Step 2:
1.You've been saved/born again for a couple of months.
2.You have found a church that is Bible believing-Bible teaching and
2.You have found a church that is Bible believing-Bible teaching and
3.you have begun regularly attending.
4.You have a Bible and have begun studying it (if not daily, every other day).
5.You are learning about praying and are engaging in this.
6.You are beginning to become involved in the life of the church (attending other
events, {like adult Bible study before church) sponsored by the church).
That's it... right? There isn't anything else... right? Wrong.
You have made a lifestyle change and Step 2 (the 6 points, plus others) will continue to aid you as you mature as a Christian. This is an eye-opening, exciting time for you in your life. The only way it stops is if You stop. But I'd like to introduce you to Step 3 - discovering who you now are and what you can do and how to go about it.
I would like to suggest that Step 3 involves discovering the gift that the Lord has given you for the church's growth.
"As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as
good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God" [1 Peter 4: 10, NASB]
The Amplified Bible expands this verse as:
"Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability
graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate
for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse,
varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor]."
However you read this verse, it unmistakably tells us that EVERY believer is given a gift, a special work that only you can do. Another person may have the same gift but not the same assignment. Your responsibility is to discover your gift and then share it. Ephesians 4: 12-16. AMP
"... [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for
works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; until we all reach
oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing
spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the
fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our
spiritual gifts in unity]. So that we are no longer children [spiritually
immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried
about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of
[unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything
[for personal profit]. But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our
speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him
[following His example] who is the Head—Christ. From Him the whole body
[the church, in all its various parts], joined and knitted firmly together by what
every joint supplies, when each part is working properly, causes the body to
grow and mature, building itself up in [unselfish] love."
WOW - yes? YOU are part of this... both the growing and the sharing. God, our Father, did not leave His creation, His people alone but prepared in advance a way of protecting and growing His people. Can you see how important you are to the body? And this is always a choice, a decision that you make! You choose to grow. You choose to share your gift But if you choose not to seek the Lord for your gifting and growing in your gift - then you rob your brothers and sisters in the Lord. The last part of the verses says:
'From Him the whole body [the church, in all its various parts], joined and
knitted firmly together by what every joint supplies, when each part is
working properly, causes the body to grow and mature, building itself up in
[unselfish] love.'
No. It will take time because there's no such person as an instantaneous mature Christian. It will require from you: understanding, growing... and doing. Do remember that the Holy Spirit, the dispenser of the gifts, is right there with you, helping you when You turn to Him.
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