Advice
Various tips of advice to live a successful Christian life.
As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own copy of the Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.
Introduction
Welcome! The Bible has much to say about this interesting topic. You may find it helpful to invite a mature Christian from your church to study this topic with you. You may have a lot of questions that are not answered here. Maybe there are ideas here that seem hard to understand. Do not get overwhelmed! You can contact us with any questions that you may have. The elders of your local church can help you as well.
Remember that learning the information about this topic is helpful; but knowing the information will not truly change you. For you to benefit fully from this topic you must...
First, be born-again by securing a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through faith. This information cannot change you until the Holy Spirit of God gives you a new heart that is able to apply this information to your life. To begin a personal relationship with God, you must understand and believe the following:
God is separated from you, because He is good, pure, and holy. 1 John 1:5-6
You are sinful, impure, and unholy because you do not measure up to God’s holiness. Romans 3:10-12 You are a descendent of Adam and Eve who rebelled against God. Romans 5:19
Your sinfulness provokes God’s anger and separates you from God because He is holy. Romans 5:12 As a result, you deserve to be thrown into the Lake of Fire forever. Revelation 20:14-15
God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Jesus is God in the Flesh. He lived a sinless life. He was nailed to the cross, shed His blood, and died on the cross in your place for your sins. He was buried, rose again and went into Heaven to prepare a place for all who believe. One day He will return for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Only the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus is enough for you to be accepted by God the Father forever the moment that you believe. John 3:16 God does not accept you because you try to be a good person and do good works. Romans 4:5 He accepts you fully and forever the moment you abandon your sins and call on Jesus to save you. John 3:36
Second, as you understand, meditate on, and believe the information presented here about this topic, you must also do what the Bible says. James 1:21-22 Only by trusting and obeying what the Bible says regarding this topic will you experience the full benefits of this information. James 1:23-24 Trusting and obeying God’s Word will change you as you learn this information. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 You will be happy as a result of your obedience. James 1:25
Third, seek and heed the advice of the elders/pastors of your church regarding this topic. Hebrews 13:17
Fourth, depend upon the Holy Spirit to change you. Galatians 3:1-3 You cannot change without Him enabling you. John 15:5 He will change you in His time and way; but not apart from your faith and obedience to God’s Word. Trust Him to do His work in your heart. Philippians 2:12-13
Fifth, allow the joy that you experience from obeying God’s Word to transform how you interact with others. James 2:12-20
ADVICE
Strive to spend time in God’s Word and prayer in solitude before you eat breakfast.
Everyday that you don’t spend time with God is a day that you decided that other priorities were more important than your relationship with God. You don’t get that time back.
Everyday that you don’t spend time in God’s Word is a day that you thought you could lean on your own understanding, rather than God’s.
Everyday that you don’t spend time in prayer is a day that you thought that you didn’t need God’s power to accomplish His will.
Strive to spend time in God’s Word and prayer with your spouse/family before you go to bed.
How are you being led by the Spirit of God? How are you intentionally giving Him first place in your life?
If you feel a strong impulse to say or do something, then don’t. Wait and pray for several days before you speak or act.
Strive to arrive thirty minutes early to any event that you are leading. Use the extra time to pray and gather your thoughts.
Express gratitude before and after someone does something for you.
Refuse to participate in gossip; by entertaining it or by spreading it.
It is not necessary for you to share your opinion with anyone. Share it only when directly asked and only in a way that reflects the way that God wants you to communicate.
Limit your time on social media. Be careful with posting things simply for attention. Matthew 6:1-4
Only discuss sensitive matters directly and in person with whom it pertains.
Pray everyday, throughout the day.
Memorize scriptures to help change your heart.
Memorize scriptures to help you minister to others.
Study various topics of the Bible throughout your life in order to stay sharp and grow.
Spend more time in the Bible Itself than you do in books that are written about the Bible.
Seek to approach God’s Word with a heart to obey rather than to prove a point.
Strive to trust God more than understanding Him or questioning Him.
When hard or surprising circumstances come your way, remember the faithfulness of God displayed in the Scriptures and in your life. Wait and trust God to bring you through it. Don’t overreact.
Embrace awkward or new experiences as an opportunity for God to display His faithfulness through you.
Don’t waste time worrying.
Be proactive, not reactive; but enjoy the moment as well.
Enjoy special time with your family and friends.
Recognize that you are not God. You can’t feel His emotions for Him and you cannot do His work for Him.
Realize if God wanted the situation to be different at this moment in time, then it would be.
Don’t make excuses for yourself; but don’t be surprised by your failure to meet your standards, God’s standards, or the standards of others.
Be faithful and attentive with what God has put in front of you. Don’t lose sight of the now by focusing too much on the past or the future.
Deliberately look for and take opportunities to humble yourself and serve others who cannot serve you.
Embrace times of rest when God provides them.
When God uses circumstances or sickness to slow you down; don’t try to overpower Him, just embrace it.
Use God’s Word in its proper context. Live consistently with what God’s Word actually says.
Invite the advice of the elders of your local church with respect to your heart and ministry.
Recognize that people need time to process new information. Pray and wait for God bring the breakthrough moment in His time and way.
Realize that with every victory in ministry, there will be an accompanying tragedy.
Conclusion
Now that you have studied this topic, we encourage you to...
Ask us or any of your elders about any questions or concerns you still have about this topic.
Pray for yourself to grow in maturity regarding this topic.
Do your best to practice what you have learned.
Tell someone else about what you have learned.
Ask one of the elders at your church to help you overcome your weaknesses regarding this topic.
Teach this topic to someone else.
Consider reviewing this topic once a year.
Commit to growing in this area together with other members of a local church.
Trust the Holy Spirit to change you as He uses His Word, people, and circumstances to make you more like Christ.