Bethel Encounter Discipleship March 1 2015

Bethel Church--Encounter

Bethel Church--EncounterTrue DiscipleshipFollow MeIn Week 4 of SeriesMarch 1, 2015True Discipleship: Review3 weeks highlights--Pastor Rob covered:Youre not a Christian just because: prayer, raising hand, jersey, service, etc. Heart change.Not all who think theyre Christians are.Christian = disciple. Dying to self. Following hard afterbecoming like the teacher. No neutralgrowing or regressing. Hard life.True disciples endure--most abandoned Jesus. Eternal vs temporal confusion.2

OBEDIENCE?Its hardDo I have to?Whats the cost to disobey?

But dont want to disappoint OBEDIENCE?No funDo thisdo thatBig tug to disobey

But guess I should obeyToniteAdding Another PieceTrue Discipleship: ObedienceEndureDie to selfPast prayer

Raising handTeacher pupilTonites RoadmapWhat does the bible say about obedience?What motivates people to obey?How can I desire to obeyand really do it?

Many versesObedience 1 of 2Goand make disciples of all nationsteaching them to obey all I commanded you (Matt. 28:19). Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and do not do the things which I say? (Luke 6:46)I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse -- the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God; the curse if you disobey the commands (Deut. 11:26) And they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient. (Exod. 24:7)The Lord punished Israel because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed His covenant(2 Ki 18:12)

Many versesObedience 2 of 2Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Mat. 7:21)Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says (James 1:22).Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. (Rom. 6:16)Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice(1 Sam. 15:22)This is love for God: to obey his commands (1 John 5:3)

No surprise heretrue disciples must obey.Most understand thisfind it reasonable.

Duh, so the bible repeatedly says disciples must obey.

Yeah but whats our motive to obey?Some Motivations To ObeyOBEYOBEDIENCEPAYBACKREWARDEARNINGFEARDUTYLOVE

GLORIFYING GOD PLEASING GOD3 Motives Displeasing to GodEarning = obeying to get right with God. Legalism.Gratitude to God is greatbut payback displeasing.I worked harder than any of them (obedience)yet not I but Gods grace in me (1 Cor. 15:10).God needs nothing from anyonebut He gives all. (Acts 17:25). Gods grace empowers my work/obedience. So, the more I obey, the more I owe Him. Cant payback.3. Beware of practicing your righteousness before othersyou will have no reward from your Father...(Matt. 6:1)

3 OK Motivesfor a whileReward: from man or God; bad or good. From man: work for pay ok. For IOU or praise bad.From God good. Egs; pray secretly, God repays (Matt. 6:4). Bring full tithe (Mal. 3:10). But God never owes.Fear: of man or God; bad or good.Fear of hurting relationship, reputation, jail, etc.Fear of God beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7)God, wanting to showHiswrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering (Rom.9:22)Duty: to God or man typically good. When our heart is cold, helps us do right thing.

MotiveDegreeDegreeBest Motive to ObeyLoveLoving Jesus MUST result in obeying:John 14:15: If you love me, keep my commands.14:21: Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.14:23: If anyone loves me, he will keep my word.14:24: Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.

What Are Jesus Commands?In Johns gospel, Jesus has almost no moral commands. Rather, He oft says: Receive Me; Trust in Me; Follow Me and Abide in Me.In rest of bible, many moral commands.Some external: Egs; no lying, stealing, murder, etc. Many internal: Egs; Dont lust, dont stay angry, slow to judge, etc.Sin starts in the heart; Out of the hearts of men proceeds all evilAll contained within: Love God with all you have and your neighbor as yourself.Only those born again desire to and are able to do these. The Law cannot help us obeyit only exposes that we are unable to obey it. (Rom. 7:7)

What Love Motivation Looks LikeLove vs. other motives: when the heart is captured and Spirit-led, joyful obedience and sacrifice cant be helped (even thru tears):A new girl/boy friend vs. a waning one.A parents love for ill child vs. the duty of a nurse.A followers love for a great leader who puts their peoples best interests before his own.He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Phil. 2:8). Jesus despised the cross, saw its joy and prayed Your will be done-- not mine.

