Who Are the Christians? — Craig Strain

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Good evening. Another opportunity to hear from the Lord Jesus. I know the devil's not going to be happy with me this evening because the Lord has put a message in my heart. But greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

If you'll stand with me this evening, I'd like to sing that chorus, Come bless the Lord. And those of us whose hearts are right, let's worship our God in spirit and in truth through this chorus. And then we'll pray.

As I pray, you pray fervently in your heart to God that God will visit your own individual heart in this place this evening. Let's sing. Come bless the Lord, ye servants of the Lord. For this evening, God, that you have brought about, God, by your hand it has come about.

And Father, here we are before you, God, in your eye, your ever-seeing eyes upon every soul here this evening, Lord. Your presence is here, God. You know what's going to happen, Lord, in two seconds from now.

You know the outcome of the evening, and Father, what I pray is that you would magnify the Lord Jesus through me, God, like you never have before. Make Him so desirable, God, this evening. He is the answer, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lord of Heaven.

Father, you are so good. I just ask that you would take my lips and set them on fire for the glory of God. Father, I just ask that you would speak truth through me, Lord, in the Holy Ghost. Lord, I have nobody else to lean on but you, God, absolutely nobody else.

So, Father, with all confidence in you, God, that you're loving and kind, I lean on you and trust you for this message. I just pray, God, and ask that you would call thy Word, Lord, to become quickened and do the needed work this evening, Father.

You're so capable and able of doing this, Father. I look to you for this, God. You've got the answers. You've got all the answers, my Father. Have your will in your way this evening. I just ask that you would make your words that come off my mouth alive, Lord, for the glory of God.

For the glory and honor and praise of God Almighty. In Jesus' name, Amen. You can be seated. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly. Neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly.

And circumcision is that of the heart. And the spirit of circumcision is that of the heart, but of God. Whose praise is not of men, but of God. For as many are children of God, and sons of God. For as many as are led by God, they are the sons of God.

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. Creation. Things are passed away. Behold, all things are become new. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. You'll turn to the book of Acts chapter 11 this evening.

The Christian Identity in Acts 11

We'll start in verse 19. Giving a title for this message for those who are doing tapes. Who are the Christians? We've reached something that's a word in God's declaration of who a true Christian is. It's today.

Christians. Not to those who are walking in the spirit of God, but in this world there's such confusion. And this evening we want to find out from God's Word. These words have the answers. Who are the Christians?

Let's start reading in Acts chapter 11 verse 19. Now, they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Pharnacia and Cyprus and Antioch, preaching the Word to none but unto the Jews only.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. What a wonderful person to preach. And the hand of the Lord was with them.

And a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. And they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch, who when he came and had seen the grace of God, God do it this evening, was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. And much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus for to seek Saul. And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch.

And it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Christians! As I said moments ago, we're living in a time where things are confusing.

Where things aren't so clear to the world of who a Christian is. What a Christian is. Not only in this land, beyond this land. In the world! But do you know that that word has become littler in the eyes of the world?

Do you know why? Because there's many people that profess to be a Christian of Jesus Christ. Do you know also, an anointed one. Yes, that the true Christian is an anointed one. Yes, I'm an anointed one.

Yes, I'm a follower of Jesus. I'm anointed. Because when we say we're a Christian, that's what we're saying. Anointed. No, I don't walk in the Spirit. No, I don't serve God all week long. But I'm still a Christian.

My heart loves the world, but I'm a Christian. Yes, I was baptized when I was 15 years old. I tithe. I possess. Yes, I'm a Christian. What do you mean I'm not? That word has lost it's respect. You know, the first part of that word has Christ in it.

C-H-R-I-S-T. Christ. Ian. I'm a Christian. If we need something today, it is a clear message on who a Christian is. Not because this is my idea, but what God has put in my heart. Who are these Christians?

Who are these anointed ones? You know, these followers of Jesus. These people that are Jesus. And it's Jesus Christ. They talk about Jesus. They love Jesus. They walk with Jesus. They eat oil. Yes, this is a Christian.

But then we've got those that say they're a Christian. And they feed on the husk. There's no life there. But they're a Christian, right? We're at a Bible school, right? Supposed to have... You know a school, you think a Bible school.

Teaching. Oh yes, when you go to school, you get taught. And we need to be taught the Word. But I'm telling you, we're in a day and an age where there's so much watered down Christianity. There's so many professors that don't have eternal life.

