The New Life

By Betty A. Burnett

This book was inspired by God and written to give hope to the lost (unsaved) and to the saved (born again believers).God is the only One who knows where you are—what’s in the heart of each person—but wherever you are, there is hope.

 

Some of author Betty Burnett’s life experiences are written in the book to help you to identify and locate yourself. Additionally, her experiences will allow you to see the kind of drama she had in her life and what a basket case she was. You will also see that some of her experiences seemed hopeless, but God gave her hope through people He put in her life to exemplify His great love, which brought life to her situation.

 

The book will give you a better understanding of salvation, which will give you more hope. As you grow into knowledge and understanding through the word of God, something that takes time, you will begin to have a different out look on life. You will understand that everybody has their own problems and that somebody else’s experience and how they overcame will encourage you to keep moving forward.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Dec 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449727871

Betty A. Burnett

Betty A. Burnett is a playwright and poet. She has presented numerous plays in various places in Greensboro and surrounding communities. For many years she ministered to grieving families through her poetic expressions. Betty is a resident of Greensboro, North Carolina; she is an ordained evangelist, passionately spreading the gospel.  

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Copyright © 2011 by Betty A. Burnett.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by

any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2788-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2789-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2787-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011917649

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/08/2021

CONTENTS

Part 1:               YOUR PRESENT LIFE

CHAPTER 1     A. IS YOUR LIFE MISERABLE?

B. OD’S PERFECT PLAN INTERRUPTED

Genesis 3:1-7

CHAPTER 2     SIN

Romans 5:12

CHAPTER 3     I’M OKAY

Proverbs 14:12

CHAPTER 4     THE LIE

John 8:44

CHAPTER 5     IT’S NOT BASED ON OPINION

1 Corinthians 2:14

CHAPTER 6     THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER

John 8:32

CHAPTER 7     WRONG WAY; JUDGMENT DAY IS COMING

Revelation 20:10-15

Part 2:               GOOD NEWS

CHAPTER 8     ONE WAY; THE ONLY WAY

John 14:6

CHAPTER 9     JESUS WANTS YOU TO COME IN

John 10:9

CHAPTER 10   IT’S TIME TO ENTER

John 3:16

Romans 10:9-10

Part 3:               THE NEW LIFE

CHAPTER 11   THE NEW LIFE

2 Corinthians 5:17

CHAPTER 12   EXTENDED HANDS

Galatians 2:9

CHAPTER 13   REJOICING!

Luke 15:8-10

CHAPTER 14   THE NEW LIFE VERSUS THE OLD LIFE

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

CHAPTER 15   CAN I LOSE MY SALVATION?

John 5:24

John 10:27-30

CHAPTER 16   WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I FALL INTO SIN?

1 John 1:8-9

CHAPTER 17   THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK

He Convicts/Convinces

John 16:8

CHAPTER 18   BE CAREFUL ABOUT BRAGGING

Ephesians 2:1-10

CHAPTER 19   EXPECTATION

Ephesians 6:10-18

1 Peter 1:13-16

CHAPTER 20   FELLOWSHIP

Hebrews 10:24-25

CHAPTER 21   BIBLE STUDY

2 Timothy 2:15

CHAPTER 22   BEING TRAINED TO WITNESS AND MINISTER

Ephesians 4:11-16

DEDICATION

To all people who will read this book for whatever need it provides, may God be glorified in your lives. His will be done; His kingdom come in each of you.

In loving memory of my wonderful and loving mother, Catherine Patrick Wells (1924-2009), who was very proud of me and my walk with the Lord. I thank God for her encouragement and the powerful words she spoke to me. I thank the Lord that my mother and I were together almost every day, except for the times I traveled.

In loving memory of my one and only sibling, Nancy L. Burnett Nichols (1939-2009), who was an awesome, loving sister. I thank the Lord for her respect and support; even though we were five hundred miles apart, we did see each other often, and we talked almost every day for two years prior to her passing.

To my sister’s children, their children’s children, and my other family members and friends all over the United States.

To my mother’s husband, her brother, and her two sisters, who are instrumental in my life.

To my prayer partners, who interceded with me and for me over the many years. We all can attest that prayer is powerful and effective; and as we prayed together and individually, God moved mightily, and there were some great manifestations.

To the members of the Burnett Ministries Bible study class, who choose to learn and understand what God has deposited in them (gifts) and use their abilities to glorify God.

To all the churches I have been affiliated with since 1982 and all the church connections.

PREFACE

I attended a funeral service for a young lady, and prior to the end of the service, the minister who preached the funeral extended an invitation for salvation.

