Who is a Christian

00:01 Praise Jesus Christ of Nazareth, brothers and sisters, today, the power of Christ Daily 1st February 2016 who is a Christian? Who is a Christian? The question can also be what is a Christian, brothers and sisters? This for instance, if you look at
the Webster dictionary, they say a Christian is defined as someone who believes in the teachings of Christ, someone who believes in the teachings of Christ. And these kind of worldly definitions go. And this also of course crept in into the church.
Now of course there are people going to church coming, including the ministry I minister in the church that God has given me to minister over his church Jesus Christ has given me to minister over.

00:32 Now of course they go and come and they listen, they may even listen to counsel. But only Jesus Christ can determine whether you are a Christian or not. And he has defined it.

00:59 He has defined it. So there’s no confusion really. Now the word Christian has become so loosely used that so long as anybody goes to church and come goes to church and come Sundays they say, oh, you’re a Christian.

01:12 Or somebody says praise the Lord, then they think it’s a Christian. It’s all that is form necessary. Praise Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

01:21 You will say better praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. We don’t know which Lord we’re talking about.

01:25 And of course they do not know. Many do not know. The devil came to steal, kill and destroy.

01:30 And, and it’s still around. And the apostles spoke about it years onwards after that, after Jesus left for years they speak about it and said, do not give the devil a foothold, one foothold only, no need to give many footholds, one foothold. And
devil will take full advantage and make our life a mess.

01:46 And his strategy to make us believe that God has done something to you. Never ever complain about God. Never ever complain about Jesus Christ.

01:50 Never ever complain about God Almighty. Never ever. That’s the beginning of a complete destruction.

02:00 Because the devil will take complete advantage of you. Jesus will still be merciful to you, but the devil will begin to hammer you. And there’s nothing Jesus can do because your will, he allows you your will and your will doesn’t want to submit to
his will.

02:14 So when that goes on, how you tell me if you do not submit to the will of Jesus Christ, the power, the blessing, the promises that have already been completed on the cross are sitting down there. They cannot flow into you. They cannot flow into you.

02:28 Why? Your will is blocking his will from operating in your life. So this is one of the biggest problems we all face, including me. Now brothers and sisters, now let’s look at this.

02:40 In the book of Acts 11:26, book of Acts 11:26. I’m reading from the Catholic edition. And when he had found him, they brought him to Antioch.

02:51 So it was for an entire year they met with the Church and taught a great many people. This Apostle Paul taught a great many people. And what is Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians? I’m sorry, I’m not too sure whether it’s Apostle
Paul here.

03:05 Now, the Church taught a great many people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Now, in the New Testament, of course, in the Christian, the word Christian is mentioned three times. Three times the word Christian.

03:20 Some new translation may even take that out. Now, it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. Who were called Christians? Disciples, not simply believers.

03:31 Now, this has again taken root in these churches where people begin to believe. You believe, and it’s one level of Christianity, and you are a Christian already. And then discipleship is a higher level of something.

03:44 And they’ll say, okay, you first believe and then slowly, slowly you become a disciple. No, that’s not true. Because if you’re going to be called a Christian, you have to be a disciple.

03:54 And only disciples were first called Christians. Disciples mean people not only just believe in the teaching, they do the teaching. They disciplined in obeying the word of God, obeying any disciple, any disciple, by any training.

04:08 They obey and do what has been told by the master of that discipline. In this case, Jesus Christ of Nazareth is our master, our Lord, our Savior. We do so only doer of the Word.

04:20 Finally, the doer of the word, that word of God is a disciple. Now, that is why in 1 Peter 4:16. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian or a Christian, actually the right word is Christian.

04:37 Do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God. Because you bear this name. What name? The name of Christ.

04:45 So if somebody condemns you for following Christ, oh, rejoice, rejoice. Somebody follows you, condemns you following Christ, they begin to poke you for following Christ, Rejoice. But if somebody condemns you because you’re doing wrong, you better be
remorseful, better be sorry, better change.

05:09 You know, it’s very sad. What happens is there are people who do not change. And then there are people outside in the world will tell you, hey, you have not changed.

05:16 You say you are a Christian. In fact, once you say you are a Christian already, the people outside the world waiting to see whether you change or not. If you do not change, you are doing the Same old, same old sin, anger, frustration, pride,
stubbornness, selfish, self seeking all that we are doing.

05:37 Then the person outside person, not non Christian will slowly say you are not changed. And in those who don’t tell also they know, they think these false are false liars only they say they’re Christians but actually don’t obey. Now belief, the word
belief, belief has got to trust in, adhere to, cling to cling on.

05:58 You know the Hebrew word, the English word, suddenly replace it with belief because it’s the only word they can find. But actually it means a lot of things in the Hebrew text. In the Hebrew language it’s an Asian language, just like Chinese and
Tamil, the Asian languages.

