After Becoming A Christian, What's Next?

Victory Christian Center

P.O. Box 24242

Louisville, KY  40224

(502) 457-5557

Email:  victory@victoryccc.org

Web:  www.victoryccc.org 

Roy Coleman, Senior Pastor
 

AFTER BECOMING A CHRISTIAN, WHAT’S NEXT?

   Just as a new-born baby has many needs in order to grow and mature, so does a new Christian.

   The following recommendations are more important than you can realize.

1. GIVE YOUR LIFE COMPLETELY TO JESUS

       Proverbs 28:13

       a.  Now that you are a Christian, Jesus is your Lord, Lord means boss, so      

            Jesus is the One who is boss of your life.

       b.  Obey Him by stopping all your wrong thoughts, words and actions. 

            God will replace them with His clean, beautiful thoughts, words and

            actions.

       c.  Continue to obey Him by doing whatever He tells you to do.  He

           speaks through the Bible so obey the instructions given there.

2. RECEIVE WATER BAPTISM BY IMMERSION

      ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES

      Galatians 3:27; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38

3. RECEIVE THE BAPTISM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

      Luke 11:13

      a.  Normally accompanied by speaking in tongues.

      b.  Results:

           (1)  Power and desire to tell others about Jesus.

           (2)  Greater understanding of God’s Word.

           (3)  Deeper prayer life.

           (4)  Manifestation of other gifts; prophecy, healing, etc.

      c.  Should come soon after conversion.

      d.  Free gift, just like salvation, by faith in the promises.

4. STUDY & MEDITATE THE WORD DAILY

      Psalms 119:105

      a.  For reliability:

           (1)  New King James

           (2)  New American Standard

      b.  For readability:

           (1)  Amplified

           (2)  Living

           (3)  New International Version

c.  Suggested order to begin:

              (1)  John            (5)  Galatians                         (8)  Colossians

             (2)  Acts             (6)  Ephesians                        (9)   I John

              (3)  Romans       (7)  Philippians                      (10)  James

             (4)  Mark

     Also read from Psalms, Proverbs, and Genesis frequently.

     d.  Find a fixed time of day to read by yourself, with a length of time as

          the Lord leads - perhaps 15 or 30 minutes a day to begin with, in-

          creasing as He leads.  Don’t let a day go by without reading some.

     e.  Get into a Bible Study group, under a local church:

          (1)  Sunday School class of your age

          (2)  Home meeting under capable leadership.

     f.  Halley’s Bible Handbook is helpful.

     g.  Memorize especially meaningful verses, especially promises.

     h.  Underline, or otherwise mark, especially meaningful verses.

     I.  Don’t struggle with hard-to-understand verses - the Lord will make them

         clear eventually.

5. MEET WITH GOD IN PRAYER DAILY

       John 16:24

       a.  Have a fixed time of day for a period of prayer.

       b.  Turn to God from time to time during the day, to visit briefly with

            Him.

       c.  A complete prayer has at least four parts:

(1)  Praise– for who and what God is. (Major part of prayer)

(2)  Thanks– for what He has done.

(3)  Petitions - for others and for salt.

(4)  Listening as well as talking.  Waiting in quietness and rest before

       the Lord, for directions.

6. ASSOCIATE WITH OTHER TRUE CHRISTIANS

      Psalms 122:1

      a.  Evaluate your church if attending one now.

        (1)  Is the message about Jesus, the risen Son of God?

(2)  Is it based on the Bible?

(3)  Are there Bible classes year– round for your age?

(4)  Are services Sunday evening and mid-week well attended? 

      (These services usually tell the true strength of the church).

(5)  Is there a good percentage of people between 15 and 30? 

      (Where young people are, there is life).

      b.  Enroll other members of your family in Bible classes.

      c.  Seek fellowship where you are.

                 (1)  Know who the Christians are where you work or attend school.

                 (2)  Meet with others in Home Bible Study.

                 (3)  Know and fellowship with your Christian neighbors.

7. SPIRITUAL WARFARE

      I Corinthians 10:13

      a.  Every Christian is tempted, but God uses these temptations to actually help

           us.  As we resist them, we become stronger and grow closer to God.

      b.  We have an enemy, Satan, who desires to make us fall.  He puts wrong

           thoughts in our minds to tempt us.  How we respond to these thoughts is

           what determines whether they help us grow or make us fall.

      c.  How to respond to evil desires:

           (1)  Recognize them as wrong.

           (2)  Ask God for His strength and help.

           (3)  Use the Word against them by quoting a Bible verse, such as

       “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.”

8. TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS

      Psalms 102:2

      a.  This is for all believers to do, not just a chosen few.

      b.  Here is the real joy of the Christian life on earth.

      c.  Usually best to choose a method, a track to run on.

9. GOOD PRACTICES

      a.  Do thoughtful, Christ-like deeds for others, saved or unsaved.

      b.  Read good Christian books from Christian publishers and listen to

           Christian tapes.

      c.  Keep in touch with the one the Lord used to lead you to Christ-weekly or

          more often at first.

 Prayer for Salvation

Heavenly Father,

In Jesus’ name I repent of my sins and open my heart to let Jesus come inside of me.   Jesus, you are my Lord and Savior.  I believe you died for my sins and you were raised from the dead.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit.   Thank you Father for saving me in Jesus’ name.

AMEN