Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. Access the Power of Eternal Life NOW A Disciple s Guide Copyright 2015 by Christine Rosendaul Published by: The Jesus Said Project 12899 W. Herbison Road Eagle, MI 48822 Published in the United States of America. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the express written consent of the Publisher.
Preface 4 Chapter 1 Humility 5 Chapter 2 Obedience 10 Chapter 3 Lose Your Life 14 Chapter 4 Take Up Your Cross 20 and Follow Me Chapter 5 Believe He Is In You 24
Welcome! P reface You are reading the first ebook from The Jesus Said Project, a bible study blog of everything Jesus Said in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Jesus said, Everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you (John 15:15). If Jesus taught everything He learned, it follows He taught us everything we need to know. The goal of The Jesus Said Project is to come back to the source (or what should be the source) of all teachings of Christianity; namely, what Jesus Said. Only then can a Christian, a disciple of Jesus Christ, properly evaluate the truth in all the preaching, teachings, bible studies, and books available today. The Project has deepened my faith in and love for God beyond anything I ever envisioned when starting the Project. By focusing on what Jesus Said, two absolutes became clear: Absolute dependence on Jesus Absolute devotion to Jesus I trust and pray all fellow seekers of the truth will find all they need in Jesus words. Christine Rosendaul Founder of The Jesus Said Project May 20, 2015 4
Chapter 1 Humility
H umility. God s Spirit has convicted me that this is a deep spiritual truth, and key to living a victorious life in Christ. The teaching of humility is probably the most overlooked and least understood in the Church today, even though Jesus taught it throughout the Gospels. Referenced Scriptures Matthew 18:4, Matthew 23:8, Matthew 23:12, Mark 10:14-15, Luke 14:7-11, Luke 18:9-14, Luke 18:15-17 Humility Leads to Exaltation I have never heard the word exalted or exaltation except in the Bible or in church. It means to be noble, elevated or raised, as in rank or character. Jesus said, For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Jesus said this in Luke 14:11, following the parable of the wedding feast in verses 7-10. It is a story of guests at a wedding banquet, and how people try to take the best seats. They are then humiliated when someone more distinguished arrives and the host asks those who took the best seats to move. Instead, Jesus said you should take the least important seat and wait for the host to honor you by inviting you to move to a better seat. The same concept is repeated in Matthew 23:12 and Luke 18:9-14. 6
This is not how people act, including Christians! More likely, we maneuver to be first, revealing our pride in action. Pride shows itself when we: Are impatient waiting in line (Isn t our time more important than everyone else s?); Drive close behind someone on the road (They need to get out of our way so that we can drive faster!); Interrupt someone when they are speaking (After all, what we have to say is more important, isn t it?); Wait for someone else to clean up the mess or wash the dishes; Maneuver to get a leadership position at church, instead of accepting some menial task Instead, Jesus said we are to take every opportunity to humble ourselves, be a servant, be the one who let s others go first, let others be recognized and take credit, and be the one who does the unpleasant, unnoticed, unimportant tasks. This goes against everything we are taught in this world about how special we are, that we should stand up for ourselves, and how we seek to be noticed and elevated by others. In fact, much of what is taught in this world (including taught in Christian families) is lacking this core teaching of Jesus. We are not comfortable being humbled and putting others first, waiting for God to exalt us, to elevate us, in His due time. This teaching goes against every fiber of our being, against our prideful, natural being. Oh sure, we feel good about ourselves when we do something nice for someone else, or occasionally put others first, but that is not what this teaching is about. Feeling good about ourselves when we occasionally put someone else s needs first or do something nice for them is just more of self. Humility is looking away from self and becoming NOTHING so that God can fill you and be all in you (Colossians 1:27). Read that again, for it is no small matter. No one ever taught me this key spiritual truth with more than a passing mention of it. Don t miss it! 7
Become Like a Little Child Jesus said whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4). Jesus said this after the disciples had asked Him, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? How different heaven must be from earth! On earth we are all striving to be noticed, to get ahead, and be top dog. It s amazing that we don t all suffocate under the weight of our pride! In heaven, will we all be tripping over ourselves to let others be first? That is what Jesus said. If this is totally foreign to us now, how will we manage in heaven? Oh, that we would abandon our own thoughts and feelings on this subject, let go of our pride, and embrace what Jesus said! Example of a Humble Christian Is there someone in your life who exemplifies this teaching? Do not take the cursory, shallow view that the quiet woman who sits in the back of church and just smiles at everyone is necessarily humble. Rather, look for someone with humility like Jesus, which was active. Jesus was strong and courageous as well a humble. He was not afraid to speak up, do menial tasks, and love others actively. As I look around the people in my life, including Christians, pastors, and family members, there is no one who is a role model for humility. When I look in the mirror, the example is just as disappointing. I have totally missed the mark on this, one of Jesus core teachings. My heart is heavy with repentance, but sees the light in the grace of God, knowing that what He calls me to, He equips me for (Hebrews 13:20-21). 8
