Disciple: BE ONE; MAKE ONE!

Good Morning! Well the time is hear! I want you to know God has been working in my heart over the last few years really about something we really need to focus on diligently and it is my prayer that this sermon series will bless us all and teach us what is the key element missing in our churches and in our spiritual lives today.

Before we get started let’s pray:

“Heavenly Father, you are wonderful, excellent in all of your ways. You are our Lord and our Master, our Savior and friend and Lord as we enter this time of worshipping you through studying your word I pray that you would give my words power because this whole thought has come from your word and your word is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword.

May the Spirit of the Living God fall on us this morning and create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us, in Jesus’ matchless name we pray amen.”

During my time as a pastor I have listened to many people talk, they come to me desiring to know God more deeply. They say things like:

“I want to grow closer to the Lord but I don’t really know how”

“I am ready to take the next step in my walk with the Lord but I am not really sure what that looks like”

“Something is lacking in my Christian life, surely this is not all there is to be a Christian...”

This series is born out of years and years of watching the church and those inside the church slipping away from the High expectations and calling of Jesus Christ.

In Revelation Jesus warned that the church had traded their passion for God for worldly pursuits, I want you to take a moment and genuinely ask yourself WHERE AM I IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD? AM I JUST A BELIEVER IN JESUS WHO DOES THE CHURCH THING EVERY NOW AND THEN, AS LONG AS NOTHING ELSE COMES UP?

OR

AM I PASSIONATELY PURSUING WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST?

Don’t answer too quickly, and it might help to ask yourself how Jesus would answer this question about you...

This is what happened to me, after I became a Christian I came to a hallow point in my walk with him a few years in. Everything was essentially the same, I didn’t think I had changed but I wasn’t feeling the nearness of the Lord that I did when I first recieved my salvation.

Something was missing something was wrong but I didn’t know what.

I have discovered that these moments of hollowness are actually a normal part of most Christians journey, but they don’t know what is wrong. This is where many people slip into complacency and simply begin going through the motions, there is no joy, no sense of the Holy Spirits movement in their lives.

No desire for more they just come to this place of emptiness and they learn to settle thinking this is all there is when it comes to being a Christian. Often times we can lose the joy of our salvation if we forget the beauty of the grace of God.

I remember this time in my life where I began to pray and ask God to revive me, I sensed He was asking me a question:

“HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOURSELF?”

I responded “I feel empty and I cant help but feel I am losing my passion for you.”

I sensed the Lord speak again:

“HOW DO YOU THINK I FEEL ABOUT YOU?”

Without missing a beat I responded

DISSAPPOINTED

I sensed the the Lord telling me, what you are feeling is very common. It is Satan’s plan for people to define themselves by their successes or failures instead of defining themselves by my unconditional love and acceptance.

When this happen people begin to feel pressured and helpless and hopeless THAT IS THE TRAP DEFINING YOUR LIFE BY HOW WELL YOU MEASURE UP TO SOME STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE INSTEAD OF MY GRACE AND LOVE!

Every struggle you have in your flesh is a result of moving away from God’s love! When we try to earn approval from God by our performance, shame and guilt will drive you away from God.

Because you and I cannot please God with our performance, we cant it is impossible. We will fail eventually, and that failure can leave you shipwrecked with an I don’t care attitude.

THE REASON WE SIN AFTER WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN IS THAT WE MOVE AWAY FROM GODS LOVE WITHOUT HIS LOVE WE ARE LEFT WITH ONLY OUR PERFORMANCE.

When we succeed we feel superior but when we fail guilt and shame dominate our minds at that point everything we do we do to try and make God happy with us again.

Addictive behavior, booze, drugs, shopping, slander, gossip, excessive entertainment are meant to numb us from the pain, this nagging feeling makes us desperate, and some people give up. But sensitive and thoughtful people try to make up for their failures by doing penance.

But they can never enough to heal the open wound. Only the powerful touch of God’s love can do that.

It reminded me of something Jesus said to His disciples on the night He was betrayed.

