14 Points!

https://youtu.be/WEA8hDdWG_Q

Today I want to talk with you about some of the basics of the Christian faith. I’m sure you have questions or want to understand more about your decision to follow Jesus. It is a journey! It’s the journey of a lifetime.

It would be nice if you could journal as I briefly discuss 14 points. Journaling is good because as you jot down things, we can come back to it and then invite Holy Spirit in to help you understand. Believe me you will be amazed all the ways God, Holy Spirit will help you.

You may have some thoughts, such as:

• What does being a Christian mean?
• How does it make a difference in my life?
• What should I be doing differently from now on?
• And much more

I would love it if we could sit down together and discuss these 14 points over a period of time. Remember, relax because you are not alone. Now that you have received the gift of salvation, Jesus Christ, you are not alone. The Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) is within you and will help you on this Journey.

When you receive Jesus it’s like receiving a Gift that keeps on giving. The first thing is to get you a good study Bible. If I could I would. One day by the grace of God I will be able to do just that. The Bible is your go to for this journey. Like if you’re going on a trip….you turn on your navigation system or have a good map and you follow the instructions. Well the Bible is your navigation system for this life journey.

You could think over each point one week at a time or whatever is a comfortable yet consistent pace for you. Don’t rush it. This is a part of building a beautiful relationship with Jesus. It’s you and Jesus now! These 14 points are just an introduction. God will continually do His work in you in his timing. Just enjoy your time with Jesus. Don’t worry about suddenly getting rid of all your stuff. Relax and trust God’s process for you. Enjoy this journey.

This journey is about a love relationship where you learn to be sensitive to God’s leading. Where you learn to trust God and to depend on Him. Be patient with yourself. God loves you and wants to lead you on this journey. You have been saved by God’s grace, not by you doing all the right things.

Receive the love and grace of God. Whatever you may be going through just remember that you are not condemned. You are a child of God. It may take time, moment by moment, step by step to overcome some of our challenges and difficulties.

Holy Spirit is your Helper! You may have anger issues, swear, curse or use profanity, you may be a habitual smoker, you may be a liar, cheater and a thief. Maybe you can’t control your sexual desires. Maybe you are dealing with greed, addiction, gluttony unhealthy overeating, overwhelming lonliness, pornography. Whatever you are going through……just stick with Jesus. God has your back and wants to set you free. He will forgive you.

Let’s get you started on your journey with these 14 points to think about, pray about, study and apply to your life. It’s all about your faith in God! And never ever forget how much Jesus loves you. He will prove it if you let him. Stay the course, don’t stop, don’t give up. You may get tired at times, but never give up on your God.

You may be a new Believer or just want to recommit to God or you may need a refresher. Take a deep breath. Breathe in……….Breathe out slowly…….

Let’s get this party started!!!

14 Points for Your Journey with Jesus

1. You can be assured of your salvation.
2. You can know that you are loved unconditionally.
3. You have a new life in Christ.
4. You have the privilege of prayer.
5. You have the treasure of God’s Word.
6. You have a great friend in Jesus, so get to know him.
7. You have a new lifestyle.
8. God will help you to follow and obey him.
9. You can resist temptation.
10. You can continue to receive forgiveness.
11. You have the privilege of worship.
12. You can let others know about what Christ has done for you.
13. Take time to memorize Scripture.
14. Realize your long-term goal is to be like Jesus Christ.

Now let’s break it down

1. You can be assured of your salvation. You may have experienced doubts about your decision to become a Christian. Here are some assurances that God gives us in the Bible. Remember the Bible is our instruction Book. The Bible is called God’s Written Word or Scripture. https://youtu.be/WEA8hDdWG_Q

• God assures you that Jesus Christ has come into your life.
  • John 14:20-In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
• God assures you that your sins have been forgiven.
  • Colossians 2:13-14 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.
• God assures you that you have eternal life.
  • 1 John 5:13  I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

Take some time and sit with these assurances. You may want to read over them several times and really meditate on it. You can make it personal by saying, God assures me that Jesus Christ has come into my life. God assures me that my sins have been forgiven. God assures me that I have eternal life. Always pay close attention to Scripture. God’s Word is key!

Assignment: In your journal, write a description of when, where, and how you became a Christian. Make a note of the assurances that God has given you today. You can keep it brief or write as much as you desire. Jot down any questions you may want Holy Spirit to help you with. Have faith and know that He will answer you, but with God it’s all about His timing. He knows the plans He has for you, he knows all about you. He knows your thoughts before you even think it. He is concerned about what you are concerned about. He wants to reveal Himself to you but we pray for God’s perfect will to be done in us. Take all the time you need. Don’t rush. On this Journey we pace ourselves.

