Bible Text: Luke 6 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Abiding in the Lord
Luke 6:12-17 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
What a contrast to the way we operate so often, making decisions and then asking God to bless them.
The Jesus’ model: pray first — really pray — and then act
We Need a RADICAL Spirit-filled Change in the Church!
And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:
Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.
Our Radical Identity is as the Chosen of God
1 Peter 2:5, 9-10 And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests…You have been chosen by God himself. You are priests of the King. You are God’s very own. All this so that you may show to others how God called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were less than nothing, now you are God’s own!
1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you some special abilities be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God’s many kinds of blessing.
Matthew 20:28 Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, did not come to be served, but to serve.
Colossians 4:17 Take heed to the ministry you’ve received from the Lord and fulfill it.
The Jordan Management Consultants…
Simon Peter is emotionally unstable, histrionic and has issues with anger. Andrew has absolutely no qualities of leadership. The two brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, place personal interest above company loyalty and they are self-centered. Thomas demonstrates a questioning attitude that would tend to undermine morale and he has antisocial personality traits. We feel that it is our duty to tell you that Matthew had been blacklisted by the Greater Jerusalem Better Business Bureau; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus definitely has radical leanings, and they both registered a high score on the manic-depressive scale and may have ADHD.
One of the candidates, however, shows great potential. He is a man of ability and resourcefulness, meets people well, has a keen business mind, and has contacts in high places. He is highly motivated, ambitious, and responsible. We recommend Judas Iscariot as your controller and right-hand man. All of the other profiles are self-explanatory.
Abiding in the Lord is a RADICAL CHALLENGE to Live for Jesus
God takes us ordinary humans and then accomplishes through us what is extraordinary
 
Matthew 4:18-22 …Come, be my disciples…and I will show you how to fish for people!
 
God’s call is a Radical Call the results in Radical Change
To “be my disciple” means TOTALLY accepting Jesus as our model and example for living and abiding in Him
If you chose to ABIDE in Jesus then it is an all or nothing RADICAL commitment to ABIDE in Him!
Revelation 3:16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Abiding Requires RADICAL Love
Matthew 22:37-40 You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.
 
John 13:34-35 …love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
John 15:16-17 You didn’t choose me. I chose you…
It takes time but when you spend time with Jesus, every day, all day, week in and week out, for all years of your life you will change and become more like Jesus!
Luke 6:46-49 But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.