spirit, one in heart, one in purpose" After man
sinned, he was no longer sensiti-e to Aod" 8e was
hardened !$ sin and the results of sin" 8e no longer
knew AodGs heart" It had to !e written down" Man
could not do AodGs will an$ longer from his heart
or out of his spirit" 8e had to tr$ to please Aod in
his natural a!ilit$" But man was una!le to keep all
of the law perfectl$ !ecause man was no longer
perfect and ne-er would !e again as long as he
li-ed on the earth"
AodGs law said, If $ou !reak the law in one
point, $ou are guilt$ of it all" C5ames 3B&1"E The
law was perfect, and to keep it all, man would need
to !e perfect"
Sacrifices
Since the$ had the law !ut could ne-er keep it
no matter how hard the$ tried, Aod instituted a
&o "s Jes%s1 . ;1
s$stem of sacrifices the$ could make to co-er and
atone Cmake upE for their mistakes and failures"
The$ were !lood sacrifices" The shedding of !lood
had to !e in-ol-ed" This ma$ sound rather gross,
!ut the reason !ehind it makes it understanda!le"
When Aod !reathed into Adam the !reath of life,
he !ecame a li-ing soul, and his !lood was filled
with life" 8is !lood !egan to flow through his
!od$" The Bi!le sa$s, 3te life of te fles is in te
blood3 C.e-" &+B&&E" ;ou know this is true" 0o one
li-es without !lood" If $ou stop the !lood flow,
$ou stop the life"
When Satan tempted Adam and <-e and the$
chose sin, sin e-entuall$ !rought death CFom"
)B&3E and all that death represents@sickness
disease, po-ert$, war, anger, greed and ?ealous$"
Te only ting strong eno%g to co(er deat is life2
When man !roke the law and sinned it was a
t$pe of death" The onl$ atonement for sin was
!lood sacrifice !ecause the life is in the !lood"
C.e-" &+B&&"E
Another reason wh$ Aod did this was a certain
t$pe of >looking forward> to the good plan 8e had
in mind for them that would !e fulfilled in 8is
;: . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
perfect timing" The prophets were prophes$ing
a!out the coming of a Messiah, a Sa-ior, a
Fedeemer, One Who would deli-er them" Aod was
getting the message out" Femem!er, if Aod sa$s it,
8e e-entuall$ does it"
This Messiah would !ecome their sacrifice,
the final sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice" 8e would !e
the sacrificial, perfect, flawless lam! of Aod" 0o
longer would the$ need to offer lam!s without
!lemish on the altars in the temple as a sacrifice
for their sin" 5esus would come and !e the last
sacrifice, the final sacrifice" 8is sacrifice would
put an end to the s$stem of the law"
.et me uote $ou ?ust one of those prophecies"
"saia D;H;*G AM!
30e was despised and reCected and
forsa)en by men, a Man of sorrows and
pains, and ac6%ainted wit grief and
sic)ness< and li)e One from &om men
ide teir faces 0e was despised, and we
did not appreciate 0is wort or a(e any
esteem for 0im2
&o "s Jes%s1 . ;;
3=%rely 0e as borne o%r griefs
4sic)nesses, wea)nesses and distresses5
and carried o%r sorrows and pains Aof
p%nismentB, yet we AignorantlyB
considered 0im stric)en, smitten, and
afflicted by 8od*Aas if wit leprosyB2
3B%t 0e was wo%nded for o%r
transgressions, 0e was br%ised for o%r
g%ilt and ini6%ities< te castisement
Aneedf%l to obtainB peace and well*being
for %s was %pon 0im, and wit te stripes
Atat wo%ndedB 0im we are ealed and
made wole2
3All we li)e seep a(e gone astray,
we a(e t%rned e(ery one to is own way<
and te Iord as made to ligt %pon 0im
te g%ilt and ini6%ity of %s all2
30e was oppressed, Ayet wenB 0e
was afflicted, 0e was s%bmissi(e and
opened not 0is mo%t< li)e a lamb tat is
led to te sla%gter, and as a seep
before er searers is d%mb, so 0e
opened not 0is mo%t23
;> . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
The prophecies were !eing gi-en" #eople were
waiting for their Messiah, their Sa-ior, and
:eli-erer" I do not !elie-e the$ e-en trul$
understood what the$ were waiting for"
The$ did not understand 8e would deli-er
them from the law, from the >works> in-ol-ed in
tr$ing to please Aod with perfection when it is
impossi!le to do" The$ did not understand that 8e,
5esus, the Messiah, Sa-ior of the world, would
shed 8is own !lood on a cross, let 8is !lood flow,
po%ring o%t 0is life to remo(e all sin from e-er$
generation"
7
The$ were waiting, !ut did not reall$
know what the$ were waiting for"
$esus (omes
AodGs time came" The 8ol$ Spirit appeared to
a $oung -irgin named Mar$"
She !ecame pregnant !$ the miracle2working
power of Aod@pregnant with 5esus, the Son of
Aod" It had to happen this wa$"
5esus was alread$ in hea-en spirituall$ and
7 Femem!er that the life is in the !lood" C.e-" &+B&&"E
&o "s Jes%s1 . ;D
had alwa$s !een" 8e was with Aod from the
!eginning" But now 8e was going to take on flesh
