The Open Word (Audio)

Being a disciple of JESUS is not a flippant thing. Even though many claims have been made about discipleship, too often we see a great discrepancy between the way people live and what the Bible says are the characteristics of a true disciple. In our time with Pastor David, we’ll take a look at what the Bible says about discipleship. Although many have professed to be followers of JESUS, God makes a distinction between those who are honestly pursing JESUS as true followers of the Son of God.

JESUS always knew how to turn the tests back around on the religious leaders who continually challenged His Authority as the Son of God. And although there was never a moment when they had the upper hand on JESUS, it never seemed to get through to them that everything He did was above reproach. In our time with Pastor David today, we’re reminded that God’s heart for the people always trumped the rules and practices of religious people. No one was ever able to misalign the ministry of JESUS.

Believers need to count the cost when ministering in the Name of JESUS. Because there has never been a time when there hasn’t been push back when advancing the Kingdom of God. In our time with Pastor David, we’ll consider the cost of staying steadfast in the truth. It’s very important that we are prepared for spiritual warfare when ministering the gospel message. But if we take our stand and remain steadfast in our faith, we will advance the Kingdom and be rewarded by JESUS in the end.

If we kept our religion to ourselves, we probably wouldn’t hear much from the opposition. But since we’re willing to stay on mission to faithfully proclaim our hope in JESUS Christ, we should realize that push back is inevitable. As we listen to Pastor David today, we will be encouraged to take some things into consideration when it comes to the realities of staying on mission. To take a stand for the Lordship of Christ brings push back from those who have yet to enter into the Kingdom of God.

JESUS reserved His strongest warnings for the religious leaders who were always playing church. In light of this truth, we ought to be very careful about our thoughts, opinions, and attitudes when it comes to how God wants to work in ministry. As we get into the Word with Pastor David, we’ll hear how the religious leaders missed the heart of God by the accusations they made about JESUS. If religious leaders misrepresent the goals and intent of God, they will lead many people astray in the church.

JESUS was a wonderful rule breaker, but He never broke a single command of God. When the religious leaders made a statement about healing on the Sabbath, they became guilty of playing church. In today’s program with Pastor David, we’ll hear what really matters to the heart of God in ministry. If we become so busy doing church that we no longer minister to the needs of people, we put ourselves in danger of falling under the same category. God desires compassionate ministry from the body of Christ.

If anything is needed, it’s repentance. No matter how good or bad our lives may seem, we should continually repent from what we know is sin. In our time with Pastor David, we’re reminded of the value of a heart attitude of repentance. Not because we need to be saved, but because we ARE saved! All believers are delivered from the penalty of sin, but need to remember that thoughts and attitudes are under construction. We ought to live in such a way that shows gratitude for the remission of our sin.

JESUS always knew how to get to the point in a conversation. He never felt the need to create long roads to the Truth. As we listen into another conversation JESUS had with His disciples, we’ll hear Him get to the heart of an issue concerning the relevancy of sin. As Pastor David points out, JESUS wanted to make sure that the disciples understood the need for repentance, in the face of speculation. God desires that all men repent and does not use a measuring stick concerning sin.

When we come to Christ, we can’t expect to avoid division. JESUS knew and warned that the message of the Kingdom would separate people from one another. In our time with Pastor David, we’ll hear about the inevitable push back that comes from people who are resistant to entering the Kingdom. If we choose to follow Christ, we need to be prepared for a battle over the genuineness of our faith. Even well-meaning friends and loved ones should be expected to challenge God’s Lordship in our lives.

What does it mean when God says He’s going to separate the wheat from the chaff? And is that something we need to be concerned about? In today’s program, we’ll endeavor to understand what the Lord wanted to us to know about this powerful truth. According to Pastor David, when God says He’s going to burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire, He’s not talking about what He plans to do to believers. But the fire is meant for the unbelieving who refuse to repent from their sin.