In Order for your new personal relationship with God to grow, it is essential that you:
1. Spend some time each day PRAYING (talking and listening ) and worshipping God.
(1 Thess. 5:17-18)
a. Three kinds of prayer:
(1) Praise (reports)-Expressing our appreciation to God for who He is.
(2) Thanksgiving-Thanking God for what He has done and will do.
(3) Petition-Asking God to answer specific requests
2. Daily read the WORD/Bible (begin with the Gospel of John)
(1 Peter 2:2)
a. "As a plant needs water (Eph. 5:26), a baby needs milk (1 Peter 2:2), and an adult needs bread (Matt. 4:4), so too, a Christian needs the water, milk and bread of God's Word.
3. Find a CHURCH that teaches the Bible as 100% the Word of God, and encourages a personal relationship with Jesus.
(Hebrews 10:25)
a. "Within a healthy church, the structure of its meetings and ministries will enable each Christian to be properly cared for. As a baby tree in a forest finds protection from the elements by being surrounded by larger trees, so a baby Christian will need the protective covering of the Church."
b. "But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up."-Ecclesiastes 4:10
c. "The closer we get to the return of Christ, the more important it is for us to faithfully attend Church.
d. "Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."-Psalm 92:13
4. Begin to FELLOWSHIP or develop friendships with sincere Christians.
(1 John 1:7)
a."Just as a child growing up will require the care of a family, so a new Christian will need to establish relationships with other members of the family of God."
5. WITNESS-Tell other people about your new relationship with God.
(Matthew 4:19)
a. "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion of you." -Mark 5:19
1. Spiritual Warfare (World, Flesh, and Devil)
a. World-like "weeds" (1 John 4:4)
b. Flesh-like "diseases" (Romans 8:9)
c. Devil-like "insects" (Jas. 4:7)