Even right here! I'm not being critical, I'm just sharing what is true. I feel like we're not where they were in the book of Acts. Who are the Christians? We want to, by the grace of God and the help of God, share clearly from the Bible who the true Christians are this evening.

So you pay attention. In the book of Romans, chapter 2, verses 28 and 29, which were shared earlier, For he is not a Jew. And we can take this to us, For he is not a Jew. We can make this say he is not a Christian.

He's not a child of God. For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly. Neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew which is one inwardly. And circumcision is that of the heart.

In the spirit. And not in the letter. Whose praise is not of men but of God. The Christians, one mark, and you can mark it down for sure, of a true Christian is he has been circumcised in the heart. He has been circumcised in the heart!

Circumcision of the Heart and the Holy Spirit

You know, I'm not going to take the time to flip to it, but Abraham received a sign of circumcision. It talks about Abraham in verse 11 of Romans 4, and he received a sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had, yet being uncircumcised.

Circumcised was something that they did on the outward. And it was a sign. Do you know that those of us who are truly Christians remember followers of the Lord Jesus, anointed ones, anointed by God Himself.

Beautiful. Those who are truly Christians have been circumcised in the heart, and do you know how they've been circumcised in the heart? Or, excuse me, do you know how this is able to be seen? Listen.

Ephesians chapter 1, verses 13 and 14, it says, in whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also after that ye believed, you were sealed, you were confirmed, you were marked with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance unto the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory.

Ephesians chapter 4, verse 30, another verse here, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Wasn't going to read this, but I think I'll read this verse 2.

2 Corinthians chapter 1, verse 21,. Now, He which establisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God, who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. Do you know somebody that's truly been circumcised in the heart?

You'll know it this way. They've received the Holy Spirit. Circumcision in the heart. For He is not a Jew which is one outwardly. No. Neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh. But He is a Jew, a child of God, which is one inwardly.

Inwardly. And circumcision is that of the heart. In the Spirit. They've been circumcised in the heart. God, by His goodness, Lord Jesus, He's broke down, He's placed the Holy Spirit in there. That confirmation that that person has been circumcised in the Spirit.

That's what the Bible's teaching us. Oh, that circumcision in the heart, and oh, it's beautiful. When we've been circumcised in the heart, we become pure in heart. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

And when we've been circumcised, we have the Holy Ghost. And the Holy Spirit illuminates our hearts and our eyes to see those eternal things. It gives us power to maintain a pure heart where we can continually see God.

Beautiful. Do you believe it? Are you fully persuaded that this is possible? Students and everybody. Circumcision in the heart. You see, there are some, maybe quite possibly some here that they outwardly, they were merely baptized, this outward thing at 20 years old.

And they say, because I was merely baptized. Some, they're faithful to the church. They read their Bible. There's some that even have good desires. They put the desire of the faith through faith. We can't save ourselves, my brother and sister.

We can't close ourselves with religion. We can't go get baptized. We can't just read the Bible and pray these outward things and consider ourselves a Christian, a true Christian, but circumcised in the heart, in the Spirit, and they're alive under God.

And it's a lasting thing. I'm telling you what, this is real! We've got to wake up. I'm telling you what, if we don't wake up, some of us are in for a hard, hard time because you know what? We live in bad times.

Tough times. Oh no, all the money. What are you saying? Tough times. You don't think all this money we have and all this stuff hasn't deceived some of us? And you know what? There's some that will harp on money and all that, and I'm not going to do that because it's beyond that.

The problem is beyond that. It's in the heart, my brother and sister. It's beyond that. Have you been circumcised in the heart? Has the Lord Jesus cut away that sin? Has He cut away that lust? Has He cut away those unlawful desires?

Has He cut away that adulterous eye? Has He cut away those fantasies and given you a new heart? It's possible. 2 Timothy 3. We find written there, let's start in verse 1, this know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Do you know the Lord Jesus came in the last days? For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

How many of those are here this evening? Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such, Timothy, turn away. Turn away, Timothy, from these who are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

Isn't that what he's saying? That true Christian is the one who loves God. You say, oh, that's pretty simple. Yes, it is simple, isn't it? You know, a true Christian, a Christian that's been circumcised in the heart, they love God.

