Believers vs Disciples

[0:00] Hallelujah. We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Karis Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny but the Word of God.

[0:11] May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this word. Hallelujah. God is always planning something good for somebody.

[0:24] And when you get close to Him, He draws close to you. Every time you draw close to Him, He draws close to you. So, last week I was talking about, we want to hear from God, closeness.

[0:41] Come close. Come close. You know, we can all be in a congregation like this and a word can come from God and not everybody will hear. In Genesis chapter 28 verse 16, Jacob woke up from his sleep and he said, Surely the Lord was in this place and he didn't know.

[1:01] God was here. I actually didn't know He showed up. You know, so God can show up and you can miss God. But I pray you will not miss God.

[1:13] Amen. One day, they were lying in bed. That's lying. The husband. And then the wife was sobbing. Sobbing.

[1:27] She was sobbing. And sobbing. So the husband turned and asked. Like the way you guys say it now, it is, Babe.

[1:39] Babe. My darling, what's going on? Why are you crying? And she said, I really miss the days where we used to, things were so good between us. We used to talk more.

[1:51] We used to, and we, anytime we are sleeping, we sleep so close to each other. But now look, there's so much space between us. I really, I really, I really miss, I really miss this.

[2:05] And the husband said, I haven't moved though. I've been lying in the same place. It's you who have moved. You've moved and now you are complaining that you missed the times that we were close together.

[2:17] You have moved. Anytime you feel distance from God, guess who moved? Every time you feel distance from God, it's not God who moved.

[2:31] It's you who have moved. And we always tend to drift. So, Hebrews talks about, be careful, lest we don't drift. We always keep drifting.

[2:44] Human beings like a ball in the flowing water. Before you could realize, Hebrews chapter 2 verse 1, Therefore, we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

[2:59] If you don't pay attention to the word you have heard, If, that's why I said, give attention to my words, and incline your ears, Proverbs 4, 20.

[3:12] If you don't pay attention to the word you have heard, you are likely to drift. Drift. Permit me to say this. Drifting from God comes naturally.

[3:29] Moving closer to God doesn't come naturally. There's actually a big difference between a believer and a disciple. Many people are not being discipled.

[3:44] Because the charismatic church has become like a subculture. You know the songs, you know, especially the celebrity. So we look for big names. A lot of what people are doing, calling it church.

[3:58] It's actually not church. How come you've been going to church for a whole year, and you haven't been taught about Jesus? They mention the name of Jesus only to cast out devils.

[4:09] You go to church and Sunday morning the pastor is teaching you anger management. Today my title is anger management. A whole lot of things are going on.

[4:24] That's why we don't have disciples. Can you imagine? If you watch them, I'm about to say something interesting. If you come and do your program in London, 90% or 95% of our church members will never attend that program.

[4:38] Because they don't care about whatever program is. They will celebrate. Even when you do it on a Monday evening or Tuesday evening. Watch this.

[4:50] Somebody comes to London to come and they call it a crusade. I don't know what exactly that is. Big event, Sunday morning. Where are the people coming from?

[5:03] And then you come and tell us you are bringing us revival. Where are the people coming from? The people you are gathering, some of them are singing, doing choir, ashes. And don't they have churches?

[5:15] Some of these, some of these people, I feel this is a vagabondic. Vagabondic. You are affecting the local church. Don't do things that will weaken the local church.

[5:27] When you finish, just for your name. And then you go. How about a discipleship? Who is going to teach them systematically? Who? That is Christianity. That is why I don't believe in all this.

[5:41] They bring a special. Does that mean they can come? They can come. But we will build our church around personalities. That is why I am very interested in teaching.

[5:53] If you are not interested, I can't be bothered. I will feed you to start coming out of your ears and your nose. I can't stand before him and present the next three children.

[6:10] It is in the Bible, Colossians 1-28. I want to present people who are matured. I have a present, and I am not going to present a church, a crowd. I am not going to present my book.

[6:21] I am not going to present church building. I'm not going to present my TV programs or online or following. Here we preach that we may present every man that perfect day means mature.

[6:34] There's a day coming that every pastor is going to do a presentation to Jesus. And who are you going to present? That's why I kind of have low tolerance of people who are not serious.

[6:49] They want me to pamper you and pamper you and pamper you. Your spiritual life is in commerce. In commerce. You are not praying. You are not reading your Bible. You have carnal. I have a problem with carnal Christians, you know.

[7:01] Carnal Christians who live like the world. Every approach of their life is just like the world and it doesn't convict them. Personally, I have a problem with that. Because there must be a difference between the church and the world.

