Disciple Motive

When the initial battles in the Revolutionary War broke out in April 1775, few colonists desired complete independence from Great Britain, and those who did were considered radical.

By the middle of the following year, however, many more colonists had come to favor independence, thanks to growing hostility against Britain and the spread of revolutionary sentiments such as those expressed in the bestselling pamphlet “Common Sense,” published by Thomas Paine in early 1776.

On June 7, when the Continental Congress met at the Pennsylvania State House (later Independence Hall) in Philadelphia, the Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee introduced a motion calling for the colonies’ independence.

Amid heated debate, Congress postponed the vote on Lee’s resolution, but appointed a five-man committee—including Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts, Roger Sherman of Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania and Robert R. Livingston of New York—to draft a formal statement justifying the break with Great Britain.

On July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted to approve the motion…independence from Britain. John Adams really wanted July 2nd to be the big date. But it was July 4th, 1776, when the Continental Congress formally adopted the document, the Declaration of Independence. And here we are in that week of celebration.

And we’re glad for that day…that vote…the courage it took for those men and the families behind those men as well, to move forward with where they thought they were being led. I say courage because signing that document would put a death sentence on their head from the King George.

So I think we can safely say…that these people had great conviction to accomplish something. They kind of new the direction they were heading with respect to what kind of nation this would be…that would be talked about and hotly debated later…and still is to this day isn’t it.

But one great thing they saw was this…in wisdom, in the Declaration of Independence, they saw it a good thing to give credit to the creator as the one who grants life…a way of life.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…”

They acknowledged God as creator. And that humans were equals…created by Him.

What was their motive for moving ahead with such a great conviction …what was the motive… a motive so powerful that they were willing to place their very lives on the line?

Freedom…I believe it was freedom. I think we could all probably say that similar things…maybe even detailing the idea of freedom more.

But however you might state it…the motive had to be huge. Powerful. It had to be forward moving…logical…good for all… and it had to be something that everyone could get behind.

Freedom …I think freedom from the monarchy… and then a focus on the freedom that God gives us to live.

That motive still drives us today in this nation doesn’t it? Freedom. We might not always, as a nation, be heading in the right directions…but the idea of freedom to live is very powerful isn’t it? Very powerful. The motive had to be powerful.

248 years later…we’re still here. Battling at times yes…and we love our nation. But as Christ followers, as His disciples, no matter what nation we’re from …we’re citizens of Heaven.

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Let’s consider this idea of motive. We know how it moved a few men and their families to risk everything.

If we think about discipleship…and we’ve been talking about it a lot lately…we’re building something here…I truly believe that. As we think about discipleship....

We’ve talked about what the Gospel really is…the news that brings incredible joy.

We’ve talked about the calling of a discple…Jesus’ call to us…come follow me.

We’ve talked about the person…the rabbi (in ancient terms)…the one we follow so as to be transformed into His likeness....the image of God

Today we’re going to look at the motive behind all of this. His and ours.

What motive is behind everything God does…everything Jesus did…and if we our goal is to be like Him…what is our motive. And I don’t think this is a hard one.

Love.

For cross country, we sometimes do our long distance running…conditioning…out at Petros Park. Great place…lots of trails and paths and there’s the path around the pond…Stark Parks has done a great job there. I was feeling a bit “old” after a hill and sprint workout on Thursday…so I walked on Friday…stayed near the start so the kids could always find me…but I ended up walking down the hill …just at the ponds edge…back and forth where the kids could see me. And it was so peaceful. Quiet....And I thought…I could sit down here and just stay here all day.

I then thought about Eden…If we were still in Eden…this would be what I might be doing all day…free to live and enjoy all of nature…work, tend, talk to the geese, enjoy the breeze....It was awesome. And you know why? It was inviting. It was as if…that kind of environment was made just for me....inviting me to just enjoy.

Day dream for a second here… If you could be transported back to the beginning of time…what about that creation would you just want to experience? Animals…hiking, being near the water’s edge…I mean we could brainstorm all sorts of things here couldn’t we? I think that its a good thing to day dream about this…you know why? I used the word “inviting” before because nature is something that (personal note) calls to me…I love to be outside. God created it for us...

God didn’t create the world out of obligation. God created for us. Even allowed us to have a way to be involved in the world’s governance. Adam even got to name the animals. That’s a measure of authority given…given in love.

Gifts from God for humanity to treasure. Gifts of love. God’s motive behind creation? Love…for us.

All through the Bible we see glimpses of God’s love. His motive behind creation…His motive behind creating us.

King David has always been noted for noticing God’s love…even though he was a horrible person…God still loved Him…others…all of humanity…all of creation. Even though we’ve fallen…and hurt His creation…His motive towards us is still love.

David wrote…when reflecting on how others were against him…

Psalm 52:8 CSB

8 But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I trust in God’s faithful love forever and ever.

David knew he wasn’t perfect…but He knew God’s perfect love for Him would never end in failure.

Isaiah wrote about it as well....Isaiah records the God’s words....

Isaiah 54:10 CSB

10 Though the mountains move and the hills shake, my love will not be removed from you and my covenant of peace will not be shaken,” says your compassionate Lord.

Love. It would seem that love for us has always been God’s motive for all He has done.

