SUPERIORITY: PROCLAIMING HIS EXCELLENCIES BY WHAT YOU SAY OR DO!

                         

NEW BOOK COMING SOON!

PROCLAIMING HIS EXCELLENCIES

“…you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light …” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).

*

The chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, and the people of God’s own possessions have a MAIN purpose and that is to “proclaim the Excellencies of God. “…you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him …” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).

King David proclaims the excellences - qualities, merits, virtues, character traits, holy nature, kindnesses, amazing graces, mercies, etc. - of God in Psalms 145. “… I will exalt (praise, proclaim) you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.  All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever…” (Psalms 145 NLT).

Proclaiming God’s excellences is NOT limited to church, but many of God’s people fear being known as a “religious freak” or a “holy roller.” “…The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” (Psalms 118:6 NASB). “… I will exalt (praise, proclaim) you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; …” (Psalms 145 NLT).

God’s people desire to “fit in” just like everybody else and are concerned with being rejected or thought of as narrow-minded or boring. “…Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass...” (Psalm 37:1-2,16 KJV).

However, worldly people are FREE to have whatever conversations they desire, while God’s people struggle to have gospel conversations that relate to their lifestyle. “… Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand…” (Isaiah 41:10 NASB).

God’s people are often LIMITED to having gospel conversations with family, friends, or other church members out of fear or because they don’t KNOW how to incorporate or proclaim his excellencies in a concise, authentic, or articulate manner. “… [You]… can do all things THROUGH CHRIST which strengtheneth [you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).^“…It is God who works IN YOU to will and TO ACT…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).

God tells his people to be courageous he is more that the WHOLE world against them. “…What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31 NASB).

God gives his people a Spirit of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND. “… God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind…” (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV).

He has equipped his people through his indwelling Spirit, which aids them in PROCLAIMING his excellencies which is really evangelism. ^“…May … God…EQUIP YOU with everything good for doing his will, and may he WORK IN US what is pleasing to him, THROUGH Jesus Christ,,,” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV).

God’s people are equipped, but are NOT committed to proclaiming his excellencies outside of church. “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:27-28 KJV).

Evangelism is the task of making disciples and telling others about his excellencies, by what you do or say. The task is left to God’s people. “…“I” will proclaim your greatness…“I” will praise the Lord…” (Psalms 145 NLT).

God’s people were chosen as his “special” people to “proclaim his excellencies” as stewards of his manifold grace. “…“I” will proclaim your greatness… and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever…” (Psalms 145 NLT).“…As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold GRACE of God…” (1 Peter 4:10 KJV).

Proclaiming his excellencies is similar to being an evangelist. “…Do the work of an evangelist….” (2 Timothy 4:5 NLT). “…Philip the evangelist…” (Acts 21:8 NIV).  “…Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there…” (Acts 8:1-8 NIV).

An evangelical is someone who has been called to the office of an Evangelist. OR an evangelist proclaimer is a devoted and faithful follower of Christ who shares and proclaims the good news of the gospel. “…Philip … proclaimed the Messiah there…” (Acts 8:1-8 NIV). King David said: “…I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever…” (Psalms 145 NLT).

An evangelist proclaimer, whether inside or outside of the church, is an individual who strictly adheres to the core principles, values, or doctrines of Jesus Christ. “…If the Lord will, [the evangelist proclaimer] shall live, and do this, or that...” (James 4:16 KJV). “…The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delighteth in his way …” (Psalm 37:23-40 KJV).

ALL of God’s people are evangelist proclaimers who walk by the authority of the Holy Scriptures. “… How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord; Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word…” (Psalms 119:9-16 NASB).

They are usually living witnesses because of their dedication to Jesus and the Word of God. “… Let your LIGHT SO SHINE before men, that they MAY SEE your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).

The role of an evangelist proclaimer is a HIGH calling reserved for the chosen race, the royal priesthood, and the holy nation. “…you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him …” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).

God’s people are devoted to God through Christ and will walk by the authority of the Holy Scriptures no matter who they are with. . “…I will meditate on Your precepts And regard Your ways. I shall delight in Your statutes; I shall not forget Your word…” (Psalms 119:9-16 NASB).

Being an evangelist proclaimer has NOTHING to do with location either, but it is ALL about sharing and proclaiming the good news of the gospel through words or actions wherever they are. “…that they MAY “SEE” your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:16 KJV).

An evangelist proclaimer’s most important task is setting an example of purity, HOLINESS, integrity, and Christlikeness. “…ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy…” (Leviticus 20:26 KJV). “… I AM HOLY…” (1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV).  And, “There is none holy as the Lord…” (1 Samuel 2:2 KJV). “…be holy, because I am holy…” (1 Peter 1:16 KJV). “…Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1  KJV). “…that we might be partakers (participants) of his holiness...” (Hebrews 12:10 KJV).

