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As young Christians we are newly baptised. We realize that God has forgiven our sins and gifted us a new life.
In world people get motivated by money, competition, fame etc. but we as disciples got to be motivated by Christ life.
Today we shall learn how to be hot for God & be self motivated.
1. Awesome time with God
Jesus is the son of God in the form of human. Jesus was motivated through his relation with his father in heaven.
Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
He prayed early in the morning.
Mark 14:36
"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Prayer motivated Christ to go on the cross.
Luke 11:1-4
1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.'"
Prayer motivated Christ to convict his disciples
Hebrews 5:7-9
7 During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered
9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
Prayer motivated Christ to be grateful to God who could save him from death and also helped him to be submissive and obedient to his Father.
2. Preach the gospel and make disciples
Luke 4:43-44
43 But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Purpose motivated Christ to reach out to the lost. He never forgot his purpose.
Matthew 4:18-22
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,
22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
In Matthew 4:18-22 he started his mission. His father's dream of saving the world motivated Christ to reach out to Simon, Andrew, James & John.
Till the end of his life even with his last breath on the cross he was faithful to his purpose.
3. Serving & Loving
Jesus was motivated to serve & love his people by seeing how his father served & loved the world by sacrificing his only son Jesus.
John 6:1-13
1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),
2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he had performed on the sick.
3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.
4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?"
6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up,
9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."
13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
He fed the five thousand people. He loved Lazarus, the sinful woman, Samaritian woman, Peter's mother-in-law.
By reading all this we understand that Christ was self motivated we must get self motivated.
i) To get up in the morning even though its your struggle and pray for atleast 45 min. everyday praying with other disciples. Praying through psalm, prayer on the beach, may be mountain side or terrace.
ii) To be self motivated to evangelise. As young men we are afraid to invite people on the road (invite your friends, relatives, neighbours family)
Be motivated to do life style evangelism..
iii) To serving in church, bible talk, devotion, visiting sick, serving in the child care, ushering.
We should be self motivated to do what Christ has done.
This will help us to be hot for God. Things that can turn us to be lukewarm.
1) Not serving - That's being selfish thinking about ourselves, (my priorities my life, my schedule).
2) Being cowards & not wanting to make disciples, being ungrateful towards the salvation received.
3) Concerned about how I can be comfortable.
4) Not having a great relationship with God, missing meeting, no bible study.
5) Doing worse, still may feel I'm doing well and awesome.
All these things can make us human and according to Rev 3:14-20.
Revelation 3:14-20
14 "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!
16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.
20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
God expects us to be hot while he is away & not happy with the further & cold attitude of the disciple.
Challenge
As a disciple we must always be self motivated, hot, zealous for God and be open about our life.
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