November 3, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple......" Luke 9:23

Perhaps it makes sense to define terms before we go much further in our devotional thoughts. Quite simple, "What is a disciple?' or "What does a disciple look like?" or "What does it mean to be a disciple?"

I am sure Jesus had a specific idea in mind when He called them to follow Him. I am sure the men he called were clear on what they were signing up for.

Do you consider yourself a disciple of Jesus? Are you clear on what it means to be a disciple? Don't you think that would be an important thing to know? Shouldn't you be clear on the concept?

Let me see if I can clarify it for you:

Being a disciple involves relationship - a disciple is a lover.

If being a disciple means anything it means being in a relationship with the one you choose to follow. You do tend to follow what you love and you grow in love as you follow.

To be in relationship with Jesus, or anyone for that matter, you must have constant communication with Him. For a disciple that means prayer. Recall that Jesus didn't teach His twelve disciples to preach but He did teach them to pray.

To be in relationship you must also be committed. Commitment requires obedience. You cannot be a disciple if you are not committed to completely obeying Jesus.

Being a disciple involves recognition - a disciple is a learner.

A disciple must learn and adapt to the beliefs of the one he is following. So, a disciple of Jesus must be a learner of Jesus' teachings and truths. And a disciple doesn't learn just to acquire knowledge and information, he learns for life-change.

Being a disciple involves reproduction - a disciple is a leader.

Thirdly, a disciple that loves his master and learns from his master will eventually live like his master. As he lives like his master he will look like his master. When you live like a leader and look like a leader, others will begin to follow you. A disciple not only conforms to the life-style of his master but he will influence others to live like Jesus.

So, what is a disciple of Jesus? One who loves Jesus and learns from Jesus until he looks and lives like Jesus. A disciple follows until he leads.

Let me ask you, do you love Jesus? How well are you obeying Him? How much are you committed to Him? Are you in regular communication with Him?

Are you learning from Jesus? Are you reading His Word and meditating on it? Is your thinking guided by His truths?

Are you leading others to Jesus? Are others following Him because of you?

If you consider youself a disciple and if you call yourself by that name - love Him, learn of Him, and lead others to Him.

November 2, 2010

"Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple....." Luke 9:23

One day a boy’s mother decided she would make hot buttered biscuits as long as her son could eat them. He loved biscuits and always complained that he never got enough. He ate and ate and ate, and she kept pulling them out of the stove. Finally she looked around and saw him sitting there looking sort of green. "What’s wrong, son, don’t you want some more biscuits?"He answered sickishly, “No ma’am, I don’t even want the ones I’ve got."You may get what you want, but you may not want what you’ve got after you’ve gotten it! Make sure your desires are in line with God’s will. Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, PastorLife.

What do you want?

Really, what do you want?

Knowing what you want is part of the battle. Wanting what you have is part of it. And the biggest piece is knowing what you need and wanting that!

Jesus said that if you are going to be His disciple you must WANT to follow Him. Discipleship starts with desire. He wants you to want Him! He doesn't need any hesitant, half-hearted or conflicted followers. Those type of followers don't help Him nor do they help themselves.

Discipleship begins with "want to". Want to begins with "need to".

Do you have a desire to follow Jesus? Is it something you need to do.

Why?

Everyone follows someone. Who you follow determines where you will end up. Where do you want be at the end of your journey? Follow the one who is going in that direction.

When Jesus gives the call to follow Him He is calling those who want to go where He is leading. His destination is Heaven. Is that what you want? Is that where you want to end up?

Know what you are. Know what you want to be. Know where you are. Know where you want to go. Knowing those important facts will determine who you should want to follow.

November 1, 2010

"Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after me......." Luke 9:23a

I am so encouraged to read the call of Jesus to those who would desire to be disciples!

Notice whom He addesses:



"He said to them ALL".

"If anyone will......"