06:13 And so if they give one word in the Asian language, it will take many words in the English language to explain that particular word in that Asian language, it will take many English words to actually properly translate and reflect the actual meaning
of that particular Asian word. That is a problem that the translation began like this. Just believe and everybody.

06:38 And over as the years go by break. Do you believe that so and so is the prime minister of your country? Yes, because it’s not news every day for couple of years already you heard maybe elected last election six months ago. Now you are listening,
listening, listen.

06:51 Now of course you know the promise says that, but do you that’s not what the belief that the Hebrew text is talking about. Belief means whatever this person is telling you, believe and do be a doer of the word. So do you really believe Jesus Christ?
There were the other things I’ll say is if anyone.

07:10 Now I’m going to refer the Jewish Bible 1st Peter 4:16, which I read just now. If any of you suffers from the Catholic edition I read if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bears his name.
The name of Christ.

07:26 1st Peter 4:16. Again complete Jewish Bible. But if anyone suffers for being messianic, let him not be ashamed, but let him bring glory to God by the way he bears the name.

07:39 So when you’re suffering also by the way you bear the name. By the way you bear the suffering. Messianic means disciple in the Jewish Bible.

07:49 Disciple, Disciple. Messianic. Now Messiah.

07:53 Messiah is the Christ the Savior. Messianic means you follow you, you obey, you do everything he tells you, you submit. Now what then happens? John 1:12 but to as many as did receive him.

08:06 It’s a Jewish Bible I’m reading to those who put their trust in this person and power. They are not just believer. Those who put their trust in his person and power.

08:14 Those who put their trust, their trust. I must put my trust in Jesus person as a person of Jesus Christ and the power of Jesus Christ. He gave the right to become children of God.

08:29 He gave a right. Now we have to begin to exercise the right. We must become doers of the Word.

08:34 As we become doer of the Word, then we become disciplined in Jesus command. Then as we become disciplined in Jesus command, we are being disciples. But disciples we can start from the beginning and say, I want to be a disciple.

08:45 I declare, I proclaim, I command my heart and mind that from today I will be disciplined in Christ. And everything Christ tells me to do, I will do. I will reject the world and follow Christ.

08:57 Come, follow me, he said. Now, can you imagine that particular thing if you read the context? How Jesus told Peter, come, follow me. When Peter’s boat was full of fish, that’s when.

09:08 Because they were not bearing anything, any fish. And Jesus was there to preach. He wanted the boat.

09:14 He wanted to sit on the top of the boat and preach. So he did that. They asked Peter.

09:18 Peter said, yes, my Lord. So he preached after preaching. I think he went and said, have you caught anything? No.

09:25 Then he said, go ahead, do this. So when they went and did that, first of all, Peter was thinking, we tried the whole night long, no fish and all that. Then go and do this.

09:33 Went and did that. Full of fish. But you know, after catching the full of fish, when the boat is full of fish, in fact it is struggling to.

09:42 It is sinking a bit inside, you know, he’s not sinking. It is going down, weighted by the weight. It’s gone a bit down.

09:51 Then Jesus said, come, follow me. You know what Peter did? Just followed him. Just followed him.

09:57 Why? Peter didn’t say, what about the fish? Peter didn’t say, what about my boat? Boat is valuable. Big boats. These are not simple ones running a small trumpet, small dinghies, you know.

10:09 Then Matthew, you know what was Matthew. Matthew sitting down there. He’s the text collector.

10:14 He says his table is full of money under, inside the trousers and all that. And some will bring out some money, I suppose. I do not know.

10:20 Now, when Jesus passing by, he didn’t stop. As he passed by, he told Matthew, come, follow me. That’s all, Matthew, come, follow me.

10:31 So Matthew stopped, left the money and just followed. What about the problem? Because the problem is he’s collecting on behalf of the government. So what will happen to the government and the authorities? But he just followed.

10:44 Why he followed because he believed Jesus Christ. And you know what? Nothing happened in Matthew with the government and the authority. Because we follow Jesus Christ, he will do something.

10:53 The authority’s mind, the authority’s mind and heart are all settled. Jesus will settle them if you truly follow. But if you half heart follow and expect Jesus Christ to settle the minds of those who are angry with you or whatever, it’s not going to
work.

11:07 Because people may be angry with you or me because of what we did, not because we did as a Christian. So if we are suffering as a Christian, we glorify his name and we bear his name and give glory. By the way we bear his name, we accept.

11:21 Suppose we say, I cannot do this. The boss tells you to fill the books so that you can get a better loan for the company. I cannot do this, boss.

11:29 I took a covenant. I took a covenant with Jesus Christ that anything I do, I will not do. I will do according to his word.

11:36 And his word says I cannot do this. I’m sorry. Now, of course if frightened double can attack you.

