The purpose of this book is to awaken you to the incredible advantageous you, the believer, have for living an abundant, overcoming life. Chap.1 Born Again. Uninformed christians are ofttimes expected to believe that he or she is helpless in the face of sickness, poverty, and tragedy. This is not the true gospel, leads to just consoling each other for the losses. John 5:24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.” 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” Rom. 6:6 “For we know that our old self[a] was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body[b] may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin.” The old man was a slave to sin , lust, worry, and depression. John 14:23 “Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” 1Cor. 6:17 “But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” 2 Cor. 4:16 “Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.” Renewed means to receive strength and vigor. His gifts in us are always available. His mercies are new very morning. Chap. 2 The Power for God Luke 11:13 “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” Jude 1:20 “But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit,” Rom. 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Your become a blessing to others. Chap.3 A new Kingdom Col. 1:13 “He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son He loves.” Matt.6:33 “ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” We are members of a new kingdom, that has new spiritual laws and principles. WE get spiritual vision, knowing and faith. Its is like a seed that grows as in Mark 4:26-9 Chap 4 A new Language It is the language of faith, hope and love. Ps. 33:6 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars, by the breath of His mouth. Heb.1:3 “of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” Gen. 1:26 “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule ” God used words to create, bless, and empower mankind. Prov. 18:21 “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Chap 5 You have life changing power. John 15:15 “I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.” Rom 9:26 “{there they will be called sons of the living God.” We need to declare Go’ds promises over our life. Chap 6 What do you see? Ps. 27;13 “I am certain that I will see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.” Rom. 2:4 “It is his goodness that will draw men to him” John 14:12 “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” Eph. 3:16-19 “I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Chap. 7 Your perception The challenge is for us to grow in the understanding of our new nature and seize the advantage that we have. Col. 3:10 “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” See you self possessing power, love and a sound mind and aware of God within you. Chap. 8. How we respond to bad circumstances and challenges will depend on our vision of God and of ourselves as his children. Rom. 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” We need to maintain faith and peace. Chap. 9 Freedom We have freedom from the power of sin, guilt, fear, worry, sickness, and offense. John 8:36 “Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” We are subjected to bad media news, scenes of immorality, false pitches. We need Gal. 5:1 “Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Ps. 16:11 “You cause me to know the path of life; in your presence is joyful abundance, at your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Chap. 10 the Blessing John 8:31-32 “So Jesus told those Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are really my disciples. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” In Gen. 1:28 it notes a blessing: “God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it” When Adam and Eve sinned that blessing was limited. Next Abraham was blessed. Gen.12: 1-3 “The Lord said to Abram: Go out from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who treat you with contempt, and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Gen. 15:1,6 “After these events, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.” God’s heart was to restore the blessing In the New Testament: Gal. 3:7-9 “then understand that those who have faith are Abraham’s sons. Now the Scripture saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith and told the good news ahead of time to Abraham, saying, All the nations will be blessed through you. So those who have faith are blessed with Abraham, who had faith.” Gal. 3:13-14 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. The purpose was that the blessing of Abraham would come to the Gentiles by Christ Jesus, so that we could receive the promised Spirit through faith.” Paul also spoke of these blessings. Eph. 1:3 “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” 2 Cor. 1:20 :For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen” is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory.” Chap. 11 Favor with God. Ps. 5:12 “For You, Lord, bless the righteous one;You surround him with favor like a shield.” The Lord makes us Righteous as in Is. 54:17 “No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me.”This is the Lord’s declaration.” Prov. 11:27 “The one who searches for what is good finds favor, but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.” Prov. 13:15 “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous never changes.” 2 Cor. 1:20 “For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Him. Therefore, the “Amen” is also spoken through Him by us for God’s glory.” God is blessing me today. Chap 12. You can hear God Ps. 85:8 “I will listen to what God will say;” Matt 4:4 “Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” 1Cor. 2:13 “But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.” 1 Cor 2:12 “Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.” Rom 8:16 “ The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children,” Eph. 5:8 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Chap.13 Fellowship with God 1 john 1:3 “you may have fellowship along with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful; you were called by Him into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” John 15:15 “I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.” Many times the author Barry, has been shown things to come and warned of potential danger. God has prospered him and made him a blessing to others. Chap. 14. Advantage of Peace with God. Often believers are unsure God accepts them and have struggles in their hearts. Luke 12:32 “ Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.” Fear is bad. Rom. 14:17 “for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” Though we live in a world full of darkness and corruption; there is light, life and hope for those in Jesus. Ps. 29:11 “The Lord will give strength to His People; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” Mark 4:37-39 “A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” While others are anxious, worried about various situations, we have the advantage of peace. Isa. 26:3 “You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.” Phil. 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Ps. 4:8 “I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Chap. 15 Good Image TV, billboards and adds project an image. We need a good image. Prov. 23:7 “for as he thinks within himself, so he is.” Images shape our lives. Matt. 12:35 “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Do yuo see yourself as full of faith, joy and love and strong in the Lord? or an insecure victim? What you see in your heart will become your destiny. Jer. 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you”-this is the Lord’s declaration-“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Heb. 1:3 “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression[c] of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” Chap. 16 Joy Phil. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Ps. 16:11 “You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy; in Your right hand are eternal pleasures.” Neh. 8:10 “Do not grieve, because the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.” Chap. 17 Thankful Ps. 67:5-6 “Let the peoples praise You, God, let all the peoples praise You. The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us.” The promise of thankfulness is blessings. Ps. 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Ps. 103:1-4 “My soul, praise Yahweh, and all that is within me, praise His holy name. My soul, praise the Lord, and do not forget all His benefits. He forgives all your sin; He heals all your diseases. He redeems your life from the Pit; He crowns you with faithful love and compassion.” 1 Thes. 5:18 Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Chap.18 The Advantage of Faith According to Gal. 5:22-3 Faith is one of the fruits of the spirit. So faith then- is a result of walking in the spirit and in fellowship with God. Heb. 12:2 “ keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter (author and finisher) of our faith,” The more we know Him, the more we will trust Him. Mark 9:23 “Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’? Everything is possible to the one who believes.” John 15:7 “If you remain (abide) in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” Faith works good with Love as in Gal 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor un-circumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.” 1 Cor. 13:2 “and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” Some examples of faith working with love: The centurion’s servant in Luke 7:2-9, Jarius daughter in Matt 5:21-45. 1John 5:4 “because whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith” This faith works with love. Eph. 5:1-2 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us” Chap. 20 So many Advantages: Jesus the Most powerful name! Phil. 2:10 “that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow-of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.” We have the holy spirit: Rom. 8:11 “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.” We now have a new and better covenant: Heb. 8:6 “But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises.” We have the word of God: Heb. 4:12 “For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.” Use His word to Heal: Ps. 107:20 “He issued his command(word) and healed them; he delivered them from their destruction.” We have a new Identity: 2 Cor. 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.” We have His authority” Luke 10:19 “Look! I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to destroy all the enemy’s power, and nothing will ever hurt you.” John 14:12 “I assure you: The one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” We have His peace: John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.” We have His hope and love: Rom. 5:5 “This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”