Taking Next Steps

Next Steps

(2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT) This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Conversion is turning on the right road, and the next thing to do is to walk on it.  

Predictable Resistance

(John 10:10) The thief (Satan) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The thief tries to...

✓Steal my identity with shame.

✓Kill my potential with guilt.

✓Destroy my hope with fear.

We will only believe Satan's lies to the extent that we don't know God's truth.

Replace Satan's lies with God's truth found in the Word of God, the Bible.

Taking Next Steps

(Ephesians 4:22-24) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

1. Declare God’s salvation in you.

(1 Peter 3:21 LB) In baptism we show that we have been saved from death and doom by the resurrection of Christ; not because our bodies are washed clean by the water but because in being baptized we are turning to God and asking him to cleanse our hearts from sin.

• Water baptism is a symbol of you dying to your old way of life, and you living your new way of life in obedience to Jesus.  

2. Cultivate God’s presence.

(James 4:8) Come near to God and he will come near to you.

(Acts 2:28) You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.

• God’s Word is alive and you can sense God's presence as your read it (Hebrews 4:12). 

• Worship is not how you feel.  It's about God's worth.  It's you telling God has important He is to you. 

• Prayer is talking to God, and listening to God as you read God's Word, the Bible.

  

3.  Connect with God’s people, other Christians, who love God and you.

Small discussion groups with other Christians are the guard rails of your life to protect you from stinking thinking.

(Ephesians 2:19 LB) You are a member of God's very own family... and you belong in God's household with every other Christian.

(Hebrews 10:24-25) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

• Join a local church who believes the Bible and loves you.  

• Commit to Small Groups with other Christians.

4. Discover God’s Purpose for you.  Just as Him!

(Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG) It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

(1 Peter 1:4-5 MSG) Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!

The key to my spiritual growth is to take my next step and take it now.

Hamp Greene, Church of the Highlands

Video

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/taking-next-steps

Discussion Guide

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/files/groups/guides/04-23-2017.pdf

All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted.