#3a Are you a nearly Christian??(2aug2004)

Are you a ‘nearly’ Christian ???

‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’
Mathew 22:14

Which market segment are you in???

1. The ‘dressed to a tee’ Christian

‘The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’
1 Samuel 16:7

2. The ‘name dropping’ Christian

‘The man, who says, I know Him, but do not do what He commands is a liar and the truth is not in him.’
1 John 2:4

3 The ‘dark’ Christian

‘God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live in the truth.’
1 John 1:5-6

4 The ‘lip service’ Christian

‘With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gains.’
Ezekiel 33:31-32

5 The ‘legalistic and self righteous’ Christian

‘you have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the tradition of men.’
Mark 7:8-9

6 The ‘me only’ Christian

‘should not shepherds take care of the flock?’
……but you do not take care of the flock’
‘You have not strengthened the weak or ….., brought back the strays or searched after the lost.’
Ezekiel 34:1-10


A person’s thoughts, diverse yet whimsical, delusory and quite sinful. So are all of us believers who think that we are already there with God yesterday but in reality could be truly far from Him today.

What about non-believers, why are you not sheltering in the shadow of God’s love??


1 I do not subscribe to ‘fairy tales’

‘The fool has said in his heart, There is no God’
Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity;
There is none that do good’
Psalm 53:1


2. I believe only in what I see

‘They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather then the Creator – who is forever praised.’
Romans 1:25

‘No one has ever seen God’
John 1:18


3. I am a good man

‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us’
1 John 1:8


4. I have done more than most

‘For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it. You do not delight in burnt offering’
Psalm 5:16


5. God, where is He when you need Him??

‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways’
Isaiah 55:8



Where should our orientation truly be???


1. To seek and focus on God always

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.’
Deuteronomy 6:4-5

2. As God responds, to obey God’s will rather than our innate will

‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire…….
I desire to do Your will, O my God.’
Psalm 40:6-8


3. As we respond in obedience, to draw on God rather than from our own limited strength

‘But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong……
so that no one may boast before Him.
It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus’
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

4. As God blesses us, to do God’s will in truth, with humility and love

‘Let him show by good conduct that his works are due to the meekness of wisdom……But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits. Without partiality and without hypocrisy.’
James 3:13-18














On our own strength, it is impossible to be ‘perfect.’

God knows, God understands and

God provides

The Holy Spirit

In believing, God resides in us through the Holy Spirit.

‘……the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit and His worshippers must worship in spirit and truth.’
John 4:23-24

‘create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me…
Do not cast me from Your presence. And take not the Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.’
Psalm 51:10-12

God wants us to praise Him always

‘Whoever offers praise glorifies Me’
Psalm 50:23

God wants us to truly let go our self will

‘The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart, O God thou will not despise’
Psalm 51:17

‘You must be born again’
John 3:7

God wants us to glorify Him

‘Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven’
Mathew 5:16