Good Report

Philippians chapter 4: 7-9 Philippians chap 4 and veres 7-9 Philippians chapter 4: 7 the bible says in the peace of God which passes all understanding she'll keep your hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus finally Brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure what sort of things are lovely what s of things are good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do and the God of Peace shall be with you we've been going through the series titled deposit these things and we're talking about how that you when you get saved it's like opening

up an account at a bank a checking account and you can open an account for free and that salvation is free but then once you open that account you've got to make deposits in order to make withdrawals you can't take money out of your account unless you put money into your account you need to deposit these things the end of verse number eight it says that think on these things that phrase is the idea of to deposit these things it's an accounting term in the Greek language and so we've been going through and look at what it means to deposit things that are true and honest and just and pure and lovely and today we're going to talk about what sort of things are of good report what sort of things

of good report you know the idea of good report is good news and we live in a world today where there's just not a lot of good news so you know we live in a world of excuse me bad news uh you look at the paper and look on the news you see about inflation you see about debts you see about wars you see about shootings you see about covid um but I've got good news for you and the good news is you don't have to panic and and the reason why is because the Bible says in Matthew 24 verse number 6 and you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars see that see that you be not troubled for all these things must come to pass but the end is not yet and we're going to see bad news in the world today but

we've got the good news the Bible says he which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly amen even so come Lord Jesus in Revelation 22:20 we've got the good news of the Gospel you know the Bible the word gospel means good news in Romans chapter 1 and verse 16 it says for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it's a power of God unto salvation and to to all the to excuse me the power of God unto salvation everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also the Greek the gospel is the good news that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son the headline is that Jesus saves turn over your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and look at

verses number 1-4 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verses 1-4 the good news of the gospels moreover brother I declare unto the gospel which I preached unto you which also you have received and wherein you stand by which also you are saved you keep in memory what I preached unto you unless you have believed in vain for I delivered unto you first of all that which also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures you see the good news the headline news is that Jesus Saves The Gospel is the good news and you can read all about it in John 20 and verse number 31 it says but these are written

that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that believing you might have life through his name in 1 John 5: 12- 13 it says he that hath the son hath life he that hath not the Son of God hath not life these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life God has written this down and we can read it read the good news of the Gospel we can read about what it means to be saved and to know that we're going to heaven we can read the whole story go over to Hebrews chapter 2 Hebrews chapter 2 and look at verses number 1 through3 Hebrews chapter 2 and beginning with verse number one it says therefore we

ought to give the more Earnest heed to the things which we have heard lest any time we should let them slip for the word spoken by the Angels was steadfast and every transgression and Disobedience received a just recompense of reward how shall we escape if we neglect so great Sal salvation which the first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him you see God has given us the whole story the story of the good news of the Gospel now there is bad news the bad news is Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God the bad news is because of our sins we're condemned already in John chapter 3 and verse number 18 it says he that believeth

not on him he that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God in verse 36 it says excuse me I'm sorry about this verse number 36 he says he that believeth on the son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the sun shall not see light but the wrath of God abideth in him you see the bad news is that all have sinned the bad news is that we already without Christ are condemned to hell for all eternity but the good news is that God has sent his son to die for us see even your best is not good enough in Isaiah 64 and verse number six it says but we are all as an unclean thing and

all of our righteousness are as filthy rags and we do all fade as a leaf and our iniquities like the wind have taken us away and even the best that you have to offer the best of your religion the best of your righteousness the best of your rituals are not good enough to get you into heaven and that's the bad news but the good news is that God so loved you that he gave his only begotten son in Romans chapter 5 and verse number 8 it says but God commendeth or showed his love towards us and that while we're yet sinners Christ died for us he died to save us from our sins he died to give us the gift of Salvation in Ephesians chapter 2 and verses 8 and9 it says for by grace are you saved through

faith and then not of yourselves it's the gift of God not of works that same man should boast we can't work for our salvation but God has given us the gift of Salvation that we can receive into our hearts into our lives you see the good news ought to draw you to God in Romans Chapter 2 and verse number four the Bible says or despises thou The Riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadth thee to repentance you see the good news of the Gospel ought to draw you to God the good news of the Gospel ought to draw you to Jesus Christ you can know for sure that you're going into heaven you can know that your sins are forgiven you can know that

you have eternal life and that's the good news of the gospel and you need to receive that news today but you see you and I as Christians we ought to be God's delivery boy we you know when my boys were younger they used to deliver newspapers to houses in our area and and you and I need to deliver the good news of the Gospel in Isaiah 52 and verse number 7 it says how beautiful upon the mountains are the feat of him that bringeth good tidings that publishes peace that bringeth good tidings of good that publishes salvation that saith unto Zion thy God Reign it the Bible says you and I are the ones that need to take our feet and go out and publish the good news of the Gospel to go out and tell

others about Jesus Christ because if we don't who will go over to Romans chap 10 Romans chap 10 and look at verses 13-1 17 Romans 10: 13-17 Romans 10:13 it says for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved and if you're here today and you've never called upon God if you've never called Upon Jesus Christ as your savior the good news is you can do that today but verse 14 says how then shall They Call On Him whom they've not believed and how shall they believe in him of whom they've not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they preach except they be sent as is written how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring Glad

Tidings of good things now when it talks about a preacher there is not talking about me is talking about every one of us the preacher is the one that bears the good news that tells others about Christ verse number 16 but they have not all obeyed the gospel for Isaiah said Lord who ha believed our report so then Faith come by hearing hearing by the word of God God has called you and God has called me to go out and to give the gospel to others he's called us to give the gospel and share it with others as well they're bringing me some tea here to help out with it thank you and so we need to share that gospel by giving out Bible tracks by inviting people to church by sharing our testimony by

telling them about the good news of the gospel because if we don't do it who's going to do it we need to shout it from the mountain tops in Isaiah 42 and veres 11 and 12 it says let the Wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice The Villages that Kar do inhabit let the inhabitants of the Rocks sing Let Them shout from the top of the mountains let them give Glory unto the Lord and declare his praise in the islands and God has put you and God has put me into the islands here in Hawaii so that we can tell others about the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that we can tell others about the good news of God and you and I need to be doing it every week you should be inviting people to church

every week you should be giving out gospel tracks we need to shout it from the mountain tops we need to decare in the islands the praise of God because we're called to give that good news to others but also let me ask you a question what good news do you have to share today in 1 Peter chapter 4: 11 it says if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man Minister let him do it as ability which God giveth that God and all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ to be praised and Dominion forever and ever amen you see as as Christians as Believers we ought to have good news to share every day not just the good news of the Gospel but we ought to be able to share the good

news of what God is doing in our lives to talk about things like our devotions our our Bible study our memory verses when's the last time you went up to somebody and said let me tell you what I read in my Bible this week let me tell you what verse I'm memorizing in the scriptures this week let me let me tell you what I what I'm learning in my bible study this week you know we ought to be able to share the good news that's depositing the the good report the good news of the things that God is doing in our lives we ought to talk about the lessons and the messages we hear I hope that when you come to church on Sunday and hear the message of the word of God I hope that you go out during the week

and maybe share that with others you know share let me tell you what I learned in church let me tell you what I learned from the Bible uh we ought to be sharing that good news with others as well talk about the blessings of God and how he's working in your life you know we ought to talk about God we ought to talk about this is what God's doing for me this morning have you told anybody this morning let me tell you about what God did for me this week let me tell you about how God answered a prayer in my life this week let me tell tell you about how God's working in my life we ought to be sharing good news that's depositing good reports into our lives and and those are things that we can draw

upon we ought to talk about even the challenges and the struggles of our lives in James chapter 5 and verse number 16 it says confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that you ye may be healed the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much and I think that it's even sharing sometimes the challenges and the struggles that we're going through that that can be depositing a good report because we're we're sharing it with somebody so they can pray for us I need you to pray for me or we're sharing it with somebody so that they can they can hold us accountable and encourage us in our walk with the Lord and and we ought to every time we get together with other

