TOPIC: THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY
BY: EVANG. KINIKA ENWENEMATI
TEXT: ACTS 11:26
What is Christianity all about? What is the use of going to church? What is the product of going to church activities? There are those in church today for maybe a part of social activities as well, and there are those in church in search of miracles, problems of life is too much, let me go for God to help me. What is the essence of Christianity?
I want to say that anything we do in church that did not ends us in heaven was a waste of life. What is the use of a miracle of walking out of a wheelchair and then still ended up in hell? What is the use of a miracle that the blind see, lame walk, deaf hear, dumb speak and all that but still ended up in hell?
I mean what is the use of being in church and still ends up in hell with those that never go to church at all? Ending in the same place with prostitutes, drunkards, womanizers, homosexuals, murderers, armed rubbers, adulterers etc. So it is very important that we ask ourselves this question what is the essence of the whole thing?
The disciples were called Christian first in Antioch Acts 11:26, the reason is they observed them, they looked at them, they knew who they were before and they are seeing who they are now, and they realized that something drastically changed.
They could look into their lives and the only thing their lives reminded them about was Christ. So they gave them the nickname “Christians” that is little Christ, Christ like. The followers of Jesus was given nickname that is you remind us of Christ.
The essence of Christianity is the CHANGE INTO THE MAJOR OF CHRIST. Transformation into the nature of Christ. In other words, anybody who has ever known you before you ever met Jesus should see you now and the only thing your life remind them of is Christ. Your life makes me to think about God, your life makes me feel like a sinner, change, transformation into the nature, character of Christ. That is the essence of Christianity.
Christian life that is unchanged is a useless waste of effort. Every church attendance that doesn’t change a persons life is a waste of life. That is wasting time in church and still ends in hell. And one of the greatest pain to the father is to see unchanged children coming to him everyday with their characters in tact.
The greatest tragedy that can before anybody is to waste time on earth, claiming to be serving God and then finding oneself in the eternal flame of fire, you will not forgive yourself for eternity.
They look at Jesus in Jerusalem and said your life convict us of sin, in the same manner, people should look at you and say your life convict us of sin. That is to say for sinners to feel at home around you is an abomination, for an unbeliever to feel comfortable in your presence and still carry out their unbelievers lifestyle under your watch is an abomination. It is an evidence of the absence of the nature of Christ in you.
One of the major assignment of any true Pastor is to tell you the truth and not to entice you with the word of God. I want to tell you this truth if your life is not impacting on your word, if people are not looking at you and desiring to know God, if people are not changing near you to become better then you are wasting your attendance to church. It is the same thing to does who don’t attend at all.
WHAT KIND OF CHANGE ARE WE EXPECTING AS CHRISTIANS IN OUR LIVES?
1. CHANGE IN LIFE PRIORITIES:
That is change in that which matters most to us. The priorities of a Christian can never be the same of that of the world.
BY: EVANG. KINIKA ENWENEMATI
TEXT: ACTS 11:26
What is Christianity all about? What is the use of going to church? What is the product of going to church activities? There are those in church today for maybe a part of social activities as well, and there are those in church in search of miracles, problems of life is too much, let me go for God to help me. What is the essence of Christianity?
I want to say that anything we do in church that did not ends us in heaven was a waste of life. What is the use of a miracle of walking out of a wheelchair and then still ended up in hell? What is the use of a miracle that the blind see, lame walk, deaf hear, dumb speak and all that but still ended up in hell?
I mean what is the use of being in church and still ends up in hell with those that never go to church at all? Ending in the same place with prostitutes, drunkards, womanizers, homosexuals, murderers, armed rubbers, adulterers etc. So it is very important that we ask ourselves this question what is the essence of the whole thing?
The disciples were called Christian first in Antioch Acts 11:26, the reason is they observed them, they looked at them, they knew who they were before and they are seeing who they are now, and they realized that something drastically changed.
They could look into their lives and the only thing their lives reminded them about was Christ. So they gave them the nickname “Christians” that is little Christ, Christ like. The followers of Jesus was given nickname that is you remind us of Christ.
The essence of Christianity is the CHANGE INTO THE MAJOR OF CHRIST. Transformation into the nature of Christ. In other words, anybody who has ever known you before you ever met Jesus should see you now and the only thing your life remind them of is Christ. Your life makes me to think about God, your life makes me feel like a sinner, change, transformation into the nature, character of Christ. That is the essence of Christianity.
Christian life that is unchanged is a useless waste of effort. Every church attendance that doesn’t change a persons life is a waste of life. That is wasting time in church and still ends in hell. And one of the greatest pain to the father is to see unchanged children coming to him everyday with their characters in tact.
The greatest tragedy that can before anybody is to waste time on earth, claiming to be serving God and then finding oneself in the eternal flame of fire, you will not forgive yourself for eternity.
They look at Jesus in Jerusalem and said your life convict us of sin, in the same manner, people should look at you and say your life convict us of sin. That is to say for sinners to feel at home around you is an abomination, for an unbeliever to feel comfortable in your presence and still carry out their unbelievers lifestyle under your watch is an abomination. It is an evidence of the absence of the nature of Christ in you.
One of the major assignment of any true Pastor is to tell you the truth and not to entice you with the word of God. I want to tell you this truth if your life is not impacting on your word, if people are not looking at you and desiring to know God, if people are not changing near you to become better then you are wasting your attendance to church. It is the same thing to does who don’t attend at all.