so 8e could help the rest of the fleshl$ humans
who were in a mess that the$ had no wa$ out of
without a Sa-ior"
5ohn &B&,&4 sa$s that 5esus is the Word of Aod
and that the Word of Aod !ecame flesh and dwelt
among men" 8e!rews 4B&) sa$s 5esus is a 8igh
#riest who understands our weaknesses and
failures !ecause 8e" ha-ing had a fleshl$ !od$ and
a natural soul, was tempted in all points ?ust like
we are, yet wito%t sin2 Belo-ed, this is the !ig
difference"
5esus was ali-e to Aod inside, totall$
connected with the /ather" 8e was one with 8im,
like Adam was !efore he sinned" The Bi!le calls
8im the second Adam" CSee & Cor" &)B4),4+"E
Fomans )B&323& sa$s if one manGs CAdamE sin
caused all men to sin, then how much more can
one manGs C5esusE righteousness make all men right
with Aod=
AdamGs sin came down on $ou from
generation to generation" 0ow, if yo% will belie(e
it, the second Adam, 5esus, is waiting to gi-e $ou
;E . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
8is righteousness" Adam was a man, full of Aod,
full of AodGs life" Sin came and man was filled
with darkness" The light in him went out"
Are you full of dar%ness or light?
5esus was also a man, !orn of a woman, !ut
8e was full of Aod" Adam sinned" 5esus did not
e-er sinK 8e was a perfect sacrifice for sin"
The Old Testament !elie-ers had to constantl$
make sacrifices for their sin, !ut the guilt was
alwa$s there"
Do you feel guilty or free? Dirty or
clean?
5esus !ecame the sinless lam!, the sacrificial
lam! of Aod that took awa$ the sin of the world"
8e!rews &1B&&2&4 AM# sa$sB
3?%rtermore, e(ery A%manB priest
stands Aat is altar of ser(iceB ministering
daily, offering te same sacrifices o(er
and o(er again, wic ne(er are able to
strip Afrom e(ery side of %sB te sins Atat
&o "s Jes%s1 . ;G
en(elop %sB and ta)e tem awayF
3&ereas tis One A+ristB, after 0e
ad offered a single sacrifice for o%r sins
Atat sall a(ailB for all time, sat down at
te rigt and of 8od,
3Ten to wait %ntil 0is enemies
so%ld be made a stool beneat 0is feet2
3?or by a single offering 0e as
fore(er completely cleansed and
perfected tose wo are consecrated and
made oly23
The Old Testament priests offered the
sacrifices on !ehalf of the people" The$ had to do it
o-er and o-er, all the time, alwa$s working, tr$ing
to !e good, alwa$s failing, ne-er feeling good
a!out themsel-es Cinwardl$E, alwa$s tr$ing to be
good so the$ could feel good"
But 8e!rews shows us that 5esus offered
8imself once and for all, a perfect sacrifice" 8e
kept all the law" 0is (ictory is a(ailable to all wo
will belie(e2
#
4 What $houl% You Believe
Belie-e that 5esus did what the Bi!le sa$s"
Belie-e 8e is indeed the Son of Aod, !orn of a
-irgin" 8e took manGs sin on 8imself" 8e !ecame
our sacrifice and died on the cross" 8e did not sta$
dead" 8e was in the gra-e three da$s" :uring that
time, 8e entered hell and defeated Satan"
All this 8e did willingl$ !ecause 8e lo-ed 8is
/ather CAodE and !ecause Aod and 5esus lo-ed $ou
and me so much that no plan was too e6treme"
Whate-er it took to get AodGs people !ack, free
again, is what The$ would do" Jes%s paid for our
sins on the cross and went to hell in our place"
Then, as Aod had promised, on the third da$ 5esus
rose from the dead"
#hat Happened on the (ross
When 5esus hung on the cross, 8e took our sin
upon 8imself" Aod cannot sta$ in the presence of
sin" As 5esus took our sin, 8e was separated from
the presence of the /ather" The same thing
>0 . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
happened to Adam in the garden" As he sinned, the
presence of Aod left him" Aod cannot dwell in the
midst of sin" Sin puts a wall !etween man and
Aod"
5esus was taking $our sins and those of
e-er$one else upon 8im as 8e felt this a!sence of
8is /atherGs presence" 8e said, 3My 8od, my 8od,
wy a(e yo% forsa)en me13 CSee Matt" 3+B4(,
authorGs paraphraseE" 5esus knew it would happen,
!ut the horror of separation from the !right
presence of the /ather was worse than 8e could
ha-e imagined, and it caused 8im to cr$ out" 8e
committed 8is Spirit to the /ather and died" So
the$ put 8im@that is, 8is !od$@in a gra-e, and
8is spirit went to hell !ecause that is where we
deser-ed to go"
Femem!er in the -er$ !eginning of this !ook,
I said that when $ou die, onl$ $our !od$ dies" The
rest of $ou, $our soul and spirit, goes either to
hea-en or hell"
There is no hope of an$one going to hea-en
unless the$ !elie-e this truth" ;ou cannot go to
hea-en unless $ou !elie-e with all $our heart that
&at =o%ld $o% Belie(e1 . >1
5esus took $our place" He became your substitute
and took all the punishment you deserve. He bore
all your sins. He paid the debt you owe.