[7:15] If you are serious for Jesus, this will not be a problem for you at all. Even people who are not serious for Jesus, they know the reason behind things like that. Because to pursue revival, you must be contra-mundus.

[7:30] Against is counter-cultural. Counter against the culture. The church has always been counter-cultural. So the culture will never be happy with the church.

[7:44] Him will preach that will present everyone mature. I'm trying to submit to you that there's a difference between a believer, just someone who has become a believer, and a disciple.

[7:56] In John chapter 8, verse 31, he says that. Then Jesus said to the Jews, who? Who what? Who what?

[8:08] Believers. Sorry, but they believe him. If you abide in my word, ye are my disciples indeed. Indeed. So you have belief.

[8:20] But now, there is a certain approach. Watch this. Jesus doesn't only call us. I agree that Jesus is Lord. That is us.

[8:32] He doesn't need our intellectual assent. I agree, I agree. Jesus is not looking for intellectual agreement. We have to submit.

[8:43] It's a political statement. Follow. He didn't say agree with him. Follow him. There are two different. There's a difference between agree with Jesus and follow him.

[8:56] If you are following Jesus, be ready to risk some things in your life. Be ready to risk losing friends. You can lose friends. You can lose fame. You can lose loved ones. You can lose position.

[9:08] You can lose a job because of your stand for Jesus. It has always been like that. Wherever Christianity is pure, you will see there's an opposition that rises from society and culture against the church.

[9:24] It's always been like that. So Jesus said, what is you if all men speak well of you? Online, they will be attacking you. They will say, why are you talking like this?

[9:35] If they unfriend you because you said Jesus is Lord, it's okay. It's okay. Some people, when you chance, I'm going to say this again.

[9:45] I won't stop saying it. So if you are annoyed by it, then get ready. You'll be more annoyed. Some people, when you see the things that turn out on social media, it is not different from when they were unbelievers.

[10:03] It's not different from when they were unbelievers. Can someone look at your status and feel, I need to go to church? What are you projecting?

[10:14] Are you someone who is dedicated to Jesus? Or church has become a subculture? So you're also part of it. At least you like it, you like it.

[10:25] Your wife will be a good woman. Your husband will be a good man. And you know, your children will be taught the ways of God. They won't go and end up in being bad. That's what you are looking for. That is not Christianity. Christianity is actually following Jesus.

[10:37] If you are not ready to take up your cross. Follow Matthew chapter 16, 24. Do you know when he said this?

[10:49] He said it just after Peter said that, Far be it that you should go and die. Peter said, no, no, God forbid you will not die. He said, get behind me, Satan. After he rebuked Peter, he said, get behind me, Satan.

[11:02] He said, get behind me, Satan. Then the next verse, he says that, Then Jesus said to his disciples. You are looking for a soft life. That's why you've come to church. Because you know if your husband is in church, He'll be in check.

[11:20] It's not bad. But that is not the real reason. What have you given up? What are you willing to give up? That's what tells the kind of Christian you are.

[11:32] You agree, he died on the cross, he died on the cross. No, anybody I talk can agree. The Bible says, the demons also believe and they shake. He said to the believers, John 8.31. He said to the Jews who have believed, If you abide in my word, you are my disciple indeed.

[11:49] You are my disciple. He said, I expect some things from you. I expect you to stay in a certain way. How can you be somewhere else? Sunday morning.

[12:00] Watch this. Because a celebrity preacher is coming. Think about it. No, no, no. Pause and think about it.

[12:12] Something is off. You don't understand Christianity. Where's your church? Where's your church? Why are you not at the local church serving?

[12:25] Why are you not there? I'll be very worried if you leave your church and come because I'm preaching. Right away I know that you are not a serious Christian. You are not stable. You've not been properly discipled.

[12:37] If you are a disciple, you are committed. That's where your blessing comes from. Your commitment. Am I communicating something at all?

[12:49] These are things people don't know. Because church has become like event center. I'm going for an event. I'm going, okay, there's a bigger event. I'm going there. Discipleship, the way it is, what do people see it as control?

[13:07] Do you know that footballers are heavily controlled? Professional players. They are very controlled. Christianity should be stronger than that. But that one, it should be for people who willingly have given themselves for discipleship.

[13:22] Not based on money. Not based on pay. They have willingly given themselves to discipleship. There are people who have made themselves evangelists, but they don't have a church. I've been traveling by God.

[13:36] I've not traveled too much, but I've traveled a little bit. Just a little bit. And I realized that all the airlines have their home. Yes. So Delta Airlines, their home is Atlanta.

