He Must Be Lord

Becoming a "Christian" in today's world seems like a piece of cake...you pray a prayer and you're in right?!?! Wrong. Many think that they can believe in what Christ did on the cross but that He doesn't have to be LORD of your life and that is far from the truth. If you look up the word "Christian" in the Bible you will only find it 3 times...what is always mentioned is disciples. Being a disciple of Christ means much more than praying a prayer, it means giving up everything you have, leaving all and following Him!

At church this weekend Pastor Mike gave a powerful message from Matthew 19:23-26
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Are you His disciple...we need to look at some very important issues that must be resolved in order to truly be a disciple of the Living God.

1. Count the Cost
-Matthew 13:44-46
-It will cost you EVERYTHING
-You are exchanging your life for Christ's
-This is not a works based salvation, it is Christ's life in exchange for yours
-Walk in the newness of life is a command (Romans 6-8)
-Surrender to the leadership of Christ (Matthew 6:46)
-Choose this day who you will serve (Joshua 24:14-15)

2. Identify Your Idols
-Whatever God wants me to do I will do...but wait God I won't give this up
-An idol is anything you wouldn't give up for God, something that takes supreme priority of your life and is valued more and put above God
-Luke 19:57-62- things defined as idols
-Genesis 22- Abraham and Issac- God asked for it all, his only son
-I'm willing to do whatever you want me to do needs to be your attitude
-1 Thessalonians 1:3-10- turn from other things as supreme in your life

3. Ask God for the Impossible
-The Biblical Gospel is impossible...you cannot do it only God can!! (Ephesians 2:1-10)
-Plead with God to do in your life what you can't do
-Hebrews 11- they did things through the power of God
-Revelation 2:4- Church at Ephesus, you have forsaken your FIRST love
-Can't ease up the Gospel, must be immovable on the truth of the biblical Gospel because it is the only thing that saves
-Righteousness is a gift, you cannot earn it, but it costs you everything

We need to have this attitude: ANYTIME, ANYPLACE, ANYTHING! And remember it isn't "Christians" necessarily that enter into eternity with Christ it is His disciples, HE MUST BE LORD!