“...And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26)

I’ve been saying this for years, that we in the ‘church’ would probably do well to let others (those on the outside)..refer to us as ‘Christians’ ('Christ-like')...instead of us publicly making that proclamation. And it has nothing to do with being ‘ashamed’ to make such an admission either. If we are a true follower of Jesus...we shouldn’t have to tell anyone; they will know!

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – Jesus (John 13:35)

If you didn’t catch yesterday’s message, I beg you...please stop here and go read it now?

I believe I mentioned recently in one of my previous posts that the boys (my twin grandsons) are at that age now where they want to do everything...’by myself’!. “I can do this Papa...I don’t need your help!”. And so I’m learning patience as I step back and wait a little bit...until they come to me and ask for my assistance, which usually happens pretty fast.

I also find myself asking at the same time...why do we as adults...do the same thing by insisting we can do this Christian walk of faith by ourselves. Oh, we may not actually profess that from our lips, but our actions seem to suggest that...when we continuously ‘blow it’ and sin and fall short; which most sincere believers admit to doing regularly.

We ‘think’ we rely and depend on Him, and we sure sing songs to suggest that; but if we are still ‘blowing it’ and not getting it right’, then maybe it’s time we take a step back and take another look at how we are doing with this ‘loving others as He first loved us’...thing. (2 Cor. 13:5; John 15:12). I only say that because if there was anything Jesus made clear to His disciples...it was the fact: we can’t do it on our own. It simply is not going to happen; ‘apart from Him’, there will be ‘no fruit’ (John 15:4-5). And fruit matters!

How could we possibly ‘go and sin no more’...unless He was empowering us with His grace so we could ‘do the word’ as opposed to just hearing it or quoting it?

How could we ever “be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect’ (Matt. 5:48) unless we are truly following His lead to be ‘perfected in His love’ (1 John 5:12,17; Rom. 8:4; James 1:4)?

How could we ever ‘walk just as He (Jesus) walked...and ‘keep His commandments’, unless we were filled with His power from on high where we could be an effective witness, demonstrating a genuine transformed life? (1 John 2:3-6; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:4-5)

Maybe Jesus really meant what He said about the need to ‘abide in Him’, where we could actually go and no longer ‘sin’, which is how those who truly abide in Him...live. (John 15:1-8; 1 John 3:6; 5:18)

Want to guess how you can tell if you’ve been trying to do this in your own power and strength...’apart from Him’? After awhile, you’ll usually come to the conclusion that ‘nobody can walk like Jesus walked’ and then you’ll find a comfortable pew with other like minded ‘believers’ who have a ‘form of godliness but deny the power’ (2 Tim. 3:5). And there are a whole lot more people like that... sitting in such places these days...than you would dare to imagine. (Matt. 7:13-14).

The sad reality is ...after multiple failed attempts to ‘walk like Jesus did’...instead of truly going to Him to figure out where we are ‘missing it’, we just go to the ‘good Book’, and ‘re-write it, ‘tweak it’, maybe ‘dilute it’ with lots of other words so that we can explain why it doesn’t really mean...what it says it means. I’m guessing that’s why Jesus accused the Pharisees of doing this when they ‘laid aside the commandments of God’ in order to uphold and teach the ‘traditions of men’ (Mark 7:8-9,13). Seems easier to change God’s word than it does our defiled hearts (17-23). “Has God really said...?” (Gen. 3:1)

“Which commandments”, you might be asking? How about the one He gave us in John 15:12: “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Friends...how do you think we could ever do that outside of having His nature residing in us? Do yourself a favor and go read 2 Peter 1:2-4, because that is exactly what God’s plan was for us...to be endued with His Spirit and power and love...so that we could go and fulfill His law...which is summed up in one word- ‘love’ (Gal. 5:14).

That is why Jesus told them to ‘tarry...(wait) until they were endued with power from on high...so they could be a witness first...in their own home’ (Acts 1:8; Luke 24:49). He knew we could never do this on our own.  

"For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with HIS love." (Rom. 5:8) And I don't know which 'Pentecostals' need to hear this, but one can 'speak in the tongues of men and angels'...and still 'not have that love' (1 Cor. 13:1)

One last thought to consider for today- This can be an overlooked detail found in the story of the demoniac of the Gadarenes whom Jesus set free from more than a ‘few’ demon spirits (Mark 5:1-15). He actually begged Jesus to go with Him after his deliverance; but we are told that Jesus did not permit him, rather...He told the man “Go home...to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” (19)

In other words...go be a witness at home first...love others...as He loved you; or ‘go and do likewise’ (Luke 10:37; Matt. 18:18-35).

I don’t know about you, but these past few years...I’ve discovered I had a lot more work to do...if I really want to be an effective witness anywhere else.