Back to the Basics: A Disciple
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Introduction
Introduction
Thank you all for coming out tonight
Last week we discussed the Holy Spirit and saw how important He is in our lives. We saw how we should be obedient to Him, even for the littlest nudges.
Tonight we will be exploring what it is to be a disciple of Christ. Not just a Christian in name only, but a disciple.
True discipleship is so much more than a course. It’s a commitment to follow Christ unconditionally.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
While Christ was on earth things were just as they are now. Many people wanted to follow him but few would follow Him unconditionally.
Turn over to
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And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 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. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Tonight we will see that being a true disciple of Christ is about surrendering daily, battling sin, and living a lifestyle pleasing to God.
It’s been said “Salvation is the miracle of a moment; discipleship is the process of a lifetime.”
What does this lifestyle look like?
A Disciple is fully surrendered to God
A Disciple is fully surrendered to God
This is the beginning of true discipleship
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
There are three things we need to notice about surrender in
It is motivated by God’s mercy to us
It is motivated by God’s mercy to us
“I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God...”
It’s when we realize the great mercy God has shown to us that compels us to surrender our lives back to Him.
It is complete
It is complete
“...The ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God....”
The first century understanding of this verse would have been different than ours. They would have immediately connected the word sacrifice back to the Old Testament animal sacrifices. Those sacrifices were a complete transaction. Once the animal was given over to God there was no taking it back. It was sacrificed.
That animals goals, dreams, possessions, time, and everything were not in the hands of God. The life was given to the glory of God.
Now this doesn’t mean we are going to build a funeral pyre outside and have human sacrifices…It means we need to see that when giving our lives to God it should not be for personal gain, status, or position. It should be to his glory and we should hold nothing back.
Why?
It is Reasonable:
It is Reasonable:
“…Which is your reasonable service.”
That word reasonable there comes from a Greek word for rational, logical. It just makes sense.
Jesus gave His life for ours. Giving ours back for Him is the least we can do. He doesn’t even ask for it in the same way. He doesn’t say “you must die for me”…Jesus says you should LIVE for me.
He made full surrender a condition for discipleship.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
He is to have first place in our lives…He is to have preeminence
A Disciple Battles Sin and the Flesh
A Disciple Battles Sin and the Flesh
I think this may be one of the most discouraging things for new Christians to realize…Even though we are saved…we still sin
Sin is the opposite of what God would have us to do but it doesn’t start out as sin.
Sin starts out as temptation
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
There are three main sources of temptation
There are three main sources of temptation
These are always working against us
The World
The World
The World’s systems, philosophies, and practices are almost always completely against God
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
The Flesh
The Flesh
Prior to salvation our mind will and emotions were trained to live apart from God. When we get saved there are old patterns of our mind, will, and emotions that will be at odds with the new patterns of life that God wants to instill in us.
For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
The Devil
The Devil
Satan is not in hell. He is actively and persistently targeting you with temptation. One of His names is the tempter
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
God has given us the power to overcome temptation
God has given us the power to overcome temptation
Thankfully, although we are often tempted to sin, God has given us the power to overcome temptation. Jesus’ death on the cross broke the power that has a hold on us. He set us free to respond to His power in us.
Remember this though…Temptation is not sin. When tempted we have a choice to make…give in or resit through the power that is in us through Christ.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
What are the ways to escape God has given us?
Use the Word of God
Use the Word of God
This is exactly what Jesus did in the desert when He was tempted of the devil. If the Word of God was good enough for Him it must be good enough for us as well.
This requires us to know the Word of God though. This requires us to read, study, and memorize the Bible so that we can apply it in the moment to what we have going on in our lives.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
That I might not sin against thee.
Remember we don’t have to sin
Remember we don’t have to sin
God’s grace gives us the power to say “no” to sin
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Avoid temptation when possible
Avoid temptation when possible
Sometimes we make it easy for ourselves to sin. We get around temptation without any guards up. This is why I preach and teach separation.
Avoid ungodly friends
Avoid ungodly friends
If there are particular people that hurt your walk with the Lord or cause you to fall into sin, then I suggest you remove them from your lives. This doesn’t mean you have to be mean to them.
Ask for help
Ask for help
If you feel you are in bondage to a particular sin, get help. As your pastor I want to be here fro you. If you don’t think I can be, then please reach out to someone. A mature godly Christian that can pray with and for you and hold you accountable.
Keep short accounts with God
Keep short accounts with God
The moment the spirit convicts us of sin we should turn to God, confess it, and move on.
Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
Yield to the Holy Spirit
Yield to the Holy Spirit
Begin each day in prayer, yielding yourself to the Holy Spirit. We talked about this last week.
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This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Satan will try so hard to wear you down and remind you of your past. He will work at telling you that you can’t do anything with your life. You can’t do anything for God. Your life is meaningless and pointless. How could God use you?
This happened/happens to me. I’m reminded of a decade of my life I’m ashamed of. I begin thinking of the mistakes I made and can begin to wonder can I really be used of God…Then I’m reminded of God’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness.
I’m reminded of the men God used in scripture to serve Him. I’m reminded of the lives that where changed all because those men said “It’s not about what I’ve done…It’s about what He’s done and will do as I yield to Him.”
What could God use you to do if you would yield to him? If you let go of your past and stopped allowing it to define you; whose life could be changed because of God using you?
God doesn’t use people to do great works Him that are living in sin either. He uses people that are living a sanctified life.
A Disciple lives a sanctified life
A Disciple lives a sanctified life
The word sanctified simple means “set apart.” it refers to something that is distinguished or sacred. God instructs us to keep our lives pure of sin and to live in a way that is set apart to God.
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
We Serve a holy God
We Serve a holy God
Holiness is a defining attribute of God
And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:
The whole earth is full of his glory.
He is free from sin and exalted above all
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
God calls us to live holy lives
God calls us to live holy lives
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
The word conversation there is speaking of our lifestyle. We are to be distinct as god’s children. We should be distinct in our speech, in our relationship, in our philosophies and beliefs, in our family life, and in our appearance. Every aspect of our lives should show forth the holiness of God.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
The world wants us to be like it. But God tells us to let His Word renew our minds so that we become like Him
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
God’s grace develops holiness
God’s grace develops holiness
We cannot sustain a life of holiness on our own. But God’s grace develops it in us as we mature in our Christian walk.
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
The Christian life is a holy life, and it will manifest itself in separation from activities that are sinful or questionable- activities that would harm our testimony as we tell others about the Lord.
It is not always easy to live this way. Not everyone will understand. Even Jesus himself was ridiculed and persecuted.
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
Even as we seek to live in a way that honors God’s holiness, we must allow His love to show through our lives. A lack of holiness will harm our witness, but it is our love that is the mark of a true disciple.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So what do we do with this information?
Make a definite decision to fully surrender to God.
Just as the Old Testament animal sacrifices were once and for all, so should our commitment to unreservedly follow the Lord. Whether it be to the jungles of Africa or the baby nursery.
Daily ask God to search your heart.
One of the keys to victory over sin is to stay in close fellowship with God. Ask him to reveal any sin in your life, confess it, and turn from it
Examine your life
Can other people see the distinction of God’s holiness in you? Are there habits, activities, or associations that you need to change?