8e did it for $ou !ecause 8e lo-es $ou" 5ohn
7B&( sa$sB
3?or 8od so lo(ed te world, tat e
ga(e is only begotten =on, tat
wosoe(er belie(et in im so%ld not
peris, b%t a(e e(erlasting life23
5esus went to hell for yo%2 8e died for yo%2 8e
paid for yo%r sins" Aod was faithful to 5esus" Aod
did what 8e told 5esus 8e would do" 8e raised
8im from the dead"
But until that happened, 8e was alone for
three da$s satisf$ing the courts of ?ustice and
conuering the hosts of hell" 8e took the ke$s of
hell and death" 8e preached to the prisoners held
capti-e there in paradise" 8e led them out
-ictorious"
On the third da$, 8e rose from the dead" After
that, 8e entered into the hea-enlies with some of
8is own !lood and placed it there as a constant
reminder that sinless !lood had !een shed to pa$
>: . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
for manGs sin !ecause the life is in the !lood" C.e-"
&+B&&"E
Bac% to Believing
What else do $ou need to !elie-e=
Belie(e 0e did it for yo%2
Belie-e it with $our heart" ;our head will not
grasp what I am telling $ou, !ut !elie-e it with
$our heart" .isten to $our heart C$our spiritE"
Fomans &1B' sa$s that if yo% confess wit
yo%r mo%t tat Jes%s is Iord and belie(e wit
yo%r eart tat 8od raised 0im from te dead, yo%
will be sa(ed 4born again52
At this point, if $ou ha-e decided that $ou
!elie-e what I am telling $ou and $ou want to
recei-e 5esus, $ou need to sa$B " belie(e Jes%s is
te =on of 8od2 " belie(e 0e died for me2 " belie(e
8od raised 0im from te dead2
Fomans &1B&1 CAM#E sa$s that wit te eart
man belie(es and is C%stified2 The word C%stified
means made as if he ne-er sinnedK it means
cleansed, made right with Aod" Onl$ !elie-ing in
&at =o%ld $o% Belie(e1 . >;
5esus and all 8e did will ?ustif$ $ou"
0o amount of good works will e-er make $ou
right with Aod" Merel$ going to church will not
?ustif$ $ou" /irst, $ou must !e ?ustified through
faith, then the good works will follow as a sign of
$our heart change" The heart must !e right first"
;ou m%st !elie-e with $our heart, $our inner man"
Fomans &1B&1 AM# further sa$s to confess
with $our mouth to confirm $our sal-ation"
+onfirm means >esta!lish">
&
Sa$ing what $ou
!elie-e secures it as $ours" It sort of nails it down,
so to speak"
Summary
To !e !orn again $ou must !elie-eB
Aod is" CAen" &B&K 8e!" &&B("E
5esus is the Son of Aod, !orn of a -irgin,
!orn of flesh and !lood" CMatt" &B&*K Matt"
&B37"E
5esus is Aod, one part of the Trinit$, one
part of the Triune Aodhead" CCol" 3B',&1K
& W" <" Jine, An '7pository #ictionary of New Testament &ords COld Tappan,
0ew 5erse$B /leming 8" Fe-ell Compan$, &'41E, p" 33("
>> . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
8e!" &B)2*"E
8e came in a fleshl$ !od$ so 8e could help
man" C5ohn &B&K 5ohn &B&4K .uke 4B&*23&"E
8e took on 8imself all $our sins, !ore them
in 8is own !od$ on the cross" CIsa" )7B4,)K 3
Cor" )B3&"E
8e died for $our sins" C8e!" 3B'E
8e went to hell in $our place and gained
-ictor$ there, triumphing o-er the enem$"
CActs 3B7&E
On the third da$, 8e arose again from the
dead" C.uke 34B&2+K Acts 3B73"E
8e is now seated at the right hand of the
/ather in hea-en" C8e!" &1B&3"E
8e is a-aila!le to e-er$ person who will
!elie-e" CFom" &1B&7K 5ohn &B&3"E
8e will come to li-e in $ou !$ the power
and presence of the 8ol$ Spirit li-ing in
$our human spirit, once again making $ou
&at =o%ld $o% Belie(e1 . >D
ali-e to Aod" CFom" *B&42&("E
3
Tis is wat it means to be born again2 If $ou
!elie-e this, then $ou canB
#roceed !$ admitting $ou are a sinner in
need of a Sa-ior" CFom" 7B37,34"E
0ow confess $our sins to Aod" C& 5ohn &B'"E
8a-e a repentant attitude@a willingness to
turn from $our sin and !e willing to li-e a
new life for Aod" CActs 7B&'E
'et)s *ray
5ames 4B3 sa$s $ou ha-e not !ecause $ou ask
not" As) Jes%s into yo%r eart< as) 0im to forgi(e
yo%r sins2 8e will forgi-e $ou, and 8e will come
to li-e in $our spirit" ;our spirit will come ali-e to
Aod" 8ere is a sample pra$er $ou ma$ pra$"
8owe-er, I encourage $ou to pour $our heart out
to Aod in $our own wa$"
?ater 8od, " belie(e Jes%s +rist is $o%r
=on, te =a(ior of te world2 " belie(e 0e died on
te cross for me, and 0e bore all of my sins2 0e
3 0oteB ;ou are encouraged to look up these Scriptures if $ou ha-e a Bi!le" .et the
Word of Aod con-ince $ou"
