4 Victorious Life Series BOOKLET

Journey
Victorious Life Series
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VICTORIOUS LIFE
SERIES
Contents
Lesson 1: FOUR KINDS OF GROUND
Lesson 2: PERSECUTIONS
Lesson 3: FORGIVENESS
Lesson 4: THE PRESENCE OF GOD (1)
Lesson 5: THE PRESENCE OF GOD (2)
Lesson 6: FASTING
Lesson 7: VICTORIOUS LIVING
Lesson 8: GO AND SIN NO MORE (1)
Lesson 9: GO AND SIN NO MORE (2)
Lesson 10: A PURE HEART
Lesson 11: WALK WITH GOD
Lesson 12: WHY SOME FAIL
2|Journey VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

“FOUR KINDS OF GROUND”
Lesson 1: Victorious Life Series
3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was
scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds
came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did
not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil
was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were
scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked
the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed
fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop,
multiplying thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times." Mark 4:3-
8
A VERY IMPORTANT PARABLE
One of the most important parables is found in the three

books of the Bible (Matthew 13, Mark 4 and Luke 8). Jesus
said that if we don’t understand this parable, then we
will not be able to understand the rest of the parables
(Mark 4:13). It means, this parable is a foundational teaching
and if we don’t get an understanding of this, we cannot move
on to the other teachings of the kingdom. This teaching is
not difficult to understand especially for those who have ears
that truly listen (Mark 4:9).
9Then Jesus said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Mark 4:9
1. GOD IS THE SOWER
The parable talks about a man who sows in his field. The
farmer or the sower mentioned here is our God who
plants “good seeds” in our lives using other men as His
instruments.

2. THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD
The seeds represent God’s words (Mark 4:14), which

have the capacity to yield 100 times more than the
amount planted (Luke 8:8). The soil or the ground cannot
produce much good fruits if there are no good seeds
(God’s word) sown on it. Likewise, our lives cannot bear
good fruits if we have not received the word.
3. THE GROUND IS THE HEART OF MAN
Our hearts are the ground upon which God sows His
word. A good harvest depends on the richness of the soil.
It is possible that the good seeds planted by God cannot
grow and bear fruits because of the hardness of the
heart. A good seed must be sown on a good ground
so it will grow and yield much.
FOUR KINDS OF GROUND
The parable mentions four kinds of ground, which represent

four conditions of a person’s heart (Read Mark 4:14-20).
1. The Hard Ground

15Some people are like seed along the path, where the
word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and
takes away the word that was sown in them.
Mark 4:15
□ The hard ground are those unsaved people who have

hardened their hearts to the message of God’s
salvation, allowing Satan to snatch away God’s word
(Luke 8:12). It talks about the people who have not
yet obtained salvation because of the hardness of
their heart to the Gospel.

2. The Stony Ground
16Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word
and at once receive it with joy. 17But since they have no
root, they last only a short time. When trouble or
persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall
away.
Mark 4:16-17
□ The second type talks about people who ‘joyfully

received’ the Gospel, but God’s words were not firmly
rooted in their hearts. This unplowed and stony
ground is a picture of Christians who have not
persevered in their walk with God due to the many
tribulations of their faith. In times of temptations,
persecutions and problems (heat of the day), they fall
away. These trials came as a result of their receiving
God’s word (Matthew 13:21).
3. The Thorny Ground

18
Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the
word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of
wealth and the desires for other things come in and
choke the word, making it unfruitful.
Mark 4:18-19
□ There are people who accepted God’s word and

allowed it to bear fruits in their lives. But in a short
time, thorns start to grow and choke the plants. The
thorns symbolize…
i. Worries and cares of life (Mark 4:19)

ii. Love of money (Mark 4:19
iii. Desires of life (Mark 4:19)
iv. Worldly pleasures (Luke 8:14)
□ These four are the reasons why the seeds don’t

mature and bear fruits. These Christians remain
babies in the Lord. They do not bear the fruits of the
Holy Spirit, and are not used by God in the
accomplishment of His will.
4. The Good Ground

20Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word,
accept it, and produce a crop—thirty, sixty or even a
hundred times what was sown." Mark 4:20
□ This speaks of the Christians who have fruitful lives

and ministry in the Lord. They yield good fruits
because their hearts are soft and open to God’s word.
They are those who have:
i. Understood God’s Word (Matthew 13:23)
 In order for us to understand His word, we

need to have a “hunger for understanding”
because the knowledge of the secret things of
God belongs to those who are entrusted with it
(Luke 8:9-10). We must not only read the Bible,
but we also need to meditate on it that we may
understand (Psalm 1:2; 2 Timothy 2:7)
ii. Received God’s Word (Mark 4:20)
 Understanding God’s word is not enough. We

must also believe that the message we have
heard truly comes from God. There are many
who have not experienced God because of
their unbelief (Hebrews 4:2), but those who
believe truly encounter God (Hebrews 4:3).
iii. Lived According to the Word (Luke 8:15)
 Aside from understanding and receiving the

word, it is extremely important to apply the
word. We are called to do what we have heard
(James 1:22).
iv. Committed and Persevered with the Word

(Luke 8:15)
 It is not enough to live out the word today and

stop doing it tomorrow. Our success in our
spiritual journey does not depend on how
strong we have started but on how we endure
up to the end.
APPLICATION:
1. What kind of ground are you?

2. Are there thorns in your life that choke up God’s
word?
3. How do you recognize a stony ground in a believer?

LESSON 2
“PERSECUTIONS”
VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES
14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:14a
I. WHO WILL UNDERGO PERSECUTION?
1. Those who live godly lives in Christ Jesus

12Infact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ
Jesus will be persecuted,
II Timothy 3:12
□ Christians who love the world will be loved by the world,

but those who follow Christ will be persecuted (John
15:18-19).
2. Those who live according to the word

21But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When
trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly
falls away.
Matthew 13:21
3. Those who walk with the Holy Spirit

14Ifyou are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are
blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
I Peter 4:14
II. SHOULD ALL BELIEVERS UNDERGO

PERSECUTION?