John 14 verse 15. We find written there, If ye love me, keep my commandments. If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 John chapter 5 verse 3. For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments and His commandments are not grievous.

That individual that's been circumcised in the heart, they love God. They love God. They adore God from their heart. Wait in the Spirit. See, we're talking about in the Spirit this evening. Inside. Not in the head.

We're talking within. That's where God dwells. Within. Not without. Within. They love God. They adore God in their heart. They magnify God in their heart. They exalt Him. They praise Him. Because it's from the heart.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And you know that the Christian that truly loves God, they obey God. They love His words. They find His words are precious. They're like the Bible says, honey. Sweeter also than honey.

And the honeycomb. They're not burdensome. They're not heavy. They're desirable. Do you find the commandments of God desirable? Do you find them desirable? I can tell you that's how God wants you to find them.

Desirable. I love God. I don't obey God, but I still love God. I don't obey God, but I love God. No, you don't. You don't love God. And I don't love God if I don't obey God. But I'm not saved by my obedience.

I'm saved by grace through faith. Praise God. But my faith, which is living, gives me strength to obey. Because I have access by faith into the glorious grace of God that empowers me to do the sweet will of God.

You see how it works, brothers and sisters? Do you see how it works? When we walk by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ God, lets that grace flow into our heart, and that grace enables us to do the will of God, and when we do the will of God, we have the smile of God upon our life, and we're joyful, and there's peace there, and we love God.

It's simple, but yet it's so beautiful. I don't understand it all. They love God. Yes, that Christian that's really a Christian, they really love God. They really do. And you know what? They love God more than the pleasures of this life even.

Amazing! You may say, what? Yes, they love God more than the passing, passing pleasures of this life. And they're passing. You know, some of you don't know me. I know the passing pleasures of this life.

Me, I do. And they're nothing. Nothing! God is so good. When He touches you, when He really touches your heart, you'll understand. Yes, that's one that can bear the name of Christian. That one that can go and tell another, Yes, I'm a Christian!

I'm an anointed one! That one who obeys God. You can say that! You go tell people that! But if you don't obey God, I wouldn't be going around that much telling people I'm a Christian. We don't want to dirty up that name anymore than it has been.

Love for God and Love for Fellow Christians

John chapter 13 verses 34 and 35, Jesus speaking to His disciples, a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this, shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another. By this, shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another. Also John said that. I appreciate him.

1 John chapter 5 verse 1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone that loveth Him that begat, loveth Him also that is begotten of Him. By this, we know, John says that we love the children of God.

When we love God and keep His commandments. Now listen to this next verse. For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments. And Jesus gave a new commandment that we would love one another. Do you see?

If we don't love the children of God, we don't love God. If we say we love God and we don't love our brother and sister, we do not love God. Don't say you love God because you're lying. Yes, that's a true Christian.

They love their brother and sister. And listen to what the beloved John says again. Inspired by the precious Holy Spirit. Beautiful. God's words are so beautiful. 1 John chapter 3 verse 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but indeed in action.

But indeed, and John says, and in truth, love their sisters when we really love in truth. We're loving our brother and sister in the Holy Ghost because John said in 1 John chapter 5 that it is the Spirit that beareth witness because the Spirit is truth.

The Spirit that beareth witness because the Spirit is truth. 1 John chapter 5 verse 6. And when we love our brothers and sisters in the Holy Spirit, we have this type of love. Listen to this type of love.

1 Corinthians chapter 13. Because this is the love that God wants us to have. In verse 4, Charity suffereth long, and is kind. He envieth not. Are you envious of your brother and sister in the heart where nobody knows?

Be honest before God. Love of God does not envy. Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked. Too many of us are easily provoked.

We just explode at the tip of a hat. Major problem. The Spirit's not right. Because when a person's controlled and directed and led by the Holy Ghost, they suffer long. They get harassed and they still love.

Thinketh no evil. Are you keeping accounts of evil that people have done to you? The love of God won't allow you to do it. It just won't. It won't allow you to keep accounts of evil that have been done to you.

They've got to go. They've got to go. And by the way, you also won't think evil of another if you have the love of God dwelling and active in your heart. You're not going to think evil of others. You're going to think good of them.

You're going to pray for them. Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth. This is the love of God that God wants us to have.

Pretty awesome, isn't it? Beautiful. But see, that's the love that God wants you and I to have in our heart. It's divine. It's beyond mankind. It's of God. God is love. Love is of God. This love comes from God.