Besides Jesus, Mother Theresa is who I think of when I think of a humble person. She walked in humility along with strength and courage. She loved and served actively where most would consider it beneath them. Her heart must be a great treasure to God. I can only imagine how God will exalt her in heaven! Call to Action In addition to the referenced scriptures, you must read the book Humility by Andrew Murray. It is a short book (only 54 pages), but power-packed with wisdom and scriptural references. It is not an easy read, for two reasons. First, it was originally published in 1895, so the language is a bit archaic at times, but do not let this dissuade you from reading it, please. The second reason it was not an easy read for me was that the content cut (me) to the heart, like the people in Acts 2:37 when Peter preached the Gospel for the very first time. Other than the Bible, I have never read anything that so convicted me of my need to repent of pride and embrace God s way. I am grateful that God led me to this truth, as He will certainly lead all who truly seek His will (see Psalm 139:23-24, Exodus 15:13). 9
Chapter 2 Obedience
I n John 14:15, Jesus said, If you love me, you will obey what I command. This is the flip side of what Jesus said in John 14:24, that those who do not love Him will not obey His teaching. In Jesus world, love equals obedience. Referenced Scriptures John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:23, John 15:9-11, John 15:14-15 Obey Like a Child Jesus said we are to change and become like little children (Matthew 18:3). Any parent will tell you that obedience is one thing they expect from their children. Parents love and take care of their children; children love and obey their parents. As God s children, Jesus said we are to demonstrate our love by obedience. Obedience does not make me my earthly father s daughter, anymore than it makes me God s child; obedience is the required response of a daughter who loves her father on earth, and her Father in heaven. Just like a child does not always agree with or understand a parent s commands or instructions, we may not always agree with or understand Jesus commands (which are ALL from God see John 15:15). Drop your pride and make the decision to agree with Jesus, even if you don t feel like it, or if it goes against something you think is okay. If you don t do this, Jesus said you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:3). 11
The Blessings for Obedience Jesus said the person who obeys His commands will be blessed abundantly! From the referenced scriptures, here is a list of Jesus promises for those who obey Him: You will be loved by the Father (John 14:21) You will be loved by Jesus (John 14:21) Jesus will show Himself to you (John 14:21) Jesus and the Father will come and make their home with you (John 14:23) You will remain close to Jesus, in His love (John 15:10) Jesus joy will be in you (John 15:11) Your joy will be complete (John 15:11) You will be called my friend by Jesus (John 15:14-15) Obedience is not a hindrance in life or a gateway to a life of drudgery and servitude, as often taught by the world. In contrast, Jesus said that obedience is a gateway to these blessings! I don t know about you, but the above list is what I want: love, intimacy, joy, and friendship with Jesus and my Father. I trust and embrace Jesus teaching that obedience to His teachings is the gateway to receive them. Call to Action Have you entered the cycle of obedience? If not, what are you waiting for? A born again Christian walks in a beautiful cycle of obedience that is repeated over and over again in his or her heart and life. The first step is to become: Born Again = A New Creation in Christ! 12
Then the cycle begins: God s Holy Spirit Prompts a Disciple The Disciple Obeys the Holy Spirit God s Holy Spirit Prompts a Disciple The Disciple Obeys the Holy Spirit Repeat! Prompt, immediate obedience is always best, especially when the leading is time sensitive. Some examples: Stop worrying and pray instead or Relax and spend time with me NOW. Realistically, this is not always possible or necessary. For this reason, when I first put this teaching into practice, I would write down whatever I could not take care of immediately. Examples would be a prompt to call someone, pray for someone, or sign up to volunteer at a church event. I called this my Marching Orders from God (believe me, when you look at it this way, the list takes priority over any others!). The promptings can come at any time: while praying, cooking, falling asleep, taking a walk, etc. It doesn t matter when they come, but when prompted, obey immediately or write it down to avoid forgetting (though if I m falling asleep, I will ask God to remind me in the morning... and He always has.) God does all the hard work of changing a disciple from within. A disciple s role is to yield to the Spirit s leading and obey as prompted. Obedience is the gateway to victorious living in Christ! 13
Chapter 3 Lose Your Life
