Living Successfully for Jesus Christ

Compiled by M. Ahorn

(Credits to R.A. Torrey and Oswald J. Smith)

Becoming a Christian is an exciting adventure! You will soon discover that there are some basic truths that you need to know. Here are some important principles that will help you to live your life successfully in and for Jesus Christ.

A. Be Sure of Your Salvation

You can know that you are saved by believing God's Word. 1 John 5:13 states, These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life...." This text doesn't say that you should hope or guess or think or feel, but know that you have eternal life! Jesus says in John 6:37, The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." Did you come to Jesus to be saved? If so, He promises that He won't cast you out! It is written in John 1:12, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God." Did you receive Jesus? Then you have become a child of God!

Your assurance must be based on God's Word. Your feelings may change every day. Today you may feel saved. Tomorrow you may think you are lost. Feelings come and feelings go, but God's Word abides forever! Believe what God says. His Word never changes. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17). Dare to believe God's Word. Then the Holy Spirit will bear witness with your spirit that you are God's child.

B. Realize that God Indwells You

Realize that the Godhead has taken up residence in you! "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4). "Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27). "If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." (Romans 8:9b).

C. Do not Allow Sin to Rule

Realize that your former self has been put to death. "Knowing this, that our old man (self) was crucified with Him that the body as dominated by sin might be made uncooperative, so that we should no longer be slaves of sin." (Romans 6:6, Expanded). "Therefore, if anyone is in (spiritual union with) Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new: (2 Corinthians 5:17). Salvation has made you a new creation. You are now able to refuse to sin because sin's power over you has been broken at Calvary.

The Holy Spirit is your Helper. He will remind you of your death and resurrection with Christ. "Likewise you also, habitually consider yourselves to be dead indeed to sin as a reigning power, but alive to God in spiritual union with Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:11, Expanded). Your death with Christ has severed sin's power over you. You are free to say, "No" to sin "Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body. Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead... For sin shall not have dominion over you." (Romans 6:12-14). Since you have been put to death with Christ, you can walk in newness of life.

D. Make Jesus Lord of Your Life

Surrender, without conditions, to His lordship. Many try to serve Jesus with half of their heart, and part of their possessions. It does not work! If you have never surrendered your will to the Lord, get alone with God. Humble yourself before God and turn over the control of your life to the Lord Jesus. Making Christ the Lord of your life means obedience to His will as far as you understand it. Obedience is one of the essential conditions of remaining filled with the Spirit.

E. Take a Public Stand for Christ

Don't be a secret believer! Tell others about Him. Don't hide the change in your life. One way to do this, and obey Christ, is to be water baptized.Baptism is not a means of salvation or of joining the church. It is a public declaration of your union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection. You have died with Him to this world. (See Romans 6:1-11). Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation." God's blessing comes when we consistently confess Christ before others.

F. Spend Specific Time in Bible Study and Prayer

The more you allow the Bible to speak to you, the more you will want to read it. To grow in grace, fellowship with God every day. Have a set place and time for prayer and Bible study. "As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby." (1 Peter 2:2).

The Word of God is the believer's food. It is the nourishment of the new life. One who neglects the Word cannot succeed at the Christian life. You will backslide.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray without ceasing." You must have a regular prayer life. The example of David and Daniel praying three times a day, is helpful. David says, "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice." (Psalm 55:17; See Daniel 6:10).

Begin the day with ACTS!
A - Give ADORATION to God.
C - CONFESS any sin to Him.
T - give THANKS for His many mercies and blessings.
S - practice SUPPLICATION (making your requests known to Him).

Pray for wisdom for those that God brings to mind, for specific missionaries, for strength, for the fullness of God's Spirit. End the day with praise and thanksgiving.

Keep looking to the Lord throughout the day, especially when temptation comes. The inner man should enjoy communion with God all the time. Since Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint praying, let us keep him trembling all the time!

Get Busy in the Service of Christ

Matthew 25:29 states, "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away." Those who use what God has given them will be given more. Those who waste what they have will lose it.

Find something to do in accordance with your Christian experience. Fellowship with a church-body that is concerned about reaching the lost. Help out in boys and girls clubs. Visit the sick. Give your testimony. Don't wait to be asked to do something. Give out Gospel tracts. Find out how to become a tract distributor with Western Tract Mission.

Respond to your heart. Pray about it and get busy. Put the service of God first. "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33). Always be looking for something more to do for Christ, and you will always be receiving something more from Christ.

Give cheerfully

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, have an abundance for every good work." A stingy Christian is hampered. It is wonderful how a Christian begins to grow when he begins to give. Give systematically. Set aside for Christ a percentage of all He supplies to you. Ten percent is a good place to start. After establishing that goal, you will learn the joy of giving more!

Keep Pushing On

Philippians 3:13-14 says, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Forget the sins which you have already dealt with. If you fail in an area, don't give up. Confess it instantly to the Lord. Believe God's Word. 1 John 1:9 promises, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Since God has forgiven you, forgive yourself! Satan can keep us brooding over our sins. He tries to make us doubt God's Word and make God a liar.

Keep your achievements and victories of the past in proper perspective. Press on in the Christian life. Stop thinking about what you have already accomplished. You can become content. Pride can enter in. Our safety is in pressing on. There is always something more until we "come... to a perfect [mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13).