NEW CONVERTS BOOKLET
By: Pastor Vaughn Morton

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to God’s great family! You have just been born into the greatest family on earth. God has been good to you! You can look your world in the eye, unmoved and unashamed, because you have received a
real Bible experience.

To be born again of the water and of the Spirit is the only scriptural new birth. John 3:1-8 says:

“There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

Jesus answered, Verily, verily I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Also, Acts 2:37-19 says:

“Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”

You may not be a babe physically, yet in Christ we all are babes at our initial conversion. A babe is not expected to walk like an adult. But you should not stay a babe for long, you need to grow in the Lord. I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”.

There are many older saints that will assist you in your growth. Remember, though that your growth is largely self-determined. It is with this in mind that we give you this simple booklet. There are many areas of growth in your new life. We will only touch on a few important ones. For further instruction feel free to call on me, as your pastor. I will be happy to assist you or direct you to others who can. We want to help you become a victorious and happy child of God.

THE CALL TO BE A CHRISTIAN

“…to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints…” I Corinthians 1:2.

The call to be a Christian is indeed a privilege. It is expressed beautifully by a Pentecostal song writer in these words.

There were millions in the world, Who were so much better than I. But He chose me, why He chose me I’ll never know. But Jesus chose me. With Him I’ll go.
Doug Davis, Jr.

Not everyone who is called is chosen. History is full of many who started following the Lord but later chose another way. From Adam and Eve to Judas Iscariot, the Bible is clear in telling us that this calling requires our effort and commitment.

This calling requires us to be separate. God wants His church to stand out like a city on a hill. Matthew 5: 14 “A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” The world must see us to find their way to Him. For this reason God’s people have always been separate. II Corinthians 6:17 says: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord.”

God’s holiness requires us to be holy. I Peter 1:16,

“Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” We do not do many of the things that we once did because they are not pleasing to God. Separating ourselves from evil places, people, and things is one thing we know will help us in our walk with the Lord.

We are called to be ambassadors. II Corinthians 5:20, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ”. To be an ambassador of the United States is indeed a great office to fill. How much more to be an ambassador for the kingdom of God to a lost world?

As ambassadors we must be careful how we act. Colossians 4:5, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without”. We should not be careless in our lifestyle lest we put a bad idea of Christianity in our neighbor’s mind. We are to be wise, diligent in our business, and full of love and concern for sinners. This will bring about a good relationship with the world. We are not speaking of compromise, but of a good reputation. A good reputation is what God wants you, as His ambassador, to have. (I Timothy 2:1-3, Proverbs 16:17, Romans 12:18).

We are also called to be a part of God’s bride. Many People are searching for real love, and this search leads them from romance novels to modern group-centered religious cults. Many people are crying out for love and for someone to care. I John 4:8 tells us that “God is love.” He cares for each living human being. I Peter 5:7, “Casting all you care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Two thousand years ago Jesus went away, but He said He would come again. When He comes again He will be looking for His bride (the church). We feel it won’t be long now and we want to be ready and waiting, as His bride, when Jesus comes again.

The word ‘Christian’ means to be Christ-like. Acts 11:26, “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch”. Let us strive to bring respect to that title. Let us make it our life’s ambition to be Christ-like.

MAKING OUR CALLING SURE

There is a way to build a life for God that will never fail. It is one thing to be called; that is God’s part. But the part that involves you is responding to that call and preparing yourself to be ready when the Lord wants to work through you.

We can be ready to work, and Ephesians 6:13-17 gives us steps to follow in our preparation of being ready.

“Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

Now let us examine four more weapons that are extremely important to a healthy and happy Christian life. They are: prayer, Bible study, fasting, and witnessing.

PRAYER – Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation” Matthew 26:41. Prayer should be a daily habit. You wouldn’t think of trying to pass a day without breathing, and yet prayer is the breath of the soul. Prayer is vital to spiritual survival. One who does not pray soon becomes cold, calloused, and bitter.

Here at Truth Tabernacle we very strongly emphasize spiritual renewal. We do not mean meditation or shallow morning prayers. We mean praying through every day until you speak in tongues. Jude 20, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.”

