From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.                    Galatians 6:17

 Intro:  The Amplified Bible renders this, “Bear on my body the brand marks..”

I was raised on a ranch - found that the brand was permanent   and that it shows ownership   

 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Revelation 22:4

Please note with me some brands that should be in the life of every believer.

 1.  THE BRAND OF SALVATION

 This first brand is not an elective one.  It is absolutely necessary before you can have  the others. 

1.  One way of salvation

 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.                 John 14:6

 2. No middle ground

 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God.                           John 3:18

 3. Now is the  time

 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)                   2 Corinthians 6:2

 2. BRAND OF SERVICE

1. Begins with baptism!

 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.                                                                               Romans 6:4

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.                                                  Galatians 2:20

Baptism is a result of obedience to the command of Christ Himself.

And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.              Acts 10:48

 (Peter commanded  these first Gentile believers - of the house of Cornelius - to be baptized.)

2. There is much more to follow

 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)            Galatians 1:1

Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus,  which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:              Philippians 1:1

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness: Titus 1:1

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.   1 Corinthians 6:20

3 BRAND OF SEPARATION

1.  It has always God’s plan!

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

Genesis 12:1

Be ye not unequally yoke together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?     2 Corinthians 6:14

Need to recognize authority of God’s Word! 

Compromise on every hand today.  God has standards!

Faith of our Fathers! Living still in spite of dungeon,

fire, and Sword;

Oh, how our hearts beat high with joy,

When e’er we hear that glorious word!

Faith of our Fathers! Holy faith!

We will be true to Thee till death!

2. What is right and what is wrong?  Questionable things.

Whatsoever ye do-----

       1.  Do all to Glory of God

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.                           1 Corinthians 10:31

        2. Do all in name of Jesus

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.                             Colossians 3:17

3. Do heartily unto the Lord

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.”    Colossians 3:23, 24

Will doing this hurt the Lord, hurt someone else, hurt me?

4. BRAND OF SOUL-WINNING

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.                                             Proverbs 11:30

1. Every believer is to do this! Reproduce after our own kind.  It’s the normal thing to do.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.      John 16:16

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.                       Acts 5:42

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.                                   Mark 16:15

Cannot improve on God’s plan!

5. BRAND OF SUPPLICATION

1. Supplication=to make a humble request

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.                                                                         Matthew 6:6

2. Need to ask God!   Prayer is asking.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.                                          James 4:2

3. There is power in prayer!!

The only thing that will keep America together.

Power is proportioned to prayer.

Every believer can do this, too!  Some things we can not do.  But we call all pray!  As a matter of fact we have bee commanded to pray.

6. BRAND OF STEWARDSHIP

1. Stewardship= taking care of that which belongs to someone else.

27:30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the LORD'S: it is holy unto the LORD.

27:31 And if a man will at all redeem ought of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.      Leviticus 27:30-31

3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

3:9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.                           Malachi 3:8-10

14:17 And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.                             Genesis 14:17-20

6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

                                                                          Hebrews 6:20-7:2

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18

As children of God we are to bear in our body His brands.

They show we belong to Him and that He has made an eternal commitment to us.  He has given us everlasting life.

Will you allow Him to have His way in every area of your life today?

THE CLOCK OF LIFE

The clock of life is wound but once, And no one has the power To tell just when the hands will stop At late or early hour. Now is the only time you own, Live, love, toil with a will. Place no faith in tomorrow, for The clock may then be still.