What Does Jesus Desire of You?
INTRODUCTION
1. It is quite common to see young people wearing a bracelet, T-shirt, or other article of clothing with the letters "WWJD"
a. WWJD stands for "What Would Jesus Do?"
b. Many young people like wearing something designed to remind them to always ask in any situation, "What Would Jesus Do?"
-- It is commendable that people would ask "What Would Jesus Do?"
2. In this lesson, however, I want to ask "What Would Jesus Desire?"
a. What would Jesus desire of you today?
b. Is there something Jesus would want you to do today?
c. Is there something Jesus would want you to be doing everyday?
From His words in The Great Commission, Mat 28:19 KJV Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I believe there are several things we can note that Jesus would desire of every person. As we consider His words, ask yourself whether Jesus would desire it of you. This is what I believe Jesus would desire of you and me.
I. THAT YOU BECOME HIS DISCIPLE.
A. HE SAID, "MAKE DISCIPLES..."
1. He wanted His apostles to make disciples - Mat 28:19 KJV Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2. A disciple is a learner, a follower.
3. A disciple is one who desires to become like His teacher
(Luke 6:40 KJV) The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
B. WHY DOES JESUS WANT YOU TO BE HIS DISCIPLE?
1. To learn from Him,
Mat 11:28 KJV Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
a. The expression take my yoke in NT times, meant to become a disciple
b. It means to hitch up with Jesus and let Him lead you in the direction you
should go
2. To offer rest for your souls - Mt 11:28-30
a. He knows that you are under the burden of sin.
1) The burden of the guilt of sin.
2) Both the legal and emotional guilt of sin.
b. Learn from Him how to become free from the burden of sin.
1) For freedom from sin is true freedom,
John 8:31 KJV Then said Jesus to
those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye
my disciples indeed; John 8:32 KJV And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:33 They answered him, We be Abrahams seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you; Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house forever: but the Son abideth ever. John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:37 I know that ye are Abrahams seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. (John 8:38 KJV) I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
2) Only in Him can we become free from:
a) The legal guilt of sin, having transgressed the Law of God.
b) The emotional guilt of sin having transgressed our own consciences.
Jesus clearly wants you to be His disciple, to learn from Him and to let Him lighten your load; are you His disciple? Jesus also desires...
II. THAT YOU BE BAPTIZED
A. HE SAID, BAPTIZING THEM...
1. He wanted His apostles to baptize people - Mt 28:19, Mk 16:15-16
2. Which His apostles were quick to do/
Acts 2:38 KJV Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached
Christ unto them.
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning
the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized,
both men and women.
Acts 10:48 KJV) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
B. WHY DOES JESUS WANT YOU TO BE BAPTIZED?
1. As commanded by Peter...
a. For the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
b. Remember, Jesus wants to free you from the burden of sin!
2. As explained by Paul...
a. In baptism you are united with Christ in His death and raised with Him to a new life -
b. Rom 6:3 KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Rom 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Rom 6:6 KJV) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Rom 6:7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
c. In baptism you put on Christ -
Gal 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ.
d. In baptism you experience the working of God, Who forgives you of all your sins and raises you with Christ -
Col 2:11 KJV In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Jesus therefore desires for you to enter in with this new relationship with Him. Have you been baptized? If so, then Jesus also desires that you also...
III. THAT YOU KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS.
A. HE SAID, "TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE..."
1. Baptism is only the beginning, there are more commands to follow.
(Mat 28:20 KJV) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
2. Doing what He says is what it means to be His disciple.
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
B. WHAT ARE SOME OF HIS COMMANDMENTS?
1. To love the brethren -
John 13:34 KJV A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
a. This is one way we show the world we are truly His disciples
b. Which implies the necessity of active involvement in a local congregation.
2. To bear fruit -
John 15:8 KJV Here in is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
a. Such as saving souls, serving others, growing in grace
b. Unless we bear fruit, we will be cut off -
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch
that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring
forth more fruit. John 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
c. Bearing fruit comes only through a personal connection with Jesus.
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
CONCLUSION
1. Our study was not intended to be exhaustive...
a. Certainly there is more that Jesus would desire of us
b. For He taught many other things
1. Some taught to His apostles while on earth
2) Others taught to His apostles through the Spirit -
John 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
2. But I wanted to use the current popularity of WWJD to simply remind you...
a. Not only to ask "What Would Jesus Do?" in a particular situation
b. But to ask "What Would Jesus Desire?" of you right now!
3. I hope I have encouraged you to reflect on what Jesus would want you to do today:
a. If you have not committed to become His disciple...
b. If you have not been baptized...
c. If you are not observing His commands...
...what would Jesus desire for you?
