Disciplines Of The Faith

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27

ACTS 8:26-38

DISCLAIMER: THIS SERMON WAS GLEANED FROM SERMON CENTRAL AND PRIVATE STUDY

INTRO-

***THIS MORNING I WANT TO RETURN TO THE THEME OF DISCIPLESHIP. WE HAVE SPENT SEVERAL WEEKS HERE. I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT DISCIPLESHIP IS A LIFE LONG PROCESS, SO WE COULD TALK ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME.

TODAY I WANT TO MENTION TWO DISCIPLINES, ONE BRIEFLY AND CENTER IN ON THE SECOND. SOME WILL BE GLAD WHEN I GET OFF THE FIRST ONE.

PEOPLE TODAY DO NOT LIKE TO BE TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO BE DISCIPLINED. THEY BELIEVE IT IS THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE THEY WAY THEY WANT AND HAVE EVERYONE ELSE FALL IN LINE AROUND THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE RAISING KIDS THAT ARE TELLING THEIR PARENTS WHAT TO DO.

KIDS HAVE MORE THAN THEIR PARENTS EVER HAD, AND THE PARENTS HAVE MAXED OUT CREDIT CARDS TO PROVE IT.

1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 READ

PAUL SPEAKS OF RUNNING A RACE IN A WAY TO “GET THE PRIZE” HE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT SALVATION. HE IS NOT URGING PEOPLE TO WORK HARDER TO WIN SALVATION.

HE IS TELLING US THAT WE NEED TO STRIVE TO LIVE IN SUCH A WAY THAT PLEASES GOD. THAT HEAVEN IS THE FINAL FINISH LINE, AND HE DID NOT WANT TO BE DISQUALIFIED BY NOT FINISHING STRONG.

*** LARGE MAN THAT SHADOW BOXED AT THE BUS STOP IN MILWAUKEE

IT IS A SCRIPTURE ON DISCIPLINE.

ONE CANNOT BE A DISCIPLE WITHOUT LEARNING DISCIPLINE

“DISCIPLE YOURSELF FOR THE PURPOSE OF GODLINESS” 1 TIMOTHY 4:7

***IF YOU ARE GOING TO DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER, THERE ARE CERTAIN DISCIPLINES OR HABITS YOU NEED TO PRACTICE AS PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE.

SOW A THOUGHT, REAP AN ACT

SOW AN ACT, REAP A HABIT

SOW A HABIT, REAP A CHARACTER

SOW A CHARACTER, REAP A DESTINY

AS WE ALLOW THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD TO RENEW OUR MINDS, WE WILL ACT IN WAYS THAT PLEASES THE LORD. WE WILL DEVELOP CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER.

THE PROBLEM IS WE WANT TO PICK AND CHOOSE THE PARTS OF GOD’S WORD WE WANT TO LISTEN TO.

GIVE AN EXAMPLE-

HERE’S ONE DISCIPLINE- WE WILL TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT “TITHING” OH MAN IT GOT QUIET.

GOD’S WORD IS CLEAR THAT WE ARE TO GIVE THE FIRST FRUITS OF OUR LABOR BACK TO THE LORD. GOD GIVES 100% OF THE MONEY, WE ARE TO KEEP 90 % AND GIVE 10% BACK TO THE LORD THROUGH THE CHURCH FOR HIS KINGDOM WORK.

20’S GO ON VACATION, 1’S GO IN THE OFFERING PLATE

MALACHI 3:8 SAYS

“WILL A MAN ROB GOD? YET YOU ROB ME. BUT YOU ASK , HOW DO WE ROB YOU? ‘IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS YOU ARE UNDER A CURSE- THE WHOLE NATION OF YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE ROBBING ME. BRING THE WHOLE TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE. TEST ME IN THIS SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY, AND SEE IF I WILL NOT THROW OPEN THE FLOOD GATES OF HEAVEN AND POUR OUT SO MUCH BLESSING THAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE ROOM ENOUGH FOR IT.”

THE TITHE 10 % REQUIRED BACK TO GOD, AND OFFERINGS, THE ABOVE AND BEYOND THAT HE WILL BLESS FOR.

***YOU CANNOT OUT GIVE GOD HEAVEN IS ENDLESS IN BLESSINGS AND GOD’S WORD IS TRUE

THAT IS A PROMISE OF GOD- TOLD YOU LAST WEEK, GOD MAKES A PROMISE AND HE WILL KEEP IT.

***WE MISS THE BLESSING BECAUSE OF NOT BEING OBEDIENT.

***SOME OF YOU HAVE SHARED THAT YOU WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO IF THE CHURCH AND IT’S MINISTRIES WERE NOT HERE.

MY QUESTION- IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT YOUR CHECKBOOK AND YOUR TIME SCHEDULE, WOULD IT REFLECT YOUR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING THAT THE CHURCH BE AVAILABLE.

I’M NOT TEACHING A PROSPERITY TEACHING, I DON’T THINK THEY ARE RIGHT, BUT I AM SAYING GOD BLESSES OBEDIENCE AND HIS WORD IS TRUE.

“IF YOU ABIDE IN ME, AND MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH, AND IT WILL BE DONE FOR YOU, MY FATHER IS GLORIFIED BY THIS, THAT YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, AND SO PROVE TO BE MY DISCIPLE JOHN 15;7-8

***THE PURPOSE OF TITHING IS TO TEACH US TO ALWAYS PUT GOD FIRST IN OUR LIVES”

ARE WE WILLING TO PUT ASIDE OUR WILL/ PURPOSE FOR THE LORD’S

ARE WE WILLING TO GIVE FIRST- RECEIVE SECOND

A DISCIPLE IS ONE WHO DISCIPLINES HIMSELF TO DO THE RIGHT THINGS, THE RIGHT WAY.

AREN’T YOU GLAD THIS IS THE ONE I WILL ONLY TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT?

ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS AN OBEDIENCE ISSUE, AND NOT ONLY ABOUT MONEY, WE WILL SEE THAT THERE IS ALSO A LEVEL OF MATURITY IN CHRIST.

***HE IS TALKING TO BELIEVERS, UNBELIEVERS ARE NOT GOING TO COMMIT TO THE CHURCH WHAT GOD WORD SAYS ABOUT MONEY.