20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater
than his master.'[a] If they persecuted me, they will persecute
you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
John 15:20a
□ Jesus said that just as he underwent persecution, we, his

followers will be persecuted too. Apostle Paul also said that
all believers will be persecuted by those who do not know
God (2 Timothy 3:12; I Thessalonians 3:4).
III. WHY ARE THERE PERSECUTIONS?
1. We have spiritual enemies

10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell
you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and
you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to
the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelations 2:10
The devil uses people who will persecute Christians in
order to drive us away from God.
2. Depravity of the unbelievers’ mind

18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me
first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its
own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates
you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is
greater than his master.'[a] If they persecuted me, they will
persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will
obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of
my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.
John 15:18-21
The ungodly twist the truth and believe it. They have not
yet received the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
IV. WHAT DOES JESUS CALL THOSE WHO ARE

PERSECUTED?
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you.
Matthew 5:11-12a
V. WHAT KINDS OF PERSECUTION CAN WE

EXPERIENCE?
□ Insult (Matthew 5:11), malicious speech (1 Peter 3:16),

false accusations (Matthew 5:11), disownment by family
and loved ones (Matthew 10:35-36), beatings (Acts 8:3),
and death (Matthew 24:9) are possible consequences of
following God.
VI. WHAT MUST WE DO WHEN PERSECUTED?
1. Understand that persecution is part of your life as a

follower of Christ..
24"A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his
master. 25It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and
the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been
called Beelzebub,[a] how much more the members of his
household!
Matthew 10:24-25
2. Guard your heart against hatred and bitterness,
instead, let love prevail.
10 | J o u r n e y VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

3. Bless, pray, and do good to people who persecute you.
28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
Luke 6:28
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is
right in the eyes of everybody.
Romans 12: 17
20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will
heap burning coals on his head." [a] 21Do not be overcome by
evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12: 20-21
4. Rejoice for being part of the sufferings of Christ

13But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so
that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14If you
are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for
the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
1 Peter 4:13-14a
APPLICATION:
1. Have you experienced persecution because you followed

Jesus? If not, are you ready to face it when it comes?

LESSON 3
“FORGIVENESS”
Now we’ll talk about forgiving others. There are people whom the
devil will use to hurt and cause the Christian to hate (Luke 17:1).
We Christians will cease to grow in God if we never learn to
forgive this kind of people. The Lord even instructed us to make
forgiveness part of our prayers (Matthew 6:12).
I. SIGNS OF UNFORGIVENESS:
1. We don’t want to be with that person. We don’t want to

hear about him or her.
□ If somebody hurts us, we don’t want the company of

that person. If his or her name is mentioned, we feel
upset. We don’t even want to smile or greet the person
if we cross ways.
2. We can see only the negative aspects of the person
□ Because we are offended, we can see only the mistakes

of the person. We tend to magnify his or her faults and
overlook the person’s positive side.
3. We can’t stop thinking about the person’s offense
□ When there is bitterness in our hearts, we can’t help it

repeatedly playing in our minds what he or she did to
us.
4. We want revenge with that person

□ Unforgiveness towards someone who wronged us could
result to hatred, and this hatred may intensify to
vengeance. We want to hurt the person and look for
instances to get even.
5. We malign the person’s character
□ There is a strong temptation to backbite the person we

hate. We want our friends to sympathize with us and
hate the offender.
6. We feel happy at the person’s downfall
□ We hope and desire that some disaster will happen to

the person. If problems strike the person we hate, we
feel that God is on our side punishing his or her sins.
7. The person keeps coming to mind during prayer
□ Because there is someone we have not forgiven, God

reminds us in our prayers to talk and make things right
with that person.
II. WHY MUST WE FORGIVE OTHERS?
1. We have received forgiveness in Christ.
□ Because we have been forgiven, we need to forgive

others too (Ephesians 4:32).
2. They (the offenders) are not really our enemies.
□ Those who do us wrong do not recognize their evil

actions (Luke 23:34). They are blinded by evil spirits
who are our real enemy (Ephesians 6:12).
3. That we may have inner peace.

□ Jesus Christ said that the Father will punish those who
do not sincerely forgive others (Matthew 18:34-35).
4. That we may receive God’s forgiveness

□ The Bible clearly says that we will not be forgiven by
God if we do not forgive others. (Matthew 6:14-15; Mark
11:25).
5. So the devil does not have a hold on us
□ The hurt and hatred in our hearts are the devils’

stronghold in attacking us (Ephesians 4:26-27).
Unforgiveness is sin, and when there is sin, the devil
brings in chaos to our lives.
6. So our prayers will not be hindered
□ 1 Peter 3:7 says that if there is strife between husband

and wife, their prayers will not be answered. The Bible
says that bitterness and unforgiveness hinder our
prayers (Matthew 5:23-24). This is one reason why
many of our prayers are not answered.
7. So we may bless the lives of others
□ A wounded person can hurt others. He or she is like a

bitter root that poisons other crops (Hebrews 12:15).
But a person healed of his or her wounds (through
forgiveness) can also bring healing to others. What we
have received from God, we can freely give to others
too (Matthew 10:8).
FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO FORGIVE:
i. You must accept God’s forgiveness through Jesus

Christ.
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
ii. You must decide to forgive

4Ifhe sins against you seven times in a day, and seven
times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive
him."
21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how
many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins
against me? Up to seven times?" 22Jesus answered, "I
tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:21-22
iii. You must bless the one who has hurt you until the
heavy burden in your spirit is lifted away
26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is
how their fathers treated the false prophets. 27"But I tell
you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those
who hate you,
Luke 6:26-27
APPLICATION:
1. Is there someone or some people that you have not forgiven

until now? If there is, are you ready to forgive?
2. Must we wait for “good feelings” to happen first before we
forgive? Does forgiveness depend on feelings?

LESSON 4
“THE PRESENCE OF GOD”
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR US
Before God created us, He already had a purpose in mind. God

is a God of Plan and Purpose. He would not create anything if
He had no reason for creating it. All things that exist in this
world have value. Most valuable among all creations are we
who are created in God’s image.
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our
likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds
of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the
creatures that move along the ground."
Genesis 1:26
TO BEAR FRUITS IS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US
It is God’s will for us to prosper (Jeremiah 29:11) and to be

fruitful in all aspects of our lives (John 15:8). God wants us to
prosper in these three areas: first, in our relationship with God
and others; second, in the material and physical aspects of our
lives; and third, in all the works of our hands (Deuteronomy
28:12). God wants His most valuable and important creation to
live victoriously at all times. God wants us to walk in
blessings and abundance (Deuteronomy 28:3-13; John 10:10;
Philippians 4:19).
THE PRINCIPLES OF GOD
The fulfillment of the purpose of God for man depends on

man’s obedience to the principles of God (Deuteronomy 28:1-
2). The Bible is full of God’s principles. Some words in the

Bible that substitute for the word “principle” are the words
“law”, “commands”, “word of the Lord”, “God’s way” and
more.
THE ATTRIBUTES OF A PRINCIPLE
i. A principle cannot be changed

ii. A principle can be applied everywhere
iii. A principle protects. A twisted principle destroys.
THE PRINCIPLE OF ENVIRONMENT
One of God’s principles is the principle of environment. Before

God creates something, He plans the environment for his
creation. Before He created the plants and trees, he had formed
the land first (Genesis 1:9-12). Before he made the fish and
creatures of the deep, he had formed the bodies of water in the
earth (Genesis 1:20-21). Before he created the stars, he had
fashioned the vast expanse of the universe and had separated
the night from day (Genesis 1:14-19).
The environment is very important for all of God’s creation.

