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.
THEY WANT TO TAKE AND NOT GIVE BACK. WHEN THE FREE STUFF IS GONE, SO ARE THEY.
SOME , IF I ASKED YOU TO TESTIFY WOULD STAND AND TELL HOW GOD WAS FAITHFUL WHEN YOU MADE SURE YOU OBEYED HIS PRINCIPALS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SHARED THE RESULTS.
TITHING, PUTTING GOD FIRST IS A DISCIPLINE. IT IS DETERMINING THAT YOU WILL DO WHAT THE LORD SAYS.
THE SECOND DISCIPLINE TODAY IS WATER BAPTISM.
OH MY, FIRST THE PREACHERS IS IN MY WALLET, NOW HE IS TRYING TO DROWN ME IN WATER.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL BE HOLDING A BAPTISMAL SERVICE AFTER THE MORNING SERVICE, I HOPE AFTER THE MESSAGE THAT WE WILL HAVE A FEW MORE INTERESTED.
WATER BAPTISM IS MORE THAN GETTING WET. SOME SPRINKLE, SOME DUNK, SOME SUBMERGE, WE AS A DENOMINATION BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS CLEAR THAT YOU SHOULD BE COMPLETELY SUBMERGED IN WATER.
JESUS TELLS US THAT IT IS A COMMAND THAT HE HAS GIVEN TO ALL BELIEVERS.
ACTS 2;38- PETER WITH HIS SERMON ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST TOLD THE BELIEVERS “REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YOU SHOULD RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT”
HE BRINGS A CUTTING EDGE MESSAGE , THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO- HE TELLS THEM REPENT (GET SAVED) AND THEN BE BAPTIZED.
ACTS 8:26-40 PHILLIP LEADING THE ETHIOPIAN EUNUCH TO CHRIST. PHILLIP LEADS HIM TO GOD THROUGH THE SCRIPTURES. THE EUNUCH ASKS PHILLIP- “WHAT IS HINDERING ME FROM BEING BAPTIZED? HE HAS FOUND GOD- HE WANTS TO GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF OBEDIENCE.
PHILLIP SAYS “IF YOU BELIEVE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, YOU MAY”
***TAKES HIM TO A BODY OF WATER, V 38- AND HE GAVE ORDERS TO STOP THE CHARIOT. THEN BOTH PHILLIP AND THE EUNUCH WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER AND PHILLIP BAPTIZED HIM.
JESUS HAD JOHN THE BAPTIST BAPTIZE HIM IN FULFILLMENT OF THE WORD.
JESUS WENT DOWN INTO THE WATER AND WHEN HE CAME UP THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD REST ON HIM, AND GOD THE FATHER SAID, “THIS IS MY SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED”
PETER SAYS REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED EVERYONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
THERE IS A BLESSING FROM GOD FOR BEING OBEDIENT- THE WATER IS JUST WATER, BUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM IS A PROMISED BLESSING.
BAPTISM IS A SPECIAL WAY OF GOD COMMUNICATING HIS LOVE TO US. WHEN WE RECEIVE HIS SAVING GRACE, IT IS NO ACCIDENT THAT HE CALLS US TO IDENTIFY WITH HIM BY BAPTISM TO MAKE IT REAL TO US.
ARE YOU STRUGGLING WITH YOUR PAST?
IT MAY BE BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T YET GIVEN THE PERSON YOU ONCE WERE A PROPER BURIAL.
WATER BAPTISM IS A POWERFUL REMINDER OF GOD’S GRACE . THE PERSON WE WERE BEFORE IS DEAD FOREVER, AND WE ARE RAISED WITH JESUS AS A NEW CREATION.
“THEREFORE IF ANY PERSON IS (INGRAFTED) IN CHRIST (THE LORD) HE IS A NEW CREATION, THE OLD, (PREVIOUS MORAL AND SPIRITUAL) HAS PASSED AWAY, BEHOLD THE FRESH AND NEW HAS COME 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17
ILLUSTRATION-
YOU GET SAVED- YOU NOW FOLLOW CHRIST
REPENT AND BE BAPTIZED
YOU FIND A BODY OF WATER- WE WILL GET IN
THE OLD YOU GOES DOWN UNDER THE WATER, THE NEW YOU RAISES UP AND GOD SAYS YOU ARE NEW CREATION
THAT’S GOD PROMISE
***I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE COME UP OUT OF THE WATER WITH SHOUTS OF JOY, CRYING TEARS OF JOY, AND BLESSED
***YOU ARE ONLY UNDER THE WATER FOR A MOMENT, AND WE WOULD NEVER LET ANYTHING HAPPEN TO YOU.
***MOST WESTERNERS (USA) TAKE BAPTISM FOR GRANTED, BUT FOR MANY IN THE WORLD THE ACT REQUIRES IMMENSE COURAGE. IN COUNTRIES LIKE NAPAL IT ONCE MEANT IMPRISONMENT. FOR SOVIET OR CHINESE OR EASTERN BLOC BELIEVERS, IT WAS LIKE SIGNING THEIR DEATH WARRANT.
A WEDDING IS AN OUTWARD SIGN THAT A PERSON IS MARRIED. CARMEN THIS WEEKEND, A MILITARY UNIFORM IS AN OUTWARD SIGN THAT A PERSON IS INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR BRANCH OF SERVICE.(MY SON TONY)
WATER BAPTISM IS, IN ESSENCE A FUNERAL. IT IS AN ACT OF FAITH IN WHICH WE TESTIFY , BOTH TO GOD AND THE WORLD, THAT THE PERSON WE WERE BEFORE IS DEAD AND BURIED, AND WE ARE RAISED AS A NEW CREATION IN CHRIST
“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”. ROMANS 6:4
*** AS YOU CAN SEE, YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO LOSE, AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN BY FOLLOWING JESUS IN WATER BAPTISM
“IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”
BAPTISM IS A SIMPLE , BUT PROFOUND ACT OF OBEDIENCE THAT WILL CARRY WITH YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.
GOD INITIATED WATER BAPTISM, NOT MAN
WATER BAPTISM IS SECONDARY TO SALVATION, IT IS NOT SALVATION, YOU MUST BE A BELIEVER AND OBEY TO BE BAPTIZED
WATER BAPTISM IS A BEGINNING NOT AN END.
IT IS OUR PUBLIC TESTIMONY OF THE BURIAL OF OUR OLD SELF, AND A DECLARATION OF YOUR NEW SELF BEING RAISED BY WHAT CHRIST DID FOR YOU ON THE CROSS.
ALTAR AND CLOSING:
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