A PICTURE OF THE PERFECT CHRISTIAN

Some say, “Impossible!” “No one is perfect!”

Romans 3:10,23: “ There is none righteous, no, not one”… …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Others quote Matthew 5:47-48 : “ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

BUT… I THINK IT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE …

A small child announced she was going to draw a picture of God…

When she was told that no one knew what God looked like, she replied…

“You will when I’m finished!”

So let’s begin our picture of “The Perfect Christian ”

1. LARGE MIND

A LARGE MIND TO… CONTEMPLATE CREATION Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”

A LARGE MIND TO… THINK GOOD THOUGHTS: Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

A LARGE MIND TO… ACKNOWLEDGE OUR WEAKNESSES 2 Corinthians 12:10 “ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2. LARGE HEART

A LARGE HEART TO… LOVE GOD : Mark 12:29: “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”

A LARGE HEART TO… LOVE MY NEIGHBOR Mark 12:31: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

A LARGE HEART TO… LOVE YOUR ENEMIES Matthew 5:44-45 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;”

3. LARGE EARS

LARGE EARS TO… HEAR GOD’S WORD Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

LARGE EARS TO… HEAR THE CRIES OF THOSE IN DISTRESS Job 30:25 “ Have I not wept for him who was in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor?”

LARGE EARS TO… LISTEN FOR GOD’S DIRECTIONS: Romans 2:4 “ Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

4. LARGE EYES

LARGE EYES TO… SEE THE NEEDS OF OTHERS 1 John 3:17-18 “ But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”

LARGE EYES TO… LOOK FOR THE 2 ND COMING Acts 1:9-11 ”And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’”

LARGE EYES TO… VISUALIZE THE GOOD IN OTHERS Matthew 7:3: “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”

LARGE EYES TO… HAVE A VISION FOR SELF, FAMILY AND CHURCH Where are you going? Will your family do well? Will the church be strong?

5. LARGE MOUTH

LARGE MOUTH TO… CONFESS “JESUS IS LORD!” Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

LARGE MOUTH TO… TELL THE STORY OF JESUS Acts 8:35 “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him.”

LARGE MOUTH TO… GLORIFY GOD Romans 15:5-6 “ Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

LARGE MOUTH TO… ENCOURAGE Matthew 5:44 “ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…”

6. LARGE HANDS

LARGE HANDS TO… SUPPORT THE WEAK Acts 20:35 “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

LARGE HANDS TO… WORK FOR THE LORD 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…”

LARGE HANDS TO… WAGE BATTLE AGAINST SATAN Psalm 144:1 “Blessed be the LORD my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—”

7. LARGE FEET

LARGE FEET TO… STAND FAST 1 Corinthians 16:13 “ Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.”

LARGE FEET TO… RUN THE RACE 1 Corinthians 9:24 “ Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

LARGE FEET TO… CARRY THE GOSPEL Romans 10:15 “And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!’”

LET’S ADD SOME COLOR

WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE?

SOME SAID, “IT LOOKS LIKE AN ALIEN!”

An interesting observation… Consider the following scripture: John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Add this scripture… John 17:14 “ I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”

1 Peter 2:11-12: ” Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”

Look again at the picture…

Coincidence? I don’t think so!

WHAT DOES YOUR PICTURE LOOK LIKE?

DO YOU NEED TO MAKE CHANGES?