A Disciplined Disciple

Sermon Date:  March 9, 2015

Sermon Topic: A Disciplined Disciple

Scriptures: Mark 8:35, Hebrews 12:14, Romans 13:13, Philippians 3:7, Ecclesiastes 5:10, 1 John 2, Matthew 19:29

Sermon Notes:

Mark 8:35 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. In this Linton season – if there is something that you can give up for 40 days, why are you going back to it after the season is over?

Everyday should be a day of committed living; living a life of holiness.

Everyday should be a time of self-examination in order to please God. We should seek to please God daily. We should live with the expectation of his return. We don’t know when, but we do know that the time will come. So our attitude towards God should be one of faith and love.

Hebrews 12:14 – Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Pursue peace with all people not just Christians not who you choose but everyone, no matter how hard.

Blessed are the peacemakers. He has called us to be holy. Be holy for I am holy. We are holy people.

There are times when we are anything but holy. Whoever desires to come after God must deny themselves. Deny your sinful desires.

The spirit man is saved but the flesh desires to commit sin. Romans 13:13 – Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Don’t allow flesh the opportunity to sin. There are things we shouldn’t eat and something we shouldn’t listen to.

Ask the average person what’s the most important to them and they will tell you family, job, home. He calls us away from those things that are more than God. We must break free of trying to possess what possess you.

All the money or possessions are worth nothing if Jesus isn’t Lord in your life.

Philippians 3:7 – But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. You own is nothing unless you have God in your life. There will come a day where you will have to die; make preparations now.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 – He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. You will never be satisfied with money if you love money. Even if you obtain a lot of money, it is never enough. You will never be happy because you will then get to a place where you think that people only want your money.

God requires more than external words and actions. We can talk a good game. Every time you see someone with an addition or a homeless person, remember that it could have been you. Be kind.

You must be willing to follow Christ. We must denounce self-dependency, self-reliance, wicked ways and anything that is contrary to the word of God. There are some people that we aren’t supposed to associate with. The scripture says that we are to mark them. The things of the world should mean nothing to us.

We must live free of the world. 1 John 2 –  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Don’t love the things of the world. We must discipline our bodies. No matter how long you’ve been saved. The enemy knows when you were in your mess. He tempts you with those things.

What did you love most before you were saved? You must be mindful of it. You must put those things behind you.

When you put things behind you God will give you such a blessing in your life, it will make you wonder why you ever wanted to do it in the first place.

Self-denial should be exhibited in not pleasing ourselves.

Matthew 19:29 –  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.  We must deny ourselves. The world will consistently tempt us to yield to it.

Being tempted isn’t a sin, yielding to the temptation is a sin.

We must be able to handle the pressure. It will come but we must be able to handle it and be disciplined.

Your greatest goal should be knowing God. I must watch my speech. Silence cannot be misquoted – don’t say anything. You don’t need to have the last word. Some in the grave had the last word. Just don’t say anything.

The atmosphere you permit determines the product you receive. If you allow anger and fusion that’s what it will produce.

You shouldn’t be sad, lonely, depressed or suffer lack as children of God.

The things you worry about never happen – don’t worry – you can’t change