Believer’S Training Handbook: A Complete Teaching Guide from Genesis to Revelation
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About this ebook
The Believers Training Handbook is a complete teaching manualdesigned to enable you to study major areas in the Bible without the expense and time required by formal institutions. It contains a balanced diet of the entire Bible.
Learn about:
living by faith,
the end-times,
fivefold ministries and different movements,
hearing from God,
and much more!
Most importantly, it is also written to be practical. Chapters such as Soul Winning and Demonstrating the Kingdom will teach you step-by-step ways to win the lost, heal the sick, and interpret prophecy.
The Believers Training Handbook will be an invaluable resource for Bible training and ministries alike!
Abraham S Rajah
Abraham S Rajah has been called to father and pioneer the kings and priests movement, which focuses on identifying and raising those called into the fivefold ministry and marketplace. He has been graced to walk in the office of apostle, prophet, and teacher, with the gifts of the Holy Spirit confirming his blessing. He was born and raised as a Muslim until he had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and he was a lawyer before the Lord called him full time to the church. He lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, with his wife and three kids.
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Believer’S Training Handbook - Abraham S Rajah
Copyright © 2015 Abraham S. Rajah.
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.
This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.
Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
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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.
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ISBN: 978-1-5127-0390-0 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-5127-0392-4 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-5127-0391-7 (e)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2015911468
WestBow Press rev. date: 8/26/2015
Other Books to look out for by Abraham S. Rajah
Apostolic and Prophetic Handbook Series (the God Wants You To … Series)
Training by Equipping, Activating, and Releasing (TEAR Programme) Series
Walking Daily Series
Walking Daily in the Fruit of the Spirit
Walking Daily in the Prophetic
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Chapter 1 Salvation
- Need for Salvation—Fall of Humankind
- The Solution for Sin
- To Be Born Again
- Righteousness
- Sin
- Repentance
- Holiness—Justification to Sanctification
- Baptism
Chapter 2 Living by Faith
- Characteristics of Faith (How to Know When You Are Moving in Faith)
- Power of Your Words
- Power of Your Thoughts
- Power of Your Giving
- Fear versus Faith
Chapter 3 The Old and the New Covenant
- What Is a Covenant?
- The Old Covenant
- The Law
- The Tabernacle—Old Testament Style of Worship and Prayer
- The New Covenant
- Comparing Covenants—The Old versus the New
- The Blood of Jesus Christ
- Grace
Chapter 4 The Word of God
- The Integrity of the Word of God
- How to Read the Bible
- Keys to Personalise and Remember the Bible
- Meditation
- Benefits of Reading and Meditating on the Word
- The Word of God Is Final Authority
- Bible Reading Plan
Chapter 5 The Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit)
- Facts about the Godhead
- Nature and Character of God
- The Names of God
- The Father
- The Father’s Ministry to Believers
- The Son—Jesus Christ
- Ministry of Jesus Christ on the Earth
- Ministry of Jesus to Believers
- Ministry of Jesus Christ on the Cross—Before Resurrection
- Ministry of Jesus Christ to the Church—After Resurrection
- Holy Spirit
- Ministry of the Holy Spirit to Believers
- Symbols of the Holy Spirit
- Ministry of the Holy Spirit to Jesus
- Sins against the Holy Spirit
Chapter 6 The Holy Spirit (His Fruit and His Gifts)
- Fruit of the Holy Spirit
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Chapter 7 The Spiritual Realm, Angels, and Demons
