R1627 The Christian Person

Understanding our identity who we are as a Christian person that's today's topic with Dr. Don Wilton on The Encouraging Word. We are on the way to acts chapter 9 in just a moment the doctor will do what you know were here for you connecting on our website at tewonline.org G anytime all day long. That's tewonline.org you now Dr. Don Wilton X. Chapter 9 I'm about to share with you something that God has put so deeply in my own heart. I'm just sharing this and parsing along on the one hand it it it seems to be somewhat obvious simplistic fact, the passage that I'm in you and I have read and heard about. Probably many times over but I want to speak to you today about the Christian person I'm I'm a Christian man, you're a Christian woman with Christian people, beloved people. You and I know something with all the things that have gone wrong in in our very difficult world as is being that this is been and bring the school politically, racially, socially, the epidemic amended just so many things. The world is just been rocking those of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ deeply concerned about what's going on politically we take action later this week to thousands of you are called upon you say you need to you need to think about these things. I get it in my mind. Probably the most critical thing we're facing right now is the quality act, which is anything but the quality act because of what it means and how it lines up in terms of Scripture. What it presents to us so I can get on the bandwagon could spend the next hour discussing these very critical things that personally I think we need to take a stand on these matters. We go to be active. We go to engage we go to be salt and light on a Christian man, I'm a Christian person to listen to this carefully. I'm not just somebody.

When God looks at us when God looks down upon this land of ours when he looks down upon those worshiping today is now the juvenile Grieco. My only female. He's not looking at us as man and woman in boys and girls.

He's looking at us as those who belong to him and those who do not.

Did you get that that's how God looks at us when God looks at you he sees you as one of his children or one that he is praying for that you would become one of these children, but right now you're not. You're either saved or you lost your either for God or you're against God.

That's how God sees you… See you as being rich or poor, black or white or male or female. He knows that. But that's not how he looks upon you.

This is why Jesus came and got up on the cross and I am a Christian man I so what I want to do today is I'm going to read a passage quite a few verses and I'm not gonna stop as I want us to look at a man.

We all know him poll the apostle when we begin reading.

Paul was not a believer when we in this passage he is and I want you to note the contrast between Paul before he gave his life to Christ and pull off tree gave his life to Christ. I'm going to read and follow along.

Acts chapter 9. Meanwhile soul was still breathing out murderous acts against the Lord and his disciples, he went to the high priest in Austin for leaders to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the way with a man or woman he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

And as near Damascus on his journey. Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around me filled to the ground, and heard a voice say to him soul.

So why do you persecute me. Who are you, Lord.

I'm Jesus, whom you are persecuting your project get up and go into the city and you be told what to Mr. the men traveling with soul stood there speechless heard the sound but did not see anyone soul got up from the ground when he opened his eyes he could see nothing.

So they laid them by the hand into Damascus, and for three days. He was blonder did not eat or drink anything in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called him and said analyze here slowly on Simi told him go to the house of Judas on straight and awesome for a man from Tarsus name soul, for he is praying in the vision you seen a man named Ananias, and placing his hands in them to restore his side. Lord Ananias Onset of heard many reports about this man and all the harm he is done to your Saints in Jerusalem.

He is coming out with authority from the government to arrest all who call upon your name, the Lord said to Ananias go this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and the kings and before the people of Israel.

I will show him how much he must suffer for my name and Ananias went to the house and into the and placing his hands on sortie said brother soul the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming has sent me, so that you may see and be filled with the Holy Spirit and immediately something like scales fell from Paul's eyes soul's eyes and he could see again. He got up and was back, eyes off to taking some food. He regained his strength soul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus.

Once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the son of God. All those who heard him were astonished and awesome, isn't he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among all those who call on his name and has he come here to take as prisoners to the chief priests get soul grew more and more powerful and baffling the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ of the many days gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan day and night.

They kept close watch on the city gate in order to kill them, but he's follows took him by night and load them in a basket through an opening in the wall and when he came to Jerusalem. He tried to join the disciples but they were all afraid of him not believing that he was really a disciple, but Barnabas took it and brought him to the apostles. He told them how soul on his journey and seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him and now in Damascus.

He preached fearless fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

So soul stayed with them and moved about really in Jerusalem speaking boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus talked and debated with the Grecian Jews.

They tried to kill them. When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and Cindy moved Tarsus then the church throughout Judea gallantly and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord by the Lord.

Write this word upon our hearts. You study the life of this man that gone you so much.

You know what is amazing to me is he was he was quieter scoundrel.

I mean this guy was a blessed female he he he didn't like Jesus.

Little in God and I mean he was an antagonist and yet the Lord tells us often.

