Now that you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord there are some things you will need to know. The following is not meant to be a legalistic list of things that will take away from your salvation experience. According to the Word of God these things will help you to get a good foundation started to build upon in your daily walk with the Lord.

1. Water Baptism

Matthew 28:18-19 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (NIV)

Water baptism is the immersion in water. It is done as a public declaration of our faith. When you became a member of God's family you started a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17). Water baptism is a physical demonstration of a spiritual change that has occurred in your life.

Being immersed in the water represents the death and burial of your old life. Coming out of the water is a picture of your new life in Jesus.

Even Jesus was baptized in water (Matthew 3:13-17), and he commanded us all to be baptized (Matthew 28:20).

Water baptism not only shows our obedience to Jesus but also exhibits our deliverance from the power of darkness.

2. The Lord's Supper

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (NIV)

Jesus had supper with his disciples prior to his death (Luke 22:14-23).This supper is called the Lord's Supper and it proclaims the death of Jesus. Jesus asked us to take the Lord's Supper in remembrance of him.

When we come together as Christians and eat the Lord's Supper (i.e. the bread and the wine) we are supposed to remind ourselves of what Jesus did for us when he died.

His shed blood means our sins are forgiven as far as God is concerned. Satan and the powers of darkness no longer have any power over us. We can receive our healing from any sickness or disease because of the death of Jesus. (Colossians 1:12-14, Colossians 2:14-15, 1 Peter 2:24-25)

Whereas water baptism is something we do only once after receiving Jesus, the Lord's supper can be taken as many times as possible. We can take the Lord's Supper in our homes or in the church.

The Lord's Supper is supposed to be a time of encouragement and strengthening from the Lord. It reminds us that all our needs have been met by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When we remind ourselves of the victory that Christ Jesus has attained for us we will be able to walk in them.

A.  Read The Bible

1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3) now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. (NIV)

Milk is an essential part of a baby's diet. Without milk they would die.

When we are "born again" into the family of God we become babes in the faith. Without spiritual milk we would die. This milk is the word of God.

You are new to the Christian faith; the progress of your spiritual growth depends, to a degree, on how much time you spend with the word of God - The Bible.

As a new Christian (and even a more mature one), you will discover that your hearts desire is to know more about God. God has revealed Himself in his word. Take time to read the word daily. Preferably let this be the first thing in the morning or the last thing at night.

Never starve yourself of the word. If you do you risk loosing your appetite altogether. This could result in stunted growth or death (i.e. backsliding from the faith). A Christians who refuses to live constantly on the word of God will remain a spiritual baby (1 Corinthians 3: 1-4). The qualities mentioned in 1 Peter 2:1 (quoted above) are symptoms of a spiritual baby.

Reading the word daily is how you drink spiritual milk. The gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) are a good place to start reading. However if you are to grow strong you will need more than the milk of the word (Hebrew 5: 12-14). You will need solid food. Getting solid food out of the word involves more than just reading it. Studying and obeying it

Develop the habit of studying something specific. Do not just throw your bible open and hope that it turns to a good place. Keep a note book of things you receive from the scripture and when God speaks to you.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (NIV)

Prayer is talking to our father. When we pray we approach the throne of grace (unmerited favor) and mercy (compassion). God loves to show us grace and mercy. The way to receive this grace and mercy is by praying.

Jesus died to bring us back into relationship with God.
Because of the death of Jesus we now have access to our father.

When you pray simply tell God what you feel. God will also speak back to you.

God is a spirit and he speaks to our spirits (Hebrews 12:9) initially when we start to pray it might appear as if we are not praying properly. However God, like a good parent, understands us.

As you spend time in prayer God will also talk back to you. Some people are quite quick to hear God. For others it may take some time.

Sometimes you will sense God speaking to you. It might appear as a gentle burden in your heart to share the gospel (the good news about Jesus) with someone. Or it might be that strong inner desire you sense to spend sometime praying about something.

Remember that your relationship with God is not based on your feelings. Jesus loves you all the time. The key to a fruitful prayer life is persistence. Never give up prayer because you do not feel like it. The more you pray the better you will become at it. You will also begin to hear God speak back to you more clearly.

D.  Be filled with the Power of the Holy Spirit

Jesus wants us all to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. This power will flow out of our lives and bless the people around us. (Acts 1:7-8).

Let’s look at Acts 19:1-2

While Apollos was at Corinth , Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus . There he found some disciples (2) and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." (NIV)

Acts 19:6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. (NIV)

Being baptized with the Holy Spirit means receiving the power of the Holy Spirit into our lives in such a measure that it will flow out and bless the lives of the people around us. Read the flowing scriptures and notice the signs that followed after the people received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8: 14-20, Acts 9:17-20 , Acts 10:44-48 ).

Jesus has promised and will give the Holy Spirit to all who ask him. (Luke 11:13)

Notice in the main text above (Acts 19:1-2) the question Paul asked the disciples.

You might find it helpful to ask some of the church leaders to pray with you to receive the Holy Spirit.