"A Reputation Doesn't Hold An Identity"

Mini Sermon by Joey Lishia

What made Abraham keep his faith in God? What made him strive to do all that he could for God?

The God who asked him to pick up and leave his country, who made him separate from his nephew and some family, the God who wanted him to give up his blessing Isaac, along with more and more trials in his life. What did Abraham think when the Lord asked him to give up his son Isaac? What was in his mind? What was he thinking? Was he thinking, "God you've gone too far this time!". Or, "I just cant, he's my son".

You see, many of us give something up and when God asks us to do something else, we give in to our fleshly nature and let Him down. Reject Him and forsake Him! But on the contrary, there was something within Abraham which compelled him to do all that he could for God, in spite of what he wanted, in spite of what he felt, and in spite of what he thought was right.

He understood that he needed something from God and what-ever God desired of him, it was going to be given. What did Abraham have? A commitment? A reputation? An obligation? I'm going to tell you that Abraham had something greater than anything already mentioned. Something far more potent and powerful than anything else in life...... A relationship with God!

He knew God. He knew that "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain".Phil 1:21 Not just dying with in the body but a dying out to all other things. A mentality that declares God in every aspect of ones life.

You see, somewhere during Abraham's life, he evidently found out who God was and this finding compelled him to live for God with every ounce of air that he breathed and every thing that he did. He knew God!

John the Baptist, was a man who was called by God before he was ever born. A man called and compelled by a higher calling than most men. He preached the message of repentance over and over again before the coming of the Messiah. He was the forerunner to Jesus, blazing a trail, and marking a path in which Jesus would soon follow.

In the first chapter of the book of John, John declares that Jesus is the Messiah three times. He didn't just say it or declare it, he believed it. Many people looked up to this man called "John the Baptist" and then took his word and followed Jesus. We find sometime later down the road
that John finds himself in prison. Bound and feeling forsaken, he question's whether or not Jesus is the Messiah. He asked two of his disciples to go and question Jesus, "Are thou he that should come, or do we look for another." Matthew 3:11

In other words, should I stay here, rotting and dying, or should I tell the King that your not the Messiah and get out of this place!!! Jesus answered "Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Matthew 11:4-5 And when they told John this, John knew that Jesus was truly the Son of God and went to his death believing it.

You see, he knew God but when he was caught in a jam, he got caught up in his problems and questioned God. When he was with so many people and among the crowds, feeling God’s power, he easily assured them that Jesus was the one. But when he got away from Jesus and the power of the crowd, where his reputation didn't mean anything, he was left with just his relationship with God. It was so easy for John to declare Jesus among the people, but when he was in the nitty gritty; his relationship with God prevailed.

If we live our lives out of our reputation among people, we will never make it through life, and may even jeopardize our chances of obtaining a legacy of being faithful.

Abraham knew his identity only came about, by being with God and when that "Great God" asked him to do something, he was going to do it because ...... "look who it was, that was asking him". When you get into a trail or hardship, don’t worry about what people think about you or your reputation but worry rather about what God thinks about you and your identity through Him. He’s the only one that can help and the only one that can care for you fully and without holding anything back.

Isaac was never taken away from Abraham, God just wanted to know, "Is your relationship with me, greater than your blessing, or has your blessing meant more to you than I do!"

John had to realize that his relationship with God had to be there even when the lights burn low and the burden's of living for God are just so heavy. He’ll not take your blessings away from you but just see if you’ll be willing to give them up.

Just think, when your about to give in to what you want, there may be a ram coming up the other side of the mountain which let’s you hold onto your blessing and even increase your relationship with the King of Kings !

Editor:

Thanks to Bro Joey for this great message. The Bible says, "And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" Isaiah 11:2

Bro Joey shows that God is raising up another generation to bring forth his word. He is an accomplished speaker and inspiration to all generations. As a youth speaker, he establishes a good example, and to all ages, his understanding of God's word and spirit is shown in the depth of this mini-sermon that he submitted. Consider him in your Church for a revival that will bless all.

Bro. C. E. Strain

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