Take you through the fire again. You know what
that literally means, don't you? That the last
time you went through, you didn't get burned
alive. Hallelujah. If you're going through again,
it means you survived the last round. And he's
not going to fail you in this round either. Amen.
He's not going to forsake you. He's going to
keep you. So just keep on keeping on. Amen. Give
the Lord another praise for his ability to keep
us. Well, hallelujah. If you have your Bibles
this morning, be turning with me to 2 Timothy.
Bit of a quandary this morning. I'm just depending
on the Lord to straighten it out when we get
there. Amen. I have two colliding thoughts this
morning. I can't differentiate between the two,
so we'll just see where it lands. Amen. God's
faithful. 2 Timothy, the third chapter. I'm going
to read verses 13 probably to 17 most likely.
Paul writing to his son in the faith. Verse 13.
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and
worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue
thou in the things which thou hast learned and
hast been assured of. Knowing of whom thou hast
learned them. And that from a child thou hast
known the holy scriptures. Which are able to
make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by
inspiration of God. And is profitable for doctrine,
reproof, for correction, for instruction. In
righteousness, that the man of God or the woman
of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto
all good works. With the help of the Lord, I'm
going to attempt to preach on identity crisis
this morning. Identity crisis. I desperately
need your prayer as we need to hear what... Thus
saith the Lord this morning. Amen. Father, I
love you. I thank you for your goodness and your
mercy and the abundance of your grace. I thank
you for your presence that's in this atmosphere.
And as one would say, may your sweet divine anointing
permeate this house. I ask God that you would
touch the ears of the hearers today. That they
may hear what the Spirit of the Lord would say
to the church. But Lord. I ask that you would
touch the lip of the deliverer this morning.
Lord, my heart is yielded. My mind is open. My
spirit willing. Speak to us today. That when
we leave this house, we will know that your spirit
has stirred the depths of our soul. In Jesus'
name, the church said, amen, amen. You can be
seated. Identity crisis. We live in a day and
time where labels, many labels are enlisted and
demanded, prescribed. Once upon a time when you
identified yourself as a Christian, today it's...
Pronoun identification. But there was a time
when you identified yourself as a Christian.
Most people had a basic idea of what you meant
by that. Some of the latest studies and information
reveal. 2023, 67 .2 % of all Americans identified
as Christian. But like many words, the word Christian
has morphed and evolved in its definition. I
can't say that that's a positive thing, because
some things that evolve... go the opposite direction
from the original intent. They become more diminished
than they do edified. And I think in our world
today that Christian is one of those words. But
like had been put a few years ago, inquiring
minds want to know, will the real Christian please
stand up? The ambiguity in Christianity today
and the identity of a Christian got to a point
that in the 70s that the term born again had
to be added. I'm a born again Christian. Why?
Because too many Christians were living the same
lifestyle as the world. So we had to add born
again. Today, Christians have geopolitical labels
such as the extreme right. Come on. Conservative.
Even now, today, the term evangelical Christian
is a geopolitical phrase. The faith of a true
Christian as a mental illness. So who in their
right mind could truly trust and believe something
which they cannot see? Right? Tony Campalo tells
a story and uses an illustration of a town similar
to Whoville, but all of the residents in this
little town are ducks. Every Sunday the ducks
waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main
Street to their little duck church. They waddle
into the sanctuary and they squat in their proper
pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes its
place. And then the duck preacher comes forward
and opens the duck Bible. And he reads to them,
ducks, God has given you wings. With wings you
can fly. With wings you can mount up and soar
like the eagle. No walls can confine you. No
fences can hold you. You have wings. God has
given you wings and you can fly like other birds.
And all the ducks shout, amen. And then they
waddle out the door, waddle back down Main Street,
or waddle back into their homes. Unfortunately,
that's the way it is with many believers. We
hear and we agree with what the Scripture has
to say, but live beneath the privilege and the
promise that it affords and forfeit the blessings
which are provided through them by Christ. 67
.2 % of 330 -something million Americans. That
leaves 224 million in the count that identify
as a Christian. But are they a duck Christian
or what kind of Christian are they? There was
a survey a few years ago co -sponsored by a leadership.
The author, Helen Lee, and in this survey, she
identified five different kinds of Christians.