And brothers and sisters, God's Word again gives us the answers. You know, God's Word says, and not only so, but we glory in tribulations also knowing that tribulation worketh patience, perseverance, and patience, experience, trustworthiness, and experience, hope.

And hope maketh not us shame, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto us. This love comes again by the Holy Ghost. See? Remember, the Holy Spirit is God.

And when the Holy Spirit is filling us, we gotta remember this is God, and God is love, so love is gonna be there. Love emanating out of the very person of God. Do you love your brother and sister? Honestly?

Do you really love them? If you don't love the children of God, you don't love God. And if you don't love God, you need to examine where you're at before God. This is good for those of us that are walking with the Lord too.

Sharing Possessions and Esteeming Christ Above Earthly Riches

Acts 2, we find written there in verse 44 and 45, Acts 2, 44 and 45, and all that believed were together and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acts 4, starting in verse 32, and the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul. Neither said any of them that oft of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things common, and with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet, and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

And Joseph, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, which is being interpreted the son of Consolation, a Levite in the country of Cyprus, having lands, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Hebrews chapter 11, starting in verse 24,. Hebrews 11, 24,. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. You know who that true Christian is? It's that one who is ready, who is willing to give up their possessions and goods. You know something I saw a while ago, but I was so blessed today as I read through some of the book of Acts, wanting to get a picture as I was preparing, wanting to see who a true Christian was.

It's that one gets certain possessions and lands and money for the good of somebody else, for God. That's what's happened in the book of Acts. Yes, we can come up with our own idea and think, oh, well, they did it because they were just a group together and they're helping each other out.

Yes, that's true. But also, when the Holy Spirit's real in your life and in mine, I'm telling you what, you're willing to give up lands and houses and money for the Lord Jesus and for the benefit of another brother or sister.

Guarantee it. You believe it? But you know, what was it one time I heard? Possibly 87... What was it? Some way high percentage in America that said they're Christians. It was a high percent. Now, we all know that's not true that 80 -90 of Americans is a true Christian.

Come on. I know better than that. God's Word teaches me that. Do you know what? Out of this 80 or 90%, do you think 85 or whatever that percent was, do you think that 80 of them would be willing to give up their possessions and their lands for the Lord Jesus just for another brother or sister who has a need?

Oh, but whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? John poses a question when we've been circumcised in the heart and are walking in the presence of God.

Yes, we really are willing to give up possessions and lands and money and toys and games for the Lord Jesus. You know, this Christianity is a serious thing and that's exactly how I take it. Now, somebody may think, man, he must live a boring life.

You don't understand, and I don't mean that to be funny at all. Let me tell you something. I'm so happy and that's the truth. See, I've tasted the drugs, the alcohol, and it doesn't matter. It don't matter what else.

They're nothing. Are you willing to give up your lands? Are you willing to even give up that fifth and sixth car for the Lord Jesus? You know that fourth and fifth and sixth car? That seventh house? Are you willing to give it up for Jesus if He asks you to?

Because let me tell you, when the Holy Ghost falls upon your life, you'll be ready. And not only you'll be ready, but I'll be ready. Because I'm riding this thing with you. Will you give your lands and possessions up?

Your riches for the Lord Jesus? Will you? If you've been circumcised in the heart, you'll be ready and willing. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. He could have had all the treasures He wanted in Egypt.

But you see, He saw God. He was seeing something that some of us aren't seeing. John 20 .19. 20 .19 says,. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst and said unto them, Peace be unto you.

Chapter 2 .14. Peter standing up with the eleven after that the Holy Ghost fell at Pentecost. But Peter standing up with the eleven lifted up his voice and said unto them, Ye men of Judea and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, this same Peter, who for fear of the Jews...

We just read about that in John 20. But oh, when the Holy Spirit came, we find a different Peter. For these are not drunken as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. Let's skip on down to verse 22.

Ye men of Israel, hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs which God did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know Him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be holden of it.

Bold Witness and Confession of Jesus Christ

Peter, what happened to you? What happened to you, Peter, who for fear of the Jews were hiding? Stephen in the book of Acts chapter 7. You know, Stephen delivered a beautiful message, didn't he? Let's break in on that message in verse 51 of Acts 7.

Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears. You know, and uncircumcised in heart and ears. Ye who always resist the Holy Ghost as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted?