Without the environment, the creation cannot function and
fulfill their purposes. The different creatures are placed in
different environment suitable for them. The fish is for the
water, the plant is for the land, the moon is for the night, the
sun is for the day, and the star is for the sky.
THE ENVIRONMENT FOR MAN
Man has an environment especially made for him. God

prepared the Garden of Eden for him. (Genesis 2:15). The
“Garden of Eden” is called in the Bible as the “Garden of God”
(Isaiah 51:3; Ezekiel 28:13).

This garden is the place here on earth where the God of heaven
dwells. Eden comes from the Hebrew word “eyden” which
means “delight”. This is a garden where God delights to be.
This shows that God delights to be in the company of His most
favorite and highly-esteemed creation--man. God always
stayed in Eden to walk with Adam and Eve, His beloved
creation (Genesis 3:8). The presence of God engulfed the
whole garden. This was the environment of man-the Presence
of God
THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS MOST-NEEDED BY MAN
□ Man is for the presence of God. If we are not in God’s

presence, we are dead even if we are physically alive. The
presence of God in our lives gives us joy, peace and
satisfaction (Psalms 16:11). The presence of God sets us
apart from others in this world (Exodus 33:15-16). Hence,
King David asked for only one thing from God, that he
“may dwell in the presence of the Lord all the days of
his life” (Psalm27:4).
□ Before God gave Eve to Adam, he had given Himself to

him. A person’s ultimate need is God Himself and not
another person (Genesis 2:7).
□ The presence of God is the environment that enables man

to accomplish his purpose of living. His presence is the key
to our fruitfulness and prosperity (2 Samuel 6:10-11,
Romans 8:31).
WHAT MUST WE DO TO ALWAYS REMAIN IN THE

PRESENCE OF GOD?
There are four conditions we must recognize.

1. Right Heart
□ We need an obedient heart to stay in the Lord’s

presence (Genesis 2:17, 3:23-24; Romans 3:23;
Psalms 24:3-4; Psalms 51:10-11).
2. Right People
□ There are people God prepared to surround and

support us. But there are also people who can pull
us away from God. We are commanded not to
fellowship with this kind of people (1 Corinthians
5:9-13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-15).
3. Right Place
□ There are places in this world God prepared in

advance for us. We cannot just go anywhere we
like. The prophet Jonah suffered much difficulty
because he went to place God did not plan for him
to go to (Jonah 1:1-4). The Holy Spirit warned the
Apostle Paul not to go to the place God had not
prepared for him, but he was led to the right place
through a vision (Acts 16:6-10).
4. Right Work
□ If we want the presence of God, we must work with

Him. His promise to be with us always depends on
our obedience to make disciples (Matthew 28: 19-
20). Our plans and actions must glorify God’s will
on earth.
APPLICATION:
1. How do you know that you are filled with God’s presence?
2. What can remove God’s presence from our lives? (share
your experience)

LESSON 5
“THE PRESENCE OF GOD (2)”
I. TWO THINGS REGARDING GOD’S PRESENCE:
1. The Omnipresence of God

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from
your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if
I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
Psalm 139:7-8
□ The Omnipresence of God signifies the greatness of the

Almighty. This is a revelation of our faith that He is
everywhere at all times. This belief stems from what the
Bible says as well as what we observe in our
surroundings. The creations in this world testify that
God’s glory covers the whole universe.
2. The Living and Manifest Presence of God

8
I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at
my right hand, I will not be shaken
11 You have made [a] known to me the path of life; you will
fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at
your right hand.
Psalm 16: 11
□ The Bible cites many instances when God revealed

Himself to His people. God made known His living
presence to Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, the
Israelites, prophets, on the day of Pentecost, and on the
conversion of Saul who became the Apostle Paul, to
name a few. The Bible, from the beginning until the
end, declares the “Living God” in the midst of His
people. If we remove all the books in the Bible that tell
of God meeting with His people, only the books of
Esther, Proverbs and Philemon will be left. We will not
have a Bible if God did not reveal Himself to us.
□ The experience of the real presence of God is central to

having a genuine faith. God’s manifest presence
differentiates us from other religions in this world.
Christianity is not a mere “head knowledge” but a
personal experience and relationship with the Living
God.
II. THE PRESENCE OF GOD CAN:
1. Change Us
17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord
is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all
reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his
likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit.2
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
□ We cannot be changed inside with just the belief that God

is with us always, but we can be changed if we experience
His manifest presence, like what happened to Saul who was
transformed from a persecutor to an Apostle of Christ (Acts
9:3-6). Our faith must be established in the power of God,
not on simply what man says (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
2. Draw the Attention of People Still in Darkness

1
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the
LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and
thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon
you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to
your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 "Lift up
your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you;
your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on
the arm.
Isaiah 60:1-4a
□ Our wisdom and ability cannot bring a sinner to Christ;

only Christ Himself can do this. But the presence of God in
our lives catches the attention of unsaved people. Wherever
we go, we bring with us the light--God’s Living Presence.
3. Bring Miracles
5 God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you…
Galatians 3:5
□ If we are filled with God’s presence, miraculous things can

happen (Acts 6:8). Peter’s shadow could even heal the sick
(Acts 5:15). The demonstration of miracles can only
happen if we are constantly experiencing God. Many
Christians are knowledgeable with God’s word, but they
don’t have a deep and intimate relationship with God. We
must seek God’s presence, and His miracles will
accompany us.
III. THE LIVING PRESENCE OF GOD MUST BE

CONSTANTLY SOUGHT AFTER
6 Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he
is near.
Isaiah 55:6
11
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
1 Chronicles 16:11
□ If we want to experience God’s Presence, we need to seek
Him. Just like the deer thirstily panting towards the cool
river to drink (Psalm 42:1), we too must come to Him for
the living water of the Spirit (John 7:37-39; 1 Corinthians
12:13). Sunday is not the only time to be close to Him, but
everyday and every moment we can earnestly seek His
presence so we can be “clothed” with His glory and power.
APPLICATION:
1. What is the basis of your faith- your intellectual thoughts

about God or your personal experience with Him?
2. Why do we need a personal encounter with God?