Now hold on, buckle your seatbelt, keep hands
and feet in at all times until this ride comes
to a complete stop. Understanding the disparity
of those who call themselves Christian in America,
an identification has been attempted. I don't
know that this is exactly the way it is, but
it kind of triggered my thought process in reading
it. 19 % of the 67 % identify themselves as active
Christians. An active Christian is identified
as a person who believes salvation comes through
Jesus Christ. They are committed church goers.
They are Bible readers. They accept leadership
positions in their church. They invest in personal
faith development through the church in discipleship.
They invest in their giving and they are committed
to the church. And they feel obligated to share
their faith. And 79 % of the 19 % actually share
their faith. The second identifier was a professing
Christian. They believe salvation comes through
20 % of that 67. Believe salvation comes through
Jesus Christ, and they're focused on personal
relationship with Jesus. They have similar beliefs
as to the active Christian, but different actions.
Less involved in church, both attending and serving.
Less commitment to... Bible reading or sharing
their faith. Which moves on down to the next
category, which is 16%, which are liturgical
Christians, which make up largely predominantly
by the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church
and other churches that predominantly follow
through the liturgical actions of the church.
Regular churchgoers, high level of spiritual
activity, mostly expressed by serving in church
or the community. recognizes the authority of
the church. Notice no identifier as Christ fully
as Savior. The next category, 24%, represents
what's labeled private Christians. It's the largest
group. And in that group, it's the youngest segment.
They believe in God and do good things. They
own a Bible, but don't read it. Spiritual interests
but not within church context. Only about a third
attend church at all and almost none are in leadership
in their local church. And then 21%, the last
category that they had, was what was called and
identified as a cultural Christian. Little outward
religious behavior or attitudes. God aware, but
little personal involvement with God. Do not
view Jesus as essential to salvation. Affirm
many ways to God. Favor universality in their
theology. Which means God is love and everybody's
going to get to heaven. I call it the buffet
church. God is love, but he's also holy. God
is love, but he's also righteous. God is love,
but he's also very jealous. And that we have
no other gods before him. And he loved this world
that he gave his only begotten son not to be
shunned, but to be accepted. And so just any
old way is not going to cut it with God. Right?
There is only one way. Anybody care to tell me
the way? Thank you. Before any labels were put
on, we were simply known as disciples. Before
the labeling begins, and what a disciple is,
this is very slow today, probably ain't going
to have a whole lot to shout about. It's just
eye -opening, very pastoral, and a reminder that
the church needs today. Because the society and
the world in which you and I are living are looking
for the authentic. and the authenticity of what
a true Christian is and what it means to be one.
They're not interested in your cultural acceptance.
They're not interested in your private interpretation.
They want the real deal to stand before them.
They want somebody, when the fire's heaved up
around them, to be able to say, let me tell you
how I came through my situation. Let me tell
you how I'm standing before you today. It's by
the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I am not
ashamed of the God. The others are ashamed. It's
not liturgical. It's not by the letter. It's
not by the rite. It's not by the act. It's by
faith that we are saved. Through grace, by faith,
we are saved and we are redeemed. And a world
that is stark and growing, growing darker every
day at the dimming of the light needs of people
who have the light of the glorious Christ living
in them to arise and to stand and come to attention
and get over the identity crisis of our culture
and begin to declare Jesus is the way, the truth,
and the life. No man coming to the Father but
by him. Hallelujah. They need you. They need
your faith. They need my faith. They need our
witness as we're on the job, in the marketplace,
at the ball field, wherever we have to find ourselves.
That's the reason we have the command that as
you are going into all of the world, make disciples,
not Christians. Make disciples. Because it's
obvious from the world's definition of what a
Christian is, it can be anything, but a disciple
can only be one thing. Well, hallelujah. I'm
about to preach myself happy. A disciple means
student or follower. Matthew 4, 19, Jesus said,
follow me and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 11, 29 is a learner described. Take my
yoke upon you and learn of me. Acts 11, 26, we
see the identifier as an imitator. And it came
to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves
with the church and taught much people. And the
disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
My little grandson, Grayson, he's in preschool.
He's a pretty sharp little fella. Not head, but
he's a pretty sharp little fella. So at least
three days a week, they call on their way to
school and daycare every morning. About 8 .30,
and we have a conversation when they're in the
mood to talk. Some days they're not. They're
just cross. But on one particular ride to school
the day before, he had learned what compound
words were. And man, he was loaded. Poppy, Poppy,
you know what a compound word is? Well, I do,
but you tell me what one is. And here he goes
on compound words. I really blew his mind the
other morning. I said, Grayson, I got you a three
-word compound. Really? So. He goes in to the
daycare. Mama takes him in. She comes back out
and gets on the phone and says, well, you just
made his day. First thing he did was hit the
teacher up. I know a three -word compound, so
it's on. Christian is a compound Greek word.