The Bible says in Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” That word ‘renewing’ is talking about a continual experience. We are not saved just because we once received the Holy Ghost, but by the continual purifying and leading it gives us when we pray through every day.

When we pray in tongues we are praying to God and being edified or built up. I Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God.” Paul is instructing us to allow the Spirit to pray through us so that unknown spiritual needs are allowed to be met by the interceding of the same Spirit. Romans 8:26 says “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

We cannot overemphasize speaking in tongues. We do not emphasize it with zealous ignorance, but with solid scriptural backing. When you pray in tongues you will feel spiritually stronger. You will feel stronger because the inner man is being exercised. Our finite understanding only allows us to pray for obvious things. But God’s Spirit gives us the added mediation that brings all our needs to God.

BIBLE STUDY – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15. The Bible is the sword of the Spirit spoken of in Ephesians 6:17. We must be able to defend our beliefs and witness to souls from God’s word.

The Bible is our spiritual food. Jesus said, “my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” John 6:63. Who would think of think to run a race without having eaten for a week? That is not the way to win. But some people do not read the Bible every day, and by not doing this they are losing in their Christian race. I Corinthians 9:24, “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.” We must love the Bible.

FASTING – The real church of God still fasts. Fasting is a powerful tool in getting prayers answered and receiving faith. Matthew 17:21 says, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” There is a degree of faith that is not exercised unless someone prays and fasts. The reason many are not healed and many turn to the world for relief, is not because God has changed or the ministry is weak, but rather because the church needs to use this neglected weapon more often.

Fasting is abstaining from food for a certain time. Water may be drunk during a fast, but not juice, tea, etc. Fast as consistently as you can. By denying the flesh you will find that it not only strengthens our spiritual walk, but that it also helps to allow the power of God to move in the church. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6). Let us not make excuses and try to mold God to our lifestyle. But let God be glorified by miracles, healings, and prayers answered as we fast and pray.

WITNESSING – Once we have prepared ourselves spiritually, God can really use us. II Timothy 2:21 , “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” II Corinthians 5:18-19 tells us that God has given the church the ministry of reconciliation (“and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation”). Reconciliation means getting two separated parties, (in this case God and man), back together. The good news, which is what the word gospel means, is that God has made a way for sins to be washed away and man can now approach Him again. It is our responsibility to tell the world this good news.

Soul-winning is one of the most important aspects of our quest to make our calling and election sure. Jesus said, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Matthew 10:8. He also said, “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Luke 14:23. The parable of the eight talents, in Matthew 25:14-30, tells us that the Lord is expecting some return on the blessings that He has bestowed on us. We must invest our lives and all of our talents back into the work of God so that we can become profitable servants. All of these verses make it clear to us that we must win the lost in order to be saved.

Truth Tabernacle is a soul-winning church. Our goal is to reach the entire city of Fresno with the only saving gospel. In order to do this we need laborers who are willing to give themselves to the harvest field of souls. Proverbs 11:30 says, “he that winneth souls is wise.”

Your finances support the church’s efforts in outreach, literature, and revival campaigns. Your prayers are needed to intercede for the lost. Your time is needed to go out and reach them personally. One of the greatest joys of being a Christian is winning souls to God’s church. “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126:6

HOLINESS

Holiness is an area that has been long neglected by many professing Christians. It is important because the Bible says in Leviticus 20:26, “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy.” Many however, do not define what holiness is, either because of no conviction or fear of man. It is this lack of definition that has ultimately destroyed the separation of the church from the world.

Holiness comes from the Holy Ghost. When a person is filled with God’s Spirit he will want to live in such a way as to please God. We want to make it clear that just observing rules and standards is not what makes one holy. Only God’s Spirit makes one holy. However, holiness will have a standard and will observe rules to keep its purity.

Inward holiness is a beautiful thing. It provides a clean heart, mind, and conscience toward God and men. It produces integrity, honesty, and every fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is not law.”

