Word Count: 1464

Contact Duane Huffstutler

A True Christian

by Duane Huffstutler  
4/08/2012 / Christian Living

1 Thess 5:14-22 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)

Here we are again, Sunday Morning and we are gathered together to learn more about Christ. Or are we? There are some possibly that have come to see their friends and to talk about what is going on in the world around them. Some have come to see just what new clothes their friend may have gotten. Some may have come to catch up on the local gossip. Don't answer me but just why are you here? Since you don't have to answer me you can tell yourself the truth. Were you forced to come because you are still living in your parents house and they say that you have to as long as you are at home? Why are you here?
A true Christian goes to church because he wants to be able to gather together with other Christians and gain strength from them. He wants to get to know Christ better than he ever could on his own. He wants to help others even though he doesn't know much what he knows combined with what someone else knows becomes the lesson for the day and both of them grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here in 1st Thessalonians Paul is telling the Thessalonians that Christ's return is eminent and that they need to be ready. Just as it was in those days so it is in these days. The return of Christ is eminent and is closer than we even realize. But you ask: how do we make sure that we are ready? It is really very simple. First does your life match the life that Christ lived on earth? Are you out to lift others up and help them to do things that they can't do by themselves? When someone talks bad about you do you try to find away to get even? If someone does you wrong do you try to get even? Are you living the way of the world? Let's see what Paul has to say about that.
Warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. Let those around you that are not living right know what is wrong with the way that they are living, tactfully of course. Help those that have a weak mind, stand up for them and help them in whatsoever way possible. And no matter what they do or say don't blow up at them, they don't really realize what is going on in this world. Let them see your patience and love that comes only from the Lord. When people do you dirty, turn around and do good to them and instead of blowing up when things go wrong help them. Make them really wonder what you are up to,
Now for the hard part Rejoice ever more. NO matter what happens in your life, good, bad or indifferent you must praise the Lord for your life and what is happening. Praise God that you have been chosen worthy to suffer for the Lord Jesus Christ. Pray without ceasing. First: When you open up your eyes in the morning, start talking to the Lord. Then as you go through the day continue to talk to the Lord. You don't have to have your eyes closed to pray the Lord didn't close his eyes when he prayed he looked toward heaven. I know that I am not the only one that has times in the day that he doesn't have to think about what he is doing. But when those times come talk to the Lord while you go on doing what you have to do. As the Lord tells you to do something thank him no matter what it is that he wants you to do. If he directs you into places that are not really where you want to be, thank him. If he allows things to come on you to help you to depend on him thank him. No matter what you have to face thank him. That is the will of God. God wants you to depend on him no matter what is going on in your life. He didn't make you strong so that you could handle everything because he wants you to turn to him for everything. He wants you to trust him in all things. There is nothing in this world that would please God more than you to turn everything over to him and just trust him. Go to him for all things. When things are going good go to God and thank him. When things are going bad go to him and thank him. It will blow your mind as to how God will bless you and it will blow the devils mind that you trust God enough to thank him for everything. Quench not the Spirit. The Holy Spirit was sent to this earth to help guide us through the things of this world. He is to tell us just what God wants us to do. He is to tell us just what God wants us to say. But when he talks he speaks in a very quiet voice. If you don't hear him the first time he will take you back to that point and try it againbut this time it will be a little harder situation, and his voice will be a little harder to hear. If you continue to do things your own way ignoring the Holy Spirit then eventually he will go and leave you alone never to return. When you are prophesied over never allow yourself to say that can't happen to me. God knows what he is doing and saying. He will not tell a child of his to say something if it is not going to come to pass. Trust him. But whatever is said check to see if it aligns with the word of God if it does accept it for all it is worth and if it does not through it away and never look back. No matter what you have to go through never place yourself in a position that might make anyone looking at you to fall. What I am trying to say is if it looks like it is wrong or feels wrong don't do it. If it even remotely looks like something bad don't do it, get away from it. Don't allow any situation no matter how noble or how good your intentions are to pull you or anyone else down.

You see God placed us on this earth to get us to trust him and to depend on him. The more that we do things our way he will stay out of the way and let us do it our way. But when we realize that he wants to do it all for us and get out of his way he really gets happy and he will do things that you never even imagined he would do for you. Have you ever thought how that when you join a group of people and are called by their name you depend on them to teach you what you need to know to not bring shame on their name? You also depend on them for strength because there is strength in numbers. But when we give our lives to Jesus we seldom pick up his word and ask for help to get to know him so we don't bring shame to his name. And we never depend on him to do anything we expect to do it all on our own. What happened to depending on the group? What happened to not bringing shame on the name of the group? What happened to learning everything about the group or the leader? Let's get back to the basics that God laid out. First let Jesus into your heart and let him guide you. Then read his word to learn everything you can about him and his ways so you can depend on him. Let's do everything we can not to bring shame to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's make God happy. Let's trust him in all things.

Duane L. Huffstutler, Written 2011, Faithwriters.com
Duane L. Huffstutler is the Sunday School Director at Oak Grove Pentecostal Ministries in Bonifay Florida. All scripture is from the King James Version (1611)

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! Click here and TRUST JESUS NOW

Read more articles by Duane Huffstutler

Like reading Christian Articles? Check out some more options. Read articles in Main Site Articles, Most Read Articles or our highly acclaimed Challenge Articles. Read Great New Release Christian Books for FREE in our Free Reads for Reviews Program. Or enter a keyword for a topic in the search box to search our articles.

Enter comments below. Due to spam, all hyperlinks posted in the comments are now immediately disabled by our system.

Please type the following word below:

Not readable? Change text.

The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Hire a Christian Writer, Christian Writer Wanted, Christian Writer Needed, Christian Content Needed, Find a Christian Editor, Hire a Christian Editor, Christian Editor, Find a Christian Writer