How to grow as a believer (this is a reminder for myself too, who is very weak in the faith, I struggle to do the things listed below)
We need to believe that the entire bible is the Word of God. It is not possible to please God if we have unbelief in some portion of the bible, You need to read the bible with the right spirit, a submissive humble spirit, like a child trusting his father. If we had sinned, we need to have the attitude of humility and brokenness when we come before God, acknowledging that we are sinful and that we desperately need God, believing Jesus died for our sins at the cross.
Matthew 5:3-5 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
We need to be committed to follow Jesus Christ; the Christian faith is like a long distance run that requires discipline and commitment, only by doing this that we can experience the blessings of God. This is a stronger evidence of our salvation than whether we have said the sinner's prayer.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
We need to cultivate a thirst for God, by reading and meditating on His Words daily. This requires practice and discipline. Meditation is not to empty our mind or to chant meaningless words, and it is not using visualization to connect with God, it is simply to think about God’s words over and over again.
Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
We need to be prayerful and be thankful. Like meditation, this is a skill that requires practice, we can pray in the spirit right after we meditate on God’s Words, praying accordingly to what we receive from the bible. Prayer is to align our thinking according to the teachings of the bible, and our spirit in tune with the Spirit of the bible,
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
because there are set backs and discouragements,we need to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
It is good if we can serve in some areas, it could be ministering to people in the church, at work and at home. Telling others about Jesus where there are opportunities
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We need to stay away from those who cause disharmony in the church or teach something strange. These people have zeal on certain views or agendas that they will teach and keep talking about it because of their knowledge on these topics, and they cause strife in the church. Sometimes these people have disrespect for authorities (whether secular government or church) and sometimes they cause the provoking of the flesh which they disguise as defending the truth against error. You shall know them by their fruits.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
And be not tainted by the influence of the world
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
We need to believe that the entire bible is the Word of God. It is not possible to please God if we have unbelief in some portion of the bible, You need to read the bible with the right spirit, a submissive humble spirit, like a child trusting his father. If we had sinned, we need to have the attitude of humility and brokenness when we come before God, acknowledging that we are sinful and that we desperately need God, believing Jesus died for our sins at the cross.
Matthew 5:3-5 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
We need to be committed to follow Jesus Christ; the Christian faith is like a long distance run that requires discipline and commitment, only by doing this that we can experience the blessings of God. This is a stronger evidence of our salvation than whether we have said the sinner's prayer.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
We need to cultivate a thirst for God, by reading and meditating on His Words daily. This requires practice and discipline. Meditation is not to empty our mind or to chant meaningless words, and it is not using visualization to connect with God, it is simply to think about God’s words over and over again.
Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
We need to be prayerful and be thankful. Like meditation, this is a skill that requires practice, we can pray in the spirit right after we meditate on God’s Words, praying accordingly to what we receive from the bible. Prayer is to align our thinking according to the teachings of the bible, and our spirit in tune with the Spirit of the bible,
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
because there are set backs and discouragements,we need to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Jude 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
It is good if we can serve in some areas, it could be ministering to people in the church, at work and at home. Telling others about Jesus where there are opportunities
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We need to stay away from those who cause disharmony in the church or teach something strange. These people have zeal on certain views or agendas that they will teach and keep talking about it because of their knowledge on these topics, and they cause strife in the church. Sometimes these people have disrespect for authorities (whether secular government or church) and sometimes they cause the provoking of the flesh which they disguise as defending the truth against error. You shall know them by their fruits.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
And be not tainted by the influence of the world
1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.