>E . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
went to ell and tri%mped o(er deat and te
gra(e2 " belie(e Jes%s was res%rrected from te
dead and is now seated at $o%r rigt and2 " need
$o%, Jes%s2 ?orgi(e my sins, sa(e me, come to li(e
inside of me2 " want to be born again2
If $ou !elie-e these truths and ha-e followed
the guidelinesB
+ongrat%lations,
yo% are born again@
&
) 'o( That I Am Born Again) What
$houl% I Do
Grow
0ow that $ou are !orn again, $ou need to
grow as a Christian" ;ou ha-e e6perienced >The
0ew Birth,> so $ou are a !a!$ Christian" AodGs
desire for $ou is that $ou grow up and !e mature@
a full grown !elie-er that walks in AodGs wa$s,
knows the Word of Aod and knows how to hear
the -oice of Aod"
'earn the #ord
This cannot happen unless $ou ha-e the Word"
;our spirit and soul Cthe inner $ouE needs to !e fed
and nourished so it will get strong" It also needs
e6ercise" The same as $our !od$ needs food and
e6ercise to sta$ strong and health$, $our spirit and
soul also need food and e6ercise"
>- . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
+,ercise
The Word of Aod Cthe Bi!leE is the spiritual
food $ou need" Spiritual e6ercise consists of things
like pra$ing, singing praise to Aod, confessing the
Word, thinking a!out the goodness of Aod,
thinking a!out the Word, gi-ing and
fellowshipping with other Christians"
*ray
Ask Aod to lead $ou to a good church where
$ou can !egin to learn 8is Word" Start to read the
Bi!le" There are man$ modern translations
a-aila!le toda$ that make the Bi!le more easil$
understood than in the past" I like Te Amplified
Bible< howe-er, there are man$ other translations
a-aila!le" Ao to a Christian !ookstore and select
one" As $ou !egin to read the Bi!le, ask the 8ol$
Spirit CAodGs SpiritE to help $ou understand it"
As $ou !egin $our new life with Aod, talk to
8im" 8e is always with $ou" ;ou will ne-er !e
alone again" 5esus said, 3" will ne(er lea(e tee,
nor forsa)e tee3 C8e!" )B&7E" ;ou do not ha-e to
struggle with things like $ou ha-e in the past" Ask
Now Tat " Am Born Again, &at =o%ld " #o1 . >/
the .ord to help $ou with e-er$thing $ou do" 8e is
$our new #artner in life" The 0oly =pirit is called
the >8elper> in the Bi!le" C5ohn &4B&( AM#"E
;ou ma$ notice I am referring to the /ather
CAodE, the Son C5esusE, and the 8ol$ Spirit" To
make sure I am not confusing $ou, let me remind
$ou that $ou now ser-e One 8od, a Triune Aod, a
Trinit$, and each person of the Aodhead has a
>special function> in $our e-er$da$ life"
#ra$ to the /ather in 5esusG 0ame through the
power and leading of the 8ol$ Spirit, Who is now
li-ing inside $ou !ringing $ou the presence and
realit$ of the /ather and Son"
#ater Baptism
;ou will need to !e !aptiDed as soon as
possi!le" :o not put it off an$ longer than
necessar$" The Bi!le teaches that a person should
!e !aptiDed after he or she accepts 5esus as .ord
and Sa-ior"
Baptism means >to su!merge in water> and is
generall$ done !$ a spiritual leader assisting $ou
and pra$ing o-er $ou as $ou go down into the
D0 . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
water and are !rought !ack up"
This signifies the !urial of the old wa$ of
li-ing and is an outward sign of $ou declaring $our
decision to li-e for Aod" Fomans ( teaches us that
we are !uried with Christ in the waters of !aptism
and raised to a new life when we are raised out of
the water"
Actuall$, water !aptism is $our declaration to
the :e-il and demon spirits Cremem!er, the$ roam
the earth and fill the earthGs atmosphere e-en
though $ou cannot see themE that $ou ha-e made a
decision to follow 5esus" 8e is now $our .ord"
;ou are !ur$ing $our old, sinful wa$s and are
making a commitment to learn new wa$s of li-ing"
The Bi!le sa$s that through 5esusG death and
resurrection, 8e opened up a new and li-ing wa$"
;ou must !e committed to these new
principles, or the :e-il will cause $ou to !ackslide"
/irst #eter 7B3& sa$s !aptism is a figure of
deli-erance" That means it cuts $ou off from the
enem$, Satan" It also sa$s $ou are demonstrating
what $ou !elie-e to !e $ours in 5esus Christ"
Now Tat " Am Born Again, &at =o%ld " #o1 . D1
If $ou are familiar with Moses and the
Israelites and their encounter with the Fed Sea,
Aod caused them to go down into the sea and
come out" The$ parted the water !$ a miracle of
Aod" This actuall$ deli-ered them from the enem$"