- The Spiritual Realm
- Angels and Demons
- Facts about Angels
- Facts about Satan and Demons
- Practices That Attract Demons
Chapter 8 The End-times
- The Rapture
- The Antichrist, False Prophet, and Two Witnesses
- The Second Coming
- Millennial Era
- Summary of End-Time Events
Chapter 9 Prayer
- Praying in the Spirit (Tongues)
- Prayer of Consecration
- Prayer of Supplication and Asking
- Prayer of Agreement
- Prayer of Intercession
- Prayer of Confession and Repentance
- Prayer of Spiritual Warfare
- Weapons of the Believer
- Faith Confessions
- Decrees and Commands
- Praise and Worship
- Meditation
Chapter 10 Fasting
- Biblical Examples of the Results of Fasting
- Guidelines to Fasting
- When to Fast
- Benefits of Fasting
- Different Ways of Fasting
Chapter 11 Sowing and Reaping
- Understanding Spiritual Laws
- Generosity of a Believer
- Forms of Sowing and Reaping
Chapter 12 The Marriage Covenant
- Courting—Before Marriage
- Principles That Govern Courting
- Marriage According to the Bible
- Principles That Govern Marriage
- Roles of Husbands and Wives
- Building a Successful Marriage
- Divorce
Chapter 13 Relationships
- Parents and Elders
- Parenting Children
- Friendships
- Brothers and Sisters in Christ
- Pastors and Leaders
- Colleagues at Work
Chapter 14 The Church
- Facts about the Church—What the Church Is and Is Not
- The Local Church
- Reasons and Benefits of Being Planted in the Local Church
- How to Behave in Your Local Church
Chapter 15 The Kingdom of God
- The Church and the Kingdom
- The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven
- Two Kingdoms at War
- Kingdom Triplets—Authority, Power, and Dominion
- Characteristics of God’s Kingdom
- The Kingdom System versus the World System
Chapter 16 The Army of the Lord
- Characteristics of the Army of the Lord
- Characteristics of Soldiers in the Army
- Qualities of a Good Soldier
Chapter 17 Kings and Priests
- Kings and Priests According to the Logos
- Difference between Kings and Priests in the New Testament (NT) and in the Old Testament (OT)
- Kings and Priests According to the Rhema.
- Kings and Priests—God’s End-Time Government
- Extreme Teachings on Kings and Priests
Chapter 18 Seven Mountain Kingdoms
- Government
- Education
- Family
- Media and Communication
- Religion and Beliefs
- Arts and Culture
- Economy and Business
- How to Conquer the Seven Mountains—PID Principle
Chapter 19 Kings in Finance and Business
- Provision for the Vision
- Characteristics of Modern-day Kings
- The End-Time Transfer of Wealth
- Characteristics You Must Develop to Become a Kingdom Financer
- Activating the Gift of Kingdom Financing
Chapter 20 The Fivefold Ministry
- Common Facts Governing All Fivefold Ministries
- Impact of Fivefold Ministries
- Functions of the Fivefold Ministry
Chapter 21 Restoration of the Fivefold Ministry
- Restoration of the Fivefold Ministry as Present Truth
- History on Restoration of the Fivefold Ministry
- Restoration and Movements
- Timeline of Restoration Movements
- Problems if the Fivefold Ministry Is Not Fully Restored
Chapter 22 The Apostle
- Functions of the Apostle and the Apostolic Ministry
- Grace on the Apostle
- False Teachings and Beliefs Concerning the Apostle
Chapter 23 The Prophet
- Types of Prophets
- Four Levels of Prophetic Operation
- Functions of the Prophet and the Prophetic Ministry
- Grace on the Prophet
- False Teachings and Beliefs Concerning the Prophet
Chapter 24 The Evangelist
- Functions of the Evangelist and the Evangelism Ministry
- Grace on the Evangelist
- False Teachings and Beliefs Concerning the Evangelist
Chapter 25 The Pastor
- Functions of the Pastor and the Pastoral Ministry
- Grace on the Pastor
- False Teachings and Beliefs Concerning the Pastor
Chapter 26 The Teacher
- Functions of the Teacher and the Teaching Ministry
- Grace on the Teacher
- False Teachings and Beliefs Concerning the Teacher
Chapter 27 Hearing the Voice of God
- What Is the Voice of God?
- Role of the Holy Spirit
- Why Do We Need to Hear the Voice of God?