John 15:9 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

“As the

I had gotten it so wrong!

I had worked so hard to gain God’s love and acceptance but that was exactly backwards. Jesus wanted me to remember and remain focused on the beauty and the power of His love the same love, the Father has for Him and never leave that heart changing feeling.

I MUST LIVE IN THE REVELATION AND POWER OF GODS LOVE!

My Hope For You

Throughout this series I am using 2 terms that need clear definition.

Many people believe in Jesus but few are true disciples.

BELIEVER= Is someone who agrees with and enjoys the truth of the Bible and may occasionally feel close to God.

But DISCIPLES are so overwhelmed by those truths, that everything in their lives revolve around Jesus.

I BELIEVE MANY IF NOT MOST OF YOU IN THIS PLACE BELIEVE IN JESUS, MY PRAYER FOR YOU THROUGH THIS SERIES IS THAT AS WE CLOSE YOU WILL HAVE EMBARKED ON THE JOURNEY FROM BEING A BELIEVER TO A FOLLOWER OF JESUS.

John 15:11 ESV

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Do you wanna live in the joy of the Lord everyday all day?

You will live in the joy of the Lord when you abide in Christs love, that is the secret to being a disciple who loves and overflows with the love and power of God.

First lets talk about what a Disciple is...

A Disciple is Passionately Committed to Jesus Christ

One of the keys to moving from being a believer in Jesus to being a follower of Jesus is to let go of everything you have trusted in and place all of that trust in Jesus and what He has for you.

This encompasses your entire life! Not just an hour on Sundays!

Think about it when Jesus Called His first disciples do you remember what that looked like?

Matthew 4:18–22 HCSB

As He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for people!” Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Matthew

They were fishermen, their livlihood, their family business, even their family members were all intertwined in what they did to make a living.

Then out of nowhere Jesus this man who they did not know very well, comes walking up and calls out to them. He says something that sounds absolutely absurd.

Follow me and I will make you fishers of men, I will make you fish for people!

This was a difficult call, it was really a blind call, he didn’t tell them how they were going to fish for people, he didn’t explain all the details up front He simply called them. The ball was in their court as to whether or not they were going to go along for the ride.

Not only was it a bind call, a difficult call it was a call to sacrifice.

When Jesus called them He wanted them following Him full time!

As Jesus moved on He walked down to Zebedee enterprises Where James and John ans their father ole Zeb were mending their nets, as soon as jesus called them the Bible says they got up from what they were doing and left their father in the boat.

THIS PROVES THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP YOU CAN HAVE IN YOUR LIFE IS NOT NECESSARILY THE ONE YOU HAVE WITH YOUR FAMILY BUT THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE WITH YOUR LORD.

Jesus reiterated this when He said these words later

Luke 14:26 ESV

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

What Jesus is saying here is that when it comes to our lives and even the lives of the ones we care about the most, that He the King of Kings deserves the top priority. He is not saying something morbid like hate your families have nothing to do with them, He is simply saying you must prioritize ME over your life and your closest loved ones.

Or else you cannot be my Disciples

Many Christians struggle in their walks with the Lord, they are still trying to hold on to their lives even though Jesus wants to offer them a new life.

One of the keys to moving forward as a disciple and deeper into my relationship with Jesus was to let go of everything I had trusted in, and allow God to rebuild the foundation of my heart.

God longs for a relationship with us and He will pursue us until we give Him soem sort of response.

When Paul writes to the churches He says we were helpless, hopeless, enemies of God. But god is so rich in mercy, and loved us so much that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead.

It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved! GOD SAVED YOU BY HIS GRACE WHEN YOU BELIEVED!

Salvation is not a reward for all the good things that weve done, WE ARE SAVED BY GRACE ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE IN CHRIST ALONE So that none of us can boast this is the gift of God!

Once you are saved you are called to something that is the most difficult demanding assignment of our lives. If we take Him seriously, He doesnt want part of us He wants ALL of us.

He created us paid our debts for us and He has given us our freedom but He expects us to use our freedom to honor Him.