But as their enem$ C#haraoh and his arm$E chased
them, the enem$ was drowned in the Fed Sea" This
is a t$pe of what happens to $ou, spirituall$
speaking, in water !aptism"
If $ou were !aptiDed as a !a!$, which man$
people are as a religious formalit$, I suggest $ou
go ahead and !e !aptiDed now that $ou understand
it and can e6ercise $our faith to !elie-e what the
Bi!le sa$s a!out !aptism"
Feligious formalit$ means nothing if there is
no real faith in-ol-ed" Feligion is the :e-ilGs
in-ention to keep people out of relationship with
the /ather, Son and 8ol$ Spirit"
Feligion is manGs idea of AodGs e6pectations@
a formal s$stem of man2made doctrines Csome
according to AodGs Word and usuall$ some notE
that gi-e rules and regulations to follow in order to
please Aod" This s$stem does not impart life to the
inner man, and it causes people to get into >works
D: . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
of the flesh> tr$ing to please Aod"
#eople !egin to follow church rules@things
that are good in themsel-es, !ut if the$ ha-e no
meaning to the participants, the$ are lifeless" But
now that $ou ha-e relationship with Aod through
5esus, $ou can !e !aptiDed, and it will mean
something to $ou !ecause faith is present"
:eclare to all that $ou are !ur$ing the old man
C$our old natureE and all his old wa$s in !aptism"
Special noteB ;ou do not ha-e to ha-e an
emotional e6perience with Aod to !e !orn again"
;ou ma$ or ma$ not e6perience some kind of
specific feelings" Man$ people e6press a feeling of
cleansing or relief@a feeling that their !urdens
ha-e !een lifted" 8owe-er, I encourage $ou to
remem!er that the Bi!le nowhere tells us to !ase
our faith on feelings" 0or do $ou need to
remem!er a certain time when $ou recei-ed 5esus"
But $ou m%st know in yo%r heart that $ou are !orn
again"
All four of m$ children are !orn again, and
two of them could not tell $ou >a time> when the$
Now Tat " Am Born Again, &at =o%ld " #o1 . D;
first !elie-ed" The$ ha-e grown up alwa$s
knowing 5esus" I certainl$ !elie-e this is AodGs
!est plan" But, thank Aod, 8e also has a special
plan for those of us who did not ha-e parents who
raised us in the nurture and admonition of the
.ord"
*
( Is There An+ Thing Else
$es@ There is one more -er$ important thing
$ou need to know"
There is $et another !lessing a-aila!le to $ou"
The Bi!le calls it the !aptism of the 8ol$ Spirit"
The Bi!le tells us that 5ohn said when 5esus came,
5esus would !aptiDe people with the 8ol$ Ahost
and fire" CMatt" 7B42(,&&"E 5ohn had !een !aptiDing
people in water, and the$ had !een repenting of
their sins, !ut this !aptism in the 8ol$ Spirit@
what is that=
In Acts &B)2* AM#, 5esus talked a!out this
Spirit !aptism" 8e said the$ would recei-e power
Ca!ilit$, efficienc$, and mightE when the 8ol$
Spirit came upon them, and this power would
cause them to !e witnesses to 5esus"
When $ou recei-ed 5esus, $ou recei-ed the
8ol$ Spirit into $our human spirit" But the !aptism
of the Spirit is a filling completel$" 8e fills $ou,
and $ou are placed into 8im" It is like asking the
DE . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
Spirit to fill $ou through and through with the
power and a!ilit$ to li-e the Christian life and
ser-e Aod according to 8is will"
The Areek word d%namis, translated power in
Acts, actuall$ means miraculous power, a!ilit$,
might and strength"
&
Miracle2working powerL
As) yo%rselfH :o I need power, a!ilit$,
strength and miracles in m$ life= If $ou answered
>$es,> then $ou need to !e !aptiDed in the 8ol$
Spirit"
Special 0oteB If $ou ha-e e-er !een in-ol-ed
in the occult in an$ wa$, I ask now that $ou repent
of that acti-it$ !efore pursuing the !aptism of the
8ol$ Spirit" Witchcraft, Oui?a !oard, fortune
telling, seances, !lack or white magic, <astern
religions, cults, astrolog$, 0ew Age, h$pnotism,
and ps$chic -isits are practices that the Bi!le
teaches are an a!omination to Aod" C:eut" &*B'2
&3"E
Ask Aod to forgi-e $ou of such acti-it$ and to
& 5ames Strong, Te '7a%sti(e +oncordance of te Bible CMc.ean, JirginiaB
Mac:onald #u!lishing, &'+*E, >Areek :ictionar$ of the 0ew Testament,> p" 34,
M&4&&"
"s Tere Any Ting 'lse1 . DG
cleanse $ou" Make a declaration with $our mouth
that $ou no longer want an$thing to do with such
spirits"
Scriptural -eferences for Being
Bapti.ed in the Holy Spirit
Acts 1H- AM!