Jesus had something to say about inward holiness in Matthew 23:25-28:

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites? for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Outward holiness is also very important. Note that in the above quote, Jesus required them to have inward holiness first, so that the outside of them would be clean also. Outward holiness includes our actions and appearance. The Bible tells us in Matthew 7:16, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” True holiness shows itself to others in actions and works.

So let us be plain. Let us define some important areas of holiness.

Our speech is one of the greatest revealers of what kind of inner holiness we have. Matthew 15:18-19, “But hose things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. for out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornication’s, thefts, false witness, blasphemies”.

However, this can be an area that many Christians overlook in their pursuit of holiness. Gossiping, sowing discord, telling off-colored jokes, and backbiting are just as much sin as any other so-called black sins. Also lying, exaggerating to the point of lying, worldly slang, cursing, and using the Lord’s name in vain are unholy habits of speech. Let our speech be kind, encouraging, and seasoned with Christian love, upholding the purity of the gospel.

We should be holy in our conduct. Our manners and dealings with people should always be free from question. We need to be careful how we appear to the world. We must have good manners, showing respect for people. We should not give people reason to think wrong thoughts, for the Bible says in I Timothy 5:14-, “give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”

There are many things we can do with our time. It will help if we give ourselves to those things that strengthen our walk with God, and others, such as: soul winning, our family, and our own well-being (spiritual, emotional, and physical).

It is with this goal in mind that we can see that some activities are not to be desired. Things that undermine our walk with God, our family, or our church are not good activities. Any hobby carried too far is not good. Let us be temperate in all things.

In our actions and involvement’s let us be careful how we deal with the opposite sex. Let us leave no room for question, but always be above reproach. Let us not frequent places thought of as being for worldly people. It is important that we do nothing that appears evil, only what is pleasing to God.

We should be careful about what activities we involve ourselves in. Not all activities are bad, but it is important that we do only those things that are pleasing to God, avoiding even the very appearance of evil.

The playing of sports is not bad in itself. We encourage saints to choose teams and play ball together, having a good time of fellowship. However, playing in organized sports or professional sports definitely pushes against God being the central point of our lives. God wants all of you; He gave everything He had for you, and He expects complete commitment.

Amusement parks are something that you must judge for yourself. The spirit in the arcades and circus type of amusement parks seems to be consistently worldly and unchristian. Hence, we do not recommend them for Christians. Family designed amusements, such as Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm, are usually fun places for young people and families to enjoy.

Christians are wise to stay away from the wrong atmosphere. We do not go dancing, to pool halls, to saloons, to bowling alleys, mixed swimming (that means men with women, boys with girls – except in your immediate family). We stay away from movies (drive-ins, theaters, home video, or television). Gambling, such as Bingo, lotteries, etc., is another activity true Christians will not engage in.

We as Christians do not have much in common with the things that the world loves. Television has become one of Satan’s greatest weapons against the family and morality. The average American spends twenty to twenty-five hours a week in front of a television set. An average 17 year old has seen close to 17,000 murders on the television set. Now home video and home box office add movies that are “P.G.” and “X” rated on the television watching home. Holiness says, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” Psalm 101:3. Television, video, movies, and such like are definitely not holy activities to indulge in. We oppose these activities whole heartedly, not only at home, but in any way, shape, or form in the church or any function of the church.

Christians should stay away from alcoholic drinks, period. Gluttony also is classified as a work of the flesh in the scriptures. These two things, along with smoking, are habits that defile the purity of our bodies, which are called the temples of the Holy Ghost. I Corinthians 3:16-17, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” We should be careful what we do with our bodies.

We Pentecostals love good apostolic music and singing. (Psalms 149 and 150). We are careful, though, to make sure our music glorifies God. Certainly worldly music, such as rock, punk rock, acid rock, country western, or any other non-gospel style of music does not glorify God and the holy life God has chosen for His People to live.

