Authentic Faith: Surrender, Holiness, and True Discipleship
Summary
In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of being true followers of Christ, not just in name but in action and spirit. I stressed that the call to follow Jesus is a call to die to oneself, to surrender one's life completely to Him. I pointed out that many people claim to be Christians but their lives do not bear the fruit of a true follower of Christ. I also highlighted the dangers of lukewarm faith, where people only turn to God when it is convenient for them, and live a double life, one in church and another in the world. I challenged the congregation to examine their hearts and lives, to see if they truly know God and are known by Him.
In the second part of my sermon, I addressed the issue of religious complacency and indifference, which I believe is rampant in many churches today. I lamented the lack of power and demonstration of God's presence in many church services, and the lack of intimacy with God among many church leaders. I called out the hypocrisy of living one way in public and another way behind closed doors. I urged the congregation to seek a genuine, intimate relationship with God, to live lives of holiness and purity, and to be willing vessels surrendered to God's will.
Key Takeaways:
- The call to follow Jesus is a call to die to oneself and to surrender one's life completely to Him. (source: [22:19])
- Many people claim to be Christians but their lives do not bear the fruit of a true follower of Christ. We must examine our hearts and lives to see if we truly know God and are known by Him. (source: [22:55])
- There is a dangerous complacency and indifference in many churches today, with a lack of power and demonstration of God's presence in many church services. (source: [23:41])
- We must seek a genuine, intimate relationship with God, live lives of holiness and purity, and be willing vessels surrendered to God's will. (source: [24:23])
- We must challenge religious hypocrisy and live the same way in public as we do behind closed doors. Our family, friends, and the world are watching us. (source: [25:10])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 7:16-20 [07:54]
2. Revelation 3:15-16 [09:54]
3. Matthew 16:17-18 [22:19]
Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 7:16-20 say about the importance of fruit in a believer's life?
2. How does Revelation 3:15-16 describe the consequences of being lukewarm in faith?
3. According to Matthew 16:17-18, what signs should follow those who believe?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of "fruit" in Matthew 7:16-20 relate to our daily lives as Christians?
2. What does it mean to be "lukewarm" in faith as described in Revelation 3:15-16?
3. How can we understand and apply the signs that should follow believers as mentioned in Matthew 16:17-18?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your life. What kind of "fruit" are you producing? Are there areas in your life where you need to cultivate more spiritual fruit?
2. In what areas of your life might you be considered "lukewarm"? How can you ignite more passion for God in these areas?
3. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate the signs of a believer as mentioned in Matthew 16:17-18 in your daily life?
4. How can you invite the Holy Spirit into your studies and ask Him to reveal your heart?
5. Can you identify a recent situation where you chose convenience over following Jesus in holiness and purity? How can you make a different choice next time?
Devotional
Day 1: The Call to Sacrifice
The call to follow Jesus is a call to lay down our lives, not just our religious works or opinions. It's a call to sacrifice everything, to be the offering on the altar. This is a call to humility, to willingness, and to surrender. It's a call to let God's fire fall on us and consume us, so that we can be purified and molded into vessels of honor ([25:10]).
Bible Passage: Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Reflection: How can you live out the call to be a living sacrifice in your daily life?
Day 2: The Power of Purity
God desires us to be hot or cold, not lukewarm. He desires us to walk in purity and holiness, to be willing vessels surrendered to Him. This is the basic fundamental of following Christ - to look like, act like, and do what Jesus did. But this requires power, the power that comes from intimacy with God ([22:19]).
Bible Passage: 1 Peter 1:15-16 - "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper intimacy with God to walk in greater purity and holiness?
Day 3: The Fruit of Faith
The call to follow Jesus is a call to die to ourselves and live for Him. It's a call to examine our hearts and ask ourselves if we truly love Jesus, if we truly desire Him. It's a call to bear fruit - the fruit of faith that is evidenced by obedience. It's a call to repent, to change the way we think and live ([19:00]).
Bible Passage: Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
Reflection: What fruit of the Spirit is God calling you to cultivate in your life?
Day 4: The Intimacy of Relationship
Following Jesus is about having a relationship with Him. It's about desiring Him, reading His word, talking to Him, sacrificing for Him, and being obedient to Him. It's about being in a relationship that is intimate and personal, not just religious or ritualistic ([10:29]).
Bible Passage: John 15:5 - "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus and experience greater intimacy with Him?
Day 5: The Narrow Gate
The path to the kingdom of God is narrow and difficult. It's a path that few find. It's a path that requires us to enter by the narrow gate, to choose the difficult way, to choose life over destruction. It's a path that requires us to be vigilant against deception and to bear fruit that evidences our salvation ([11:46]).
Bible Passage: Matthew 7:13-14 - "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
Reflection: How can you ensure that you are on the narrow path that leads to life?
Quotes
1. "Fire falls on sacrifices. Some of you need to be the sacrifice that's laid on the altar. Not your religious works, not your opinions, your lives. Your lives need to be laid down in order to follow Him." - 26:00
2. "The basic fundamentals of following Christ is that we look like, we act like, and we do what Jesus did. But this discussion in the religious setting is hard to have because many people have abused this." - 22:19
3. "A call to follow Jesus is a call to die. This is life or death. I challenge you to do this: for those that live with families, why don't you ask your family how they feel about this subject? Why don't you ask them the question, 'What's the fruit that I show in my life?'" - 19:46
4. "His death, burial, and resurrection was for one purpose: it was to get the Holy Spirit in you so that His Holy Spirit in you could produce fruit outside of you. He desires to manifest His kingdom upon this Earth and He does it through willing vessels who are surrendered to Him." - 21:43
5. "To challenge the religious spirit is to call out complacency, lukewarmness, and indifference. Many of you right now, you are indifferent, you are lukewarm, you have no power, you don't know the presence of the Father." - 09:54
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