He came to know Christ that this is my chosen vessel you know that you listening today. I don't know who you are where you are but you're listening today and you don't know Jesus, God's plan for you.

Can you imagine going from being soul poll being someone who hated God he was so angry, so just paint out of shape to becoming God's chosen vessel what how did that happen you know and you you study this how that how that coal was going. He was on his journey and he encountered the Lord Jesus, and he was dramatically converted and how that you know God old and he steps in the role of Ananias and and how he just got up and was baptized in the wind to the disciples and learn from them and then he went back out to the same people who used to be his allies. He went back to the same people who on his team before but this time he carried a different demeanor and a different message in a different attitude. This time he was not food with hate his food with hope went they with the love of God, and he stuck to the message didn't get pulled aside. He didn't get yanked all over the place said man I'm gonna tell people about Jesus because Jesus is the one who makes the difference you give people the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything else falls into place telling you something. Folks the White House is not going to change you, Jesus does.

The Romans weren't going to change all as miserable as they were Jesus did. Jesus changed. This is the message. This is the message. This is the hope. It begins with Jesus.

Everything else falls into place you come to church to learn and you go out to be the church.

That's where our action takes place because of who we are that sound determination.

That's what we do, that's our citizenry comes from the heart of the people who know Jesus and our God is great.

He's incredibly's amazing and he changes people's lives. There are some people I'm being honest with this. Some people in Congress today that just revoked me. They are so left I keep saying to myself, pray they would meet Jesus more than anything else.

Pray they need Jesus Christian person. What can we take away from this, how can we can we give up portrait of a Christian person. One is a Christian person. Forgive the interruption will be back for the rest of today's message the Christian person in just a moment taking a look at that snapshot that portrait of the Christian person one would think that we can do as we grow in our lifestyle of following Christ is to spend time in God's word every day. If you're not receiving the daily Encouraging Word email from Dr. Don Wilton you're missing out on a great blessing.

It's absolutely free. Of course, and you can sign up on our website@twonline.org that's IT EW online.org sign up today. Within 48 hours you have in your mailbox every morning about 6 o'clock in the morning. The wonderful insight from Dr. Wilson a grand opportunity to launch today in the word opportunity to pray together with all of us in the Encouraging Word family that signing up online IT EW online.org today. Now back to today's message of the Christian person with Dr. Don Wilton we give you give you some number one, a Christian person encounters that were down encounters poll in counted Jesus that to a Christian person encounters I encountered Jesus Christian person number two rises but what the Bible says in verse six and then again in verse 18 in verse six Jesus said to him, or I Paul you've met me now rise up, get up, get down to verse 18 EC. He says it again immediately. This happened versus middle part keep Rose up. He got up a Christian person is someone, by God's help gets up, my dear brother Rodney, who followed Jesus in believers baptism is a picture of somebody getting up buried with Jesus in death, get up, raised up number three, a Christian person identifies anybody like to tell us what poll do next. He rose up, and he was baptized its incredible picture. Baptism is not an option for you and me Christian GME. You don't get baptized.

Paul was already a Christian.

He'd already met Jesus's name was written, but because he made Jesus.

He was obedient and followed Jesus in baptism. That's what he did. A Christian person is baptized, it's your identification how that's going to challenge Jesus did, why would Jesus get baptized.

He was God. He didn't need to get baptized for any reason, but he was baptized. Why because everything Jesus did, he showed us what he expects us to serve.

Baptism is missing out of your resume.

You going to do business with the Lord. This is a Christian person. Christian person encounters Christian person rises a Christian person identifies a Christian person associates associates themselves Bible tells us in verse 19. Often he got up rose up was baptized.

What what did he do folks wanted pulled I'm just this is a no-brainer.

What it wanted pulled due to he spent several days with the disciples he went back into the heartbeat of the church to the Christian teachers and leaders.

The disciple makers what you doing today will done is that any parent. One of the biggest struggles on a Kazakh with eight grandchildren folks one of the biggest struggles we've had all my Sons and daughters of head with the children this year has to do with school. I'm telling you it's it's been a tough thing for parents. I'm so proud of our parents homeschoolers doing such a great job of homeschooling. Those who are not too is still part of our great school systems are doing this by you know what it's like to have kids sit down every day folks looking at a computer and that interactive nurse is not there in the learning environment and all those things that parents have done a great job. I don't think you will find many parents who say you know what I know I've got a six-year-old son, daughter, and I don't care if they ever submit themselves to teachers you unfunded will. This is what God is saying to us a Christian is someone who associates with Christian pastas, teachers, disciple makers moms and dads spiritually. That's what I'm doing right now I'm just one of them. Your allowing me the privilege of just sharing with you. Don't ever get too old for that. Submit yourself to that being that life group that discipleship group United would associates could associates a Christian person associates allies and aligns themselves with disciples number five Christian person focuses is a tough one. Verse 2011 verse 20 at once he began to preach in the synagogues quantity preach that Jesus is the son of God as focus a Christian person focuses focuses he told them about Jesus preached the word of God shade Jesus opened the Bible shade. Jesus. Jesus look at the Bible. Let's hear what God has to say let's rally around God's word at the jolly discipline for somebody like me. I was six. Christian person displays displays displays what they live for everybody to see your walking billboard. Did you know that your walking billboard every time you turn around here, both those who were for him, and those who are against him because of his message of Jesus. They also him I didn't just see him when he went to be with the disciples he was out there. He was a display cabinet. He was a billboard to people out there.