When it comes to music or song, our worship can be rejected by God in the same way Cain and his vain sacrifice were rejected. We must offer it God’s way, which is anointed, God glorifying singing. We must not offer worship to God with so-called “Jesus Rock” style music, or a contemporary style of music with Christian lyrics. God will surely reject a worldly sacrifice of music even though men might accept it as a part of modern society. To be truthful, there is little, if anything, that a person who is not filled with God’s Spirit and baptized in His name can sing about that would uplift a child of God. This type of music actually feeds the flesh and is loved by our carnal nature. We should not be so foolish and gullible that we are tricked into drinking out of their worldly cup of worship. Let us listen to wholesome, Christ-centered singing and music. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”, Ephesians 5:19. Let us not deceive ourselves, for anything else is not holiness.

Although you cannot judge a book by its cover, you can judge a Christian by his appearance. A book is dead; a living Christian is not. What lives on the inside will show on the outside. Our dress does not have to be expensive or flashy. It should simply be modest. Jesus said, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” Matthew 7:16. That means visible signs.

Deuteronomy 22:5 says, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” This still applies today. Pants have historically been judged as man’s apparel. Dresses have historically been judged as woman’s apparel.

In our dress there are certain convictions one must have in order to maintain modesty and holiness. It is not the will of God for His people to be vain in the wearing of their apparel. Simply try to be neat and orderly with what you have. Let us stay away from worldly styles such as tight skirts, tight blouses on women, and tight pants on men. Also, our clothing needs to be such that it does not cause wrong thoughts to the opposite sex. See-through clothes are definitely not conducive to godly living.

Jewelry is discouraged in both the Old Testament and in the New Testament. Scripture declares the wearing of gold is not good. This includes the wearing of metal and stones for ornamentation, such as: necklaces, hair pins (that are shiny and flamboyant), bracelets, rings, earrings, etc. Some scriptures showing God’s attitude toward jewelry are: Genesis 35:4, Judges 8:24, Exodus 33:1-6, n Kings 9:30, Isaiah 3:16-21, Jermiah 4:30, Ezekiel 23:40, Hosea 2:13, Revelation 17:4, I Timothy 2:9, 10, I Peter 3:1-4.

Lipstick, rouge, eye shadow, dyed hair, and all make-up are not modest and are classified scripturally with Jezebel, the adulteress and the temptress of men. Anything that covers up the skin, other than clothing, or changes the color of the body is considered make-up. Scripture is clear in instructing the Christian to steer away from these things. I Timothy 2:9-10 says, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modes apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” See also I Peter 3:1-5.

God has given both the man and the woman outward signs of their submission to God and His will and way. In the man, this submission to Christ is shown by his cut hair. For the woman it is manifested by her uncut hair. I Corinthians chapter eleven deals with this very plainly and gives us understanding in these things. A good “rule of thumb” for men’s hair is “off the collar, off the ears, and out of the eyes.”

It is hoped that any and all of the areas of holiness herein described will be embraced by the reader’s convictions, and not be seen as mere rules or standards. We hope to help you build a consistent, strong walk with God, and not a double standard. If you pray and seek God, He will help you make true commitments to keep yourself holy.

Let God talk to you about any of the aforementioned areas of holiness, and let Him talk to you about any area in your life not mentioned. Let us not say, “What do I have to do for the Lord?” but – “What can I do for the Lord?” Separating ourselves to be a part of a holy bride, waiting for our Lord to take us away – that’s the true spirit of holiness. Let us follow holiness in all things, for the Bible says, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14.

THE LOCAL CHURCH

Our church family is our greatest earthly possession. The church is a spiritual home where the members are instructed and prepared to live as overcoming Christians in an unbelieving world. It is a place of support and encouragement. The church is a haven of love and rest that we need to value.

In this day and age many independent and self-willed people have put down organized churches and declared: “I don’t need to go to church to be saved. Jesus loves me as an individual. I’ll just worship in my own way.” This argument is childish and unscriptural. The Bible says in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” The Bible also says in Jude 18 and 19, “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” These verses let us know that it is God’s will for His people to assemble in a church congregation.

Faithful church attendance is very important if we are going to grow in God. The house of God is where God feeds us His word and fills us with His Spirit. By missing services one will starve spiritually and become cold in one’s soul. In order to become strong in the Lord we must have a desire to attend the house of God faithfully and consistently. Let us have the attitude of David, who said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1.

