What is a True Christian? #3

by Loy Clements
(Springhill, LA. U.S.A.)

Text: Phillipians 2:7

Introduction: To have the complete understanding of what a True Christian is we have to establish intercession in our teaching. Remembering, True Christianity is being made into the image and likeness of Christ. The moment we were born-again this new life took place in our spirits by the Holy Spirit.

We find this truth in 2nd Corinthians 5:14-21. Look with me at verse 18 "And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation."

Every True Christian has a ministry God has given them. In Ephesians 4:1 Paul calls it a vocation!
I would like to finish this series of messages with what I believe the ministry, or vocation, every True Christian has been given.

That call is a call to intercession. It doesn't mater if you are a Pastor, a plumber, or a taxi cab driver; I believe your calling as a True Christian is to stand in the gap, and make up the hedge for the world, and the people in it!

I. True Christian Intercessors are vessels that carry God into the world.

John 17:18 "As Thou hast sent me into the world, even so I also sent them into the world."

This is part of a prayer Jesus prayed just before He went to the garden to pray the prayer that caused Him to sweat great drops of blood. This prayer was not only for His follwers; but "for those who would be saved through their words."

That is you and me! John 17 is a prayer of intercession. After this prayer for others Jesus went to the garden and reasoned with the Father about Calvary; then He freely gave Himself to be crucified! This is a key many people miss about intercession.

Intercession creates in the heart of man the will to sacrifce themselves for the salvation of others. True Christians spend a lot of time meditating on John chapter 17 and 18. I know meditate may be a new word to a lot of you. It means that you think about, ponder, speak to yourself, and mutters to yourself God's Word all the time.

One who meditates on God Word could care less about conversations that are not based on His Word! One key to being a True Christian is to build all of your conversations around Jesus and the Word of God.

Mark 13:7,13 "And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such must need be; but the end shall not be yet. And ye shall be hated of all men for My name sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."

Jesus starts out exhorting us not to be afraid with what is going on in the world today. My suggestion is turn the news off and don't even pay any attention to what the world is saying. There is only one reason they are saying these things. That reason is to establish fear in your heart.

Never forget True Christians are the just people of faith! Faith works by love, which never fails! Our responsibility about things going on in the world is to interceed, and endure until the end! No worry, and no sweat God is on His Throne.

Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then the end shall come."

This is the time every True Christian lives for.
There are two words I want us to look at: "preached" and "nations."

Preached: Greek word kerusso: to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truths, the gospel). Preach(er): proclaim, publish.

Nations: Greek word ethnos: a race (as the same habit), a tribe; especially a foreign (non Jewish) one (unusally by implying pagan). Gentiles, heathen, nation, people.
(Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible).

The secret of being a True Christian in intercession is found in Matthew 6:1-18. Through giving alms, prayers of intercession, forgiveness, and fasting we are able to go into all the world and preach the gospel.

True Christians will be those that preach (remember what the word preached means) the true gospel as a witness to every nation (people) until the end comes. True Christians know what the true gospel is, and the power of salvation of which it carries!

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jews first, and also to the Greek."

II. True Christians are workers of righteousness.

1st John 3:1-8 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we sons of God, and it doeth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He appear we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil."

What does being a True Christian as a worker of righteousness really mean?

1st. Corinthians 10:31 "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

Conclusion: Let us return to Calvary and the cross that brought salvation when we were without hope, and without God. This world is looking for reality; and for us to be like Christ we must be real and live by faith. Seekers of truth are fed up with hypocrites.

They are looking for a body of people who are real. Faith in God is the real substance people are looking for. In these last days we must be those who carry the resurrection power of God to those dead souls that are searching for life!

Luke 9:23-27 "And He said, if any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantage, if he gain the whole world and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of Me and My Words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when He shall come in His own Glory, and in His Father's and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death, till they see the Kingdom of God."

True Christians will never deny God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or God's word. Pretenders are those that play church, and they deny everything that has to do with God. Their future, unless they turn to Christ, is hell and the lake of fire!

Note from Mark Thanks for the Sermon Series Loy. True Christians certainly think, talk, and act different than the non-believer, as well as, the phony kind of so-called Christian...who really is not. We think, talk, and act different because...we are different! We follow Christ and His Word; we have both Him and His Word in our heart.