- Keys behind Hearing God’s Voice
Chapter 28 Demonstrating the Kingdom of God—Moving in Spiritual Gifts
- Why Must We Demonstrate the Kingdom?
- When Do We Move in Spiritual Gifts?
- Keys to Moving in Spiritual Gifts
Chapter 29 Moving in Specific Gifts
- Moving in Healing
- Important Keys behind Healing the Sick
- Moving in Miracles, Signs, and Wonders
- Important Keys behind Moving in Miracles, Signs, and Wonders
- Moving in Deliverance
- Important Keys behind Moving in Deliverance
- Moving in the Prophetic
- Important Keys behind the Prophetic
- Financing the Kingdom of God
Chapter 30 Winning the Lost
- Why We Must All Win Souls
- How to Win Souls
- Presentation of the Gospel
- Tips on Soul Winning
- Reality of Soul Winning
Chapter 31 Walking in the Promises of God
- The Covenant Is Complete
- Different Promises for Every Need
- Confessing the Promises Over Your Life—Praying the Word
- How to Keep Your Promise and Increase It
- How to Respond to Trials
Chapter 32 Who You Are in Christ—Your Identity
- New Creation Realities
- Kings
- Priests
- Ambassadors
- Righteousness of God
- Sons of God
- Temples of the Holy Spirit
- Joint Heirs and Co-Heirs
- Saints
- Seated at the Right Hand of God
- Seed of Abraham
Chapter 33 Walking in the Will of God
- General Will and Specific Will (Logos and Rhema)
- Why Must We Live God’s Will and Not Ours
- Important Principles behind the Will of God
Chapter 34 Finish Your Calling—Fulfil Your Ministry
- What Is Ministry?
- Four Ms behind the Calling
- How to Finish Your Calling and Fulfil Your Ministry
Appendix A Symbols Found in Dreams and Visions
Appendix B Summary of Books in the Bible
Bibliography and Recommended Reading
About the Kings and Priests Movement
Acknowledgements
A special thank-you goes to my wife, KPI intercessors, and the team at Kings and Priests International.
God, thank you for making my dream to train and equip Your people a reality.
Introduction
I wrote this book to equip you, the believer, with the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable you to manifest God’s kingdom and become impactful in your walk with Jesus Christ. This book is based on present-truth, meaning that the teachings are designed to be relevant to the times in which we are living. It provides a balanced diet of teachings to help you grow in many aspects of the Bible. Instead of focusing on one particular teaching or doctrine, such as gifts of the Spirit, prosperity, or the fivefold ministry, you can now learn them all. At the back I provide an extensive list of recommended reading to deepen your learning in certain areas.
My greatest assignment from God has been to raise ordinary people and ministers who will be released to do what Jesus did. This mandate can be summarised in two words: training and teaching.
The Importance of Training. According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, the word training means a process by which someone is taught the skills that are needed for an art, profession, or job.
We can see from this definition that training involves two areas: the area of learning and the area of doing. Paul told Timothy to be trained in the things of God in order to hold good promises in this life and in the life to come. Elijah trained Elisha, Jesus trained the disciples, and Paul trained Timothy. Some of the topics of this book, like Demonstrating the kingdom of God
and Winning Souls,
also teach you how to apply what you have learnt in real life. These topics will teach you practical steps to win the lost, cast out demons, prophesy, and heal the sick. I believe what the Bible says: the kingdom is both to be preached and demonstrated with power that comes with miracles, signs, and wonders.
The Importance of Teaching. The Bible has sixty-six books, 1,189 chapters, 31,102 verses, and around 774,000 words. Within it are numerous topics and subtopics. You must make it a point to learn the fundamental doctrines of the Bible and to show yourself approved before God (2 Tim. 2:15). In order to effectively walk with God, you must study and apply His Word. Studying also enables you to correctly divide the Word; this means in order to stay on the path of truth and avoid falling into error and extremes, you must study the Word for yourself. There are many other reasons for receiving teaching on the Word; see chapter 4.
