Walking Out Salvation's Plan

By Tanda Thompson

This book is for new Christians or those who yearn to know what it feels like to go through discipleship training. As a discipleship handbook, it's a navigational guide. It shows who you are in Christ and what you can expect. This handbook has information on how to pray, Bible basics, and being led by the Holy Spirit. At the end of each Chapter there is a Life Application section. And there are two bonuses: 1) Acronyms & Bible Version Names, and 2) "Read the Bible in a Year" Schedule towards the back of the book. This would make a wonderful gift to a new Believer.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tanda Thompson
• Release date: Dec 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781736323113

Tanda Thompson

Tanda enjoys reading and writing books. She is currently writing a book on Self-Publishing for those who want to control the publishing aspects of their books while doing so on a miniscule budget.  She has an Associate's Degree in Business.  Tanda recently received a Certificate from a University for Grant Writing.  She tutored and taught over 1,000 children for 20+ years for which she also developed their curriculums.  A portion of the proceeds from her books goes to feed the hungry programs. Tanda's strongest desire is to help people be and live their best lives.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Tanda Thompson, Author

Walking Out Salvation’s Plan, Next steps in your walk with Jesus

All rights reserved.  No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise) – except for brief quotation in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the author.

Scriptural references are taken from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.

BOOK DESCRIPTION:  This book is for new Christians or those who yearn to know what it feels like to go through discipleship training. As a discipleship handbook, it’s a navigational guide. It shows who you are in Christ and what you can expect. This handbook has information on how to pray, Bible basics, and being led by the Holy Spirit. At the end of each Chapter there is a Life Application section. And there are two bonuses: 1) Acronyms & Bible Version Names, and 2) Read the Bible in a Year Schedule towards the back of the book. This would make a wonderful gift to a new Believer. The companion Devotional Journal to this book will be available around mid-January of 2021 at www.TandaPlace.com

Keywords:  Jesus, Bible Promises, prayer, Bible Teaching, Scripture, Christianity, Christian, Scripture, Church, Christian learning, New Convert, Disciple, Discipleship Training, Bible Training, Spirit, spiritual growth, Comforting Scriptures, Sunday School, Bible Study, Bible Student, Encouragement, Encouraging, Hope, Affirmations, Confessions, Devotional, Bible Learning

Table of Contents

Dedication

I GIVE HONOR TO GOD for giving me the idea to write this book. I love You Holy Ghost and I am so very grateful for you bringing so many Scriptures back to my remembrance. 

I praise the name of Jesus that God used the encouragement of my family to ignite my passion for writing.  I am thankful for my Mother, Rev. Evelyn Dougherty and my Father, the late Wilmer Lewis; in memory of my grandparents: Mary [Edwards] Logan and Purcell Covington; my sisters: Wanda Oree, Mary Lewis Prince and Rev. Martina Mitchell. Also, special mention to all of my aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. I pay homage to Regina (Howard) Holmes, my friend of over 37 years who helped to introduce me to Jesus Christ and was instrumental in me getting saved.   

I have to acknowledge my very first spiritual mentor, the man who discipled me, the late Elder McIver. Elder McIver was one of several seasoned Ministers at Grace Church of God in Christ [COGIC]. I am grateful for my first Pastor, Dr. Jerrold Weatherly, and his wife, the woman who taught me how to pray, Dr., Mother Ethel Weatherly, they are the Founders and Pastors Emeritus of Grace COGIC. 

I give special tribute to my daughter, Bria Thompson. Bria has been a source of delight and support to me in many ways.  I love you for being a wonderful daughter and friend to me. 

Hallelujah to the Highest. I praise Jesus for all of you.

Tanda

Introduction

RECEIVING JESUS CHRIST as your personal Savior is big deal.  When you receive Jesus, it means you’ve been placed into the family of God.  At some part in this experience, you’ll realize that you have been given a brand new start.  You’re forgiven, you’re saved from the penalty of sin and your name is now written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27).  In other words, you have eternal life in heaven when it’s time to meet your Maker.