Anyone can be a follower of Jesus Christ. You don't have to be wealthy or well educated or well adjusted. You just have to be willing! Consider this story from Brooklyn Tabernacle, a great church in metropolitan New York City:

Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service with many people coming forward. The counselors were talking with these people. As I was sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, disheveled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?” We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here’s a fellow probably wanting some money for more wine.” He walked up. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell like I’d never smelled in my life. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t inhale facing him. I asked him, “What’s your name?” “David.” “How long have you been on the street?” “Six years.” “How old are you?” “Thirty-two.” He looked fifty- hair matted; front teeth missing; wino; eyes slightly glazed. “Where did you sleep last night, David?” “Abandoned truck.” I keep in my back pocket a money clip that also holds some credit cards. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I’ll give him some money. I won’t even get a volunteer. They are all busy talking with others. Usually we don’t give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.” I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me! Forgive me! Please forgive me. I am so sorry to represent You this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and You send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!” Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell. Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford. A year later David got up and talked about his conversion to Christ. The minute he took the mic and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter we ordained David. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy preacher.” We can get so full of ourselves.

The call to discipleship is to "all" or to "anyone who will". That means even people like David can follow Jesus! Or, people like you and me.

October 31, 2010

HAPPILY EVER AFTER”

Week Seven – “Living Like Heaven” II Peter 3:11-14

A pastor visited an older man. The pastor urged the man, “Friend, at you’re your age you should be thinking about the hereafter.” He replied, “Oh, Pastor, I do all the time. No matter where I am – in the living room or upstairs, or in the kitchen or downstairs in the basement – I ask myself, “what am I hereafter?”

The hereafter DOES matter! It matters forever but the hereafter ALSO matters in the “here and now”!

Have you heard that expression, “He is so heavenly minded he is of no earthly good!” IS THAT POSSIBLE?

If I have been successful in presenting this series I should begin to see some positive changes in your attitudes and actions as a result of your new focus on eternity.

C.S. Lewis said, “It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one.”

Pastor Joe Stowell, of Moody Church in Chicago, wrote, “When we begin to believe in the reality of the other side, we start behaving differently on this side.”

I understand how easy it is to get distracted and weighed down with the demands of every day life and I know how the squeaky wheel is the one that usually gets the grease………

Neither does the Great Apostle, Peter. So, he gives some very wise and godly advice on how godly people should live. Let’s have that vital discussion this morning!

I. Living Earnestly, V. 11b

After six weeks of studying eternity, how many of you would agree eternity is important? How many would say it is important to know where you will go?

If the “ever after” is important, what does that mean for our “here and now?”

Let me ask you this, if you received a letter or an email from a credible source telling you that at noon tomorrow they would come to your address with a high tech nuke weapon and vaporize everything on your property, would that impact what you did today?

Essentially, that is what Peter is asking, “How they should behave knowing that their stuff is all going to be destroyed.”

Listen to his advice:

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be…..”

Good question, “Right?”

What manner of person OUGHT you to be = INDEBTED TO BE

This implies an indebtedness – “If you want Heaven you are indebted or obligated to holy and Godly living”

So, let’s take a closer look at the manner in which we should be living:

The great Bible-teacher and pastor, John McArthur writes, “Holy conduct refers to action, godliness refers to attitude. Holy conduct refers to that which rules my behavior, and godliness refers to that which rules my heart. And so Peter is saying what kind of person ought you to be in heart and in behavior, in motive and in action, in attitude and in duty.”

HOLY = PURE = Uncontaminated By The World

I John 3:3 says, “And everyone who has this hope purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

It just makes sense doesn’t it? If you are serious about spending your “ever after” in a holy place you should be allowing God to create in you holy attitudes, motives and behavior?

GODLINESS = “WORSHIP” and does not simply refer to what one does for an hour on Sunday morning but what one does every day in all his ways to add value to eternity. LIVING LIFE = WORSHIP YOU LIVE TO WORSHIP!

HOW DO I DO THIS? HOW DO I LIVE A HOLY LIFE – A PURE LIFE?

HOW DO I LIVE EACH DAY AS AN ACT OF WORSHIP?

(EXPLAIN SANCTIFICATION)

And this is what Paul meant in Romans 12:1-2………

People who are living for Heaven and focused on eternity live holy and godly lives! SANCTIFIED LIVES. They live earnestly for God!

