The Sermon You Preach
July 2013
What is the secret to great living? Entire separation to Christ and devotion to Him. Thus speaks every man and woman whose life has made more than a passing flicker in the spiritual realm. It is the life that has no time for trifling that counts." Amy Carmicheal
"You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." Leviticus 20:26 NLT
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
"You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." Leviticus 20:26 NLT
“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
As I sit here preparing to speak on this Sunday, I ran across this quote and was immediately about to share it on Facebook, but then I thought……why not write about it.
The life you live is the sermon you preach. Many times we look at our Pastors, or the Evangelists, Missionaries, Elders,….etc. at our church as the only ones who have a sermon to preach. Maybe it is from the pulpit on a Sunday morning, or maybe it is by traveling around the world sharing the Gospel, or maybe it's through teaching Bible study or Sunday school….but whatever it is we never think about the sermon that we preach as we live. Each and every person that is in Christ has a ministry. Yes……YOU have a ministry. You may not have been called to "preach" per se from a pulpit on Sunday morning, but best believe that in many ways you may be the only Bible that some people are reading. In fact, God commands us to go into all the world and make disciples in His name. (Matthew 28:19-20) That is your ministry. That is my ministry. That is everyone's ministry who is in Christ. Jeremiah 1:5 NLT says that God “knew you before he formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born He set you apart and appointed you as His prophet to the nations.” Three things we can take away from this scripture: 1) God knew you before you were even formed. 2) You are set apart. 3) You have been appointed. Today, we will focus on 2 and 3. First things first……. Are you blending in with this world? Do you live like, walk like, talk like, or admire the world? Have you bought the lie that you have to be of the world in order to reach it? Maybe you believe that somehow the more like the world you are, the more influence you will have upon it. Friend, it's time that we live set apart lives for Christ! Leviticus 20:26 NLT says "You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own." God's Word is even more clear in 2 Corinthians 6:17. It says: “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord…... "Many of us try to explain away the holy calling upon our lives rather than unapologetically embracing it." (Leslie Ludy) But it's time friend, that we embrace the holy calling upon our lives and walk in it! Truth is, your walking is a whole lot louder than your talking! In other words.....your life preaches louder than your lips. Anyone can say that they are a Christian. Anyone can say that they love Jesus. Anyone can live a morally correct life based on the 10 commandments. BUT as you know religion and relationship are two completely different things. You call it religion. I call it relationship! "There's a difference between doing church on Sundays and being the church 24/7!" (Christine Caine) Friend, truth is you were not called to just say this or say that, or tweet this or instagram that or to facebook this....YOU were called to live it! Real talk: YOU cannot be in a relationship with Christ if you are still seeing the world! It's not about a bunch of dos and don'ts.....it's about a relationship with Christ....one of which you don't cheat on Him with the world on the weekends and occasionally throughout the week! It is not about the outward appearance; it is about the life which flows out of intimacy with the King! The sermon that you preach is not about YOU.....it's about Jesus! It's time that we once and for all exchange a self-focused life for a Christ-focused one! You, my friend have been chosen and called to be set apart! You were called to walk different, talk different, and LIVE DIFFERENT! Not so that you can be "all that," but so that God can get the glory! When you look like the world (live, talk, walk) you preach the sermon that says, "Nobody can truly live for Christ in this world. And that nobody can truly live a holy and set apart life." BUT the devil is a liar. If you are reading this, I believe that God has chosen you to set the standard. He has chosen you to showcase His glory. He has chosen you to show this world that those who are in Christ are new creations and that He has created in you a clean heart and renewed a right spirit on the inside of you, and that you do not have to conform to this world just because everyone else is doing it! YOU don't have to act like, date like, live like, talk like, or walk like everyone else. Your role model, example, and leader is God! You emulate Him. You live like Him. You talk like Him. You are a God chaser. You are a King's kid. YOU are royalty......start living like it! |
|
You may be asking, "But how?" Do I stay at home, avoid people, don't watch TV.....etc.? Jesus said to be in this world, but not of this world. It is very hard to change a world that you are not in; it's even harder to change a world that you are the same substance as. We are not the same substance as the world. We were not called to be like this world. We were not called to "fit in" with this world! The Bible tells us that we are salt and light in this world. The Bible tells us that we are peculiar. The Bible tells us that we are chosen, royal, and holy. The Bible says that we belong to Christ. Because of this we can show others the goodness of God. Because of this we can show others how God called us out of the darkness into His wonderful light! (1 Peter 2:9 NLT)
Truth is: Being Set-Apart is not a hamper to our Christian witness. Being set-apart IS OUR CHRISTIAN WITNESS! The Bible says that we should expect to look strange to the world because we are set-apart. God says that our lives will give off an appealing fragrance to those who are ready to receive Christ – but to those enslaved to sin, our separation from the world will cause great offense everywhere we go: "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: to the one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life." 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 Friend, if you are born again.....keep smelling good! And remember: A set-apart believer has the courage to be different. While other people strive to be noticed and accepted by the world, the set-apart believer cares for no opinion but God’s. Friend, in order to be effective in our ministry and calling we must lay down our craving for the world’s approval. "When we become the holy temple of the living God, we will not be understood or accepted by the sinful, carnal world around us. In fact, if we are applauded and approved by secular society, in all likelihood we are not truly allowing the Spirit of God to fully own and operate us." (Leslie Ludy) Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). Crystal Lewis has a song called, "Remember Who You Are." This song has been on repeat for me for about a week now, but the lyrics that stand out the most to me are: "Whether big or small in the eyes of men, remember who you in in the eyes of God! Remember who you are in Jesus. He sees you as His own! It's His name you wear. Remember who you are!" Live for Jesus, in a way that shows the world that He is everything to you! No matter what, know that your living for Christ is not and will not be vain. He sees you.....and in this season your private victories are getting ready to become public. There are people who are watching you. There are people who are encouraged and inspired by your life. No, they may not say it and yes, they may act as if you don't exist, but believe me when I say you are making an impact. If you relax your standards or compromise to fit in, those who are watching you will hear a sermon that is not edifying; one that does not lead them to Christ if they do not know Him, or one that does not help them to grow in the things of the Lord if they do. Don't give in or give up. Keep living holy! Keep living a set apart life! Keep preaching my sisters and brothers by living your life for Christ, but don't expect a round of human applause when you choose this life. But know that in its place you will gain something far better-----a standing ovation from Jesus Christ! I don’t know about you, but that’s all the applause I could ever want or need. Be blessed!:) |
Your Agenda For Today and everyday: Act like JESUS!
|
|