An evangelist proclaimer will NOT entangle themselves in the many affairs of life or abandon their calling for other pursuits, but maintains a lifestyle of focusing on, sharing, and proclaiming the gospel of salvation. “…keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry….” (2 Timothy 4:5 NLT). “…No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier…” (2 Timothy 2:4 NASB).

Basically, an evangelist proclaimer is a messenger from God, who is especially sent to preach, announce, teach, or proclaim the GOOD news of the gospel everywhere he or she is sent or goes. “…So Christ himself gave the evangelists…” (Ephesians 4:11 NIV). “… Do the work of an evangelist….” (2 Timothy 4:5 NLT). “…so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him …” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).

The purpose of an evangelist proclaimer is to also reconcile unconverted sinners into a relationship with God through Christ by preaching the word in season or out of season. “…PREACH the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction…” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV).

Jesus Christ was the first evangelist proclaimer and preached the message of Good News. “…And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to PREACH the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to PREACH deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To PREACH the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, THIS DAY is this scripture fulfilled in your ears…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).

In fact, Jesus, himself, WAS the good news or the message. “…he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV). “Jesus saith…I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV). “….the gospel of Christ …. is the power of God unto SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH…” (Romans 1:16 KJV). “…There is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12a NLT).

An evangelist proclaimer is one of God’s mouthpieces for proclaiming the good news and pointing mankind to the WAY of salvation. “Jesus saith…I am THE WAY, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV). “…There is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12a NLT).

Philip held the OFFICE of an Evangelist. “…Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven…” (Acts 21:8 NIV). The traits of an evangelist proclaimer and those who hold the OFFICE are similar in that they both proclaim his excellences? 

Evangelists and evangelist proclaimers BOTH proclaim his excellences or preach the word no matter what’s going on around them. The desire to proclaim his excellences becomes a BURNING desire!! “… For each time I speak, I cry aloud; I proclaim …  if I say, “I will … [not] … speak anymore in His name,” Then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire Shut up in my bones; And I am weary of holding it in, And I cannot endure it….” (Jeremiah20: 8-9 NASB).

Miracles, deliverances from demons, and healing the sick are performed through the Holy Spirit. Evangelist proclaimers also bring JOY to a place. “…Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great JOY in that city…” (Acts 8:1-8 NIV).

Evangelist proclaimers wins souls. “…Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw…” (Acts 8:9-14 NIV).

Evangelist proclaimers are obedient and will go wherever God sends him or her. An evangelist explains the word of God to others and leads people to salvation. An evangelist, with a special anointing to that office, can also baptize new converts. “…Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet .The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea…” (Acts 8:26-40 NIV).

The chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation, ALL has some traits of an Evangelist since they have been called to the ministry of reconciliation by presenting or proclaiming the good news to others. “…God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. …” (2 Corinthians 5:18 NIV). “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation…” (Mark 16:15 NIV).

Whether specially called to the office or byway of salvation God provides Evangelist or evangelist proclaimers. “…Christ himself gave the evangelists…” (EPHESIANS 4:11 NIV).

ALL Evangelists and evangelist proclaimers will have special indwelling empowerment for proclaiming his excellences and the supernatural gifts that the role requires. “…Now God GIVES US many kinds of special abilities ….The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of us as a means of HELPING the entire church.  … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).

Proclaiming God’s excellencies as a lifestyle may make you appear radical to many, but that was God’s sole purpose for sending you to earth. Jesus has a sole purpose for coming to earth too! “….THE SON OF MAN CAME “NOT” to be served but to serve others and TO GIVE his life as a ransom for many…" (Matthew 20:28 NIV).

Jesus Christ did NOT come for any purpose of his own or man’s AT ALL. Jesus came to do his Father’s will ONLY. “…I seek NOT mine own will…but THE WILL of the Father which hath sent me...” (John 6:38 KJV).  “…For I have come down from heaven “NOT” TO DO MY WILL BUT to do THE WILL of him who sent me…” (John 6:38 NIV).  Jesus is the “proclaimer of his excellences” example.

Most evangelist “proclaimers” will not preach or teach without giving an invitation to receive Christ as savior. “…God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house…” (ACTS 16:31 KJV). "…Therefore REPENT AND RETURN, “SO” that your sins may be wiped away…” (Acts 3:19 NASB).

They “proclaim HIM” with conviction and clarity and are always communicating the good news wherever they go. “… Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And ...he was buried, and …he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV).  “…God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ DIED FOR US…” (Romans 5:8 KJV). “… believe in thine heart that GOD HATH RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, thou shalt be SAVED…” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV).

The chosen race, the royal priesthood, the holy nation do the work of an evangelist proclaimer by starting new churches, running traditional revivals, winning souls, leading the discipleship programs, being guest speakers at churches both national and internationally, and working outside the church walls. “… Do the work of an evangelist….” (2 Timothy 4:5 NLT). “…. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed …So there was great JOY in that city…” (Acts 8:1-8 NIV).

 “…PREACH (Proclaim) the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction…” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV).

“…you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him …” (1 Peter 2:9 NASB).