[13:50] BA Terminal 5, the home of British Airways. Yes. Emirates. When you arrive in Dubai, you see the number of planes Emirates have.

[14:02] So many. They are always there. Some are taking off, but they are there. That's their base. You are an evangelist. You don't have a church. You don't have a church.

[14:13] The only way you can bring revival. By raising disciples and teaching them systematically. So, discipleship is so key. So much so that nowadays, even the online thing has made it so sad.

[14:29] Everybody can take microphone off. It doesn't need a microphone. It just needs a phone. Without a micro. Just a phone. Just a phone. Hello.

[14:41] We are going to continue today. I'm about to talk about prayer. And for those who want more views, you have to look for somebody who has following and spin something negative about them.

[15:01] Yeah. And let's, this is my problem. Why don't we leave discipleship for local churches? Instead of doing it online, to be even talking, see a lot of people listening to you, they are unbelievers.

[15:16] They are looking for reasons to attack the church. Some of those people call them and say, I'm a Christian. And what these Christians are doing, I'm going to expose them. I'm going to expose them.

[15:27] I'm going to expose them. That's not a message. That's not a message. So, you can tell largely, if Jesus comes, right now, a lot of people are not going to go.

[15:42] If Jesus comes, Matthew chapter 7, verse 23 will be activated. Let's start from 22.

[15:53] He said, many will say to me, Lord, Lord, we have been coming to church. You, even if we have prophesied, we will not make it. You. You.

[16:05] You've only prophesied. He said, they will not make it. I have prophesied in your name.

[16:16] I have cast out demons. You haven't been able to even cast out a fly. That means your chances are very minimal.

[16:28] People are casting demons. They are prophesying. And they said, and done many wonders in your name. Nobody has given testimony and mentioned your name.

[16:38] And Jesus said, no, it would have been different if Peter was reporting it. This is Jesus himself.

[16:50] He said, in that day, many will come. Then Jesus, so go back. Let's see whether it was Jesus who said this. Verse 21. Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, see. This is Jesus talking.

[17:01] Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. But also do the will of my Father. If you abide in my word, you are my disciple and teach. Then verse 23 said, and I will say, and I will declare to them, I never need depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.

[17:19] Get out of my face. This kind of preaching don't bother me at all. Let it bother people who don't understand Christ. If I'm persecuted, if I'm attacked, that's what Christianity is about now.

[17:33] If you speak the truth, you'll be persecuted. If you take a stand for Jesus in a rightful way, one way or the other, carnal hearts will be offended. Falling hearts will be irritated.

[17:48] Don't add to it by adding your own annoying self into it. So if the message itself can offend, then you also add your spin on it.

[17:59] You don't have to be annoying. You don't have to be volatile. You don't have to be irritable. Just preach the message and it will fall on the hearts of those God is saving.

[18:11] If this earth should come right now, a lot of people will be taken by surprise. A lot of people. When the rapture comes, the rapture is the day where we are sitting there.

[18:23] Some of us will be caught up and we'll go to heaven. We'll be caught up. Bible says we shall meet him in the sky. And then after three and a half years, then there will be tribulation.

[18:35] And after three and a half years, we'll be coming with him from the sky. Yeah. It's going to be. So you'll be there and then. But when the rapture comes, some people will not go.

[18:47] They are Christians, but they won't go. Because they are not overcoming Christians. Yeah. The way you are so hateful. The way you gossip about other believers.

[19:01] And you don't care about letting the word of God have the dictates in your life. You are not a follower of Jesus. Because the word of God doesn't dictate how you behave. Your feelings.

[19:14] And who? Ask for me. This I am. This I am. Get over yourself. This I am. This I am. So what? Who are you in Christ? Who are you in Christ? Who are you in Christ?

[19:26] That's what it is. Listen. Don't be looking for a sister that is nice. A brother that is nice. A brother that is speaking in tongues and all that. Many of people speaking in tongues are not following Jesus.

[19:38] You marry them. What makes marriage enjoyable for a Christian? Sometimes you won't even need counseling. Not premarital counseling. But someone will sit behind and in between you and then it's mediating.

[19:51] No, no, no. Take your time. Take your time. Okay. Wife, what have you got to say? No, don't insult your husband. Does someone need to tell you not to insult your husband? A basic Christian like you.

[20:03] A basic Christian man like you. Someone should tell you don't insult your wife. What kind of Christian is this? The reason why our marriages are working is not because we are married to perfect people or we are perfect.

[20:15] But this Christian life. This Christian life. Even if I fault, I have to go and apologize. Followers of Jesus.

