Traits of a focused Christian part three
Introduction-
We have been in a series called Traits of a focused Christian.
We have looked at three traits so far.
Trait #1- Joy
The joy of serving God
Joy of having a relationship with God.
“Making my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being in one spirit.”
Trait #2- Attitude of Christ
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ.”
Loving the things that Jesus loves.
Realizing that no church is perfect.
Knowing that God is working on all of us- none of us have arrived yet.
Trait #3- Worship
There is corporate worship that all of us need. We need each other and we need to worship together where God can bless us as we worship Him.
The need to worship individually. (prayer, praising.)
Acts 2:46-47
“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people; and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
I believe church is give and take and show and tell.
You begin to come to church to get and eventually you should be giving back. Showing the love of God and telling people of God’s love.
If you don’t tell people about Jesus who will?
Every day God is working on people.
Every day He desires for us to come into a relationship with Him and desires to take us deeper with Him.
That is where we pick it up today- the 4th trait is being a disciple.
Trait #4
Being a disciple
We ended last time with me asking us to be in prayer before the service on Sunday (Sat) being in prayer the morning of service (early Sunday) and just before we come together in the sanctuary. (10:45) Praying that God would do something amazing! Asking Him to allow our hearts to be tender and sensitive and open and ready to receive what He has for us.
Coming with right attitude, anticipation, joy in our heart.
Ready for worship
How many remembered to do that? You have to be intentional.
Discipleship is very much a part of a Christian’s life.
Defining Discipleship
Most people think discipleship is the telling of Jesus to others. That is a bye product of a heart serving God because we are disciples.
Disciples are followers of Christ, one who accepts the teachings of Christ and desires to be learning more.
Discipleship is the process of learning! We are told by the Lord to always be learning and then spreading His teachings.
That is why it doesn’t matter if you are a new believer or a seasoned Christian, you should be putting yourself in a position to be learning the teaching of Jesus.
Luke 6:46-6:49
“Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say? As for anyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid a foundation on rock. When a flood came the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”
Discipleship is the building of a foundation on Christ the rock. (Repeat)
Matt 7- “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Those are scary words, not because Jesus desires to keep us out of heaven, but because we have to make sure our hearts are right with God.”
Jesus goes on to say- “I never knew you” what did he mean by that? Of course He knows us. He knows everything about us.
Note their claims to Jesus
We prophesied in your name.
We cast out demons in your name.
We did signs and wonders in your name.
Because they did it for the wrong reasons.
They did it for self and not for the Lord.
It tells us that doing miracles does not necessarily mean that God is approving of the person that is doing the miracle.
Example-
Ministers who have done great things for the kingdom of God and then sin revealed in their lives.
Balaam, and God using Balaam’s donkey.
The sons of Sceva, Acts 19
Jesus calls us to follow Him.
When we make that decision to follow, we become disciples.
Disciples follow the teachings of Jesus and spread the teachings of Jesus.
Discipleship is the process of learning.
We are ever learning, a continual thing every day, keeping the focus on Him alone as savior and Lord.
I have been following the arrival of the Pope to America.
Security is tight for two reasons.
One is for his safety. Some would harm him if they could.
Second- to keep his followers from stampeding him and hurting him by loving him. Some break through and they desire that if they could only touch him. Only have him say a word over him.
They are willing to sit for hours and some for days to get a glimpse of him.
As a protestant believer, I think we can learn some lessons from that.
How hungry are you to hear God’s Word? How driven are we to be in God’s house? How much do we want to see God do a miracle?
I wonder if there was a fork in the road and we had to make a decision wither to go toward Jesus or your favorite rock star- which way would you go? If one way was Jesus and the other your favorite athlete, would you still follow Jesus?
That is why Jesus said
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
“My sheep hear my voice.”
We think we know actors and famous people because of interviews we hear or things that we read. We think we are a part of our favorite teams because we wear a jersey. We do not know them, we know a little about them. They certainly do not know us. Jesus is saying that if we are His disciples, we will follow Him and and hear to his teaching and spread His teaching.
Closing,
Being a disciple is an intentional act of your will with God at the controls of your life. Are you willing to do that? If the answer is yes, then you have to allow Him to begin the process. You have to put yourself in a position to learn and a position to teach what He is and will be teaching you.
If you will remember these 4 points of being a disciple, you will grow as a believer and you will help the kingdom of God grow as well.
1. Relationship factor
A growing relationship with the Lord will only come by intentional having an active relationship with the Lord. You cannot not communicate with the Lord and expect to grow. If you did not communicate with your spouse, what kind of relationship would you have? At best, a strained relationship.
2. Ministry Factor
You have to realize that each one of us has a responsibility to help those around us. It is team effort to build the kingdom of God and is not done by a few but by many. The body of Christ functions best when each person does their part.
3. Teaching factor
We learn the truth of God’s Word by many ways. Preaching, teaching, individual study, group study. Take any of those elements out and you are not learning up to full capacity. If that also, we have a responsibility to show others what we are learning and what God has shown us.
4. Evangelism Factor
Not all people are evangelistic by nature, but all of us can evangelize. Give you an example. Each one of us goes to different places and sees different people. God can use each one of us in different areas. There are places that a preacher will never be allowed in, but you will have opportunity. The biggest reason a person will come to church is because they are invited. You invite and you leave the results to God. If they come, you may have been a part of God working in their life. If they say no, it is not to be taken personal, you may get an opportunity again at another time.
How many are up for the challenge? I hope all of us. Amen.
