7 STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Getting Off To A Good Start In Your New Christian Life
By J. W. Jepson, D.Min.
Life In Christ Center, 3095 Cherry Heights Road, The Dalles, Oregon 97058
(541) 296-1136
Copyright © 1997 by J. W. Jepson
All rights reserved, including the right to grant the following permission and to prohibit the misuse thereof:
The Author hereby grants permission to reproduce the text of this article, without changes or alterations*, as a ministry, but not for commercial or non-ministry purposes.
*Permission is given for publication of excerpts and condensed versions.
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A New Life
Something wonderful happened to you. Things are different. Maybe you find yourself wondering what really happened. It's hard to explain, even to yourself. "But," you say, "I know something happened. I'm really changed. I'm a new person."
That's right! You are a new person. The Bible says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now you are justified by faith in Christ. Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." This is a new birth, the beginning of a new life of obedient love and devotion to God--the life of faith.
As a Christian, your motive in everything is to please and glorify God and to serve others. This is your abiding choice, your heart's supreme purpose. This is love--God's love--that now directs your whole life and gives it meaning. No wonder you're different.
1. Live Victoriously By Faith
"But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).
"We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
Your victorious Christian life is not the result merely of your own daily efforts, but of constantly placing your trust in Christ. It is not just trying, it is trusting. It is more than living for Christ; it is letting Christ live in you each moment by faith. Don't try to overcome temptation and solve problems in your own strength. Always look to Christ and trust Him for His strength and help. Christ was your Savior when He forgave your sins, and He continues to be your Savior as He lives in you each day and gives you victory over temptation and sin.
Christ resides within us by His Spirit, sitting upon the throne of our hearts. He also sits upon the throne at the right hand of the Father as our merciful High Priest. "These things I write unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1).
2. Read Your Bible Regularly
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).
The Bible is your spiritual food. It is necessary for your spiritual growth and maturity. Read it daily. A good place to start is the gospel of John.
Read the Bible prayerfully. It is more than history and literature. It is the inspired Word of God, a gold mine of truth. As you dig for its treasures, ask God to guide you by His Spirit. Ask Him to make it plain to you and to apply it to your own life. As God speaks to you through His word, obey Him. Follow His instructions and believe His promises.
3. Pray Daily
"Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Prayer is your means of communication with God, your spiritual lifeline. Meet God in prayer first thing each morning. Then cultivate the attitude of prayer throughout the day. When tension and frustration begin, stop everything if possible and spend a few moments in prayer.
A well-balanced prayer life includes praise, worship, thanksgiving, intercession (intense, burdened petitioning), and times of quiet waiting on God to give Him a chance to speak to your heart.
Pray in faith and confidence. Unburden your heart to God and believe Him to answer your prayer. If the answer does not come immediately, continue to wait upon the Lord and thank Him for hearing you. God is answering but in His own way and time.
If possible conduct regular family devotions. Bring the whole family together daily at a convenient time. Read a portion of scripture and pray, with the members of the family taking turns leading in prayer. If time permits, consider individual prayer requests and needs.
4. Become Involved In The Church
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25).
Every Christian needs a church home. As a Christian, you are part of the family of God. Other Christians are your brothers and sisters. It is important to worship God together. Also, you need the strength that comes from regular fellowship with other Christians and from the preaching of God's Word.
You need the ministry of a Spirit-filled pastor. Your pastor watches over the spiritual life of the congregation just as a shepherd watches over his sheep. You are part of your pastor's "flock." From your pastor you receive prayerful guidance, counsel, instruction, and even correction if needed. When you need spiritual help or have questions about the Bible and the Christian life, feel free to go to your pastor. Always honor the position, leadership, and ministry of your pastor. And remember to pray for your pastor regularly.
The church is your God-given opportunity for united Christian service and testimony. Find your place of service in the church. Become a voting member so you can participate fully in the legal and business matters of the church.
Support your church with your tithe and offerings. The tithe, which is ten percent of your earnings, belongs to God. It is His method of supporting His work. God has promised to bless you financially as well as spiritually if you will honor Him with your tithe and offerings.
As you grow spiritually, so will your opportunities for Christian service. You will experience the joy and fulfillment that comes not only from being blessed and strengthened but also in being a blessing and strength to others.
5. Be Baptized In Water
"Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12).
Water baptism is a public demonstration of your identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. It is a testimony of your faith in the risen Christ, a public declaration that the old "you" is gone, buried with Christ, and that a new "you" is now alive in Christ.
Because water baptism is a public witness of your conversion to Christ, you should be baptized immediately. Water baptism has maximum significance and benefit when it takes place at the time of conversion.
6. Witness For Christ
"If you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead you shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:9-10).
Your witness for Christ only begins with your confession of faith and water baptism. Take your stand for Him immediately. When people ask about your change, tell them cheerfully and without hesitation that you are a Christian. Tactfully and prayerfully endeavor to lead others to Christ. And be sure that your life is your best testimony. A sincere, happy, radiant, kind, considerate Christian is the best advertisement Christ has. Be living proof that Christ and His salvation are real.
7. Be Filled With The Holy Spirit
"But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem,and in all Judea, and in the uttermost part of the earth." (Acts 1:8).
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:4).
Before you were saved the Holy Spirit convicted you of sin. He led you to Christ. When you surrendered to Christ, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within you to generate consious fellowship with God and to integrate you into the body of Christ, the grand fellowship made up of all true Christians.
But the Holy Spirit desires to do much more than just dwell in you. He wants to fill you completely. Jesus will baptize you in the Holy Spirit if you ask Him in faith. This baptism in the Holy Spirit is a definite experience, the door into a new dimension of the presence and work of the Spirit within you. When the Holy Spirit fills you, your whole being is mobilized by Him for dynamic Christian living and service.
The initial, physical evidence of this experience is speaking a new language as you are prompted by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4). This definite, observable, uniform sign demonstrates the personality of the Holy Spirit. It is evidence that He has filled you. This is the beginning of the Spirit-filled life.
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Believe God's Word; continue to trust Christ; and the success for your new life is guaranteed: "He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6).
Next, please read How To Find A Good Church.