Language. English words are taken from UK style English. I have also purposely not capitalised the ‘s’ in satan, for I deem him not worthy of such respect.
Where ever the word ‘kingdom’ appears beginning with a capital ‘K’, it is meant to signify the kingdom of God.
Where ever the word ‘church’ appears beginning with capital ‘C’, it is meant to signify the universal church of Jesus Christ, instead of a local ministry.
Where ever Bible verses are mentioned and italised; this indicates the authors emphasis.
Similar Chapters in The Now Church. In my other book entitled The Now Church, some of the chapters contained in this book may be found in more detail. I encourage you to get a copy.
How to Use This Book. This is book is a summary of the major topics in the Bible. It has been designed as a workbook with review questions at the end of each chapter to test your understanding. Space has also been provided to jot down key points at the end of each chapter. The nature of this book is biblical, and therefore I have provided several key Scriptures to highlight the teachings. You must therefore study it with your Bible in hand. Make small notes on the margins provided to remember the Scriptures.
This book is also accompanied by a CD (depending on where you have purchased your copy). In the CD I have recorded the teachings and explained them in more detail. Use both reading and listening to maximise your knowledge on these subjects. The CD also includes some prayers to activate and impart some spiritual gifts into your life. (You may download the audio teachings on our website.)
I am confident that these resource materials will ignite a passion in you and cause God to use you mightily.
In His love,
Abraham S. Rajah
CHAPTER 1
Salvation
S alvation is the spiritual reality that imparts eternal life into sinners, making them righteous and accepted by God. Salvation happens when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Jesus came to earth to redeem (buy back) humankind from death into life, from sin into righteousness, from darkness into light, and from hell into heaven (John 5:24; 2 Cor. 5:21; Col. 1:13; Matt. 25:46). The word salvation is the Greek word soteria (taken from the word sozo, meaning to rescue
). Salvation means welfare, prosperity, deliverance, preservation, and safety.
God’s salvation covers every area of life (Luke 19:9; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9–10).
Need for Salvation—Fall of Humankind
To understand the need for salvation, we must go back to the beginning, when God created humankind and when people fell from His grace. God created Adam and Eve as the first human beings. It was His will that the whole human race would come from them and live in the garden in an eternal and perfect relationship with Him. God gave Adam and Eve dominion over all of His creation, but He instructed them not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Under satan’s temptation they disobeyed God, and so He removed them from the garden. Sin then entered the human race and the earth, and God put a curse on man and the earth (Gen. 1–3). Since then the human race has been born with sin, and the Bible says all have sinned (Rom. 3:23).
In the garden there was no pain, no labour, no sickness, no poverty, and no separation from God. Adam and Eve brought all these elements to every human through their disobedience (Rom. 5:12–19.) Both man and the earth inherited a sinful nature. Since the fall, God has always wanted humankind to reconnect to Him.
Why Did God Want Humankind to Be Reconciled to Him?
(1) God has always wanted to fulfil His will on the earth through His creation, especially through people. Humans are created in God’s image and are His highest and most valued creation.
(2) He wanted people who would fellowship with Him in a close relationship.
(3) He wanted people who would give Him worship and whom He could bless.
(4) He wanted people who would rule over all other creation.
God’s Plan for Salvation
Because God has always wanted to rebuild the relationship we lost with Him in the garden, He made a plan to draw people back to Him. God chose Abraham to be the father of all the nations of the world. God formed a covenant with Abraham to begin a nation that would ultimately birth Jesus Christ. First God would reconcile humankind to Him through Abraham’s physical descendants (the Israelites), and then through His spiritual descendants (the Church). However, it was always God’s intention that Abraham would produce the seed that would bring salvation to all (Gal. 3:8). Abraham had a son named Isaac, and Isaac had Jacob, who had twelve sons who would form the beginning of the twelve tribes of Israel and ultimately the entire nation of Israel. Jacobs’s twelve sons settled in Egypt, where they grew in number and were eventually made slaves by Pharaoh. After 430 years God sent Moses to set them free. God gave Moses laws by which the Israelites would live, and they were called the Law.
