God Is True

Introduction

Last year during at the start of the pandemic, so many churches were rocked to their core. Churches that based their success on numbers had to quickly shuffle to get the numbers online and stay connected to the people in some measurable way. Now, people coming to church out of tradition, habit, or guilt are no longer attending.

The truth is everyone wonders and worries about the church's back door more than they do the front.

What makes people come to a church and then leave? There could be many reasons, but I have seen a pattern throughout my discipleship ministry prevalent even in Reliant.

I hear things like, “this is the church that I have been looking for all my Christian life.” I find that people are very excited to learn and grow through discipleship. And they do! As they go through the process, we challenge them to take the things entrusted to them and commit them to faithful men and women who will do the same. We call it "making disciples that make disciples." But we are much better consumers than we are disciple-makers. Once they feel the pressure and responsibility to give back into the process to help others they become uninterested or unwilling. They say they have no time, no talent, and no treasure to give back in and if that’s what’s required then I’m out.

Ultimately following Jesus demands a sacrifice. Salvation is a free gift. Ministry is a sacrifice. And many people would rather consume than sacrifice.

Our mission statement is: Producing Jesus followers of faith that expand God’s kingdom.

Mind shift: Becoming a Jesus follower of faith will demand a sacrifice.

God has called you to be his children so that you will bear witness of his goodness to others.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Here are four characteristics of true disciples:

Disciples live in relationship with God.

1 John 2:12–14 ESV

12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

Walking in a relationship with God is more than having your knowing about God or coming to church.

You become his children through a new birth and the forgiveness of sin.

You become strong in the fight through abiding in the Word of God both written and divine.

You become fathers because you know His who is from the beginning through the struggles of life.

How is your relationship with God?

Man equating God with Church.

I remember when God taught me about how people view their relationship with God. Years ago I was counseling a man and I asked him this question.

Disciples set their affections on Christ.

1 John 2:15–17 ESV

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Misdirection and confusion is the way of the Devil.

Genesis 3:6 ESV

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

The desires of the flesh - good for food. (self-gratification)

The desires of the eyes - a delight to the eyes. (covetousness which is idolatry)

The pride of life - to make one wise. (Self-worship)

The way of God’s love

Sacrifice

Generosity

Glory to God alone

Colossians 3:1–3 ESV

1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Disciples rest in their anointing of the Holy Spirit.

It is the last hour.

1 John 2:18–19 ESV

18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

Christians and Antichrists don’t mix.

1 John 2:20–23 ESV

20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.

The Holy Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God.

The Holy Spirit guides you into all truth through the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit empowers you to bear witness of Jesus to others.

Dreams of the Bible in Ukraine.

Disciples abide in the truth of God’s Word.

Walking by faith and hope in God’s promises

1 John 2:24–25 ESV

24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

Abiding in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

1 John 2:26–27 ESV

26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Closing Thoughts:

“Your affections determine your focus”

“Discipleship demands a sacrifice”

“Your level of sacrifice determines your level of ministry.”

“Your ability to abide in Christ determines your sustainability.”