Listen to Jesus’s words hear him speak to you today.

Matthew 7:13–14 ESV

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Matthew 7:15 HCSB

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

Are you paying attention to what Jesus is saying?

Matthew 7:

He says there are people who are emotional about their faith who are active in ministry, and who in fact perform miracles but whose hearts have never been transformed by the gospel of grace.

This was a warning to those on the hillside in the first century and it is a warning to us today. DONT MISTAKE OCCASIONAL EMOTIONS, REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE AND EFFECTIVE SERVICE FOR A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

Jesus was drawing a sharp distinction between believers ans disciples.

This is a huge deal

Barna Research found that 9 out of 10 people in America believe Jesus was a real person, but only 4 out of 10 said they had experience a saving faith and born again experience.

But even those 4 when asked about their hopes for the future mentioned their careers their families and hobbies and said NOTHING about fufilling God’s purpose for their lives.

Very few people who calim Jesus as their Savior rank knowing and following Jesus as their number one priority.

Most are believers but not disciples.

Look at the differences

Believers believe in Jesus as their Savior but live to please THEMSELVES

DISCIPLES BELIEVE IN JESUS AS LORD BUT LIVE TO PLEASE GOD

All of us begin our walk because we wanna recieve forgiveness from God for our sins but few people ever grow beyond that point. They punch their ticket for paradise and then sit there and flounder for the rest of their lives never knowing the joy that comes from following Jesus with everything that they are.

Disciples turn a corner they realize they have been blessed so that they can be a blessing to others. They live to honor the one who rescued them from death and given them hope for the future.

Disciples dont focus only on what God can do for THEM they long to give to God and to others.

2. Believer Exalt THEIR Opinions, Feelings, and thoughts ABOVE the WORD OF GOD

DISCIPLES EXALT THE WORD OF GOD ABOVE THEIR FEELINGS, OPINIONS, AND THOUGHTS.

Believers focus on the passages that tell them what God will do for them, while disciples take seriously the whole counsel of God. Disciples follow God whether they agree with God’s word or not, whether they understand or not, or whether obeying it is easy or not.

3. BELIEVERS think of church as a place they go to hear what God’s word says

DISCIPLES THINK OF CHURCH AS A PLACE WHERE THEY LEARN TO DO WHAT GOD SAYS

Many people today go to church today to be entertained and they complain when the sermon isn’t as interesting as they like.

Disciples have open ears and eager hearts to recieve what they are given. They plan to take action on what they hear from Gods word.

4. BELIEVERS are accountable only to themselves

DISCIPLES ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO EVERYONE

Believers want everyone to agree with their opinion, while disciples are open to correction and inctruction

5. BELIEVERS serve God if its convienient

You know if there is a little bit of time left over Ill give it God, so long as I can have all that I want I will give God a little head nod.

Disciples serve God based on CONVICTION

Believers serve God as long as it doesnt cost them very much but Disciples give, love, and serve like Jesus even though it may hurt at times.

6. BELIEVERS TRY TO IMPRESS GOD BY BEING RELIGIOUS

Disciples seek to know God through relationship

Believers and Disciples seem to do many of the same activities but their motive are miles apart.

Many Christians try to impress God and those around them by coming to church and being involved with some forms of service, but disciples do those same things to know God better and to reflect God better to everyone.

7. BELIEVERS Follow God as long as everything is going well.

DISCIPLES follow Jesus regardless of the circumstances.

Believers and disciples have very different breaking points.

Believers seem to stick around as long as God is blessing them and life is easy. But disciples keep pursuing God and trusting Him even when their world is falling apart.

8. Believers choose their own path and ask God to bless it.

Disciples ASK GOD TO REVEAL THE PATH and they follow it.

(peyton)

Believers are self focused and they are determined to achieve their own goals, and they expect God to help them achieve them.

Disciples start with God’s will and God’s purposes and they look to Him for direction and they look to follow HIs leading.

