What Type of Christian Are You?

Brother Mark, thank you for the privilege of speaking here tonight. I am humbled to be asked to speak to this church tonight.

I want to begin by asking a question, and yes, I will not some audience participation. Let me see a show of hands from everyone who has committed to memory, and knows by heart the verse John 3:16...

Who would like to quote it? Say it with me… Very good!

Now, show of hands of everyone in this room tonight that has committed to memory and knows by heart, Luke 9:23?

There is a world of difference between John 3:16 and Luke 9:23. In fact, I am convinced that these two verses depict to very different types of Christians in our churches. I’ll refer to them in this message as “316 Christians” and “923 Christians.” John 3:16 is where being a Christian begins…coming to God in faith, but Luke 9:23 is where being a Christian should lead. 316 is essential in beginning the relationship, 923 in becoming a true disciple.

I’m not here tonight because Glad Tidings needs revival, I’m here tonight because every church needs revival! Listen to me…revival will not come without surrender.

What type of Christian are you? A 316 Christian or a 923 Christian? What is the difference you ask? Well consider this...

A John 3:16 Christian Loves that God Loves Them, but a Luke 9:23 Christian Must Love God

Jesus is not speaking to the masses, but to His closest followers…this verse is recorded on the heels of the disciples going out to preach the Kingdom to the masses, they were given power over devils, power to heal the sick. This verse on discipleship comes on the heels of the feeding of the five thousand, on the heels of Peter’s confession of faith “Thou art the Christ of God.” And it comes on the heels of Jesus’ prediction of His death and resurrection...

To this point all these men loved the fact that God loved them and sent Jesus to them. They were “John 3:16” Christians. But then Jesus begins talking about suffering, pain, and death, and He says these words:

Luke 9:23 KJV 1900

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

“If any man will come after me...”

The first step in becoming a Christian is understanding the love God has for you, but the first step in becoming a surrendered disciple is having a deep love for God. Kyle Idleman describes the meaning of the phrase “Come after me” as a phrase commonly used in the context of a romantic relationship.

Think back to when you first met your spouse…you noticed them most likely at a distance, but were drawn to them. You were interested in them, you wanted to get to know them, you spent time with them, you talked with them, you communicated with them. You began to devote yourself to them, and now you are joined together as one person in the eyes of God.

Let me ask you, since you trusted Jesus as your Savior, have you been drawn to Him in such a way? To you want to spend time with Him? Communicate with Him? Walk with Him? Dwell with Him? Or would you describe your devotion to Him as more of a “surface commitment?” You’re glad He loves you, glad He saved you but you have never accepted His call to “Come after me...”?

Do you want revival? Are you a 316 Christian, or a 923 Christian? There is a difference. The second difference....

A John 3:16 Christian is Thankful that God Gave Jesus, but a Luke 9:23 Christian Must Be Willing to Let Go of Their Own Lives

“If any man will come after me (pursue me with purpose), let him deny himself...”

When you fall in love with Jesus you will fall out of love with everything else. On your wedding day you stood before God and man and declared your undying love for your spouse. You pledged to put them ahead of yourself. It’s the same with Jesus! When you are ready to “Come after” Him you are putting Him ahead of everyone, and everything else. Let me read a controversial verse to you, Luke 14:26

Luke 14:26 KJV 1900

26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Many have read this verse and declared it to be contradictory to the rest of the Bible. How can Jesus tell us, on one hand, to love our neighbor as yourself, and on the other tell us to HATE our family? Here’s the answer: That is not what He is saying. What He is saying in this verse is that you cannot be His disciple if there is anything in your life more important to you than Him. He is revealing to us our idols.

I have friend, I will not name him, but he once shared with me the darkest time faced by he and his wife. How they were at odds, fighting, and growing tired. One day he came into the kitchen and his wife was there, but the atmosphere was cold. He turned away from her and began to cry. I don’t know what she was thinking was wrong, but I’m sure she wasn’t ready for what he said to her. When asked what was wrong he turned to her and said the scariest words she’d ever hear, “I can’t do this anymore.” Tears began to fill her eyes as she feared the worst, their marriage is over. What about the house, what about the kids? What about her? Trembling she asked, “What can’t you do anymore?” My friend looked into his wife’s eyes and said these words, “I can’t go on loving you more than I love God.” Both of them have told me that was the defining moment in their marriage. Today their bond is stronger than ever and they are serving God. Why? Because a they were willing to “deny themselves.”

Do you understand they didn’t give up on their marriage, they gave up on themselves. They put aside their differences and together they removed the idols from their life. It’s good to be a Christian, but its better to be a disciple. You cannot be a disciple if you are not willing to put aside the idols in you life. What is it that is more important to you than God? Your family? Your job? Your hobby?

Husband would you share your wife with another man? Do you think Jesus wants to share you with anything else? Do you want revival? Then what are you willing to give up? Are you ready to surrender all? Are you a John 316 Christian or a Luke 923 Christian? The third difference...

A John 3:16 Christian is Grateful for Jesus’ Sacrifice, but a Luke 9:23 Christian Must be a Living Sacrifice.

“…and take up his cross daily and follow me”

See, to us, the cross is a decoration or a piece of jewelry, but to Jesus’ disciples it was a symbol of death. Read Luke 9:22

Luke 9:22 KJV 1900

22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

In the very next verse Jesus says Luke 9:23

Luke 9:23 KJV 1900

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

In the context of His very real physical death, Jesus says to His disciples, if you really want to be my disciple here is how… Christian, if you really want to be a discple, if you’re tired of just being a John 316 believer, then you will live every single day of your life with this thought: “If today could be my last day on earth, what can I do for my Lord?”

Do you want revival? What are willing to surrender in order to have it?

Put it all together: To be a disciple of Jesus you must:

Love Him like nothing and no one else in your life.

Deny yourself, your desires, your wishes and put Him in first place.

You must be willing to die daily.

I’m reminded of a story I once read of a famous evangelist, I can’t remember his name. He had a reputation of being a soul winner. Everywhere he went, everywhere he preached, souls were saved.

One day while visiting a church for the first time a young man approached the evangelist and asked, “What your secret to revival? Why are your messages so effective? What makes you special?”

The evangelist told the man his secret, he said, before I preach any revival service I go to my prayer closet, I turn on the light and close the door. Then I take a piece of chalk and I draw a good sized circle on the floor. I kneel down in that circle and I beging to ask for revival to breakout inside that circle. Once revival comes there, I am ready to preach out here.

Friends, if you want revival then you owe it to God to take get alone with Him this week and pour out your heart and say to Him, “God, I’m tired of being a John 316 Christian. I’m thankful J. 316, but I want to move on, I want to be a L.923 Christian.” Then once you’ve made that admission, I want you to pray the most dangerous prayer you will ever pray, “God, what must I do to make this transition? What must be removed from my life? What must be in my life? What will you have me do?”

Let’s bow our heads for prayer.