Greg Rice - The Embracing Life, Spirit, Faith, and Adversity

Copyright 2008 Greg Rice

All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All emphasis with Scripture is the authors own. Please note that Destiny Images publishing style capitalizes certain pronouns in Scripture that refer to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and may differ from some publishers styles. Take note that the name satan and related names are not capitalized. We choose not to acknowledge him, even to the point of violating grammatical rules.

DESTINY IMAGE PUBLISHERS, INC.
P.O. Box 310, Shippensburg, PA 17257-0310

Speaking to the Purposes of God for this Generation and for the Generations to Come.

This book and all other Destiny Image, Revival Press, Mercy Place, Fresh Bread, Destiny Image Fiction, and Treasure House books are available at Christian bookstores and distributors worldwide.

For a U.S. bookstore nearest you, call 1-800-722-6774.

For more information on foreign distributors, call 717-532-3040.

Reach us on the Internet: www.destinyimage.com.

ISBN 10: 0-7684-2707-X

ISBN 13: 978-0-7684-9968-1

For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 / 12 11 10 09 08

GIFTS OF LIFE, HOLY SPIRIT, FAITH, AND ADVERSITY

Y ou can use this study guide in a variety of ways, including individually, as part of a small group Bible study, or in a Sunday school setting. If you are working through this book on your own, use this study guide to record your personal growth journey. Take the time after each chapter to answer the questions. Some are designed to help you remember the main concepts in the chapter, while others are designed to help you personalize the content and apply it to your own life. At the end seriously pray in closing that God will fill you with His giftsand that you will recognize and accept them. You can also visit our Website (www.giftsoffreedom.com) and see how others have applied this information to their lives.

If youre reading this book in a small group, use the study questions to prompt lively discussion. Discuss the action steps with at least one other group member to build accountability in your plans for action, then close your time together with prayer. For more information on how to lead a group or Sunday school class and get additional resources, visit our Website at www.giftsoffreedom.com.

If you are not currently in a group study of the book, you might want to consider starting one after you finish, so you can spread to others the new freedoms you have discovered. As you help others, you will deepen your understanding and relationship with Godgaining even more freedoms.

Go to www.giftsoffreedom.com for additional resource materials and instructions.

P lease dont think of this study guide as a homework assignment. It isnt about giving the right answerits about giving an honest answer. It isnt about getting it doneits about letting the questions stir your heart. It isnt about filling in the blanksbut instead letting the Holy Spirit speak to your soul. Think of this as a spiritual experience or potential encounter between you and God rather than an exercise to check off your to do list.

We are conditioned to believe that our answers to questions in a textbook will be graded; however, that mindset stifles the purpose of this study guide. This is an opportunity to write honestly about your faith, to grow and go deeper in Gods Word, to pray earnestly about His will for your life, and most of all to cultivate an intimate relationship between you and your Creator.

If possible, devote time for quiet reflection as you read the material, think about your life, and write accordingly. Answer the questions as you truly feel, even if it seems wrong or troubling. Remember that the truth will set you free and growth can only happen when the soil is soft. You get what you give. You could burn through this entire study guide in half an hour if you like, but it would offer little to no lasting benefit.

I pray that you will put in the time and effort to maximize this material and actualize the full impact of His Gifts of Freedom into your life.

Use the Study Guide to find the spiritual growth and maturity God desires you to have in your life.

G reg Rice began his real estate business in 1971; however, God has taken him on a most unusual journey since then. In 1988, he gave his heart to Jesus Christthe gift of salvation began to grow, heal, and restore his life. Gregs continual seeking to know God and develop a most intimate relationship with Him has led to many discoveries.

As God was healing him, Greg began to share his new life and success with others through several ministries. Greg has now focused much of his ministry efforts through Solid Rock Media (see www.solidrockmedia.com), and its vision is to illuminate the life and light of Jesus to a dying world through various media outlets.

The Gifts of Freedom book series grew out of this pursuit and in November 2005, the Holy Spirit began to give the words. Gods message was clear: offer Christians a clear path toward living in wholehearted freedom.

God has an answer for those who find themselves bound in life by things not of God. Gods desire is for everyone bound and held captive in life to be set free so they can achieve their purpose and fulfill their destiny. The Gifts of Freedom was written for you to know about the gifts God offers so that you can achieve the purpose and calling He has planned for you.

Men and women held in prison also have a God-given purpose and destiny. With this in mind, Gregs mission is to distribute the Gifts of Freedom free of charge to prisons and jails around the world to facilitate salvation, discipleship, healing, and growth. To this end Greg has already donated 120,000 copies to prisons across the United States.

If you have the resources and God is stirring your heart, please help Greg reach these men and women who are in need of a life-freeing Savior. It is Gregs prayer that the Spirit of God would bring change within, working from the inside outas only He can bring true rehabilitation and freedom. Partner with Greg by giving a donation to distribute additional copies of the booksbringing spiritual nourishment to spiritually hungry men and women in prisons worldwide. In the U.S. alone there are over 7,000 incarceration facilities now holding almost 3,000,000 prisoners.

Write a check to Gifts of Freedom and mail to:

GIFTS OF FREEDOM

PO BOX 62459

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80962

VISIT WWW.GIFTSOFFREEDOM.ORG

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness