Become like Jesus - Part 2

A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Hannah kicked off our series of Apprentices of Jesus by talking about - deep cries out to deep. That the deep things of God are crying to our souls and longing for us to jump into the deep end of the water. No more toe dipping…taking the plunge.

To be an apprentice of Jesus is to order your life around three primary goals:

1. Be with Jesus

Last week I talked about - being with Jesus. That we can be with Jesus via the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our advocate.

2. Become like Jesus

3. Do what Jesus did

Today we are talking about – becoming like Jesus

Let’s pray

Luke 6:39–40 NLT “Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher.”

This parable is about discipleship

Blind is a nod to the pharisees

- To be like

- It takes training

- It talks about someone being fully trained…which means…that someone was partially trained at one time. That there is a process of becoming trained as a student of Jesus.

What does this mean? This means that we need to change.

Change means = transformation

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 NLT “But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

Metamorphosis

Dictionary definition

What it’s saying is God is going to cause metamorphosis in us. He is going to change our very inner essence into the very inner essence of Jesus Christ.

Timothy Keller

Is this kind of change possible?

If so, how?

ILLUSTRATION: My use of words

“Spiritual formation in the Christian tradition is a process of increasingly being possessed and permeated by the character traits of Jesus as we walk in the easy yoke of discipleship with Jesus our teacher.”

Dallas Willard

We are being formed:

Spiritual formation isn’t a Christian thing; it’s a human thing

- We are all being formed

- We are all being shaped by or being discipled

What are we being formed into?

Unintentional Discipleship

Stories we live by

Scripts we have been told about ourselves

Evolution

Habits

Daily and weekly habits – we become what are habits are.

Habits shape your loves and longings.

Relationships

You become like your group of friends

This can be a good thing or bad thing

Environment

Culture / City

Outdoor life

Over time through Experiences

How do we counter this kind of discipleship?

1. Myth = All you need to do is know the Bible.

a. Protestant reformation – Preaching of the word and the sacraments

b. Knowing something is not the same as doing it. Doing it still not the same as wanting it.

c. We can’t think our way to Jesus.

d. Information transfers alone doesn’t always yield transformation. It might happen.

2. Myth = You don’t need to do anything. It’s all God.

a. “Let go and let God” is bad theology.

Sanctification is not mystical passivity, as our use of the slogan ‘let go and let God’ has too often implied, but it is active moral effort energized by prayerful and expectant faith.

J. I. Packer

b. Without him we can’t, without us He won’t. We have to partner with God. He has a part and so do we.

Intentional Spiritual Formation

Teaching

It gets into your head and will uproot things that are not true.

Matthew 5:1 NLT “One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him,”

Beatitudes

Salt and Light

Fulfillment of the Law

Murder – anger

Adultery – lust

Love your enemies

Giving to the poor

Prayer

Fasting

Matthew 7:28–29 NLT “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.”

Romans 12:2 NLT “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” - renewing of your mind.

Church on Sunday

Reading a good book

Practice

Galatians 6:7–10 NLT “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

ILLUSTRATION: Josie playing basketball / going from armature to pro level

Its not that Josie can’t play college ball, its that she can’t play it yet.

This is how we need to approach our life of apprenticeship to Jesus. Its not that you can’t live a life free of worry, lust, or anxiety. Its that you can’t, yet. But over time you will grow in your capacity as an apprentice of Jesus to overcome.

The spiritual disciplines / practices get into

Our core,

Our limbic system,

Into our hearts and begin to transform us.

It changes our longings and affections.

ILLUSTRATION: Share the example of sabbath during COVID.

Community

1 John 1:7 NLT “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

We can’t follow Jesus alone. Jesus didn’t have a disciple…he had disciples.

Becoming like Jesus is not a program. It is a way of life.

You can’t Amazon prime this.

You can’t overnight this kind of development.

It’s like a tree that takes time to grow.

Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:25 NLT “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

This is the baseline for all that we do.

This must become the dominate part of our lives. That we keep in step with the Holy Spirit in all things that we do.

Over time through the Hard Knocks of Life:

James 1:2–3 NLT “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

It’s the moments that we want to run from, are the moments that will grow us the most.

Escapism | Is all that we can offer in western society

Scripture gives us a great example of practices that produce a kind of fruit that is effective:

Luke 22:39–51 NLT 39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives (a familiar place). 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.”

41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation.”

47 But even as Jesus said this, a crowd approached, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. Judas walked over to Jesus to greet him with a kiss. 48 But Jesus said, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When the other disciples saw what was about to happen, they exclaimed, “Lord, should we fight? We brought the swords!” 50 And one of them struck at the high priest’s slave, slashing off his right ear.

51 But Jesus said, “No more of this.” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Jesus’s response was of peace, a willingness to fulfill what He was sent to do.

The disciples response was from a place that lacked prayerful perspective. Emotionally charged. Taking matters into their own hands.

Is transformation possible?

- Divorce

- Abuse

- Failure in life

- Type “A” difficult personality

Is transformation possible for you?

Yes, but it’s not inventible.

The stories we believe, the scripts, the family of origin. Takes time. Takes intentionality on your part.

Who are you becoming?

Everyday you are becoming someone.

10, 20, 30 years…who do you see on the horizon?

Prayer Response

If you are stuck…

Relationship

Addiction

Career

Relationship to God

You can change…it is possible. You can become who Jesus desire you to become.