As I sat in the pulpit and observed, many people came to the altar, and some were young ladies I knew. As a matter of fact, they were associated in one way or another with the church where the funeral was being held.

I was somewhat surprised, because salvation (new birth) had been explained to some of them, and they became members of the church based on their belief.

It is certainly explained in some churches that the only reason a person is to become a member of the church which consists of a local body of believers is by confessing Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Because of my five-fold ministry call of evangelist and prophetess, I was deeply concerned and saddened, and I am still deeply concerned and saddened.

These were the words that were spoken inwardly: I’m going to write a book about ‘the new life.’ As I reflect back on the day of the funeral, the Lord had set it up for me to be there and to see that there is a great need for people to have a full understanding of salvation.

I told others about my concern, and shortly afterward, the writing of the book began. During the initial stage of the book, because it was small, I called it a booklet. The Holy Spirit reminded me of what was spoken to me years ago (1995) about writing books, not a booklet.

Someone asked me if the Lord had told me to write this book, and I said yes; from that day forward, the book began to expand as I yielded to the Holy Spirit.

This book reveals to people the state they’re in. It witnesses and ministers to both types of people—the lost and the saved (born-again).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to the people who were with me from the onset of Burnett Ministries. You believed in and assisted me in my endeavor to use the creative writing ability that the Lord has given me:

Nettie Coad

John Harris

Deborah Holmes

Petronia Gill-Johnson

I am truly grateful for these people who were with the ministry in its beginning stage; they still remain with this ministry for God’s honor, praise, and glory:

James Sharper

Thelma Cheek

Lisa Garner

Yvonne Mitchell was a behind-the-scenes person, but I am sure God will reward her openly. What she may have thought was little meant much to me.

Dr. Rev. Samuel J. Cornelius was interested in my talents, and he encouraged me and asked me to keep him abreast of what was going on in the ministry. He was truly genuine, and it certainly blessed me that he had some God-given insight pertaining to where the Lord would take me.

Pastor Dan Colvin was prompted by the Holy Spirit to speak words of life and allow women to prophesy over my ministry. I am grateful that you were obedient, for God only knows why He chose you to be that encouragement and to hold on to the prophecy when it didn’t seem as though anything was happening.

I thank the Lord for the gifts He has deposited in each believer. There were times when I was doubtful as to what the Lord had told me, because it didn’t seem as though there would be any manifestations. However, the Lord used people to confirm what He said, and it encouraged me to keep believing and to move forward.

Albert E. Burke was one of the most instrumental persons because of his five-fold ministry/teacher gift that opened my eyes to truth like never before. Thanks for all the artistic illustrations to help depict the contents of the book more grasping.

Thelma Cheek and Albert E. Burke assisted in helping this book to be what it is to enrich the kingdom of God.

I’ll always acknowledge the Lord God Almighty for all the things He has done, what He is doing now, and what He will do in the future. I give Him all the honor, glory, and praise.

INTRODUCTION

As you read this book, you will have quite a bit to think about. You will see and understand where you really are if you want to know the truth.

This book is not a yes, no, or maybe so. It’s a book that reveals truth to bring about conviction.

If you’re not born-again, the book will help you to locate your state of being; if you think you’re born-again but may be unsure, this book will help you to locate where you really are. If you are born-again and understand new birth, but you don’t understand fully what you’re on this earth for and that you’re not here just to be here, this book will help you understand and get a closer walk with God.

PART 1

YOUR PRESENT LIFE

CHAPTER 1

IS YOUR LIFE MISERABLE?

GOD’S PERFECT PLAN INTERRUPTED

Genesis 3:1-7

Have you tried everything? Does nothing seem to be going right? Well, there’s a reason for it, and you need to know why. I can identify with misery, because half of my life was dysfunctional.

The beginning of what I can remember contains some things I don’t want to remember. However, life is real and has problems. I didn’t know anything about God or His love. Many years later, it was revealed to me that God had a purpose for my life, and I wasn’t here just to be here or by accident.

I was brought up in a home where my father eventually walked out on my mother, my older sister, and me. What kind of feelings do you think a child who is just entering elementary school would have to this abandonment? Well, it was terrible, and it left me feeling empty. As far back as I can recall, that was the beginning of my misery.

That was only the beginning; my mother had to work really hard, and eventually my sister and I were placed in different homes temporarily. Even though we were in good homes with loving and caring people, there was nothing like being with our biological mother. The separation was absolutely awful, because I had a desire to be with the mother who gave birth to me.

You may not have experienced what I have, but everybody has problems. And like me, you probably wondered why you are so miserable. Even though I was raised up with