So Your a new Christian Step 3

LESSON THREE: HOW TO GROW IN YOUR NEW FAITH

Study the Word of God:  You cannot grow without food. Just as natural food supplies the energy for your physical growth, the Holy Bible is the food which supplies the energy for your spiritual growth. Your spiritual growth will be in direct proportion to your increasing knowledge of God's Word. Personal Bible study must become a part of your daily routine.  Start by reading the book of John. 

Pray:  Use the  teaching of Jesus and His instruction on Prayer to guide you in daily life and prayer Matthew 6:1-13.

Matt. 6:1 TAKE CARE not to do your good deeds publicly or before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward [areserved for and awaiting you] with and from your Father Who is in heaven. 2 Thus, whenever you give to the poor, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites in the synagogues and in the streets like to do, that they may be arecognized and honored and praised by men. Truly I tell you, they have their reward bin full already. 3 But when you give to charity, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 So that your deeds of charity may be in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

5 Also when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward ain full already. 6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open. 7 And when you pray, do not heap up phrases (multiply words, repeating the same ones over and over) as the Gentiles do, for they think they will be heard for their much speaking.† 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. 

9 Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven (aleft, remitted, and let go of the debts, and have bgiven up resentment against) our debtors. 13 And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 

Attend a local Bible-believing church so your new faith will be strengthened.

Make friends with others who are changing their lives through Christ.  Become a peace-maker instead of a trouble maker, a problem-solver instead of a problem.

FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF YOUR NEW SPIRITUAL LIFE...

Download the courses "Foundations of Faith" and "Kingdom Living" from the Abba's Glory Web Site.  

After you complete these courses, review the additional resources available.  

Click this Link To Down load these courses.

original source is Harvest Time International

So Your a New Christian Step 2

LESSON TWO: LIVING A NEW LIFE

You have experienced a spiritual birth:  The Bible teaches that man is body, soul, and spirit.   When you accept Christ as Savior, the change is a spiritual oneByou experience a spiritual rebirth (John 3:5-8).  You do not experience a physical change when you receive ChristByou aren=t taller, shorter, heavier, or leaner.  Your spirit is born again.

After your new spiritual birth, your soulBwhich is your mind, will, and emotionsBmust be supernaturally changed as you live out this new life.  For years, your soul has  ruled your spirit and your body.  Whatever your soul desired or dictated, you didBwhether it be drugs, alcohol,  pornography, immorality, etc.   You did not exercise control over emotions such as anger, unforgiveness, and bitterness.  You went where you wanted to go and did what you wanted to do.  You got to where you are today by doing what you did.  If you want things to change, you must do something different.

You must let your spirit rule:  For years, your unredeemed, sinful, soulish nature has controlled your body and your spirit.  Now you must learn to let your redeemed spirit control your body and your soulish nature (mind, will, emotions).

When your old soulish nature rises up and you sin, it does not mean you weren=t saved.  You do not need to accept Jesus as Savior again.  You simply need to ask God to forgive you and give you strength to overcome future temptations. God has provided a way of escape in every temptation.  Take it!  ANo temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it@ (1 Cor. 10:13).

Repetition of sinful behavior leads to more of the same, until certain actions are so entrenched in our lives that we cannot stop.  We become enslaved to habitual sin and spiritual strongholds are erected.  This is why you do not want to deliberately sin. Read the struggle the Apostle Paul had in Romans 7:15-21 and the glorious solution in Romans 8. 

Recognize the difference between conviction and condemnation. Condemnation is general.  You think you are a bad person, you can never change, etc. These thoughts come from the enemy to discourage you in your new life.  Conviction is specific and is from the Holy Spirit to reprove you for wrong so you can correct it.  For example, you feel convicted because you lied to someone.  This is the Holy Spirit working in you to help you live out your new life of faith. original source is Harvest Time International