2. You can know that you are loved unconditionally.No matter what else may be going on in your life, no matter what acceptance or rejection you may be facing from others, you can know that God has completely accepted you and loves you unconditionally. https://youtu.be/p2Uj982GtWw

• God loves You, chose You, and adopts You into his own family.
  • Ephesians 1:4-5 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us^[a] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Assignment:Write about what it means to you to be a part of God’s family and to be loved unconditionally. Start with defining what ‘unconditional’ means. Again make it personal by saying, God loves me, God chose me and God has adopted me into his own family. I am a child of God. I belong to God. I am a citizen in the Kingdom of God.

3.You have a new life in Christ.So what’s next? God has given you a new life, but don’t expect to be different all at once. You have to grow and learn just a newborn baby has to grow and learn. God Himself is going to work in you and help you to grow.

https://youtu.be/XQhY1BkwCpw

• You have begun a relationship that will continue the rest of your life.
  • Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Assignment: Write how it feels to know that God has given you a new life. What does that mean to you personally?

4.You have the privilege of prayer.Just as good friends can talk to each other, God, your heavenly Father, wants you to talk to him. And, while you may not understand it right now, you’ll find that he ‘talks’ to you as well. https://youtu.be/qC68XrWBnLY

• You can pray to God about anything and everything. He want to hear from you.
  • Philippians 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Assignment: Commit yourself to getting used to talking to God. Start out with about 3 minutes a day of focused time talking to God. Talk to him like you would talk to a true friend. In your journal begin a list of the things you’re talking to God about and the concerns that you’re bringing to him.

5.      You have the treasure of God’s Word.When you buy a new gadget, you usually get an instruction manual. With your new life in Christ, you need God’s instruction manual, the Bible. In fact, the communication you “hear” from God will often come as you read his Word. https://youtu.be/Y0QPduc1Sjw

• You can trust God’s Word. Right here I want to send you some  hearts and fire emojis. Lol.YOU CAN TRUST GOD’S WORD!!!
  • 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Assignment: Commit yourself to 5 minutes a day reading God’s Word, the Bible (Don’t be surprised if those 5 minutes turn into 2 hours). Begin in the book of Mark (It’s in the New Testament) and read about Jesus. As a result of something you read, write in your journal something you learned or something you need to do. Also write about something that stood out to you or something you found especially interesting.

6.      You have a great friend in Jesus, so get to know him.As you’re reading in the book of Mark, you’ve been learning more about Jesus. In essence, Jesus is God put into focus for human eyes. Jesus came to show us God and then to take the punishment for our sins. https://youtu.be/Ia8y7qIJ5mU

• Only because of Jesus do you have a personal relationship with God.
  • Colossians 1:19-20  For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Assignment: Write a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus, thanking him for all he did for you.

7.      You have a new lifestyle.A good foundation is essential for a house to stand strong. Jesus wants you to know that obeying God will give your life a solid foundation. https://youtu.be/UNb1HgNTxjE

• You show your love for Jesus by doing what he says.
  • John 14:15 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (Depending on the Bible, words in reds are Jesus direct words)
  • Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Assignment: In your journal, write one area of your life where you are obeying God and one where you think you are not. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, and then to give you the strength to do it.

8.      God will help you to follow and obey him.As a Christian you have been given Holy Spirit. He will give you insight into what God is like and what he wants you to do. (My book plug……”Getting to Know God: Holy Spirit” on Amazon since around 2021) https://youtu.be/EBAphW1cilw

• God gives you his Holy Spirit to enable you to live the Christian life.
  • John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I (Jesus) have said to you. ESV-English Standard Version of Bible
  • John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV-King James Version of Bible

Assignment: Write down one question that you’d like the Holy Spirit to help you with. Now take a couple of minutes and just talk to God about it. (Remember you can talk to God about anything.. good, bad, pretty, ugly, the nice and the nasty…….He loves you unconditionally…..Be real with God…..)

