How do you respond when someone tells you to do something?
Are you a rebel? Is your first thought I am not going to do that just because they told me to do it.
Does being told to do something make you feel controlled, feel like your freedom has been restricted?
The truth is we all live with the confines of rules, instructions, social parameters.
We can choose to not follow the rules but there are consequences. Rob a bank, not pay your taxes, you run the risk of going to prison.
Behave in a socially unacceptable way and you run the risk of being ostracised.
Not only can we break rules, or social conventions willingly but we can also do it without realising, and ignorance in those situations does not lead to bliss!
But what about when it comes to being a disciple a follower of Jesus?
Are there rules, requirements, in my blog post last week we looked at three things Jesus said in regard to Counting the Cost of being a disciple. And I think that that some people when they think about perhaps exploring faith, about exploring Christianity think there are too many rules, too many things to remember and I never going to be able to be the kind of person Jesus would want to call a disciple.
Well, I want to be honest, I believe, and I will back this up with scripture that we are called to hold to Jesus’ teachings, but there is good news, we won’t need to do it our own strength.
Let us begin by looking at a few verses that confirm the need for us to follow Jesus’ instructions:
John 8:31
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
This verse doesn’t seem to harsh, hold to Jesus’ teaching.
The next four verses we are going to read a little blunter:
1 John 2:3-6
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
Now these verses are blunt:
Don’t follow Jesus’ commands, His instructions, you are liar!
Why is this important to Jesus, why should this be important to us. Because as we looked at last week, just saying you are a follower of Jesus a disciple doesn’t make you a disciple, actions show you a disciple.
Being a follower of Jesus is about real-life transformation.
Real life transformation doesn’t happen by just words, it requires actions.
Being a disciple is about being on a journey of transformation, of becoming more like Jesus.
Remember at the start I said people can sometimes worry that they may not be able to be the kind of person that Jesus would call a disciple, that they don’t know how.
Well good news you don’t have to go it alone.
Jesus promises a helper:
John 14:15-17a
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.
Believers, followers of Jesus have the Holy Spirit, a helper to guide them.
The Holy Spirit will guide you, will prompt you to do the right thing, to not to do the wrong thing, you have a choice, the Holy Spirit can be ignored, I don’t recommend this.
The Holy Spirit who is God, only wants what is best for us and for those we encounter.
Now when it comes to hearing from the Holy Spirit, I believe there are a few things we can do to help ourselves:
- Be listening (this can involve us asking God to speak)
- Be prepared to be brave.
- Know scripture.
Later this year there will be looking in greater detail into the area of God Conversations and what that looks like. But by applying the three things mentioned earlier we will have a good foundation.
Secondly, we have an example:
1 John 2:5-6
5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
We need to live as Jesus did.
We need to follow the example of Jesus.
You may remember a few years ago those bracelets that you could put round your wrist that WWJD on them. This stood for What Would Jesus do.
As we go through life we need to ask ourselves this very question, what would Jesus do?
If we do what Jesus would have done we will be going in the right direction.
I want to highlight two characteristics of Jesus (there are many more).
Compassion:
Matthew 9:35-36
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Jesus cared about people.
Challenge:
John 8:10-11
10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Jesus cared so He challenged.
To recap:
We need to follow Jesus’ example WWJD.
We need to keep His commands, His instructions to do this we must be studying His word.
