Are You A True Disciple?

[This was my sermon message last Sunday at BFGFC.]

John 8:31-32, "If you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

Last, last week, I lost my driver's license. I don't know where, when or how. My parents and my fiancee have been pressing me to remember where I lost it, but I thought, that's why it's lost right, because I don't remember where I placed it.

So Tuesday morning with my forms filled and printed already, I went to LTO to apply for a duplicate of my license. And to my surprise, they rejected my application because I have two outstanding violations from MMDA. These were violations I have committed way way back and it came back to haunt me. So what should be a two-hour wait for a new duplicate became a two day ordeal, of paying fines, waiting, queuing and walking. Moral lesson, if you have the opportunity to right your wrongs today, do it now.

Wouldn't you want to have life that enjoys God's day to day blessings rather than living in constant restitution of the past? Enjoying the life that Christ has died and rose again for is found in obedience to God. And by obeying God, we avoid possible future problems our disobedience may insue. That's why, "Obeying God today solves a lot of problems tomorrow."

In John 8:31-32, Jesus offers three rewards of obedience to God: (1) Recognition, (2) Revelation and (3) Revolution. But before we experience these rewards, there lies a condition. "If you continue in my word ..." Jesus says. Full life in Jesus comes in continuing in His Word. What does it mean to continue in His Word? To continually commit oneself in obeying His commands. Many people accuse Jesus' way as ineffective in their lives, being used to an instant way of life, we assume that Full Life comes in a day, a week or even a month. But here Jesus says, "continue", it's continuous obedience, faithfulness and allegience to Him that brings in the rewards of the Full Life.

So onto the rewards:

(1) Recognition. Obedience to God is the true litmus test of a true disciple of Christ. A true disciple is not identified in emotionality or even how much ministry they do in church. A true disciple is recognized outside of church--in daily life, in our home and community, our schools and workplace, and even in times when we are alone, that's when the true disciple of Christ shines. "If you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed ..."

(2) Revelation. Not only would Jesus recognize us as true disciples, but as we continue with John 8:31-32 it says, "You will know the truth." Knowing God's word reveals the Truth in our lives. No more grappling in the darkness in search of answers to difficult and compromising situations, but in God's Word, we see what God sees, and feel what God feels. Wouldn't it be truly liberating when we see how God sees our dire situations and struggles, or feel how God feels for the lost and the needy?

Before Peter Parker was Spiderman, he was far from fulfilling his destiny. After he discovers his power to walk on walls and his webbing abilities, he didn't get too far from what destiny expected of him. He used his power to work as a wrestler. There was no one more agile and powerful than him, even to his bigger opponents. He made cheap money through it. But one day, opportunity knocks in his life. He witnesses his manager being robbed by a thug. But instead of using his power to stop what was happening, he let the robber go because "it wasn't his job". Little did he know, that when the thug left the building, he had hijacked the car of Uncle Ben, Peter's uncle, and Uncle Ben got killed in the process.

Peter Parker had this power, but he failed to use it for good. How many times, we are given a powerful revelation of God's Word, but then we short-change God with indifference. Has God revealed to you through His Word that you should be sharing your faith? Or trusting Him more? Or be more forgiving? In God's kingdom this is true as well, "With great power, comes great responsibility." God reveals His burden to people He expects to respond.

(3) Revolution. Imagine if everyone would respond to the revelation God has given them. Our church would be sparking a revolution of God's Kingdom on earth!

John 8:31-32 says, "If you continue in my word, you are my disciples indeed (Recognition). Then you will know the truth (Revelation), and the truth will set you free (Revolution)." Jesus during his lifetime on earth, rounded up uneducated, untrained men, but nevertheless Jesus radically transformed them with the Truth of his words, inspired them through the Holy Spirit, and in turn became the greatest revolution on earth up to this day.

In Matthew Jesus tells us who we are, "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Someone who has known the Truth but fails to act upon what he knows is indeed imprisoned perhaps in guilt or in apathy or even in legalism. Never waste the Truth God has given you, the same power that brought Christ back to life, is the same power that can revolutionize your life and your sphere of influence.

Noah, when God spoke to him about the flood, obeyed Him despite what seemed to be a crazy directive in the eyes of Noah's neighbor. But in this story and like many others, when God tells us to do something, He never fails to uphold His Word. "Obeying God today solves a lot of problems tomorrow." Imagine if we would just seriously devote our lives in obedience to God, how much of our moments would be lived in freedom and joy in Him. So don't miss on the Full Life, Christ is offering to those who would radically choose to obey him. Continue in His Word, and live in true freedom in Christ.