11:41 But this is the Christian who humbles himself and tells why he cannot. I got a vow. If I put that vow aside, I’ll be condemned.

11:49 I’ll have problems, I’ll be cursed. And anyone making me do that also will cover the curse. Because God doesn’t want anyone making me do wrong things that against him what I covenanted, what I vowed.

12:01 So, so sorry, boy. Then you see what happens. And even if they attack you, God will give you another job.

12:06 But there’s only one job in the entire world, in the entire town. Praise Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Today, brothers and sisters.

12:11 Now let’s look at this now. John. So when did they call them Christians, the disciples? They only called disciples first in Antioch they were called Christians.

12:22 When they were disciples disciplined in Christ, they determined to follow Christ. They determined, they decided. So as the day you decide, I will follow Jesus Christ.

12:32 Lord, make me follow you completely in every aspect of your word and everything you want me to do. That’s the day you become a disciple. Yes.

12:39 Then there’s a walk as a disciple. There will be challenges as a disciple. There will be issues as a disciple.

12:46 But you begin to do. You begin to do now. John 8:31.

12:51 So Jesus was saying to the Jews who had believed him, so people have believed him that he was only preaching to the Jews at that time. Now, if you abide in my word, abide in my word. It simply says, if you abide my word, you are truly my disciples.

13:07 This I am reading my amplified. So in bracket Amplified is explaining what his abide is. If you abide in my word, continually obeying my teachings and living in accordance with them, then you are truly my disciples.

13:21 So abide in my word means continually obeying my teachings, Jesus Christ teachings, and living in accordance with them, then you are truly my disciples. See, to be truly disciples, it’s not simply say I obey, I obey. No, continually obeying his
teachings and living in accordance with that word, then you are truly my disciples.

13:43 These are words of Jesus Christ. Some will get angry with me for quoting this because they off and on they lapse, they go and do something, they get addicted to something or whatever. And then today for one, two days or one week, two weeks, they
don’t smoke and then suddenly end up smoking again and all that.

13:58 And then they get angry with me when I quote this. Praise Jesus Christ of Nazareth, brothers and sisters, this is the good news. No need to get angry because Jesus says he gives you power.

14:07 You can by the blood of Jesus, blood of Jesus. Run away from the shop where you’re buying the cigarette. Run away.

14:13 Don’t go to the friends who are supposed to be friends and they share the cigarette with you. There are certain steps, there are things how to overcome. There are many segments.

14:22 By God’s mercy, by Jesus Christ mercy have recorded, you must always overcome. Only overcome worlds will enter heaven. Now if you abide in my word, continually obeying my teachings, living in accordance with them, then you are truly my disciples.

14:35 And now that is John 8:31. Now I am reading John 8:32 by reading from Catholic edition. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

14:44 Only disciples will know the truth and the truth will set them free. Those who are just a believer level at it, just a believer level. And then the Bible classes teach them this.

14:57 You come to Bible class to become a disciple. So when you believe, you’re not going to be a disciple. When you believe, you’re just a believer.

15:06 But the Bible doesn’t, the Scriptures don’t differentiate this. They don’t differentiate between believer and disciple because they simply believe they’re really not a Christian. To be a Christian, you need to be a disciple.

15:18 You need to be disciplined. Now 8:32 again, I’m reading, repeat again. John 8:32.

15:25 You will know the truth and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free. If I read 831 and 32 together, it’ll be like this. If you abide in my word, continually obeying my teachings and living in accordance with them, then you are truly
my disciples.

15:40 And you will know the truth. And the truth will make you free. Now what happens now? Everywhere, advertising and all the truth will make you free.

15:47 The truth will make you free. But you will not know the truth of Christ. You will not know the truth of the living God.

15:51 You will not know the truth of the spiritual world. You will not know the truth of how the devil comes and attacks people and keeps them captive and all that. You will not know all the truth until you are a disciple.

16:05 You swore yourself. You vow. You take a commitment.

16:07 I will be a disciple of Jesus Christ. So today, brothers and sisters, I plead with you. Those who are saying, I believe, I believe, I believe.

16:16 It’s not good enough. You’ll continue suffering because only the disciples will know the truth. And you cast out the demonic forces.

16:22 You have power. Jesus Christ give you power. He gave you power to be children of God.

16:26 And you use the power. The power, first of all is to cast out the evil in Jesus name. The power in the name of Jesus Christ.

16:32 Command your heart and mind to obey, continually obeying the teachings of Jesus Christ. Today, brothers and sisters, is a wonderful day. If you keep listening to this and you begin to apply.

16:41 You see your life change. You see a life change. There will be righteousness, peace and joy.

16:45 There will be hope. Peace, brothers and sisters, today do this, do this. Search the scriptures yourself.

16:53 Meditate on them yourself. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.