The first is Christ. And that word means anointed.
Right? It means anointed. That second little
word carries power and connotation. And I had
it and just lost it. I was thinking about the
two words past it, and I just lost that same
word. Oh, it means little ones. T -I -N. It means
little ones. So when you put the two together,
you've got an anointed little one. An anointed
little one. A little one what? A little believer.
You've got an anointed little disciple. You've
got one who is following and trying to imitate
the actions of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. You've
got an anointed little person. That's you and
me. We are anointed, and we are in no way in
comparison to the enormity of who God and who
his son Jesus Christ, our Lord, Redeemer, and
Savior is. So we are little anointed ones, and
we are walking forth as imitators. Can I tell
you today, the world sees enough fake in their
imitation. They need to see the authentic imitator
of Jesus Christ. They need to see a follower
and a learner, and not only that, but one who
applies what they are learning. The one who applies
and releases the anointing upon which they possess.
And you and I have been given some authority.
We've been given authority over some spiritual
things in this world. But we can't exercise that
authority if we are beneath the privilege and
the promise. And we are not illuminating the
light that is growing in us. But I think that
may be the problem. It's the light that we are
illuminating. It's not the light of Christ. But
it is the light of this world. And it's time
that there be a renewal and a refreshing. so
that while we illuminate this dark world, that
we are the authentic little anointed ones walking
into a dark world who needs the power which you
and I have been entrusted with. Your friends,
your neighbors, your family, they need what you
have. But are you a cultural? Are you a private?
A lot of people say, well, I'm just real private
about my faith. Well, that's not good enough.
I'm sorry. Scripture says that the Bible is of
no personal or private interpretation. You can't
just get your own little revelation. How shall
they hear without a preacher? Wasn't that the
question that was posed? How shall they hear?
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God. And how shall they hear without a preacher?
Well, I'm not a preacher. Oh, yes, you are. You
may not be my type in this formality of a preacher,
but yes, you are. You are an anointed little
one. And everywhere Christ went, he went declaring
who he was and the authority of the power. So
that's what you and I, we do so in love and let
the honey of the rock that lives within us flow
out. And those who are thirsty and hurting and
starving, who are simply thriving and surviving
on the bitterness of this world. The bitterness
that they have to take in every day. They need
the sweetness of the love of Christ that's in
you. Sometimes the honey in my comb comes from
sour clover. I need to work on the honey in my
comb. Hello? Where's some more of you sour clover
people? You know you're not as sweet as what
you're supposed to be. Hello? hateful, ornery.
What time is it? I got a minute. Yesterday, I'm
in line at the tractor supply, and it's taking
a little while, and there's this older gentleman
in front of me, and he's just carrying on the
in -line conversation, because it's kind of slow,
and it's backed up about halfway down the aisle,
you know. I'm standing there with a little...
A little sack of hummingbird feed, and he's got
some stuff. There was a little altercation with
the lady at the register, and the old fellow
kind of just let his frustration out there just
a little bit. He said something to her. She said
something. He said, well, you better. Pardon
me. This is the way I talk. This old gal stood
up and said, I what? And she tried to find the
sweet honey in her cone, you know. And before
they go back and forth a little bit, it calmed
down just a little bit. And the old fellow looked
at her and said, well, as he's paying, he said,
well, he said, I'm sorry if I offended you. And
then she lied. She said, oh, you didn't. I said,
you lie. I thought, if you liar, I'd have seen
you cross up. You know, and the old man didn't
let it go either. He said, well, he said, I think
I did. He said, I seen you back up there just
a little bit. Ah, Lord, I'm like, whoo, yeah.
And that's how quick sour clover can come out.
crossed up at the register to try to get out,
you know. And I thought, my Lord, either she's
having a bad day and he's just plum crossed,
but here I am right in the middle of all this.
Oh, Lord, I just told that lady, I said, have
a great day. And he's gone out the door. This
world needs to see, they need to see a little
bit more, amen. But I think on the wrong day,
I sat there and thought to myself, well, that
would have been you on another particular day.
