PREACHED:
OL,
“AUTHENTIC CHRISTIANITY”
1$ One of the most
interesting buildings in D.C.
A. Department
of the Treasury
1. Tour…See money printed and coins stamped
1) Sorry, No samples!
B. Unique
display
1. Counterfeits
a. Untrained eye can’t tell.
b. Tour guide shows difference between the
“real” and the “counterfeit.”
c. Ink, paper, imprint, etc.
2$ Large Market for
Antiques Today:
A. Many
kinds of wood you can’t buy today -
B. But also a big market for counterfeit
antiques!
1. Again, it takes a trained eye to tell the
fake from the real.
C. For years, there are men who have conned
people out of thousands and thousands of dollars by counterfeiting paintings of
famous masters.
3$ So, We live in a funny
money world!
A. Full of “plastic” and “counterfeit” people
who claim to be what they are not.
B. Several years ago, I was watching ABC’s
20/20 program and they did an entire segment on counterfeit policemen.
1. These men were openly buying all kinds of
official police equipment at supply store…even badges!
2. Police chiefs were telling people to give a
hand signal to follow them and move to a well-lighted, public area, crack the
window, hand out their driver’s license and politely ask for them to call for a
marked unit as backup.
D. Many years ago, Tony Curtis, “The Great Imposter”
4$ How do you tell
the real thing, the bona fide Christian?
A. Clear
marks:
1. A genuine believer baptized for the
remission of sins -
a. Acts
2. Steadfast and Faithful -
a. I Cor
3. Walk with Jesus -
a. I
John 1:6-8.
5$ But is there more than
these that identify the real Christian?
A. Paul was accused of being a counterfeit
apostle -
1. Defense in II Cor
B. His
premise:
1. II Cor
6$ II Cor 2:14-17: Five
marvelous qualities of the real Christian:
A. HUMBLE
GRATITUDE
1. “But thanks be to God, who in Christ
always leads us…”
2. A sense of personal gratitude in all
circumstances is an identifying mark of the genuine Christian!
a. He’s no “fair weather” saint!
1) I Thess 5:18. “Giving thanks in
all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
2) II Tim 4:16,17. “At my first
defense…”
3. What do our non-Christian neighbors see in
us, especially when things are tough? When I lose my job? Or a mate dies? Or I am
betrayed or lied about? WHAT DO THEY SEE?
a. Acts
B. CONSTANT VICTORY
1. “God…in Christ always leads us in
triumphal procession…”
2. Image—Roman legions triumphal parade!
a. Leaders in front, prisoners in train,
followed by foot soldiers, marching proudly with the cheers and shouts of
citizens lining the streets!
b. McGarvey believes that we are the
prisoners over whom Christ has become victorious, but to whom he displays his
mercy.
1) And our purpose is to tell everyone about
the mercy and grace bestowed, undeservedly, on each of us.
3. I Cor
Rom 8:35-39.
C. FRAGRANT INFLUENCE
1. “…God, who in Christ…spreads the
fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.”
2. Perfume has taken some hard knocks in
recent times.
a. Some allergic, some offended…
b. Paul points out that our “smell” as a
Christian will be “baby fresh” to some and a “mortuary stench” to others.
1) “To one a fragrance from death to death,
to another a fragrance of life to life…”
3. And it’s a challenge that makes the real
Christian feel inadequate: “Who is sufficient for these things?”
B. SINCERE NOT PERSONAL MOTIVES
1. He not motivated by money, ego,
self-interest, personal agenda, etc.
2. “For we are not, like so many, peddlers
of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of
God we speak in Christ.”
a. Vindication of his own apostleship, but
the application can be made to each of us:
1) Our purpose for ministry is not personal advantage
or self-aggrandizement, but to serve faithfully in our commission given us by
God! He is the one to be praised! He is the one to be pleased!
a) Eph 3:20,21. “Now to him who is
able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power
that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ
Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
3. The message is clear: Be God directed! Be
God controlled! Crucify self!
7$ A motivational speaker
told a fictional story…
A. It seems that a friend had come to him with
a request for help. His friend had a gold mine that was so rich that he could
not excavate it by himself and he offered him the opportunity to share.
1. “But I don’t have a pick!”
“Well, silly, go buy
one!”
“Friend, do you know how much they want to picks these days?”
B. The
story is ridiculous, isn’t it?!
1. We wouldn’t worry about the price of a
pick if we were able to help ourselves to a mind full of gold!
C. Jesus has a treasure mine of blessings,
but a lot of folks are willing to work tenaciously to fill the sack of their
life with “fool’s gold” instead of pursing by faith the treasure of heaven that
affords us for a price that is minimal in comparison!