Now that you are a Christian, here are some steps which will help you grow closer to God and which will teach you how to reign in life. Know that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
1.
Read the Bible
The
Bible is God’s Word for your life. Just as the physical body needs nourishment
from food, your spiritual life needs nourishment from the Word of God. Through
the Bible, God speaks to your heart and reveals His plan for your new life. As
you study the Scriptures, you will grow in your Christian walk. “All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped
for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The
Bible is God’s love letter to you. Contained in this book are God’s laws for
living, the history of God’s dealings with humans, wonderful psalms and
proverbs, prophetic warnings and encouragement, the life of Jesus, an
explanation of Christian doctrine, and a look at the future when Jesus returns
as a reigning king. It is a living and powerful book. “For the word of God
is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even
to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and
attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The
truth of the word of God is everlasting. “The grass withers and the flowers
fall, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
You
will experience victory over sin as you read God’s Word. “How can a young
man keep his way pure? By living according to your word...I have hidden your
word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9,11).
I
encourage you to read at least one chapter of the Bible every day. The best
place to start reading is the gospel of John. This book will introduce you, in
a simple yet powerful way, to the life of Jesus.
2.
Memorize Scripture
You
will find great comfort, encouragement, and help in times of trouble if you
will memorize some Scripture verses. The Bible says, “Do not let this Book
of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you
may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and
successful” (Joshua 1:8).
Do
you find it difficult to memorize Bible verses? Here are some tips which will
help you.
1.
Say the verse out loud.
According
to Romans 10:17, “faith comes from
hearing.” As you repeat the scripture loud enough for you to hear it with
your ears, it will build your faith and it will become easier for you to
remember.
2.
Say the verse one phrase at a time.
If
you feel the verse is too long to memorize, repeat it one phrase at a time until you have the
whole verse.
3.
Say the verse over and over again.
Joshua
1:8 tells us to meditate on Scripture. The word “meditate” means “to chew
on.” Just like a cow chews its food repeatedly, we need to mentally chew on the
truth of God’s Word. Repetition will firmly cement the verse in your spirit and
it will begin to change your life.
4.
Confess God’s word over your life.
Your
life will be raised or lowered to the level of your confession. The words you
speak with your mouth reveal the
condition of your heart, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil
man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that
men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word
they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words
you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34-37). Confession of God’s promises
brings possession of God’s promises. The words you speak will either help you
or hinder you. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs
18:21).
3.
Pray Every Day
Prayer
is your lifeline to God. You should form a habit of praying every day. “The
prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). This
promise means that God hears your prayers and He answers your prayers.
Prayer
is simply talking to God from your heart. Tell God what you are feeling. Let
Him know what you are going through. Take your problems to God because He is
interested in helping you in every area of your life. “Cast all your anxiety
on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Thank Him for His goodness
in your life. Tell Him how much you love Him.
Prayer
is a two way conversation. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you
great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). After you
talk to God, be quiet and listen to Him. A radio station is continually
broadcasting, but unless you tune your radio to the proper frequency you will
not pick up the signal. In the same way, you will find that God is always
willing to talk with you but you must be tuned into what He is saying. The way
to do this is to spend time in prayer.
If
you do not know what to say when you pray you can use ‘The Lord’s Prayer” as an
example. When the disciples asked Jesus
how they should pray, Jesus told them to pray this way:
“Our
Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory forever. Amen.”
(Matthew 6:9‑16).
4.
Fellowship with Believers
You
need to go to church. It is impossible to be a strong Christian on your own.
The Bible says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the
habit of doing, but let us encourage one another‑‑and all the more as you see
the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). As the time comes closer for Jesus to
return, it becomes even more important to go to church which is the visible
manifestation of God’s kingdom on earth.
You
need support, encouragement, and training from other believers. This means you
need to be a part of a church. If you are not already a member of a church,
find a church where the Word of God is faithfully proclaimed. Look for a pastor
who preaches the Bible and who believes in God’s miracle power. Find a church
where people are getting saved and healed. Go to a church where you can feel
the presence of God when you walk into the building.
5.
Get Baptized in Water
Being
baptized in water is an important part of the Christian life. It symbolizes the
death of our old man and our resurrection as a new creation. Jesus told his
disciples, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does
not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16). Jesus commanded his disciples
to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). Jesus was
baptized in the Jordan river at the beginning of his ministry (Matthew
3:13-17).
On
the day of Pentecost, Peter preached a mighty sermon, then he told the people
who responded to the message, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive
the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). All those who “accepted his
message were baptized” (Acts 2:41).
Peter
baptized the entire household of Cornelius after they had received the Holy
Spirit (Acts 10:44- 48). Paul was baptized after he was saved (Acts
9:18). Throughout his ministry, he continued to baptize people (Acts
19:1-6; Acts 16:31-33).
6.
Be a Giver
Jesus
said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). Giving is like
planting seed in a field. When a farmer sows seed, he expects a harvest. When
you give to God you should expect to receive a harvest.
We
all love receiving a gift from a friend. Imagine how much God is pleased when
you give Him a gift. Jesus said, “It
is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). It is impossible to out-give God, He will
always exceedingly bless you.
Be
happy when you give to God. “Each man should give what he has decided in his
heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
7.
Tell Others About Jesus
Jesus
told his disciples, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of
men" (Matthew 4:19). Every
Christian is called to be an ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). There are many people in your circle of
influence (neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends) who desperately
need to hear about God. “How, then, can they call on the one they have not
believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they
preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:14‑15). Now that you are a
Christian, God will send you to tell others about Jesus.
The
best way to be a witness is to live a life that is different. You demonstrate
your new faith by your actions, habits, and lifestyle. Jesus said, “Let your
light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). As
people see you living for God, they will notice how Christ changed your life
and you will be able to share the good news with them.
Witnessing
is like one starving beggar who found bread going to tell other beggars where
they can find the same bread. Just tell others what God has done for you. If
God has healed you, share that testimony with those around you. If God has
delivered you from the oppression of Satan, tell someone your story. Begin to
pray for opportunities to share Christ with other people and you will find many
occasions when you can be a witness.
In
Acts 1:8, witnessing begins with the disciple’s hometown but it does not stop
there. It continues to their entire country, to the countries nearby, and
ultimately to the uttermost ends of the earth. Jesus commanded the disciples, “Go
into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mark 16:15).
This is an excerpt from Daniel King's book, "Welcome to the Kingdom." Over 600,000 copies are in print. Get your copy by clicking HERE.
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