INTRODUCTION
Everyone is defined by something … in fact, every company is defined by it’s product!
White Castle is defined by its “belly bombers.”
Applebee’s is defined by its “half off the muchies” after 10.
Dell is defined by its “inexpensive computers.”
Apple is defined by its “graphic/video design abilities” in their computers.
Everything is defined by something!
People are also defined by what they do or what they define.
Donald Trump is defined by the phrase, “You’re Fired.”
Billy Graham is defined by his “integrity” in every area of life.
Mother Theresa is defined by “giving her life” to the lepers of India.
Mel Gibson is defined by the movie, “The Passion of the Christ.”
Oprah is defined by “generous giving” to the needy around the world.
Everyone is defined by something!
Even people in the Bible were defined by what they said or how they lived.
Adam and Eve are defined by “eating the forbidden fruit.”
David is defined as a “man after God’s own heart.”
Rebecca is defined as “one of the most beautiful woman of the Bible.”
Paul is defined as the person who “started the church” as we know it.
Jesus is defined as the “Savior of the world.”
What does it mean to be defined?
define \di-‘fin\ vb 1: to set forth the meaning of 2: to clarify
To set forth the meaning of what? YOUR LIFE!
You are defined by what you say and do!
You actions define WHO you are!
On Monday, I was able to see the movie “Batman Begins” – IT WAS AWESOME!
At the end of the movie, Batman says, “What’s underneath doesn’t really matter. It’s what you do that defines you.”
How are you defined?
What would your friends say defines you?
What would your parents say defines you?
If you could think of ONE WORD that defines you, what would it be? Go ahead and think for a second …………….. WRITE IT DOWN!
Now ask the person to the left or right of you, “What do you think defines me?” …….. let them think … then WRITE IT DOWN!
Are they different … do others see what you see?
Let me share 3 things that will define you:
1. The Crowd around You.
Who do you surround yourself with? Who are your closest friends?
In some ways you are DEFINED by those you “hang out” with!
If you hang out with GOOD people you will begin to ACT like them and be considered by others to be GOOD!
If you hang out with BAD people you will probably begin to ACT out like them and be considered to be a BAD person!
Be careful who you allow into your circle of influence!
LIFE PRINCIPLE: Friends are like elevators they will either take you up or take you down.
1 Corinthians 15:33: “Be not deceived: Evil companionships corrupt good morals” (ASV)
2. The Circumstances that surround You
Man, all of us go through junk in our life … all of us face problems and troubling moments … these moments will define us!
Paul was definitely defined by the circumstances that surrounded him … so defined that he wrote, “… the scars show that I belong to Christ.”
He was forever marked by people because of his decision to follow Christ …
What were Paul’s circumstances? 2 Corinthians 11:23-25: “They say they serve Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in jail more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. Five different times the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea” (NLT).
The situations that Paul faced made him stronger in his faith and wiser in his actions!
LIFE PRINCIPLE: What you face in life will either make you or brake you. The decision is yours!
3. The Character within You
I Chronicles 29:17: “… God is pleased with integrity.”
All of you have character within you … some is good and some is not so good … always remember God is happy when “you are who you say you are!”
Whether you like it or not your character is shaped by 2 things:
1. The Crowd around you
2. The Circumstances that surround you
In order for all of us to have a CHRISTLIKE character we must “hang with those who hang with God” and endure the “circumstances that surround you.”
And I believe that the character within you is determined by the Christ OVER YOU!
CONCLUSION
My question tonight is this, “Is Christ Everything to you?”
Which area are you struggling most with tonight?
1. The Crowd around you
2. The Circumstances that surround you
3. The Character within you
4. The Christ over you
If you are struggling in one of the areas we talked about tonight … why don’t you join me at the front of this room tonight for just a FEW MOMENTS as we ask the Lord to CHANGE US!
