Shalom Aleichem...
Reflections is a weekly Christian Teaching Ministry. Each week we will talk about the Bible and lessons we can put to use in our daily life. We will try to, on a weekly basis, provide to you stories, thoughts, and just easy ways to live your life on a straight path.
THIS WEEK'S TEACHING....July 4, 2022
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY TO ALL OF YOU!!!
I have a question for you all on this day of Independence for the United States of America. A country founded on the Judeo-Christian principles: "having historical roots in both Judaism and Christianity"
JUST WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? How is a Christian defined in the world? Is a Christian still defined by the Bible definition or by the worlds definition?
This week we look at the Book of Acts 11:19-30
The Church had stayed in and near Jerusalem until Stephen was killed and persecution broke out. Although these Christians were living in new towns and meeting new people, they continued to be effective in leading people to Jesus Christ as Savior. The key to their effectiveness seems to be summed up in Acts 11:26.
The word Christian is found only 3 times in the New Testament. 1st, it is found in our text. Then, in Acts 26:28 and then in 1 Peter 4:16. In each case, it was a pagan world using the word Christian to identify the believers in Christ. This meant that the pagan world saw Jesus Christ reflected in the lives of believers.
The key to our effectiveness is our identity. Everyone has an identity. Identity is what others think when they see you or hear your name spoken. What caused these early Christians to have such a powerful reflection of Jesus Christ and therefore such an effective witness?
Acts 11:19-21
These early believers were identified as Christians because of their…
1. Conversion.
Jesus Christ had dramatically changed their lives; and they reflected that change in every situation. They did what Jesus would have done in a tough time- They shared the Good News. One of the tragedies of today is that some people want to trust Jesus without their lives changing.
Acts 11:22-26
These early believers were identified as Christians because of their…
2. Commitment.
Commitment to God is not measured by what you do for God; but what you allow God to do through you. Paul said that he lived, yet it wasn’t he who lived, but Christ who worked through him. Paul worked, yet it wasn’t him who worked; but Jesus Christ who worked through him.
We’ve accepted some very subtle substitutions for real commitment, which have hindered the work of Jesus Christ from being done in our lives; and have kept us from having an effective witness.
However, over the many hundreds of years.....
We have substituted…
* Community righteousness for God’s righteousness.
We’ve convinced ourselves that if we can be accepted by the community as good people, we will have an effective witness. So, we work hard at being good neighbors, good friends, good citizens, or good parents until we are recognized as being good; and then we wonder why no one responds to our testimony and witness of Jesus. The reason is that we don’t need God’s power in our lives to be good by human standards. To display God’s righteousness, we must have the power and the presence of God clearly at work in our lives.
We have substituted…
* Church work for the work of the Church.
We’ve allowed ourselves to believe that a commitment to the activities of a Church is equal to a commitment to Jesus Christ. We almost measure the level of a Christian’s growth by his or her loyalty to Church activities. The work of the Church is to share the Gospel with the lost world. What we do when we assemble, equips us to do the work of the Church.
We have substituted…
* Not being bad for being good.
There are many Christians who think that if they are doing nothing bad, they must be good. You can’t be good by just not being bad.
Acts 11:27-30
These early believers were identified as Christians because of their…
3. Concern.
Based on a prediction of a famine, (which did happen); the disciples sent gifts to help the Christians in Judea. They were concerned for the well-being of others.
Do people identify you as a Christians based on your actions? In other words, "are you walking the walk or just talking the talk???"
By the way to share Jesus and by the way you treat others would anyone know you are a Christian?
Are you a Jesus Christian or a worldly Christian???
So what is a worldly Christian???
A “worldly Christian” is a person who has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, but still clings to his or her old ways of living. Their behavior and their attitudes aren’t much different from those of their unbelieving neighbors, and their motives and goals seldom take God into account. When the Apostle Paul addressed the Christians in the city of Corinth, he had to rebuke them for their worldly ways. He wrote, “Since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?” (1 Corinthians 3:3).
Why are some Christians this way? Sometimes it’s because they don’t really understand what God wants to do in their lives. He wants them to become more like Christ, but they’ve never understood this. Sometimes, however, it’s because they don’t want to give up their sinful ways. But no matter what the reason, God’s will is for us to submit ourselves completely to Jesus Christ.