See you on display as much as you are in here number seven the Christian person encounters. Look at verse 23, after many days gone by, the Jews conspired to kill them.

Christian people encounter opposition Christian people encounter opposition if you rise in all baptized and associate with Christian people in submit and you focus on Jesus and your walking display and people see your life you going to have somebody block GME.

Do you really think I don't get letters not not a lot.

Not a lot tell you, folks, I can show you some stuff that would make you weep directed me. I'm not standing up there wailing away. How can you say this and who do you think you are and you can say all you want to about God this day and age you need to know something hello Christian person poll everywhere he went, and he fee found none of us match up to what he faced Christian people encounter opposition. You need to teach your sons and daughters were coming to know Christ. That life is not just going to be plain sailing as a Christian teacher kids. It don't teach them the reality tell them what it means to follow Jesus. Listen, you know who these people were. They were the very same people who supported him before we came to know Jesus. These were the ones who gave him permission who got along side these are the ones who invited them him into the inner circle.

These were the ones who made him miss the popular everywhere he went he was in with the scribe gave his life to Christ. They wanted to live Christian the Christian person number eight contributes contributes contributes what well Bible tells us in verse 3111 verse 31 contributes peace contributes strength contributes encouragement.

We called our national television ministry The Encouraging Word that's why that's why is this is an folks.

Everything about the gospel is encouraging joy P6 love it's long-suffering. It's forgiveness it's newness it's change its hope it's reconciliation everything about it. It contributes that's a Christian person. So I'm just picking on me today because I got the microphone.

Can you imagine if I got up there this morning and said well folks, the material well I'm gonna tell you today arming that thing that happened on Monday that is pitiful.

We can have a sign-up list over here and I'm in a tell you this. I want you to know that down the sundown and what kind of Christian man. You don't think we get enough of that out there one more. The Christian personal reaps, reaps, reaps, reaps, they grew in numbers and they lived in the fear of the numbers reaps the Christian man Christian woman reaps you are a Christian parent going reprint. Are you saving the lives of your kids and your family. You going to re-seating a church can read in a wreath spiritual growth and the fear of the Lord in the fear of the Lord is not called the fear of the Lord is in or and or and a respect and a love oh God, you are my garden, you would love me like this. You made me you made the wound. You gave me, Jesus and unforgiving of my son just figured that out.

Wow.

How I pray that is you been studying along with us in acts chapter 9 today with Dr. Don Wilton you heard not just the great teaching of Dr. Wilton, the gentle still small voice the Lord saying he loves you and is ready to receive you to draw you close to him. Maybe draw you back to him. He referred Dr. Wilton teach. But before we get away. Here Don as he comes in the studio just shares from his heart. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus God on the cross today. I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my in Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting you if you just gave your life. Jesus Christ praying along with Dr. Wilton.

Moments ago. Maybe you rededicated your life to Christ. Dr. Wilton has wonderful resources he want you to have right now to pick up the phone and call and ask for them at 866899 word 866-899-9673. Dr. Donald also like to pray with you and for you. We would like to do that at the other end of that phone number 866-899-WORD 9673, which you share with us what God is doing in your life you can do that on our website as well as tewonline.org G that's tewonline.org G would love to hear your story here how God's work in your life, and we have resources that we believe would encourage you one of those is the brand-new book coming out with Dr. Don Wilton memories call Saturdays with Billy about Dr. Billy Graham, our new website. You can reserve a copy of Dr. Wilton's brand-new book Billy Billy dinosaurs heartwarming.

Mr. Grant just words change John's life can change our life and lean on God's grace into eternity discover their powerful friends at team W online.no I we are so excited about that. But there also other resources, one that has just been overwhelmingly successful is a book called the lonely solution hijackings and good friend of Dr. Don's. We left make that available to you as well on our website at tewonline.org, G. And while you're there, follow us on our social media love following Dr. Don. His insight and encouragement is wonderful every day, but also sign up for the day The Encouraging Word email right there at tewonline.org G we hope will drop by and visit our website