A prophetic word by Glenice Mills a member of Women’s Apostolic Alliance
We live in a time where the world is full of promoting their so-called reputations. Social media, Facebook and websites are rampant with the mantra me, me, me.
This includes Christians and churches – including the prophets and the prophetic. The concerning thing is a false picture can be formed and it is not necessarily a true reflection of the character and reputation of a person or ministry.
It is more about promoting the name rather than examining the character and reputation of a person.
Proverbs 22:1
A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver or gold.
Ecclesiastes 7:1
A good name is better than precious ointment,
And the day of death than the day of one’s birth.
WHAT IS REPUTATION?
A reputation is built up over time as others evaluate our life choices, and determine who we are based on how we behave. The truth is we are always judging each other as a way of determining who is trustworthy and who is not. There has to be a judging whether good or bad. A good reputation is having proven integrity. To have integrity is to not live a double life, have a hidden agenda or dishonest practices.
It is about the core of a person – whether their private lives match their public persona. The key words are: trusts others respectfully, and accept their responsibilities. It is also about whether they treat their families well – both close family and extended family. Living peaceably, making correct choices all lead to having a good reputation.
As Christians we are charged with representing Christ well. People evaluate the worthiness of our message based on our reputations as people of character who represent Jesus well. You should be doing that now with me.
WHAT IS CHARACTER?
Character is the sum total of our true assets. Even if accusations are spoken against us and our reputation is torn to shreds, our character when it is upright can bring change with respect coming back to us.
There are some key words that define reputation in more detail.
JUDGING: Judging a person’s actions, their words, tones of speech, behavior under pressure, and attitudes, must take place when evaluating someone’s reputation.
In order to come to a conclusion about someone’s reputation a judgment must be made – of good reputation or bad. We do it all the time whether we are aware of it or not.
OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME: You can’t know someone’s reputation in a short time, or by listening to others opinions. It is always over a long period of time as you observe how a person copes through their trials, struggles, victories, and witnessing their intimacy in their walk with the Lord. Often it is revealed in the way a person conducts themselves in the small things.
A Biblical example is Cornelius. Acts 10:22
And they said, “Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews.
Cornelius was a devout man whose entire household feared God. He was a man who walked in the fear of the Lord, he modelled it, and he was able to reproduce it to those of his household.
There was a generational blessing on his household because of his obedience.
He had influence over many lives. He obviously had a wife and family and servants plus the hundred soldiers he had charge of. What a powerful statement to have been spoken over someone. He was known as a generous man who gave to the poor.
He prayed to the Lord always. He had a close relationship with the Lord and communed with Him in prayer constantly. People must have noticed the time he spent in prayer and the sacrifice involved. His prayers were effective – they were spoken of as being a memorial before God
He had a spiritual encounter with an angel who spoke to him and gave him instructions that he obediently put in place. God knew that he would fulfill all that he was told to do such was his obedience.
He had the respect of those under him – when he gave instructions they were carried out. He was a man who walked in authority, but he also had the respect of those under him, again displaying righteousness and integrity in all he said and did.
He was a just man. For this to be said of him he must have spoken up at times over issues of justice. He had a good reputation among all the nations of the Jews – in his role as a Roman Centurion.
Even those outside his ‘people group’ noticed his conduct, the way he lived his life and led his soldiers.
He was an effective leader – he called his relatives and close friends and they came – he was a man of influence and when he spoke all obeyed him without questioning.
He had been proven trustworthy. He was humble – he fell at Peter’s feet – he acknowledged who Peter was. He was instrumental in Peter getting the revelation that all men can come to God – that there was no partiality in God – it established Peter’s call.
He was ready to receive all that Peter had to say. He recognized Peter as a man after the Spirit. He discerned that Peter was a man of God. As a result the Holy Spirit was poured out on all of them – he and his household received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. God honored him for who he was and he was one of the first to receive the new truth of the Holy Spirit.
PROVEN: This is a major key when judging a reputation. Proven means shown to be true, demonstrated by evidence or argument to be true, without doubt, valid, effective, genuine.
We see a good example in Scripture where Paul made a decision to select Timothy for ministry as found in Acts 16:1,2.
Then he (Paul) came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold a certain disciple was there named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek.
He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium.
The person who is proven is steadfast, holding onto what is good, never straying from living a life that at its core is of good character. The fruits of the spirit are very evident – Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
SHOWN TO BE GENUINE:
There is no pretense. The persons’ actions line up with their words. They mean what they say and say what they mean. There is no falsehood. Reliability, faithfulness and walking in a right spirit no matter what, shows the person’s authenticity. There is no dishonesty, out for personal gain, but rather remaining true to what they believe and stand for.
TRUSTWORTHY:
The person is upfront and no matter what they will always mean well and do what they say.
However this poses an interesting question. So what happens if you have been proven and over time are spoken of as having a good reputation, but then you make a stand against an injustice that offends, that challenges your reputation?
You know before God you are still of a good reputation – people have endorsed and told you that you can be trusted yet because of your stand for what is right and true you are now portrayed as one who has a bad reputation? How can the two align?
This is an issue that will increase as evil increases. If we are to stand out and walk in the light then our reputations will be tarnished even if we have a good reputation.
Ultimately if we love the Lord with all our heart and choose to walk in His ways there will always be a cost. That cost will be our reputations.
What is your reputation? Are you prepared to lose your reputation standing for righteousness and justice?
