15 in 5: Authentic, Not Diluted

1 Thessalonians 2:9-10 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. ESV   Everyone knows the immense torture of Texas summer heat. If you work at a plant, the heat under your clothes will make you feel like the sun is cooking your skin. If you are a police officer, you have to catch your breath every time you get out of the patrol car and the first inhalation of the heat feels like it is cooking your lungs. Daycare teachers wish they could allow the little ones to run outside and burn off the excess energy that is trapped inside the four walls of the room, but due to extreme weather conditions… they must keep those precious babies inside!  The heat is so intense that if you pour yourself a glass of your favorite drink over ice and step away, the ice melts within a matter of seconds! Your favorite drink has now become diluted and not so desirable.   Much like the heat and melted ice, accusations, impurity, greed and deception will water down the anointing upon your life. When the Gospel is watered down, its effectiveness is impacted. When you go to your favorite restaurant, do you go because of the authentic flavor? Would you continue to be a customer if your favorite dish became diluted with harsh chemicals or lost its flavor? If a restaurant wants to keep their clientele, it must continue to provide outstanding food and service to meet or exceed the expectation of the company’s high standards. You are the Church and you are delivering and serving the Gospel to the world. God is in charge of the operation and He is making sure that you are not watering down the good news. Unlike a restaurant, God doesn’t need people’s approval or acceptance. Jesus declared, "I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” We cannot tweak the recipe of the Gospel. It is what it is… it’s authentic and pure. It’s Holy and True. Do not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. As you go about your day, stay authentic to the Word; please God and not people. Make an impact – Be the One… We are Church. Prayer Points: ·  Thank God that His Word is alive and powerful ·  Pray for God to give you energy and to open your eyes that you may see wonderful things in His Word ·  Ask Him to guide, teach and mold you to be the person He created you to be Don Gibson