Luke 6:39-40
Who Are You Following?
• The meaning of discipleship – a person who follows the teaching or instruction of another.
• Video
3 Rules of Discipleship
1. Don’t Follow a Blind Man (39)
• That seems so obvious something we would never do, but Jesus is talking about something of even greater importance; spiritual blindness and those who cannot see spiritual truth.
• Whether we admit it or even realize it or not we all get our spiritual directions from somewhere; it could be family (parents, grandparents), friends, Oprah, or even ourselves.
Proverbs 12:15 (NKJV)
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
• Not only are we getting our spiritual direction from somewhere, but we are also leading others whether we realize it or not; especially our kids and grandkids.
• The one we are to be following is the same one we are to be emulating in our leadership style Jesus Christ.
• Remember what the rabbi said in the video, it wasn’t just a set of belief systems, but a lifestyle.
• This is something we should always be reminded of…
1 Timothy 4:6-9 (NASB)
6 In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. 7 But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; 8 for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.
• We find the consequences for not disciplining ourselves unto godliness is that both the leader and the follower fall into a pit.
• Another translation says, “The first one will fall into a ditch and pull the other down also.”
• We can put ourselves in danger of not only falling into a pit, but also leading others into a pit, if we do not embrace the true meaning of discipleship its more than just knowledge, again it’s a lifestyle.
• All believers have a personal responsibility to not only know the truth of Scripture, but to also live it.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 (NASB)
21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.
• This may seem like a daunting task however we are not alone in this venture, God has given us the Holy Spirit to teach us spiritual truths that we need to then take and make application to our daily lives.
James 2:15-17 (NIV)
15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
• Again it is important for us to know who we are following and who is following us. Is our lifestyle a reflection of Christ and His character?
2. Never Become Un-teachable (40a)
• Often we have a tendency, especially if we have been Believers a while, to feel like well I’ve heard that or I’ve already learned that.
• It doesn’t matter if we have been saved for 45 years or 45 minutes, we need to hear it again and we need to learn it again.
• There is a danger in feeling like we have arrived at a place of maturity where we feel certain things no longer apply to us.
• I look to the Apostle Paul at how to have the right attitude when it comes to making sure I don’t become unteachable.
Philippians 3:12a, 13a (NASB)
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
• Paul says you know what I still have more to learn, and if it is Christ who we are following then we will never be above our teacher.
• Again I remind you that we are not talking about merely knowledge, but a lifestyle that reflects Christ from every angle.
John 13:16-17 (NIV)
16 I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
• Jesus is reminding us of both of these truths.
What’s the key?
• We must approach God’s word afresh and anew each time we open it up expecting the Holy Spirit to teach us.
• We must realize that we will never know all God has to teach us in this lifetime.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
3. Don’t Stop Short of the Goal (40b)
• “Everyone that is perfect” or also “after you are fully trained,” that is the goal of discipleship – to become completely trained (made perfect).
Philippians 3:12b, 13b-14 (NASB)
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
• Paul understood that with Christ there was also something more to behold.
• I have to wonder will we ever in this lifetime realize all that we are and all that we have in Christ, the obvious answer is no, but as His disciples we should never grow tired of finding out.
• We need to pray and ask God to help us each day to better understand the completeness of our salvation; God did not save us just to be good people or just to have eternal life, we are called to a much, much higher calling.
1 Corinthians 15:49 (NIV)
49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
• Jesus said when you get to that point then you will be “like your teacher,” but until we arrive there we need to stop settling for mediocrity.
• Salvation in Christ holds more for us in this lifetime than we will ever be able to lay hold of.
John 10:10 (The Message)
10 A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.
• However there will come the day when God will complete the work He started in us through His Son Jesus Christ.
• But until that time comes, let us take the challenge to strive to live a lifestyle that seeks everyday to look more and more like the one we follow, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