I'd have had her backed up too. But we've got
to be more mindful, don't we? We have to be more
mindful of who we are and whose we are and whom
we represent in a dark world because she may
have needed the honey, not the sour clover. She
may have needed a little grace. Oh, I'm sorry,
you know. Well, he realized he offended her,
and then when she lied to him, he just put on
the gas, you know, and went right home because
he knew what he had done. We, disciples, students,
followers, learners, and we have to become what
we are called. Christ called Jesus, labeled disciples
everywhere he traveled. Disciple or disciple
is used 295 times in the New Testament alone.
Characteristics of a disciple do represent dynamic
changes to one's life. The authenticity. Look,
the worst of sinners know that you're not supposed
to be like them. Hello. They know we're supposed
to sound different. They know we're supposed
to look different. They know we're supposed to
talk different. Hello? And then when we don't
and we have that bad day and we get somebody
backed up in a corner because we've misspoken.
I really think she just misunderstood what the
old fellow was trying to say. It's just one of
those things that gets all crossed up in a hurry.
But we need to be quick to repent if we find
ourselves and let the Spirit be willing to quicken
us and to convict us real quick. And fall down.
And I am so sorry. I should not have said that.
I apologize. I did not mean it the way that it
sounded. So please forgive me. Put a little more
honey in it and it will get sweeter as the day
goes by. And then they may actually see that
what you are proclaiming, what I am proclaiming
as we walk through a dark world, I'm telling
you the force of evil is intensifying the darkness
daily. Amen. It's getting darker, darker, darker,
darker. As every day comes and goes until the
heavens will split and the Christ shall appear.
And amen, us little anointed ones rise to meet
him. It's going to get worse and worse. Paul
actually even tells Timothy that in his third
chapter. He says it, doesn't he? This know also
that in the last days perilous times shall come.
Men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, blasphemers, proud, disobedient to
their parents. My Lord, have you ever seen a
generation where kids smart off more than their
mom and daddy in the age in which you and I are
living? Can I give you a little pastoral parenting
advice? Risk the jail time. Risk the jail time.
I said risk the jail time, but do not. Do not
devoid your children of a godly upbringing that
they need. Spare the rod. Spoil the child. There's
a reason that it pleases the father that chasteneth
his son. I'm talking about the heavenly father
and us. Because he's not just going to leave
us to our own devices. So don't leave them. to
their own devices. Tear that hiney up. That's
a little weak, you know, and as years go by,
that type of preaching will get a boo and not
a clap. Not even a good golf clap. Well, I want
to be their friend. Look, I didn't bring the...
I'm your daddy. I am not your friend. How do
we get there? Let's move on. Somebody say, move
on, preacher. I think I will. Characteristics
of a disciple. First of all, Luke 9, 23, there
is a great element of self -denial. And he said
unto them, if any man will come after me, let
him deny himself. Take up his cross daily. We
leave that daily out a lot of times. We'll quote
that. Take up your cross and follow me. No, we've
got to get it all in there. Take up your cross
daily and follow me. An element of self -denial.
Now, we live in the most selfish age I think
that's ever been known to humanity. Right? Such
selfishness. But in order to be a follower, a
disciple, a little anointed Christian, we have
to deny ourselves. Because in order to put Christ
first, you will find that it will cost you your
pride. That alone will bring your haughty spirit
down. Your spirit and your pride cannot be here
where he is elevated. And when you recognize
who Christ is and what he has done for you, it's
not hard then to submit yourself under the mighty
hand of God so that he may exalt you in due season.
That's why we do not grow weary in well -doing
for in that same due season. There is an appointed
and an applied time in all of our lives. Luke
14, 26, another characteristic is that there's
this supreme love for Christ. Look, you cannot,
well, let's look. If any man come to me and hate
not his father and mother and wife and children
and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life
also, he cannot be my disciple. Now, folks, that's
pretty direct, right? And that's from the lips
of the master. Now, we have to take great care
in how we elevate the loving relationships that
we have horizontally in this life. So that we
do not elevate those horizontal relationships
and love above the vertical love that is required.
Now what does all that mean, Pastor? It means
you can't love your wife, your children, your
mama, your daddy, any of your family, yourself,
more than you love him. That's why it's called
idolatry. If you love yourself, and there's so
many that love their self more than any other
earthly relationship, there's no room for a heavenly
relationship. Because there's denial, and that
overwhelming sense of narcissism will not permit
a person to love anything better than themselves,
let alone anyone. But to be a disciple, you cannot
be a disciple if you love yourself and any other
human relationship more than you love Christ.
That's pretty plain. I mean, there's just no
way around it. If you love anything or anyone
more than you love him, you can't be a disciple.
