WELCOME TO THE FAMILY OF GOD

Jesus said, "Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10)

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations. As you have given your life to Jesus you have just become a "born again" Believer.  In simple language, you have become a Christian. The moment you invited Jesus Christ into your heart to be Lord of your life, the Blood of Jesus washed all of your sins away and the Holy Spirit came into your heart to seal you as a Child of God. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

There is now no longer a barrier of sin between you and God, as God now only sees the Righteousness of Jesus Christ in you.  In short, your sin was exchanged for His (Jesus) Righteousness.

As a new believer there are many benefits and privileges (Promises) that you are entitled to. (2 Corinthians 1:20) To help you to obtain and understand what these benefits and privileges are, it is important to grow and mature as a Christian.  When we first become Christians we are like 'babes' in Christ and as such we need to grow to maturity.  How quickly we grow depends entirely upon ourselves: you grow at your own pace. The objective is to become more like Jesus everyday and to do the things that Jesus did, so that we can be a living example of how Jesus can change the life of every person who has a personal relationship with Him.

Listed below are some keys to help you to grow in your Christian walk.

1.     READ THE BIBLE

The bible is God's Word to us. (The bible is referred to as the Word of God). The bible is the primary means by which God communicates to us.

From the bible we learn who God is, what He is like and what His will for our life is.  To become a dynamic Christian, it is recommended that we read the bible every day.  It is good to meditate on scriptures in the Bible so that your character begins to form more and more into the image of Christ. 

In the book of Joshua we read,  "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.  For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1:8)

Just as eating food strengthens your body and keeps you healthy, so too does reading the Bible strengthen your spirit man.

You may develop your own method of reading the bible or you can start by reading the New Testament first and then the Old Testament, or a bit of both each day.

There are many translations of the bible but to start with we recommend the New King James version or NIV (New International Version).

2.     ATTEND A BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH

Psalm 92:13 mentions that "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God." 

In the book of Hebrews we read, "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.  And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23-25) 

Attending a church is important for every believer, whether a new or older Christian.  

We all need the protective covering of a local church. There are many different denominational churches that you could attend. What's important is that the church you attend is both a bible based and Spirit filled or Pentecostal church (Acts 2:1).   

Ask God to direct you to a Church Home, where you can begin to grow and develop in your Christian walk. Being part of a small group (bible study or discipleship group) is a key to helping you to grow strong in your faith.

3.     PRAYER

Prayer is simply talking to God. Through prayer we are able to have fellowship with the Lord. We must always ensure that our prayers never just become religious.

Jesus said whatever you ask for in My name (Jesus Name), that I will do that my Father may be glorified in Heaven.  Spending time with the Lord every day is an important part of maintaining our spiritual vitality.  Those that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. The more time you spend with God, the stronger your faith becomes. 

When we speak to God it is important to wait for Him to answer us.  Learning to hear the voice of God is very important.  God speaks to us through other Christians, the Bible, other people, Christian books and in many other ways.  God speaks mainly to our heart or through gentle thoughts on our mind. One of the greatest things to do as a Christian is to talk to God and to learn to hear His voice. Again prayer is simply communing with God. It is good to involve God in all that we do in life. (Proverbs 3:6)

As a plant needs sunlight to flourish, Christians need to have ongoing daily communication with their Maker.  The main reason we have been created is to have intimate fellowship with God.  Your prayers could follow the pattern outlined in Matthew 6:9-13.  You may begin your prayer by thanking God for what He has done and will do, then:

a)  Praise God for all that He is. (3-10 minutes)

b)  Pray for God's kingdom presence and will to be done in situations and in

     people's lives. (5-10 minutes)

c)  Petition God. Ask Him for specific requests. (5-10 minutes)

d)  Forgiveness and repentance. (3-5 minutes)

e)  Spiritual warfare and God's protection. (5-10 minutes)

f)   Return to praise. (5-10 minutes)

Know that God will answer your prayer either by yes, no or wait.

1 John 5:14 & 15 says "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us, and if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

4.     FELLOWSHIP

Just as a child growing up will require the care of a family, so a new Christian will need to establish relationships with other members of the family of God. A plant must be surrounded by good soil in order for it to receive nourishment and to grow properly. If the soil is deficient the plant will wither, if it is rich in nutrients, the plant will thrive.

A healthy Christian will desire to fellowship with other believers who have genuinely made Christ the Lord of their lives. Meeting with other believers enables you to learn from them and to recognise the character of Jesus Christ in other Christians as you enjoy the presence of the LORD with other believers.

Jesus Himself said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20)

Spend time with other Christians who can encourage you to grow strong in your faith and who can help you to fulfill God's plan for your life. Finding a more mature Christian to disciple and mentor you will also help you to grow more quickly in your Christian walk.

2 Corinthians 6:14 highlights the importance of not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?  Have close contact with Christians to learn about Christ.  Have cautious contact with non-Christians to share Christ. 

