True Discipleship - Loving as Jesus Loves

 TRUE DISCIPLESHIP - LOVING AS JESUS LOVES Surrey Congregation Aug 30, 2020 MATT 16:24 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. * What is Jesus telling us here, what does it mean to follow Jesus. * The theme of my message this is about the "blessing of following Jesus" * My sermon outline is entitled,"True Discipleship: Loving as Jesus Loves" * In today's message we will discuss some of the attributes of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. o Think about what a "true disciple of Jesus" might be like. o Would that person be living their life as Jesus lived o Remember the popular says, that came out a few years ago WWJD * Jewelry people wore * I heard the saying often * The first Life Group we did a few years ago entitled "What is a Christian" had the theme running through each session found in JN 13:34-35 JN 13:34-35 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. * How are Christ's disciples identified? o By our love for one another o As verse 34 states we are to love one another, just as Jesus loved us. * How much did Jesus Christ love us? o He loved us by laying down his life for us, while we did not know he existed, while we despised him, while we rejected him. o Today I want to look at a few more passages that describe other practical ways that Jesus loves. o I want to used one passage today found in Roman 12:9-21. Which talks about the marks of a true Christian a true follower of Jesus Christ. o Let read the passage before we discuss it. ROM 12:9-21 9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly;f do not claim to be wiser than you are. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. * Let's take this passage one thought at a time and share how Jesus loved us and how we can love others in a like manner. o What is a practical application for us today? ROM 12:9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; LET LOVE BE GENUINE * Jesus's love for us could not have been more genuine, He laid down his life for us, without favoritism to anyone. * He truly practiced what he preached, he lived it, there was no hypocrisy * Jesus showed love, respect, interest and attention, care and concern for all peoples. I JN 3:18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. o We must be a doer of God's word, practice what we preach ROM 12:9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; HATE WHAT IS EVIL, HOLD FAST TO WHAT IS GOOD * Jesus hated sin and detested it for he saw the devastation and the havoc wrecked by sin * He hated the sin but still loved the sinner. * That is something that is very difficult for us as Christians to do. Too often we tend we don't HATE SIN FOR WHAT IT IS. * If we truly hated sin for what it is we would not be as quick to participate in it. o The word for hate mean to abhor sin with intense feeling, to loathe it. o We are to even abstain from the appearance of sin. o If we truly love God we will hate sin and evil. * And also too often as human being we have difficulty with this one, if we hate the sin we also tend to also hate the sinner. (or we hold a prejudice against the sinner) * Jesus very clearly hated the sin, but HE STILL LOVED THE SINNER. ROM 12:10 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. LOVE ONE ANOTHER WITH MUTUAL AFFECTION * If we truly love one another with mutual affection would we have as many broken marriages, broken families. * Would we have have as many broken relationships. * As followers of Christ we should be cleaving to that which is good, to fasten to it like cement or glue. GAL 6:10 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. * Mutual affection describes the love existing between family members * We love out church family by being kind and affectionate to one another. * There is no dissension or divisiveness in love.(as we read in Jn 13:34-35) ROM 12:10 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. OUTDO ONE ANOTHER IN SHOWING HONOR * By showing honor it means to show reverence, respect to others to esteem others as better than ourselves. * Imagine a marriage, or a family, or a company, or a church where each individual esteems and honors others. * How much division, or trouble has been stirred up where a brother or sister who felt, overlooked, not honored, not esteemed, not thanked, not recognized, not given a position or right or not shown appreciation. PHIL 2:3-4 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ROM 12:11 11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. DO NO LAG IN ZEAL * As believers in Christ, and followers of Christ we are given a threefold charge. * We are told to not lack in zeal, do not be lazy and slothful in business, we are not to be lazy, slow-moving, sluggish, lethargic, complacent, hesitating, delaying. o As believers we cannot approach life in a lackadaisical, easy-going slow-moving fashion o We today live in a complacent world HEB 6:12 12 so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ECCL 9:10 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in grave, to which you are going. BE ARDENT IN SPIRIT * Being ardent in spirit means to be fervent, hot, to boil over to set aflame. * We as believers should have our hearts on fire, for serving Christ. * This world is reeling in unbelief and is in desperate need of those who are passionate for Christ. * Remember what we just covered in Hebrews HEB 5:11-12 11 About this we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food; SERVE THE LORD * The idea here is that we