Well, I just don't know about that. Well, you
just kind of work that out. That's why there
was those five different labels of Christianity.
Which one are you? That sounds like that private
cultural Christian, doesn't it? A little combo
there. Don't love anything but themselves and
their possession and there may be room for a
little admiration of the Christ. Next characteristic.
Man, y 'all will be wishing I didn't get the
pulpit so early today. There must be a submission
to the authority of the scripture. Then said
Jesus to those Jews which believed on him in
John 8, 31 and 2. If you continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed. And you shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you
free. Now, it's hard to keep his word if you
don't read the word. And there's a little phrase
out there about... One says ignorance is bliss,
and there's another one that something about
ignorance not being an excuse. No, you're not
going to be able to claim ignorance when it comes
to, well, I didn't know that. He's going to say,
well, why didn't you read it? I left the instructions.
And I know for a fact on the fourth day of May
in the year of our Lord, my son, 2025, he told
you. So you've lost your defense before God Almighty.
If you continue, you folks have just got a little
ways and have quit doing what the Word says.
Are we a disciple if we stop? If we're not continuing
in His Word? Let's read it again. I mean, I don't
want you to misunderstand that I'm saying something
to you. I want you to know what the Word says
to us. Because that's what matters, right? Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples
indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free. I'm going to get on
off of that. Move to the next characteristic.
There has to be a genuine love for others. By
a show of hands, if you're brave enough. How
many of you know people that you just don't want
to love? We've all got them. But can I share
something with you? Christ loves them. I think
that's where we have a little bit of leeway when
the Apostle Paul says, where it is all possible.
Be at peace with all men. He gives us a little
grace, but let's see what the Lord says. A new
commandment, not a suggestion. A new commandment
I give unto you that you love one another as
I have loved you. See, he always has to put that
in there, right? Paul even had to repeat it when
he talked to husbands about how they ought to
love their wives. Love your wives as Christ loved
the church. As I have loved you, that you also
love one another. By this shall all men know
that you are my disciples, if you have love one
to another. I know it's hard. He didn't say it
was easy. Right? And some folks, now I don't
know if this is biblical, but this is the way
I've tried to work it out in my faith. There's
some folks I have to love at great distance.
And I'm still trying to be his disciple. I'm
trying to love them like he loved them. And he
loved some of them from the other side of the
world. From eternity. While we were yet sinners,
Christ. You know what I'm saying? He loved us
from heaven. And that's where I like to love
some people from. I'm trying here. You're alive
because you got those heavenly people you like
to love too. And my potential to sin is a lot
less when I love them from a heavenly distance.
Oh, come on. It is. My sanctification is in less
jeopardy when I avoid Paul Huff Parkway. You've
heard me. You know that. The other day, Sister
Kathy, I was coming through there, and I thought,
for the love of the Lord, what is the problem?
There's four lanes here. Why does everyone in
Bradley County have to try to go down this road?
And on the busiest hour of the day, they've got
barrels lined up and only one lane. that you
can get through. And 40 minutes it takes you
to get. I thought, I said, I mean, we're being
just clear, so let me go ahead. I'm sitting here
fussing at myself. Cliff, you idiot. Calling
myself that. Why would you call yourself that?
For being there. Just for being in that mess.
I told Sister Kathy, I know better than to go
this way. And I turned right anyway. Thinking,
well, at this time of day, maybe. Sitting down
there at Home Depot and could see plumb to the
top of the hill, nearly to the interstate, red
taillights. Tried to take a picture, but there
was a cop sitting beside me. I was going to send
it. I send it to the staff sometimes. Pray, saints.
I need prayer. And you say nothing but tell -outs.
Oh, Pastor, you're on Paul Huff. Look, we will
drive 10 minutes out of the way just to keep
going down that road. I'll go straight through,
go over the ridge, and come way out down there
somewhere. Go down, and I hate driving Mouse
Creek. Go all the way over there. Go down Mouse
Creek. Let's go over to North Lee. So we're all
endeavoring. So sometimes it's just better to
love over on North Lee so that your sanctification
isn't tested right in the middle of Paul. You
know what? I've got to worry. Sometimes I'll
just go to Athens to go to Lowe's. That's the
truth. Can't say where we're going. I've got
to run up to Lowe's. Well, why are we going to
Athens? Because I don't want to go down Paul
Love Parkway. And I know what you're thinking.
Well, Pastor, you ought to be better than that.
