What's Next?
The Christian life is all about loving God in response to His wonderful love for us. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Matthew 22:37). What does it mean to love someone? You will want to spend time with them, enjoy their company, talk with them, get to know them and develop a close relationship with them. If we love God, we will spend time listening to Him and speaking to Him.
How do we develop this close relationship with God?
Read The Bible
The Bible is God’s Word to us. When we read it, God speaks to us. Spend some time each day reading the Bible and ask God to speak to you through His Word. A good way to start is to read the Gospel of John (at least a chapter a day). If you don’t have a Bible, buy one in a translation you can easily understand. You will find promises that God makes to you personally and commands that He gives you for your own benefit.
When you understand what God's will is for you, then put it into practice in your life. You will learn more about Him, what He likes and dislikes. As you become aware of anything wrong in your life, repent of those sins, confessing them to God.
Pray
Spend time each day talking to God. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). He wants you to speak to Him, to share with Him what is on your heart. He is your best friend. He wants you to come to Him in prayer. His ears are open to you. Tell Him your needs, ask for His help, trust Him in the everyday things of life. Praise Him for Who He is and give Him thanks for every good thing in your life and for what He will do for you.
Begin to pray for others also. Talk to Him as your heavenly Father and best friend, Who loves you. Open your heart to Him. You can pray anytime but it is good to set aside a special undisturbed time to be alone with God. Through the Bible and prayer you will draw closer to God; you will enjoy being in His presence and your faith in Him will grow.
Worship Regularly
Worship regularly at a church that teaches you the Bible and honours Jesus Christ. “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord’” (Psalm 122:1).
When we receive Christ, we start the Christian life as a spiritual baby who needs to grow in our new relationship with God. In order to grow into strong Christians, we need to get together with other Christians and learn more about this new life. “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word of God, so that you may grow” (1 Peter 2:2).
We are not meant to live the Christian life alone but in FELLOWSHIP with other believers who will help us grow in our faith. We are all in the same family and we need to meet together regularly. Being part of a Bible-believing Church is God’s will for us. “Not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as is the manner of some” (Hebrews 10:25). The first Christians who gladly received God’s Word often joined together and “continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching, and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers” (Acts 2:41,42).
Be a Witness
Be a witness by telling others about your faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus said: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him will I also confess before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before Men, him will I also deny before My Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32,33).
If you have recently received Christ, perhaps through reading this, please let us know and we would be pleased to send you some free literature.
Baptism in Water
All true followers of Jesus Christ desire to obey Him. He commands all those who have put their trust in Him to be baptised by full immersion in water as a testimony of their faith. This is a vital first step in your Christian life. The Church that you attend should be able to baptise you.
The Holy Spirit
We believe in the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live a Godly life. God wants us to be filled with the Holy Spirit because we can’t live the Christian life and be a powerful witness for Christ in our own strength. When we receive Christ, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live in us. He is called our Helper. As we depend on Him, He supplies the power we need. Jesus said: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you (and fills you) and you shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8). It’s up to us to allow God to fill us with His Spirit.
Ask Him to fill you now, empowering you to be victorious and bold witnesses to all the world.
