What a Fully Devoted Follower of Christ Looks Like , Part 1

What a Fully-Devoted Follower of Jesus Christ Looks Like, , part 1Lon Solomon - - September 17/18, 2005Picture of Washington post logo; Picture of Howdy Doody; Picture of the Grand Canyon“What a Fully-Devoted Follower of Jesus Looks Like.”MBC Core Value #3 – Our goal is to transform people into fully-devoted followers of Jesus Christ.A fully-devoted follower of Jesus is a person who is growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ.When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we enter into an actual “relationship” withthe risen Lord.Because Jesus is alive, he can enter into personal relationships with people.As followers of Jesus Christ, we enter into a “family” relationship with God – we become God’s adoptedchildren and he becomes our personal heavenly Father.“To every person who believes in Jesus Christ, to them God gives the right to become children of God.”John 1:12“For you are all children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.” Galatians 3:26A fully-devoted follower of Jesus Christ doesn’t just have a “relationship” with Jesus Christ - - they have ahealthy relationship with Jesus Christ.“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18Fully-devoted followers of Christ are people who are constantly seeking to grow deeper and go deeper intheir relationship with Him.In order to have an intimate relationship with God, three things are necessary.#1 - - We have to realize that such a relationship with God is possible.There are enormous segments of Christianity where this truth - -• that God is a person• and that you/I can have an intimate relationship with Him . . .• just like we can have with any person . . .• (Where this truth) is not taught or encouraged or even believed.“ . . . that I may know Him . . .” Philippians 3:10“Sound Bible teaching is an imperative in the church. But it can be carried on wrongly. The Bible is not anend in itself, but rather, it is a ‘means to an end.’And that end is to bring us into an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God• that we might enter into Him• that we might delight in His presence• that we might taste and know the inner sweetness of God Himself at the center and core of ourbeing.Until and unless we find God in this kind of personal experience, we are not any the better for simplyhaving ‘heard’ the Bible.” A.W. Tozer - - The Pursuit of God#2 - - We have to hunger and thirst for such a relationship with God.“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6“As the deer pants for the waterbrook, so my soul pants for You, O God.” Psalm 42:1

“O God, earnestly I seek You. My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You, as in a dry and weary landwhere there is no water.” Psalm 63:1“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Morethan that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ my Lord.”Philippians 3:8ff“Our heads ached; our eyes became bloodshot and dim in the blinding glare. Our tongues began to swell.Our lips turned purplish-black and burst open. Those who dropped out of the column were never seenagain, but we desperately battled on toward Sheria. There were wells at Sheria. We fought on as menfight for their lives. We entered Sheria on the heels of the retreating Turks. The first objects that met ourview were the great stone cisterns full of cold, clear water. We clamored, we crawled, we scratched ourway to those cisterns. Men fell down and drank on their hands and knees - - on their bellies. It took fourhours before the last man was filled. I learned my first real Bible lesson on that march. If such were ourthirst for God, for His presence in our lives - - how rich the fruit of the Spirit would be.” The Romance ofthe Last Crusade with Allenby to Jerusalem by Major Vivian Gilbert#3 - - We must be willing to pay the price for such a relationship.Personal relationships are “living things” - - and like all “living things,” these relationships must becultivated if they’re to remain healthy.This kind of cultivation must be intentional, deliberate - - and it’s going to always cost us something.Spiritual Habit #1 - - Reading, , studying, and meditating on God’s word“Long for the pure milk of God’s word so that, by means of it, you may grow.” I Peter 2:2Picture of Lon’s original Bible and a picture of a page from it.No one can grow deep in their relationship with God without being a “man/woman of the Book.”Spiritual Habit #2 - - Memorizing scripture“Your word I have hidden in my heart.” Psalm 119:11“Your word is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8Spiritual Habit #3 - - Time spent with God in prayer“Pour out your heart before God.” Psalm 62:8“I have poured out my soul before the LORD. 1 Samuel 1:15“Casting all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7“Call unto Me and I will show you great and mighty things that you know not.” Jeremiah 33:3Spiritual Habit #4 - - Obedience“To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22“For when I brought your forefathers out of Egypt, I did not give them commands about burnt offerings, butrather I said to them, ‘Obey Me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.’” Jeremiah 7:22“Be doers of God’s word and not merely hearers.” James 1:22Disobedience disrupts our relationship with God.We cannot grow a healthy relationship with God in the “petrie dish” of disobedience.

A fully-devoted follower of Christ is a person who is growing in their relationship with Jesus Christ.• They’re passionate about getting to know God better• And they’re willing to practice the spiritual habits it requires• Studying God’s word• Memorizing God’s word• Prayer• ObediencePicture of self-assessment sheet in bulletinChristianity 101 – Knowing God in a Personal WayChristianity 201 – Growing in Your Relationship with Jesus ChristClasses begin September 25/26 - - Register at Ticket CentralMore information is available at McLean University Booth