KNOWING WHO YOU ARE

Ephesians 2:19 — Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Refusing To Spend

Have you ever known someone who had plenty of money, but just wouldn’t spend it? One such woman who was famous for her role as a miser was Hetty Green. She still holds the Guinness Record to this day for being the world’s most miserly woman, and was coined the “Witch of Wall Street”.

At the time of her death in 1916, it is said she had turned a New Bedford whaling inheritance into a $100 million estate. However, she was so stingy with her wealth, she wore tattered clothing for days on end, rarely took a bath and her diet consisted primarily of oatmeal that was cooked on a radiator, all in the name of saving money. Her son’s leg was even amputated after she refused to seek medical attention for her son, who had sustained a severe injury while sledding.

After her death, that same son spent his inheritance freely and at the time of his own death, there was still more than $125 million dollars left. This went to his sister, who also spent freely, and when she died, another fortune was passed on to even more distant relatives.

When You Already Have It

William Randolph Hearst was a very rich and very powerful man, who owned world-renowned newspapers of great influence and enjoyed collecting art. At one point, two particular pieces of art came to his attention when he saw them in pictures, and he desired them greatly. In fact, he put staff members on a search to find and buy them, no matter what they cost.

Weeks were spent in travel and communication in order to find these two elusive paintings. When they were finally uncovered, they were said to be in a warehouse in the very town in which Hearst’s newspaper was based. The staff members picked Mr. Hearst up, took him to the warehouse, much to his confusion. As it turned out, he owned the warehouses, as well as all the contents! The paintings had been his all along!

Christian Misers

Too many times, Christians can wind up like either of these two misers. We hear a wealth of sermons, songs, and Bible content. We collect all these Christian symbols and ideologies. But we so rarely use what we already own.

Romans 8:15-17 — For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Every Christian is absolutely rich in Christ Jesus. Our Bibles are both a Passport, that identifies us as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, as well as a Bank Book, which outlines every promise that we can freely spend as an heir of God. Instead, so many Christians live miserable (miserly) lives, never understanding the inheritance that is ours to freely draw from, with riches beyond our wildest expectations that will be left over!

God’s mercy means that we already belong to Him. It’s a staggering truth, but it’s still the truth. If you were the heir of a multibillion-dollar empire in this life, would anyone have to tell you, “Because you have all this, you can LIVE like!”? Not likely. Odds are you wouldn’t have to even be told the first time before you took off on the road to adventure in your newfound riches!

Godly Inheritance

As an heir of God, you can stop living sullen. You can stop being anxious. You’ll never again have to be stingy with what you have because you’re afraid it will all be gone. The only thing worse than a rich person that flaunts their livelihood is one that lives like a pauper. But yet we see both kinds of Christians… those who flaunt status, and those who like abandoned children in the street.

Some people act as if Holy living is like placing a bid to see if we can gain the acceptance and love of an Almighty God. The truth is, however, Holiness is actually the way we should live knowing that he has already accepted us. Better still, that he did so even though we did NOTHING to warrant such acceptance, such a love, such an inheritance.

As you journey through life, you must make sure to take your Bible, as it is your Passport. Even as there are many amazing benefits to being an American citizen, there are even more amazing benefits for the citizen of Heaven here on earth, as the Ambassadors that we are.

We are sons and daughters of THE King of Kings! It’s time to start ACTING LIKE IT!

I Will Act Like It

Since God is worthy of my adoration and praise, I will act like it by making an effort.

1 Timothy 2:1 — I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

Hebrews 13:15 — By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

It isn’t always easy to set aside time to pray, earnestly, for our fellow Christians. We find it easy enough to pray for our own needs, and certainly those of our household. But when is the last time you wept before the throne of God for a fellow-Christian? This kind of effort is pleasing to God, and we should act like it.

Offering “the sacrifice of praise” isn’t always easy either. When our plans don’t work out, when our prayers don’t seem to be getting answered, when the enemy attacks us from out of nowhere, it can be hard to open our mouths and cause our lips to give thanks. But we should do it! We have to make that effort!

Yield To God

Since God paid such a great price for my salvation, I should act like it, and completely yield to Him.

1 Corinthians 6:20 — For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Romans 12:1 — I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

We are not our own. In fact, we were bought with a price… the very life of Jesus Christ! It is nothing less than a reasonable service to offer ourselves to him as an acceptable sacrifice.

Protect Purity

Since sin is not becoming of a child of God, I should act like it, and strive to protect my purity.

Romans 6:12 — Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

2 Corinthians 7:1 — Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Living like the world will only make us more like the world. When Jesus told the parable of salt losing its savor, and being good for nothing but to be thrown out in the street to be trampled under the feet of passers-by, this is what He was talking about. We must come out and be separate!

Staying Focused

Since Jesus is coming back, sooner than later, I should act like it and keep my focus.

Luke 12:40 — Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Romans 14:13 — Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Jesus is soon to return, just as He said He would do. It just isn’t worth it to risk being caught in some act that will be displeasing to Him. Be merciful, don’t cause others to stumble and fall.

Pray With Confidence

Since God hears our prayers and is faithful to answer them, we should act like it and pray with great confidence.

1 Timothy 2:8 — I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

Hebrews 4:16 — let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

There is no reason to pray any other way than to believe that we will have what we ask for, IF we pray in faith believing and IF we are in a right standing before God. Do not doubt, waver, act like a double-minded man, or be angry when asking.

Give Up Worries

Since Jesus ultimate takes care of everything I need, I should act like it and give up worrying.

Matthew 6:34 — Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Luke 12:7 — But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

If we truly believe the things we confess about Jesus, why do we continue to worry? When the bills are late, or the car is acting up, or any one of a million other things happen, why do we fret and moan and complain as if He doesn’t hear us? What do we really believe?

Continue In Rejoicing

Since God can make bad situations turn out good, I should act like it, and always rejoice.

2 Timothy 2:3 — Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 — And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distressed for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Take Action

Since so many people, even billions, still need to hear about Jesus, and the Good News of the Gospel, I should act like it and take necessary action.

Matthew 28:19 — Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Matthew 22:9 — Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

You may not be able to literally go to the ends of the earth, or live as a missionary, but the truth is, many of our own backyards are missionary fields! How many of your friends and family need to know Jesus? How many of your neighbors need to know Him? How many people do you come in contact with every day that might be saved from some unknown disaster because you shared the Gospel of Jesus with them?

There’s only one way to find out.

What will YOU do?

Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But to Your name be the glory
Because of Your love and your faithfulness!