J esus said, Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (Matthew 10:39). This teaching is recorded in each of the four Gospels, and is flagged as one of the key teachings in The Jesus Said Project. Believing in Jesus is one thing; losing your life for Him, well, that is another matter. Losing your life for Jesus is the point where it gets tough. This is where a person stagnates, fades away, or pushes forward with Jesus. Referenced Scriptures Matthew 10:39, Matthew 13:44-46, Matthew 16:25-28, Matthew 19:29-30, Mark 8:35-37, Mark 10:29-31, Luke 9:24-25, Luke 18:29-30, Luke 20:17-18, John 12:23-25 Lose it Now, or Lose it Later God s ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8). For example, we think losing is bad, but Jesus said it is good, very good!: For whoever wants to save his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:35-37) For whoever wants to save his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (soul) for me will find it. (Matthew 16:25) Note: My bible indicates that the Greek word means either life or soul in these verses. 15
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:23-25) According to Jesus, one soul is priceless, worth more than the whole world; so valuable, it is impossible to exchange it for something else (Mark 8:36-37). How sad that those who love this world and all it offers, who cling to the natural, sinful nature they were born with, will lose their soul in the world to come. Those who are willing to lose the life they were born with will find a rich, abundant, new life in Christ, and He promises it will be much, much better than the old one. Do we believe Him? Trade Up in Life We understand the concept of trading something of little value for something of greater value. For example, we trade in our old automobile when we get a new one; or, we turn in our old cell phone when we get a new one. On the spiritual level, it works the same way. When we lose our life for Jesus, we trade our old life with its sinful nature for a new life, a new spiritual nature in Christ (Romans 8:9-11). We lose something of little value to gain something of greater value. Jesus physically died and rose to new life. So, too, a disciple dies to his or her old life and rises to a new spiritual life, a new life claimed at baptism (Romans 6:3-4). Now a new creation, a member of the family of God, he or she has died to self and lives for Christ because Christ lives in him or her (Galatians 2:20). Jesus promises that this type of death is a good one, and the rewards are priceless. 16
A Reason to Lose Jesus stressed that the reason to lose one s life is for God: I tell you the truth, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life. (Luke 18:29-30) Other verses use the phrase, for my sake and for me and the gospel instead of for the sake of the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:29-30, Mark 10:29-31). Note that the focus is to lose the things of this world for Jesus, the gospel, and the kingdom of God. A disciple will be raised from the dead in the age to come and looks forward to heaven, but that is not the focus. If it is, something is off. Jesus said a disciple s focus must be God, His kingdom, and building His kingdom through sharing the Gospel. A person who is born again of water and the Spirit is a new creation, devoted to Jesus and focused on the things of God while here on earth (John 3:3-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 2:16). The Rewards for Losing Jesus promises that, whatever we give up in this life to take on a new life in Christ, it will be well worth it. Jesus said the rewards for losing one s life are ample, in both this life and in the next one. No one who gives up his or her old life for Jesus will fail to receive:... many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life. (Luke 18:29-30) 17
... a hundred times as much in this present age... and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-31)... a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:29-30)) In Mark 10:29-31, Jesus lists the rewards in this age as homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields and with them, persecutions. As part of the family of God, we are definitely blessed here on earth with new brothers and sisters (in Christ), but what about persecutions? Why did Jesus say that persecutions are a reward? This throws out false teachings that Christians will be abundantly blessed materially in this world. These scriptures indicate that Christians may be blessed with material abundance, but that is not any indication that a person is a Christian. A true Christian will rejoice in persecutions as much as in abundant material blessings because only in suffering do we experience the full blessings of what Christ died to give us (Romans 8:16-17, Philippians 3:10-11). Jesus ends these teachings with the phrase, But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first (Matthew 19:30, similar to Mark 10:31). Those who are at the top in this world will likely not be so in the age to come. Does this mean wealthy people cannot be saved? Of course not; all things are possible with God (Mark 10:23-27)! It does mean we should not be encouraged or discouraged by our status here on earth. Those that the world overlooks as unimportant and of little value may well be some of God s most precious saints. Disciples are indifferent to their status on earth (financial, social, professional, etc.). Like Paul, disciples are content with whatever they have, whether a 18
