A Disciple or Not.
Obedience Is Not An Option.
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:24-29
Sunday's message is clear from the scripture that Jesus spoke. Hear & Practice or Hear & Do Not Practice. Please go read Matthew chapters 5,6,7! The Sermon on The Mount are passages we can abide in order for us to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus and to live a life for Him that others can be affected by.
Everyone comes to an age of knowing right from wrong and chooses which one to act on. In Jesus' sermon, he guides us through a way to live that will be different on purpose. For example, Jesus tells us adultery starts in the heart by just looking or being angry can be considered murder. These are heart problems just like all sin and Jesus wants our heart! He can't have it if there is sin taking priority. We must hear what Jesus says and then live what Jesus says.
Let's not make an excuse of "I'm only human". For sure we are going to fail because we are imperfect and weak. All the more reason for us to work harder. Being a disciple takes effort. Maybe that's why we give into temptation because it's easy. Running away like Joseph when Potiphar's wife gave him an irresistible offer takes effort! Trusting God when you are called to a new thing that makes you nervous takes effort. Effort is a prayer life that seeks God consistently & first. (Matthew 6:33) Effort is getting into the Word to know God and his expectations, to know his will, to be encouraged, to know how to respond. More of God, less of us.
Being a Disciple or a Christian is the same thing just different words. Disciple isn't a word used for special people of the faith. You can't say "I'm a Christian, just not a Disciple." They both should refer to people who believe and follow Jesus. Studying these words we can see that Disciple is used around 250 times or more in the New Testament and Christian is used abut 3. Historically, the word Christian was being used for mockery of those of the faith and then as a religious label. The early church spoke of words like " disciple, brother, saints, sister, believer." Historically and culturally now, we can use both words. But Disciple is a deep, rich and active term. It emphasizes commitment and life transformation.
The difference between being with Jesus and without Jesus is simple... Are you doing what He says or not? Not just some things, but all things. Pray for God to point out anything in your life that you need to start doing for Jesus, as a Disciple.
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Matthew 7:24-29
Sunday's message is clear from the scripture that Jesus spoke. Hear & Practice or Hear & Do Not Practice. Please go read Matthew chapters 5,6,7! The Sermon on The Mount are passages we can abide in order for us to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus and to live a life for Him that others can be affected by.
Everyone comes to an age of knowing right from wrong and chooses which one to act on. In Jesus' sermon, he guides us through a way to live that will be different on purpose. For example, Jesus tells us adultery starts in the heart by just looking or being angry can be considered murder. These are heart problems just like all sin and Jesus wants our heart! He can't have it if there is sin taking priority. We must hear what Jesus says and then live what Jesus says.
Let's not make an excuse of "I'm only human". For sure we are going to fail because we are imperfect and weak. All the more reason for us to work harder. Being a disciple takes effort. Maybe that's why we give into temptation because it's easy. Running away like Joseph when Potiphar's wife gave him an irresistible offer takes effort! Trusting God when you are called to a new thing that makes you nervous takes effort. Effort is a prayer life that seeks God consistently & first. (Matthew 6:33) Effort is getting into the Word to know God and his expectations, to know his will, to be encouraged, to know how to respond. More of God, less of us.
Being a Disciple or a Christian is the same thing just different words. Disciple isn't a word used for special people of the faith. You can't say "I'm a Christian, just not a Disciple." They both should refer to people who believe and follow Jesus. Studying these words we can see that Disciple is used around 250 times or more in the New Testament and Christian is used abut 3. Historically, the word Christian was being used for mockery of those of the faith and then as a religious label. The early church spoke of words like " disciple, brother, saints, sister, believer." Historically and culturally now, we can use both words. But Disciple is a deep, rich and active term. It emphasizes commitment and life transformation.
The difference between being with Jesus and without Jesus is simple... Are you doing what He says or not? Not just some things, but all things. Pray for God to point out anything in your life that you need to start doing for Jesus, as a Disciple.
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