JesusOur Model for ObedienceMy meat is to do the will of Him who sent me (John 4:34).the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. (John 5:19)I can do nothing on my own. .. I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. (John 5:30)Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things He sufferedand He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation (Hebr. 5:8-9)For we do not have ahighpriestwho is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebr. 4:15)

15:10; If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments and abide in His love. Johns definition of loveTo John, love means: passion, strong desire, treasuring, seeking, affection of the heart. We see this from: people loved the darkness rather than light (3:19) or they loved the glory of man more than the glory of God (12:43).God created us passionate joy-seekers. This is how intensely we are to love Christ--because He is infinitely beautiful and satisfying.

Whats the Secret to Obedience?Paul once hated Christ--but became greatest faith contender ever. Obeyed Spirit in going to Jerusalem-knowing persecution awaited. God rewired his heart to live for Christ (joyful life)and not me-me-me (miserable life). God literally changes our hearts/desires/affections over time: But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. (Rom. 6:17).The gospel/Spirit changes us to have compassion for others. Anyone in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone--the new has come. (5:17).. Without God, only superficial, self-help changenot death and new life. work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure(Phil. 2:12-13).The love of Christ controls usbecause we have concluded this: that one has died for alland those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him (2 Cor. 5:14)

Obedienceits all goodObeying Godall upside and no downside:Brings glory to God (John 15:8).Its the best for us. God made us and knows what will satisfy us the most (Himself). Dont we want maximum joy and satisfaction?Shows that what matters to God matters to us.We dont break intimacy with God (huge reason Jesus did not sin in temptation) and invoke Hebr. 12:6.

Anatomy of SinWhy we DisobeyIf obedience is all good, why do we sin?We are blind to Gods beauty. Something else (an idol) has captured our highest affection/desire/passion. We dont fear God enough.OK to stain Christs name and lose our testimony.The flesh/world/satan cause sin. God always provides escape-we oft choose sin (though it doesnt rule saved)We do not abide in Christ thru reading, prayer, fellowship, discussions, etc.embers grow cold.DIS-OBEDIENCE

GLORIFYING & PLEASING SELF DISPLEASING GODFLESH (nothing good dwells in me; this body of death-Rom. 7)SATAN (the god of this world has blinded the minds- 2 Cor. 4:4)WORLD (friendship with the world is hostility toward God-James 4:4)PRIDEEVIL DESIRES

GREEDLUSTSSpiritual Cardiac ProblemsWarning Flag IndicatorsRight track indicatorsI have besetting sin I dont admit; I dont want to kill sin; dont see as big deal.The corrective to all these is NOT to:-Try harder.-Be belittled and shamed.-Self-flagellate and just hate myself.

Rather, consider these:-Know God created you for joy/happiness-Know He is the ultimate joy. His character is amazing and worthy of highest love.-The Spirit will convict you of sinand enable you to actually obey.-The spiritual disciplines are huge: bible reading, prayer, fellowship, etc. I dont struggle much with sin because truth be told, I really do want to do it my way. I dont really care about Gods way.I dont battle much against sin because I know God and others will forgive me. Ill deal with punishment if and when caught.Im not battle ready against sin: sporadic, brief bible reading, no weak prayer, but I dont really care. And Im lazy.I simply dont have an appetite for God related stuffeven though I know it would help me.Love for Christ = best motivatorSigns Jesus has my heart:Indicators of love / affectionObedience AidsI think about Him oftenDaily bible reading. Start discussions. I like to hear/learn about HimHang with believers. Read God stuff.I love to please HimLove our neighbors. Care same things.I am jealous about His nameDefend Christ. Outspokenly love Him.I like to talk to Him- see HimPray without ceasing. Long to see Him