Character of a Disciple

Intro:  This is the year of discipleship.    

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-  ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

I.      Disciples left careers to follow Jesus

1.     They left there job, profession, career, livelihood to follow Jesus.

2.     Matthew 4:18–22.

a.     This calling was not a ordinary call, it was a holy calling.

·         2 Tim. 1:9  Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began

b.     God delights in using ordinary people.

c.       The lessons learned in life and occupation will prove valuable in serving Christ. The fishermen could use their experience in netting people for the Lord

d.     Genuine obedience is evidenced by immediacy or without delay.

e.      Don't think I've come to make life homly. I've come to cut—make a sharp knife-cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law—cut through these cozy domestic arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies.

f.       If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son or daughter over me, you don't deserve me. Matthew 10:37

II. Willingness to face persecution

1.     Acts 21:10–14.

a.     Agabus — a “prophet,” probably one of the seventy disciples of Christ. He prophesied at Antioch of an approaching famine (Acts 11:27, 28)

b.     Paul’s service for the Jews (symbolized by the belt) would result in his being captured by them.

c.      Would this stop you from going?

d.     Would you be ready, motived, enthuse, eager to face Harassment, maltreatment, bullying, hounding discrimination so that the will of God can be fulfilled in your life?  Church that is exzally what it’s going to take.

e.      How does that saying go, ‘If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.’ It sure feel a lot better when you are standing for The Truth.

f.       Jesus said remember the word that I said unto you, Jhn 15:20

III. Marks of disciple in service

          1.  Paul realized that there are always people who are looking for an excuse not to listen to the message of salvation, and if they can find that excuse in the inconsistent life of the preacher or believer, so much the better. So he reminds the Corinthians that he gave no offense in anything, that the ministry might not be blamed. The ministry here does not refer to some dignified, ecclesiastical office, but rather to the service of Christ.

           2.  2 Corinthians 6:3–13.

           3.  Rom 13:8  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

IV. Holy Spirit in life commitment or obligation

1.     2 Corinthians 3:7–8, 17-18, 4:1-4.

In Conclusion:

·        We are here to disciple the world. We should be reproducing just as Jesus came to show us.

·        What ever God has blessed you with, let that be a tool to win others to the Lord.

·        Each one of us should have someone we are discipling.

·        I pray that God will open your eyes so you can see who that person is.

·        If we are not reproducing why are we in the kingdom of God?

·        Church Jesus is coming back soon we need to be about our Fathers business.

·        Allowing the H.S. to use us and bear fruit that only He can.

How to live a successful life

How to live a successful life

Pro 4:4 He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live
There are 4 things we are going to draw from this scripture.

1. Taught
2. Retain
3. Keep
4. Live

I. Taught- to throw, to direct, teach, instruct

1. To live this life you must be willing to learn
2. Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
3. Mar 2:13 Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them.
4. Mar 4:2 Then He taught them many things by parables, and said to them in His teaching:
5. Mar 6:30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

II. Retain - to grasp, hold, support, attain, lay hold of, hold fast

1. Your body retains food until its process; you retain the Word of God to process or practice it. As you practice the Word it becomes a life style.
2. Pro 3:18 She [is] a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy [are all] who retain her.

a. This is the reason some Christians are not happy, they are not retaining the Word.

1. Pro 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low : but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit

a. Upholding the Word brings honor.
2. Isa 41:10 Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
a. Upholding the Word drives fear away.
3. Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth ; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles
a. When Gentiles see us upholding the Word of God they will see the result of making good decisions.
III. Keep- to keep, guard, observe, give heed

1. Luk 19:40 But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."

a. I don’t know about you but I don’t want anything crying out to God in my place
2. Jhn 14:15 -24"If you love Me, keep My commandments.
a. We respect our natural parents by doing what they tell us. We are known as good children when we do so.
b. Should we do any less for God?
3. Psa 119:33-34 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. ³⁴ Give me nderstanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
IV. Live- to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live for ever, be quickened, be alive,
be restored to life or health

1. Jhn 6:58 "This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."
2. Jhn 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
3. Act 17:28 "for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring.'
4. Psa 119:144 The righteousness of Your testimonies [is] everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live.
5. Pro 9:6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding.

Closing: Pro 4:4 He also taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart retain my words; Keep my commands, and live
Teachable spirit + Retaining the Word of God + Keeping it unpolluted = A SUCCESSFUL LIFE

FAITH IS AGGRESSIVE

FAITH IS AGGRESSIVE

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Intro.

1. Aggressive meaning violent, hostile, destructive, forceful, insistent and uncompromising.
2. Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

• suffereth violence -  (to use force, to apply force, to force, inflict violence on)

     3.   John 10:10 says The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:                   

• This is not a life for passive christian, the kindom is here and it need to be seen in you child of God.

3.      A believer cannot be half-hearted, lacking spirit or energy. He cannot be complacent, indulgent, and at ease. He cannot expect to just slip into heaven. There has to be a real interest and desire, a vigorous stirring and struggle, a diligent seeking after God to enter heaven:

4.      Hebrews 11:6    "He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and...diligently seek Him"

5.      2 Tim. 2:3-4   Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier"

·         Listen to this; in this walk of faith you must not allow anything from the outside stop you nor anything from the inside stop you. (your own reasoning) 

·         Listen to this now; in your on ability you can not please God.

                  ·         The only way to please God is by faith
                  ·         So stop looking at your own ability and trust God’s Word