LESSON 6
“FASTING”
Fasting is one of the most important teachings in the Bible.

However, it is not a popular teaching among many churches and
Christians because not many practice fasting. Yet, if we scrutinize
the Old and New Testaments, we can see many of God’s people
fasting-Moses, Elijah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Hannah, David,
Daniel, Anna, John the Baptist, Paul and many other servants of
God who fasted. Even Jesus Christ, our Lord, fasted for 40 days
and 40 nights. (Matthew 4:2)
I. THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS ON FASTING
In Matthew 6:16- 18, Jesus taught about three very important

lessons on fasting:
1. Fasting Is God’s Command
□ When Jesus said, “When you fast…” He hopes that

we His people will fast, just as He hopes us to
“give” (Matthew 6:2) and to “pray” (Matthew 6:5).
Fasting is as much a commandment as prayer and
giving are. It is important to make fasting an
essential part of our Christian life. Jesus said that
His followers must fast while He is still in heaven
(Matthew 9:14-15).
2. Fasting Must Be Done for God
□ Jesus said that when we fast, we must do it in

secret. He meant that we should practice it for God
and not in order to “show off” to man. We must
consider our motives why we fast. Others may
proudly do it to make others think highly of them.

3. Fasting Has a Reward from God
□ Just as giving and prayer are rewarded by God, so is

fasting. Jesus said that our Heavenly Father knows
how to reward those who fast with all sincerity of
their heart. The Bible says that there are heavenly
things that we cannot receive unless we fast,
inasmuch as there are things we can’t claim if we
don’t give and pray (Matthew 6:4; 6:6).
II. THREE TYPES OF FASTING

1. Fasting with water only (Normal Fast)
35Then they all came and urged David to eat something
while it was still day; but David took an oath, saying,
"May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if I taste
bread or anything else before the sun sets!"
2
Samuel 3:35
2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
Matthew 4:2
2. Fasting without food and water (Absolute Fast)
28 Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty
nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he
wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant— the Ten
Commandments.
Exodus 34:28
6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and
went to the room of Jehohanan son of Eliashib. While he
was there, he ate no food and drank no water, because
he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles.
Ezra 10:6
16 "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and
fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.
I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go
to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish,
I perish."
Esther 4:16
3. Abstaining from full diet such as eating vegetables only

(Partial fast)
12"Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing
but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
Daniel 1:12
3I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips;
and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Daniel 10:3
III. WHY SHOULD WE FAST?
1. That Heaven May Hear Us
□ We have some petitions that will not be heard unless we

accompany it with fasting. There are two instances in
the Bible that proves this. One is from the Old
Testament and the other from the New Testament.
i. Judges 20:1-35- The passage tells about a battle

between two groups-- the Israelites versus the
Benjamite clan. The Israelites had the right
reasons for fighting the Benjamites. Their
chance of winning was high too; they had

40,000 able men while their enemy only had 26,
000. But the story tells us that the Israelites lost
the first battle and 22,000 of their warriors died.
In the second battle, they lost another 18, 000
men. On the third time, they won the fight and
killed 25,100 from the household of Benjamin.
What’s the difference in the third battle? In the
first two battles, they prayed to win, but they
didn’t fast. However they accompanied that last
battle with fasting (Judges 20:15-26). Fasting
can indeed give us victory!
ii. Mark 9:14-29- There was an evil spirit that the

disciples failed to drive away. When they
brought the tormented person to Jesus, He easily
rebuked the evil spirit, and it immediately fled.
The disciples wondered why they were not able
to drive it out. Jesus answered, "This kind can
come out only by prayer and fasting." (Mark
9:29; Matthew 17:21 KJV). There are evil
spirits we can encounter that cannot be driven
away unless we couple our prayer with fasting.
2. That We Can Immediately Destroy The Bondage of Sin

In Our Lives
6"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the
chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the
oppressed free and break every yoke?
Isaiah 58:6
□ We have sinful bondages in our lives that can only be

removed by fasting. Fasting is the Christian’s weapon
to loosen Satan’s stronghold in our lives. Read Joel
2:12-14.

3. That We Can Easily Hear God
□ We rarely hear the voice of God if we don’t fast.

Fasting can make our spirits sensitive to God. Elijah
heard God while he was fasting (1 Kings 19:8-18),
Moses received the Ten Commandments while he was
fasting for 40 days and nights (Exodus 34:28). Saul and
Barnabas heard Him while they were worshipping and
fasting (Acts 13:1-2).
APPLICATION:
1. What touched you personally in this lesson?

2. Are you ready to fast? How many days? When will you
start?

LESSON 7
“VICTORIOUS LIVING”
In Jesus’ message to the seven churches in the book of Revelation,

the word “overcome” is constantly repeated (Revelation 2:7, 11,
17, 26, 3:5, 12, 21). God said that whoever overcomes will not be
hurt by the second death (Revelations 2:11). “To him who
overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over
the nations.” The one who overcomes will be dressed in white and
his name will not be blotted out from the book of life (Revelations
3:5). Heaven is for the victorious people.
There are three enemies that God’s people must defeat:

1. Our “Sinful Nature”
21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is
right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in
God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members
of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and
making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my
members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue
me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through
Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a
slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the
law of sin.
Romans 7:21-25a
□ The human or sinful nature is what we inherit from the

sin of Adam (Romans 5:12; 1 Peter 1:18). This is the
“fallen nature” that drives us to sin.
How to Defeat the Sinful Nature?

Live in the Victory of Jesus.

If we make Jesus Christ our Lord, then the sinful nature
cannot control us. There is complete victory in Him!
(Romans 7:24-25a)
Live Under the Control of the Holy Spirit.