And you're right. I ought to be. But I'm not.
I'm sorry. I know I should be more. Well, I'm
under conviction, so let me move on. Identity
crisis. This culture and society grows more Antichrist
every day. And as believers and Christians, we
need to make a stand. I've got to make a stand.
I have to stand firm in my faith and not let
something as non -sequential as a stretch of
highway. Push me to that edge. To where I'll
drive to the next city. Just to avoid it. I have
to make a stand in my discipleship, in my faith.
There's no greater example on how we can stand
than if you go read the story of those Hebrew
children. Knowing that we need God's grace to
live day in and day out. Amen. To make it through
every day. To survive every moment of every day.
We have to have power to stand. In our text this
morning, that's what Paul was telling young Timothy.
I want you to continue in your faith. Learn to
apply what you have learned, Timothy. Those two
little letters are powerful little letters, personal
letters that Paul writes to the young evangelist.
He reminds him of the faith that he sees in him.
Remember? I recall to my mind and I have you
to stir up your mind and remember the faith that
is instilled on you. I laid my hands on you.
I've seen God impart that faith into your life.
I've seen your grandmother and I've seen your
mama. And the same faith is in you, Timothy.
I see that. Know that perilous times are coming.
Know that hardships are coming. Know that, young
Timothy. But what I want you to do is continue
in the faith, in the situation when identity
crisis is all around you. I want you to reassure
and to reaffirm your faith in Christ. I'm here
to tell us this morning, in a condition of Christianity
and identity crisis all around the world, will
the true Christians, the true leaders, little
anointed ones, please stand and let's make a
difference. When we've done all to stand, Paul
would tell the Ephesian church, when you haven't
done all to stand, stand therefore. Then he tells
them to equip themselves with the whole armor
of God. Let us be equipped in an age of darkness
and warfare. In an age of identity crisis. Christians
don't even know what it means to be a Christian.
And how that it's not suggested, it's commanded.
A new commandment I give you. Pastor Cliff, you
can't get around it. I know. Love others. Sometimes
it must be at a distance. He said, love your
enemies. He didn't say go to supper with them.
He did say feed them though. Feed them. He loves
them. So we are to love them through the love
of Christ. Oh, there's some enemies in this world
that you need to go look up and read the stats
on how many Christians were killed on Easter
Sunday around the world. Check that little stat
out. On Easter, while we're here celebrating,
others took the same step of faith. To worship
the risen Savior and today are with Him in His
presence. Simply because of no other reason than
they were an authentic, illuminating, anointed
little one. Showed up to worship on Easter Sunday.
Identity crisis? I think maybe it's just the
Western church that has the crisis. Many of our
brothers and sisters, stand with me, I'm quitting.
Many of our brothers and sisters around the world,
they know the price of faith. They know the cost.
And every opportunity that we forfeit to gather
to worship for just whatever, We should be reminded,
we should remind ourselves of our fellow brothers
and sisters and the peril that they put themselves
in every Sunday to worship. Identity crisis?
I don't care how they label it, how they try
to break it down. There's really only one Christian.
Doesn't matter any other adjectives you put along
with it. A Christian is a Christ follower. All
that other, hypocrite. I'm sorry. Sometimes we
need a little personal evaluation about our own
faith. Our own practices. I'm not real proud
of the way I let some things get to me. I know
it's comical when it comes across this way. I
have to do that or I'm just going to break down
and cry in front of you. It shames me. It really
does. When finally the traffic clears and I get
beyond. Whatever it is. Conviction sits in my
heart. The Holy Spirit says, really? You weren't
going anywhere in a great hurry anyway. So I
have to repent. Same goes with those people that
I have to love at a distance. That little song
we used to sing was... He's still working on
me to make me what I ought to be. What was that
like? Took him just a week to make the moon and
the stars, Jupiter and Earth. You know how it
goes. Oh, how loving and patient he must be.
Because he's still working on me. If he's still
working on you, would you just come join me down
here? If he's still working on you, you're still
working out some stuff. Come on down here and
stand with me so I don't feel all alone in this
dilemma of life. I know it hurts and I know it
stings. I know they're aggravating. I know they're
hateful. I know they're mean. But do you know
what a good dose of Jesus will do for those hateful,
mean people? It'll turn them into little anointed
ones. Because what were we? Paul told those Corinthians,
he went through a list of sins and what people
were committing. And he said, and such were some
of you. You used to be that, but you're not that
anymore. So, Lord, help us to love. Amen.