The Solution for Sin
One of the requirements of the Law was to sacrifice animals to cover or atone for the people’s sin. However, this blood could not satisfy God forever, and so He sent His Son Jesus to be the blood sacrifice for all human sin (1 Tim. 2:6; Gal. 4:4–5).
Jesus was born of the Spirit through a virgin, and so His blood was free from the sin nature. Only His blood could satisfy the sin brought through Adam and Eve. Through Him, God would raise up another race of people. Adam spread sin to the entire human race, and Jesus spread righteousness (Rom. 5:18). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice because of two main reasons: (1) His blood was undefiled by human blood because He was born of the Spirit, and (2) He was tempted in every way we could be, but He overcame the temptations.
Jesus was tempted through the three main sins mentioned in 1 John 2:16: (1) lust of the flesh (the desire to please the cravings of the flesh—for example, sexual immorality, drunkenness, drugs), (2) lust of the eyes (the desire to possess and have what we see with our eyes, especially money and material things), and (3) pride of life (the desire to live our lives the way we want to, especially in rebellion to God’s Word; it also involves the desire to have something to be proud or boastful about). Satan tried these three with Adam and Eve, and he succeeded (See Gen. 3). He then attempted the three same temptations in a different way with Jesus in Matthew 4:1–11, but he failed. The sacrifice of Jesus is complete and does not need anything to be added to it; His payment for sin is complete. Jesus even went down into hell so we would not have to (1 Pet. 3:18–19).
The Great Exchange
At the cross Jesus took all that comes with our sin nature and gave us what comes with the righteousness of God—for example, lack and poverty for wealth and abundance; sickness, pain, and disease for health and wholeness; depression and loneliness for peace and joy; shame for confidence in one’s new identity; loss and defeat for restoration; sinful nature for righteousness of God; and spiritual death (separation from God) for God living in us. All these areas are covered later (2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 61:1–3).
To Be Born Again
The experience of salvation comes through the process of being born again. Without being born again, a person cannot be saved (John 3:3–7). To be born again means to be born from above. The first birth is through your mother’s womb, and the second is through the Holy Spirit’s rebirth of your spirit. Sinners are spiritually dead, meaning they are separated from God and do not have the God kind of life within them. We were all dead in sin until He made us alive (Eph. 2:5).
At salvation, the blood of Jesus washes away all sins, and the Holy Spirit comes to renew the human spirit, removing the sinful nature and imparting God’s divine nature. Our nature becomes like God Himself. When God sees a born-again spirit, it is as though He is looking at Jesus Himself, because it now carries His nature. This right standing before God is called having the righteousness of God (John 4:14, 7:38–39; Rom. 8:15).
Righteousness
Righteousness is the ability to stand before God without shame, guilt, or condemnation. When people are born again, their nature is changed from a sin-filled nature into the righteous, sinless nature of God. Believers have to stop calling themselves sinners and call themselves the righteousness of God in Christ. Nowhere in the New Testament is a believer called a sinner. Instead, we are named with titles such as saints, kings, priests, ambassadors, sons of God, and royal priesthood. (We will explore these titles when we study who we are in Christ, in chapter 32.) Jesus has made us a new creation, old things have passed away, and He has taken our sinful nature and made us His own righteousness (2 Cor. 5:17, 21).
Does sinning remove righteousness? No! A believer is righteous by nature and not by conduct. Sins should be confessed and then forgotten about (1 John 1:9). When a sin is confessed, it is forgotten by God and should not be reconfessed unless the Holy Spirit calls for a deeper repentance. People who ignore the conviction to repent after several promptings of the Holy Spirit run a serious risk of losing fellowship with God.
Benefits of Righteousness
(1) We have the right to approach God at any time about anything (Heb. 4:16).
(2) We have the right to