David Blythe
June 11, 2008

Luke Chapter 9 verses 23-26
I want to begin tonight by asking “What does it mean to be a Christian?”

And I know, the answer to that can bring about many different thoughts and responses

Some believe they are Christian because they live in the USA – a Christian nation

Others believe they are Christian because they are not Muslim, Hindu, or Atheist

Some believe they are a Christian because they were baptized as a baby

Others believe it is because they keep a certain set religious rules
1. You go to church on Sunday – preferably twice
2. You don’t drink – or smoke
3. You don’t swear
4. You maintain sexual integrity – and lead a decent life

Some believe they are a Christian because they do good – acts of charity – treating people with dignity and respect

We find in the scriptures that Jesus never talked about Christians – the term “Christian” was not used until long after Jesus ascended to heaven

It wasn’t until ACTS 11 that the people of God were called Christians in the city of Antioch

It was a name – a title given by the people in that city to those who were followers of Christ

Jesus doesn’t talk about Christians – He talks about disciples
He came and He called people to become disciples – He spent years teaching His followers what it meant to be a disciple

And before He ascended to heaven he called upon His disciples to go out and make disciples of others

So a Christian is a disciple of Christ

And to answer my opening question “What is a Christian” – you must look at and answer the question’ “What is a disciple”

A disciple is someone who follows – someone who adheres to the teachings of what or who he is following – they are a student

As in Jesus day and even now – disciples are commonplace

Many religions and religious leaders have disciples

A disciple chooses his master and then spends time learning and trying to exemplify the master in his/her life

The point of discipleship is becoming like the master

When we read in the book of Mark CHAPTER ONE – the calling of the first disciples –

There are three key words – REPENT –BELIEVE– FOLLOW

He calls His disciples to Repent – To Believe the good news – and He calls them to Follow Him

So tonight we are going to look at the three calls from Jesus

And at the same time begin a series on choosing the path of discipleship

For the next several weeks we are going to look at the qualities exemplified in people who are called by Christ

You see – Those who are marked by Jesus – those who are disciples of His – are a people cut from a different cloth than this world

We are a people who are called to a higher standard – destiny – and purpose

And in the weeks ahead – we will look at why we are:
• A people of Love
• A people who Serve
• A people who Worship
• And a people who Give

But tonight we are going to look at this calling we have as disciples – and what Jesus has called us to do – TO REPENT – To BELIEVE – AND TO FOLLOW

Let’s begin by looking at the first call – REPENT

Remember – John the Baptist was out in the wilderness preparing the way for Jesus – by teaching about the coming Messiah and calling all to REPENTANCE

Well Now – Jesus comes and says the time has come – the Kingdom of God is near – repent and believe the good news

According to Jesus the 1st step of discipleship is to repent

So what does the word repent indicate?

Well, we naturally understand it to mean acknowledging sin in our life and asking for forgiveness of that sin

But repentance also has another meaning – it means doing a U turn

With repentance – comes an expectation for a change in behavior

There are two Greek words used to denote repentance in the NT and you need to really absorb this and dwell upon it:

Meta-melomai – Change of mind – change of heart
Meta-noeo – To change one’s life and purpose as a result of new knowledge

So repentance generates not just a contrite heart – but it generates and demands change

As we are forgiven from our sins we likewise turn away from our sinful ways

We can no longer continue to live the same – we turn away from the former things

We stop living for ourselves and as we discussed last week – we starve the flesh man and begin to feed the Spirit man

So we stop serving ourselves and begin to serve God

We often misunderstand this thing called repentance

We view it as a “right turn” instead of a “U turn” – we say OK God I am sorry and now I will behave a little better that in the past

And then we try and live by that list of rules I mentioned earlier – but that is not what REPENT means

Repent doesn’t men to try harder – nor does it mean to turn more to what is right according to our religious law

To repent means to do a U Turn – when I repent I turn my life completely around from myself and towards God

Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Now Jesus wasn’t calling us to leave our families – he was trying to illustrate what making a U turn means

And that is making Jesus the very focus of your life

A disciple should be so focused on Jesus – that everything else should be of secondary importance

Let me give you an example that most of you can understand – falling for someone

Anyone in here who has fallen head over heels for another person understands this concept

How your focus can be laser beamed right at the very one you have been smitten by – with love

It seems – nothing else matters – you go through your day thinking about this person and how you desire just to see them again

A disciple of Christ’s focus is upon Him – growing and learning – and desiring more of God in their life

If the only time you think about Jesus is when you walk through these doors or when you are in trouble and need a quick answer to prayer

I wouldn’t call you a disciple – because what is important to you – ultimately draws your time – effort – and attention

You know – It is possible to attend church your whole life and still have a heart and a life facing away from Jesus – never having done that U turn

So as you look at your Christian walk – right now – where you are – do you believe that you have not only asked and received forgiveness………………………

But can you consciously see a change in direction? This is what he has called us to

This is as important as anything pertaining to your Christian walk – has your direction changed – have you done that U Turn?

The second thing a disciple is called to is BELIEVE

Now again – you could go to most people and ask them if they believe in God and they would tell you YES

They may never even think of God – nor have any kind of relationship with him –but they still believe He exists

This is not the kind of belief that Jesus expects from His disciples
Believing is not simply acknowledging that God exists

In the Biblical sense – to believe means to adhere to it – to rely upon it

To truly believe the Good News of Jesus Christ – means to rely upon that belief

It’s an understanding that what you have staked your life upon – is alive and real to you and not a theory

That you serve a risen Savior who died for your sins – and has promised us eternal life – once this temporal portion of our existence is over

Having a Faith – An understanding that we cannot always view life’s circumstances through our physical eyes – but instead through our Spiritual eyes

Because what we see on the surface is never the whole story – God works on our behalf behind the scenes – in the Spiritual realm

It’s believing – that God not only hears but has the ability and desire to answer our prayers

Knowing that whatever negative consequences we face in this life – is far over-shadowed by the greatness of what we inherit in Christ Jesus

It’s knowing, that we are on the winning team and though at times there may be discomfort, we prevail

If you read through this book you understand that We win the “Big Game” Folks the Championship is Ours!

