New Believers What to Expect

New Believers: What to Expect

Run the Marathon, Not the Sprint

Personal Testimony

I can draw from my own experience, confirmed by countless testimonies I’ve heard. My journey began with a search for truth in 1993, my freshman year of college. I bought Harold Camping’s book 1994, which predicted the rapture would occur on September 6, 1994. That sent me into Revelation and the Old Testament prophets, cross-referencing prophecies.

As I studied, I realized that if a rapture did happen, God wouldn’t take people who turned to Him merely out of fear, but those who turned to Him out of righteousness—because they believed Him and what He stands for. They are the ones who desire to know Him, align with Him, and commit to follow Him regardless of whether a rapture occurs. So I turned to the four Gospels. That changed my life. My eyes were opened to the truth of Jesus: the divine Son of God, the earthly mouthpiece of the Father, God incarnate.

When I read and believed, something miraculous happened. For the first time, I was filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit—baptized in fire simply by reading and believing Jesus’ words. I could physically feel the Spirit just as Jesus described: coming and going like the wind, without my knowing when He would come, how long He would stay, or where He came from or went. Yet His presence was undeniable—like a warm current of electricity flowing through my body, raising goosebumps on my arms, legs, and face.

The Holy Spirit often came upon me while I spoke with God, read His words, pondered what He said, or listened for Him—and especially when I spoke about Jesus and His words to friends. One close friend asked me, “How is it that when you speak about Jesus I feel this electric energy, but I don’t feel it otherwise?” I also noticed that, when teaching or witnessing, the Spirit would speak through me. Words came out that I myself was learning in the moment. Jesus’ teachings came alive, and I gained a new, supernatural grasp of the absolute truths He proclaimed—insight I had not possessed before.

Everything changed: my desires and the way I perceived the world. I felt like a stranger who no longer fit. I was a third-year aerospace engineering student, and suddenly I didn’t want to study or chase worldly goals; I only wanted to read God’s Word and keep growing in my relationship with Him. For two weeks I did little else but read, pray, and take long walks at night, talking with the Lord. I felt His presence with me. It was powerful—a beautiful beginning.

I separated myself from the world so completely that I didn’t know how to move forward. After two weeks I recognized I needed to re-engage, finish school, and handle the responsibilities in front of me. I didn’t yet understand how to abide with God while working humbly within this world and shining as a light. I just wanted to be separate.

At the churches I visited, Satan tried to steal my new faith. Because I didn’t see others experiencing the Spirit as I had, I began to judge and think I was special. I didn’t realize that the supernatural is normal for believers and that the enemy attacks new Christians. Pride crept in: “Look what happened to you; you must be different.” I judged others for not being as committed. Discouragement followed. As I drifted back into the world, I struggled to maintain my relationship with God—though the Holy Spirit and His miraculous work never left. God does not leave. When He gives the Spirit, His promise is forever.

That was over thirty years ago. After walking through many fires and tribulations, I would tell any new believer: treat your walk after being born again as a marathon, not a sprint. Expect opposition. The enemy will try anything—through people, thoughts, and circumstances—to pull you away from devotion and obedience to the Father and to Jesus.

Don’t be surprised when, as you believe, God shows you more and you encounter the miraculous. God is real. Discovering His nearness is eye-opening. He is sovereign over every detail; nothing is mere coincidence. Over time, as you come to accept the miraculous as part of normal life with Him, your aim becomes simple: abide with Jesus always—at work, in sports, while driving, mowing the lawn, planning your future. Keep God at the center of your decisions, thoughts, and steps forward.

Learn to depend on God, and let your experience with Him grow your faith so you can be a light to the world. Don’t take your new faith for granted. Work hard to root your foundation and maintain your trust in God—it’s the most important thing you have. Treasure progress in the “finer points” Jesus taught: pursue humility, purity of heart, forgiveness, and peacemaking. Repentance means turning from and dying to sin; don’t expect it to be easy or quick. It’s an ongoing walk with Jesus as you die to yourself. When you fall, turn back to God quickly, forgive yourself, turn away from the sin again, and learn from your mistakes by talking with Jesus about them.

1) Why Many Begin: A Hunger for Truth

From my journey: A search for answers about the end times pushed me into Scripture, but Jesus’ own words in the Gospels became the turning point.

Scripture: Matthew 7:7–8; John 8:31–32; John 6:44–45; John 3:19–21.

2) Encountering the Holy Spirit

From my journey: I experienced the Spirit’s presence like a warm current—often while praying, reading, or sharing Jesus with friends.

Scripture: John 3:5–8; John 7:37–39; Luke 11:13; John 14:16–17, 26; John 16:13; Acts 2:1–4; Acts 4:31.

3) Joy, Disorientation, and Feeling Not of This World

From my journey: I felt like a stranger to the world—my desires and perspective changed overnight.

Scripture: John 17:14–16; John 15:18–19; Matthew 6:19–24, 33.

4) Early Temptations: Pride, Comparison, and Discouragement

From my journey: The enemy used pride and comparison to discourage me; I judged others’ zeal and lost focus.

Scripture: Luke 18:9–14; Matthew 18:3–4; Matthew 7:1–5; Matthew 5:3–5.

5) Spiritual Opposition Is Real

Your counsel: Expect the enemy to attack mind, relationships, and devotion.

Scripture: Matthew 13:18–23; John 10:10; Matthew 26:41; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–10.

