What Forms You?
Message Notes
Being a follower of Jesus is more than just attending programs.
It’s a way of life that we adopt and through living this out we are formed into the likeness of Christ.
“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.
Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the Lord.
This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.””
Jeremiah 29:4-14
We are living in Babylon.
A modern, digital Babylon – in spiritual captivity.
What you seek will form you and that is what you will become.
“We all are born into the world looking for someone looking for us, and that we remain in this mode of searching for the rest of our lives.” – Dr. Curt Thompson.
We are born with a need to be loved.
We just call it different things: love, power, respect, being needed, being wanted, looked up to, appreciated, noticed, seen, cared for – it’s all the same thing. It’s our deep desire to have someone gazing at us in love.
Examples of seeking and being formed:
- Admiration from Money → love money → greedy
- Intimacy from sexual experiences → promiscuous → used and hurt
- Power → control → anger
- Respect → show off → arrogance
The more you seek it the more elusive it becomes.
Jesus
Jewish education system
“May you be covered with the dust of your rabbi.”
Jesus was a rabbi and said “follow me.”
What is a disciple?
Disciple is not a verb.
It’s a noun. It’s something either you are or you are not.
63% of Americans self-identify as Christians,
but only around 4% of Americans actually follow Jesus.
We have many converts but few disciples.
Examine your life.
We’re all being formed by someone or something.
We’re all disciples.
The question isn’t “Are you following anyone?” – It’s “Who are you following?”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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 11:28-30
Learn = to learn by use and practice, to be in the habit of
We are all looking for love – respect, admiration, desire - whatever you call it.
We are looking for the one who is looking at us in love.
That one is Jesus.
He invites you into a different way of living.
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
John 14:6
What are you seeking? What’s forming you? What are you becoming?
The invitation of Jesus is to seek Him, be formed by Him, and become like Him.