Once we have surrendered our life to Jesus Christ, the Holy
Spirit dwells in us (Ephesians 1:13-14). This is why God
commands us to walk in the Holy Spirit and not in the
desires of the sinful nature of man (Galatians 5:16-17).
Jesus Christ did not only redeem us from our sins but also
from our sinful nature. If we continue to live out our sinful
nature, we will reap death, but if we destroy it through the
power of the Holy Spirit, we will gain life (Galatians 6:7-8;
Romans 8:13).
1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus, 2because through Christ Jesus the law of
the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
Live in the New Man.

We must deny and kill the desires of the old nature
everyday (Luke 9:23) for those who are in Christ now
crucifies their sinful nature (Galatians 2:20; 5:24). We must
accept that Jesus Christ already redeemed us from our sins
and from our sinful nature. Moreover, we must accept what
Christ did on the Cross and live in the “new man” that we
received from Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christianity is
not merely a “changed life”, but a “new life”.
15Neithercircumcision nor uncircumcision means
anything; what counts is a new creation.
Galatians 6:15

2. THE EVIL ONE
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces
of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
The three most dangerous weapons of the enemy:
1. Temptation (Matthew 4:1-10)- The reason of temptation is

to drive us away from God’s will in exchange for desirable
things.
2. Accusation (Revelation 12:10) - Satan is called in the

Bible as the Accuser. He has four ways of accusing:
a. Self-accusation- The devil bombards our minds

with lies about ourselves. He repeatedly condemns
us with our sins, faults and weaknesses already
forgiven by God in order to discourage us.
b. People Accusing Us- The devil also uses other

people to accuse and destroy us.
c. We Accusing Others- If we are not mindful, the

enemy can also use us to accuse others
d. Accusing God- Many times the devil accuses God

to destroy our faith in Him
3. Deception (1 Timothy 4:1) - The devil attacks us with false

beliefs leading us to wrong decisions in life. This is what he
did to Eve (1 Timothy 2:14). We can be deceived through
wrong decisions, wrong beliefs, wrong doctrines, and
wrong visions. A deceived person cannot recognize that he
or she is in the wrong.
How to defeat the devil?
8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that
your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same

kind of sufferings.
1 Peter 5:8-9a
7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you.
James 4:7
□ To defeat temptation, accusation and deception of the

enemy, we must 1) “watch and pray in the Spirit,” 2)
“submit to God”, and 3) resist with faith until he flees.”
When we fight the devil, we must use the name of Jesus
(Mark 16:17) and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word
of God (Ephesians 6:17; Matthew 4:1-10).
3. THE WORLD
15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone
loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For
everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust
of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—
comes not from the Father but from the world.
1 John 2:15-16
□ The world here does not mean the physical environment

created by God (Roman 8:22) or the peoples of the
world loved by God (John 3:16) but the systems of the

world that defy the principles of God. The above verse
talks about three worldly values:
i. Lust of the Flesh - This refers to a life yielded to
sensual pleasures and vices (2 Timothy 3:4) to meet
the desires of the sinful nature. Living in worldly
vices is already the accepted norm that from the
world’s viewpoint, living a holy life on earth puts
us on the wrong side.
ii. Lust of the Eyes - Lust of the eyes means the

bondage of materialism. Many people value
material possessions more than they value God.
Money is the god they love and worship (Matthew
6:24; 1 Timothy 6:10).
iii. Pride of Life - This refers to living in self-

arrogance. Some people always strive to become
great and famous in the eyes of others. They are
always boasting of their identity, possessions and
accomplishments.
How to defeat the spirit of the world?
□ The Bible says, “Do not conform any longer to the patters of
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good,
pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). The true followers of
God are cautious not to take part in the wickedness of the world.
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this:
to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep
oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). We must
be filled with the Holy Spirit of God and His word, so the worldly
spirit cannot influence us. (Ephesians 5:15-18, Psalm 119:1)
The Three Enemies are Related to Each Other

The three enemies of the Christian are directly connected with
each other. The “devil” tempts us through the “systems of the
world” so we will walk in the “sinful nature.”
Our Victory Is Assured in Christ
No matter how many and how powerful our enemies are, we

will still be victorious if God is in us. In the Cross, Jesus Christ
defeated all our enemies, and we that are in Him must live in
that victory (Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:57).
APPLICATION:
1. What are the rewards of a victorious Christian in this
world?
2. Why don’t some people live consistently victorious
spiritual lives?

LESSON 8
“GO AND SIN NO MORE”(1)
10Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they?

Has no one condemned you?" 11"No one, sir," she said. "Then
neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave
your life of sin."
John 8:10-11
After Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery, He told her,

“Go and sin no more.” To anyone who has received forgiveness
and salvation, God wants that person to walk in holiness. Our
Heavenly Father calls us to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter
1:15-16).
10 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TURN AWAY FROM SIN

1. Sin cannot satisfy
□ Sin can sometimes give us real pleasures. Hence, it is very

powerful and addictive. There are “drug addicts” and
“immoral” people who love their sinful habits. But
Hebrews 11:25 says sin brings pleasure only for a short
time. Sin cannot give total satisfaction.
□ After being “high” in drugs, after the enjoyment of immoral

sex, after doing a wrong deed, we can feel the emptiness of
our soul. Feeling filthy and hollow inside is the aftermath
of sinful pleasure. Sin cannot give real satisfaction; rather,
it causes dryness in our lives. In the end, the happiness
becomes sorrow, the passion becomes fear and the
amusement becomes bondage. Sin does not give lasting
happiness.
2. One sin leads to more sins

□ Proverbs 5:22 says, “The evil deeds of a wicked man
ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast.” Some
believe that a sinner is free to do whatever he or she wants
while a Christian is burdened by the laws in the Bible. The
opposite is true! A sinner is a slave to sin but a child of
God is free to do what God wants Him to do (John 8:34-
36). We who are in the light are free.
□ Temptation tells us to sin to be happy and satisfied. This is

a big lie. The result of that one sin leads to a desire to sin
more. Sin gives birth to more sins. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says,
“Whoever loves money never has money enough…” This
person wants more! Greed cannot be satisfied by wealth,
drug addiction cannot be satisfied by any drug; lust cannot
be satisfied by only one person, and pride cannot be
satisfied by honor and praise from others.
□ Before committing sin, some people promise themselves to

do it only once. But if we give sin a head start of only one inch,
it will push us one kilometer further. If you allow one small
sin to enter your life, it will open the door to many more sins. It
is easy to commit sin, but it is very difficult to stop doing it.
This is the reason why sin is bondage.
3. Sin leads us to more horrible sins
□ This is a scary principle- “Sin brings out the worst in a

man’s nature; sin can never uplift us.”
□ The way of sin shows that sin cannot satisfy and leads to
more sins, many of which are more horrible sins. Worse,
constant sinning hardens the heart. This means that the
person does not feel ashamed with his or her sinful habits.