All of this is wonderful, but where do you begin?  How do you learn about this new life in Christ?  Who will show you the ropes?  Receiving Jesus is the first step; it is the most important step.  And there will be many more steps to take.  You will have days when you feel like you’re on the mountain top and days when you feel like you’re in the valley.  But regardless of how you feel, Jesus is with you.  This book is not meant to replace the discipleship of a mature, loving Believer.  This book is designed to help you understand what you can expect since you’ve made a decision to follow Christ.  It was written to answer some questions and provide you with direction until (or while) God connects you with someone who will mentor, guide and encourage you. 

For every section, this book provides you with supporting Scriptures. A Recap of the Chapter and Life Application sections are toward the end of each Chapter. There are two bonuses toward the back of the book: 1) Acronyms & Bible Version Names, and 2) Read the Bible in a Year Schedule. 

More than anything else, this book takes you through the steps on how to have a closer walk with God.  In this life, you’ll find that some people are about things, but God is about relationship.  This book is not meant to be a list of stipulations or do’s and don’ts.  It was created to spark a yearning for the Word and ignite your love for the Lord. And it was designed to also show you how much He truly loves you. 

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:3, 4

This book reveals what you can expect in terms of temptations, stumbling blocks and snares along this Christian journey.  It seems hard to believe that there would be people who would try to prevent you from living a clean, wholesome life for Christ, but they do exist.  Jesus will be coming back for us in the Rapture soon and enemy forces want to prevent a multitude of souls from going to heaven.  The Bible says hell enlarges itself (Habakkuk 2:5, Isaiah 5:14).  That’s why we must spread the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and keep our lamps filled, trimmed and burning.  The key aspect of this book is maintaining your relationship with Jesus.  Nothing in life is more important than getting closer to Him day by day.   

TANDA

Chapter 1

New Creature in Christ

ONCE YOU RECEIVE JESUS Christ as your personal Savior, you have embarked upon a new way of living.  You are literally a new creature in Christ.  As you start to walk in the light of God’s Word you’ll begin to identify with, day by day, the vast resources of heaven made available to you. These resources are given so you can fulfill your God-ordained destiny.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  II Corinthians 5:17

The Bible says, Jesus has been made unto you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30).  This means you now have been conferred with all the benefits and privileges of Jesus Christ.  He has imparted over to you, all the blessings that are in Him. 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. II Corinthians 5:21

My Early Years’ Testimony

When I received Jesus many years ago, I began to cry as I was saying the prayer of Salvation.  I didn’t understand why I was crying.  The young man who led me in the prayer of salvation said, you are crying because your spirit has been made new and the presence of the Lord is resting upon you. The angels in heaven are rejoicing that you have joined the family of God.  I still didn’t fully comprehend what that meant, but I knew something had changed.  When I walked outside, the sky looked bluer, the trees appeared greener and the sun light seemed to make the colors appear brighter.  It was as if the colors were more vivid.  I remember thinking, I feel like I’m wearing glasses for the first time, seeing things crystal clear.  That feeling only lasted for a few days. 

It wasn’t long before I went right back into sin and my old ways of living.  Before I received Jesus into my life, I used to cuss, smoke and drink.  I went right back to that normal routine.  Way in the back of my mind (in a deep, far-away place inside), I thought to myself, I wish someone would tell me what to do.  It was as if my subconscious was hoping someone would take me by the hand and explain this new life in Christ. 

A month later, my prayer was answered.  My friend in college (Regina) gave me a Bible and took me to Bible study class.  I did not comprehend any of the information they taught.  Nothing made sense to me.  It was as if they were speaking Greek, although the Teacher had proper pronunciation and a command of the English language. My friend had been saved since she was a young girl, so she understood the whole Bible study lesson.  Little by little, she explained things to me.  She did so in a slow manner that I could follow.  I was almost 19 years old at that time. 

Over the next three years I began to learn the Christian lingo.  Years later, I realized that Bible Teachers need to remember to explain the information they are teaching in its most basic form when a new convert is present or provide alternative classes for those recently saved.  In addition to that, all new babes in Christ need to