3B%t yo% sall recei(e power 4ability,
efficiency, and migt5 wen te 0oly
=pirit as come %pon yo%, and yo% sall
be My witnesses in Jer%salem and all
J%dea and =amaria and to te ends 4te
(ery bo%nds5 of te eart23
Acts :H1*> AM!
3And wen te day of !entecost ad
f%lly come, tey were all assembled
togeter in one place,
3&en s%ddenly tere came a so%nd
from ea(en li)e te r%sing of a (iolent
tempest blast, and it filled te wole
o%se in wic tey were sitting2
3And tere appeared to tem tong%es
resembling fire, wic were separated
D- . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
and distrib%ted and wic settled on eac
one of tem2
3And tey were all filled 4diff%sed
tro%go%t teir so%ls5 wit te 0oly
=pirit and began to spea) in oter
4different, foreign5 lang%ages 4tong%es5,
as te =pirit )ept gi(ing tem clear and
lo%d e7pression Ain eac tong%e in
appropriate wordsB23
Acts -H1G AM!
>Then Hthe apostlesI laid their hands on them
one !$ one, and the$ recei-ed the 8ol$ Spirit">
Acts 10H>>*>E AMP
3&ile !eter was still spea)ing tese
words, te 0oly =pirit fell on all wo
were listening to te message2
3And te belie(ers from among te
circ%mcised Ate JewsB wo came wit
!eter were s%rprised and amaJed,
beca%se te free gift of te 0oly =pirit
ad been bestowed and po%red o%t
largely e(en on te 8entiles2
"s Tere Any Ting 'lse1 . D/
3?or tey eard tem tal)ing in
A%n)nownB tong%es 4lang%ages5 and
e7tolling and magnifying 8od23
Acts 1/HE AM!
3And as !a%l laid is ands %pon
tem, te 0oly =pirit came on tem< and
tey spo)e in Aforeign, %n)nownB tong%es
4lang%ages5 and propesied23
&ongues
;ou pro!a!l$ noticed that people !egan to
speak in >tongues> or >other tongues> as the$ were
!aptiDed in the 8ol$ Spirit"
This means a language other than their usual
one" It could !e a known tongue Cto someone else,
not the speakerE or a tongue of angels Cone
unknown to an$ humanE" C& Cor" &7B&"E The !est
and easiest wa$ to descri!e tongues is to sa$ it is a
spiritual language, one the 8ol$ Spirit knows and
chooses to speak through $ou !ut one $ou do not
know" It is the 8ol$ Spirit speaking directl$ to Aod
through $ou"
Tongues is referred to as a penomena2 That
E0 . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
means we do not understand it with our minds" It is
a spiritual thing"
#aul said in & Corinthians &4B&4 that if $ou
pra$ in tongues, $our mind is unfruitful" In chapter
&4B4, #aul sa$s when $ou pra$ in tongues, $ou
edif$ C!uild upE $ourself"
#ra$ing in tongues assures $ou that $ou can
pra$ a perfect pra$er when $ou are in a situation in
which $ou do not know how to pra$ as $ou should"
Fomans *B3( AM# sa$s,
3=o too te A0olyB =pirit comes to
o%r aid and bears %s %p in o%r wea)ness<
for we do not )now wat prayer to offer
nor ow to offer it wortily as we o%gt,
b%t te =pirit 0imself goes to meet o%r
s%pplication and pleads in o%r bealf
wit %nspea)able yearnings and
groanings too deep for %tterance23
#ra$ing in tongues strengthens $our spirit" It
!uilds $ou up spirituall$" 5ude &B31 AM# sa$sB
3B%t yo%, belo(ed, b%ild yo%rsel(es
%p Afo%ndedB on yo%r most oly fait
"s Tere Any Ting 'lse1 . E1
Ama)e progress, rise li)e an edifice
iger and igerB, praying in te 0oly
=pirit23
'aying /n of Hands
;ou ma$ recei-e the 8ol$ Spirit !$ ha-ing
someone who !elie-es in the doctrine of the
!aptism of the 8ol$ Spirit with the e-idence of
speaking in other tongues la$ hands on $ou and
pra$ for $ou"
By 0aith
.uke &&B&7 AM# tells usB