When coming to church, come to worship with all of your heart. Worship is the key to victory and overcoming. The Bible says, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise” Psalm 100:4. This scripture lets us know that the proper way to approach God is through worship. Paul and Silas, in Acts 16:25, “sang praises unto God,” while they were at one of their lowest hours. But through worship came great victory. Jehosaphat, in II Chronicles 20:20-22, decided to praise the Lord when surrounded by enemies. When he did this, God destroyed the enemies. These stories are all in God’s word to let us know that when we worship we can gain complete victory over depression, trials, and problems.

It is necessary not only to attend church faithfully, but also it is important that we attend one church faithfully. We need a home church. One pastor must give account for your soul at the judgement.

“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you”, Hebrews 13:7, 17. I, as your pastor, am your spiritual leader. I am looking out for your safety, leading this flock where there is good food and plenty to drink.

There is a close relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. A pastor must get to know his sheep in order to help them and lead them. Church hopping people have no pastor, and because of that they never grow up spiritually. If you are a saint without a home church, you are a sheep without a shepherd and you will surely fall to the wolves of prey.

As your pastor, I love you, and I am doing my best to see that all of your spiritual needs are met. I am your best friend. To follow a far off is dangerous. I fight the spirits in this world that want to destroy your faith and spiritual existence. As pastor of this church, I am praying and doing all I can to help you make it to heaven. Trust in me, confide in me, and pray for me.

I am responsible for the well being of the local church. Ephesians 4:11-13 says that the Lord, “gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelist; and some, pastors and teacher; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. God has placed me here to reach this city, and by His help, as the scripture says, “perfect the saints.” As God said in the book of Jeremiah 3:15, “I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

The church is God’s kingdom on earth. It is not only the pastor’s business, but it is the business of us all. We are all responsible to further the work of the church. God has designed a financial system to support the church. This system is called tithe and offerings. Malachi 3:8-10, “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it”. The tithe means: the tenth. This is one tenth of your increase or your gross income. Offerings are given over and above the ten per cent given in tithes. Offerings support church property payments, foreign and home missionary work, Sunday school, and other programs that we may effectively reach the lost. In giving to God we must remember, “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully” II Corinthians 9:6. Also, “God loveth a cheerful giver” II Corinthians 9:7. There are few greater blessings than knowing that you are helping God’s kingdom with all of your resources, your time, your money, your prayers, and your involvement.

In our local church, we believe God has saved us to tell the lost about how to be saved. Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” Acts 1:8. This church is responsible for this city. We must band together and unite our efforts and effectively evangelize Fresno. This requires our involvement. This is an area where we must not be weak. God looks upon witnessing and soul winning as a part of our salvation (Matthew 25:14-30).

In the work of the church, people many times are not as careful and conscientious about their work as they would be in a secular job. This is ashame. The most important institution in our city is the local church. We need to get involved in the work of the church, “for we are laborers together with God” I Corinthians 3:9. God sees how we labor for him. He needs people who are willing to work for him no matter what the cost. Let us support every program, get involved, and be a part of everything we can in the church. If we are faithful in the small things, and do our best, God will make us ruler over many things in the life to come.

GOD AND YOUR FAMILY

God wants to be in the center of your family. He wants to help you serve him as a family. Joshua said, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15. Raising and training up children is indeed a great responsibility, but God can help us if we lean on Him.

The importance God puts on the family can be seen in the marriage of  Mary and Joseph. A just man and a devout woman were chosen to be the family that would help raise our Lord in His childhood. (See Matthew chapter 1). This is the kind of trust and importance God puts on a home.

The greatest problem in the home, in our day is caused by a wrong structure of authority. The Bible is very clear on this matter. The husband should be the final authority in the home. The wife and children must obey and respect his decisions. Ephesians 5:22, “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands,” and Ephesians 6:1, “Children, obey your parents”. What if he is mean, or a sinner? The Bible says you can win him to God by your submission (I Peter 3:1).Being saved does not give us the right to abandon our family responsibilities. Work with the situation you have in your home, leave it in God’s hand, and things will work out if you pray. Matthew 21:22, “whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

We believe it is good for families to get together and have family vacations or picnics or just special times together. It is good to have one night a week reserved for your family alone. Let us spend time with our families and not neglect them for any other activity. We should be consistent in having daily prayer and Bible reading together as a family.

