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Reality Check
Lesson Five
Congratulations. Assuming you followed the instructions in the previous lesson, you are now a member of the family of God. God Himself is your adopted Father, and He will look after you. You are now His child, but you are also a disciple of Jesus Christ. If you are to become like Him, you must follow instructions. A disciple does not try to be independent, but he follows the teaching of his Master in all points.
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Here are some important points to be aware of and things to do:
1. If you don't have a Bible, get one. I would suggest an easy-to-read Bible, such as The New King James Version, The Good News, or The New International Version, among others. [The Message is a very good reading Bible, but hard to study with because it doesn't have verse divisions.] If you need to buy one from a Bible bookstore, review a few different versions and find one that you are comfortable with.
2. Begin a daily Bible Reading program. Start in the New Testament with the book of Matthew and spend time reading each day until you complete the New Testament [NT]. Then, begin reading the Old Testament, starting with the book of Genesis. In the Old Testament [especially the last half of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers], you will find long sections of descriptions. They are important, but for now, it's best to skip them.
3. Along with Bible Reading, you need to do Bible Study. A study is an in-depth look at what the Bible teaches on various topics. There are many study helps available - some are good, some are bad, and some are neutral. We also offer our own course on how to study the Bible for yourself, which is free. It is called Feed Yourself.
4. You need to set aside time daily to talk with Jesus [called praying in Christianese]. There is nothing complicated about it. Talk to Him as you would talk to anyone else. No secrets. Tell Him how you feel, what you think, everything. You won't surprise Him and He won't reject you. You can also talk with Him anytime, during the day or night, when you need to or just want to. He is there... never a busy signal!
5. You need to become involved in a local church. Ask Jesus to guide you to the church He wants you to be a part of. Try several different churches. See which one specifically meets your needs and commit yourself to it. Churches have different styles and emphasis, but make sure they agree with all the following Statement of Faith Points:
A. We believe in the infallibility and inspiration of the original Holy Scriptures. 2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21
B. We believe in one true God who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Eph. 4:4-6, 2 Cor. 5:19
C. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His vicarious and atoning death, burial, and bodily resurrection and ascension.
D. We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace alone through faith in the perfect, sufficient work of Jesus Christ in the shedding of His blood at the cross of Calvary. Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14
E. We believe in the personal, physical return of Jesus Christ and the translation of His Saints to consummate His Kingdom. 1 Thes. 4:14-17, Acts 1:11, Rev. 1:7
F. We believe in the eternal life of the believer and the eternal punishment of the unbeliever. John 3:16, John 10:27-29, Rev. 20:5
The above is a minimum confession. Any church that does not believe in all the above points is not a Christian church; avoid it. [To begin a Bible Study, you can look up the above Scriptures.]
6. When you find a church to commit yourself to, then begin paying your tithes to them. A tithe is 10% of your income. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, this is not an option, but a requirement. If you don't have enough money to pay your tithe and bills, take your tithe money out first and pay it. After that, ask God to help you pay your other bills. God has no shortage of money, and you might be surprised what He will do when you prove your commitment and faith by obeying Him in the tithe.
7. Tell someone that you are now a disciple of Jesus Christ, but be wise. Not everyone will accept the news.
8. Realize that Satan and his forces now have a special hatred for you. You can be at peace because they are powerless to harm you, for you are now protected by God. Nevertheless, sooner or later, they will try to trick or deceive you. It may come in the form of discouragement, laughter, or put-downs from family and friends, trying to get you to doubt what God has done in your life, or hundreds of other tricks he has up his sleeve. Don't worry, just be aware. And, as always, don't hesitate to talk to God about it. If you are having doubts, discouragement, depression, anger, or anything else, tell God about it. You won't offend Him. Be honest and see what He will say to you. A disciple who hides his true feelings and thoughts from the Master will never succeed.
Our website offers a wealth of information, including 100s of articles and courses. Don't be overwhelmed. Go to the New Christian Stream and start there.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me using the contact button.
May God bless you in your new life.
Glenn Davis
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