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Deeply Rooted

    Beginning to follow Christ is an interesting transition. You are just beginning the journey of bringing your mind and perspective into alignment with the mind and perspective of Jesus Christ. This means that you are coming against everything you've been taught from the world's perspective, which is the opposite of the ways of God. It is a very worthwhile transition because it brings all life and fulfillment, but it can also be a difficult one. 

    We have an enemy who is trying to harass us and bring us away from Jesus at every turn. He doesn't want to see us build our relationship with the Lord because that is what will make us and Jesus both happy. It is very important that we be on our toes from the very beginning of our spiritual walk. The enemy will creep in and try to lead us astray with things that look appealing. He will even use things that are masked as something "from God" that are actually lies looking almost like they could be truth. Do not take anything at face value, but test all things to see if they are from God like I talked about a few days ago. 

    That being said, if you are a new Christian and don't know what to trust, start filling yourself up with the word. Follow teachings that are fully backed up with scripture and do not trust things that aren't. Find believers who can help mentor you and keep you from falling into the hands of the enemy. Get baptized in the Holy Spirit as we are instructed to in the word, and tune into your Spirit to tell you what is good and what is not. It is the Lord's will that we be firmly planted in Him so that we can know the difference between that which is from Him, and that which is not.

    No matter where you are in your walk with Jesus, it is important that you never stop growing, learning, and filling yourself up with His word. Stay alert and strongly rooted in Him so that you will not be tossed by every wind that blows, but will be a mature man growing into the complete fullness of Christ. 

Philippians 1:27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel (ESV)

Colossians 2:6-8 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (ESV)

Jeremiah 17:7-8 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit. (ESV)

Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (ESV)

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