are to be focusing upon Jesus in all we do. * It is Him whom we serve. * We live in order to serve Him. - Our very purpose for being on earth is to minister for Him and His kingdom. COL 3:23-24 23 Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters, 24 since you know that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward; you serve the Lord Christ. ROM 12:12 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. REJOICE IN HOPE * As followers of Christ, we will face problems, trials, difficulties, troubles, tests, sufferings and pain, but as believers we are to not let these things cause us to cease our following Christ. * We as believer have hope that God will either remove the trial or deliver us through the trial. * We are not alone, that is why we can still have joy in the midst of our trials. II COR 6:10 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. BE PATIENT IN SUFFERING * As followers of Christ a believer experiences a surge of fortitude from Christ when trial confront him. PHIL 4:13 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. PERSEVERE IN PRAYER * The believer or follower of Christ overcomes trials by giving constant attention to God and waiting upon His delivering power. * The believer stays in communion with God, depending on him to supply the strength to walk through the trials of daily living. * We are command to pray without ceasing, to be instant in prayer * Prayer should be our first resort - NOT OUR LAST RESORT. MATT 7:7-8 7 "Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. JN 16:24 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. ROM 12:13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEEDS OF THE SAINTS * As believers we should unselfishly meet the needs of others around us. * Followers of Christ are known for the generosity, how they give and share to those in need. * The New Testament church followed Christ example and distributed to the needs of the saints, when there was famine, hardship, persecution etc. EXTEND HOSPITALITY TO STRANGERS * As believers we open our doors to strangers, visitors. * This is challenging during times of COVID * We minister to others by extending hospitality HEB 13:2 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. ROM 12:14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. BLESS THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU: BLESS AND DO NOT CURSE THEM * A believer is to bless those who persecute him. * The word bless means to speak well of them. * This is difficult when we are verbally or physically attacked, mistreated, insulted, by-passed, overlooked, slandered, cursed, abused, injured. * Not sure about you but this is a challenging COMMAND. * What a way to take the wind out of the sail, bless the person who has just really hurt you * I personally believe without the Holy Spirit helping us this is impossible to do. * This applies to o our annoying next door neighbor, o a hurtful family member o a critical fellow worker o a gossipy classmate o a slandering fellow employee o an employer who ignores giving us a deserved promotion or raise o a friend who just betrayed a huge trust o a fellow church member who criticized us in public o a fellow board member who took credit for our work and got the promotion. * What does it mean to speak well of our persecutors? It means to not o Retaliate by striking back o Not criticizing them o Not trying to hurt them verbally or physically o It may require turning the other cheek, ignoring the hurt and responding with an act of kindness, or a kind word. o It means that we pray for our persecutors o It means finding good things to say about them. LK 6:35 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. PROV 25:21 21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat; and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink; ROM 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. REJOICE WITH THOSE WHO REJOICE AND WEEP WITH THOSE WHO WEEP * As followers of Christ we rejoice with others who rejoice. o We don't get jealous of the blessing they have been given. o This means we participate in the joyful moments of others o We rejoice with our neighbors, friends and fellow members when something good happens to them o Thing might include: * A new baby * Some achievement * Some promotion * Some new purchase * Some recognition * Some honor o Often this goes against the grain of our human nature, we may envy someone's success, feel sad that it didn't happen to us, or we may be cold and indifferent. * That second part of that command is to weep with those who weep. * Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep o This can refer to friends and fellow members who are facing some trial or loss, maybe a family hurt, loss of a loved one, marriage break-up. o We must have the trait that Christ had that of EMPATHY. o Jesus was touched by the infirmities of mankind as Hebrews 4:15-16 states. ROM 15:1 15 We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. GAL 6:2 2 Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ROM 12:16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. LIVE IN HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER * Harmony and unity should exist in the body of Christ. * We have a responsibility to put ourselves in other peoples shoes, to try and understand where they are coming from. * Christ loved and showed empathy because he sought to understand the world of others and what they were going through I PET 3:8 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. DO