Sermon nuggets Thurs May 1, 2008
Theme- Discipleship
Verses John 6: 66-69 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Faith
We had looked at some characteristics of false disciples. They sought for man’s way, the easy way, what appealed to them. They wanted what made them feel good. It was all about them. It was short lived until the going got tough.
When one is faithful, they are full of faith. Faith is the true belief in the person of Jesus Christ as the Son of God who will save them. A true disciple hears the words of Christ and believes. He meets the Lord and puts his faith in Him. He responds with a heart felt conviction to the truth and makes that truth their very own.
Jesus uses an illustration in Matthew 7 of a wise man and a foolish man. One built his house on sand, the other on the rock. The object of one’s faith was secure when it was placed on the foundation that would withstand the storms. The other man wanted a house that looked good and didn’t cost much. He didn’t want to dig deep. He didn’t want to lay the foundation. He didn’t want to go to the trouble of the work and the expenses, just enough to get by. But the wise man put his faith in the fact that a good house has the right foundation and the difference was what he believed. He acted on his beliefs. Faith is what you believe. Faithfulness is the degree in which you believe it.
Missionary Ignatious Loylola said “to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not to seek for rest; to labour and not look for any reward save that of knowing the I do Thy will.” That is faith that responds in faithfulness.
Jesus didn’t seek attenders, he sought those who believed with commitment to Him. When we apply that faith there is a new discovery. It is not what we are doing for Him, but what He does in us and through us. Are we willing to build on that right foundation for our lives? That is what makes a true disciple.
Pastor Dale
