Labels- Christian - Disciple

 

 

Labels- What are you ?

Have you ever asked yourself, Just what am I ? What is my purpose here on this earth ? Why do I have to feel and go through the emotions that I experience ?

 

Well the Good news is that this particular question has been asked ever since the start of time.

 

You were created to be more than a label !

 

We all have them, Mother, Daughter, Wife, Employee , Boss, and on and on the list of worldly labels goes.

 

You have one label and that is that you are a child of God.  Even if you are unaware of that truth today, pray for his will in your life to be done and he will show you that you are His, fearfully and wonderfully made, in His image

 

 

Ok so I am a child of God. NOW WHAT ?

 

So glad you asked that, please grab your favorite beverage and allow me to explain !

 

You are marked by Love . You are a Original !  You are a " DISCIPLE"

 

You have bought with a price , a sacrificial love. A love that has washed away all your past mistakes, all your present mistakes and all the mistakes you will make in the future. You are Forgiven !

 

WHAT --- Yes it is true. " YOU ARE FORGIVEN !"

 

Are you a Christian ? Are you a chosen generation?  Are you a Disciple of Christ ?

 

Has your suddenly happened.  You suddenly realize that you see the world differently than most people and you do not want to be that Christian.

Following Christ does not mean following his followers !

 

Are you ready to leave behind the quarrels of Christianity ?

Are you a Outsider, living and loving like God did ? Or are you a Christian adhering to the labels of Christianity ?

 

The bible refers to the label a Christian only a few times and gives us no definition of what a true Christian is.

1 John 4:7-11

 

Dear loved ones , let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Who ever does not love does not know God, Because God is love. 9---- Please continue to scripture to read 9-11 . Thank you !

 

Love is not for the weak, or the faint hearted, love is not mushy and soft all the time, Love is hard and is a self sacrifice, dying to self in order to meet the needs of another , person saved or not. People need people and hurt people, do not even know that they need love and others to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. Who are you showing the army of Love too, today ?

 

It is easy to love those who you get along with , but what about the unlovely - how do we love them ! Do we point out there flaws, or do we see that God can use all people for his kingdom ! Do we teach them that Jesus hung out with the lowly and the desperate , that Jesus healed the sick and the drunkards, he healed the blind and the prostitutes.  Are we afraid to go into the dark corners of another's life and be the light .  Are we that Christian that condemns others for the choices that they make , or do we show them the truth and the light and do we pray for salvation and redemption for them, and do we live according to Christianity or discipleship . A Disciple will show someone to the cross and love them all the way there, falling down a time or two, but knowing that God has a plan and can bring about a heart change.

 

Many have said I am a Christian because of what I believe. Well the truth is belief is not enough, we have to behave, Like Jesus. behavior opens the door to being a disciple and others will follow and want to work for the kingdom, when they see truth and good will being exemplified amongst us.

 

You do as I do period. There was no room for a belief, it was about behavior . The Teacher teaches and the student follows, Jesus taught how to live and behave.

 

Bottom line is do you - Do we ? live like a Christian ? Playing church on Sunday and wearing our best outfits looking like a "good" Christian or are we willing to get dirty for Jesus.

 

There is a expected behavior behind being a disciple . Period. Ask your self - Lord, am I am disciple of your ways and your will or do I play Christian ?

 

Today you can let go of the baggage that comes with being a Christian . You can choose to be a disciple for the Lord and work in his army of love. Would you lay down your life for a friend . That is love.  Here is a song to better describe to you , the definition of Love and sacrifice .

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pIqE-Mxx1g

Jesus is the sacrifice of love..

Dear Lord ,
Teach us to love and live like you did.

Amen

 

A Temporay Position

                                                                      Matthew 8:26

 “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Have you ever felt like your walking in the wilderness amongst thieves and wolves?   The proud and the arrogant. The taking of truth and twisting it to fit ones own personal needs. The trickery that rises up and the boasting of the self righteousness . Have you ever felt pressed on every side?  Unsure of what tomorrow holds , afraid to move forward ! 

Relating to the emotions and feelings above is a tremendous place to be. " Praise God !" You are teachable and open to change.  Praise God in all things!  The trials, the victories, the interference, the distractions, the static.  Jesus was tempted , He was lead into temptation and although he was lead into temptation he never sinned. We also are lead into temptation, by worldly things, by people who are self seeking and self sufficient and have yet to Find the God connection. Jesus was offered all the kingdoms of the world and its splendor, Can you imagine being offered, everything, never having to want or need for a thing, at least material anyway ? How empty would that be to have gained the "WHOLE " world and lose your soul ? See the scripture link to see how Jesus was tempted.http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+4:1-11

Matthew 4:1-11 

Do you feel like your enduring great pain for the kingdom and that you will not waiver in your faith.? If you can answer "YES" then you are on the path , the path that few find. Jesus told them to get away from me, for you did not know me. http://battle4truth.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/depart-from-me-i-never-knew-you-who-is-jesus-talking-to/

What did he mean ? Get away from me !
There are flocks of people who take the Gospel and twist it, using the Grace card as a card to intentionally sin, defile there bodies, indulge in greed, act out in emotions, living feeling from feeling and doing what feels good to the flesh. Not willing to sacrifice and endure long suffering, wanting what is available now and being hurtful and harmful in their affairs for the sake of boasting and being selfish.

http://biblehub.com/niv/2_timothy/4.htm
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

We are here for a purpose , to carry the message of salvation. We have endured great pain and trials, and in return the Lord is our Rock and Refuge, For those who come thirsty and drink of the living water, you will never thirst again. Of course you will however suffer, you will suffer because he first suffered for you .

Today , I challenge you , to die to your self, live according to his will in your life. His will for you life is laid out in the instructions for life. The bible ! Every word for living is written. Healing is a choice and growing new daily and renewal of your mind, your actions, your ways  . You will need a loving , gracious God. You will also need a companion, a friend , God will send someone your way to mentor you , and to teach you , to love you and to show you his Mercy and Grace.

Know matter what you are going through today, persecution, false witnesses , lies , deceit, financial , health, family, marriage, hate , greed, envy, Know matter what you are feeling, You can't hide from God, He created you in the womb. He knows every hair on your head.  He knows what your going to think , do and say next. Pray for wisdom, forgiveness, repent and let Him cleanse you white as snow.

Let go of material things that bring instant enjoyment, yet never lasting Joy. Those things fade away, God will always stay with you , he will never leave or forsake you .

My prayer today :
Dear Lord Jesus, as we trudge the road of life, we hit road blocks , and we come up against opposition, lies, we are faced with treasures of the world, Money, and goods, that make us feel good now, but they fade away. Lord show us that you will always remain the same, always be faithful and always be true and pure, That you have plans for our lives and that they are good.

Jesus protect your children and for those who are lost in the world and the ways of the world, for those who have one foot believing in you and another foot living in sin, show them that you are the way the truth and the life. Lord let me ( us ) do the work of the Father, and nothing more, let us go where he sends us, giving all glory to God, from victory to victory , let us work in your kingdom and let us not worry or fear, or get dismayed , let us be a light in a dark world. Allow us to stand in the trials and show them you . Teach us to pray for one another and love one another , even if we do not agree, we do not have to Lord. You are the alpha and the omega, rule in my heart. In Jesus name Amen !

John 3:16
16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pkWrvCZDHA