4 Children 8 Objects Part 14 We can say all we want but are we believable?
At this point I am turning things back into spiritual terms.
Remember what I said.
The case for the business cards and the information on the cards are like our body, spirit and soul.
Business case (Outer shell): Represents our body holding information.
Business cards: Represents information on our spirit and soul.
Here are four questions that need to be answered.
Personal questions.
1. Who are you?
2. Whom or who do you represent?
3. What do you do?
4. What do you provide?
Keep this in mind.
We can say who we are.
We can say whom we represent.
We can say what we do.
We can say what we provide. (Offer)
Let me put this in sentence form.
“My name is Pastor Vince Marino and I represent Him, this is what I do and this is what I provide.”
However, we can say all we want but are we believable?
Listen to the “He who says” verses.
1 John 2:4-6 (RSV)
4 “He who says "I know him" but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him:
6 he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”
1 John 2:9 (RSV)
“He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still.”
1 John 3:18 (RSV)
“Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.”
Everything depends on our character if we desire people to believe what we say.
Our character as s person will determine if we our genuine, sincere, or truthful.
Godly Character will determine if people will believe us about:
1. Who we are?
2. Whom we represent. (The person we represent) (Whom do we serve Joshua 24:15)
3. What we do.
4. What we provide. (What we offer)
Joshua 24:15 (NKJV)
“And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
Romans 12:9 (RSV)
“Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;”
1 Timothy 1:5 (RSV)
“whereas the aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith.”
Ephesians 4:25 (NKJV)
“Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.”
1 Thessalonians 1:5 (KJV)
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”
Our goal is to have proven character not just talk about it.
In other words, maintain a good testimony.
Romans 5:3-4 (KJV)
3 “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations#2347 also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:”
Greek definition for the word “tribulations” #2347: Affliction, from #2346, pressure, to crowd, narrow
Pressures of life squeeze either the renewed mind or the un-renewed mind. (The flesh)
In other words when pressure comes whatever is in us will come out.
Respond or react.
Do people believe us? (You)
Like the business cards our life should correspond to the information on the cards.
As believers our life should correspond to the information on our spirit and soul.
The information we place on our spirit and soul is valuable.
This is why we should pray, read, study and apply God’s word.
If believers do not correspond based on what they say they will not be believable.
We cannot say we are believers and act like the devil.
Let us go further and determine who we are from God’s Word.
Who are you? “I AM SHEET” (Complete set available if you desire it)
The following are examples.
1. A CHILD OF GOD ROM. 8:16
2. NOT MY OWN …I AM BOUGHT WITH A PRICE I COR. 6:19-20
3. REDEEMED FROM THE HAND OF THE ENEMY PS. 107:2
4. CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST GAL. 2:20
5. DEAD WITH CHRIST COL. 3:3
6. BURIED WITH CHRIST COL. 2:12
7. RISEN WITH CHRIST COL. 2:13
8. FORGIVEN COL. 1:13-14
9. WASHED I COR. 6:11
10. SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH EPH. 2:8
11. JUSTIFIED ROM. 5:1
12. BORN AGAIN I PET. 1:23
13. SANCTIFIED I COR. 6:11
14. A NEW CREATURE II COR. 5:17
15. HIS WORKMANSHIP EPH. 2:10
16. A PARTAKER OF HIS DIVINE NATURE II PET. 1:4
17. PURE I PET. 1:22
18. HOLY HEB. 3:1
19. A SAINT COL. 1:12
Who are you? (We)
We are also ambassadors for Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 RSV
17 “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
As ambassadors for Christ we are to speak to people.
But remember when we do speak, we become believable through our character or reputation.
What we speak affects our life.
What we speak involves our thought life.
We are who God says we are. (Ambassadors for Christ)
Either we believe God about who we are or believe people and the unseen enemy.
What we think will direct our life. (James 3:3-4 Bits for horses and rudders for ships)
Thinking as an ambassador for Christ will cause us to speak the message of reconciliation.
Message of Reconciliation: God is not counting people’s sins against them but has blotted them out through Jesus Christ. Receive his provision today and be at peace with the ONE who made you.
Let me say it in other ways.
As ambassador for Christ we are:
We are: Authorized representatives.
We are: Messengers for God.
We are: To do what God would Himself do were he present.
We are: Representative by legal right through delegated authority.
We are: A person appointed as a substitute with power to act.
We are: Sent forth to negotiate with people in regard to their reconciliation to God. (restore to friendship or harmony with God through Jesus)
We are: To Change their attitude with persuasiveness, without judging and cause them to accept the provision God has made, whereby their sins can be remitted and they themselves be justified in His sight in Christ.
We are: Ambassadors at all times, and in all countries, an ambassador is a sacred character, and his person is regarded as unchallengeable.
We are: To make known, and to explain, and enforce the terms on which God is willing to be reconciled to people.
We are: Not to negotiate on any new terms.
We are: Not to follow our own plans or devices.
We are: To seek the honor of God who has sent us forth and to seek to do only his will.
We are: Not to promote our own welfare, not to seek honor, dignity, or advantage.
We are: To transact the business, which the Son of God would engage in, were He again, was here personally on the earth.
If we know who we are we will know what to reflect.
Knowing who we are will provide Identity.
Knowing who we are will manifest purpose in our life.
Knowing who we are will help our behavior.
Knowing who we are will change the way we think, speak and act.
Knowing who we are will alter our direction. (Places)
Knowing who we are will influence our choices.
Knowing who we are will redirect what we wear and how we look.
Knowing who we are will strengthen our choice of friends.
Knowing who we are will remove old bad habits.
Knowing who we are will create new godly habits.
Knowing who we are comes by the grace of God.
1 Corinthians 15:10 (RSV)
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me.”
Click here. Summary. (PDF)
Two relevant videos for nourishment.
Our spiritual shelves are stocked!
Pray first, make your selection and apply what you learn.
Click here. Several links to choose from. There is enough spiritual food to sustain you for a long time. Surefooted Ministries is like a grocery store, look around and see what you need, or desire, save the links for later and be encouraged. It will be enjoyable!
Click here. Part 15. Our Father's business! (Hold, Carry, Deliver)