3-D CHRISTIANITY
Adding Depth To Your Wak of Faith
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever looked at a paintin that was unrealistic and 2 dimensional? They fail to communicate depth and look fake and superficial. THis is especially the case when children draw pictures. Everything seems to bhe suspended on the page and all the objects are 2 dimensional and flat. THat is because the children have yet to learn how to communicate depth in their work.
This is a problem with young Christians as well. WE have yet to learn how to communicate the depth of our fait and so we seem to be superficial and lacking depth. Our faith, to the world, looks very unrealistic and fake.
A good artist will use various techniqhues to create a sense of depth in his work. This draws the observer into his heart and work. It seems real and engaging. THis is what we must do as God’s people. We must discover how we can truly "draw" others into God’s Kingdom.
Ephesians 2 tells us that we are saved by grace through faith. Then Paul goes on to say that we are His (God’s) workmanship created in Christ Jess unto good works. We are the work of God. We are his painting, if you will. We are the artwork that he uses to invite the world into His Kingdom.
Why else are we here. Consider: Why didn’t God just beam us home the moment we wee saved? Why not that day, or even that week. You may say, to tell others about our experience. This is true, but I could certainly tell everyone I know w/in a week of beingsaved. So why the wait? Because we are hids workmanship. We are to show forth the praises and glory of God on earth that God’s truth and holiness may be seen and admired by all.
We are here as Ambassadors For Christ - according to the Apostle Paul. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation. Let me ask you, who wants to be reconciled to a God whose peopleare fakes and phonies and superficial? No one wants to join a bunch of 2 dimensional stick people!!!
Here is our problem. Much of the modern day church is superficial, self help, glad handing, back slapping, mask wearing art. The early church found great success and growth, but did so by becoiming true disciples of Christ.
I have titled todays message: 3-D CHRISTIANITY.
Read TEXT: LUKE 9:23-26
the Goals of today’s message:
1. To reveal the calling of God that we may clearly see our despertate need tp surrender ourselves wholly rto the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. To realize that True Discipleship is costly, but effective.
3. To recognize the depth of ourrelationship with Jesus Christ.
The Blessings of True dIscipleship:
1. Our WALK with God is more REAL.
2. The WORK of God is moe REWARDING
3. The WORD of GOd is more RENEWING
4. Our WITNESS for God gets more RESPONSE.
5. Our WORSHIP of GOd is more RELEVANT.
I may cover hese things at a later time. Today I want you to see hw you can become a True Disciple of Christ
To Be a True Disciple One Must
1. DENY HIMSELF
(Verse 23a)
A.What does it mean to deny ones self?
B. Some think it means to deny yourself of necessities.
C. Some think it means to deny yourself of pleasures.
D. Martin Luther certainly discovered that you cannoyt make yourself worthy of God’s Favor
E. Neither of these is correct. The truth is God will meet your needs (see Matthew 5-7) and he intends that you have a life of joy and fulfilment. Denying yourself the things you need or walking around refusingto have fun and enjoy life is NOT the self denial that Christ speaks of!
F. Jesus is calling us to lay aside our SELFISHNESS
1.Ambitions
2.Desires
3.Plans
4.Habits, etc.
Peoplewho are obsessed with possessions and material gain are shallow and superficial. Ofthese, Christians are he worst!!Christians who have fallen into this "Worldly" trap are simple being CONFORMED to the image of this world, pressed into the world’s mold. (See Romans 12:1-2) These worldly Christians are simply "Stickmen floating on a page."
We are to Present ourselves to God - (ROMANS 12:1-2)
This is giving ourselves up, yielding ourselves, denying our own selves. I am not my own!
To Be a True Disciple One Must
2. DIE DAILY
(Verse 23b)
A.What does it mean to take up your cross?
B.To take up your cross is to become a living sacrifice.
C.Why must it be daily?
D.This sacrifice is continual. Christ made one sacrifice for all and then sat down at the right hand of the father. His sacrifice is continual and affectual for the sanctifying of God’s people. We realize this sanctification as we continually offer ourselves to God as a living sacrifice. This continually and progressively brings is into a greater awareness and participation in God’s Holiness. Through this offering we learn to sacrifice more and more of ourselves to God.
E.to die daily is spiritual not physical.
Let me ask you,... The life you now live... WHOSE IS IT? You may quote Paul and tell me that you are crucified with Christ neverheless you live, yet not you but Christ lives in you. REALLY? Whose Life Is It? Perhaps you would uote Paul and say that you die daily and that you are crucified to the world and the world is crucified to you...REALLY NOW? WHOSE LIFE IS IT? CHRIST’S YOU SAY?
Then take just a moment to look at your life. Is it really Christ’s? Does it really belong to him? Is it really he who is living your life? IS IT HIS???
Look under your mattress. Look in the top shelf of your closet, and in your underwaear drawer. IS IT CHRIST’S? Are those thoughts his? Are those words his? Are those plans His? Are you really living His Will or yours? Are those pills his? Are those trophies his? Is that six pack in the garage refrigerator his? Look into your checkbook register and tell me whose money that is. Look into your closet and tell me , Are tgose revealing clothes his?
THe only way to overcome youreslf and be free from sin is DEATH. God calls us to Die to ourselves. Romans 6 rteaches that Baptism is identifying with the death burial and resurrection of Christ. Why? So that we may walk innewness of life. Paul says here, "How can we who are dea to sin live any longer therein?
We must reckon ourselves dead to sin and the world and alive unto God! We must say Lord life is not worth living if it doesn’t please you. I want to purpose except yours. I lay down my life and I give you all I am.
To Be a True Disciple One Must
3. DETERMINE TO FOLLOW JESUS
(Verse 23c)
A. More than a decision. So many make "decisions" but never surrender themselves.You can decide a lot of things but never do it!
B. You must purpose in your heart to follow Jesus.
C.Following him must become your one true objective in life. The one thing that determines all that you do.
D. To follow him is to be as he was in this world.
1. To Love
2. To Heal
3. To Help
4. To Share
5. To Be Light
E. Surrender yourself to the Awesome power of God’s Grace.
F. Devote yourself to the purpose of God. Follow him to the end of the earth.
It is easy to walk on ailse, to kneel at a bench, to repeat a prayer. What God is looking for is a true discpole, smoeone who surrenders it all.
INVITATION:
Will you follow...
When it’s not popular?
When no one else will?
When it doesn’t make sense to you?
When it cost you your reputation?
When it cost you your friends and family?
When it cost you your livelihood?
When it costs you your life long dream?
Song: I have Decided To Follow Jesus.