The definition of love has gotten twisted and changed and moved around. Love today might refer to how much I like chocolate. It might also mean that I encourage people to be or do anything that might bring them happiness. Love can also be given in the form of discipline (think about parent/child).

I think…if I read Genesis correctly…that humanity’s love for God will show in our response to Him how we live this life He has given us. I think that makes sense…do we live for ourselves, or do we live for Him.

He said live the best possible life ever! Here is an outline of the best possible life ever.

Mankind then chose to love themselves more than God. Personal pride rather than pride in the Creator.

But soon thereafter, God’s love shows up again…showing justice…discipline…as a parent would show love…but then saying it won’t be like this forever. I will take care of your sin. It won’t be like the wave of a wand. You will need to live through the results of sin but only for awhile…however, I will send someone to take care of the brokeness. You will not ever be left alone.

We know that person to be the son of God himself. Jesus.

And Jesus says something that gets a lot of airplay…but I think sometimes we say it…having it memorized it…hearing it so often…that sometimes its power is lost.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We think about that part where we’re saved right…but why? Why are we saved?

But God’s motive was stated in the beginning of that verse. And sometimes we miss that. I mean it’s nice to hear…it’s a nice opening for the rest of passage…not going to hell…not perishing…that’s great. But why.

Because God’s motive was and is…and will always be…love.

A love that doesn’t look away from sin but looks right at it, calls it what it is…and then says I will take care of the justice required. My son will. Now…because of my love…look to me. I love you.

That love that created the world now saves the world. All of creation now has a way of returning back to what it once was. Because God loves it…and us.

God loves the world so much…He saves everyone who believes in His son.

Adam and Eve had a choice…freedom of choice. To either obey and live awesomely…or to go their own way and live away from God. God didn’t leave…Adam and Eve did. Now we have a choice…to believe in the life-giving power of Jesus…in His love…or not.

And to believe in Jesus…to love Him in return will show up where…in our lives. How we live. How we love.

God loves.

Motive. The most powerful motive ever.

Romans 8:35–39 NIV

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What can separate us from God’s love?

God loves … us even when we don’t love Him back.

God’s motive for sending Jesus is what?

What was Jesus sent for? To save us....

So what’s God’s motive for saving us from our intentional sin towards Him....?

His love for us.

What does Jesus promise to do for us after wiping away our sin? He promises to recreate us…to bring us to a rebirth…a rebirth into His image…which we know is a process.

What was God’s motive for wanting to see us be recreated…with a new Heart…with His spirit in us?

His love for us.

God’s motive is love.

Love.

We looked at something last week....when we looked at the person we’re suppose to become like…Jesus himself. We quickly saw how Jesus said…He was the one who fulfilled everything about life (living) without sin…without personal pride (remember He said…here’s how you live…like me…i only do and say what the father says).

Jesus was asked…what is the greatest commandment.

Mark 12:28–34 CSB

28 One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which command is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 The second is, Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.” 32 Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, teacher. You have correctly said that he is one, and there is no one else except him. 33 And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to question him any longer.

What is our response to God’s love? Love him in return. Love others…in light of God’s love for you.

Discipleship.

What should our motive be for disciple making more disciples?

Lots of time in the church…discipleship…making more disciples…boiled down to possibly larger attendance numbers on Sunday mornings or higher offering counts…more programs, more classes, more this or that.

Motive?

Jesus motive…out of love…was that we might become like Him…as it was in the beginning. It wasn’t the numbers, how many in attendance or how many programs…a church family certainly helps each other to become stronger and more loving disciples…living life together…and things like classes or programs might certainly help…but numbers and programs are poor motives.

Our motive for making more disciples who look like Jesus is…so they can be like Him…as it was in the beginning…our motive needs to be our love for them. Our love for them. Any other motive will fall short. A disciple’s motive needs to be our savior’s motive.

1 Thessalonians 2 (NIV)

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results.

2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.

3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.

4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts.

5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.

6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.

7 Instead, we were gentle...like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,

8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well (love your neighbor as yourself)…that the image of that verse MOTIVE.

9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children,

12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews

15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone

16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.

18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.

19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?

20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

As we make more disciples....out of a motive of love....our glory and joy becomes those people who now are believers…those who are being reborn.

Where’s pride now....in those people....Paul pulls himself way back ....Paul could have taken credit…but that would be called pride. Adam and Eve moved to personal pride. Paul…saw where true Joy was found....it was found from Loving others…and then seeing them start the process of rebirth. Proud of them and pride in Jesus who was changing them.

Motive…still love.

What’s your motive for being a believer…for living like a believer? Is it just doing “right things.” Is it just obedience? Is it trying to live a life where you can say…I’ve been this or done this and I know I’m bad sometimes but then I’m good sometimes....? That’s pride.

Love is the most powerful motive. Love will take you places you’ve never been. Love will also discipline you like you’ve never been disciplined before…but for your own good…for repentance. Love will cause you to focus on God’s Spirit…living in you. Love will guide you to trust Him. Love will help you see when to move…and when to stop. Love will help you find joy…by the pond at Petros park.

Love, God’s love, will lead you to give up your whole life....so He can remake you…give you the best life ever....forever.

As a church let’s let our only motive be God’s love.