little or a lot, because it is all just worthless garbage anyway (Philippians 4:11-12, Philippians 3:7-8). Summary Jesus gave two short stories to summarize the concept of losing your life for Him. In Matthew 13:44-46, He compared the kingdom of heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. When found, a man went and sold all he owned and bought the field. He also compared the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great value; when found, a merchant went and sold everything he had and bought the pearl. Each disciple must ask himself or herself: Have I done that? Have I given up everything I have, including my right to myself, to gain Christ? The essence of losing your life for Jesus is brokenness. You fall on Jesus, at His feet, and your old self is broken to pieces. The alternative is to cling to your old self and be crushed by Him, under the weight of your unforgiven sins (Luke 20:17-18). This is just another way of saying lose your life to save it, or save your life to lose it (Mark 8:35-37). Losing your life for Jesus is giving up your right to yourself. Call to Action Have you given up your right to yourself? Until you do, you will not be able to gain victory in the daily battle between your self and your spiritual nature. The goal of the battle is to lose your life to save it, to lose your life for Jesus. When you do, you will make a remarkable discovery: Instead of losing it, you have finally found it! 19
Chapter 4 Take Up Your Cross & Follow Me
J esus said, If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mark 8:34). Teachings on taking up your cross or carrying your cross often center on the daily trials of life, and how Christians should face these difficulties by relying on Jesus and the power of God. A deeper truth is that we need to take up and carry the largest cross that every human being has, a cross that every disciple of Jesus is required to carry. This is the cross of self. Referenced Scriptures Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:29-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 21:18-23 The Crosses of Life We have good and bad days in this world. Physically, emotionally, spiritually... we can be suffering in any of these areas, faced with a cross, a temporary instance of toil, turmoil, or trauma. The types of crosses are endless. We may be overworked and physically tired. We may have had a disagreement with someone and, even though we tried to reconcile, the relationship is just not the same. We may have gotten into a car accident, or received a call from our doctor s office, indicating a questionable test result. When we encounter trials in life, we do our best to fix the problem and remain at peace until the trial passes. As Christians, when a trial remains, we are to acknowledge that God has not yet removed it, accept it, and bear the trial (cross) in trust. We take up that cross and follow Jesus, trusting that our 21
higher good is being served by it (Romans 8:28). Like Jesus took up his cross on the road to Calvary, we take up our crosses and follow Him. The Cross of Self The crosses of life here on earth pale in comparison to a cross that each person will struggle with while in this physical body: the cross of self. If Jesus words are encouraging in the daily battles in life, then they are critical in this battle with self. This self is a person's sense of himself or herself as a separate, autonomous, self-directed being. On the surface, it seems natural and part of who we are, but it is actually a counterfeit being. It is what keeps us separated from God, preventing us from becoming what He created us to be. Jesus died and then rose to new life. In the same way, born again Christians die to self and rise to new life in Christ (Romans 6:4). Now dead to self, they no longer live for themselves, but for God (2 Corinthians 5:15). The core identifier of self is the will, so a Christian must give up his or her will to God. If we don t give God our will, then our will constantly struggles against God s will, and we never really die to self. However, when we give up our will to God, we give up our right to live our life on our terms, and we begin to truly live life, living as God wills. This is why we were created: to live one with God (John 14:23) and to do His will (Matthew 7:21). If we have died to self, our attitude is the same as Jesus': Father not my will, but yours be done (from Luke 22:42). Jesus explained this to Peter in John 21:18-23. In this scripture, Jesus told Peter what kind of death he would face. (Peter felt unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus, so he was crucified with his head down, as he requested.) However, Jesus was also telling Peter that his life was no longer his own (verse 18). Peter was to follow Jesus, without concern for what 22
others were doing (John 21:20-22). Peter would have enough crosses of his own to carry without trying to figure out other people s crosses. Compare Peter s response here with how he acted before: completely full of self, selfassured, and putting his will over the Father s will (Luke 22:33-34, Matthew 16:21-23). After all that, Peter is now broken, his sense of self shattered. He has died to self, and he wants only Jesus and His will. Now he is ready to take up his cross daily and follow Jesus. Call to Action Taking up your cross and following Jesus is not a nice to have on Jesus list; it is a requirement to be His disciple. Jesus said, anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27) and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:38). This is a daily battle because the self never stops trying to reassert itself as the one in control of your life (Luke 9:23). We grow weary in this battle with no end in sight, but in His mercy God promises times of rest and refreshment as we carry this cross: Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30) Jesus promises that you do not have to carry the cross of self alone. He promises to be right there beside you, if you take the burden of His suffering, His life, to live as your own. Jesus promises rest if you humble yourself, learn His ways, and embrace the Father s will, like He did. Living life as God wills is easy and light compared to constantly trying to assert your own will and carrying the burdensome cross of self by yourself. You cannot do it. Let Jesus show you how to carry it. Learn and embrace His way so that He can help you carry it. You only need to give up yourself and follow Him. 23
Chapter 5 Believe He Is In You!