This belief should affect how we think – how we respond – and how we Live and in our behavior
It should influence every area of our life

You can’t be a disciple of Christ and still be living like yesterday – as if absolutely no change has happened to you

You have heard of DUI – Driving Under the Influence

A disciple – Lives under the Influence of God – day in a day out

All of our decisions – actions – plans – and our main purpose are all filtered through this – the most important relationship of all!

It is also not being ashamed of the Gospel – to a world who knows nothing of it – those who might be critical of your belief

And furthermore – being willing and caring enough to share what you believe with others

Are you a true disciple of Jesus Christ? If you are – Jesus says you must believe

The third call Jesus gives to His disciples is to FOLLOW

So much emphases is placed in our society on Leadership – And we need to be leaders in Business – and every field and profession

But – being a true disciple is about Follow-ship

Learning and living to follow the lead of the Master

It is moving towards maturity in your faith – to go (as the word states) from Milk to Meat
Developing Christian Character and Integrity

Jesus took ordinary people – some fishermen – and He said to them: Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men

He watched as those men of no importance – no social stature – develop into world changers

This because as they followed Christ – they not only witnessed what He did – or what he taught

They applied it to their very own lives – the grew spiritually – they became something greater than they believed they could be

Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

American Express has a quote on the advertising which says “Membership has its Privileges”

Remember this – “Discipleship Has its Rewards” The word tells us that those who diligently seek Him – He rewards

My hearts cry for each of you in this ministry – Is that you would diligently seek Him

That you would look at each and every day as a new opportunity to trust Him more

That you would learn to give a little more of yourself to this relationship

That you would begin to believe like the songs says – “All I need is you Lord”

You are what keeps my life stitched together

You are my Strength – You are my Shield – You are my Fortress –

My Provider – My Mighty God – My Savior and Redeemer

In you Lord I put my Life – My future – My Will – My Very Being

Because you are good – Your mercies are new each and every day

Your love is unchangeable – Your faithfulness is what I stand upon
_____________________________________________________________

Being a Disciple is a privilege – but it also carries some responsibility

Are you taking this responsibility and being true to the one you follow?

My early adult life is a typical scenario of one who didn’t

I allowed myself to be lured away from the only sure thing in this world

And it began a path in a direction I never wanted to go

This is how our enemy – can deceive us – and most commonly does

He gets us to thinking that there is something more – something greater than being a disciple of Christ

He tells us Christianity is too rigid – too many demands – not enough freedom

After all – you are young – you have a lot of wild oats to sow

Let me tell you something tonight – Sin has existed since the Garden of Eden It has never changed – and it never will

It can initially even be pleasurable – but eventually you become a slave to it!

But let me tell you from my own experiences – that being a Disciple of Christ – Has grated me freedom like I have never experienced before!

Because when you truly do that U Turn we discussed – no longer does it seem rigid – or demanding – or difficult

It becomes exciting – When Christ is what you truly desire – living life as a disciple comes as naturally

When unsaved people who I have spoken with about my faith – tell me things like “Christianity is a Crutch” “It’s for weak minded people”

I am saddened for them – because they are so blinded to the truth

Their lives are literally falling apart at the seams – and yet they continue on the same path to ultimate destruction

And all the while speak with arrogance and assurance against the one thing that will grant them peace – contentment – and eternal life

What I am getting at tonight is that I pray each of you – will truly become a disciple of Christ

Not just in name – but in how you conduct your life – How you view your world

How you make your decisions – how you treat others – and most importantly – how you Follow Christ

I said this at PFF – and I believe it with all my heart – I believe that time is short

Jesus said: In the last days – there would be wars and rumors of war – Nations will go to war against nations

There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world – Pestilence – And Perilous times

Does that sound familiar to you?

I read the other day – Israel is just waiting for the right moment to fly into Iran and bomb their nuclear facilities

Because they will not cease their nuclear proliferation and the unstable manner of their leader against Israel

Oil prices going through the roof – and the value of the American Dollar is in severe decline against the Euro and other currencies

People and leaders of nations are calling for the destruction of Israel

It is all coming to a head – and I believe the time is at hand

Now that may frighten some of you – at a minimum it should concern you

But they way it should concern you is in light of your relationship with God

Is it where you want it to be? Are you truly a Disciple – or a Christian by name only?

The good news tonight is the Bible also says this in

Acts 2:17
'And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.

You see – while all this is going on – God is waiting for a people who will get real with Him – because He wants to do something great in their lives

He wants to pour out His Spirit – and do incredible things within your Generation

And that is going to be accomplished within the lives of His Disciples

Those who diligently seek Him and His righteousness in their lives

Are you one of those? I pray that you are!

As we get into this series about being a disciple – I want to give you the opportunity to seek Him tonight

I want to open the front of this place for you to come and pray – You can make this a public gesture in front of those in this ministry

Or – you to kneel at you chair and seek God for a few minutes

Clear things up with him – REPENT – BELIVE – and Recommit yourself to FOLLOW HIM

God wants you to get reacquainted with him tonight – let’s take the time to do just that

You can pray loud – you can pray silently – whatever you are comfortable with – let’s just take some time tonight to seek Him