□ Because sin brings us to dirtier and more dangerous acts,
stop sinning while there is still time!
4. Sin degrades our dignity
□ Sin stains the sinner. Ecclesiastes 10:1 says, as dead flies

give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs
wisdom and honor.
□ King Solomon has this advice, “But a man who commits

adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be
wiped away” (Proverbs 6:32-33). Sin really degrades a
person. Satan wants us to lose our dignity and live in
disgrace, but God wants to clothe us in His glory (John
17:22).
5. Sin steals our joy
□ The joy of God in our lives is very important because it is

our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). In God’s presence there is
real joy (Psalm 16:11). “A cheerful heart is a good
medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones” (Proverbs
17:22; 18:14). We can be sustained if our spirit is well, but
if it is wounded, crushed and sorrowful, even a beautiful
day is dark and nasty.
□ Sin removes joy because it drives us away from God’s

presence. Sin steals this one thing that cannot be bought by
all the wealth in this world. Don’t exchange the joy of the
Lord with just one sin.

APPLICATION:
1. Give three important things you get from this lesson.

2. Do you agree that sin does not bring permanent joy? Why?
3. Is there still a sin that has a hold on you? Are you ready to
turn away from it?

LESSON 9
“GO AND SIN NO MORE”(2)
We must be convinced that we can live a 100 percent holy life.

God does not let us do things that are impossible for us to do. If He
commands us to be holy, then we can be so.
Last week, we discussed five reasons why we should stop sinning.

We will continue to discuss now the other five.
6. The wage of sin is death
□ There is only one instance where sin gives what it

promises: its reward of death (Romans 6:23).
Unfortunately, sin does not reveal to us this horrible secret;
rather, sin entices us with happiness, wealth, glory,
satisfaction and power. Though these are possible pleasures
that accompany sin, they will not last long until payback
day. The wage of sin remains: death in the natural and
spiritual.
□ Sin brings death. It destroys our sensitivity towards God,

crushes our conscience, and wounds our soul. Every time
we commit sin, something in us dies. Further on, sin
ushers us to the final death- an everlasting separation
from God (James 1:15).
□ What we sow is what we reap. If we sow sin, then we reap

death, but if we walk in the Spirit, we gain life (Galatians
6:7-8).
7. God punishes the wicked in this present life and in the

next

□ It is true that sin’s natural result is death. But God Himself
is active in punishing the guilty. God cuts them off! He
determined punishment to the wicked who never repents
both in the Old Testament (Leviticus 26:14-33) and New
Testament (Revelations 2:5, 16, 21-23; 3:3, 15-16).
□ Even if the whole world is against us, we must not fear if

only we have God with us. The most awful thing to happen
to us is when our Maker says, “I am against you!” This is
what God will do to those who refuse to bear fruits (Isaiah
1:18-20; 5:1-7; Luke 3:9; 13:3, 6-9; John 15:2). It is terrible
when the Living God punishes us if we continue to sin
(Hebrews 10:26-31).
8. Sin hurts God
□ The image of an angry God does not mean so much to

Christians. This is because we are saved and we look at
Him as our Loving Father. He is our friend and close
companion. But understand that every time we sin, we
are spitting on His face! We are piercing His heart. Our
sin hurts our Savior. Is He the reason for our living? Do we
really love Him? But why do we keep sinning? Our God
said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John
14:15).
□ When Peter denied his Master, “The Lord turned and

looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word
the Lord has spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows
today, you will disown me three times. The he went outside
and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:61-62). In times we do sin,
God turns His face to us and what do we see? Happiness,
anger or sorrow?
9. Sin hurts the sinner

□ Sin does not only give pain to God but also the sinner. It
can destroy our day, our health, our livelihood, our jobs,
and our minds. It brings chaos to all things. If we keep on
sinning, we are destroying our lives and our future.
10. Sin hurts the family and friends of the sinner
□ We know that sin does not only affect the one who actually
commits it. People in his or her life are also adversely
affected. A sinner brings problems to his family, friends,
church and community. Sin affects others and not just the
sinner himself or herself!
II. HOW DO WE DEFEAT SIN?
1. Watch ourselves
□ Eve sinned because she went near the tree that God forbade
them. She listened and entertained the voice of the enemy
(Genesis 3:1-6). She fell because she was not cautious.
Therefore, we must not go to places where we can easily be
tempted. We need to recognize and watch out for our
weaknesses. The most effective weapon against sin is our
watchfulness and avoidance of it.
2. Change carnal thought patterns
□ Some people keep on sinning because they truly believe

that they cannot stop since they are only human. This is a
lie. The truth is we are “new creations in Christ. The old
has passed” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are dead in sin and
alive in Christ
(Romans 6:11). We can now stop sinning because we have
become children of Light. (1 John 3:9; Ephesians 5:8).
3. Fight temptation
□ God’s grace gives us the power to overcome sin (Titus
2:11-12). Fight temptation by saying, “NO!”
4. Win over wicked desires
□ God does not tempt us to sin (James 1:13). We are tempted

because of sinful desires inside us (James 1:14). We can get
rid of these sinful yearnings if we allow ourselves to be
filled with God’s word and His Presence (Psalms 119:11,
Ephesians 5:26, Ephesians 5:18). Allow God to purify our
desires (Psalms 51:10).
APPLICATION:
1. Among the ten reasons why we must stop sinning, which

one speaks seriously to you? Why?
2. Why can’t some Christians resist temptations?
3. What desires you still have that are not godly?
4. Do you believe that you can possibly live a holy life here
on earth together with God? Are you ready to live out this
faith?