Christ gave His whole life for us; should we not give our whole lives to Him in return? Commit your life to Jesus Christ, and then ask Him to help you grow in your faith. God’s will for every believer — including you — is for us to “grow up in your salvation” (1 Peter 2:2).
God would not have us to be what the world desires us to be – weak, timid, cowardly. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1 contrast the wise and foolish things, the strong and the weak things.
The world is worldly, faithless, and does not trust in God and hence it must esteem worldly things: wealth, looks, might, intelligence. The world views Christians as the polar opposite to these things, as losers, as puny, as stupid, and as the most duped people on earth. Who would want to be that?!
Christians, don’t let the world, that doesn’t know up from down, define what God values. Christians are fools to the world, but it is the wisdom of God to believe in the resurrected Jesus. Christians are weak to the world, but Christians are not trembling or timid because God has empowered them to stand firm and to fight the good fight.
My point here is that I think some Christians let the world define what weak or humble or meek means – the opposite of whatever the world values. A worldly person kills and takes whatever it likes. The world therefore says that a Christian would not take a life or pursue things in this life. The opposite of what the world values is NOT what God is calling us to be.
God has not given to us a spirit of timidity, says Paul. But God has given to us a spirit of power, love, and discipline, 2 Tim 1:7. These are strengths. God has asked us to love our enemies and do good to them, but this doesn’t mean we cast our pearls before the swine. Know the swine, take back your blessing on his home, shake the dust off of your feet, and then go preach in the next city, Lk 10:3ff.
The strong person in God’s eyes can look the worldly man in the eye and say, “You are lost without Jesus.” The strong man can say, “We must obey God rather than men.” The strong man in God’s eyes can clear the temple and correct the false teacher who is erring.
Some Christians I have encountered are just timid. And they wear the timidity, which is much different than loving, caring and kind, as a badge. Remember Jesus was meek, not weak, and he was certainly NOT timid!!! But the badge of timidity is really an excuse when they are afraid to confront the godless. They are really only timid as the world would have them to be. The world says this is what Christians are to be. But it’s not what Christians of the Bible were. They were bold. They were not silent. They were persuasive. They were brave in the face of danger. They opposed the world and turned it upside for Christ.
If we let the world define what a “meek Christian” is, then we will never fulfill the mission of God...
“11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph 6:11,12. That warfare which Paul is describing is fought every day in the streets. it is fought like a good soldier fights. Christians fight the good fight of faith.
Family, it’s war and it must be fought between good and evil. The kingdom of Christ will advance not by timid, cowering Christians who have no line at which they say, “No more!” The world does not understand or accept the meek and humble Christian as God would have him. The world rejected the meek and lowly Jesus, who was a source of constant consternation for it. Jesus didn’t accomplish the will of God by letting the world define what meek meant. The Apostle Paul would never have established a Church if he were weak according to the world’s standard. God has sent His disciples to perform His work in a hostile and dark world. This takes courageous and convicted people. The “meek and gentle” as the world would define them would never leave Jerusalem.
The world hates this Christian who has nerves of steel. The world hates this Christian who shines the light of truth on its evil deeds. The world hates and will not tolerate this Christian who says its religions are idols and that it must repent and be baptized in the name of Christ.
“40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:40,41.
Have you heard the preaching of Peter. He was brave and bold to teach the grace of God that comes through faith. Have you repented and been baptized for the remission of your sins, Acts 2:38? About 3,000 souls were baptized in one day who heard and responded to His message.
We know what the world is and why it is lost. But do we let the world define what we are supposed to be? Are we weak to the world so that we allow it to tell us what we may and may not do? If so, get ready to live in a box and never be heard from again. But that’s not what God wishes for us to be. “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might”! Say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Say with Paul, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” because you know that God is the power behind all you do.
• Has the old life passed away and have you become a new creation?
• Deep in your heart – you know whether or not you will spend eternity in Hell.
o Why not change that outcome this week?
o Come to Christ; He will do the rest.
You decide because your eternal life is at stake. I love you all:) Have a blessed and safe 4th:)