II. Living Expectantly, Vv. 12-14a

Here in these verses Peter uses the phrase “looking for” three times. This is significant as it describes the attitude and the urgency Christians should have as they live with an eternal perspective. If you are looking and preparing for an eternity with God in Heaven, shouldn’t you “look forward” to that?”

The verb that is used in the original language translated “Looking for” or “Looking forward” - is phrased in such way that is refers to a person’s habit or lifestyle. This is to be a constant characteristic of godly people.

V. 12 – “Looking “ for the coming of the Lord”
V. 13 – “Looking” for the new heaven and new earth”
V. 14 – “Looking” forward to these things”

(LOOKING FORWARD TO VACATION) (LOOKING FORWARD TO HOLIDAYS)

We look forward to what we love! We look forward to what we are invested in. Our expectations shape our attitudes, actions, hopes and values!

III. Living With Excellence, V. 14b

So, how should we be as a result of living earnestly and expectantly? How do we know we are prepared?

Good Questions, Eh? Peter gives three good answers: Pay Attention!

“SPOTLESS” - This refers to our morality – (See I John 1:7-9)

“BLAMELESS” - This refers to our motives

”Let your hearts therefore be blameless and wholly true to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as today.” I Kings 8:62


”Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.” Psalm 19:13


"May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” I Thessalonians 3:13


“FOUND IN PEACE” – YOUR MENTALITY


The ultimate evidence that you are living EARNESTLY and EXPECTANTLY and with EXCELLENCE is that you are in peace about your “Ever After”. Everything you own or hold dear could be dissolved tomorrow and you would be at peace!

If you want to secure your “HAPPILY EVER AFTER” - LIVE LIKE HEAVEN!

EARNESTLY – IN HOLINESS – LIVING A LIFE OF WORSHIP.

EXPECTANTLY – Are interested and invested in eternity?

WITH EXCELLENCE – How are you morally? How are your motives?


Imagine you are at this great party. You are having the time of your life! All the “beautiful people” are there. The food is fantastic and the music is rocking and you hope the evening never ends.

But, you are interrupted by your brother, who finds you in the crowd. He informs you that you need to go home right now – there is an emergency. You are upset that he has bothered you and you don’t really want to go. But you politely dismiss yourself and leave.

Still annoyed, he takes you to your house. When you walk in all the lights come on and a room full of people yell, “Surprise!” You look all around and there are all your family and loved ones. They have thrown a party in your honor and you are the guest!

You feel loved! You feel honored! You realize that this is the ultimate party because you are with the people you love the most! The party your left can’t compare to this one!

That is how life is for the one who is prepared for Heaven!

You are enjoying and abundant life and when that gets interrupted your go to and eternal life!

EVERYONE HAS AN “EVER AFTER”

YOUR “EVER AFTER “ IS DETERMINED BY YOUR “HERE AND NOW”


SHOULD I BE MORE FOCUSED ON HEAVEN?


AM I LIVING IN HOLINESS?


DOES MY LIFE REFLECT GODLY WORSHIP?


YOU CAN’T LIVE LIKE HELL AND EXPECT TO GO TO HEAVEN!


ONLY HEAVENLY LIVING WILL GET YOU TO HEAVEN!

Ocotber 30, 2010

"So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." II Peter 3:14

There are three great qualities that mark those who are prepared for eternity. Peter mentions them here:

The morality - "spotless"

Those who want to spend a happy ever after in Heaven make sure they are living spotless lives. Spotless means that there are no unconfessed sins in their lives. They understand the truth of John's statement in I John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."

It is possible to live a spotless life by walking in the truth and living in obedience. By walking in truth and obedience you will avoid many sins and the moment you do sin the Holy Spirit will convict you of your sin and you can repent of it. When you repent the blood of Christ cleanses the spot from your life.

The motives - "blameless"

Blameless means that your motives are pure and you do not commit intentional, willful sins. Your hearts desire is to please and honor God. You are entirely commited to pleasing God. When you do sin it is because of a momentary flare up of your selfish will or a moment of weakness of the flesh.

