Following Christ: 4 Basic & Ideal Facts

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Following Christ

This article is mainly about following christ by resisting the enemy. It gives biblical references in the end. However, great 4 tips guiding you how to do so.

Faith

Fact #1: Following Christ is all about trust; which is having faith.

Following and believing are two very different things. You may believe in Christ but do you trust Him? There’s the key. Trusting God is placing everything before Him. Allow me to clarify. “Placing everything before Him” means to give the situation to God; leaving the baggage of stress, pain and anxiety in His hands-just letting it go: Getting rid of it;Shaking it off. Saying: “Here is my issue and I trust you to take care of it.”

God is always working; though you may not see it, nor understand it. Trusting is saying: “I give you my children, marriage, finance and health. I trust you will lead me.” Give it all to Him,

Obedience

Fact #2: Following Christ is about defeating the devil.

How in the world can you scare Satan (devil) away? You can avoid all evil in the world which will apart you from it. True fact is; when avoiding it, Satan comes after you even harder because he is upset that you’re not on his side. I know, it makes no sense at all; but evil is exposed at every corner.

Allow me to elaborate:

You have the authority to scare him by resisting his ways and obeying God. Once you are submitted to God, then Satan has no more authority to even get close to you. The bible says in the book of James: “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee”. It’s pretty simple to understand.

There are three tasks here. (source) Difficulty is actually doing it. It’s not just doing this, but letting go of many things that will get in your way; both internal and externally. It also includes on having self-control over your thoughts and emotions which eventually leads to our choices and decisions in life.

Refer to this article to learn how to resist the devil.

Fact #3: Following Christ and walking with your own cross is a daily battle.

Something one can only defeat through faith and perseverance, and most of all, obedience. By not contemplating that the situation may feel like a burning pit, will surely be of help.

Now, let’s go over three more facts that’ll teach you on how to achieve this main factor.

Perseverance

Fact #4: Following Christ is also a sacrifice.

Sacrifice by not allowing society nor family bring you down. A sacrifice of seeking God with consistency regardless of the tribulation you may be standing in. You may not attend a congregation due to the mindset that you’re already in communion with God. Great! Except attending a congregation is not to have a communion, but to strengthen your faith. It’s important to strengthen your faith on Sundays (which is the start of your week) and then attend midweek service to restraighten your faith for the remaining of the week.

Four individuals resisted Satan: Biblical Story

When you gets a papercut, you’re bound to sting and get bothered for a few days until it heals. Can you imagine it being flames of fire which bother you and sting you instead? I know this sounds kind of drastic, but hear me out. Don’t you think you’d want get some water to remove the fire? 

Well, that’s not what Daniel did. Daniel’s three friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) were thrown into a furnace because they wouldn’t submit to the King Nebuchadnezzar. As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 

 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.

In the meantime, Daniel had to take action to help them. Like every good and evil, there’s always a way out. So Daniel went to the city where they were held captive. 

 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”

Daniel and his three friends, had faith that God would protect them; and he did. 

 
Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”

They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”

Daniel had united in prayer and fasting for 21 days, asking God for the King’s heart to change and set them free. God answered their prayers and this fasting was later known as: Daniel’s 21 day fast.

Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” 

There is so much behind this story, which we’ll eventually get into later on; but for now, take a moment to reflect on what Daniel and his three friends did. Here is the link to part of the story. 

PS: This is an edited post. One of my readers commented below suggesting I write more of a “How individuals can effectively resist the devil in their daily lives. Sharing some real-life scenarios or guidance on this aspect of following Christ and resisting evil; I will do. However, you can also find these scenerios under the category: God speaks.

Stay tuned.

As you reflect, share your thoughts below.