Do I Act Like A Christian?

Do I Act Like A Christian? by Don Vess

I am a Christian!  This is a title that is used very loosely by so many who have no idea of the
concept. Perhaps they assume that because they grew up in a “Christian family” they are
Christian by osmosis. Or because they grew up in a country that was once titled Christian,
however we are now assumed to be a “post-Christian” nation. However, there is only one
thing that will qualify one to be Christian. Being a Follower of Christ!

And that means being born-again by the Spirit of God (John 3:3 NLT Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born-again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”).

Acts 11:19-26 NLT-
Verse 26 …the disciples were first called Christians at Antioch. They were called Christians
because they worshiped and followed Christ, the Messiah. The historian Josephus called
them “that tribe of Christians.” Tacitus, the Roman historian, referred to them as
“Christians, a name derived from Christ.”

Originally, the church referred to themselves as “the Way.” But later they began to refer to
themselves as Christians, despite the fact that the name was originally used in a derogatory
way to ridicule the believers.

Many today do not understand the implication or the claim when we say, “I am a
Christian.” Paul understood it this way. He had been a Christ-hater who persecuted Jesus
and anyone who followed him. He was making it his life-mission to do all he could to stamp
out this new “religion” that was giving a new way of life to anyone who chose to believe in
Christ and become one of his followers. But after Jesus revealed Himself to Paul on the
Damascus Road, Paul experienced a grace and profound forgiveness and acceptance he
had never known. It was absolutely life-changing!

The Apostle Paul described his relationship with Christ like this: Gal. 2:20-21 NLT- My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So, I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make us right with God could make us
right with God, the there was no need for Christ to die.

Many of us may have experienced our own “Damascus Road” encounter with
Jesus and it changed your life. For many though, it may not have been quite as dramatic. It
could have happened when you heard the gospel on the radio riding in your car or in a
hotel room or in the privacy of your own home, but it was real to you and the Lord
revealed his love to you and His Holy Spirit extended an invitation you could not resist. Or
you could have been at a gospel crusade, a revival meeting or just a regular church service
or even in Sunday School. It could have happened a hundred different ways, but thank God
it happened! You are Christian because you believed God’s Word and accepted His
invitation to become a follower of His.

On the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit fell on the 120 disciples in the Upper Room
and Peter stood as the spokesperson to address the crowd of thousands who had gathered
to see what was going on. Peter stood and addressed the crowd and described to the crowd
what was happening. It was an act of God’s grace that He was meeting them where the Law
was meeting with Grace. As commanded, Jews from all over the world had gathered in
Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, the most important observance in the Jewish Religion.

It was a feast to remember how God delivered them from Egypt as He caused the death angel to pass-over every home that had, by faith, applied the blood of the lamb to the door post of
of the home. On the day of Pentecost, God sent the Holy Spirit, as He had promised in Joel
2:28 and Peter reminded them of it as he spoke, Acts 2:12   They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other. 13  But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!” 14  Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews, and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.  15  These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that.  16  No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: 17  ‘In the last days,’ God says,   ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy.   Your young men will see visions,  and your old men will dream dreams. 18  In those days I will pour out my Spirit  even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. 19  And I will cause wonders in the heavens above   and signs on the earth below— blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20  The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red  before that great and glorious
day of the Lord arrives. 21  But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord  will be saved.’

Perry Stone, whom I respect very highly as a prophecy teacher, said the following and I
agree: If you look at what Joel said in Joel 2:29- “In THOSE days I will pour out My
Spirit…” vs. what Peter said, “In the LAST DAYS, God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit.”
He poured out His Spirit in “those days” and Now He is pouring out His Spirit in the Last
Days!

22  “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful
miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.  23  But God knew what would
happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help
of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24  But God released him from
37  Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers,
what should we do?” 38  Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God,
and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39  This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far
away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.”

Today, we have some folks who are IDENTIFYING with Christ and have chosen to be
baptized in water as an outward sign of what has happened inside.. They are saying, “I am
a Christian!” I have made a choice to deny myself and follow Him. They are also saying, “I
am choosing to become a DISCIPLE of Christ, to be a learner of Him and His ways, to
follow His example for living and to be holy as He is holy. But, in order to do this, my first
step is obedience, my second step is still- obedience, and my final step will be obedience.”
But, because I live a body that has been dominated by the flesh and it’s desires, I realize I
need the power of God in my life in order to live a holy of Life of obedience. For God’s
word says, Col. 2:27 “Christ in you, the hope of Glory.”

Repentance, (turning from sin and your old way of life as you turn to God in a “new and living way)” He has given you, there is a promise that Peter revealed when asked, “What must we do to be saved?”

Water baptism is a significant step obedience and is an outward sign of an inward commitment to
follow Jesus. God promised in His word also that as you repent and are baptized, that He
would you would receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. I am going to ask the Father to
baptize each of you in the Holy Spirit even before you are baptized in water. If you desire
the promise of the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and who wouldn’t! You can ask and receive
today.

Luke 13:11-13 NLT- “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a
snake instead?12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will
your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ASK HIM.”

Being a true Christian is not easy, if it was, everyone would be one. It would be very
popular. But it’s not, and is becoming even more unpopular if you become a true follower
of Jesus. You’ll need all the power you can get, but that’s exactly what God has promised
all of us who believe and receive. Acts 1:6-8 NLT- So when the apostles were with Jesus, the
kept asking Him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore the kingdom?” 7
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not
for you to know. 8 But you shall receive power (dunamis: dynamic, explosive, supernatural)
when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses (Christians: Believers,
followers of Jesus, true disciples), telling people about Me everywhere—in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

I thoroughly believe and am convinced that God wants to send the wave of Pentecostal
revival in this place. Bishop Vasily Vitituk, a Pastor and Evangelist from Russia, told me
that he sensed a spirit of revival in the house as he spoke at Destiny City Church.

I sense it too. I just believe God wants us to release our doubts and receive His promise so we can do what He has caused us to do as “CHRISTIANS” in these last days. The time is short.

Unfortunately many will be like the foolish virgins in Matt. 25 Who had allowed the “oil in their lamps” to burn out and were not ready to meet the Bridegroom. Who is the BRIDEGROOM? It’s Jesus, who is desiring that His virgin Bride, the Church be ready to meet Him when it’s time for the
“Wedding feast” which won’t be long.

Are you ready? Is your lamp (Your soul) full of oil (The Holy Spirit)? If not, you had better go to the only source there is to get it.

 The Father is the One! He just wants you to ask in faith and receive.
Rev. 22:17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “COME.” Let anyone who is THIRSTY COME!

Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of Life.”  This is God’s invitation for you today. If you are thirsty, come and drink! COME!