People who are hoping for Heaven have surrendered their will to God and consecrated themselves to serving Him. They walk in the Spirit and do their best to overcome the flesh.

The mentality - "peaceful"

Heaven bound people know that they are spotless and blameless because they have peace in their spirit. God has given them a spirit of power and of love and a sound mind. He has sent their hearts in perfect peace because they have fixed their mind on Him.

They have no fear of the judgment and they have fellowship with God and know that all is well. Also, because they love God they are committed to living in fellowship with their brothers.

Heaven bound people live godly lives in the here and now. They live spotless, blameless and peaceful lives.

How are you measuring up?

October 29, 2010

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." II Peter 3:11-14

Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in America. Like most of our holidays it melds the sacred with the pagan and morphs into the worst of both.

Christians never quite know what to do with Halloween. Do we celebrate it or not? What message are we sending when we celebrate it? What message should we send? Should we just ignore it?

As I wrap up this seven week series on "Happily Ever After?" let me offer some observations on Halloween from the perspective of this study.

First, death is scary.

God wired us for life. Death was never part of His perfect plan for us. It came as the result of sin by Adam and Eve. Therefore, death became God's enemy. But because of God's mercy and grace and because He is absolutely sovereign He conquered sin and death through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus!

Because of what Jesus did, death has become less frightening. But still, death usually comes as a result of pain and suffering. Not only is death painful but it is lonely. It is unfamiliar because life is all we have known. Death separates us from our loved ones.

Having said all this, death is still scary and it holds our human race hostage to fear.

Second, spirits are spooky!

Fear and humor have a common thread, there must be a kernel of truth in each for them to work. For example, there was a time when you worried about the monsters under your bed because you believed they existed. Once you understood there are no monsters that fear evaporated.

The spirit world DOES exist! It is every bit as real as the physical world of sight and sound and senses. In fact, it is MORE real because the spirit world exists eternally. You and I will spend more time in that world than we will in this one.

Spirits are all around us all the time. Angels guard us and minister to us and demons oppose us. But they ARE NOT the spirits of dead people. When a person dies his spirit goes straight to heaven or hell. There are no dead people "stuck" between this world and the next. That is the myth that propogates all the spooky stories. The spirits that surround us are angels and demons (fallen angels). Angels and demons are very real, very powerful and very active. While they are creative beings just like us, they were created as spirits rather than human beings. When you or I die we do not become angels or, God forbid, demons. Once you die and go to your eternal destination then your will be surrounded by one or the other and you will see them and interact with them.

Spooked out yet? Don't be scared! Just be prepared! The most powerful spirit is the Holy Spirit and He dwells in believers.

Show up Sunday to find out how you can prepare for a "Happy Ever After" and be sure that you spend eternity with the right sort of spirits!

October 28, 2010

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives." II Peter 3:11

The most beautiful place I have ever been is Lake Tahoe in the High Sierras on the California and Nevada border. I would love to go back there some day.

If I aspire to return to Tahoe and I tell all my friends that I want to go back their, but then if I make reservations for a hotel in Miami Beach and buy an airline ticket for Miami, what would people think?

At best they would be a bit confused! They would assume that I am confused. They would probably be right. It IS a mixed message.

What sort of a message are you sending when you say you want to go to Heaven but you can display attitudes and behaviors that do not reflect Heaven?

That is essentially the question Peter asks of these saints. In essence the question he poses is, "How can ou think you are going to Heaven if are living like hell?"

Logically, how can you believe you are destined for a holy place when you are living an unholy life? If getting to Heaven involves a personal relationship with a Holy God, how can you expect to maintain that relationship if you are living an unholy life? Why would you want to spend eternity in a holy place when you aren't comfortable living a godly life?

To get to the destination you desire you must get on the right road and move in the right direction. The road to Heaven is the road to a holy and godly life. A life like that can only be lived in the power of the Holy Spirit in fellowship with the Holy God.

Is that the road you are on? Is that the direction you are headed?