Grow Up!
In God’s Word
Step One–Look up!
Before you can grow in the Word, you need to start at the beginning.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”.
Jesus, the Son of God IS the living “Word of God”. To Grow up in the Word, the first step is to meet the Word, Jesus.
Not sure you’ve done that? Now is your time. Jesus promised, “(all) that come to me, I will in no wise cast out.” He said “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
He calls to you, “Come unto me all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls”.
Don’t know how to start a relationship with Jesus? It’s simple. Just ask. “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.”
Still not sure how to get started? Try this prayer on for size:
“Jesus, come into my life. Forgive me of my wrongs. Help me today so I can follow you and do your will, not my own.”
If you prayed the above prayer in sincerity, welcome to your first day with Jesus! “..if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you WILL be saved.”
Being “saved” means being rescued from a life apart from Jesus, and delivered from separation from God in the afterlife.
Congratulations! Step one is to Look Up (to Jesus)
Now you’re ready for Step 2 Pray Up
Step Two–Pray up!
Now that you’ve come to Jesus, it’s time to talk to Jesus.That’s what prayer is. Talking to Jesus. What do you talk about? Everything!
The Bible says,”Be (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God”.
What happens when you pray? The next verse explains, “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. The closer you get to Jesus in prayer, the more you access His peace.
The Bible says “Pray without ceasing” How does that play out in your everyday life?
Everyday, countless times a day, you are faced with decisions, mostly small, sometimes great. Praying without ceasing means, that, because Jesus is always with you, He’s in your thoughts, your choices, your happy moments, your sad times. Sure, you should have a regular daily time of prayer with Him, but little “whisper” prayers during the day will keep you centered and strengthen your walk with Him.
Step Two–Pray up!
Now that you’ve come to Jesus, it’s time to talk to Jesus.That’s what prayer is. Talking to Jesus. What do you talk about? Everything!
The Bible says,”Be (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God”.
What happens when you pray? The next verse explains, “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. The closer you get to Jesus in prayer, the more you access His peace.
The Bible says “Pray without ceasing” How does that play out in your everyday life?
Everyday, countless times a day, you are faced with decisions, mostly small, sometimes great. Praying without ceasing means, that, because Jesus is always with you, He’s in your thoughts, your choices, your happy moments, your sad times. Sure, you should have a regular daily time of prayer with Him, but little “whisper” prayers during the day will keep you centered and strengthen your walk with Him.
Step Three–Read Up!
Now that you’re talking to Jesus, it’s time to have Him talk to you–through his word–the Bible.
He said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”
As a new believer, you cannot survive without the bread of life, God’s word. You will starve spiritually and your growth will be stunted. You need nourishment to grow just like a baby needs his bottle.
Peter, Jesus’ disciple said “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”
If a relationship is going to thrive, there must be communication in both directions. So it is with your new walk with Jesus. You talk to God, in prayer–about your hurts, your joys, your needs, your desires, your complaints–everything’s on the table with God–there is nothing you can’t talk to him about that he doesn’t already know. But Jesus needs you to listen to him as well.
Hebrews 1:1 reads, “God, who at various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son”.
Many suggest that your start with the Book of John, but wherever you start, remember you need “daily” bread, not “occasional” bread. There are many study plans that help you structure a daily Bible study regimen. Reading through the entire Bible in a year is not difficult. Here is one website that has multiple Bible Study plans.
Step Four–Meet Up!
You are now a part of Christ’s church. There is only one church and it belongs to Him, and now that you are a member of His church, it’s time you meet the rest of the family. We all congregate in different locations under a variety of names, but we who are believers in Jesus have something wonderful in common . We are brothers and sisters in Jesus’ family.
“But do I really need to attend a church? Can’t I just pray and read the Bible on my own?” You could, but remember you’re only one member of an amazing family. Christ’s church is also described as His body. “…we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” This organism, this body of Christ, of which you are now a part, is diverse, global and incomplete..without you.
Ask the Lord to lead you to a local church where He is uplifted and where the unabridged Word of God is held in the highest esteem.
Step Four–Meet Up!
You are now a part of Christ’s church. There is only one church and it belongs to Him, and now that you are a member of His church, it’s time you meet the rest of the family. We all congregate in different locations under a variety of names, but we who are believers in Jesus have something wonderful in common . We are brothers and sisters in Jesus’ family.
“But do I really need to attend a church? Can’t I just pray and read the Bible on my own?” You could, but remember you’re only one member of an amazing family. Christ’s church is also described as His body. “…we being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” This organism, this body of Christ, of which you are now a part, is diverse, global and incomplete..without you.
Ask the Lord to lead you to a local church where He is uplifted and where the unabridged Word of God is held in the highest esteem.
Step Five–Fess Up!
When you fall in love with someone, you think about that person constantly, when you arise in the morning, as you drift off in slumber that night. You think about that person throughout the day and can’t stop talking to others about this amazing person.
That’s pretty much how it is with your relationship with Jesus. If you’re in love with Him, you can’t help but talk about Him to others. You Fess up! telling your friends and neighbors about this Jesus who has done so much for you. Sharing with others what Christ has done for you is as natural as breathing for those who live close to Him.
But remember, Jesus said,”Whosoever will confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God.” That’s the good news. Here’s the bad. “He that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God”.