3"f yo% ten, e(il as yo% are, )now
ow to gi(e good gifts Agifts tat are to
teir ad(antageB to yo%r cildren, ow
m%c more will yo%r ea(enly ?ater
gi(e te 0oly =pirit to tose wo as) and
contin%e to as) 0im@3
Therefore, ask" ;ou ma$ ask Aod $ourself"
&he Holy Spirit 1ay (ome Sovereignly
I recei-ed the !aptism of the 8ol$ Spirit in m$
E: . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
car in /e!ruar$, &'+(, as a so-ereign mo-e of Aod
in m$ life" I was cr$ing out to Aod asking for more
of 8im" I said, >Aod, there has to !e more to
Christianit$ than I am e6periencing"> I wanted
-ictor$ o-er m$ pro!lems, and I did not ha-e it"
I was !orn again man$ $ears !efore recei-ing
the !aptism of the 8ol$ Spirit" I was sa-ed and
would ha-e gone to hea-en had I died" ;et I was
without power to li-e a -ictorious Christian life" I
cried out in desperation that morning, and that
same e-ening, 5esus !aptiDed me in the 8ol$
Spirit"
I did not speak in tongues right awa$ Cmainl$
!ecause I knew noting a!out such thingsE" It
pro!a!l$ would ha-e frightened me at that time"
8owe-er, I did recei-e much power, a!ilit$,
determination and understanding" :uring the ne6t
three weeks, Aod led me to radio programs and
!ooks where I learned a!out this !aptism in the
Spirit"
At first, I did not know what had happened to
me" I ?ust knew it was wonderful, and it was of
Aod" I then learned a!out speaking in tongues,
"s Tere Any Ting 'lse1 . E;
asked Aod for it and recei-ed"
How to -eceive &ongues
Ask Aod to fill $ou and to !aptiDe $ou in the
8ol$ Spirit" Simpl$ pra$, ?ater, in Jes%s9 Name, "
as) yo% to baptiJe me in te power of te 0oly
=pirit wit te e(idence of spea)ing in tong%es2
Be rela6ed and at ease in AodGs presence" 8e
lo-es $ou and wants $ou to ha-e 8is !est" Wait on
8im uietl$ and !elie-e $ou are recei-ing" Belie-e
!efore $ou feel an$ change" ;ou ma$ feel a change
taking place, !ut $ou ma$ not" :o not !e led !$
$our feelingsK !e led !$ AodGs promises"
To speak in tongues, open $our mouth, and as
the Spirit gi-es $ou utterance, speak forth what
$ou hear coming up out of $our inner man" Tis
will not come o%t of yo%r ead2 Femem!er, $our
mind does not understand this"
That is wh$ it is so hard for man$ people" We
are accustomed to our minds running our li-es"
This whole !ook is a!out spiritual life and learning
to li-e spirituall$, not naturall$"
;ou will hear or sense s$lla!les, phrases,
E> . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
groanings or utterances that are unusual sounding
or foreign sounding to $ou" Take a step of faith and
utter themK speak them forth" Acts 3B4 sa$s,
3tey 222 began to spea) wit oter tong%es, as te
=pirit ga(e tem %tterance23
;ou ma$ now use this language Cwhich will
grow as $ou grow and as $ou e6ercise the giftE
an$time $ou pra$ or ?ust to edif$ $ourself" :o not
speak in tongues around people who do not
understand" Tongues !rought forth in a church
setting should !e interpreted or e6plained"
+n2oy your new life in the Spirit"
0oteB If $ou ha-e an$ uestions, feel free to
contact m$ office"
Did ou 1a%e &he -ight Decision?
If $ou recei-ed 5esus or the !aptism of the
8ol$ Spirit as a result of reading this !ook, please
call or write and let us know" It will encourage us"
We would like to pra$ for $ou and re?oice with
$ou"
"s Tere Any Ting 'lse1 . ED
Smile, 5esus .o-es ;ouL
3222 coose for yo%rsel(es tis day
wom yo% will ser(e 2 2 2 b%t as for me
and my o%se, we will ser(e te Iord23
Jos%a :>21D AM!
