HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN
Important steps to becoming a successful Christian...
1. Erect a Family Altar
This simply means to have daily prayer with your family. Set time aside to talk about the Word of God, pray, read and grow together as a family unit. Make that time a priority. If you are single, make it a personal time of devotion. [2 Timothy 1:5, Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:5-7]
2. Talk to God privately every morning and night
Spend at least 15 minutes a day in communion with God. Talk to Him about everything; your friends, your enemies, your joys and fears, your sins, sorrows and mistakes, your perplexities, problems at home and at work or in your business. [Proverbs 8:17, Psalms 55:17, Matthew 21:22, 1 John 5:14-15]
3. Study the Bible at least 15 minutes per day
Let God speak to you through His Word. The Word of God is FOOD for the SOUL! "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation," 1 Peter 2:2
4. Join a Bible class; go to Sunday school
"Study, be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth" [2 Timothy 2:15]
5. At the earliest opportunity be baptized in water by immersion.
Water baptism is not salvation, but it is an ACT OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD and a symbol to the world of your surrender to God. [Acts 2:38]
6. As a new believer in Jesus Christ, you are a candidate for the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Wait, pray and seek God until you are endued with power from on high. Read and study these passages thoroughly—[Acts 1:1-9, Acts 2:1-38, Acts 10:44-48, and Acts 19:1-7].
7. Work for God.
The only work Christ ever set for Christians is to win others. If every member of the church will win one soul for Christ each year, that church will double its membership annually. To win souls for God is a sure cure for 'backsliding.' “Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip… that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all your wondrous works." [Psalms 26:1,7] also, [Proverbs 11:30, Revelation 12:11]
8. Shun evil companions.
Avoid bad books, bad thoughts, bad people, ungodly amusements and places of pleasure. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ... Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? ... For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.' Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.'" [2 Corinthians 6:14-17]
9. GO TO CHURCH REGULARLY.
[Hebrews 10:25] “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and so much the more as you see the Day [last days] approaching.”
10. GIVE TO THE SUPPORT OF GOD’S WORK.
Be systematic; tithe one-tenth of your income to the Lord at the church where you get your spiritual food. [Deuteronomy 8:17-18; Malachi 3:10; Luke 6:38; 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; Psalms 96:7-8; Psalms 35:27]
11. Do not be discouraged
Expect temptations. [2 Timothy 3:12] “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
12. COOPERATE WITH YOUR PASTOR.
He is there for you. He has successfully made it to where he is, from where you are starting now. He has your best interest in mind. Trust God that He has placed you where you are because He has a plan for your life!
Read often the following Scriptures:
Psalms 1, 23, 34, 73 and 84; Isaiah 53; Matthew 5 Luke 1; 1 John, chapters 3, 14 and 17; Acts 1 and 2; Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 15; The entire Epistle to the Ephesians and Revelation 21 and 22.
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A REAL CHRISTIAN:
A Christian is any man, woman or child who comes to God as a lost sinner, accepts Jesus as his or her personal Savior, confesses Him as such before the world and strives to please Him in everything daily.
[2 Corinthians 5:17] "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
1. Did you come to God realizing that you were a lost sinner?
Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my Word and BELIEVES on Him that sent me, HAS EVERLASTING LIFE, and shall not come into condemnation; but Is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24. Do you believe that you have been accepted because Jesus died in your place?
2. Are you determined to please God in every detail of your life?
[Psalms 37:4-5] “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.”
[Proverbs 3:5-6] “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.
3. If you can sincerely answer “yes” to the foregoing questions, then you may know on the authority of God’s Word that you are NOW a child of God and on the road to becoming a real Christian.
[John 1:12] “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”
Discouragement and temptations to do wrong will come, but remember that such do not come from God but from your adversary, the Devil.
Read the following scriptures often…
[1 Peter 4:12] “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;”
[Hebrews 4:14-16] “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”