How God names His people

How God names His people 

Even if we are not of the same country or the same race. 

When we believe Jesus Christ as our personal savior. 

We are all God’s People and we all belong to God. 

That is why we are family in God. We are one in Christ. 

As we are born again Christians we have same Spirit in us. 

God did not any make any denominations. 

He never divided us into the parts. 

In the Bible we do not meet Baptists Methodists or Presbyterians. 

There’s no Pentecostals or Charismatic in the Bible. 

Then How God names His people? 

How they were named in the early church? 

1st Believers 

We can find in the Bible God names His people “believer”. 

Believers describe their convictions. 

Long time ago 

There was one country that the rain didn’t come long time. 

Even if it was already he rainy season still the rain did not come. 

There was drought all over the country 

They couldn’t plant rice and vegetable because there’s no water. 

At that time food was scarce. 

So one high priest was gathering his church members and told them 

“Let’s go up to the mountain and pray there till the rain comes down.” 

So the members agreed with the priest and followed him. 

And there was young boy who went with them. 

While on their way up to the mountain. 

The boy then shouted “Padre I forgot to bring something.” 

So the priest asked him “Young man what did you forgot to bring.”  “Umbrella” 

Brothers and sisters 

The Christians followed the priest to go to mountain to pray. 

But only the young boy really believes that rain will come. 

Jesus says “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed 

you can move the mountain from here to there.” 

Faith is conviction. It is to be sure of the things we hope for. 

Even though there’s no evidence or no proof. 

But I do believe Jesus is my Savior. 

I don’t know my future. I can’t see tomorrow. 

But I know one thing for sure that Jesus is my savior. 

I trust Him because He is the almighty. 

He is my shepherd and my helper. 

He is the king of kings and Lord of lords. 

Do you believe that Jesus is your Lord? 

Then you will be saved-you and your household. 

Don’t be shaken in your belief no matter what. 

Be confident in your conviction till the last. 

Because that we are believers. 

2nd brethren 

God calls His people “brethren” 

“Brethren” describes their company. 

We all belong to God as long as we believe in Him. 

We are all brothers and sisters. 

It means we are one community. 

Jesus says that there is two three who gathers in my name 

I will be there in your midst. 

It means he wants us to unite and live in harmony. 

In the book of Acts 2nd chapter verse 46 

We can see how the early Christians live. 

“Every day they continued to met together in the temple courts 

they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere heart.” 

The early Christians they had the same vision and same goal. 

So they are together with one united mind to God. 

They prayed in agreement. (4;24) 

They lived in harmony. (2;44) 

They cared for one another. (2;46) 

The early church lived in unity and operated in great power. 

Brothers and sisters 

There’s power in agreement 

There’s anointing in harmony. 

Where there is unity there God will commend His Blessings. 

Bible says in Matthew 18:19 

“Again I tell you if two of you on earth agree 

about anything you ask for it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” 

The Lord tells us to come together in agreement regarding a need 

and he will answer that prayer. 

Be united brothers and sisters 

Let us hold each other hands and go together. 

That is because we are riding one boat that is going to heaven. 

And I hope nobody would fall among us till we reach our destination. 

3rd disciple 

God names his people “disciple” 

This describes their commitment. 

Some one may think only pastors God’s disciple not me. 

But it is wrong all Christians are His disciples 

When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to be His disciples. 

At once they left their nets and followed him. 

Also when Jesus called James and John 

Immediately thy left the boat and their father and followed him. 

Like this we need total commitment to God. 

In any situation we must commit it wholly to the Lord. 

Bible says in Romans 12;1~2 

“Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, 

to offer your bodies as living sacrifice, 

holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. 

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, 

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-His good, 

pleasing and perfect will.” 

Brothers and sisters 

We must offer to live fully in accordance with the will of God. 

And let Him do what ever his will for us. 

Let him drive our way 

We place our total-self our total-future in his hand. 

Commitment means seek not to please my self but God. 

It is constant living sacrifice of our will. 

We must testify with Paul. (Gal 2;20) 

“I have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” 

Having nailed our self to Christ’s cross. 

Make an empty of our carnal self-will. 

Through your old self that against God’s pleasing 

Then power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you. Cleanse you, fill you. 

At first, we must commit our self to the Lord. 

To offer our bodies as living sacrifice 

Then there is operating in great power of the Holy Spirit. 

There is receiving all the fullness of the Spirit’s indwelling. 

4th Saint 

God names his people “Saint” 

Some one may think “O I’m not saint yet.” 

But you are already saint by the free gift of God’s grace. 

The Roman Catholic idea that only Super-Holy people canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. 

But that is not scriptural. 

In the New Testament to describe all those who have put their Faith and trust in the Lord, 

Jesus are called to be saint. 

We are all righteous in God. 

The Bible says in 2nd Corinthians 5:17 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is new creation. The old has gone. The new has come.” 

When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are new creation. 

We are not what we use to be, and now we are brand new. 

He died to make everything perfect because Jesus is perfect. 

Brothers and sisters listen carefully 

We are acknowledged as righteous people by God, right? 

We are not sinners even though we have sin. Isn’t it? 

But frankly speaking, as we humans are not perfect. 

Then what shall we do? 

That is why we have to do better and better in our lives. 

We must practice righteousness in our lives. 

Do you know the story of the prince and the beggar? 

The prince wants to go out of the palace and experience the world. 

One day when he met the beggar who looks like him. 

Suddenly he got an idea. 

He orders to the beggar to exchange dress. 

And he commanded him; you will be the prince until I come back 

Therefore at once the beggar became the prince 

And so he was expected to act, and be like the prince. 

He practiced the way of eating; walking and acting like the real prince 

Brothers and sisters 

Like this, we are already righteous/saint by God’s grace 

So we have to practice God’s likeness. 

Sinners practice sin 

But we are no longer sinners 

We are righteous already by our faith 

So we have to practice righteousness 

We must strive to reach the fullness of holiness in our lives 

Then we will experience to live full of God’s blessing and favor. 

In the Bible in Psalms 5:12 

“For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous, you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” 

And there’s one thing more, see the Bible James 5:16 

“The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” 

God will answer our prayer as long as we practice righteousness 

So brothers and sisters 

I remind you one more time that as Christians 

We are believers, so we need conviction. 

We are brothers and sisters in God. So we need agreement and harmony 

We are God’s disciples. Therefore we must commit our self to the Lord. 

And we are righteous that’s why we have to practice righteousness 

By these steps, I’d like all of you to receive God’s mercy and grace 

May God bless all of you. Amen