B. Living in the Will of God

Authentic Christianity (John 15:1-8)

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. A new Creation

A.1. A couple of weeks ago we talked about being a new creation, how when we give our lives to Christ and the old nature dies and things become new to us. We don’t do things in the same manner we used to.

B. Living in the will of God

B.1. Last week we talked about knowing the will of God. We talked about what the will of God is and how we can be in the center of all His work. Last week I challenged you to witness to somebody, invite them to church, how did you do? Did you merely listen last week of did you put it into practice? Please continue in those steps and live in the will of God.

C. Following Christ

C.1. This week I want to talk about walking in Christ. About the cost of being a true follower, what it looks like, how we look to God and to others. Is your faith, your walk with God authentic or is it fake?

II. BODY

A. What is the cost of following Christ?

A.1. You mean that when I give my life to Christ, it will cost me something? That’s right! So what does it cost you might ask? Everything! It is forsaking everything for Christ. But if you are following Christ you will want to pay that price because you know it is for a better life, a better cause.

A.2. What you have to realize is that forsaking everything to God isn’t bondage, what keeps us from a life of abundance is our faith and walk with God through Jesus Christ. But if you truly love Him you will want to keep all of His commands. Look what it cost God, His own son

The Mistake of the Stolen Car

An honest man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get through the intersection.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched, finger-printed, and photographed, and then placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you, and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do?' bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had stolen the car!"

- AUTHOR UNKNOWN – (http://godslittleacre.net/funnies/practicing_what_you_preach.html)

A.2.a) As I said last week, you cannot go with God and stay that same. A true believer sacrifices everything. Forsaking everything in this manner isn’t a blind faith, it is assurance that God can take care of my matters much better than I can. Forsaking all things for Christ means putting your trust in Him more than you trust yourself. You can put your trust in your treasures here, your 401K, IRA, investments, your job, your business, your current retirement etc… but what happens when it all tumbles down around you? Where do you go then? Are you willing to lay it all down for God?

Will it hurt much the boy asked?

Giving Blood

Giving Blood many years ago, when I worked as a transfusion volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a disease and needed blood from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liza."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give her all his blood.

(http://www.spiritual-endeavors.org/inspirational-stories/4-short-stories.htm) A.2.b) What lengths are you willing to go to so that you can save a persons life? Are you willing to lay it down for a stranger? Someone that you find detestable? What are you willing to do for Christ? Is your life filled with nominal Christianity saying that you believe what the word says, but not really willing to sacrifice anything for it?

A.2.c) God is calling you out to do more than just believe, He is calling you to action and sometimes he may even put obstacles in your way to test your commitment to Him.

The Obstacle in Our Path

In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.

A.3. If you would remove the boulders in your life God will show you the pot of gold coins He has in store for you, but if you refuse to move the boulders in your life you will miss the blessing He wants to give you.

B. A Fake Identity

B.1. When you put on Christ, it isn’t like a winter jacket that you put on to keep you from the cold outside the then remove it again when you go back inside. Putting on Christ is something that sticks to you, it is unchanging, unswerving, and steadfast in every aspect of your life. When Jesus was calling His disciples, He instructed them very carefully about the cost of following Him for He said:

Matthew 10:22 (HCSB) 22 You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

B.2. It is obvious to me that this is true because just the simple mention of Jesus to non-believers is offensive to them. They may not even know a lick of scripture yet are offended by the very mention of His name.

B.3. One thing to remember though, is that it is not you that they are rejecting, it is God Himself. So let God deal with them, you be obedient to His word.

C. Authenticity Christianity C.1. God wants authentic followers, not plastic people. He is looking for hearts committed to Him and counterfeit. He wants the real deal, so are you real or fake?

Plastic People:

Barb’s life is a mess. Her drinking problem is out of control, and her husband Ken refuses to cover for her anymore. Everyone around her sees Barb’s problem, but they all pretend like everything’s just fine, a classic case of denial. Every Sunday Barb and her family dress in their Sunday best and go to church as the perfect family. Everyone at church looks at Barb and her family as the model family...they look so…perfect.

Sitting in the row behind Barb at church each Sunday morning is Joe. Everyone likes Joe, especially all the guys, because he’s a man’s man. Joe played football in college for a PAC 10 school, and he’s filled with stories of athletic conquest. But when Joe’s all alone his heart is filled with emptiness because of his inability to sustain long term relationships. His marriage only lasted six months, and over the years he’s driven away everyone close to him with his short fuse. But that Sunday when a friend asks Joe how things are going he quickly says, "Great…never been better."

Joe and Barb have both learned that church is a place for plastic people, a place for perfect people. So Barb’s become Barbie, complete with her husband Ken and her perfect plastic children. And Joe’s become G. I. Joe, a plastic action hero everyone admires but no one really knows. But inside Barb and Joe are dying, because they’re not made of plastic.

Churches throughout our culture today are filled with Barbie’s and Joes. We’ve learned that image is everything, that what counts is how you look, the impression you make. So we in the Christian community have perfected the fine art of faking it. (http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/illustrations-about-authenticity.asp)

D. Forsaking everything for Christ is not bondage it is freedom

D.1. I know people that had massive boulders in their life. Once they didn’t walk with God, they wanted to do evil instead of good, they liked evil instead of good. They acted on what was pleasing to flesh but in time found that they came to a place of brokenness, emptied inside of anything that would make them feel like they were worth anything at all.

D.2. Dave Wheeler Testimony

D.2.a) It frees you from worry

D.2.b) It frees you from doubt

D.2.c) It frees you from depression

D.2.d) It frees you from death D.2.e) If frees you from your financial struggles

D.2.f) It releases you from captivity

D.2.g) It heals the heart

D.2.h) Mends relationships

III.Conclusion

A.1.a)