7 Day Plan for New Believers
Day 7: What Now?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
“You didn’t choose me, I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” John 15:16
Produce Lasting Fruit
One of the most exciting truths about your new life in Christ is that He’s got plans for you! They are plans to “produce lasting fruit.”
What is lasting fruit? It’s the things that matter most in this life and in the life to come. Lasting fruit are those things that exemplify the characteristics of God. They are the wonderful expressions of His love.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:22-23
These characteristics will start showing up in you as you yield to the filling of the Holy Spirit and as you abide in Christ.
Abide in Christ
Abiding in Christ is understanding that your very existence…the breath in your lungs…is there because God gave it to you. It’s taking time to think about the fact that your mind functions, your legs move, your heart is stirred best when you are in Christ.
Abiding in Christ is the daily decision to open your Bible and read Scripture with a ready invitation for the Holy Spirit to show you what needs to change in your attitudes and your actions–then changing whatever He says to change.
Abiding in Christ is getting from God what you might have been accustomed to getting from the world. Instead of going after pleasure and living for your own benefit, offer yourself; your talents; your interests; your experiences to God for the good of others.
God’s Got Good Plans For You
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
God’s got good plans you were custom made to do. He’s also got spiritual gifts He’s giving you to accomplish that work. He’s good like that. Not only does God call you to do something great for His kingdom, but He also gives you exactly what you need to do the work well. Some people call spiritual gifts God’s supernatural abilities showing up in our lives. When we exercise our gifts we are letting God flow through us.
You’ll learn much more about this as you connect with a local church and grow in your faith. For now, realize that God’s got good plans for your life. He’s got the best ideas and the best strategies, as well as the best tools to get the job done
And the plans God’s got for you don’t belong to anyone else. If you don’t do them they won't get done and the world will miss out on your unique contribution. God will still get His plans accomplished (see Job 42:2), but you will miss out on getting to be a significant part of the action.
There are several ways to discover your spiritual gifts. You can do online inventories, take a class, or talk with a friend or leader who’s been a Christian for a while. You will discover that your spiritual gift will compliment your personality, hobbies, talents and life experiences. Here is a link to an article where you can access some online spiritual gift inventories. Spiritual Gifts Growth Services
Pray. Father I’m excited to discover that You made me with a personality, with interests, skills, life experiences, talents, and now new spiritual gifts that You intend to use as I serve You. I look forward to all the adventures we will have as I give all of me to Your service.