In raising children, we must strive to obey Bible standards. The Bible teaches discipline and correction. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Other scriptures concerning discipline are Proverbs 13:24, Proverbs 23:13, and Proverbs 29:15; 17. Love, discipline, correction, consistency, and training are the main things to use in child rearing the Bible way. Although the world teaches child rearing much differently, God’s way is the sure way.

As young people grow older and enter their teens, there are some guidelines that need to be established relative to dating, courting, and engagement. See the helpful book, “Telling it Like it is for Pentecostal Youth”, for more direction in this area.

I trust that you will commit to your heart the direction that I have given in this booklet. It is for your own spiritual good and growth in God. If you have any questions, please feel free to call on me or any of the pastoral staff. May God bless you as you walk into the future with Him.

Sincerely, because I care,

Vaughn Morton
Pastor

SHARPENING YOUR SWORD

The word of God is the greatest source of inspiration, encouragement, and positive direction that anyone can find in the world.

IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD OF GOD

John 14:26 Acts 2:16
II Timothy 3:16 Luke 24:4-9
II Peter 1:21 Acts 1:4
Joshua 1:5-8 Acts 2:1-4
Psalm 1:1-6 Hebrews 4:12
John 5:39

EVIDENCE OF THE HOLY GHOST

REPENTANCE Acts 2:4
Acts 2:33
Luke 13:3 Acts 10:46
Acts 17:30 Acts 19:6
II Peter 3:9
Matthew 3:1,2
Matthew 4:17 ONLY ONE SPIRIT
Luke 24:47
Acts 2:38 I Corinthians 12:13
Acts 20:21
WATER BAPTISM

HOLY GHOST Romans 6:4
Colossians 2:12
Joel 2:28 Acts 2:38
Isaiah 28:11
Matthew 28:19 GOD IS A SPIRIT
Acts 8:16
Acts 4:12 John 4:24
Acts 10:4-8
Acts 19:1-6 JESUS HAS ALL POWER
I Corinthians 1:13
Matthew 28:18
SIN AND SALVATION John 1:3

Romans 3:23 ONENESS OF GOD
Romans 5:19
Romans 6:23 Mark 12:29
Deuteronomy 6:4
GOD IS HOLY James 2:19
Isaiah 9:6
Leviticus 20:26 Matthew 1:23
I Peter 1:16 John 1:1-14
I John 1:5 John 14:9
Revelation 4:2
JESUS THE SACRIFICE Isaiah 43:10-11
Ephesians 4:5
Hebrews 9:22
Revelation 13:8 THE NAME OF GOD
II Corinthians 5:21
Zechariah 14:9
GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH Matthew 1:21
Matthew 28:19
I Timothy 3:16 Acts 4:12
John 1:14
II Corinthians 5:19
Colossians 2:9

THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS GREAT BIBLE CHAPTERS

Creation – Genesis 1-3
Sin – Genesis 3
Acts 1:11 Ten Commandments
I Thessalonians 4:16 – Exodus 20
Revelation 1:7 Shepherd’s Psalm
Revelation 22:7 – Psalm 23
John 14:3 Words of Wisdom
– Proverbs 3
Early Church Begun
HOLINESS IS ESSENTIAL – Acts 1, 2
Love Chapter
Hebrews 12:14 – I Corinthians 13
Matthew 5:8 Contentment
Ephesians 5:27 – Philippians 4
II Corinthians 7:1 Heroes of Faith
– Hebrews 11

GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT

I Corinthians 2:7-10
I Corinthians 14:12

HEALING

Isaiah 53:5
Psalm 103:3
Matthew 8:17
Mark 16:18
James 5:15
Acts 5:16

(The above material was published by the Truth Tabernacle pastored by Bro. Vaughn Morton.)

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