*BETHEL 2 U AND BEYOND*: What do you mean you are Christian?

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

What do you mean you are Christian?

Ok. so these thoughts rumble around in my head and I need to get them down on paper. Mind you this is not the gospel according to Barb. Its my thoughts and conclusions which can change.

So following Jesus Christ and calling yourself a believer....what exactly does that mean to you?
Are you different than you were before you were a "believer"?
Does it mean you believe in the Bible?
Does it mean you go to church every week?
Does it mean you have gifts like prophecy or words of knowledge, etc?
Does it mean you are going to heaven?
Do you think you are in sin only when you read it as such in the Bible?
When you became a believer, what changed on the inside of you?

Ok, you are most likely seeing where I am going with this.

But how did Jesus define you following Him?
A disciple who studies to show himself approved?
One who fears the Lord and fears His commandments?
One who is a doer of the Word and not a hearer only?
One who does righteousness?
One who trusts in the Lord and delights in Him?
One who lays hands on the sick and sees them recover?
one who raises the dead, cleanses lepers and casts out devils?

I know I am asking a lot of questions right now. But sometimes people think they are in the club but ...they are not following Him. Instead they are blaming Him for holding out, not being there, not answering prayers, not being "God" to them.
But here is what God says He is...He does what He is. Its up to us to believe. Ours is the job of trusting Him. Ours is the job of putting the key in the lock and opening up the door of our hearts to Him who is knocking..notice below 8 names of God have to do with Him just being God, Almighty, Master, Jehovah, Most High, Lord of Hosts, and Everlasting and Jealous! the other names show us what He wants to do for us..but both are essential. He is a God to be feared and honored and respected. We are to have no other gods above Him. He is all in all, He created us, HE keeps us alive by His Word.