As $ou !egin $our new walk with Aod, it is
important that $ou recei-e sound, spiritual teaching
on a regular !asis" The Word of Aod is the spiritual
food $ou need for spiritual growth"
Belo-ed, 5ohn *B7&,73 AM# sa$s, 3"f yo%
abide in My word222 yo% are tr%ly My disciples2
And yo% will )now te Tr%t, and te Tr%t will set
yo% free23
I e6hort $ou to take hold of AodGs Word, plant
it deep in $our heart, and according to 3
EE . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
Corinthians 7B&*, as $ou look into the Word, $ou
will !e transformed into the image of 5esus Christ"
With .o-e,
5o$ce
A,out the Author
"o+ce Me+er has !een teaching the Word
of Aod since &'+( and in full2time ministr$ since
&'*1" #re-iousl$ the associate pastor at .ife
Christian Center in St" .ouis, Missouri, she
de-eloped, coordinated, and taught a weekl$
meeting known as >.ife In The Word"> After more
than fi-e $ears, the .ord !rought it to a conclusion,
directing her to esta!lish her own ministr$ and call
it "Life In The Word, Inc."
0ow, her Life In The Word radio and tele-ision
!roadcasts are seen and heard !$ millions across
the United States and throughout the world" 5o$ceGs
teaching tapes are en?o$ed internationall$, and she
tra-els e6tensi-el$ conducting Life In The Word
conferences"
5o$ce and her hus!and, :a-e, the !usiness
administrator at Life In The Word, ha-e !een
married for o-er 74 $ears" The$ reside in St" .ouis,
Missouri, and are the parents of four children" All
four children are married and, along with their
spouses, work with :a-e and 5o$ce in the
E- . Te Most "mportant #ecision $o% &ill '(er Ma)e
ministr$"
Belie-ing the call on her life is to esta!lish
!elie-ers in AodGs Word, 5o$ce sa$s, >5esus died to
set the capti-es free, and far too man$ Christians
ha-e little or no -ictor$ in their dail$ li-es">
/inding herself in the same situation man$ $ears
ago and ha-ing found freedom to li-e in -ictor$
through appl$ing AodGs Word, 5o$ce goes
euipped to set capti-es free and to e6change ashes
for !eaut$" She !elie-es that e-er$ person who
walks in -ictor$ leads man$ others into -ictor$"
8er life is transparent, and her teachings are
practical and can !e applied in e-er$da$ life"
5o$ce has taught on emotional healing and
related su!?ects in meetings all o-er the countr$,
helping multiplied thousands" She has recorded
more than 311 different audiocassette al!ums and
is the author of 7* !ooks to help the !od$ of Christ
on -arious topics"
8er ><motional 8ealing #ackage> contains
o-er 37 hours of teaching on the su!?ect" Al!ums
included in this package areB >Confidence>K
>Beaut$ for Ashes> Cincludes a s$lla!usEK
Abo%t te A%tor
>Managing ;our <motions>K >Bitterness,
Fesentment, and Unforgi-eness>K >Foot of
Fe?ection>K and a '12minute Scripture9music tape
entitled >8ealing the Brokenhearted">
5o$ceGs >Mind #ackage> features fi-e different
audio tape series on the su!?ect of the mind" The$
includeB >Mental Strongholds and Mindsets>K
>Wilderness Mentalit$>K >The Mind of the /lesh>K
>The Wandering, Wondering Mind>K and >Mind,
Mouth, Moods, and Attitudes"> The package also
contains 5o$ceGs powerful !ook, Battlefield of te
Mind2 On the su!?ect of lo-e she has three tape
series entitled, >.o-e Is""">K >.o-eB The Ultimate
#ower>K and >.o-ing Aod, .o-ing ;ourself, and
.o-ing Others,> and a !ook entitled, Ked%ce Me to
Io(e2
Write to 5o$ce Me$erGs office for a resource
catalog and further information on how to o!tain
the tapes $ou need to !ring total healing to $our
life"
To contact the author writeB
5o$ce Me$er Ministries
#" 1" Bo6 ())
/enton, Missouri (713(
or callB C(7(E 74'21717
Internet AddressB www"?o$ceme$er"org
#lease include $our testimon$ or help recei-ed from this
!ook when $ou write" ;our pra$er reuests are
welcome"
To contact the author
in Canada, please writeB
5o$ce Me$er Ministries Canada, Inc"
.am!eth Bo6 &711
.ondon, O0 0(# &T)
or callB C(7(E 74'21717
In Australia, please writeB
5o$ce Me$er Ministries2Australia
.ocked Bag ++
Mansfield :eli-er$ Centre
Nueensland 4&33
or callB C1+E 774' &311
In <ngland, please writeB
5o$ce Me$er Ministries
#" O" Bo6 &)4'
Windsor S.4 &AT
or callB 1&+)7 *7&&13
The Harrison House Vision
#roclaiming the truth and the power
Of the Aospel of 5esus Christ
With e6cellenceK
Challenging Christians to
.i-e -ictoriousl$,
Arow spirituall$,
Onow Aod intimatel$"