For a CD of over 100 of sermons by Darrell Stetler II (most complete with handouts), please e-mail darrellstetler2@sbcglobal.net.
How to Be a Genuine Person
EVeryone who knows a fake, raise your hand.
Everyone who likes a fake, raise your hand.
Everyone who is sitting by a fake. . . NO, better not do that.
OUTLINE
1. Don’t pretend to be what you’re not.
Acts 5:1 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.”
2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
The lesson here is INTEGRITY: What is integrity?
Here are some possible definitions:
What I say, what I do, and what I am all match up.
When I am the same in public and in private.
When my word can be taken as a guarantee.
The inside and the outside of me are the same.
The opposite of hypocrite.
“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not!” George McDonald.
We all face the temptation to try to be what we aren’t:
- some might try to create the impression that they are people of great prayer.
- some might try to make others think they’ve got it all together as a Christian.
1. A USA Today poll found that only 56% of American teach honesty to their children. And a Louis Harris poll turned up the distressing fact that 65% of high school students would cheat on an important exam. Recently a noted physician appeared on a network news-and-talk show and proclaimed, "Lying is an important part of social life, and children who are unable to do it are children who may have developmental problems."
Hear me: It’s far better to admit where you’re at than to try to pretend.
Can we just all admit it today? I’ll start: I don’t have it all together. I struggle. . . I don’t always feel spiritual. . . I sometimes have a hard time concentrating in prayer. . .
Many people today are all about compartmentalizing their life. They have convinced themselves that although THIS area of their life is full of sin, and it’s sinking, it’ll be alright, because these other areas are all clear. . . It doesn’t work that way. When the time comes, a life based on compartmentalization will sink!
1 Thessalonians 4:11 "...that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
It’s worth noting that for revival, the world is never told or expected to confess its sin – it is GOD’S people that are expected to do that!
1 Chronicles 7:14 “"if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land...”
2. Remember that God takes all sin seriously.
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."
9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
Can you see the headlines in the Jerusalem papers the next morning? …
- (Jerusalem Gazette) – “Local pastor kills church members”
- (Judean Post) - “God did it, says killer pastor”
- (News for Israel) – “Pharisees say - We told you they were dangerous”
Of course, we know it wasn’t Peter who did this. . .God did! How does this match up with a God who is love?
Let me give you three reasons that sin is serious, even if a person does it who is professing to be a Christian.
A. Sin is serious business because of your influence.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Every day you live, your life is touching the life of others. You’re influencing them in one of 2 directions: heaven or hell.
- Which way are your words pointing them?
- Which way are your actions pointing them?
You know which one they’ll believe?
If you surrender to sin, you’ll take someone else with you every time!
B. Sin is serious business because it will destroy your relationship with Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:8 “He who practices sin is of the devil...”
This is something that some churches will not teach you, but something that the Bible teaches all too clearly.
Please understand: This is not a person who slips and falls and immediately asks God for forgiveness. If that was it, we’d ALL be toast – you and I both! This is someone who makes a decision to sin and then sticks with it. . . no confession, repentance, or sorrow for what they’ve done.
C. Sin is serious business because you reap what you sow.
Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
3. Decide to take God’s attitude toward evil.
11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
I’m glad I can finish on this note. The first few points of this message were depressing to me, and I struggled with putting them together.
But THIS verse is the solution! If you want to be a person of integrity, this is the way it’s done: Develop the “fear of the Lord.”
Let me tell you what I’m not talking about.
I’m NOT talking about that. . . we go through our days scared to death that we’ve offended God. No, NO! We’ve got wonderful freedom in Christ, freedom from cowering fear of a tyrannical God. Instead, here’s what I’m talking about:
DEFINITION: The fear of the Lord is respect for God that makes me hate and avoid evil.
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil...”
Proverbs 16:16 “...by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.”
If you have the fear of God, you’ll take God’s attitude toward evil. . . you don’t think the same way about the things you used to do. Let me tell you how this works out in my life.
When I go home from church and sense the temptation to pride in my heart. . . I hate that, and reject it.
When I sense the temptation to lust in my heart. . . I hate that sin, and reject it.
When I sense the temptation to cut someone down and be cruel with my words. . .I hate that sin and reject it.
When I feel the temptation to shade the truth. . . I hate that, and reject it.
That’s the FEAR of the Lord! To HATE evil. . .
If you will consciously start developing a hatred of evil in your own heart and life that is based on respect for God, you’ll be 10 million miles up the road to becoming a person of integrity.
God is calling you and I to be a person of INTEGRITY. . .
One who doesn’t fake who they are. . .
one who takes sin as seriously as God does. . .
One who has a healthy respect for our God. . .
One who walks with such authenticity that people know they are real...
One who walks with integrity so people know they truly know God.
And the good news is: YOU can become that person!
_____________________
HANDOUT
_____________________
How to be a Genuine Person
Everyone likes a genuine person. . .no one likes a fake Christian. How can I become a person who is completely genuine?
1. Don’t _____________ to be what you’re not.
Acts 5:1 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.”
2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."
The word for being genuine: ___________________
What I ________, what I ________, and what I _______ all match up.
When I am the same in ___________ and in ___________.
When my _________ can be taken as a guarantee.
The inside and the outside of me are the same.
The opposite of ________________.
“Half of the misery in the world comes from trying to look, instead of trying to be, what one is not!” George McDonald.
Too many lives are like the Titanic: They think they are unsinkable because they are _______________________.
2. Remember that God takes all _________ seriously.
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
8 And Peter answered her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?" She said, "Yes, for so much."
9 Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."
10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.
How does this match up with a God who is love? Remember these 2 truths about God:
- God is __________ - he loves us unconditionally.
- God is __________ - he cannot tolerate sin.
A. Sin is serious business because of your ________________.
Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
If you surrender to sin, you’ll take someone else with you every time!
B. Sin is serious business because it will _________________ your relationship with Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:8 “He who practices sin is of the devil...”
C. Sin is serious business because you _______ what you sow.
Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
3. Decide to take God’s attitude toward ___________.
11 So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.
DEFINITION: The fear of the Lord is ________________ for God that makes me __________ and ______________ evil.
Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil...”
Proverbs 16:16 “...by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.”