6) Abiding Daily: Word, Prayer, Obedience

From my journey: I had to learn to abide while doing normal life—work, school, and everyday responsibilities.

Scripture: John 15:1–10; Matthew 6:5–13; Matthew 7:24–27; 1 John 2:3–6.

7) Repentance & the Ongoing Turning

Counsel: Keep turning from sin toward Jesus; this is a continuing walk of dying to self.

Scripture: Mark 1:15; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27–33; Matthew 5:21–30, 37; 1 John 1:7–9.

8) Humility, Purity of Heart, Forgiveness, Peacemaking

Counsel: Treasure progress in humility, purity, forgiveness, and peacekeeping.

Scripture: Matthew 5:3–12; Matthew 5:23–24; Matthew 6:14–15; Matthew 18:21–35; James 2:12–13; James 3:13–18; 1 John 4:7–12.

9) Cost, Narrow Way, and Perseverance

From my journey: Over decades, I learned the Christian life is a marathon—expect trials but keep going.

Scripture: Matthew 7:13–14; Luke 14:28–33; Matthew 5:10–12; John 16:33; James 1:2–4, 12; Revelation 2:10.

10) Community, Correction, and Love

Counsel: Walk with others while keeping Jesus’ words first; be light inside and outside church settings.

Scripture: John 13:34–35; Matthew 18:15–20; 1 John 1:5–7; 1 John 2:3–11.

11) Hearing, Guidance, and Miraculous Moments

From my journey: At times, words came as I spoke—teaching me while I was teaching others.

Scripture: John 3:8; John 10:27–28; John 14:26; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Acts 8:29; Acts 10:19–20.

12) Guarding Against Deception

Counsel: Test everything by Jesus’ words; continue in what you heard from the beginning.

Scripture: Matthew 24:4–13; Matthew 7:15–23; 1 John 4:1–6; 2 John 1:6–9; 1 John 2:24.

Run the Marathon, Not the Sprint

Daily

  • Live with no separation from Jesus—this is what He meant by “abide in Me” (John 15:4–7).
  • Recognize there are no coincidences. Look for the Father’s hand in all things (Matthew 10:29–31); ask Jesus “why?” and listen like a child (Matthew 18:3–4). Reflect, recognize His work, and give thanks (Luke 17:11–19).
  • Commune with Jesus throughout the day. Know Him personally by His Spirit within you (John 14:16–17, 26) and by His written words (John 6:63; 8:31–32).
  • Become an expert in Jesus’ parables and Kingdom teachings. Learn His salvation message and teach it to others (Matthew 4:17; chs. 5–7; 10; 13; 24–25; 28:19–20). Show love by keeping His commands (John 14:15; 15:10). His words are the standard of judgment (John 12:48).
  • Read Isaiah’s Servant/Messiah passages (Isaiah 42; 49; 50; 52:13–53:12) to see how the Messiah heals and frees from sin—fulfilled in Jesus (Luke 4:16–21; Matthew 8:16–17).
  • Put Jesus first in all things. Filter sermons and traditions through His words (Mark 7:6–9; Matthew 23). Be grounded in Jesus so you won’t be deceived (Matthew 24:4–5, 24). Don’t condemn—be a light inside and outside the church (Matthew 5:14–16).
  • After mastering Jesus’ teachings, teach gently and humbly. You’re not fighting people, but spiritual deception (Matthew 24:11; 1 John 4:1–6; Matthew 11:29; 12:7; 18:15).

Peter’s warning about misreading Paul:

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2 Peter 3:15–18)

When you stumble: Turn back quickly (Luke 15), confess (1 John 1:9), forgive others (Matthew 6:14–15), and keep walking (Luke 9:23).


Verse Index (by theme)

  • Seeking & Truth: Matthew 7:7–8; John 8:31–32; 6:44–45; 3:19–21
  • Holy Spirit: John 3:5–8; 7:37–39; 14:16–17, 26; 16:13; Luke 11:13; Acts 2:1–4; 4:31
  • Not of the World: John 17:14–16; 15:18–19; Matthew 6:19–24, 33
  • Humility vs Pride: Matthew 18:3–4; 5:3–5; 7:1–5; Luke 18:9–14
  • Warfare/Temptation: Matthew 13:18–23; John 10:10; Matthew 26:41; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8–10
  • Abiding/Obedience: John 15:1–10; Matthew 6:5–13; 7:24–27; 1 John 2:3–6
  • Repentance: Mark 1:15; Luke 9:23; 14:27–33; Matthew 5:21–30, 37; 1 John 1:7–9
  • Core Virtues: Matthew 5:3–12, 23–24; 6:14–15; 18:21–35; James 2:12–13; 3:13–18; 1 John 4:7–12
  • Cost & Perseverance: Matthew 7:13–14; Luke 14:28–33; Matthew 5:10–12; John 16:33; James 1:2–4, 12; Revelation 2:10
  • Community/Love: John 13:34–35; Matthew 18:15–20; 1 John 1:5–7; 2:3–11
  • Guidance/Miraculous: John 3:8; 10:27–28; 14:26; 16:13; Acts 1:8; 8:29; 10:19–20
  • Against Deception: Matthew 24:4–13; 7:15–23; 1 John 4:1–6; 2 John 1:6–9; 1 John 2:24; 2 Peter 3:15–18