IT'S A TRAP | Christian Lifestyle and Discipleship

Problem is we see the same type attitude in some Churches. all you have to do is believe in God attend worship service remember some scriptures and that makes you a Christian

It looks like we are Moving from Jesus Christ as Lord to being Christian is a meaningless label.

But this is a trap! you think you are right with God and you’re not. Anyone who thinks there isn’t a standard tied to Christianity is in a trap!

What does Christian really mean?

Acts 11:26 NASB95

26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And for an entire year they met with the church and taught considerable numbers; and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

found him talking about Saul

Christian is another word for disciple. A disciple is a follower

disciple n. — a student who adheres to (and travels with) a teacher in a pedagogical relationship; especially used of students of spiritual leaders.

we often say we are believers and tend to avoid the term Christian all together

[prop]What does it really mean to be a disciple? What should being a true follower of Christ or Christian lifestyle look like?

YOU MUST BE INVITED TO DISCIPLESHIP AND ACCEPT THE INVITATION

Matthew 4:18–22 NASB95

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

These are the first disciples not the first time the encounter Jesus. They became converts in John Chapter 1 before the sea of Galilee event so notice

Verse 18 and Verse 21 [FCF] Peter and Andrew James and John were Fishermen very profitable profession. Only Profitable for their self interest!

Verse 19 and verse 21 Follow me can He called them is the invitation to discipleship! Jesus Invited Them to stop serving their own interest! This means clearly stop what you are doing with your current life. Being a Fisherman in this day was profitable but they gave up a life that served themselves and only benefited themselves

Verse 20 [FCF] there are examples of people who Jesus extended the invite to and they did not accept. Mt 8:19-20 when the scribe said he would follow Jesus wherever and Jesus said he was homeless. Or the rich young ruler who would not give up all his possessions which was the most important to him Mt 19:16-21

Verse 20 and verse 22 they became disciples immediately! they responded to the invitation to discipleship immediately! their lives changed immediately!

I think about my own conversion story about how i accepted Jesus

i did not have to accept his invitation but I did.

my life changed immediately form doing my own selfish thing to what God wanted from me. It did not change until this encounter happened!

< When Jesus extends the invitation to follow him you have to accept. otherwise you are still just a convert who is just attracted to Jesus

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TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE YOU MUST DENY YOURSELF

Luke 9:23–24 NASB95

23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

> These rules for being a disciple can’t be clearer

Jesus is saying in this text if anyone wants to follow You MUST deny yourself

what does he mean by deny himself?

Self Denial is rejecting a life based on self-interest and self fulfillment

self denial is the attitude that the life of sin is already dead and a daily renewal of such attitude. the disciple is to do what jesus does. follow in the same manner as the Master.

A true disciple will seek to fulfil the will and the teachings of Christ

take up your cross daily is a commitment unto death if need be the early Christians new what this meant

[FCF] We do not want to give up our sin. or our self interest. Many of us like sin. I would say that your love for sin is greater that your love to truly follow Christ because this means denial of your old man.

Back to my conversion story. I had to deny my fleshly desires.

Any flesh desire had to be nailed to the cross in order for me to follow

Less obvious flesh desires need to be denied

< A true Christian denies flesh daily. The flesh must be denied on a daily basis

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TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE CHRIST MUST BE LORD

Luke 14:25–27 NASB95

25 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, 26 “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. 27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

> verse 25 Large crowds indicates that people were attracted to Jesus. These were the people wanting to see a miracle or wanting Jesus to do something for them. Not really committed at all

Mega Churches are the same

Verse 26 [FCF] May sound harsh to some reading hate your own family and yourself!

Jesus is brutally honest with these people. He tells them what it takes to truly be a disciple her so they are not confused about it. A Large crowd is something that a lot of Pastors want but Jesus is extending grace and mercy to them by telling them the truth so they are not deceived!

Jesus is saying your relationship with him has to rise to a level that exceeds that of your own family! to be a true disciple it calls for faith over Family. Must be willing to become disowned by your family.

Verse 27 Carry your own cross. Same thing he said in the Matthews text to take up your cross but a little more specific

Prosperity Preachers teach something different than carrying your own cross.

< We need to be brutally honest not just with ourselves first. do we have areas in our lives that are more important you than what God wants from you? but when we deal with others about what it really takes. If anything comes before your relationship with Christ, Mother Father Children then you may be a part of the large crowd just attracted to Jesus and not truly a follower. we need to confess that to Jesus directly and allow him to fix it.

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TO BE A TRUE DISCIPLE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

1 John 2:4–6 NASB95

4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

[FCF} So he is calling out those who say they know Jesus. Say they are disciples/christian but don’t Keep his commandments.

what are the commandments of Jesus?

his commandments include everything Jesus says to do. 10 commandments, Love your neighbor and your enemies and specifically include how you live your life or the fruit that you bear.

Those who say they belong to Christ and don’t have a problem with not keeping his commandments are really in open rebellion.

You got a speeding ticket bad enough to have to appear in court and you tell the judge that you are a concerned model citizen! you just don’t follow any speed limit?

whoever keeps his word in him the love for God has truly been perfected

His plan from the beginning is for us to love him. That is why Jesus came to the world! He is the author of Love he clearly loved us first.

the way we show love for God is by is keeping his commandments and his word and doing what pleases him

abiding is ongoing commitment

< If we are not careful we could find ourselves in rebellion. being Christlike is a daily thing. Especially the love your enemies part and praying for those who persecute you.

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Conclusion

take aways

We need to take back the term Christian. Don’t let the world define who we are But allow the Father defines us

We need to also stop trying to be Christians without Christ

Remember Jesus says Apart from me you can do Nothing!

Remember this especially after accepting the invitation from Jesus after salvation

< Stay connected to the Vine though our obedience to his Word

God has provided to us this provision of grace that we do not deserve

He is saying, “I have loved you and provided My grace for you.

Therefore, we need to respond to God with your love through our surrender and by doing just what he said

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