Every day pray that everyone you know will either become a Christian or influence others to become a Christian, and please share this online book with others - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com
Worship music - Please click the links and sing along if you know the words (You can also click skip ad to go straight to the songs) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmvX5pauG3k
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iYC55-469U&index=50&list=PLJpIQwO6qCHR6SJHHZ9-iiBIPav5P0sqc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yG1OmRBlwY&list=PLJpIQwO6qCHR6SJHHZ9-iiBIPav5P0sqc&index=74
For Sunday evening services, the Lord has lead me to do a Bible study for practical Bible verses in Mark. Please come back to these Bible lessons in order to review them and learn them. Whenever we have learned the meaning of Bible verses and think about them throughout each day, we will be in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3). Not only that, but when we are in a situation in our daily lives and are tempted to sin, we can think back to what we have learned from the Bible and say to ourselves, "The Bible says to not do what I am tempted to say, think, do, and/or desire right now, so I am going to refuse to give in to this temptation." This is what Romans 12:2 means, and it says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." This is also the pattern that Jesus used when the devil tempted Him to sin in Matthew 4:1-11.
Chapter 4
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MARK
Mark 4:26-29
26And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
Just like it takes time for a plant to grow to it's maximum height, it takes time for a Christian to become more and more like Christ. A Christian should be able to look back to the previous year and see that they have become a stronger Christian. A helpful way for someone who has prayed or made a decision to become a Christian to make sure their life is heading in the right direction is for them to study chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com (which explains how to follow Jesus) and try their best to live that way. Over time, they should be able to live this lifestyle better than they did before. If you have prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, but you haven't been living this way, please follow chapter 10 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com
Another way someone who has prayed or made a descion to become a Christian can tell if they have had the right kind of change in their way of living is for them to try their best to have the character traits listed in 2 Peter 1:3–11:
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (have Jesus’ character traits), having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence (Try your best to understand what these character traits mean, and then try your best, with God’s help, to “do” what these character traits mean.) add (Each time you develop a character trait, you will be able to develop the next character trait listed.) to your faith virtue (You should fulfill your purpose in life by making God look good in front of others by following Jesus (For instructions on how to follow Jesus, see chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com), and that will make people think good thoughts about God and make them interested in becoming Christians. You should live a pure life and not continually practice sins like non-believers. Your thoughts, speech, and the way you spend your time should be different (see chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com)); and to virtue knowledge (You should study the Bible and be taught the Bible, and as a result, you will learn what sinful things to avoid and how to follow Jesus.); And to knowledge temperance (You should be able to control yourself. Anger, lust, entertainment that doesn’t involve God (see chapter 23 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com), or over eating, etc. should definitely be avoided. Instead of things like these taking over your time, thoughts, and energy, you should spend your time, thoughts, and energy following Jesus (explained in chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com)); and to temperance patience (You should have the ability to not give up following Jesus when things in life and people are difficult. You also shouldn’t get back at people who did you wrong. Patience is also seen in every day examples like not getting mad or flustered while waiting on someone because you are ready to leave to go somewhere.); and to patience godliness (You should display temperance, patience, try to do what God wants you to do as you care for the needs of others, fear or worship God and try not to break His commandments, do the right things - even if it leads to physical, mental, and financial suffering and trials; and follow Jesus (For instructions on how to follow Jesus, see chapter 39 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com).); And to godliness brotherly kindness (If you come across someone with a physical, financial, emotional, mental, or spiritual need, you should do what you can do to help meet those needs. This also means that you will look for ways to do good things for people who treated you wrong.); and to brotherly kindness charity (You should gladly give (if there’s a logical reason to do so) to someone and not expect for that person to pay you back or return what you allowed them to borrow. This also means that you should put people's needs that you come across (mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial) above your needs, and be willing to die in order to protect or help someone who is different from you or even your enemy.) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
If you work hard to develop these character traits, with the help God has promised to provide, you will gradually become more and more "conformed to the image of His Son" (Romans 8:29). If you try really hard to have these character traits, and are able to produce these character traits more and more over time, you will know that you are going to heaven (2 Peter 1:8–11). (Please follow chapter 10 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com if you have asked Jesus into your heart, believed that Jesus is your Savior, or trusted Jesus' death on the cross and His shed blood to erase your sins and let you into heaven, etc., but you are not living this way.)
If you have not prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, please follow chapter 41 of this book - www.areyousureyouaresaved.com
If you have prayed or made a decision to become a Christian, but you are not sure you are really a Christian (Hebrews 11:6, Matthew 21:18-22, 1 John 5:14, and Hebrews 11:1), please follow this website - http://chriswaug5.wix.com/howtogotoheaven