9.      You can resist temptation.Becoming a Christian is like switching sides in a battle. You used to be on Satan’s side and now you’re on God’s side (the winning team)….and make no mistake about it, Satan isn’t happy about it! The devil wants to try to trip you up and tempt you to disobey God. https://youtu.be/4cR5fGcfOwQ

• You are not alone in temptation. God promises to show you the way out. Now remember it is not a sin for you to be tempted. If you give in to it, then that is sin. God will forgive you if you miss the mark. But don’t play with or practice sin. Don’t do it!
  • 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Assignment:List 3 temptations that Satan often uses on you. Now thank God ahead of time that he will show you how not to give in next time. This is a faith journey.

10.    You can continue to receive forgiveness.You can continue to receive forgiveness as a child in God’s family, you’ll still mess up. But God’s love for you is so great that he will continue to forgive you. https://youtu.be/gW37Q0qOSuA

• When you mess go to God (quickly) and ask him to forgive you.
  • 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Assignment: Write down ways that you have disobeyed God recently. If you can’t think of anything ask Holy Spirit to show you if there is anything. Look at each one and confess it through prayer. Then cross out each sin. As you cross out each sin, let this be a reminder to God’s loving forgiveness. Commit to obey him in the future. You can also verbalize your commitment through confession. This mean by saying it out. You will be able to do this more and more as you study the Word.

11.    You have the privilege of worship. When you became a Christian you joined a family—sometimes called ‘the body of Christ’, which means you’re now ‘related’ to Christians all over the world! You need to join a portion of that family by beginning to attend a local church. This is where you take your time and pray and ask Holy Spirit to lead you to the church he wants you to be at. All churches are not the same, so be cautious. https://youtu.be/xFlBtMFKad0

I know you may have heard negative things about joining a local church or going to church. There will always be some bad apples in the bunch Satan works hard to stop people from coming to church but that does not mean you have to fall for the devil’s tricks.

This point should have been labeled ‘You have the privilege of corporate worship’ or going to church to worship God together with other Believers. Please don’t let anyone talk you out of this. God knew what we would need for this Journey.

• You need the church to help you continue to grow.
  • Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Assignment: Pray and ask God to show you which Christian/Bible believing church to go to this week.

• List 2 ways you worshipped God.
• Note: You worship God with your life. How you live day by day, moment by moment. Your life can be worship to God. You can worship God through sitting quietly with him or by entering into praise and focusing on who God is. Worship is personal. It’s just a personal as your relationship with Jesus. You were created to worship God. It’s not about the outward appearance of worship but it’s all about the inner understanding of the love of God. How God loves you and how you love God. You can worship God while driving, working, eating, in church, in your bed, on the toilet………Worship comes from your heart.
• Create a list of 3 or 4 praise and worship songs. Think about the words or check out instrumental worship…YouTube is a good place to look.
• Also listening to the audio Bible on YouTube and allowing the Word of God to enter your ears as you think on God. Have fun and Worship Him!

12.    You can let others know about what Christ has done for you. If you found a really great doctor, or reliable mechanic, or a terrific diet you probable would tell your friends about it. Since you’ve found the One that forgives sin and gives you a new life, don’t you think that’s domething you ought to share? https://youtu.be/HKRYjeE_WUQ

• The news you have to share is the best news anyone can hear
  • Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Assignment: Write down the name of one person who needs to know Jesus Christ.

• Start praying for that person to become a Christian.
  • Ask another believer to help you pray for the person and to help you learn how to share your faith with others.

13.    Take time to memorize Scripture. To fight a battle you need powerful equipment. The Holy Spirit will use the power of God’s Word like a sword to defeat Satan. It’s good to memorize Scripture so you can always have it with you. https://youtu.be/ySwyEY75msc

• Memorized verses will give you comfort and help you in temptation.
  • Ephesians 6:17  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

Assignment: Review the verses you underlined or highlighted in your Bible.

• Choose one or two favorites and begin to memorize them.

14.    Realize your long-term goal is to be like Jesus Christ. You’re learning that you have a lifelong relationship with Christ. So what’s your long range goal? Becoming like Christ! https://youtu.be/-zAJQmGehik

• Fortunately you don’t do this alone. God works in you to help you become more like his Son (Jesus).
  • Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
  • Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
        and a light to my path.

Assignment: Make a list of a least 5 ways you want to become more like Jesus.

• Spend time asking God to help you.
• Remember to read this part of your journal in one month to check on your spiritual growth.

The contents of this message were taken directly from ‘Tyndale Life Application Study Bible’ Pages 2784-2787.

Please visit my YouTube channel GoWalktheTalk for more encouragement.

Jesus Loves You! You are God’s Beautiful People. Be Encouraged until next time!