7 Useful Tips Christians Should Familiarise Themselves With

What does it mean to be called a Christian?

A Christian is a follower of Christ Jesus.

Christianity isn’t a religion, but a relationship. It’s a relationship-based walk with God. It’s having a one-to-one relationship with God. 

A Christians journey does not begin when they step into a Church or pick up a Bible, anyone could do that. A Christians journey begins when they connect with Jesus on a personal level. 

It’s only by Jesus connecting with you personally will you be motivated to leave your previous life of sin, pick up your Cross and follow him wholeheartedly. 

A true Christian has an intimate relationship with God through Jesus and with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

It’s all about you and God and how he chooses to reveal himself to you personally. No two Christians can have the same exact experience.

My journey as a Christian began with me questioning my belief in God, which led to me having several visitations from Jesus Christ himself. 

I don’t speak often about my encounters because I don’t want them to be about me. I didn’t do anything special or live a perfect life for Jesus to choose to visit me. He however made it clear to me that my life going forward had to be about him. I was to become a true Christian and follow Christ in spirit and in truth.

I’ve prepared Seven useful pieces of information that will help every Christian on their journey back to God.

1. Revelation comes from God alone.

A Christian should only ever go to God for revelation because God alone is the source of truth. 

Ever wondered why ‘in the dark’ means to be in a state of ignorance? Or why not seeing something coming is to be blindsided? This is because there is no information in the dark. The kingdom of darkness has no true information to give.

Ever wondered why the state of having knowledge or understanding is called enlightenment? This is because knowledge and understanding that leads to transformation come from the Kingdom of Light aka The Kingdom of Yahweh (God).

You can never gain enlightenment from the Kingdom of Darkness because they are ‘in the dark’. They are in a constant state of ignorance.

One of the deceptions of Satan is making humans think they can gain enlightenment from his Kingdom. 

Enlightenment comes from light, and God is the source of light.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6:4-6)

Ever heard of knowledge is power? Knowledge comes from books, wisdom and understanding of what is written and read comes from God.

Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. (Proverbs 4:7)

2. A Christian is expected to undergo constant transformation.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

It’s impossible to be a Christian and not undergo constant transformation. Transformation and Christianity go hand-in-hand because we live in a world which is governed by principles that are contrary to the teachings of God.

A Christians transformation isn’t a physical transformation, it’s more of a spiritual transformation i.e. a true transformation of self. God isn’t looking at our outward appearance, he looks at our innermost heart. He is interested in the real us, not how we choose to appear to the world.

I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:10)

A Christian transforms by ingesting new information. Without new information, you can’t change and will remain the old you. 

Information that leads to transformation comes from God alone, through the Bible and via the Holy Spirit.

The Bible is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, divine in authorship, infallible in authority, inexhaustible in meaning, universal in readership, unique in revelation, personal in application and powerful in effect. It is given to you here in this life, it will be open at the time of judgment, it is established forever. Come to it with awe, read it with reverence, frequently, slowly, prayerfully. ~The Gideons International.

Before reading a Bible you should understand what you are holding, and you should have a heart that is ready and expectant to receive revelation from God. The revelation that will lead to your transformation. 

Don’t read the Bible without first praying to God and asking him to reveal the secrets of his word to you with the help of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16 speaks on the spiritual wisdom of God and how the holy spirit helps us understand God. 

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2:1–11)

The Bible is filled with wisdom on how to live a fulfilled life that will earn us several thumbs-ups from our creator. 

Let’s not forget that it’s also a weapon known as the Sword of the Spirit. Jesus himself used the word of God to defeat Satan in the wilderness.

3. Cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit in your life daily.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5: 22-24)

Love – love everyone

Joy – live in joy always regardless of your circumstances

Peace – live in peace with all

Patience- trust God and exercise patience with everyone

Kindness – be kind to all

Goodness – do good, in your life and in the lives of others

Faithfulness – be faithful to God and be a trustworthy individual

Gentleness – be as gentle as doves

Self-control – always remain in character as a child of God

4. Rid your life of Idolatry.

Idolatry: the worship of other gods; extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone.

I don’t think we have enough time in a year to go into idolatry. Humans do love their idols.

Idolatry isn’t only acceptable these days but romanticised as well, even by Christians. This is because we assume Idolatry refers only to the worship of false gods.

An idol is literarily anything or anyone that has taken the position of God in your life. Whatever or whomever you feel you can’t live without is an Idol.

Example: Money on its own isn’t evil, it’s useful for survival. The love of money is what the Bible describes as the ‘root of all evil’. This is when money has become an Idol and the individual is willing to do anything to acquire it.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10)

Another common idol is Love. 

Mary said what? 

You heard right! Humans idolise Love.

Think of this, the majority of what a man does is to increase his chances of attracting a woman, and the majority of what a woman does is to increase her chances of attracting a man. Deep down what humans hunger for is Love.

Humans chase all kinds of lifestyles and earthly fulfilments as a way to fill an emptiness that can only be filled by God.