[20:29] The ones that I said, take up your cross. It doesn't come cheaply. It doesn't come naturally. Being a sound Christian is not natural. So if you don't put in effort, you'll be sitting in church and you're upset.

[20:46] We are preaching and you're offended. I don't know how. Any little thing. You are so babies a Christian. You're a believer. But you're not a disciple. Am I preaching at all?

[20:59] It doesn't take anything extreme to be a great man of God. It takes just being a sound Christian disciple for a consistent period of time.

[21:12] I thought your ministry flows from the earth of our work of God. It is not as complicated as people have made. Now we have developed all kinds of messages. Seven ways of doing this. Seven ways of doing this.

[21:23] Just be a disciple. And it's expensive to be a disciple. It will put a demand on your emotions. Put a demand on your intellect.

[21:34] Put a demand on your body. It will redefine how you define entertainment. How you define entertainment.

[21:45] Be a disciple. Not just I'm going to come. I found a husband. I found. Be a disciple. Be a true Christian. You see, after you found the wife.

[21:57] As to how to manage that marriage. You realize that you've gone for a shock. It will eat you up. Listen, marriage is very rough.

[22:11] Especially these days. Marriage is rough. A lot of people are suffering because of marriage. People are not happy in marriage. Yes.

[22:22] People are not happy. Because many women are not ready to do what the man thinks a wife should be. And many men are not ready to do what the woman thinks a husband should be.

[22:35] Because many women don't know what a husband looks like. And many men don't know what a wife looks like. But it's just responsible to be nice to the woman.

[22:46] And what the woman. You have to make the woman. You know how to make a woman. You have to make the woman. How far can you keep going? So now more than that women are getting married with demands on how they should be treated.

[23:02] Meanwhile, most of them don't know how to treat a man. No, no. Because I look nice. I have it. I have that. So that is a reward to the man.

[23:16] There is a way a woman treats a man that keeps the man alive. There is a way a man treats a woman that makes a woman happy. When you are a Christian, you begin to grow and learn these things.

[23:27] Stop following Hollywood. Hollywood marriages don't work. Discipleship. Discipleship. Hallelujah. Amen. And last week, I mentioned something, but some people didn't realize.

[23:39] The process, what makes people spiritually mature. Way to be spiritual. Developed. Spiritual. The word of God. Personal prayer. Fellowship.

[23:50] You are absent of fellowship. We said, I was glad when they said, let us go. Many people want to stay home. Just watch. It's a lazy type of reason.

[24:01] Because it has become an ideology. Not a life experience with God. When you have genuine watches. When you are genuinely hungry for God. You connect with other people who are like you.

[24:13] And you enjoy their fellowship. One of the reasons why, if you don't enjoy fellowship with other Christians. It's a sign that maybe you are not a Christian. Or you are backslided. One of the signs that you are a genuine Christian is.

[24:25] You actually look for. No, you don't look. You are attracted to others like that. You don't care about their race. Their status. Their background.

[24:36] No, those things you don't care. What you care about is they love Jesus. And there's something about them that attracts them to you. I've said I've never missed a church service generally.

[24:49] Because it's just Christian. I'm so Christian. I can't be at home. Even though there's no law in the Bible that says that don't stay at home. You know what I'm saying?

[25:00] I can't. I'll just go to church. And then so fellowship. And then serving other believers helps you to mature and develop. Serving.

[25:12] Serving. Most people who come, sit down and go. Come, sit down and go. Come, sit down and go. Unless for health reasons. You are wasting. Spiritually you are wasting.

[25:24] When you get opportunity to serve in church, take it as God-given privilege. Because God's work will still go on without you. Without you it will go on.

[25:36] Yeah. Look for opportunity. Scramble for opportunity to serve. Put yourself into that thing. And build your... That's how you develop spiritually.

[25:48] And it's called discipleship. Nobody can tell me what to do. Nobody... Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are not a disciple. You cannot be discipled. You cannot be a disciple.

[25:58] He said, go to Damascus. There's a disciple that you'll be told what to do. And then God appears to a disciple named Ananias. Not a believer. A disciple. Because it's someone who understands this.

[26:10] There was a certain disciple called Ananias. A disciple. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. It's only disciples who are sold out to God who can sustain the revival of God.

[26:26] The way your threshold for offense is so low, you are not spiritual. And some people, they've made up their mind. It doesn't matter what they say.

[26:37] I will do what I want to do. I will do what I want to do. You are not a disciple. You. You are not a disciple. You are not. You are not. You are not. He said, Jesus said, you shall know them by their fruits.

[26:48] Not their suits. Their fruits. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

[27:01] Somebody received something. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened.

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