THE SIGNS OF A BELIEVER
MARK 16:16-18
Sign: a mark, indication, or characteristic
Believer: one in agreement, persuaded, convinced, of confident in something or someone
We have a misconception about believers
- one who comes to church
- one who can quote scripture
- one who knows what to say/ when to say it
Real Believer
- Study’s the Word
- Line’s up with the Word
- Lives the Word
(Point…) We must do more than just “know” the Word; we must believe the Word (see definition)… Belief is a prerequisite for salvation (Rom 10:9) Belief is not rhetoric, it’s a realization… A real believer won’t just claim to “know it” but they will “show it” as well (actions speak louder than words)… The first sign of a true believer is that they will have:
I. CHRIST LIKE POWER (v17)
We (the church) lack power because we don’t believe the Word of God… We treat it like a buffet: we take what we want and leave the rest… (We want the word of prosperity, but not the word of correction…) (Text…)
- You can’t do anything without His Power
- We’ve been trying to do it ourselves for too long
(Secret…) You have to have power to handle the demons in your life…
- You need power to see your family delivered
- You need power to see your family set free
As a believer you have Christ Like Power to defeat the enemy… But a real believer also has:
II. CHRIST LIKE PERSONA (CHARACTER) (v17)
- The way you present yourself ought to be different (not talking physical).
- (Text… “tongues”) Your heavenly language should not be the only thing that is different about you…
- You can speak in tongues in here and cuss me out outside (downstairs…!)
- Your character, countenance, and conviction ought to be different
- (Acts 2) After their empowerment, they were not the same
- Problem: Many of us have had “contact” but no “connection or conversion”…
- Your sign must be inward as well as outward
As a believer you have Christ Like Power to defeat the enemy… You have Christ Like Persona to help make an impact on others… But a real believer also has:
III. CHRIST LIKE PROTECTION (v18)
- Doesn’t freak out when attacks come/ every time
something happens
- Is not “scared” of the enemy or demonic forces (Matt 11:12)
- Does not tempt God by doing stupid stuff
- Knows in their heart that because of who/whose they are, that they are protected (Ps 91)
As a believer you have Christ Like Power to defeat the enemy… You have Christ Like Persona to help make an impact on others… You have Christ Like Protection from the dangers of this world… But a real believer also has:
IV. CHRIST LIKE PURPOSE (v18)
- You’ve been saved to help save others
- You’ve been delivered to help deliver others
Christ came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10)
- But you must do the “leg work…”
- You must share the Good News
- Not the pastor’s job to lead others to Christ, that’s your job
- Sheep beget sheep…!
“KNOW YOUR PURPOSE…!”
- You ought to be able to minister to others
- You ought to be able to lay hands on the sick
- You ought to be able to encourage those who are down
- You ought to be able to exhort others to trust in Him
(Secret…) When you know your purpose no one and nothing can stop you… Knowing your purpose gives you a goal to aim for… Without purpose you’re lost… Your purpose ought to be to reach everyone you can and share the Good News of Christ…
When you understand your purpose
- You can move with confidence
- You can move with conviction
- You can move with courage
Jesus understood His purpose… When He went to the Cross…