And they have slain them, which showed before the coming of the just one, of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers, who have received them all by the disposition of angels and have not kept them.

When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on them with their teeth. You know who that true Christian is? It's that one who speaks the Word of God with boldness and boldly confesses Jesus with their mouth.

With brothers and sisters. Yes, even with the mouth. Some of us have a real easy time of speaking a lot. You know, there's some people that can really go for it in speaking. But there's some of those same ones when it comes to talking about the Lord Jesus, they're like a clam.

But see, as I read, I can't get away. How can I preach anything else? I cannot preach anything less than the truth. And I will not or I want to stop preaching. Now, yes, that true Christian is that one who speaks with boldness the Word of God.

Arrogance? No! It's in the heart. Being assured by God of what they're saying is right. Arrogance? No! Yes! I'll tell you what about the Apostle Paul. Oh, boy! Before he met the Lord Jesus, he was a persecutor of Christians, wasn't he?

Hailing men and women, committed them to prison. Went to Damascus, went to the high priest trying to get approval to go get the Christians there. You know, those ones who found the way, the truth and the life.

Went to go get them to bring them bound unto Jerusalem. But oh, God had better plans for him. And oh, as he went on his way to Damascus, God Almighty, the Lord Jesus shined upon him. And that light shined round about him.

And oh, my! Paul's response. What do you want me to do? And oh, the Lord appears to Ananias in a vision. And Ananias, Lord, I've heard so much about him. All the evil that he's done. And I'm not quoting God's words.

But Ananias obeyed God and he went and he laid his hands on Paul. And he even called him Brother Saul. Beautiful. And oh, those scales fell from his eyes. And I'm telling you what, we find a beautiful verse in Acts 9.

It's written there and straightway or immediately. He preached Christ in the synagogues that he is the Son of God. Yes, the Apostle Paul, the one who was ancient, he was in the synagogue preaching Christ.

He's the Son of God. Yes, that's the salvation that God brings through Jesus Christ, who is Lord. That's awesome. I see the glorious grace of God bestowed upon Paul. Paul says, and the grace of the Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love.

And Timothy, yes, God poured His glorious, precious grace, His favor out upon the Apostle Paul. Oh, the Lord Jesus circumcised him in the heart. And oh, the Lord Jesus gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost.

And because Paul had the gift of the Holy Ghost, because God came to dwell within him, Paul was able to straightway preach Christ, the one he was trying to preach. By the Lord Jesus, we go out and we open our mouth and we tell somebody, Jesus Christ is Lord.

He is the Son of God. He is the... It happens. Has it happened to you? Has it really happened? Have you been really touched by the Lord Jesus? If you have, you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth. Brothers and sisters, I'm not talking on how it should be done, I'm talking it should be done.

God gets a hold of our hearts. I don't want to preach another message and see people say it was a good message and never be changed to a glorious work. That's what we need. In the book of Colossians chapter 3, starting in verse 1, if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on the things on the earth. Not on things on the earth, for ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Those who seek and set their affections on things above, that is a true Christian.

That is a Christian! Those who seek their affection, their mind, their heart above. Not on the things of this life. In the book of Philippians chapter 3, we find these words that go right along with Colossians.

Philippians 3 .18. For many walk, maybe, whom this is true in their life, for many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Who set their mind on earthly things. You know, one that sets their mind on earthly things? They're an enemy of the cross. Because I want to share something with you that's true about the cross of Christ.

And I haven't been here for those sessions, but I know very little about the cross. But one truth I want to share that's true about the cross, is when it's done its true work in your heart, you become a citizen of heaven.

And because you're a citizen of heaven, and the Holy Ghost is in your life, you walk as a citizen. For our conversation, Paul says, you know that word conversation is our citizenship. Where is your citizenship?

Is it here? Or is it in heaven? Are you a member of the kingdom of God? Are you a member of this earth? This fading, dark, deceiving kingdom? Are you a member of that? Or a member of the heavenly kingdom?

Paul says, for our conversation is in heaven. From whence? Did you catch those two words? From whence? For the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, you know, when we're seated in the heavenlies, brothers and sisters, we can really look for the return of the Lord Jesus.

But when our citizenship is here, we don't look for His return. No. Do you understand that? From whence also we look? Too many of those 87 or whatever percent of America now would confess to be a Christian.