9. Believers are full of pride when they are doing good

Disciples are full of gratitude because Gods love NEVER FAILS

(the cycle)

They seek to do the will of GOd everyday but they still fail

But if the grace of God through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross is their identity they find security strength and peace even in difficult times.

10. Believers follow the example of the world that seeks to climb the ladder and go higher

DISCIPLES SEEK THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS AND TRY TO GO LOWER

Humans naturally want more power, prestige and control.

But the spiritual mind of disciples are seeking to model Jesus and be self-sacrificing

After Jesus died on the cross and right before He ascended to the right hand of the Father He said

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18

Jesus gave us a clear command not to make believers, create impressive organizations, build beautiful buildings BUT TO MAKE DISCIPLES in EVERY NATION OF THE WORLD

HOW WELL ARE YOU ACCOMPLISHING THIS MISSION?

HOW WELL ARE WE ACCOMPLISHING THIS MISSION?

ARE YOU BUILDING DISCIPLES ARE YOU ONE YOURSELF?

How many times do we hear this testimony

I THOUGHT I WAS A CHRISTIAN BUT....

I am telling you more and more each and every day this is the reality for most people. They know in their hearts they do not know God but they dont come forward and begin actively following Jesus because “what would people think? they saw me be b

aptized, they knew I prayed a long time ago.... and as a result these people will die with false security never knowing Jesus as thier Lord and savior

(Tim, Kevin, Misty, Heather, Mandy,Jessica)

Listen to me guys these are just a few, of the countless people who thought they knew but did not experience the resurrected Lord until much later.

I’m TELLING YOU THIS IS HAPPENING BECAUSE WE HAVE BOUGHT INTO EASY BELIEVISM WHICH SAYS YOU DONT REALLY HAVE TO CHANGE YOU JUST HAVE TO BELIEVE

LISTEN TO ME IF YOU YOU IF YOU PRESENTLY ARE WHAT YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THEN THERE IS NO SPIRITUAL LIFE WITHIN YOU!

A CHANGE MUST HAPPEN ON THE INSIDE!

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!

A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST JESUS!

But then follow Jesus as Lord over your life afterward

DISCIPLES, FOLLOWERS if JESUS

That is the goal!

Luke 9:23 ESV

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

He said follow me, NOT BELIEVE IN ME, NOT AGREE WITH ME, NOT APPLAUD ME OR THINGS ABOUT ME, BUT FOLLOW ME.

Jesus desires us to be following in His footsteps in our lives.

But in order to do this we have to die to ourselves.

Taking up a cross is nothing easy this meant you must care more about living for Jesus than you care about your own life.

When these men followed Jesus they knew this would mean they would be hated persecuted and possibly even killed for following Jesus

THAT IS WHAT TRULY BEING A FOLLOWER OF JESUS MEANS IT IS A CALL TO COME AND DIE, AND MBRACE A NEW WAY OF LIFE JESUS’LIFE BEING LIVED OUT THROUGH YOU

THIS AFFECTS HOW YOU ACT AND TREAT OTHERS IT AFFECTS WHAT YOU DEEM IMPORTANT

WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT AND WHAT YOU GIVE YOUR TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE TO

God doesn’t want just an hour or two on Sunday morning, He doesn’t want just a pray and a verse or two every other morning, He doesn’t want a few dollars and a few hours here or there to prove you are a good Christian He wants EVEYTHING YOU GOT

YOUR BODY IS HIS, YOUR CAREER, YOUR MONEY IS HIS, YOUR FAMILY IS HIS, YOUR TIME IS HIS, IT ALL BELONGS TO JESUS!!!

Because you belong to him!~

Does JEsus seem to demanding?

being committed to Jesus isn’t always kind and warm and wonderful often we see Him do amazing things in people lives but there are other times when we feel the cost.

Thats when we find out if we were really committed to Jesus or not

Listen to me guys, this is introducing the topic we are going to be earning about and my prayer is that as we move through this that we would come with an open mind and an open heart.

ARE YOU A BELIEVER OR A DISCIPLE