LESSON 10
“A PURE HEART”
“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a
man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds
deserve.”
Jeremiah 17:10
GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART
Outside acts are not what count to God, but God examines the
motive behind the deed. God looks at our hearts when we
worship (Matthew 15:8-9), pray (Luke 18: 9-14), give (Luke
21: 1-4), fast (Matthew 6:16-18), and whatever we do.
Why do we want to prosper financially? Why do we want to

receive power from God? Why do we want to enlarge our
service to Him? Why do we give to God’s work? Why do we
help others? Why do we obey God? These are questions that
only God and we can answer.
RIGHT AND WRONG MOTIVE
A right motive is God-centered (Colossians 3:23) while a

wrong motive is self-centered (Matthew 23:5-7). It is important
to bear in mind that whatever we do glorifies God and not
ourselves. It is God that we must please and not others
10Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or
am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I
would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10
IF OUR HEART IS RIGHT:

1. We glorify God
10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you
up.
James 4:10
David was chosen by God to replace King Saul in Israel

because David’s heart was right with God (1 Samuel 16:7,
12-13; Psalm 45:7). On the other hand, God rejected Saul
because of his evil heart (1 Samuel 15:26).
2. God prospers us
1Praisethe LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands. 2 His children
will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright
will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and
his righteousness endures forever.
Psalm 112:1-3
3. God protects us
7 He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to
those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of
the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
Proverbs 2: 7-8
4. We experience God
8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5:8
3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in
his holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is
false.
Psalm 24: 3-4
HOW TO EXAMINE OUR HEARTS?
1. Look at the fruits of our lives

19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,
sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.
Matthew 15:19
2. Listen to the words that come out from our mouths

34You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say
anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the
mouth speaks.
Matthew 12:34
3. Watch out for our response to circumstances

10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you
up.
Proverbs 30:8-9
The passage above is a prayer of a man named Agur. This

prayer stemmed out from a concern that he may be separated
from God when confronted with too much blessings or too
much need. He acknowledged to God his weakness if suddenly
faced with situations he had not expected. (We are not
encouraged to repeat the same prayer because we can instead
pray that God will strengthen our hearts in times of great
blessings or great trials.) This prayer, however, shows to us
that our responses or reactions to various situations, whether
good or bad, reveal who we really are inside.
HOW TO RECEIVE A PURE HEART?
1. Allow God to examine our heart (Psalm 139: 23-24).

2. Pray that God will purify our heart (Psalms 51:10; Romans
2:29).
3. Keep watch of our heart against evil (Proverbs 4:23;
Matthew 9:4; Acts 5:3).
4. Fill our heart with good things (Matthew 12:35; Psalms
119:11).
APPLICATION:
1. What points in the lesson speak to you? Why?

2. What’s still inside you that you think is not right with God?
(share)
3. What should our motive be in doing good deeds?

LESSON 11
“WALK WITH GOD”
21 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of

Methuselah. 22 And after he became the father of Methuselah,
Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and
daughters. 23 Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked
with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
Genesis 5:21-24
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “LIVING ONLY” AND

“WALKING WITH GOD”
□ A person who is “living only” is somebody who is living

for his or her own self. This person does not really care
much about God. He or she lives according to what the self
dictates.
□ A person who is “walking with God” is somebody who is

united with God. He or she walks accompanied by the
presence, favor, and guidance of God. This person relates
to God and so does God to him or her. The person hears
God’s voice and feels His presence. His or her relationship
with God is real and intimate. Enoch is one person in the
Bible who walks with God.
FROM “WALKING ALONE” TO “WALKING WITH GOD”
□ Enoch used to live only for himself, but when he reached

65 years old, he started walking with God for next 300
years.
□ The same is true with us. We were not born in this world
already walking with God. Our walk with Him started

somewhere. When? The moment we committed our lives to
Jesus Christ and received His forgiveness (2 Corinthians
5:18-19). Before we can start walking with God, we must
be one with Him first, and Jesus Christ makes us one with
the Father (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5).
WHAT IS “WALKING WITH GOD”?
1. Deep and real relationship with God
□ Our relationship with God is like a father’s relationship

towards his children (Matthew 6:6; Romans 8:15-16).
This talks about intimacy. Our first call is to “walk with
Him” and not to “work with Him”. Sometimes there are
many things that we do for Him that we don’t have the
time to be with Him, just like what Martha did for Jesus
(Luke 10:38-42). We must not stop seeking for His face
that is His Living Presence (Psalms 119: 135). We must
not lose our love and passion for God (Revelation 2:1-
5).
2. A right relationship with God

5
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not
experience death; he could not be found, because God had
taken him away. For before he was taken, he was
commended as one who pleased God.
Hebrew 11:5
□ Christians who still live in the sinful nature and remain

in bondage to the world (1 John 2:15-17) are called
“adulterers” by God (James 4:4). Despite this, God still
loves them and calls them to return to Him (Hosea 3:1-
3).

3. Being in God’s will
6Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region
of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit
from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7When
they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter
Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
8So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9During
the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia

standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and
help us." 10After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at
once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had
called us to preach the gospel to them.
Acts 16:6-10
□ A Christian who walks with God is found in the right

place doing what is right in the company of a right
group of people. They have the right jobs, church, and
ministry. They are also walking in God’s right timing.
FRUITS OF “WALKING WITH GOD”
1. Our worth comes from our walk with God (Matthew 7:21-
23).
2. Our worship comes from our walk with God (John 15:5,
16).
3. Our prosperity comes from our walk with God
(Deuteronomy 28:2).
4. Our relationship with others comes from our walk with
God (Mark 12:30-31).
WALK WITH GOD FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
□ Enoch walked with God until God took him away (Genesis
5:24). A good start must be completed with a good finish.
There are Christians who started well but have not endured.
We must continue to walk with Him up to the end
(Matthew 24:12-13). Don’t allow people, the devil or
problems kill a good relationship with God.
THE DIFFERENCE WITH “DEATH” AND “TAKEN BY

GOD”
□ There were people who died earlier than their appointed

time. This happened because they lived only with
themselves and apart from God. They died because of what
they may have done or what other people did to them.
Others died because of the devil’s attack to their personal
lives. This happened because they were not under God’s
protection. God defends those who are His. A person who
does not walk with God has a very sorrowful death because
his or her destination is the lake of fire which is the second
death (Revelations 21:8).
□ Even if we walk with God, a time will come when God will
really take us away to be with Him. Enoch did not undergo
physical death because God just took him to heaven. But
many of His children will physically die before Jesus
returns (Hebrews 9:27). This death is not a defeat in our
part; rather, it is a victorious ending of our life here on
earth which we will continue to live on in heaven. God will
take us to be with Him forever (John 11:25- 26; Philippians
1:21). Death in Christ is an open door to a much better
place (Luke 16:22; Philippians 1:23).
APPLICATION:
1. What point in the lesson moves you? Why?
2. What are the reasons why some failed to walk with God?
3. Can you say that you have a living and intimate
relationship with God?

