CHOOSING TO FOLLOW
As a new Christian, one of the most exciting things is learning about who God is and what He is like. The more you find out about Him the better it gets. There is not one flaw in Gods character! God is love and He is also perfect. His motives for you are completely pure, His plans for you are always good and His love for you knows no boundaries.
God has designed you with everything you need to fulfill His purpose for your life. A perfect plan was made for you before you were even born! God wants you to take every step guided by Him, doing so, will lead you into the plan & purpose He has made for you. Your identity is linked to your destiny!
ROMANS 8:39
Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 things we need to do to be a follower of Jesus:
- Learn to trust
- Learn to yield to Gods will
- Learn to obey and follow
1. LEARN TO TRUST
We need to know God so we can trust Him.
As with any friendship, trust is built as the relationship deepens and you get to know what the person is like and how they will respond to you. Life is so much better when we trust Jesus enough to let Him be in the drivers seat of our lives. When we truly trust Him, we will remove the need to be a backseat driver.
Reasons you can trust God:
God wants what is best for you, even at the expense of Himself
JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
God loves you enough to tell you the truth
HEBREWS 12:6
For the Lord disciplines those He loves.
God will not turn His back on you if you make a mistake
ROMANS 3:22
We are made right in Gods sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.
God is consistent and dependable and keeps His promises
HEBREWS 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
TRUSTING GOD
2. LEARN TO YIELD TO GOD
We need to surrender control of our life to God.
Jesus yielded to the will of God and died for us. In the Bible, we read that Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane just before He knew the soldiers were going to come and arrest Him. He knew that in the space of a few short hours, He would die an agonising death and carry the sins of the world on His shoulders. Late in the night, He prayed Father, if it is Your will, remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but Yours be done. (Luke 22:42). Jesus yielded to His Father.
LORD OF YOUR LIFE
ROMANS 13:14
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
PROVERBS 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and he will make your paths straight.
Keep on putting God first in your life!
3. LEARN TO FOLLOW
We need to be a disciple who follows Christs commandments.
The saying goes: Going to McDonalds does not make you a hamburger. Turning up at the gym does not make you fit, and in the same way, going to church does not make you a Christian. Its the change that takes part on the inside as you develop your personal relationship with God.
Maintain a clean heart
Ask God to create a clean, new heart in you.
PSALM 51:10
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
Be careful with your words
Ask God to help you speak words that are faith-filled & honour Him.
MATTHEW 15:18
"But the words you speak come from the heart - that's what defiles you."
Ask for forgiveness
Say sorry to God when you do the wrong thing and ask Him to forgive you as needed.
1 JOHN 1:9
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Being a Christian is not a behavioural modification program, it is a transformation of the heart. Heart first behaviour second.
Part of God's amazing plan for your life is to be spiritually healthy and sharing your experiences with others - ultimately glorifying Him.
BE CHRIST'S DISCIPLE
JOHN 8:31
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
MATTHEW 28:19
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
DISCIPLES guard against DISTRACTION
Choosing to follow Jesus means that we surrender & let Him lead us to make descisions in every area of our lives. Often when people start a relationship with Jesus, the enemy very quickly sends a distraction into their lives in the form of a new job, a new relationship or a new opportunity that takes them away from God & His church. The distraction may not seem like a big problem, but over time, if we don't intentionally surrender it to Jesus & choose to follow His lead & intentionally put Him first, it can rob us from living in the blessings & purpose God has for us.
MATTHEW 6:33
But seek first His kingdom & His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you.