This is especially the case as a new believer and even more so when you have come out of a drug or other addictive past lifestyle.  It is only as you become strong in your Christian faith that you will be able to effectively witness to and help other people who are caught up in drug taking and other life controlling problems.  Your new freedom and victory as a new Christian will be your greatest witness and encouragement to your friends. 

5.     SHARING YOUR FAITH WITH OTHERS

All around us there are people who have no understanding of what Jesus has done for them. Facing an eternity apart from God, they are in desperate need of Christ.  God saves us not just to get us into heaven but also to share the gospel with others.  After receiving Christ we will have opportunities to tell our friends and relatives and those around us, about what God has done in our lives.

Jesus said to a new believer in Mark 5:19 "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." There are many scriptures, which encourage us to share the good news and to be a witness for Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15 says "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."

In Proverbs 11:30 we read, "... And he who wins souls is wise."

How glad we are that someone shared the gospel with us, and now we in turn must be willing to follow their example and tell others.

6.     WATER BAPTISM

Jesus stressed the vital importance of water baptism when He commissioned His followers to baptize all those who become Christians.  Matthew 28:19 has the following directive from Jesus "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  Water baptism is not just a ritual or religious exercise, but rather a joyful experience, which results from our obedience to Jesus to outwardly display to others what has happened in our heart when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.

Whilst not being essential for our salvation, being water baptized is an essential part of the spiritual foundation of all new Christians. (Even the sinless Son of God (Jesus) said that He had to be water baptised).  Even if you were baptized as a baby, water baptism is still essential for a new Christian. It is necessary for a person to first repent and believe before he becomes a part of God's family.

A baby cannot make a commitment to repent and believe.  When we are water baptized we identify with Christ's death on the cross, His burial in the tomb, and His resurrection from the dead. As Jesus freely chose to die in our place, so we must willingly enter into the waters of baptism to rise in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-5)

7.     BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is for all believers who have given their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit can only take place after you are born again. No one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins (Mark 2:22)

All Christians need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables and empowers us to live as a Christian. We need Him to get through this life and to be empowered to witness to others.

Acts 1:8 says "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  The proof that we have received the Holy Spirit into our lives is that God gives us a heavenly language which the bible calls tongues. The first church after the ascension of Jesus, (120 disciples), were gathered together on the day of Pentecost when they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4)

Mark 16:17 says "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues."  Speaking in tongues can be done anywhere and at any time. Speaking in tongues will help to build up your spirit man (Jude 20) and to empower you to minister to others. 

To be baptised in the Holy Spirit we need to just repent of any areas in our life, which are not right, and then just ask our Heavenly Father to fill us with His Holy Spirit. 

Jesus Himself said "if you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:13)  

8.    GIVING (TITHES AND OFFERINGS)

God's desire for our lives is that we become financially free without any debts in our life. God helps us as believers to achieve this through our giving (of tithes and offerings). In Malachi 3:8-10 in the Old Testament we read:

"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say 'In what way have we robbed you?" In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it." This promise in relation to tithing is just one of many promises that are available to all believers. (2 Corinthians 1:20)

Many people have accused Christian groups of collecting money; however it was God who instructed His people to pay 10% into His Kingdom, as a sign of their gratitude for what He had blessed them with.  However God has promised if we will give the first 10% of our income to Him, He will pour out His blessings in many ways on our lives and rebuke the devourer for our sakes. (Malachi 3:11)

A tithe is 10% of all that we receive. God should be paid first before anything else if we are to receive the blessings that He promises to His believers. This amount is to be given to the local church where we attend and where we receive all of our teaching, prayer and pastoral support and guidance.

An offering is any amount given above the tithe amount. The offering can be any amount that God puts on your heart to give. It may be a once off amount or a continuing amount. God may direct you to give this offering to the local church but it is not limited just to the local church. He may ask you to give it to some other Christian organization.  It is important to be obedient in our giving, and then we can trust God in our finances.

As New Testament Believers we are not under law but under grace. As Christians we give because God puts on our hearts to give and because of our love for Him. When we give we reflect God's heart and love for people and experience the fact that it is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35) The Apostle Paul wrote, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7) Jesus Himself said, "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38) WE CAN NEVER OUTGIVE GOD.

When we tithe to a local church we honour God with our giving and help to see God's Kingdom being established here on earth. We also put ourselves in a position where we can appropriate the promises of God contained in Malachi 3:8-11. 

IN CONCLUSION

Our Christian walk is an ongoing walk of faith. Our right standing with God comes from being in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, (Being Born Again), not through our works and deeds. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Having now believed in Jesus Christ, God has a unique plan for your life. The Apostle Paul wrote, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)

Maintaining an intimate walk with the Lord and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us is in life is a key to seeing all that God has planned for our life unfolding.

Jesus Himself said, But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26)

"However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16:13)

Finally, in the book of Proverbs we can learn some great wisdom on how we should live our Christian life on an ongoing basis. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

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