LESSON 12
“WHY SOME FAIL”
God wants us to be successful in everything we do. He is the God

of success and fruitfulness. His plans for us now and in the future
are good (Jeremiah 29:11). But why do some still live as failures?
Why are they losers even if they pray, give to God’s work, purify
themselves and serve God? Let’s now discuss seven reasons why
others fail to succeed and bear fruits in this world when they are in
fact good Christians.
1. Poor People Skills

i. They are poor communicators.
ii. They have pride in their hearts. A proud person
does not care to listen to others and desires to get
what he or she wants all the time. This person is
also self-righteous and despises others.
iii. Their hearts are wounded. A wounded person is
very sensitive and is easily hurt and can easily hurt
others too.
iv. They are materialistic and greedy with money. They
value possessions more than their relationships with
others. They may also relate with others only if they
can get something in return.
v. They are too task-oriented to the detriment of their
relationships. They may view others merely as
instrument to achieve their goals.
□ If we do not know how to manage our relationships

with others, especially those who are close with us, we
can expect to fail. Successful people are those who
know how to work well with others.
2. Negative Attitude

□ Among the 12 spies the Israelites sent to God’s
Promised Land, only two were positive thinkers
Numbers 13: 25-33). In the end, only these two were
able to enter it.
□ We can neither choose the circumstances that will

happen to us nor the people that will cross our paths,
but we can choose what to think about our situation
(Philippians 4:8). There are times when we cannot
change our surroundings but we can change our mental
attitudes. It is important to view life with a positive
attitude.
3. Lack of Focus
□ We cannot do all the good things that enter our minds.

A person with a cluttered mind cannot accomplish
something good. Jesus said He only does the things the
Father tells him to do (John 5:19-20). We need to focus
on what God wants in our lives by trimming away the
tasks not essential to God’s call in our lives. These
unnecessary things only burden and hinder our goal in
life.
4. Weak Commitment
□ Jesus did not only start God’s will but He was very
determined to accomplish it (John 4:34). Because of
His commitment to His mission of saving men by dying
on the cross, He succeeded. We must not start a task we
are not committed to finish (Proverbs 19:24). A
committed person, no matter how many times he or she
fails, rises again (Proverbs 24:16). We should not allow
failure to conquer our hearts, because when this
happens, we already lose the battles of life. We must
persevere until we finish God’s mission in our lives.

5. Unwillingness to Change
□ A person with a narrow thinking cannot bear fruits. We

must constantly change for the better. If we were good
then, we must be better now and be the best that we can
be tomorrow. We must keep on improving to be all the
more effective in completing the tasks entrusted to us.
□ A person who wants to succeed listens to advices

(Proverbs 15:22). We need to constantly heed sound
advices of others (Proverbs 20:18).
6. Shortcut Mentality
□ The Bible says that wealth taken in wrong means is

easily lost (Proverbs 20:21). Others want to harvest, but
they don’t till the soil and plant (Proverbs 20:4). This
attitude leads to destruction and failure.
□ It is not enough to merely talk what we want in life; we

need to work for it (Proverbs 12:11; 14:23). We need to
sweat to see the fine results of hard work.
7. No Goals
□ Our faith must be based on what we hope (Hebrews

11:1), and this hope lies in our goal that comes from
God. A person without goals does not prosper.
□ Our goal is what we dream to achieve. This dream has

an appointed time to happen. We need to have a goal in
our relationship with God, family, work, business,
study, ministry and other things that we do. Remember
that without a goal, there is no future. What we do must

be in line to the goals we have set. Setting goals does
not help God, but it is definitely helpful to us.
APPLICATION:
1. Among the seven reasons why some people fail, how many
do your recognize in own self? (share)
2. What is the meaning of this: “You are not a failure if you
have not allowed failure in the outside to enter you”.

4 Victorious Life Series BOOKLET

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4 Victorious Life Series BOOKLET

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Journey

Victorious Life Series

Lesson 1: FOUR KINDS OF GROUND

Lesson 4: THE PRESENCE OF GOD (1)

Lesson 5: THE PRESENCE OF GOD (2)

Lesson 7: VICTORIOUS LIVING

Lesson 8: GO AND SIN NO MORE (1)

Lesson 9: GO AND SIN NO MORE (2)

Lesson 10: A PURE HEART

Lesson 11: WALK WITH GOD

Lesson 12: WHY SOME FAIL

2|Journey VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

A VERY IMPORTANT PARABLE

One of the most important parables is found in the three

1. GOD IS THE SOWER

3|Journey VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

The seeds represent God’s words (Mark 4:14), which

3. THE GROUND IS THE HEART OF MAN

FOUR KINDS OF GROUND

The parable mentions four kinds of ground, which represent

1. The Hard Ground

□ The hard ground are those unsaved people who have

4|Journey VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

□ The second type talks about people who ‘joyfully

3. The Thorny Ground

□ There are people who accepted God’s word and

i. Worries and cares of life (Mark 4:19)

□ These four are the reasons why the seeds don’t

4. The Good Ground

□ This speaks of the Christians who have fruitful lives

They are those who have:

i. Understood God’s Word (Matthew 13:23)

 In order for us to understand His word, we

ii. Received God’s Word (Mark 4:20)

 Understanding God’s word is not enough. We

iii. Lived According to the Word (Luke 8:15)

 Aside from understanding and receiving the

iv. Committed and Persevered with the Word

 It is not enough to live out the word today and

1. What kind of ground are you?

7|Journey VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

I. WHO WILL UNDERGO PERSECUTION?

1. Those who live godly lives in Christ Jesus

□ Christians who love the world will be loved by the world,

2. Those who live according to the word

3. Those who walk with the Holy Spirit

II. SHOULD ALL BELIEVERS UNDERGO

8|Journey VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

□ Jesus said that just as he underwent persecution, we, his

III. WHY ARE THERE PERSECUTIONS?

1. We have spiritual enemies

2. Depravity of the unbelievers’ mind

IV. WHAT DOES JESUS CALL THOSE WHO ARE

V. WHAT KINDS OF PERSECUTION CAN WE

□ Insult (Matthew 5:11), malicious speech (1 Peter 3:16),

VI. WHAT MUST WE DO WHEN PERSECUTED?

1. Understand that persecution is part of your life as a

10 | J o u r n e y VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

Romans 12: 20-21

4. Rejoice for being part of the sufferings of Christ

1. Have you experienced persecution because you followed

11 | J o u r n e y VICTORIOUS LIFE SERIES

1. We don’t want to be with that person. We don’t want to