How To Be A Genuine Person Series

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. . .

Titanic. . . the reason the Titanic was thought to be unsinkable is that it was COMPARTMENTALIZED. If there was a puncture in one part of the ship, they would simply seal off that part, and keep sailing. But when that time came, the systems didn’t work properly, and the ship sank.

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.