NOT BE HAUGHTY, BUT ASSOCIATE WITH THE LOWLY * Pride is something that many people struggle with * Remember pride goes before a fall. * Haughtiness is found in "high society," "high positions", affluence. * Followers of Christ should not be snobbish, by the grace of God we are where we are today, not by anything we have done. * We should not neglect, ignore, separate from or despise the lowly. * We are to treat all people alike no matter, the race, wealth, status, poverty of others. LK 22:26 26 But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. ROM 12:3 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. DO NOT CLAIM TO BE WISER THAN YOU ARE * What is our opinion of ourselves. * Do we think we are better than other, wiser than others, we dress better than others * Maybe its because of o Clothes we wear o The social group we belong to o Our position in life o The car we drive o The job we have o The school we go to o The wealth we have o The pride of intellect * As believers we should not go through life as a conceited fool, thinking ourselves above or better than other people. * Thinking we are better than others leads to contempt of other peoples opinions and reliance on our own expertise. (OR PROBABLY BETTER PUT OUR LACK OF EXPERTIZE) GAL 6:3 3 For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. ROM 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. DO NOT REPAY ANYONE EVIL FOR EVIL, BUT TAKE THOUGHT FOR WHAT IS NOBLE IN THE SIGHT OF ALL * We are not to react or return evil for evil as I talked about in verse 14 * We are witnesses for Christ by how we treat others * Returning evil for evil often destroy relationship as well as prevents us from sharing the gospel by our example. * It is so important not to be REACTIVE, but we need to think before we act, and we will respond in a much more NOBLE way. * Out testimony to others is non-existant when we are reactive to others. ROM 12:18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. IF IT IS POSSIBLE, AS FAR AS DEPENDS ON YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL * As a mentioned in my Hebrew series, we are to live at peace with others but peace is not always possible. * Some people like to provoke and stir things up. * But as believers or followers of Christ the source or cause of the conflict should not arise from us. ROM 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." NEVER AVENGE YOURSELVES, BUT LEAVE ROOM FOR THE WRATH OF GOD, FOR IT IS WRITTEN, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, SAYS THE LORD * The is no place for vengeance in the life of a believer. * Leave vengeance to God * We cannot administer justice fairly since only God knows the heart of an individual. * God said leave things to me, I WILL HANDLE IT, I WILL REPAY. * Taking vengeance makes evil victorious. ROM 12:20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." IF YOUR ENEMIES ARE HUNGRY - FEED THEM IF THEY ARE THIRSTY - GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO DRINK BY DOING THIS YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON THEIR HEADS. * Treat you enemies with kindness and it will affect them in a much greater way. o Kindnesses shown to those who hurts us often cause anquish for an enemy, when they realize how mean they have been. o Those who hurt others often are dumbfounded when kindness is extended to them by someone they have hurt. o Some have repented and become believers when Christians did not retaliate, show revenge or who were not reactive. ROM 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD * Taking vengeance makes evil victorious. * As follower of Christ we are to conquer evil by doing good, to those who cause the problems. It's a tall order to be a disciple of Christ. * There is a lot of things we have discussed today and it's easy to focus more on our failures than our successes. * Further, when we look at Romans 12 as a list of things we should not do, it's easy to feel discouraged. * Because like Paul, we often find ourselves doing the things we do not want to do, and not doing the things we want to do. Discipleship is a life-long process of growing in grace and knowledge. * It is loving others more today than we did last week. * It is asking God to help us see others as he sees them, as his beloved. * It is asking God to love with his love. * It is asking God to make things plain for us. So let's simplify this passage and summarize these qualities-focusing on what we do rather than what we should not do. A disciple is someone who follows Jesus and attempts to love as he loves: * A disciple is loving, kind, and authentic, honoring others whenever possible (vv. 9-10). * A disciple is passionate, hopeful, and willing to help and serve others, and when difficulties come, bears them gracefully through lots of prayer (vv. 11-13). * A disciple is empathetic, realizing how interconnected we all are as God's children (vv. 14-16). * A disciple is peaceful, both within and without, and promotes peace even when wronged (vv. 17-20). * A disciple is an encouragement to be good and do good and believes that "being right" is much less of a priority (v. 21). In other words, a disciple is someone who loves as Jesus loves, and is known to be a disciple of Jesus by his or her love for others. We again come back to the words of Christ found in John 13:34-35 JN 13:34-35 34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. A true follower or disciple is some who * Loves God * Loves One Another * And Extends Love to All. CLOSING PRAYER