God is love 

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)

What humans really need is to allow God to take the position of number 1 in their lives. This will eliminate the constant want for companionship. A person that is in constant want for companionship is bound to encounter the wrong people sooner or later.

We should surrender every aspect of our lives to God. Especially our hearts, as the human heart breaks so easily. God alone should have access to our hearts.

God is Love and is the only one that sees the hearts of humans. Only he can lead us to the ones that have his love in them for us.

Note: Satan rebelled because he wanted the position of God. This is his number one ambition. Anything that takes the position of God in your life will be inhabited by Satan. This is the closest he will ever get to feeling like God. This is why IDOLATRY IS DANGEROUS. Whatever you replace God with will most likely bring you sorrow later on.

The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it (Proverbs 10:22)

5. God works in seasons.

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 expands on this.

The walk of a Christian isn’t always the most smooth sailing, because God works in seasons.

Walking with God is like planting a seed. For the seed to grow into a plant it takes time, effort, and a lot of patience. For the plant to grow into a tree and bear fruit good for eating takes even greater effort and patience.

When God plants a seed of faith in a believer, He allows them to have a wilderness season (a tough season used as a way to build the faith of the believer).

The Israelites after being freed from Egypt went through a period of testing in the wilderness where God tested their faith in him before allowing them to enter into their promised land. 

The Israelites failed their test in the wilderness because they were focused on the season rather than the reason behind the season. 

There is a reason for every season. Don’t focus on the season you are in, it is temporary. Focus on the lessons God wants you to learn in that season. 

A season of lack is God teaching you how to rely on him, and him alone for your provision. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)

A season of spiritual attack is your chance to learn how to battle in the spirit and grow your spiritual strength by praying and fasting. You also learn to protect yourself against future attacks. As the saying goes: ‘God builds his strongest warriors through life’s harshest battles’.

All seasons are designed to strengthen and build the faith of the believer.

Walking with God through Christ Jesus is like living daily with a blindfold on. It requires blind faith. This is the sort of faith that pleases God and moves mountains.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

6. Opposition to your destiny can come in any form.

When it comes to receiving God’s good promises for you, expect opposition from the Kingdom of Darkness.

Why you might ask should you look out for opposition? Because Satan is a hater. 

The greater the promise the stronger the opposition.

God wants his children to prosper. 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)

Best believe Satan’s plan is to oppose, and if possible steal what God has for you.

The opposition itself isn’t as dangerous as the method used to oppose. Satan is a deceiver, he knows better than to oppose God’s promises directly. If it’s too obvious the believer becomes suspicious and guards him/herself against the attack.

The opposition won’t always come with horns, having a tail and holding a pitchfork. It could come with the voice of reason and meaning well. 

Opposition to your destiny could come from a loved one that means well. This doesn’t mean they are evil. It means God didn’t reveal his perfect plans for you to them. A believer’s walk with God is Unique and personal. He will reveal things to you about your life that won’t always make sense to others.

Always seek God for clarification for whatever plans he has for you.

Another way Satan opposes the destiny of God’s children is by sending counterfeits. He knows that if your hands are full with what he has given you, you wouldn’t have the time or space to receive what God has for you.

You might find yourself in a bad situation. God might not have necessarily led you into that situation (every action we take has a consequence), but he aims to use the situation to grow your faith in him, so as to move you from bad to the best. Satan comes in with an offer that looks better than the situation you are in. To an unsuspecting human, it’s a good offer, to a believer it’s in direct opposition to God’s plans which is always the best offer. God’s blessings come with no sorrow, and better is the enemy of best. 

A counterfeit offer looks like Mr A signing over the deeds to his company to Mr B, and Mr B offering Mr A a job as an assistant in the same company.

A believer must always seek God for revelation especially when it comes to the question of destiny. Always seek clarification from God on what your destiny is. And when he reveals it to you, go at it by faith and with stubbornness like Abraham did. Romans 4:18-22 speaks on Abraham’s faith in God’s promises to him.

7. Speak to God on a daily basis.

It’s easy to approach God with a long list of wants and needs. He is our Father and will give us the desires of our heart at the right time, and if it is in line with his will for us. 

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

Although there is nothing wrong with making requests to God, a believer ought to approach God with an open heart and an open mind ready to hear what God wants from him/her. 

How would you know if you are living in God’s will for you if whenever you go to God you present him with a long list of requests? He knows your needs before you ask. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)

Have a time set apart for listening to God rather than you doing all the talking. Listen, and give him a chance to speak to you. Don’t go in and out of prayer time without having a quiet time set aside for hearing from God. Prayer is meant to be a two-way conversation between us and God. Do you know how a two-way conversation works? You speak, and then you listen for the other to reply back. The same applies to our prayer time with God.

The time we set aside to truly listen to God is when we receive revelation from him.

Some of the revelation you will receive from God is unique and personal between the two of you, and you will never receive it from anywhere else unless you allow God to speak to you and you alone directly, and on a personal level.