Christians we ought to have a good report we ought not just to talk about the weather we ought not just to talk about what's going on at work we ought not just to talk about uh what's happening in in our families but we ought to talk about the goodness of God and we ought to have a good report to share with one another in 1 Corinthians 14:26 it says how is it then Brethren when you uh come together every one of you ha the psalm ha the doctrine ha the tongue ha the Revelation ha an interpretation let all things be done onto edifying now what was happening in the Corinthian Church uh there was a little bit of a competition going on and everybody was trying to talk at one time and everybody was

trying to share something at one time and Paul said wait a minute you got to slow down here you got to give other people a chance to talk as well you can't always be in the Limelight you can't always be the center of attention but he said listen but the thing I want you to point out point out to you here is he said listen every one of those in the Corinthian Church was was not one of the most spiritual churches of that day but every one of them they had uh they had a Psalm uh they had scripture to share they had a Doctrine they had something a revelation something that they'd learned and you and I every time we get together with another Christian whether it's here at church or whether it's

at at work or in our homes or wherever it's at we ought to take time to share a good report to share a good report of the blessings of God and the goodness of God in our lives this is what God is doing for me and this is what God is teaching me and this is what God is doing in my life but we also ought to share good report about others and if ee esian chapter 4 and verse number 29 29 turn over there if you would with with me please Ephesians chapter 4 and verse number 29 Ephesians chapter 4 verse number 29 let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may Minister Grace unto the hearers uh the the root word of this idea of good

report in in in the passages in Philippians that we've been reading the root word when you go back to it is it means literally good rumors good rumors you know uh James 4: 11 it says speak not evil one of another Brethren he that speak evil of his brother and judges his brother speak evil the law and judge the law but if thou judge the law thou are not a doer of the law but a judge you see it's we're sometimes quick to share gossip we're sometimes quick to share did you hear about so and so did you hear what they did did you hear what happened to him and and we're quick to share bad news but we need to be quick to share good news we need to be quick to share things that will edify and and

build up in the lives of others and we need to share those kind of things in 1 Peter chapter 4 and verse number eight it says and above all things have fervent charity among yourselves for charity shall cover the multitud to sins have you ever gotten a check like this one here they're put on the screen now for me have you ever seen a check like that non-sufficient funds every once in a while one will come to the church where somebody uh wrote their tie check and somehow miscalculated their how much money was in the bank and that check will come back and if you've ever gotten one of those in your own checking account you know was very frustrating and what's really frustrating about this is

not only uh do they have that non-sufficient funds not only that the problem but then they they penalize you for it don't they uh because you didn't have enough money they take more money out of your account that's really a great thing to do and and some businesses many businesses what they do if you get if they get a check like this they'll put it back through a second time and and and then you get charged a second time if you don't have the money in there now we when we get the check back what we do is we just contact the person say this is what happened and you could do what you want with it and take care of it however you would like to uh we don't want to keep charging you over and over

again for the same thing you know and and the Bible tells us and 1 Peter 4:8 above all things have fervent charity among yourselves for charity shall cover the multitude of sins the word cover means to hide that which is stolen it it it means that you're not even though it was wrong uh you're not going to publish it you ever gone into a business they've got those checks like that on their wall or on a bulletin board uh posted up there because people put those checks through and and uh and taking the money away and I understand why they do that but you and I as Christians we ought we ought to cover sin not publish it not put it out there for everybody not not make rumors about other people

you see Proverbs 10:12 it says hatred stirreth up Stripes but love coverthe need to be careful that we don't post it that we don't put it out there when something happens we need to deal with it privately and lovingly and kindly and not in a rumor way and not in a gossipy way and 1 Corinthians 13:5 is says love does not behave itself unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil thinketh no evil the phrase thinketh no evil is means does not hold evil on account what happens a lot of times is when we're hurt by somebody what we do is we take that on our account and and we hold it inside of us and maybe we don't even say anything about it but we keep it inside there and