S hortly before His arrest, Jesus said to His disciples, On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (John 14:20). What day is that? Is that day today, or sometime in the future? It is important to know because Jesus said on that day He will be in His disciples, and His disciples will be in Him. Is Jesus in you and me right now? Referenced Scriptures John 14:20, John 17:26 Words of Mystery to the Disciples Just before making this statement, Jesus said He was the way to the Father and taught at length about faith, trust, and the coming Holy Spirit (John 14:6-17). Teaching further, Jesus made it clear He was referring to His resurrection day when He said that day : I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. (John 14:18-20) At that time, Jesus words were mysterious, but in hindsight His disciples (both past and future) comprehend the mystery a little better. After Jesus death and resurrection, as promised, the disciples saw Him again in physical form (Luke 24:36-43, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Jesus later ascended to heaven, and the world has not seen Him since, but His disciples know Jesus lives right now. He lives, and He lives to give the resurrection life. 25
After Jesus fulfilled the Father s will by His death and resurrection, He received all power and authority (Matthew 28:18, Acts 10:42). The resurrection was a game changer! The life Jesus gives to His followers is not just eternal life at some point in the future; it is life NOW! Because of the resurrection, He lives now, and He lives in all believers, too. We are in Him, and He is in us-- the mystery, now the reality, only made possible by the Cross and the resurrection. The Mystery Becomes a Reality for Disciples These words were not just for Jesus disciples then, but for His future disciples, too. Just before His arrest, Jesus prayed, My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message... (John 17:20) and then went on to pray to the Father: I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. (John 17:26) Paul repeated the mystery-turned-reality in Colossians 1:26-27:... the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The life Jesus gives is not only eternal life at some point in the future, but the resurrection life of Jesus lived out NOW in each believer! Jesus resurrection life continues today in each born again disciple who has died to self, yielding his or her life to Christ to live in him or her to will and to do God s good pleasure (Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:13). This is a mysteryturned-reality for believers as well as an amazing privilege, to be a home for 26 Jesus and the Father (John 14:23)!
Call to Action If you are a believer, ponder the mystery of Christ in you, the only hope that your life can bring glory, honor, and praise to God. How? As a mystery, it cannot be fully understood or explained with words, but the Bible gives guidance on how this mystery becomes a reality: 1. Born Again - In faith, a person is born again and receives a new life, Jesus resurrection life, within him or her (Romans 6:1-5). 2. Resolve to Die to Self The believer gives up his or her life (identified primarily by his or her will). To say it another way, the old life is crucified, dead and buried (Romans 6:6-7). 3. Believe it is Done What is now in you (Christ) is allowed to work out of you (Philippians 2:12-13). In other words, yield in obedience in all matters to allow Jesus to live out His resurrection life in you (Romans 6:8-14, Galatians 2:20). 4. The Result - A life that glorifies God (Romans 6:22-23). Paul explained the process of this mystery in Romans 6. Read that chapter in its entirety as you ponder the mystery of Christ in you. The deeper the mystery, the more faith is required to believe it. It takes great faith and a deliberate act of the will to believe in this truth. However, belief in the mystery of Christ in you is one of the keys to living in the power of the resurrection life NOW, a victorious life that begins here and now in Christ! Believe this mystery, and by faith make it your reality. Make the decision to die to self once and for all, and consciously live with an awareness of Christ in you each day, throughout the day. Dead to self, yield in obedience in all 27
matters to the Christ that not only lives in you, but lives out His resurrection life through you. To God be the glory for the power and privilege to live the resurrection life of Christ NOW! Want to know more about what Jesus said? Get the book: The Jesus Said Project A Disciple s Guide to Jesus Teachings Available at www.thejesussaidproject.com 28