WHAT KIND OF CHANGE ARE WE EXPECTING AS CHRISTIANS IN OUR LIVES?
1. CHANGE IN LIFE PRIORITIES:
That is change in that which matters most to us. The priorities of a Christian can never be the same of that of the world.
The bible says “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and it’s righteousness and every other thing shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
The things that matters most to the world cannot be as the same thing that matters to you.
2. CHANGE IN HABITS AND LIFESTYLE:
That is change in conduct. When an unbeliever comes to work late at 9am he then write 7am on the register, when a believer does the same thing he is heading to the same destination with the unbeliever.
2. CHANGE IN HABITS AND LIFESTYLE:
That is change in conduct. When an unbeliever comes to work late at 9am he then write 7am on the register, when a believer does the same thing he is heading to the same destination with the unbeliever.
When an unbeliever opened a beer pallor and plays worldly music to entice his customers, when a Christian does the same act there is no differences between them.
If a child of God has the same habit of those in the world, they are heading to the same destination.
If yesterday you were a drunkard, and you now met Christ, people expect you to live a sober life free from alcohol.
A Christian building a chalet house for people to come in to patronize prostitute.
3. CHANGE IN APPEARANCE:
Change in look. King Solomon talks about the attire of an harlot in proverbs 7:10, an attire that market the flesh as a good for use as a product to be exploited.
In this end time, there’s too much flesh marketing going on, the tighter the better for the women, so that they can properly market the flesh. They wear it to the club disco party halls and also wear it to the church, and some churches says it doesn’t matter.
3. CHANGE IN APPEARANCE:
Change in look. King Solomon talks about the attire of an harlot in proverbs 7:10, an attire that market the flesh as a good for use as a product to be exploited.
In this end time, there’s too much flesh marketing going on, the tighter the better for the women, so that they can properly market the flesh. They wear it to the club disco party halls and also wear it to the church, and some churches says it doesn’t matter.
Instead of us advertising our spirituality we become a generation of people advertising our carnality. And when people look at us what comes to their mind is immortality.
You are now directing people in direction that will lead them in damnation, and yet we call ourselves Christians, child of God. What happened to our decency and dignity?
One of the worst thing that can happen to a Christian is to become a tool in the hand of Satan.
The tragedy is that many children of God has join the children of the devil to fulfil Satan’s vision.
One of the worst thing that can happen to a Christian is to become a tool in the hand of Satan.
The tragedy is that many children of God has join the children of the devil to fulfil Satan’s vision.
What kind of God that change your lives and didn’t change your wardrobe? It’s not matter of rules and regulations of the Church, let your conscience convince you.
The way you are looking, do you represent the Kingdom of God? If Christ should appear suddenly can He call you daughter and son?
St. Augustine said preach the Gospel always and when necessary use words. What does it mean? Let your life be the major preaching.
4. Change in Association:
It is not possible to maintain the same association of ungodly if you have come to the master. Be not unequally yoked with the unbelievers, (2 Corinthians 6:14).
4. Change in Association:
It is not possible to maintain the same association of ungodly if you have come to the master. Be not unequally yoked with the unbelievers, (2 Corinthians 6:14).
You are born again but your closets friend is a drug addict, drunkard, fornicator, adulterer etc.
There should be something about you that makes them feel irresponsible and useless, so they stay away until they are ready to change, they don’t come near you. Your appearance torment their soul.
Act 11: 25 said “the rest of the world could not join themselves to them” they find it hard to join them why? Because their life, it was fire, and you can’t play around fire.
5. Change in Atmosphere
There’s an atmospheric change that happens to the life of a Christian.
There should be something about you that makes them feel irresponsible and useless, so they stay away until they are ready to change, they don’t come near you. Your appearance torment their soul.
Act 11: 25 said “the rest of the world could not join themselves to them” they find it hard to join them why? Because their life, it was fire, and you can’t play around fire.
5. Change in Atmosphere
There’s an atmospheric change that happens to the life of a Christian.
You can't Comfortably dance in the church and does the same at the club house.
You can't be seated comfortably in the midst of unbelievers discussing worldly events.
What is a Christian looking for in a juju shrine?
Sister, when a young man begins to run after you, calling you “hi baby, can I…” check yourself, there is something that is pulling them.
If there’s that holy ghost atmosphere I’m talking about is around you, they begin to look at you with respect, they look at you with dignity, initially they may feel attracted to you because of the favor in you and the character but when they come closer they realizes this is not the other type, this is the godly types of attractiveness and they will respect you.
I conclude by saying what shall it profit a man if he spend his life in the church and ends up in the hell fire with the same people that never went to church at all? If we must serve God let’s serve Him in truth and in spirit, if we are not ready we shouldn’t be an hypocrite.
Thank you for your time, I believe you are touched, please share this message to others to be bless as well, as you do so may God bless you abundantly, Amen.
WhatsApp: 07087613860
If there’s that holy ghost atmosphere I’m talking about is around you, they begin to look at you with respect, they look at you with dignity, initially they may feel attracted to you because of the favor in you and the character but when they come closer they realizes this is not the other type, this is the godly types of attractiveness and they will respect you.
I conclude by saying what shall it profit a man if he spend his life in the church and ends up in the hell fire with the same people that never went to church at all? If we must serve God let’s serve Him in truth and in spirit, if we are not ready we shouldn’t be an hypocrite.
Thank you for your time, I believe you are touched, please share this message to others to be bless as well, as you do so may God bless you abundantly, Amen.
WhatsApp: 07087613860
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