then they do something else and we hold that inside of us and after a while uh they get too much debt you ever go on into the store where that little machine is with your credit card and you ever put it through the credit card machine and the Machine rejects your card it's not rejecting your card it's rejecting your debt it's rejecting all the things that have added up inside of there and so often that's what we do with each other we hold on to these hurts we hold on to these uh these these things that have happened and and and then we talk about it and and publish it and and we make a big deal out of it and just keep building up and building up and we ought to cover the sin in Proverbs 17:9

it says he that cover the transgression seeketh love but he that repeatthedose Lish it and make a big rumor about it make gossip about it have a good report about one another even when they've hurt you got to find something good to say about that person see that's depositing good reports when you take time to say good things about people and not bad things about others we need to share a a good word in Proverbs 12 and verse 25 it says heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop but a good word maketh it glad you know what people people need when they come to church they need a good word they need for you to come up to them and say listen brother how you doing today and and maybe just to

tell them how much you appreciate them and how much you love them and how thankful you are for them for their friendship and and just take time to share a good word you know people are hurting in life today and what we need is we need more Christians to be ready to share a good word a word of encouragement a word of blessing to others around them this morning as you've come to church what's the good word you shared with somebody else what is it in some way that you've been a blessing to somebody else somebody needs that heaviness lifted and you can be the one to do it with a smile and a cheerful attitude in the right and saying the right thing see the right word at the right time can do

wonders in Proverbs 12:25 it says heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stup but a good word maketh it glad in so Proverbs 16:24 it says pleasant words are as a honeycomb sweet to the soul and health to the bones and we ought to take time every time we get together and not just at church you ought to do this at home with your family you ought to do this at work with your co-workers you ought to take time when you're in the store with the clerk of the score is just take a moment to give a good word just take a moment to give a word of encouragement thank you for helping me thank you for that smile on your face thank you for just being uh consistent and and always there thank you for the

little things you do we need to be depositing good reports and every time we say something positive about something it not only goes to their account but it goes to our account as well and and and we especially need to have good reports about the Lord in Malachi 3 and: 16 it says then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and that thought upon his name do you realize that God has a book in heaven that every time you talk about him and every time you think about him uh he writes it down in that book that's to be deposited to your account every time you do that and

so when we talk about the Lord that's a good report that we're depositing that's something that we're we're putting forth and and we need to put forth those things in in in our lives as Christians to deposit a good report it's not about the past of what we did it's about what we're going to do in John chapter 8: 10- 11 it says when Jesus had lifted himself and saw none but the woman he said unto Heroman where are those Zine accusers hath no man condemned thee she said no man Lord and Jesus said unto her neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more see Lord instead of condemning her encouraged her and and and encouraged her to do the right thing and that's what you and I as Christians ought

to do is not hold their past against him but to encourage him in their future encourage him with with a good word that you can do what's right in God and encourage them to go on and to do the right thing but what about a good report about you in third John 1 ver2 it says Demetrius hath good report of all men and of Truth itself yay and we also bear record and you know that our record is true see this young this young man demitrus had a good report and I wonder do you have a good report of all men of the people here in church would they give a good report of you uh of the people that you work with would they give a good report of you of your family would they give a good report of you of how

you act at home see what would your report what would your credit score be as a Christian you know we we all want to look at our credit score and see how it is what would your credit score be as a Christian in Acts chapter 16 veres 1 and two it says then came he to derba and lisra and behold a certain disciple was there named timotheus the son of a certain woman which was a Jewish and believed but her his father was a Greek which was well reported of by the Brethren that were lisra and aonian here was a young man that was a certain young man had a certain mother I mean everybody knew this young man everybody knew his mom and they had a good report they were well reported of and and is that

the kind of testimony that you have what is your spiritual credit report what what do people think about you if I were to go to a coworker and say is that person a Christian would they would they know it by looking at your life would they know it by the way you act and by the way you talk and way you live at work if you were go home and talk to your children what would their report be and by the way uh they sometimes get those reports in children's church and Sunday school class and what would your report be you know what is your report in with the with the Christians what's your report with the unsaved in 1 Peter 2:12 have your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak

evil against you as evildoers they may by your good works which they Shall Behold glorify God in the day of visitation they may not like the fact that you're a Christian but they cannot condemn your testimony we need to have the right kind of testimony for the unsaved uh we need to have a good report with the Lord in Romans Chapter 14 verse number 10 but why Dost thou judge thy brother why Dost thou said it not thy brother for we shall all see before the Judgment seat of Christ in verse 12 so then every one of us shall give account of himself to God every one of us is going to give a report to God for how we've lived this life and what is on God's report what's written in God's book about

your life right now in 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 for we must all appear before the Judgment seat of Christ that everyone may receive the things done in his body according they have done whether it be good or bad and so we need to have that that good report and and that good report starts with the good news of the gospel and and if you're here and you're not saved then you need to start with salvation because the bad news is you're condemned already without Jesus Christ as your savior but the good news that he died he was buried and he rose again and you and I need to make sure of our salvation but if we're Christians we need to give a good report make it your make a decision that

every week I'm going to invite somebody to church every week I'm going to give out this many gospel tracks every week I'm going to share my testimony with someone about how the Lord changed my life I'm going to share the gospel with somebody because if you don't do that who's going to do that and every time you share the gospel it's like making a deposit to your spiritual account and you and I need to be giving that good news and sharing it with others around us as well and then we need to give a good report about others take time really to praise people your your spouse your children your parents let them know you appreciate them your your young people your parents want to hear from you

they hear all the bad things that you don't like about them but they need to hear hey thank you for being my mom thank you for being my dad thank you for making my meals thank you for taking care of me thank you for taking me to church or whatever else it is and and parents your children we tell them everything they're doing wrong but we need to tell them what they're doing right we need to tell that to one another as well we need to share the good report and so every time you come to church make it your goal to find at Le least five people that I'm going to give a good report to that I'm going to find at least five people that I'm going to take time just to tell them how much I appreciate

them and how they're a blessing to me and and and to encourage them in the Lord to share just a good word with them and and helping them in their walk with the Lord and and taking that next step with them as well and then to have that at work as well to be an encouragement to the workers people you work with and the people around you and then what is your report with the Lord what is your testimony with God take a moment to honestly think about it if I were to get a report card from my co-workers right now if they were to give me a credit rating as a Christian what would it be if the people in the church were to give a report on me as a Christian what would it be what about God that's the

most important one what would that report be I I want to and just got two verses a couple vers we're going to look at but I want to end by asking you a question a very personal question are you fat are you fat Bible says in Proverbs chap 15 verse number 30 the light of the eyes rejoices the heart and a good report maketh the bones fat you see a good report maketh the bones fat and we need to give a good report before the Lord to deposit good things to posit a good report go to Psalms chapter 36 this is the last place we'll turn to and I'll quote one of the verse and we'll close Psalms chapter 36 and look at verses 1- 10 Psalms chapter 36 and beginning with verse number one the transgression

of the wicked saith within my heart that there is no fear of God before his eyes for he flattereth himself in his own eyes until his iniquity be found to be hateful the words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit he ha left off to be wise and do good he devises Mischief on upon his bed and he Seth himself in a way that is not good he oorth not evil thy mercy O Lord is in the heavens and thy faithfulness reaches under the clouds thy righteousness like the great mountains thy judgments are as great deep oh Lord thou perceivest man and beasts how excellent is thy loving kindness oh God that therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy Wings they shall be abundantly

satisfied with the fatness of the house and thou shalt make them drink of the rivers of thy Pleasures for with thee in the Fountain of Life and the light shall be we see light oh continue thy loving kindness unto them that Know Thee and thy righteousness to the upright in heart the wicked person is the person is constantly complaining has nothing good to report but the right righteous person is the one that is looking at the goodness of God and the blessings of God in their life Psalms 118:24 says this is the day which the Lord hath made I will rejoice and be glad in it don't be an Eeyore don't be the Christians walking around with a cloud over their head every day and nothing's right

nothing's good don't be the complainer make it your habit every day to deposit things of good report make it your habit every day to give praise to God and praise to others and talk about the goodness of God yes bad things happen and difficult times come but we can still praise the Lord and the goodness of God